Red tore the slime-hunting request from the quest board and exhaled quietly.
"Simple work… just slimes," he murmured.
He walked toward the guild counter, Cuttey padding softly behind him.
The receptionist stood there as always.
She had long flowing hair, smooth fair skin, and sharp eyes that never seemed to miss anything. Her name was Liliya—known in the guild for her odd nature and sharper tongue.
Red stopped in front of the counter and held out the quest paper with both hands, posture polite.
"Good morning, Liliya. I'd like to take this quest," he said in a formal yet friendly tone.
Liliya glanced at the paper, then slowly lifted her eyes to Red's crimson pupils. A crooked smile formed on her lips.
"As expected," she said mockingly. "What else could we expect from you?"
Her words drew a few chuckles from nearby adventurers.
Red's fingers tightened slightly around the paper, but he didn't argue. He simply nodded.
"I'll be back before sunset."
"Try not to die," Liliya added lazily as she stamped the request.
Red turned away without another word.
---
The forest outside the town was quiet, sunlight filtering through thick branches.
Red crouched behind a tree, sword in hand. Cuttey hid behind another trunk, his small body low to the ground.
Four slimes bounced lazily in a clearing ahead—translucent bodies wobbling with every movement.
Red narrowed his eyes.
"Alright, Cuttey… same plan as always," he whispered.
Cuttey's ears twitched. He let out a soft growl of excitement.
Red pointed gently.
"You attract them. I'll strike from the side."
Cuttey nodded—almost like he understood—and darted out from cover.
"Woof!"
The slimes reacted instantly.
One… two… three… four.
All four slimes began hopping toward Cuttey, drawn by the movement.
"Good…" Red muttered.
He moved silently, circling around the clearing, muscles tense.
When the slimes were fully focused on Cuttey—
Now!
Red burst from the trees.
His sword flashed.
*Slash!*
The first slime split apart, its core dropping lifelessly to the ground.
Before the others could react, Red twisted his body and swung again.
*Slash—Slash!*
Two more slimes burst simultaneously, dissolving into puddles of sticky residue.
"Haah…!"
Red was breathing hard already.
The remaining slime suddenly leaped—not at Cuttey, but at Red.
"—!"
Red tried to dodge, but his footing slipped on the wet ground.
He fell hard onto his back.
The slime landed on his chest, its gelatinous body stretching toward his face.
"Damn it—!"
The slime lunged for his mouth.
Red reacted on instinct.
He thrust his sword upward.
*Stab!*
The blade pierced straight through the slime's core.
The monster collapsed, splattering over Red's armor.
Red lay there, gasping.
"…That was close."
Before he could stand, a faint splat echoed nearby.
Red turned his head.
Cuttey stood proudly over another collapsed slime, paw raised.
"Woof!"
Red laughed breathlessly.
"Good job, Cuttey."
---
They collected the slime cores together.
Red counted them carefully.
"Four cores… each goes for twenty copper coins."
He did the math quietly.
"That's eighty copper… plus twenty for completing the quest."
Red smiled faintly.
"A hundred coins. Enough for two days of meals—fifty coins. Rent is twenty."
He looked at Cuttey.
"We saved thirty coins. Yay."
Cuttey wagged his tail happily.
But suddenly—
The ground trembled.
Red froze.
A deep, wet sound echoed through the forest.
*Gluuush…*
Red slowly turned his head.
From behind the trees, a massive shadow emerged.
A slime—no, far bigger.
Its body was several times larger than normal slimes, its core glowing ominously deep inside.
Red's eyes widened.
"…Slime King."
Cold sweat ran down his back.
He immediately drew his sword, stance lowering.
"Cuttey, stay behind me."
The Slime King roared, its body swelling before crashing toward him.
Red dodged, rolling aside as the ground cratered where he had been standing.
"Too fast…!"
He slashed—but the blade barely sank into its thick body.
The slime retaliated, a massive arm slamming into Red's side.
*Bang!*
Red flew into a tree, coughing blood.
"Ugh—!"
Pain exploded through his ribs.
*I can't win head-on…*
The Slime King lunged again.
Red barely rolled away, his armor dented, breathing ragged.
Cuttey tried to distract it, biting and clawing, but was thrown aside violently.
"Cuttey!"
Rage flared in Red's chest.
He grabbed a spear lying nearby—likely dropped by a previous adventurer.
"I only have one chance…"
He hid behind a tree, eyes locked on the glowing core inside the Slime King.
"If I throw it with all my strength… and expose the core…"
The Slime King charged.
Now!
Red leapt out, twisting his body.
"—HAAA!"
He hurled the spear with everything he had.
The spear pierced through the slime's body—
Straight into the exposed core.
*Crack!*
The Slime King froze.
Then collapsed, its massive body melting into nothing.
Red dropped to his knees.
"…I did it."
Cuttey limped over and licked his face.
Red laughed weakly.
"Yeah… we did it."
---
Red dragged the Slime King's remains back to the guild as proof.
The guild hall fell silent when he entered.
Murmurs spread.
"A Slime King…?"
"An Iron Rank did this?"
Liliya's eyes widened as she inspected the body and cores.
"…Four hundred copper coins," she said quietly, pushing the bag toward him.
Red accepted it with both hands.
"Thank you."
That's when four figures entered the hall.
Their presence alone silenced the room.
An A-Rank party.
Gai, Anoz, K, and their leader—a calm woman with sharp eyes.
Somi.
She stepped forward and smiled.
"Hey," she said. "I'm Somi, leader of this party."
Red stiffened.
"We're heading to the Accramtic Dungeon," she continued. "We need someone to carry bags and monster cores."
She looked him over.
"If you accept, we'll pay you five hundred copper coins."
Red's eyes widened.
Five hundred.
He bowed deeply.
"I accept. Thank you very much."
Somi smiled wider.
"Good."
Behind her, the other party members exchanged quiet glances.
And just like that—
The real story of betrayal began.