Chapter 188: Getting Ivory for Sylvia!

"Damn...why are we leaving already? Didn’t we just come a week ago?"

"Right? I was leveling up so fast with the help of my seniors."

"It seems to be related to the Demon Gate that appeared before."

"Yeah, honestly, when I heard the prompt, I was scared shitless. Thank God, Professor Lyra managed to close it in time, otherwise..."

Outside the temporary camp of the Elite Hunter Academy, multiple new batch students were constantly bickering with each other while waiting for Professor Kael.

Apparently, as Soren had thought, this practical exam was finally cancelled. Although the Demon Gate was completely closed and the enemies were driven out, it was still deemed unsafe.

Of course, the students around still didn’t know about Professor Ruther’s death yet.

Hence, the chatter around, some worried and some irritated. After all, it wasn’t always that they got to practice alongside their seniors.

"Finally, am I going to see my Ivory?"

However, Sylvia looked quite happy, her blue eyes fixed on the horizon. Clearly, she was waiting for the Sky Cranes to appear.

"What ’My Ivory?’ Haha...that bird might not even remember you anymore."

Soren, on the other hand, couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her.

Sky Cranes were just an E-rank beast. He doubted it would remember Sylvia, who didn’t have a similar bond as he had with Frost.

In fact, he doubted whether Sylvia even recognized it. After all, they all looked quite the same.

"You...! Tsk... whether it remembers me or not, is that your problem? Soren...don’t get too cocky."

Sylvia snarled and tried to smack his shoulder, only for him to dodge with ease.

Irritated, she pouted aggressively, crossing her arms before pointedly ignoring him altogether, her eyes fixed on the sky.

"Hey, I was telling the truth so that you won’t be disappointed, you know?"

Soren couldn’t help but smile when suddenly he felt a large group of monsters flying rapidly from the horizon.

The moment they appeared, though, Sylvia visibly tensed as she clutched her hand tightly, her eyes filled with anxiousness.

Although she scolded Soren, she also knew what he said was the truth.

"Hey, isn’t that...?"

But surprisingly, her worry seemed unnecessary as she suddenly saw one of the Sky Cranes separating from the flock all of a sudden.

*Swoosh!*

Then, to everyone’s astonishment, it came hurtling down from the sky and landed right in front of Sylvia in an instant. It didn’t even wait for Professor Kael’s order.

For a moment, even Soren looked confused and stunned when Sylvia’s excited cry echoed around.

"Ivory, I knew you would remember me. Haha..."

Sylvia was beyond happy to see the Sky Crane coming straight toward her, as if it missed her just as much as she did.

Overjoyed, she immediately ran out from the group, jumping and trying to hug that fluffy body of hers, only to miss spectacularly as the bird just sidestepped slightly.

*Thud!*

"..."

For a moment, Soren, Aria, Aurelia, and Evan were completely dumbfounded as they saw Sylvia falling headfirst to the ground.

In fact, not only they, but the students around also saw it, as finally one of them couldn’t control himself and let out a soft laugh...

"Pfftt..."

It seemed it was the precursor, as suddenly a few more joined in, laughing their heads off at Sylvia.

To be honest, it looked so comical that even Soren and others almost didn’t do the same.

"Hmm?"

Fortunately, Soren quickly controlled himself when he felt a long head of the Sky Crane lowering toward him, bowing at him.

Only then did he realize that it actually came for him, or rather, for Frost?

’This...’

For a moment, Soren stood in total surprise as Frost came out of his camouflage on his shoulder, giving a light growl at the Sky Crane.

*Swoosh!*

In an instant, Ivory literally sat on the ground, bowing deeply, like a subservient beast to its master.

"..."

"Chit!"

Soren was even more confused when Frost finally turned toward him and looked on proudly, as if waiting for praise.

Although he couldn’t talk, Soren already realized that Frost seemed to know about the Sky Crane and went ahead and tamed it for him without even knowing.

Just...

’A beast can tame another beast?’

Soren was getting more and more confused when a crisp middle-aged voice broke off his trance.

"Don’t be too surprised. Unlike humans, beasts have a bloodline hierarchy, and those of higher lineage can naturally suppress or command those beneath them."

The voice belonged to Professor Kael, who had landed right in front, riding his Wyvern.

"Cough...Professor Kael, I am really sorry. I didn’t know Frost did such a thing to the Academy’s asset."

Soren felt a bit awkward and immediately apologized with a slight bow. He really didn’t know that Frost could even tame a Sky Crane like this.

"Haha...don’t worry. I won’t hold you accountable. I was just a bit surprised, that’s all."

Professor Kael didn’t care and just laughed. Then he looked at him and Sylvia meaningfully,

"In fact, if you want, I can give this Sky Crane to you permanently. Just...you will owe me a small favor, what do you think?"

He suddenly whispered in a low voice, with a light smile.

As the beast master of the Elite Hunter Academy, he, of course, had some jurisdiction over the Academy’s beasts.

Giving an E-rank beast to a student wasn’t that hard for him. Of course, it wouldn’t be free, though.

Like Lysandra, he was also interested in this student who had caught the Principal’s attention.

Obviously, his interest wasn’t as skewed as hers, though.

"This..."

But his proposal made Soren even more awkward as he stood still, not knowing what to say.

To be honest, he should probably accept the offer since Sylvia liked Ivory so much. But owing a favor for an E-rank beast...

"Soren...don’t. I don’t need it."

Just as Soren didn’t know whether to accept, he heard Sylvia’s faint voice from the side.

He didn’t know when she had already stood up from the ground and was looking at him anxiously, as if afraid that he would accept the offer.

Honestly, she was a bit thrilled by the Professor’s proposal, as even though she was embarrassed just now, she really liked Ivory.

But that didn’t mean she would let Soren take the cost. She was already burdened enough.

For a moment, she looked at Soren with those beautiful blue eyes, hoping that he would refuse, only to see him smile all of a sudden and nod at Professor Kael.

"Okay, I accept. But the favor I owe can’t be greater than the value of an E-rank pet."

What was he even thinking?

Didn’t he promise Sylvia before that he would get Ivory for her? Now that he had the chance, it didn’t make sense for him to delay.

As for the favor he owed, he bet Kael wasn’t going to ask much anyway.

In fact, he felt it was worth an investment for his little girl. She looked bubbly and cute when she was happy after all.

Besides...

---

Ding!

[Main Heroine’s Favorability toward you has increased significantly.]

[Congratulations! Main Quest Progress has increased by 10%.]

---

It wasn’t like he wouldn’t get anything in return.

***