A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

Jiuge interrupted her, her tone sharp and serious. "Kaleon imparted his essence to him," she revealed, her eyes narrowing at Amaterasu.

Amaterasu blinked in confusion, clearly trying to process the information. Of course, she wouldn't know.

To her, I was just an MECCP employee assigned to solve a case. She had no idea about the core fragment I carried—the one imbued with Kaleon's essence, the Creator's very soul shard.

Usumgallu's brow furrowed as he studied the ledger. "That's unusual," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "Your realm... it appears other owners are attempting to siphon off parts of your property in secret."

"What?!" I exclaimed, leaning over the counter to get a better look.

Sure enough, the map displayed a faint, almost imperceptible fading of certain regions. It wasn't immediately noticeable, but now that it had been pointed out, it was unmistakable.

"What should I do?" I asked, panic rising in my chest. The thought of losing parts of Mythica—my realm, apparently—without even knowing about it sent my mind into overdrive.

Usumgallu didn't answer immediately. Instead, he tapped on his holo tablet with meticulous precision, his expression unreadable.

Finally, he spoke in his signature monotone. "Give me a moment. I need to verify the details. This matter lies beyond my domain. My duty is limited to the knowledge and resources of the C.C.C."

He paused, then added, as if it were a minor detail, "Besides, Owner, according to the ledger, you are merely the interim owner of Mythica."

I froze. "Interim owner?" I repeated, my voice shaky.

Usumgallu nodded. "Correct. Your token grants you provisional authority, but you are not yet the full owner. This title is contingent upon certain conditions being fulfilled. Until then, your control over Mythica is limited."

The weight of his words sank in, and I felt my legs weaken.

Interim owner? Limited control? And now there were others siphoning off pieces of the realm under my nose?

When the others heard I was just a temporary owner, Amaterasu let out a visible sigh of relief.

I turned to her, raising an eyebrow. She froze for a second, then flashed me a sheepish smile, realizing I'd caught her in the act.

Jiuge's lips curled into a smirk. "Well, that explains everything. Since you're only a temporary owner, it makes sense why these other owners are trying to snag a piece of the pie."

Usumgallu adjusted his monocle, nodding thoughtfully. "Indeed, that is a plausible scenario. When a realm is ownerless, it becomes vulnerable to claims from other owners."

He paused, his tone steady but firm. "Once a realm is claimed, it cannot be taken by force—provided the owner has enough power and essence to sustain their hold."

His gaze shifted to the map. "However, any imbalance within a realm, whether magical or structural, can provoke disputes over ownership."

I crossed my arms, shaking my head. "Wow. Why does this sound less like a mystical cosmic phenomenon and more like a corporate takeover?"

Agnos chuckled, leaning back against the counter. "Because, Carl, realms are a lot like empires. They're built, managed, fought over, and sometimes crumbled into nothing. You just happen to be the lucky mortal who stumbled into the big leagues."

"Lucky isn't exactly the word I'd use," I muttered.

Amaterasu cleared her throat, trying to regain composure. "In any case, it's not as dire as it sounds. Temporary or not, you've already done much for Mythica. That counts for something, doesn't it?"

Jiuge flicked her tails dismissively. "Sure, if we ignore the part where someone's clearly trying to carve out chunks of it behind his back." She leaned toward me, her sharp eyes narrowing. "The real question is, Carl—what are you going to do about it?"

I opened my mouth to respond but stopped. What was I going to do about it? I wasn't a strategist or a warrior.

I was just a zoologist trying to save the habitats and keep mythical creatures from going extinct. Now I was expected to fend off realm-thieves and balance cosmic scales?

"I... I don't know yet," I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. "But I guess I'll have to figure it out."

Usumgallu, still scrolling through his holo tablet, finally looked up and met my gaze. "Owner, I suggest you begin by stabilizing your realm. Addressing the imbalance will reduce the likelihood of other claimants targeting Mythica."

He gestured toward the endless shelves of books. "The C.C.C. contains a wealth of knowledge that may assist you in identifying and resolving the source of the disturbance."

His tone was calm, but the weight of his words settled heavily on my shoulders.

I sighed, already feeling the weight of the task ahead. "Alright. First step: fix Mythica. Second step: figure out how to stop these hostile takeovers."

Usumgallu adjusted his monocle as he continued, "Do you still require cross-realm knowledge on the Forest of Forgotten Tales?"

I looked up at him, noting the intensity in his gaze as he watched me, still fiddling with his monocle.

"Cross-realms?" I echoed, the term unfamiliar yet intriguing. If it could help, it was worth exploring. But then a thought struck me. "Wait, are you saying the Forest of Forgotten Tales exists in other realms too?"

"Correct," Usumgallu confirmed. "The Forest of Forgotten Tales is not confined to a single realm. In fact, it exists across all realms."

"All realms?" My jaw nearly dropped. "What do you mean by that?"

Usumgallu tilted his head slightly, scrutinizing me. "You truly have no knowledge of this? Interim or not, most owners would be aware." His tone was one of disbelief as he shook his head.

"The Forest of Forgotten Tales," he explained, "is an integral part of the Space and Time Elemental Leylines of a realm. Its presence is universal across all realms. Apart from the Space-Time Leylines, no other leyline has this unique interconnection. It's the sole pathway for cross-realm connections."

I stared at him, stunned. "So, you're saying the Forest of Forgotten Tales is like... a transportation hub? Like an airport?"

Usumgallu gave me a look that could only be described as the oddest mix of bemusement and exasperation. "An interesting interpretation, Owner."

Agnos broke into laughter. "Oh, Carl, only you could compare something ancient and mystical to an airport. That's why teasing you never gets old."

I shot Agnos a death stare, but he merely chuckled and turned away, completely unbothered.