Among Monsters (Tensura)

Chap 4.

James sat in the quiet of the library, his mind still racing from everything he had just learned. He was trying to make sense of the overwhelming flood of information when his thoughts turned back to his skills.

Okay, I get Annihilation Creator, he thought, absentmindedly flipping through a book on geography. But what the hell is Sovereign's Sanctuary? The name didn't sound familiar at all, not like Annihilation Creator did. He wracked his brain for any connection to anime or games, but nothing came to him.

It's called Sovereign's Sanctuary, so… by 'Sovereign' it must have something to do with control over something... James thought, trying to decipher the meaning behind the name. And Sanctuary... is it like a safe zone? Like in a game?

He thought hard, trying to piece together any clue from his limited knowledge. Maybe it's some kind of protective skill? A way to control or protect something, like a safe haven? But the more he thought about it, the more uncertain he became. He couldn't recall any anime abilities that fit the description, and the name didn't seem to trigger any memories.

With a frustrated sigh, James set the book down and turned his attention to his third skill—Perception. It must be related to my senses, he mused, tapping his fingers on the table. Maybe it's some kind of enhanced vision or awareness? He had seen in anime before that characters often called out their skills, either aloud or in their heads, to activate them. Could that work for me, too?

He glanced around the library, making sure no one was watching. If this really is the world from Tensura, then I can't let anyone know I'm from Earth. The Kingdom of Falmuth is notorious for summoning otherworlders and turning them into weapons—enslaving them to exploit their unique skills. The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine. I've got to be careful.

James decided he wouldn't try out the skill here, not in the library where someone might see him and get curious. Instead, he resolved to test it once he was safely back at the inn, away from prying eyes.

For now, though, he had more pressing matters to attend to. He grabbed another book from the shelf, this one about the currency system in the world. I'll need to know how money works here if I'm going to survive. He opened the book, scanning through the pages that detailed the various types of currency in use across the kingdoms.

The primary currency was the Dwargon Coin, minted by the dwarves in the Armed Nation of Dwargon. James read about how the coins were enchanted with Engraving magic to prevent counterfeiting. The book described four types of Dwargon coins: copper, silver, gold, and the rare Stellar Gold Coins. The Stellar Gold Coins were the most valuable, made through a special dwarven process that imbued them with magicules, making them not only valuable but also somewhat artistic. According to the book, only one Stellar Gold Coin could be minted per month, which made them incredibly rare and used mostly for large business transactions between nations.

James frowned as he thought about how the exchange rate would work between these coins and the modern currency he was familiar with. A copper coin probably isn't worth much, but a Stellar Gold Coin... He couldn't even imagine how much it would be worth. One thing was for certain: he would have to be careful with how he spent his money in this world. Buying power can vary greatly, the book mentioned. People living in rural areas rarely saw a gold coin, but could still get by with a modest lifestyle, while those in urban areas had more access to wealth.

He closed the book and moved on to the next one, which explained Magicules. This was a term James remembered well from the Tensura anime. The book described magicules as a type of spiritual matter that existed in the world, heavily influenced by living beings. They're the building blocks of monsters, James mused as he read. Magicules are like sustenance for them... The book also mentioned how humans had a low tolerance for magicules, which made them vulnerable to exposure. I guess that explains why humans can't use magic like monsters can. Their bodies just can't handle it.

The book went on to explain how Demi-humans had higher tolerances for magicules, and how this had led to discrimination and jealousy. That sounds about right, James thought, remembering the deep-rooted prejudices that often appeared in the anime. The book also warned that too much exposure to magicules could lead to death. I'll have to be careful about that...

As he continued reading, James came across another section that detailed the ranks of adventurers. The ranks went from F to Special-S, with F rank being given to those with little to no combat ability, while Special-S ranked adventurers were powerful enough to be considered on par with True Dragons and Demon Lords. James shivered as he read about the S and Special-S ranks—these were the types of threats that could wipe out entire nations. Demon Lords, True Dragons... these are the real dangers in this world.

The book also classified monsters based on their danger level, from Hazard-class monsters, which could destroy entire towns, to Disaster-class monsters, which were on par with Demon Lords. The final classification, Calamity-class, was reserved for beings like True Dragons, whose power was beyond comprehension.

Great... just what I needed to know, James thought, feeling a chill run down his spine. I'm stuck in a world with monsters that can level cities and demons who can wipe out entire nations. He closed the book and rubbed his eyes. This world is even more dangerous than I thought.

With his head spinning from everything he had read, James decided it was time to leave the library. He needed some time to process everything and figure out his next steps. Exiting the library, he began walking back toward the inn, the weight of the world settling on his shoulders.

Okay, he thought to himself. I've got the skills, the knowledge... but I still don't know how to survive here. I'll need to keep a low profile, stay under the radar, and keep my skills hidden. The last thing I want is to end up like one of those enslaved otherworlders in Falmuth.

His thoughts drifted back to the Sovereign's Sanctuary skill, still a mystery to him. Once I figure that out, I'll have more options for survival. For now, though, his best bet was to focus on keeping his skills and his true identity a secret.

As the sun began to set over the city, James quickened his pace, eager to return to the safety of the inn and prepare for whatever challenges lay ahead in this strange, dangerous world.

End of chap.