It's a Griffin!
After jotting down a quick summary from Lizbet at the forest entrance about the mushrooms we needed to gather and the monsters that might show up, we headed into the woods together. I offered to take the lead at first, but she just said fine—then suddenly yelped "Ah!" and insisted on going ahead herself. No idea what that was about, but we swapped positions and started walking toward the spot with the target mushrooms. Her face looked kinda flushed, but probably just my imagination?
The mushrooms we were after were Energy Mushrooms, used as ingredients for stamina and vitality restoratives. Apparently, drinking a tonic made from them when you're worn out gives a pretty solid boost. As for monsters, this forest wasn't exactly crawling with them, but you could run into Forest Wolves, Forest Boars, or Red Foxes here and there. The names bugged me a bit since they matched Earth animals, but I figured it was some translation skill auto-adjusting things.
Those weren't big threats on their own, though. The real one to watch for was the occasional Griffin. They didn't normally spawn in a forest like this, but young ones passed through once or twice a year, sticking around just long enough for a quick hunt before moving on. No need to sweat it too much—the last reported casualty was from ten years ago. Still, a few unlucky souls had gotten seriously hurt or killed after crossing paths with one here, so we should stay cautious. Oh, and if you spot a big one using skills, run like hell. No pack of beginner adventurers could handle something like that. Guess I'd have to grab Lizbet and bolt at full speed if it came to it.
"Lizbet. Any rivers in this forest?"
"There's a small spring a bit off from where we're headed. Why?"
"Ah~ With a body like this, washing's a pain, so I figured if there was a river, I'd clean up before we go. Perfect timing."
"No wonder you reeked like a beast the whole ride... Back off a bit. You're disgusting."
This bitch...? As we chatted while scanning the woods, I whipped my head around at her smell comment. Lizbet was walking without even looking back. Her cloak hid most of it, but every step made it sway, flashing glimpses of her calves wrapped in white stockings and the curve of her ass peeking from under her skirt. I glared, pissed, but the sight killed any comeback brewing in my throat. I forced my eyes back to the forest.
Feeling kinda awkward, I racked my brain for small talk and remembered she was a mage, so I asked, "Come to think of it, Lizbet. Since you're a mage, mind if I pick your brain on the Humanization Skill?"
"Humanization Skill? What, you wanna turn human or something?"
"Yeah, pretty much... Living among humans in this form's a hassle, y'know."
"Hmm~ Well, I don't know the details... But from what I vaguely remember from books, monsters pick it up once they evolve into Divine Beasts and their Esser capacity grows?"
"Oh... So it unlocks when your Esser amount increases?"
That sounded promising. When I got my adventurer card, they said my Esser was off the charts—enough to rival an infinite-supply Hero, whatever the required threshold was. Lizbet, a talented mage, only had around 12,000. Seemed like I'd already met the quota on raw volume.
"Any other conditions?"
"Dunno the specifics. Even Divine Beasts don't explain it well. Probably something you get after living a long time?"
Wait, hold up. That's... If living for centuries is the condition, I'm fucked. I was in a hurry here.
"There was a Divine Beast who learned speech in 50 years and got Humanization after, so it's not set in stone. But since the principle's unknown, nobody really gets it."
"God, I hope longevity isn't a requirement."
"Who knows... Maybe it's the kind you pick up through training as a monster. Not sure if you could, though. Anyway, we're here."
I shot her a look for that unnecessary jab at the end, and sure enough, a slightly open clearing appeared ahead. Mossy grass covered the ground, dotted with green mushrooms here and there.
"I'll gather. You hold the bag and watch for monsters. If you miss one coming, your rating's trash and I won't hire you again. Do your job."
She dumped the bag and staff in front of me and started digging in. Bratty little shit... Watching her squat to pick mushrooms, my eyes locked onto her exposed thighs and jiggling tits. No, bad, focus! First quest—gotta stay sharp. I shook my head and scanned around.
Nothing stirred. Just the rustle of Lizbet working. Bored quick, I eyed a mushroom by my hoof and asked, "Lizbet. You said these help with fatigue... Work raw?"
She glanced over, smirked faintly, and replied, "Wanna try? Raw's a waste since there's no effect, but we've hit quota anyway."
Hmm, sure? No effect, but harmless to munch one. Tasted like dirt, nothing special... I chewed three more, then checked around again. Lizbet was wrapping up and standing when a faint wind caught my ear. I scanned up—
"!? Lizbet! Something's flying in from the sky!"
"W-what!? N-no way!"
She bolted to me, snatched her staff by the bag, and looked up. "......! It's a Griffin!"
The distant speck grew into a recognizable shape: eagle head, weird lower body, white wings—just like I'd imagined. Classic monster.
"Damn, of all times, no Als..."
The Griffin dove straight for Lizbet, ignoring me. I jumped in front, rearing to smash it down with my forehoof—
"Kieek!"
Incredible turn radius—it banked hard and soared back up. Speed aside, that maneuverability...
"Kiiiiiek!"
It screamed from above, prepping another dive. Griffins never gave up on prey, right? Had to take this one out.
"Tch...! Lizbet! Can you ground it!?"
"We'll see! Looks young at least! Fire Shot!"
A magic circle flared from her staff, launching fireballs. The Griffin dodged leisurely and charged her.
"Where you goin', ya little shit!"
I blocked again, but it anticipated, veering to her flank. Couldn't track the pivot, so I lashed out with a hind leg at its approach. "Soccer Kick!"
Grazed it, but no solid hit. Lizbet didn't miss the beat, forming another circle. "Fire Ball!"
A head-sized fireball erupted, slamming the Griffin's torso dead-on. Big explosion—it shrieked and tumbled.
"Kiiiiiek! Kieek! Kyaaak!"
I charged and nailed its rising head with another Soccer Kick. Neck snapped, body twitched—Lizbet's flames finished it.
"Haa... Divine Beast stats live up to the hype. But this one's size and no skills scream 'under a year old.'"
"Whoa... That was fast for a baby?"
"Give it a year here, it'll double in size. With skills? No chance for us. Way faster too."
Half my bulk and it grew that much in under a year? Faster on top? Would've been screwed if bigger.
"Sigh, baby means crap pay. Though we wouldn't have taken it down if larger..."
Damn, juveniles don't fetch much. I glanced at Lizbet, disappointed—
"...!! Lizbet! Behind! BEHIND!!"
"What!? Kyaa!!"
A massive green boar-like monster burst from her rear, charging. Was honey smeared on her or what? Mad Cow too—why always her?
She dodged sideways but slammed into a tree and fell. I lunged at the boar mid-charge—Soccer Kick. It flew meters, convulsed, and died. Hind Kick was OP.
"Hey, Lizbet. You good?"
"Ow... Hand's scraped. That monster bitch..."
She brushed off her hand rising—I swallowed hard. Her blouse around the chest had burst open, buttons gone. Tree branch snag, probably. Those huge tits were hypnotic even clothed; now with flesh spilling and pink bra peeking, my uncalled cock surged rock-hard. No! But the jiggling mounds... No way it'd go down. Good thing the cloth hid it, or she'd have seen the monstrous horse dick.
Wanted to look away, but two months of forced abstinence fried my brain—it drilled into her chest. She stood, caught my stare, froze... Blushed hard, covered up, and bolted to the half-charred Griffin corpse.
"I-I'll dismantle the Griffin...!"
I caught my breath, watching her run, then dragged the boar aside. Away from her knife work, my dick stayed raging.
***********************************************************************************************************
Dismantling done, we found the nearby spring. She needed to rinse a cut from butchering; I wanted a wash too. While she cleaned her hands, I shut my eyes, reciting the Heart Sutra to stuff my erection away. Zero effect. Worse—my body burned hot, like I'd grab any female monster in sight.
"A-all clean. Can come in now."
Lizbet, face still red, clutched a small towel over her chest. Water, yeah. Cold dip should kill this heat. I started in, then remembered the cloth. Forgot I was hard as fuck and said, "Lizbet? Untie the cloth on me."
"Uh... Huh!? O-okay..."
She startled, approached, undid it. Bending for the leg bag—
"H-hiiik......"
She gasped in horror, but my fevered brain ignored it. Just needed cold water NOW. She fumbled the bag off with shaky hands; I dove into the spring.
Cold hit, I chanted sutras. Dick didn't shrink much, but slight calm. Dunked my head a few times, mind clearing—I glanced at Lizbet. She sat against a rock, fidgeting hands, head down. Hurt? Then I noticed: mind clearer, but body still boiled. Even in ice water, bubbling fever. Why? Flash—mushrooms before Griffin. Stamina tonic, right?
"Uh...... Lizbet? Those gathering mushrooms... Raw's really ineffective?"
She flinched, hemmed and hawed, then—
"S-sorry..."
"For what?"
"Truth is... Raw, they're crazy potent. One keeps you up all night... We process to weaken for meds..."
......What? This heat from that?
"O-one's enough? I chomped three or four..."
"D-didn't think you'd eat that many... Tasteless raw, figured one or spit... Meant to prank a little..."
So... Two months blue-balled, I blamed that—but mushrooms? Prank? This... this... You fucking bitch Lizbet!!!!
Clearing mind reheated, twisted misogyny awoke—I leaped from the spring unthinking.