Chapter 42 - Actually, I Have a Cheat Too

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Chapter 42: An Honorable Beast Tamer

 

 

"Congratulations," Mars said, visibly moved. "Blue and green represent water and wood respectively. Since coming to Sarge, I haven't seen anyone with even one of these talents in many years—and now, to witness the birth of an Honorable Beast Tamer… it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime moment."

 

Mars's face had flushed with excitement. An Honorable Beast Tamer—discovered by him. Once this news spread, their Mage Guild was sure to gain much more recognition.

 

But to his surprise, Ge Yan didn't react at all the way he had expected. Instead, the young man blinked in confusion. "Is being a Beast Tamer… impressive?"

 

Mars, brimming with passion, was left speechless: "…"

 

Rex coughed lightly—he knew the truth.

 

Mars reassessed Ge Yan with new eyes. He had assumed the youth had suffered some misfortune in the past—why else would he be testing his talent at such a late age? After all, knowing one's affinity early was vital to proper training. Even the poorest of families would do whatever they could to gather five gold coins by the time their child turned seven.

 

But now, realizing Ge Yan didn't even know what a Beast Tamer was, Mars couldn't help but suspect he came from some backwater village, perhaps unimaginably remote and undeveloped.

 

Even so, Mars felt no disdain. The continent of Azelra had seen many great figures rise from humble beginnings. Straightening his expression, he began to explain—earnestly and clearly.

 

"If you're unfamiliar with that term, then allow me to explain. Only those who possess both water and wood affinities and the Body of Water or Wood Element are qualified to become Beast Tamers. You, my lord, have shown exceptional aptitude in both elements. That means you hold the potential to become a truly powerful Beast Tamer."

 

"As the name suggests, a Beast Tamer's role is to tame magical beasts. As you know, these creatures are fiercely independent—especially the stronger ones, such as high-rank beasts and sacred beasts. Humans rarely succeed in forming contracts with untamed beasts. That's where Beast Tamers come in. A beast that has been tamed by a Beast Tamer can then be bonded with by anyone—safely and without risk."

 

Ge Yan's eyes lit with curiosity. "Are Beast Tamers really that rare?"

 

"Extremely. To my knowledge, there are fewer than a thousand known across the entire continent. And according to recorded history, the chance of someone being born with both these affinities is one in ten million—second only to the all-elemental dual cultivator who practices both magic and martial arts."

 

Ge Yan inhaled sharply.

 

One in ten million? And he'd won that lottery? If only he'd played the lottery in his previous life… with luck like this, what prize couldn't he win?

 

"So, you're saying I've struck it rich?"

 

Mars smiled warmly. "Which is precisely why I offer you my sincerest congratulations. Beast Tamers enjoy immense status across Azelra. Few dare to offend one. Should you face any hardship in the future, simply reveal your identity—and not only will your troubles vanish, others may even scramble to earn your favor."

 

Ge Yan imagined a group of people groveling at his feet and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.

 

Rex: "…"

 

Mars didn't find Ge Yan's laugh inappropriate in the least. Truthfully, if he were in his shoes, he might laugh too. He continued, "Since you've demonstrated dual-elemental aptitude, Guild policy exempts you from the five-gold-coin fee. Additionally, you now qualify for various benefits from the Mage Guild. Please, follow me to complete the registration."

 

Typically, once magical aptitude was confirmed, the Guild would issue a badge—divided into five tiers. The lowest badge granted only one benefit: exemption from city entrance fees. The higher the tier, the more privileges it bestowed. At the top was the Diamond Badge.

 

Mars very much wanted to award Ge Yan a Diamond Badge on the spot, but due to limitations at their local branch, they currently lacked the authority. Submitting the request would take time. For now, the best he could offer was a fourth-tier Crystal Badge. Although one rank below Diamond, it still carried significant privileges. As far as Mars knew, only a few Crystal Badges had ever been issued by the Guild.

 

Of course, if Ge Yan ever wanted a Diamond Badge in the future, Mars could still submit an application on his behalf.

 

After listening, Ge Yan asked how long the process would take. Upon hearing it would take at least a month, he immediately lost interest. They didn't plan to remain in Sarge for long—a month was out of the question.

 

"My lord need not worry," Mars said reassuringly. "With your status as a Beast Tamer, acquiring a Diamond Badge in the future will be no trouble at all. In truth, the badge is but a cherry on top—your title already carries more weight than any emblem could."

 

The implication was clear: the status of a Beast Tamer was honorable enough on its own.

 

Flattered by Mars's words, Ge Yan was in an excellent mood. The badge no longer seemed so important.

 

Meanwhile, the young clerk at the front desk had learned that Ge Yan was an Honorable Beast Tamer and now deeply regretted dozing off earlier. Had he made a better first impression…

 

After completing the formalities, Ge Yan and Rex departed from the Mage Guild together.

 

Mars stood watching them leave, then let his smile fade. His expression turned solemn as he turned to the clerk. "Send word to headquarters immediately—a new Beast Tamer has emerged. I have a feeling this young man will one day shake all of Azelra. We, the Mage Guild, must never make an enemy of him."

 

The clerk nodded seriously. He felt the same. It had been many years since Azelra had seen a new Beast Tamer. And now, one had appeared—his talent so overwhelming, it was impossible to predict what it might herald for the future.

 

As they left the Mage Guild, Ge Yan suddenly turned to Rex and asked, "How did you know I had that kind of talent in the first place?"

 

He was thinking back to that encounter in the Tasha Forest. Rex had urged him to form a contract with the Shadow Winged Tiger. There was no way Rex could have predicted that would work—he wasn't some fortune-teller. And Jimmy certainly wouldn't have told him. If Jimmy had known he possessed the talents of a Beast Tamer, he wouldn't have kept it quiet. He would've made sure the whole Black Wolf Mercenary Corps knew. They'd never have looked down on him—more likely, they'd have treated him like a treasure.

 

So Ge Yan was fairly certain this hidden gift had only been discovered because of that moment.

 

Rex's expression remained unreadable, but he countered with a question of his own. "Do you know why Beast Tamer affinity is tied specifically to water and wood elements, and not others?"

 

Ge Yan thought for a moment. "Does it have something to do with taming beasts?"

 

Rex nodded. "Water is the gentlest of all elements, and wood represents nature. The fusion of these two makes magical beasts more likely to feel affinity and closeness toward a person. That's what allows Beast Tamers to tame them."

 

"I see," Ge Yan said, the pieces clicking into place. "So that day, when Nyx was so friendly toward me, you suspected I might have a Beast Tamer's gift. You had me try to form the contract—and the fact that it worked right away confirmed your guess, right?"

 

"Nyx?" Rex raised an eyebrow.

 

Ge Yan grinned. "Yeah, I named the Shadow Winged Tiger Nyx. Pretty cool, huh? Sounds powerful, right?"

 

Rex glanced down at the little creature peeking out from Ge Yan's collar, its head turning with clueless curiosity. The name was imposing—though perhaps less so when applied to this particular beast.

 

"...Mm," he murmured noncommittally.

 

Ge Yan mistook his quiet response for approval. Gesturing toward the egg on Rex's back, he added cheerfully, "Since I named Nyx, you should name the one in the egg once it hatches."

 

"It doesn't matter."

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