-------------- Third-Person Point of View (Simon) --------------
["To sum it up, you want the rat kid's bestiary. What does the rat kid get out of it?"]
[[[[…]]]]
At Astrad's predictable words, the room sinks into an uncomfortable silence.
I still say "predictable"; it seems this is only my own assessment and that of his group.
["Are you serious?"] - Franco is the first to break the silence, his words laced with obvious frustration.
Milia is speechless; she opens and closes her mouth as if gasping for air. Perhaps she was fully aware that Astrad would respond this way, but, clinging to some twisted idea of "redeeming him for his own good," she still can't accept it.
Or maybe, the countless verbal blows she suffered on the way here finally made her realize what it means to be truly on the bad side of that boy with the sarcastic smile.
["Astrad, I know we haven't had the best relationship, but in times like these…"]
As soon as Carlos spoke, Astrad rolled his eyes with sharp indifference, like an adult with no patience for children, forced to listen to them babble.
[[[…]]]
He didn't even have to speak; a simple gesture was enough for most of our group to grit their teeth in helplessness.
["Astrad, that's enough,"] —Milia finally said—. ["Do you know how many lives that journal could help?"]
But, far from returning his attention to us, Astrad was sprawled out with his legs and arms extended on the 3-seater sofa.
He seemed more interested in the bag of chips that Louise, sitting next to him, had opened.
["Give the rat kid some,"] – he said as if he didn't even acknowledge our existence.
["I want some too,"] – urged the little girl on Astrad's other side as she flopped onto his legs, reaching her hands toward Louise.
["If I'm sharing, wait a second."]
["No need to share."]
["Just for us."]
Louise rolled her eyes, but her face showed no exasperation, only a provocative smile.
Of course, the target of that smile was as clear as day.
It was as if she were saying she didn't even need to utter a word to steal all the attention that we, and more specifically, Milia, could only dream of getting from Astrad.
["Hey, Louise said it's for everyone."]
["And what's it to me?"]
["LET GO!"]
["GYAAA"]
Quickly, Astrad's group began fighting over snacks.
And of course, the scene made Franco and the others clench their teeth with a mixture of frustration and indignation.
["Astrad!"]
The first to explode was Franco, his voice harsher than he himself realized.
["Are you really going to deny us vital information because of your inveterate selfishness?"] - Carlos, though clenching his fists, spoke in his usual "altruistic" tone, the one he had used countless times to morally hijack his opponents.
[Kekeke]
Finally, Astrad paid attention to us again, not because he cared, but for the enjoyment of watching a bunch of monkeys dance in his hands.
But Carlos, either because he didn't notice, or because he hadn't given up, continued.
["We're not asking you to give up your journal, just let us take a few pictures, we'll do the rest, then we'll distribute it on forums to the survivors. You won't have to do a thing. What do you say?"]
Carlos concluded his monologue with some recovered confidence; in his eyes, he had begun to understand Astrad.
But the answer was obvious.
["How does that benefit the rat kid?"]
Simple, sharp, a question so damn logical it hurt.
[[ASTRAD!]]
Franco and Milia finally exploded, shouting the name that was once familiar to them with contained anger as they stood up. And of course, the others who had come with them followed their lead.
But the momentum didn't last long.
Grrrr
A growl, not too deep, not too high-pitched. Not too loud, not too soft.
The dog (if you can even call a wolf that was clearly injected with growth hormones that) which was at Astrad's feet, lifted its head slightly and looked at us with a suffocating calm.
For an instant, I couldn't help but feel like I was under the gaze of a ruler… even though it was just an overdeveloped wolf.
[[[[…]]]]
[kekeke]
Amidst the alienated group, Astrad laughed mockingly.
["Do you know how many lives you could save?"]
["How many cans of food is that for the rat kid?"]
[[[[...]]]]]
Soon, communication stalled.
["This… If it's okay with you…"]
Finally, my voice echoed in the room, more a murmur than a question, but it was enough in the suffocating silence.
Slowly, I take a box out of my backpack.
Some limited-edition chocolates I grabbed on a whim earlier. Considering the overall situation, I'm not proud of my weakness, but… They're limited-edition…
["Can some information be traded for this…?"]
[Kekeke…]
I could feel it at that moment; Astrad's gaze towards me changed.
As if for the first time, he had acknowledged my existence.
Not just him; Louise also sent me a knowing smile, as if I had met her expectations.
["The journal is incomplete. Based on what we have so far, on average, 80% of the information on each monster is correct in the most optimal cases, only 30% in the nastiest cases. More characteristics almost always need to be added; the information is too superficial. Do you still want it?"]
For the first time, I heard Astrad speak in full sentences without including insults or sarcasm.
The contrast disconcerted me for a few seconds, but I nodded.
Then, he raised his hand as if to catch something, and I understood immediately.
Without a second thought, I tossed the box into his hands.
Astrad examined the contents, and his smile widened.
["I didn't see these in the store before."]
["I found them by chance, hidden behind the shelves… probably an employee hid it to take later."]
["…Do you know what will happen if the idiots out there start thinking of the journal as an absolute source?"]
Astrad spoke with indifference while Louise took her phone and held it up; the screen showed a QR code. She wanted me to scan it.
The transaction seemed casual, but the eyes of both of them were examining me.
I knew that behind the question, there was a rather deep… and sinister meaning.
Following his intent, I answered loud enough for everyone to hear.
["People will lose their caution… As soon as they confirm a few superficial things, they'll become arrogant… And arrogance will lead them to their deaths… Publishing that incomplete journal, without the proper precautions and clarifications, is no different from killing millions with your own hand…"]
In this world, correct information is your best weapon… And the incorrect kind, your most brutal executioner.
[[[[…]]]]
[Kekeke]
.......
Explanation of the Journal's Structure (Astrad's Special Idiot-Proof Version)
Now listen up, you morons. The rat kid knows you're all too stupid to understand even the simplest information.
That's why the rat kid, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, has provided you with this summarized explanation for retards, flexi-straights, straight-up assholes, and all that other bullshit that's been floating around lately.
Try to use that single quarter of a neuron you have to burn this into your tiny little heads, assuming you want to survive.
Block I: THREAT ASSESSMENT
This is where I separate the "annoying bugs" from the "guaranteed causes of death." Pay attention.
CLASSIFICATION (The Monster's "Job")
This tells you its role in this hellscape. It's their primary instinct.
Venator (Hunter): It sees you as food. Its goal is to hunt you, kill you, and devour you. Simple and direct.
Territorialis (Guardian): You entered its house uninvited. It doesn't hate you, but it hates that you're there. It will attack to protect its nest, its food, or simply its square meter of land.
Parasitus (Invader): It wants to use you. As a nest, as transport, as a catalyst. The danger isn't just death; it's becoming something worse.
Anomalia (The Glitch): It doesn't follow the rules. An error in the code of reality. Its logic is incomprehensible and, therefore, extremely dangerous. Don't try to understand it, just survive it.
ELEMENTALIS (Incarnation): The ones here are pretty and ugly. Pretty because they're a fantasy, creatures that use elemental abilities like in "Avatar," or creatures directly made of an element—an otaku's dream. Ugly because… well, you have to fight flame-throwing bears and stuff.
Hybrids: Some creatures are complex enough to have two jobs. The first classification is always the dominant one.
DANGER LEVEL (The Probability You're Going to Die)
A color and star scale so that even the slowest brain can understand the gravity of the situation.
GREEN (1-5 stars): Pests. Nuisances that can kill you if you're exceptionally stupid or unlucky… Or if they come in swarms.
YELLOW (1-5 stars): Conditional Threats. This is where your gear makes the difference. A Yellow creature can be a deadly challenge for a guy with a stick, but a manageable problem for someone with a gun. It's the apocalypse's "gear check."
ORANGE (1-5 stars): Severe Threats. The point where conventional firearms start to be insufficient. These creatures have armored skin, regeneration, or dirty tricks. Coming prepared is mandatory.
RED (1-5 stars): Extreme Threats. Forget your handgun. Here we're talking explosives, high-caliber weapons, or exploiting a nearly impossible weakness. Facing one is often a suicide mission.
BLACK (Off the Scale): Extinction Events. It has no stars because it's not a fight. It's a natural disaster. If you see one, the only strategy is to run and pray it doesn't look in your direction.
AGGRESSIVENESS LEVEL (The "Why" of the Fight)
This tells you how short its fuse is.
Passive: It ignores you unless you attack it directly. Leave it alone.
Reactive: If you trigger its instinct, you're done for. It varies (entering its territory, looking appetizing, it just not liking you, anything that awakens its aggression). But they usually have a reason to attack you, be it hunger or just to make you go away.
Opportunistic: You can also see them as scavengers. Only attacks the weak, the lonely, or when it has an overwhelming advantage. But don't be mistaken, sometimes it's not about weakness; sometimes they just like to play… and they play dirty.
Relentless: It hates you just for existing. It will attack on sight, without hesitation, and to the bitter end.
Block II: COMBAT FILE (TL;DR)
The summary for those who don't have time to read. If you can only process two pieces of data before things get ugly, make it these.
TYPE (What's it made of?)
Beast: Flesh and bone. It bleeds and dies like any other animal.
Humanoid: Human-shaped. Often smarter and with thumbs. Bad news.
Plant / Fungal: Ferns and mushrooms with bad tempers. Fire is usually your best friend.
Construct: Metal, stone, scrap, etc. Doesn't bleed. Look for a hammer or something electric.
Spectral: Ghosts and specters. Your bullets will probably pass right through. You need a plan B.
Aberration: Tentacles, extra eyes, and nightmarish anatomy. Good luck trying to find a weak spot.
AFFINITY (What's its "superpower"?)
Physical: Claws, fists, and teeth. Brute force or abilities that translate into real physical damage, like sonic bombs.
Fire/Ice/Electric: The usual stuff. It throws things that burn, freeze, electrocute, drown, etc.
Toxic: Poison, acid, gas. The fight doesn't end when you get away, but when you find the antidote.
Psychic: Attacks your brain, not your body. Armor is useless.
Shadow / Darkness: Plays with darkness, stealth, and fear. There's no ambiguity here: 99% of what comes out of the shadows wants to use you as a puppet or eat your soul. They are inherently hostile. But that 1%... if by some cosmic miracle you find a non-aggressive one, it's not an ally, it's your trump card. The loyalty of a shadow creature is absolute, an unbreakable friend in a world that only wants to kill you.
Light / Sacred: Manipulates light and "pure" energy. Careful, don't confuse "light" with "good." Most creatures with this affinity are neutral or even benevolent... but the ones that are hostile don't tear you apart; they purify you. It's a clean, absolute, and terrifying annihilation that erases you from existence. Believe me, sometimes the tentacles are preferable.
Conceptual: The category for Anomalies. Plays with rules like time, space... Pray.
End of the guide. There won't be a test, but if you fail, the coroner will be the one grading you.
—Astrad.