“How... how is this...?”

How many times have I heard this question?

Probably about nine times. Out of ten people, I was the only one who didn’t mutter something like that.

As we descended further below the cathedral, the creatures we encountered grew larger and more grotesque. At first, they looked like bears, tigers, or lions—at least, they resembled these animals in some way. Of course, they weren’t normal animals.

If a Japanese company had designed these monsters, they might have appeared cute. There are famous examples of such designs, and Japan’s culture has a penchant for small, adorable things. …