Ch 2 - Where Oh Where

Reah lifted her hands to cradle her head in anticipation for her fall, only to find herself scooped up and supported on both sides by two pairs of sturdy arms.

"Be careful, miss!"

Two distinctly feminine voices sounded from both ears at the same time.

However, her feet failed to respond in time, resulting in a half dragging posture as they pushed forward as a bumbling group of three.

But... who were these girls?

Reah's head and body felt heavy. Somehow, she had become heavily adorned with a ritualistic armor, making it difficult for her to even take a step.

With a heavily adorned dress and strange headgear to match, confusion engulfed her.

Reah was shocked into silence... had she died? Had she been sent to the next life? Or was this the underworld?

Questions wracked her mind, when suddenly, a familiar flash of blue appeared in the corner of her vision.

"Hello Host! Welcome to your second awakening!"

"Second..." A murmur escaped from her lips in a daze as she read the text, but then her breath hitched upon seeing the following line.

"Be careful not to slip up until we can review."

Her heartbeat threatened to come out of her chest... her window had changed! Stats were no longer provided, and only text would appear to talk to her, no matter how much she willed it.

"Miss, you've been quite silent since earlier... are you nervous about the selection ceremony?"

Reah slowly released a breath as if overwhelmed—well she was overwhelmed— and spoke slowly, knowing that she must respond, "The selection ceremony... but how to choose?"

Reah, often absent-minded, phrased her words cautiously. A second awakening was rare, and she had heard how dangerous it was for ability users to survive one.

However confused she was, there were still the survival tactics that she had learned at the academy that shouldn't go to waste.

But she still couldn't figure out where she was... possibly in a gate or instance? She wasn't really sure either.

"My lady, whoever you pick is a blessing to them... but preferably you must choose someone with good standing and excellent abilities to help assist you!"

A voice then chipped in from the other side, "And Handsome!"

"Great job host on gleaning some information before the interview! You have unlocked the naming function. Think 'Select' to implement!"

Select.

The woman to her right with deep thinking and words was called Anna, while the small one to her right obsessing over looks was Catalina... or Cat of short.

Which was funny, considering that both had a pair of fuzzy cat-ears on their heads... cat ears?

"Great observation skills host! We are currently in the Beast Continent!"

A faint blush covered Reah's face... They were in the Beast Continent!

Since the dimensional openings had begun 30 years ago, monsters flooded the planet, keen on occupying territory. Special ability users appeared to stop the disaster level monsters, and while major human settlements were able to survive, more rural areas suffered heavier damage.

The strongest monsters became kings in these areas and strategically attacked human settlements allowing smaller monster tribes to breed under their protection in exchange for labor.

The monsters were intelligent to an extent once reaching higher levels, and people called them demons.

However, not all things that emerged from the openings aimed to harm people.

Humans were finally able to connect and trade with alien races for resources and labor. In this way, more advanced civilizations were able to provide means of protection to humanity in exchange for minerals in a beneficial trade relationship.

However, on a darker note, the reason they didn't decide to conquer Earth was because of the monster calamities there making areas unsuitable for life, and the fact that the monster materials were also useful to them in some ways.

Creatures from urban myth, legends, and fairy tales emerged through the gates... one of the races being Beastmen.

Reah had found many rumors and gossip about the Beast Continent on one of her many nights of social media scrolling and "research."

One of the publicly known issues being fertility and a shortage of women. Humans had traded genetic research with the Beastmen in exchange for food supply resources, even sending human researchers to conduct tests and provide expertise.

However, because of the extensive varieties of Beastmen, 30 years could never be enough to get very far into the gene pool of these people, so many Beastmen still relied on old ways to conceive and pass on their legacies.

One way being polyandry.

Women held special positions across the continent for this reason. However, there was still discrimination in this case... with women being graded on fertility, some being offered status and others becoming vassals to these specially selected individuals.

But of course, these were just rumors...

As Reah, Anna, and Cat continued on their way, they began to run into other trios. Always composed of one woman in the center in similar attire to herself, and two on either arm, each with some kind of animal characteristic.

Cat then spoke up in an excited and hoarse whisper, "Look at everyone heading to the selection ceremony! But no one could be as beautiful as my Lady Ronja!"

Anna interrupted her, "Be humble Little Kitty, beauty isn't everything... It's just a shame..."

Anna and Cat then looked pensively at Reah... whose name should be Ronja, and sighed.

Reah then shook her head in seemingly resignation and sighed, "It's okay to say it..." as if she knew what was wrong.

Anna: "My lady, even though your fertility... is not at the top of the list..."

Catalina: "There will still be some who choose you."

Anna: "After all, at least you are able to give birth."

Reah's ears rung as they chimed in from her left and right one after another... and then it hit her... she would have to give birth!? And to give birth... she would have to do that!?

Window! Window! I can't have a baby! You have to send me back!

"Why not host? Have no fear - you have a newbie package in store! Presenting to you, the ultimate birthing physique! Any physical activities nourish you further and makes your skin plump and smooth! And even increases your level! Giving birth makes you more beautiful, and your hair thicker and longer! And as an ultimate bonus, we have blessed you with top fertility! Meaning that doing it only once will lead to a healthy litter of pups with the parent's best genes!"

Every word hammered on her heart, until finally, with the last sentence, she fainted...

"Miss Ronja!"