Clouds blacken the sky and sheets of rain turn the mountain forest into a treacherous maze... A landslide crushes a razor wire fence, and buries a NO TRESPASSING sign... Two young siblings wander into a dark world where they do not belong, and a long, horrid shadow rears up to meet them—Anyway, so that's how we met Dara-san! She might look kinda scary, but just wait until you get to know her! Look, I'm a god of misfortune, okay!? Aren't you kids gonna freak out about my grotesque visage!? (Source: Yen Press)

The sole thing that gets the middle-aged Sasaki through his soul-sucking job is a cheerful smile from Yamada—the young woman who works at a nearby 24-hour supermarket he frequents. After every tiring day of getting berated by his boss, Sasaki stops by the store to have his spirit healed by his favorite cashier. After a particularly grueling day, Sasaki shows up at the supermarket, only to find that Yamada's shift has already ended. Disappointed, he searches for a place to smoke when a woman from behind the store calls him over to join her. The bold and dangerously playful Tayama is quick to call out Sasaki's peculiar habit of always seeking out her coworker—even going as far as telling Yamada about Sasaki's vested interest in her. Now, in addition to seeing his adored cashier Yamada, Sasaki also visits the store to see if his new smoking partner Tayama is around. But there is more to Tayama's mischievousness than she initially lets on. With every cigarette, an unlikely friendship begins to blossom.

Melphiera Marchalrayd, the daughter of a count, dedicates her time to researching the culinary possibilities of monster meat—a peculiar endeavor started by her late mother. By teaching the people of the Marchalrayd lands to prepare such exotic ingredients, Melphiera hopes to help stave off famine. Unfortunately, her unique tastes and intimate knowledge of monsters have led to her social isolation: few nobles interact with her willingly, disdainfully calling her the Voracious Villainess. When a monster attack erupts at a royal banquet—where Melphiera has been sent to find a husband—Aristide Rogier du Galbraith, the younger brother of the crown prince, leaps to her aid. Due to his terrifying skill in slaying monsters, Aristide has earned the title of Blood-Man Duke. Charmed by Melphiera's fearlessness and intriguing culinary prowess, Aristide soon declares his intent to propose. Together, Melphiera and Aristide, high society's most eccentric couple, strive to see beyond the cruel rumors and encourage each other's fascination with monsters and the art of preparing them.

Light has obtained a bogus skill known as Fruitmaster, a skill that specializes in the cultivation of fruits. Weighed down by the vast difference between him and his childhood friend who became an S-Rank adventurer, he spends his days working the farm and practicing his swordsmanship. However, one day, he accidentally eats a second skill fruit, which normally results in death...but not only does he miraculously survive, he discovers that his bogus skill actually contains a secret ability! (Source: Kodansha USA)