A Zoologist’s Guide to Surviving Magical Creatures

A side effect? What do you mean?" I demanded, closing the distance between me and Usumgallu in an instant. Without even realizing it, my hand had latched onto the collar of his shirt, yanking him forward.

A wave of something raw and uncontrollable surged through me—anxiety, anger, an itch to throw a punch just to relieve the pressure in my chest.

My vision blurred at the edges, painted in shades of red. My body buzzed with restless energy, my fingers twitching with the urge to strike.

And worst of all? I was smiling.

A slow, sinister grin spread across my face before I could stop it.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, a voice screamed that this wasn't normal, that I wasn't the type to lose control like this. But another part of me, the one riding the high of this unfamiliar rage, wanted to shut that voice up.

Usumgallu, however, remained unbothered. Completely unfazed. His stoicism was almost infuriating in itself—his expression didn't flicker, his composure didn't crack. Even with my fist clutching his collar, he didn't so much as flinch.

"Tell me what the side effect is," I hissed, my voice dangerously low, "or else—"

"Well, there's no choice now, is there?" he replied coolly.

A firm hand gripped my shoulder.

"Carl."

Agnos's voice cut through the haze like a sharp gust of wind. His grip tightened, steady and grounding. "I suggest you take a deep breath and try to cool down. You're not yourself right now."

The moment he said it, the realization hit me like a slap to the face.

What the hell was I doing?

My fingers trembled as I slowly released Usumgallu's collar, stepping back like I had just woken up from a fever dream. My chest rose and fell rapidly, heart pounding like I had run a marathon.

Amaterasu had moved closer to Jiuge, gripping her arm, her usual radiance dimmed by worry. Her face was pale, her golden eyes darting between me and Usumgallu, unsure whether to intervene.

Jiuge, on the other hand, had shifted into a defensive stance, her arms crossed but her muscles tense, ready to react if I lost it again. Her nine tails flicked, their usual lazy sways replaced by sharp, alert movements.

"Yeah, Carl," she said, her voice firm but cautious. "You better calm down. Let's hear what this Usum guy has to say about your 'side effects' before you start throwing punches."

"The owner has caught the Bi-Blouk," Usumgallu stated flatly.

I blinked. "Bi-what now?"

"Bi-Blouk. A sickness native to the Darkness Realm—one that affects a person's psyche," he explained, adjusting his monocle.

"If left untreated, the owner might end up losing his mind and succumbing to eternal madness."

Agnos's frown deepened. "That's a serious side effect. How did Carl even get it?"

"Yeah, how?" I echoed, crossing my arms. "I don't remember walking through some cursed fog or stepping into a dark aura death zone."

Usumgallu sighed as if I were slow. "You got it from the stele's knowledge transfer, of course."

"What? You're saying I got infected just from downloading information into my brain? Because it got overloaded?"

"It's not the overload that caused it," he corrected, shaking his head. "The information itself was corrupted. The knowledge about the Forest of Forgotten Tales in Mythica has been tainted. And whatever happens to the realm… affects the knowledge tied to it."

Silence stretched between us.

Amaterasu gasped, her fingers tightening around Jiuge's arm. Jiuge, who had been standing with her arms crossed, slowly unfolded them, her ears twitching in alarm.

Even Agnos, who rarely showed much outward concern, had his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"The forest in your realm is sick," Usumgallu continued grimly. "The imbalance in Mythica has worsened to the point that it's affecting both the realm and those connected to it. Including you, Owner."

No. This couldn't be happening.

I clenched my fists.

I was this close to securing an extra V on my evaluation. If I could solve the mystery behind the Forest of Forgotten Tales and its connection to Amaterasu's issues with her celestial chart, I'd be one step closer to my goal. I wasn't about to let some mind-corrupting sickness derail everything.

Amaterasu, who had been silently clutching her sleeves, took a step forward. "Usumgallu, tell me the truth. Is Carl in immediate danger?" Her usual calm demeanor was strained, her golden eyes flickering with worry.

Usumgallu adjusted his monocle, unfazed. "If left untreated, the owner will eventually succumb to the madness."

Agnos let out a sharp breath. "That's a fancy way of saying 'yes.'" He folded his arms, his cat ears twitching in agitation.

"So let me get this straight. Carl got this Bi-blouk thing because the stele's information was corrupted? And now, he's at risk of losing his mind?"

His tail flicked behind him, a clear sign he was not happy. "Why wasn't there a warning label on that stupid stele? 'May cause permanent insanity—handle with caution!'"

"I agree," Jiuge added, her sharp gaze locked onto Usumgallu. "If the information was tainted, you should've at least provided some kind of countermeasure in advance."

She gestured at me, her voice growing firmer. "Carl's already dealing with enough. The last thing he needs is a psychological breakdown."

Usumgallu, ever the picture of professionalism, adjusted his monocle. "It is not my responsibility to ensure the owner's mental stability."

I let out a dry laugh. "Wow. Great customer service. Really makes me want to leave a five-star review."

Usumgallu ignored my sarcasm.

There had to be a way to fix this—fix me.

"How do I remove this side effect?" I asked, my voice betraying a slight tremor.

"You need to find the fairy Trauco. Only they can cure the Bi-Blouk," Usumgallu answered without hesitation.

"Fairy… Trauco?" I repeated it, making sure I heard correctly.

He nodded. "I can tell you where to find one. I'll send you the GPS location."

Relief flooded me. "Oh, thank you, Usumgallu. I owe you—"

I should have known better.

Usumgallu extended his hand expectantly.

I frowned. "Uh… what are you doing?"

"Your token, owner," he said, ever so professional. "I need to charge you for the location information."

I stared at him. "You're seriously charging me for telling me where to find the cure to my impending doom?"

"It's part of my job description," he replied curtly.

At that moment, I wanted to strangle him. My fleeting gratitude evaporated into pure regret. This wasn't a helpful storekeeper—this was a capitalist in its most cutthroat form.

Grinding my teeth, I shoved my token into his hand, wincing as I felt the essence drain out as payment.

I swear, if I don't die from Bi-Blouk, I'm going to die from being overcharged by this guy.