disclaimer:

1) English is not my first language, so i'm sorry if find any mistakes

2) I don't own monster girl encyclopedia or anything monster related

Please enjoy and constructive criticism is accepted.

It appears I'm in a strange hallway clearly a rich nobles castle or mansion though what is surprising me is the murkiness, it's not like a building is murky but the air and everything and by common sense I can deduce that this strangeness is not part of the hallway (the effect is kind of like the wraith world from lord of the rings, I don't know the exact words to describe it)

I tense at the sound of voice coming from the corner of the hallway that is get closer to me. Where the in hell can I hide? Panicking… I failed the see that origin of these voices failed to notice me completely, they are 2 succubi (or succubuses). How can't they see from point blank range? How they are unable to sense me in the same hallways, are they blind? My questions are answered very simply… they walked right through me.

So… I'm a spirit; no that can't be it; they would still be able to sense my presence or may not work with spirits that way. This could be some form of foresight; I've heard tales of foresight before. Well… hell if I know, this doesn't really matter anyway. The thought of having an out-of-body experience is a… unsettling. I am in enemy territory so technically I could do snooping around, would be interesting to see what they have.

Doesn't really seem all that much interesting, it's just a luxurious palace, I didn't find any plans or any strategy's so this person who owns it isn't really in the war or at the very least not actively participating in it. However I did find out that the owner of this palace is none other than Hel. In which am thankful she isn't here right now because she would most likely sense me, she is a goddess of life and death after all. That kind of proves that no one is immune to corruption, so everyone should stay vigilant. Although she was more leaning on the life side, so that might have been why she was corrupted.

The only thing I haven't checked is the last floor the basement, funny huh? Never heard of a basement inside a palace before. Never mind that I should check it out quickly, I have feeling this whole abnormality won't really last long. Walking down the stairs a begin notice the shift in theme of the atmosphere. The once golden and life filled mossy bricks are now replaced by lifeless black ones, the red carpets and banners by black and green tattered ones. Someone hasn't been taking care of this place. For some reason I felt the demonic energy disappear into nothingness, there was nothing in the air, just the cold feeling death. Maybe the goddess has some sort of duality going on in her head and only brings out the life side of her in the public. At the end of a hallway am faced with a giant door. The door has a strange pattern of silver, green and darker green. Of course I walk through it.

The room is a completely empty field of grass; the grass is a darker shade of green then normal. The only thing in this patchy field of grass is a war scythe, which blade stuck to ground as if refusing to move for anyone. Why keep this hidden? It's just a war scythe, well a beautifully designed one. This… feels strange; it feels like I'm drawn to this weapon and not the type of curiosity drawn either. Maybe it will steal my soul or something, but then again the pull towards the scythe isn't a forceful one, it's more of a suggestion. Hell maybe it is curiosity and I'm just stupid.

Why am I even worried I'll probably just phase through the goddamn weapon, even it is what think it is I got nothing to lose. I start getting closer to the blade and I can hear a small ringing noise from the scythe. You know what? I'm not going to question this. The handle is at arm's length at this point so I get closer and grab it… huh? Nothing happened. And then suddenly everything disappears and I'm surrounded by darkness, soon I find out am not as alone as I thought. A bone chilling voice echoes throughout the darkness.

"I have seen the creation of mankind, their rise and fall." Is this the scythe talking to me? Why would it even talk to me, I'm just nobody. Or maybe it's something else.

"When monsters came to their lands they sought out reason and protection from the gods, where reason could not found." Reason could not be found, that could mean that gods don't simply want to tell them the reason, but that's not right the gods said that the monster came through portals. Well that was at the time where monsters were monsters and not well…complicated. I've seen the drawings of the old monsters and they are terrifying, I commemorate the humans that have managed to fight against such beasts.

"Instead men found enslavement" I wouldn't say we are enslaved per se, we are just worship them and they give us blessings. Although I would say the worshiping is been a bit overdone and I don't like the idea of constantly relying on the gods for help.

"Bending to the will of the gods was a temporary solution, a solution that stunted their [1] growth." I have heard and seen I few heretics in this world that proclaim that the gods are using and hindering us. Although I did ignore their pleas as they died, but that still raises the question. What are the gods using us for, if they are using us for something?

"I saw them build such vain monuments." That's one of the things I can agree on, monuments aren't going to help in a war, yet people still build them. Of course there is the whole keeping our culture thing, but there will be no culture if we lose this war.

"Soon the time will come where you will question the reality of this world."

"Soon a revelation will happen where you will see the world as it truly is."

"Soon that time will come."

I wake up with a sharp breath; guess it was all just a dream. There is nothing to worry about. I'm still inside my room in the tavern so everything is probably as should be; nothing appears to be missing… so that's good. Now… what's my next course of action? Well…I guess I would have to evaluate what happened to me. I have lost a battle in which all of the other soldiers got captured. I then manage outrun the search party, in which I managed to disarm one of their comrades. Ha… disarm.

Question is… why did I think I couldn't go back to the order? They would still most likely to accept me, I mean I didn't dessert I simply fell in battle. What also is quite interesting is that in the battle I heard a loud bang and saw some orange lights and then I woke up in a ruined fort. The hell was that? Were they testing some new weapons?

I think I should have rephrased my first question… do I want to join the order cause as far as they know I'm dead, and in the order I'm just a no-body templar, not some hero. In fact regular soldier weren't treated was nicely either even if they were willfully fighting in the war… that is rather idiotic. No one should do that allies or soldier, that only breeds distrust and traitors. Even if I return I would probably be placed in a different division and sent out blindly charging into the enemy.

What to do now? Well the first question is what am I good at? Fighting and killing there was nothing much taught in the order? I did teach myself human and monster autotomy, one must know the enemies weakness in order to have a chance to beat them. So could I become a mercenary, though I don't want become that, I'm afraid it is my only. Well there is also a being a bodyguard but what difference is there. I could become a monster hunter those kinds of jobs are profitable.

"Oh what to do? What to do?" I murmur to myself and grab the hilt of my new sword and pull it out of the sheath and take a look at the reflection. I don't know why I do that, maybe it was just too do something while I ponder. I inspect myself… there I was with my current serious face. My hair is a dark brown shade and nobody would really notice the brown unless I was in direct light, it is quite messy as it always is. I do manage to keep my face clean during between battles so it's unsurprising to see slightly messy, that normally happens in the battle field. I have an urge to take a second glance at my face to see if missed anything. My reflection was slightly off. It was still me but the reflection has green demonic like eyes. I shake my head and sheath the blade, maybe I'm still mentally exhausted. Still I shouldn't waste my time sleeping, and only ordered the room for a day.

I put on the rest of my armor and clip the sheath to my belt. I walk out the inn, simply telling the owner that my stay is over, he replies with a nod. I look at the notice board near the inn, there appears to be a request. It seems there is some suspected demonic activity going on around these parts of town…huh? There are probably some spies in this place. I take the paper… guess this the start of my new career.

I continue deeper into the city and end in the city center. The amount of people here is insane… I don't think it would be possible to find someone here who is a demon by sensing demonic energy since the energy leaking out would be hidden by spiritual energy. I manage to somehow find an unoccupied bench, I take seat.

A small group of women pass by me and mind immediately goes on alert. Did I just find the demonic activity just by sitting here for about an hour? Fate has smiled upon me. I've got to tail them and collect some evidence. I start tailing the group, fitting in the crowds. I think am being too suspicious, but I can't increase the distance without lose them. I think I may be able to use that power to tail successfully.

I close my eyes and focus my mind to find them, open them I see that is has worked, but has not produced the result I needed. I can see the souls of crowds of people around. It's actually a lot different from a monster one; it's a light a blue color and is rather calming to see. No... I need to see demonic energy. Perhaps focusing a little bit more will do the trick. I do the same thing once more but instead of the thought of trying to find something, I know exactly what to find. I focus my senses to find demonic energy and filter out the spiritual energy.

I succeeded… the souls of humans disappeared leaving. But what's interesting is that in the location of the crowds a faint blue haze is formed. So I'm still able to see people energy even if I'm filter it out, nice to know that. What is more importantly, I have to focus on the target, although there is something quite interesting about the monster, they don't appear to leaking any demonic energy into the surface. I'm guessing they noticed the military are getting notified of suspicious activity. Although from what I heard from the order, monsters have a hard time hiding their energy. This could mean they're really strong or are specializing in spying and espionage.

I manage to successfully follow them to their hideout in the rural part of the city. I should wait before I could some evidence before attacking them otherwise I would probably look like I'm trying to murder a group of women. Wait until there is no trace of them in their hideout and then find some evidence of them being monster. If there is none, then am going to have to go above the law to reveal their true identity.

~time skip~

After waiting until nighttime the monster left their hideout, as I suspected. I get up from the tree I'm leaning on. I continue to walk down the road leading their hideout. During the daytime I increased the distance between me and the house just in case.

So how long will I stay there? As soon as I find something I will leave, but if don't find anything I might need leave whenever I will feel danger. What do find… a journal or diary? God…I don't what to even want to know what I will read or that I want read. Maps with secret entrances and tunnels might also do. Something demonic could also do.

I feeling like I crashed into something I look down. It was a woman; she has red hair and crimson eyes. There is a small strange glow to them. Probably nothing, actually I should probably help her up and not stand here like an idiot.

"Uhh… sorry miss didn't see where I was going." I stretch my hand out, she grabs it and I pull her up.

"No it's not your fault; I'm the one that bump into you sorry." I glance at her, she appears to be wearing some kind of gothic style clothing, could be a noble, but most noble I met are stuck up pricks

"I don't think it's safe for you to be walking around in the night, who knows who might be out there." When I was in the orphanage was taught to be kind to strangers, consider their safety in any situation. Of course with this, sometimes people may come off as creepy and I just hope I didn't seem creepy.

"I'm flattered you consider my safety, but I ensure you that I can handle myself just fine." She gestures to the arming sword hanging. I can't stay in this conversation for long, I'm losing time.

"Well I'll leave to your business, have a good night." I walk off in the direction I was originally intended to go. I guess that was a fun distraction.

I walk to the front door of the house; it seems to be middle class house, nothing out of the ordinary, which is expected. I look at the door thinking what is my next course of action would be. I wait a little just to make sure nobody sees to anything to the door. So what do exactly I do? I wouldn't be able to pick the lock if even if I had the tools to it, but there is also the frontal approach, kicking the door down, with that though I raise my leg and kick the door with my newly found strength, to my surprise the completely shatters in pieces. Either this door is extremely fragile or I underestimated my strength, well… no time to think about it.

Search through the rooms I find…nothing, it seems this going to be harder than I thought. Although I did find a locked door that going to bust down and so I kick the door open, this time the door simply flies off its hinges.

If the other rooms weren't incriminating, this one defiantly is, actually the subtlety is completely gone. Which is slightly hilarious, I mean it goes from a normal human house to a something you would only find described in erotic novel. But of course even without the whole theme the monster have going it would still set off red flags. There is a literal map of hidden tunnels and weak point on the wall. That is moronic, nobody would just put up a valuable document wall for the people to see, and well I do give them benefit of the doubt since this is in private property and should be here.

But the thing is I can't just take the map and call it night, the maps too big to carry. I'll just pick things from the table. A piece of paper with what appears to be a list of people names, I don't what that is. A book about eromancy…I think I can use that as evidence since eromancy is technically forbidden by most human mage guilds and the entire order and they are really hard to come by unless you live in a monster side of the world. Searching even further I manage to find a journal with quite interesting topics which I will not recall for the sake of my sanity.

I did find a rather interesting book titled beginnings of umbramancy which is quite odd, first of all umbramancy is very rare type of magic, I only heard of a human cult that practice it. Second of all umbramancy spells are mostly offensive from what I can recall, which monster don't really practice in. Almost all monsters I came across that can use magic only really had a few spells that are offensive, even I they were offensive they only cause a strange throbbing of the wounds. Umbramancy from what can gather from this book is more of a quick death type magic and don't think there are many spells that can be modified. Well hell if I know some monsters manage to modify flamestrike, fucking flamestrike.

I think spent here too long so I put the umbramancy book in my pouch and hold the journal and eromancy book in my arms. I then leave the house and start sprinting towards the city-keep. During my time running from the village I haven't fully inspected how fast I was running and I'm pretty sure I'm running as fast as a well-trained army horse. Maybe getting hit by that thing made me stronger, which doesn't really make sense even if you apply the logic of human adaptability. Well… many other humans have done crazier things then I have.

I already see the front gates, is I get closer I'm stopped by a guard. "Halt! Who goes there?'' The volume of the voice is really not needed seeing as I'm almost a couple of steps away from him. Well it is also to alert the other guards.

"The name's Arthur…I here to complete a request that is on mission board." Nice and simple, nothing over specify. The guard sighs and looks up, what's this all about?

"Open the gates!" the guard practically screams of the top of his lungs, yikes I know screaming or yelling can hurt ones throat so if this his job then that must be painful. The guard then looks at me.

"Did you really have to come here at midnight?" Is it that late… I look at the sky and see a moon staring back at me. Guess it really is that late.

"I apologize if my choice of time may have disrupted your work, but this is a bit." The man near the gate seems to relax a bit.

"No problem kid." I flinch at the kid part, did the guard really call him a kid. "I see you're a lot nice than all the bounty hunters that have been here, just don't cause any trouble." Did he just call me a kid? Maybe I just look young, anyway having the knowledge of how to talk formerly really can come in handy especially with nobles. They stop thinking you're some muscle-head brute. The gates open up and I just noticed that one of the guards is asleep, must be a heavy sleeper judging from how laud his gate keeping partner is.

"Oh yeah… take the stairs on the right and you should find the cap's office, just knock on the door." The voice rings out from behind me; I thank the guard and the take the stairs on the right of me. I find a door labeled captain's office. I knock on the door. A voice rings out calling me inside the office.

I open the door and see piles of files and books scattered around. This place looks a little mess, mostly because files. The general stops staring into the paper work he is doing and looks up. There are bags under his eyes probably from the work he has been doing.

"What are you here and please make it quick, there are a couple of people on my ass today for not "keeping up" with work." His voice is gruff with a bit of disdain for the people who are making him do this paper work.

"Ah… I'm here to fulfill a request, to report demonic activity." I pull out the request from my pouch, the general's eyes slightly widen and then go back to their normal size, and he puts away the paperwork and sighs while holding his head.

"Well then…what is it?" his voice has a tired tone to it… could be because of the work load or because people are paranoid and keep reporting "demonic "activity.

"Well I believe I have found their hideout and I have something to prove this with." I show the "interesting" journal and the eromancy book. The general grabs both books. He looks at the eromancy and puts it down. He then proceeds to take a look at the journal… what's surprising is his face expression doesn't change.

"Well finally, I'm going to be done with that request and the inquisitors might get off my ass." Inquisitors huh? They probably settled in here they then to do that to protect newly founded cities and lead the development of an inquisitorial cathedral although I wouldn't bet on the latter. Now what role do the inquisitors play in the order? While the heroes of the order may be the poster boys, the inquisitors are the real muscle, I made that discovery when I was assigned to a group were the leader was an inquisitor I saw no heroes fight like he did. The inquisitorial organization is also quite secretive not much is known about them.

Most of the people that have access to the monster encyclopedia often probably wonder why the Lilims or the Demon lord just corrupt the orders lands simply by their presence. The answer is pretty simple the chief god and the high lord inquisitors. I'm very sure some high lord inquisitors are on par with Lilims in terms of power.

"Here take this letter and give it to a priest in the main cathedral then lead the people that are going to come with you to the hide out, then go to me for the reward, they will handle the rest." Oh… was spaced out a bit there… I take the letter in my hands and nod.

I head out the keep and look at deeper part of the city thinking that the cathedral must be in the city center as it should be. I dash at the same speed I did before reaching the cathedrals doors in a few minutes.

I knock on the door, maybe I knocked a little too hard. I see a light from the windows approaching the door. With a loud creak the door opens, revealing a rather small looking priest. His face showing the emotion of confusion and…fear?
"I was sent to deliver this letter to an inquisitor residing in this cathedral." Straight to point, I need to finish this fast if we want to catch those monsters. I show the letter, the priest mumbles and takes the letter with trembling hands, maybe he's nervous wreck. The priest then proceeds to close the door and presumably go fetch the inquisitor.

After waiting for a couple of minutes the cathedral doors fully swing open behind the are a squad of armed soldiers with the symbols of the order, the only person without a helmet is probably the inquisitor. "I'm inquisitor Damian, now if please lead the way.

The inquisitor doesn't seem to waste time either, so I gestured the way to the hideout and began running, as expected they are running behind …thankfully I don't display my new found talent for running fast. We eventually find ourselves to the monster hideout and they're exploring the house, the inquisitor walks up to me and says. "Thank you help in rooting out evil; I've seen you done quite the number on those doors." He laughs… maybe I went a little overboard with the whole exploring the house thing.

"We will handle the rest; you can tell the captain you are done." The inquisitor instantly shifts to a more serious tone. As nod and go to the general to complete the request.

Everything goes normally I tell the captain I'm done, he gives me a bag of gold and leave him to his duties, but not without asking him where I can find more jobs. Apparently there is a town Wilshire… seems to have bandit problem. Well nothing I can do at night… so I head back to the tavern.

The tavern is surprisingly empty for a tavern; don't get me wrong there is still quite a bit of people here. I approach the tavern keeper and the completely empty front table. I take a seat and say while placing a couple of coins. "Give me a room for one night and a bit of whiskey."

The tavern keeper wordlessly puts a key and a small mug of whiskey. Grab the mug of whiskey and the key, I then thank the tavern keeper and head to my room. After entering my room, I put off my armor and weapons and sit on the edge of the bed.

I look at the whiskey in the mug and I think about my life; however those thoughts are interrupted by the green demonic like eyes in my reflection. What the hell… this must be a hallucination, maybe that blast messed up my head a bit. I take full swig of the mug drain it of its contents and lay down on the bed.

'Huh… I wonder what's going to happen next.'