Chapter 37: Bearing the Name of Shaya, I Must Not Lose (Two-in-one)
“Did you hear? Sylvia seems to have contracted some strange illness. She’s been shut in her room for a whole week and might not even attend her coming-of-age ceremony this time.”
“I heard that too. She can’t speak and can only communicate by writing.”
“Not only that, but I heard from the servants in the mansion that her hair and eye color have become abnormal, slowly turning pale. Perhaps she’s been cursed.”
“Cursed? I’d say it’s retribution! Retribution from the tens of thousands of souls she wronged!”
“Her dying completely, ensnared by a curse, would be the best outcome for everyone!”
“Her absence from the coming-of-age ceremony is actually a good thing… It’s the family’s grand annual event, and her presence would only spoil everyone’s mood.”
“And that illegitimate family member named Shaya… He seemed to be close with Sylvia before. He must have been trying to use her status to get into the inner circle of the family. What a pity he ran into this.”
“I heard his parents also died in that disaster… It just goes to show that person is ruthless and will stop at nothing to climb the ladder; a truly vicious individual.”
“Alas, he bet on the wrong horse in the end. After the coming-of-age ceremony, he’ll likely have to leave the Royal Capital.”
…
The trivial gossip drifted past on the wind, but Shaya paid it no mind.
What was that old saying again?
“Never argue with fools.”
“Master, I strongly disagree with your assessment!”
“Indeed, you are absolutely right.”
Let them think he was a ruthless, unscrupulous individual who would stop at nothing to climb the family ladder; Shaya found this image quite useful. It would save him the trouble of interacting with acquaintances and exposing the fact that he lacked memories related to historical echoes.
At this moment, his attention was mostly focused on the panel in his mind.
[Novice Mission Status Updated]
[Mission Objective Four: Complete the Brunnhildr Family’s Coming-of-Age Ceremony, become a core member of the family through the ceremony, and truly join Elder Norton’s plan.]
This was the new mission objective that had refreshed after completing the previous stage’s favorability task.
Elder Norton was planning something big; this was an obvious conclusion for Shaya.
After all, based on the intelligence Shaya had gathered from historical echoes, although the current Azure Court Duchy was in the “Land of Calamity” period, with frequent border emergencies forcing the Grand Duke to remain at the border year-round –
The country was relatively stable and nowhere near falling apart.
Only internal strife could lead to the Azure Court Duchy’s swift demise within a year.
However, historical records of the Azure Court Duchy were scarce, and Shaya could only speculate on the specifics, unable to grasp the full details.
Although he had previously gained Elder Norton’s trust through a display of acting, Shaya had not received any clearer instructions after Norton’s initial cryptic remarks.
“Reality truly bites. Even subordinates whose lives are in your hands cannot truly grasp the whole picture of a plan without demonstrating sufficient strength and status.”
Shaya’s gaze lingered on the “Coming-of-Age Ceremony” displayed on the system screen.
The Brunnhildr family, after all, wielded the authority of an entire Duchy.
Therefore, this family’s coming-of-age ceremony was naturally not as simple as a mere ritual to commemorate the transition from minority to adulthood.
It was an assessment, or rather, a trial, similar to the coming-of-age ceremonies of the Masai people in Shaya’s previous life.
Completing the trial signified that one’s potential was recognized by the family, making them eligible for key development within the family and likely placement in the management hierarchy in the future.
Those who failed the trial would essentially be abandoned and left to fend for themselves, with no further investment of effort or resources.
For adopted illegitimate members like Shaya, failing the trial would mean not even having the chance to be a lazy good-for-nothing—
They would generally be assigned to various towns and villages under the Duchy’s jurisdiction. Nicely put, it was a local appointment to slack off; crudely put, it was exile.
While Shaya attached no importance to future prospects in a historical echo, the upcoming coming-of-age ceremony was the best opportunity to gain Norton’s genuine attention and involvement in his plan.
…
On the outskirts of the Royal Capital of the Azure Court.
A vast forest clearing nestled deep within layers of mountains.
Several massive magic circles for warding enveloped the entire clearing.
An old man with white hair and beard, clad in a long robe, stood in the center of the clearing, his majestic gaze sweeping over the many young people present.
He was one of the Brunnhildr family’s elders, but unlike Norton, who acted as the family head with immense power, this elder had spent most of his life stationed here, rarely interfering in internal family affairs.
The elder’s aura was subtle, but based on Shaya’s spiritual perception, he was a genuine Four-Ring Beast Master.
Although his soul strength had weakened due to advanced age, he could not be compared to someone as vigorous and in his prime as Lieutenant Colonel Sieg, a Four-Ring expert. However, he was far superior to any high-ranking Three-Ring Beast Tamer.
The white-haired elder’s gaze swept over everyone present and he nodded slightly.
“I believe that since you are all here, you understand what this coming-of-age ceremony means for you, especially for those of you from illegitimate branches.”
“The family does not need the useless. Its greatest extent of protection has been guiding you to adulthood.”
“From now on, status, power, reputation, extraordinary resources—all of these must be earned through your own strength.”
“Also, I need to remind you of one more thing.”
The elder’s voice was ancient.
“This trial is not only crucial for your future development within the family but also very important for you as Beast Tamers.”
“Because, for the vast majority of you, this may be the only chance in your lifetime to contract with a high-grade King Race familiar.”
His gaze slowly swept across the crowd.
The next moment.
A silver-white storm erupted from the barren ground.
A majestic humanoid figure, pure silver throughout, shimmering with illusory points of light, silently materialized behind the elder.
This illusory figure, appearing as if formed from flowing mercury, exuded immense power. Its rank was close to King Grade, even if it hadn’t quite reached it yet…
Coupled with the assistance buffs granted to familiars through contracts, even facing a wild Rank Four King would not be daunting, making it worthy of the title Quasi-King.
As the silver-white figure appeared, the eyes of nearly everyone in the clearing grew intensely heated.
Silver Spirit.
Elemental Species.
A genuine high-grade King Race.
This meant that contracting a Silver Spirit would allow one to raise it to high-grade King rank with virtually no bottlenecks.
Of course, similar to Pureblood Dragons, as an Elemental Life, Silver Spirits had exceptionally long lifespans, which also meant their growth was extremely slow…
Without using sufficient extraordinary materials to accelerate their growth, it was possible that by the time the Beast Tamer died of old age, their contracted Silver Spirit might not have reached its complete form… Just like the Silver Spirit contracted by the white-robed elder, who was still some distance away from reaching the King Grade adult stage.
However, this was enough to demonstrate such a familiar’s potential.
And—
To everyone present, the Silver Spirit represented far more than just a familiar.
“The Silver Spirit is also our family’s guardian race, a symbol of the Brunnhildrs,” the white-haired elder said with a touch of seriousness.
Although other forms of extraordinary power existed in this world, it was undeniable that for humans, contracting with a familiar to become a Beast Tamer was the most versatile and highest-potential path.
Therefore, almost all powerful human factions on the Western Continent had their own exclusive familiar race inheritances, such as the Crowned Griffins and Black Scale Lesser Dragons of the Freista Empire.
These were symbols of Beast Tamer families and the cornerstone of their enduring prosperity.
“From the founding King who opened up the Azure Court Duchy to the current family head who has rendered distinguished meritorious service on the border battlefield… beside them, a powerful Silver Spirit has accompanied them through bloody battles, repelling beast tides and foreign enemies, forging immortal achievements.”
“For the Brunnhildr family, the Silver Spirit has long represented more than just a familiar species.”
“It is a legacy…”
“A continuation of Brunnhildr glory that has spanned centuries.”
As the elder spoke, the very air in the clearing became agitated. Everyone’s eyes held not only yearning but also burning passion.
Listen to that – the continuation of family glory, the legacy of history…
Such fervent words!
Seeing the enthusiastic atmosphere, the elder nodded with satisfaction.
He had been in charge of cultivating the Silver Spirit population for decades and had presided over no less than ten family coming-of-age ceremonies.
Thus, the white-haired elder knew exactly what words would best ignite the enthusiasm of these young people.
He slowly stepped away from the large clearing, leaving the Silver Spirit figure behind.
“The content of this family’s coming-of-age assessment is to endure thirty seconds under the assault of a peak Commander-level Silver Spirit.”
“During the assessment, I will not provide any assistance or buffs to the Silver Spirit. Participants may choose to send in only their familiars or enter with themselves. Once inside, you must not leave the designated area.”
“After thirty seconds, if either the familiar or the Beast Tamer in the arena retains the ability to act, the assessment will be considered passed.”
“Of course, if your ability system is not proficient in defense and evasion, you may choose to go all out and attack my Silver Spirit. I will judge whether the assessment is passed based on the intensity of your attack, and the same applies to support-type Beast Tamers.”
The elder clapped his hands gently.
“If you pass the assessment, you will have the opportunity to enter the Silver Spirit’s habitat and choose a young or growing Silver Spirit for a contract.”
“Remember, the Silver Spirit is our guardian race. You must not force or cause any conflict during the selection and contracting process. Violators will be permanently expelled from the family.”
…
As the white-haired elder officially announced the start of the assessment, the atmosphere at the coming-of-age ceremony reached its peak.
Even Shaya’s eyes gleamed with fervor.
It wasn’t because of the Brunnhildr family’s glory or other motivational speeches mentioned by the elder.
Shaya had only been in this historical echo for less than a month. Aside from being somewhat familiar with Sylvia, he felt no sense of belonging to this Grand Duke’s family, let alone any family honor.
He was simply covetous.
This was a high-grade King Race.
It was worth noting that even after completing Amaterasu’s Silver, its racial level had only been raised to Middle King Grade… and Sparkle’s racial level was Low King Grade.
In the highest-level black market in the Imperial Capital, a high-grade King Race familiar cub was priceless, fetching prices exceeding one hundred thousand gold coins each time it appeared.
One hundred thousand Rhine gold coins were beyond Shaya’s current empty pockets in the short term… unless he sold off all his businesses in the Black Lily District, which would be like killing the goose that laid the golden eggs—a pure loss-making venture.
Although with his ability to allocate points, Shaya was confident that he could train even a low-level Awakening-stage Sparrow to a level comparable to an ordinary high-grade King Race familiar—
However, to say that racial stats were unimportant would be pure deception.
Higher racial stats meant a stronger initial panel, rarer and more powerful racial skills, a higher growth ceiling, and greater combat power at the same rank…
Within the scope of contractable beings, choosing familiars with higher racial levels was a principle followed by everyone from Legends to Apprentice Beast Tamers.
As for that motivational speaker who spouted the poisonous “There are no useless familiars, only useless Beast Tamers,” the grass on his grave was already two meters high.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
In the center of the forest, within the designated trial area, the pained cries of familiars and Beast Tamers could be heard intermittently.
Although they were all members of the Grand Duke’s family and elites on the continent, their level was ultimately inferior to the elite talents selected from the entire empire by Saint Roland Academy.
Most of the youths participating in the coming-of-age ceremony were at the high end of the First Ring, with a few at the Second Ring, and most of them had just entered it.
Although the Silver Spirit was not going all out and did not receive any buffs from a Beast Tamer… for these First and Second Ring Beast Tamers, lasting thirty seconds against a Quasi-King was still too difficult.
After half an hour, with the exception of a very few mid-level Beast Tamers who barely passed the assessment through special abilities, everyone else failed.
The successful ones looked relieved, while the failures appeared ashen-faced.
Failing the trial meant that for these Beast Tamers who were entirely dependent on the family, their future lives were sealed, with no further possibility of advancement.
For a time, the initially fervent atmosphere cooled down.
After all, no matter how grand the cake drawn or how much motivational soup was fed, it could never overcome the cold reality.
Meanwhile, on Shaya’s side, who had been unintentionally isolated by other family members due to his close association with Sylvia.
“Jiji jiji! (Master, I really can’t stand watching those weaklings fighting each other!)”
“Jiji jiji! (Master, Master! You promised we’d fight this time!)”
After being nagged incessantly by the little golden monkey for a long time, Shaya finally decided to let it go.
“Go ahead, go ahead.”
“Remember, this time you’re just trying out a new combination skill. Don’t be too flashy.”
“Jiji! (Leave it to me, Master!)”
Sparkle nodded excitedly.
Then, it rummaged through its Spatial Pocket.
After a moment of hesitation, the little golden monkey took out a custom-made, tiny piece of clothing.
It had to be said that although Shaya was stingy as a Beast Tamer, he was undeniably a qualified caretaker of his familiars— he would occasionally tell them bedtime stories.
Tales like “The Fourth Village Feud and the War of the Eyes” or “The Pirate King of the Eastern Sea” flowed effortlessly from his lips.
Sparkle and Silver enjoyed them so much that they often pestered Shaya to make them combat uniforms.
As for the purpose of these combat uniforms, whether it was for auxiliary combat or something else entirely… that remained unknown.
Sparkle’s current outfit was a combat uniform that Shaya had his own clothing store make for them after his familiar’s relentless persuasion.
It was a naval officer’s uniform, with two bold characters embroidered on the back cape:
“Justice”
“Ying, ying ying~ (Don’t mess up. Don’t shame me or Master.)”
On Shaya’s shoulder, the little snow ferret slightly opened its eyes, wagging its fluffy tail.
Letting the little one handle the fighting was enough; as Shaya’s main familiar, it only needed to be beautiful.
“Jiji, jiji! (Don’t worry, Sister Silver!)”
Sparkle’s gaze was resolute, and it leaped into the arena.
Then, with its small body, it faced the massive Silver Spirit head-on.
The combat uniform draped over its shoulders, and the two characters “Justice” fluttered in the wind, rustling loudly.
“Jiji jiji! (Bearing the name of Shaya, I must not lose!)”
“Are you sure you haven’t gotten your wires crossed?” Shaya, watching from the sidelines, said with a dark expression.
A 5000-character chapter. There should be another update shortly after 12:00 AM.
