Now, over the course of two volumes, I have introduced you to a total of two hundred races of monsters. It would have been no surprise if, in making contact with so many, I had long since fallen to their clutches. Luckily, the monsters I met who already had companions gave me not a second look as they and their husbands proudly told me their stories.
While reading the new monster profiles in this book, how did you feel? Did you find them threatening? Or did you think them to be fascinating?
Monsters are changing, humans are changing - the whole world is in the midst of upheaval. For better or for worse, the world always changes. It it up to you how to feel about it all, but I hope you will make good use of the knowledge provided in this book while living amid these transformations. I, for my part, am taking a sojourn in the eastern island nation of Zipangu-far from the sway of the Order. As this country is mercifully free of pursuers seeking to put me to death for penning such books, I have at last had a chance to write in peace.
I have been discussing with my spritely traveling companion, a leanan sidhe, where to go next. Most likely, I shall abide in Zipangu a bit longer to flesh out my knowledge, whereafter I shall sail north in search of monsters not yet seen, to be found on the Continent of Mist. Incidental to this voyage, I have heard that the waters themselves hold monsters such as I have never met, lurking in the deep, living in ways we could never fathom and charming those who pass.
Should my travels prove safe, I expect to write the third volume on the Continent of Mist.
Otherwise, I intend to write it in the depths of the ocean. In either case, I hope we shall meet again.
- A certain wandering scholar of monsters -