Being carefully released from my bindings by the surprisingly kindhearted Lawrence, I stretched out my limbs for the first time in what felt like days, which reminds me...

"Hey Lawrence," I asked. "How long have I been asleep? Well...since I was knocked out earlier?"

Lawrence didn't falter in his response for a moment.

"You have been unconscious for around 4 hours. Before you ask why you were attacked, you'd have to ask Lynn."

Alright. Maybe I will.

Dismissing Lawrence, I turn towards the {Assassin} of the group, Lynn.

Before I can get a word out, she outbursts.

"I thought you looked suspicious."

There was no emotion in her voice, besides a slight tint of annoyance.

"You thought that I, a random guy lying on the ground, doing absolutely nothing, was suspicious?" I asked.

She looked as if she was thinking for a moment, then instantly dropped the act, and answered.

"Yes. Yes I did." She responded matter-of-factly.

I glare at her as she has no trouble glaring right back.

This lasts longer than it should, and eventually, I just give up and decide to move on.

As I am about to ask Oswald a few questions, I am interrupted by a sudden speech from Lawrence.

"Gather 'round, gather 'round," He starts. "I believe we should continue hunting monsters and eventually defeat this 'raid boss' that Oswald has been talking about. This is the only idea we've had for getting out of here, as I'm sure you all have noticed the difficulty in finding an exit."

"Raid boss?" I ask.

I had an idea of something similar, considering the store has been rearranging itself to prevent escape, something often done by dungeons in videogames, so I didn't think it was too farfetched to assume that something similar existed in the real world now.

"Yes, a raid boss," Lawrence continued. "Oswald has been trying to explain the concept to me, but I'm not all that keen with videogame terms, so I only know the basics."

Oswald then spoke up.

"I've been thinking that since we can't leave the store, it must go by dungeon rules. This whole situation feels a lot like a videogame, with status screens and goblins, so I'm almost certain there has to be a boss to defeat in order to escape. It is common sense."

I wouldn't exactly say it is common sense, but it is a fair assessment, given the situation.

I think it goes without saying that this Oswald character is an avid gamer. He thinks of this situation as a game, which can be very useful, or very dangerous.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Another dangerous factor is that mysterious sleepwalking guy. I don't understand how none of the others haven't noticed his strange behavior yet, or if they even care, but I assume he possesses a skill or title that functions similarly to my own, allowing him to gain the favor of others with lower stats, or maybe merely reduce suspicion.

It also doesn't give me much solace, knowing that Mr. Sleepy over there has the same [Monster] title as me. That would mean that his first kill was a human.

Now I'm curious.

Just as I finish thinking, I'm presented with a status screen.

You have obtained a title through achievement alone. Gained Title: [Daydreamer]

Is that your way of telling me I think too much?

Well, in that case, I'll go about my merry way without thinking of the consequences. I AM crazy after all!

Yeah right.

Anyway, I snap out of my thinking once more and look back to the group as they are already moving out to find monsters to hunt.

...

We come across a group of 3 goblins, one with a sword and helmet, another with a dagger and hood, with the last one wielding a trowel and a flower crown.

The last one has an...interesting taste in gear.

I debate to myself whether to sit in the back and observe what my new temporary team can do or not, but I realize that I would be willingly letting them take EXP that is necessary for my growth.

As Oswald and Lynn, each take a goblin, I look towards Lawrence and Mr. Mysterious over there, noticing that neither seems much interested in the last one.

I feel that I shouldn't keep it waiting, and walk over to the green pest, nonchalantly.

Coincidentally, the goblin left for me was the one wielding the trowel. Guess it's fate.

I decide to toy with my food and let it take the first hit.

The goblin witnesses my act of disregard and takes its chance. It swings at me with great speed, far faster than my own.

I am jabbed in the gut by its trowel, causing immense pain.

I'm about to use my demon summoning skill but decide against it as the others would be suspicious as to why I have it.

...

Or would they?

"{Summon Demon}! 50% mana!"

As I finish the words, a pentagram appears on the ground in front of me, producing an intimidating red glow.

From the pentagram in the floor, a human-sized figure in red robes can be seen slowly rising from it.

It looks roughly similar to a human's shape, but all of its features are hidden from sight.

Well, that isn't what I expected, but here we go.

I mentally will the creature to attack the goblin in front of me, and it moves towards it slowly.

The goblin, obviously more confused than I am, poked at the figure's robes with its trowel.

This was a mistake.

In the next moment, the summoned demon's robes were removed just long enough for those watching to see the creature's wide array of mouths and tentacles adorning its body.

The goblin didn't have nearly enough time to react to its opponent's next move, as in the blink of an eye, it was grabbed by the demon's tentacles and hoisted towards the gaping maw of death that was the demon's body.

The scene that played out next was one to behold.

The goblin tried desperately to free itself from the creature's grasp, only able to slip on the moist surface of the tentacles. It clawed and slashed with all its might, hoping only for the pain to end as it was chewed alive by the demon.

As the goblin was eaten alive, it could only despair as it lost its arms, legs, then its life.

As the goblin was now dead, the creature stopped its attack and clothed itself with its robes once more.

Well, that was a bit more gruesome than I would have liked, but hopefully, nobody else noticed-

I look around and notice that everyone was looking at me. Every creature in the room, including the goblins themselves, some in the middle of getting stabbed, were looking at me with a mix of terror and disgust.

The goblin that had a kitchen knife still in its chest, voiced its own opinion in a high-pitched, guttural voice.

"Yeah, what the fuck?"