Chapter 39: 11 is So Cool

Chapter 39: 11. Totally Awesome

Inside the castle, Jaeger walked briskly to the study door and knocked with a hint of urgency. From within the study, Nuckel, who was busy with official business, said, "Come in."

As Jaeger entered the room, Nuckel continued processing paperwork without even looking up. "What happened? Why so frantic?"

Jaeger recounted what had just transpired. Nuckel nodded with unruffled composure, then turned toward a corner and said calmly, "Understood. Kailsley, go down and handle it. Ensure every beast tamer is sworn to secrecy. If there are any issues, you know what to do!"

"Kallion! Come here, open the cage."

Kallion ran over immediately, looking nervous.

"Young Master, this... this is a bit dangerous! Besides, you haven't applied the medicinal potion yet!"

"It's fine. I trust this little wimp."

Darcus had a thought he left unsaid: *Compared to Duruzi, I'd rather trust a beast!*

Kallion gritted his teeth, his cheeks hollowing as he drew the dragon-sinew whip from his waist and shouted to the two beast tamers, "You two, come over! Get ready to open the cage!"

Darcus waved for Walt to step back. The two beast tamers ran over and stood on either side of the cage. They unlocked it simultaneously, and as they pulled it open, they quickly took large steps backward. A Great-Horned Cold Lizard slowly emerged from the cage. It turned its head toward Kallion, who was standing in front of Darcus, and gave a loud snort, looking at him with disdain, as if saying, *Get the hell away from me.*

Having completed this sequence, the Great-Horned Cold Lizard leaned its head toward Darcus. Darcus stroked its head, and it lowered its body to rest its head in his lap. Darcus used his left hand to stroke its head while using his right hand to scratch its chin. It extended its barb-covered tongue to lick Darcus's hand, but Darcus instantly pulled back, shaking his wounded palm in front of its eyes. The lizard froze for a moment, seemingly understanding.

"This should be a Great-Horned Cold Lizard. Why is it a half-size smaller than the others? Maybe it hasn't been eating enough? This isn't much different from petting a cat, except it's a bit bony and smells a bit."

Retreating with his dragon-sinew whip in hand, Kallion watched this scene in a daze, his mind filled with immense confusion. He was, after all, a beast tamer who had participated in the Claw Competition.

This was completely contrary to the Duruzi method of taming. A beast tamer requires innate empathy; mere cruelty is worthless. All spirits share a mysterious harmony with the natural world, but while most spirits embrace this bond to gain greater wisdom or communicate with other creatures, the Duruzi beast tamers use it as a weapon. Through the unwavering practice and refinement of torture techniques, they force beasts to submit under the tamer's lash!

In short, they torture the beast first, then tell it that obedience brings food and disobedience brings more torture—similar to Stockholm Syndrome. Of course, these weren't circus animals; these beasts carried immense risks and could easily lose control. For example, the War Multi-Headed Serpent was the core of Duruzi's war machine, but because these beasts were too volatile and unpredictable, many Duruzi armies preferred not to deal with them.

*What kind of twisted method is this?*

Kallion began to overthink: "By Aens Lema, could the Young Master be the chosen of Aens Lema? What about Rakas? No, wait, what was the deal with that Spirit Lizard earlier?"

"Kallion, take him to pick out a Cold Lizard in a moment."

As Darcus spoke, he continued to soothe the Great-Horned Cold Lizard. The lizard reluctantly walked back into its cage, turning its head to look at him with a tilted head. Darcus waved to it and turned to leave.

*Good grief, am I a Great Druid? Is my alias "Storm of the Hooked Claw"? No, that can't be right.*

Jaeger returned, with Kailsley following behind.

"Jaeger, why were you walking so fast just now? Take me to see the other breeding chambers."

Jaeger perked up and said, "No problem, Young Master. Which chamber would you like to visit?"

"What beasts are kept in this basement?"

"Chimeras, War Multi-Headed Serpents, Manticore, Harpies, Great Wolves, Abyss Sirens, and the Ankylosaurus and Triceratops that just arrived from Lucisia."

The Black Dragon was missing, but Darcus didn't ask where it was. He knew all too well; the mothers of both this fellow and Manul were killed near that dragon's nest. Back then, the two of them were still small. Someone had insisted on seeing the Black Dragon, only to run into the recruitment officer for the Marekis Black Guards.

The Black Guards were the private guard of Marekis, answering only to the Warlock King. They were descendants of families deeply loved by the Warlock King; these children would be taken from their mothers, who would then be killed. Thus, stripped of family ties, these children would grow up in the Black Guard barracks, learning everything required to become the elite of the elite under Marekis—the skills of slaughter and destruction.

Marekis and the House of Hell's Calamity had a tacit understanding; the direct descendants of the House of Hell's Calamity could never join the Black Guards. But fate is fickle. That officer was a newcomer who ignored his subordinates' warnings, determined to break the rule. Consequently, Manul's mother died in battle, and Darcus's mother died from exhaustion of her magical power. Her final words were to Manul: "You must protect your younger brother!"

The soul of that rule-breaker was being eternally burned in the Tower of Destruction by Annasar. This was because Darcus's mother had been one of Annasar's favorite handmaidens.

Darcus shook his head and followed Jaeger to the War Multi-Headed Serpent chamber. Four War Multi-Headed Serpents lay listlessly on the ground, unresponsive.

"They've eaten their fill. Winter is approaching; although the chamber isn't that cold, they are showing signs of hibernation."

Then, Jaeger said to Darcus with an expectant look, "Young Master, would you like to try again?"

Darcus stared at the War Multi-Headed Serpents for a long time, then closed his eyes, made gestures, and shouted—he was practically one step away from bringing out an Echo Drum and performing a shamanic ritual. The ten eyes of the War Multi-Headed Serpents glared at him maliciously. He understood that look; it meant, *Go ahead, try taking a few more steps forward.*

He went around another loop, and it was the same. The five snake heads of the War Multi-Headed Serpent lay lazily on the ground, unwilling to pay him any mind.

With a look of frustration, Jaeger said, "Young Master, would you like to visit the Abyss Siren chamber?"

"No! Let's check the Manticore chamber."

At this time, Walt had finished selecting a Cold Lizard and walked over with Kallion.

The visit to the Manticore chamber yielded the same result. Jaeger's heart had already turned to ash.

"Jaeger, what exactly is going on with me?"

Jaeger said weakly, "To be honest, Young Master, I don't understand either. Unless that Cold Lizard has intelligence? But that doesn't make sense either."

"It seems I cannot help you."

"It's alright, Young Master. I am nearly seven hundred years old. For a Duruzi, that is already quite long-lived."

Darcus mused, *Have you considered those others? Besides, am I only able to interact with creatures from Lucisia?*

"Let's go! Let's check the Triceratops and Ankylosaurus chambers!"

A glimmer of hope reappeared on Jaeger's face as he quickly led the way.

Walking behind, Walt whispered, "My Lord? This...?"

"Last year at the Claw Competition in Nagalonde, they were crushed by Calonde Karl's Rakas. There used to be eight War Multi-Headed Serpents in the breeding chambers."

"I understand. If Kracakalonde loses the Claw Competition a hundred years from now..."

Walt Thorn, a Duruzi who could barely look after himself, actually showed a look of sympathy.

After walking a bit further, they arrived at the Triceratops and Ankylosaurus chamber.

Jaeger introduced, "Young Master, these were just brought in a few days ago..."

Before he could finish, a miraculous scene occurred once again. The two Triceratops and one Ankylosaurus, which had been lying listlessly on the ground, stood up immediately upon seeing Darcus enter.

Jaeger fell to his knees and cried out, "By Aens Lema!"

Walt looked around in a daze. As for Kallion, he simply stood at the entrance, refusing to come in.

Darcus thought to himself, *Spirit Lizard? Cold Lizard? Triceratops? Ankylosaurus? What's the common denominator? They are all from Lucisia! Could it be that I can only empathize with Lucisian species? Even if they weren't born in Lucisia? Am I my own internet troll?*

Hearing the deep, booming calls of the Triceratops and Ankylosaurus, Darcus snapped out of it and asked, "Are you guys cold?"

The Triceratops and Ankylosaurus hesitated for a moment, then began nodding incessantly.

Walt did not cry out "By Kane" or anything similar, as he had grown used to this.

Jaeger had recovered and stood up, saying with great joy, "Young Master, you...!"

Darcus said, "I'm not quite sure myself. Perhaps I can only empathize with the beasts of Lucisia. It looks like I must go to Lucisia. I have a feeling this won't be just one trip." Having said that, he climbed onto the Triceratops, hanging onto it like a Spirit Lizard, and said, "Bring more hay; it's too cold for them here." He then played around on the Triceratops and Ankylosaurus for a while.

*Please, these are dinosaurs! This is freaking awesome!*

(End of Chapter)