Monster Girl Encyclopedia Ch 03

Ethan took his first steps in the direction Yanai had pointed him to. The air was fresh and cool, and he heard the chirping of birds, many of which sounded very different from Earth's. As he moved forward, he marveled at the familiar yet unfamiliar nature of this world. Towering trees rose around him, larger than any he'd seen on Earth. Various flowers of unfamiliar kinds dotted the environment, and he noticed some ripe fruits that seemed tempting to eat, but he didn't want to get sick by eating something he wasn't supposed to.

He stuck with pears instead, taking a bite as he walked. His new body felt stronger, more agile. After walking for a few minutes, he naturally started a sprint. He could feel the lightning coursing through his legs as he ran, the sparks seemed to be fueling his muscles with more energy.

The ground below him passed in a blur, as did the surroundings. He leapt over fallen trees, dodged spiky bushes, and avoided low-hanging branches with ease.

The abilities bestowed upon him by Zeira were truly remarkable. In his previous body, Ethan wouldn't have been able to run this far, this fast. So far, he hadn't encountered any dangerous creatures, but the thought lingered in his mind: how would a fight go? His lightning powers seemed ideal for long-range attacks, but what if an enemy got too close? He didn't even have a weapon to defend himself. Could he channel the lightning into his punch and strike with the same force as a lightning bolt? There was only one way to find out: he needed practical combat experience.

Even after running for a while his body wasn't tired at all, but he realized he still needed water.

If he were to travel like this, he needed to carry water. "I need to get a waterskin from a village," he muttered to himself. He stopped to rest for a bit, taking in all the surroundings and still couldn't believe the fact that he was dead but had been reborn in a different world.

Ethan got up as the faint sound of flowing water reached his ears. Closing his eyes, he pinpointed the direction: to his left.

Walking at a normal pace, he followed the sound until he came to a clearing that opened up to a small waterfall and river. The sight was breathtaking. The water cascaded down a rocky outcrop, sparkling in the sunlight, and pooled into a clear, tranquil river.

"But is the water safe to drink?" he said to himself, and just then a command window appeared in the air, "Water: Potable."

He chuckled in amazement. So his Vision also showed if anything he ate or drank was safe or not. Now he could eat many things he found in the forest without the risk of making himself sick.

He knelt by the water's edge, cupping his hands to drink deeply. That's when he heard a rustling sound from a nearby bush. He quickly got up and walked behind a tree in case it was something higher level than him. But he sighed in relief when a deer-like creature with silvery fur emerged from the bushes. It looked at him with curious, unafraid eyes before bending down to drink from the river.

The tranquil scene was abruptly disturbed by another movement in the underbrush. Before the deer-like animal could escape, another creature leaped out and jabbed the poor animal's neck between its jaws.

Ethan could only watch in horror as the animal's skin grew pale with blood seeping out of its wounds while the creature continued to chomp down on it. "VISION," Ethan whispered, and a window screen appeared before his view.

Name/Race: Reshir (Semi-Sapient)

Level: 5

Attacks: Jaw Crush, Claw Slash, Power Kick, Tail Whip.

Standing at around 4 feet, the Reshir had yellowish scaly skin. Its face was rather draconic, and the claws it possessed seemed very dangerous. Ethan wanted to avoid getting hurt by them at all costs, not to mention its thick tail that seemed capable of breaking bones if one were to get hit by it. Although the creature was smaller in height and size, it felt way more ferocious than most beasts from Earth.

Ethan decided to avoid conflict for now. He wasn't trained or prepared for a fight. But as he began to back away quietly, Reshir's head snapped up. Leaving its prey, the creature fixed its gaze on Ethan and charged with a loud screech, its blood-soaked face looking like something straight out of a nightmare.

"Damn it!" Ethan cursed under his breath, spinning on his heels and sprinting away. But the Reshir was relentless, closing the distance between them with terrifying speed. It lunged at Ethan, swiping with its claws. Ethan managed to dodge, feeling the rush of air as the claws missed him by inches and slashed a tree trunk. Large pieces of wood chipped away from the tree, leaving three deep marks where the creature's claws had swiped.

Desperately, Ethan kept running but threw a lightning ball at the beast. It dodged easily. He tried again and again, but Reshir was too quick. It didn't help that Ethan himself was running. Between running away and keeping an eye on Reshir, his attention was too spread out to properly focus on the target. And even if he managed to throw a ball, Reshir fluidly dodged the attack.

The idea of having a weapon seemed even more tempting now. If he were to get away from this creature alive, he decided to make a spear for sure. This area of the forest was denser. If he tried to run at full speed, he could trip or even get hit by a branch in the face. He kept his speed quick enough to lose Reshir but slow enough not to get hurt. Reshir wasn't leaving him alone for even a second. It seemed thirsty for his blood.

He came to the conclusion that the creature wouldn't stop until one of them was dead. Ethan knew he had to change tactics. He needed to get close and deliver a decisive blow, as long-range attacks weren't hitting the Reshir at all. Gritting his teeth, he turned to face the charging Reshir.

The idea of a thundering punch resurfaced in his mind. It would have to do. As the Reshir closed in, Ethan began gathering lightning in his palm, forming it into a concentrated punch. The energy crackled in his arm, his muscles glowing.

Ethan changed his course again, running faster, getting as much distance between him and the Reshir as he could before turning back on his heel and running towards the Reshir. The lightning surged in Ethan's closed palm, ready to be unleashed.

Ethan got close to the creature, and Reshir leaped, aiming to strike him down with its claws. Ethan ducked under its swipe, but he wasn't able to anticipate the tail whip. Reshir's tail struck his chest, sending him tumbling back, knocking the breath out of his lungs. But he had no time to waste, no time to let the pain push him down.

The lightning in his fist enriched his muscles with more stamina. Ethan once again dashed up to the creature, who did the same. With all the power he could muster, Ethan drove his electrified fist into the creature's chest.

The impact was explosive. A blinding flash of lightning lit up the forest, and the force of the punch left a gaping hole in Reshir's chest. CRITICAL DAMAGE

The creature collapsed, dead.

Breathing heavily, Ethan saw a message appear before his eyes: "2000 EXP GAINED." The screen dissolved a few seconds later, leaving him with a sense of accomplishment but also exhaustion.

He fell to his knees, the attack having drained a significant amount of his mana. He lay there for a few minutes, catching his breath.

Finally, Ethan stood and walked over to Reshir's corpse. A command appeared on a screen before him, accompanied by a voice: "Would you like to loot the corpse?"

"Yes," he replied. The corpse began to glow, and then three items materialized before him: Reshir Claws, Reshir Hide, and over 12 copper coins. He gathered the loot, feeling a mix of relief and satisfaction.

The first thing Ethan did after getting back on his feet was to search for a few branches and a stick. Being in the forest, it didn't take him long to find a long and strong enough piece of wood that could serve as the shaft for his spear. He ran his fingers along the length of the wood, feeling its solidity and testing its weight.

Satisfied, Ethan quickly scanned the forest floor for sturdy branches. He knelt beside a thick tree root, pulling away some underbrush to reveal several promising pieces. He selected the ones that felt right in his hands, examining them for any hidden flaws. The forest was silent but for the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird.

Reshir's corpse had yielded six claws, thick and sharp, ideal for a spearhead. Ethan tied two of the claws together carefully onto the wooden stick he'd found. He tested the spear a few times, adjusting the bindings to ensure they held firm. His aim wasn't perfect, and the weapon wasn't as strong as he'd hoped, but it would do for now. At least he had something to defend himself with.

Satisfied with his work, Ethan moved on to the next task. He took the Reshir hides and tied them together with another branch. He secured the remaining claws within the bundled hides, creating a makeshift carrying pack. He slung this over his shoulder, feeling the reassuring weight of his gathered resources.

Copper coins jingled softly as he slipped them into his pockets. Now it was time to move forward. He walked a few more minutes until he eventually ended up on a small road. The sun was also starting to set now, and soon he found the number of trees decreasing.

Then he finally saw some smoke rising in the distance--where there was smoke, there were people. He quickened his pace, eager to reach the village before nightfall.

The road led him to a small, quaint village nestled in a clearing. Wooden houses with thatched roofs lined the streets, and villagers bustled about, tending to their evening chores. Children played in the streets, their laughter echoing through the air. The sight filled Ethan with a sense of warmth and belonging.

His presence drew curious glances, but no one seemed alarmed. His new clothes helped him blend in, as Yanai had promised.

He approached a group of villagers gathered outside what seemed to be a tavern, drinking and eating. Most of them were humans, but there was a man with green skin, who was muscular and taller than humans, with pointy ears--an Orc.

He also noticed a green-skinned boy playing with human children, probably the Orc's kid. And then there was a matronly elf woman, serving food and drinks to the men.

The Orc noticed him and waved him over.

"Greetings, traveler! You look like you've had quite the journey. Come, sit with us and share a meal," the man said kindly. "My name is Tahal."

"I'm Ethan. Thanks for welcoming me to your village." Ethan smiled and joined them, grateful for the hospitality. As he sat on one of the chairs, the villagers asked him about his travels and where he came from.

He told them a modified version of his story, leaving out the more fantastical elements. "I come from a place very far away from here, it's called Earth... Kingdom."

"Never heard of it," an elderly man said. "It's not like we can learn about the world when we spend all our life in our village."

The Orc man, who introduced himself as Tahal, seemed particularly interested. "This village is called Hollowbrook. We don't get many travelers through these parts. What brings you here, if I may ask?"

Ethan had thought out some answers to these potential questions while he was walking in the village. "I'm on a journey to explore the world. I've always wanted to learn more about various cultures and kingdoms. There's a lot to learn even in a small village like this."

Tahal nodded. "Indeed there is. Our village may be small, but we're a close-knit community. You're welcome to stay as long as you need."

"Thank you for the offer," Ethan said, pulling out his pack of Reshir hides. "I fought for a while coming here, and I got these hides and some claws. Can I sell them here?"

Just then, one of the other men at the table leaned over to look at Ethan. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Jev, but people call me Merchant Jev. I'm the only goods buyer you can find in this village. If you're willing to sell, I'm ready to see them now."

"Oh, come on, Jev. Let the lad rest for a bit before talking business," the elf woman said as she brought what looked like ale and some kind of pie for Ethan. She turned to him. "Don't worry, honey. Jev's like that. He gets too business-minded sometimes, but he's a friendly man."

Ethan took the glass of ale. "Uhm... Thank you, Miss...."

"Just call me Velis. I'm the owner of this tavern-cum-inn," the elf woman said. "I assume you'd be looking for a place to stay for the night."

"Yes, I am, Velis."

Velis smiled warmly. "You're at the right place. I have rooms for travelers. You can rest comfortably, take a bath, and also have breakfast, dinner, and lunch."

Jev chuckled at her. "Who's talking about business now, huh?" Everyone at the table, including Velis, laughed at his remark.

The elf woman seemed really friendly and warm, and so did the rest of the folks in the town.

Ethan eventually ended up selling the Reshir hide and claws to Jev, who gave him one silver for the hide and twenty coppers for the claws. It turned out that Reshir hides were very profitable products; people up in the northern countries bought them a lot because of the usually cold weather.

Combined with the twelve coppers he'd gotten from the Reshir loot, he now had one silver and thirty-two copper coins. Not bad for someone who'd come to this world a few hours ago.

Copper was the smallest denomination, used for everyday transactions such as buying food, drinks, and small items.

Silver was the second denomination. One silver coin equaled fifty copper coins. It was used for larger purchases like clothing, tools, and paying for services.

And gold was the biggest denomination. One gold coin equaled fifty silver coins.

It wasn't that difficult, but he'd have to get used to this currency system, and all the other ones in different countries.

He got a room in Velis' tavern. It was a small but cozy room, and the bed was inviting him for a refreshing sleep. He got a towel from Velis and then went to take a bath. Washing up with cool water after a day of running and fighting was rejuvenating. He never thought he'd enjoy taking a bath this much.

After a relishing dinner, he went for a stroll and found himself enjoying the beauty of the night sky. Ardalon had only one moon, and it was almost complete; the full moon was very close, it seemed. He'd spent all of his life in a city and had never seen a clear night sky like this before. There was a large river of stars in the sky, much like the Milky Way back on Earth.

He kept stargazing for an hour before he returned to his room, fell onto the soft bed, and immediately fell asleep. The day had been quite tiring, but he was excited to see more of Ardalon.