Chapter 19: Little Raven Says No to Mischief!

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Asher isn't your average smooth talker. He is the kind of persuasive that comes with a touch of sincerity.

Besides, wasn't caring for a stubborn Honeybug that dared to defy odds out of pure affection another way to express affinity?

"Affinity between a Beast Master and their pet may be intangible, but it truly affects a pet's psychology and evolution. That's what I believe."

Asher smiled as he handed Little Fire Fox back to June, then gently cupped Little Raven, perched on his shoulder.

"One of the reasons I chose Little Raven was because I wanted to see if my theory is right."

"I want to know if Little Raven will become stronger… for me."

Hearing Asher's words, Little Raven hopped twice, lifting its wings to nuzzle against his hand.

'A thoughtful, affectionate little bird, that is for sure.'

June watched them, her expression full of sympathy.

'Tsk, tsk, tsk!'

'Such a poor Bird.'

'To end up with such a demanding Beast Master. He's squeezing every bit of effort out of this bird.'

'But...'

"If affinity could be measured, then my Little Fire Fox would definitely be off the charts." June declared, proudly lifting her head.

She might not be a top-tier Beast Master, but as Little Fire Fox's owner and friend, she was top-notch.

She loved Little Fire Fox.

And Little Fire Fox adored her just as much.

Asher took another look at Little Fire Fox's (68/100) affinity score and blinked.

"Uh… have you considered you might be a little overconfident?"

June hugged Little Fire Fox, her eyes shining with certainty, and began snuggling it fiercely.

"No way. Absolutely no way. Little Fire Fox's love for me is unquestionable."

"Yip yip, awoo~"

In June's tight embrace, Little Fire Fox squirmed, using its paws to push at her face.

With a blissful look, June said, "Little Fire Fox loves me so much. Look. It's kneading me with its adorable paws."

"If it didn't love me, it wouldn't be doing this."

Asher covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.

"Right… Little Fire Fox sure loves you…" Otherwise, it would have scratched her by now instead of just pushing away.

Considering that June handled Little Fire Fox like this regularly without getting scratched, he was sure it really did care for her.

Out of curiosity, Asher found himself wondering, 'how exactly is affinity measured?'

'Is it purely based on the Beast Master's love for their pet?'

'Or the pet's love for their Beast Master?'

'Or perhaps… both?'

'Either way, I think it's worth exploring.'

Helping Little Fire Fox evolve into [Fox Queen] would be the perfect opportunity to research affinity. He could later explain it as a groundbreaking discovery in his study of evolution.

It would be eye-catching, but not so much as to draw unwanted attention.

After a brief pause, Asher coughed and freed Little Fire Fox from its predicament.

"Once you're back, make sure to train Little Fire Fox and let it learn a few more skills. As for affinity, let that develop naturally," Asher suggested, leaving June with a new, daily to-do list she couldn't ignore.

Initially reluctant, June was now fired up, inspired by the concept of affinity.

Looking down at her Little Fire Fox, she patted her chest confidently. "Just wait and see. In no more than three days, with our mutual affection, my Little Fire Fox will surely learn a new skill."

June was brimming with thrill.

Little Fire Fox stared in shock.

'Is this... really necessary?'

Amused by their reactions, Asher gave her an encouraging smile. "Confidence is good. I look forward to your good news in three days."

With her resolve set, June marched off with Little Fire Fox, filled with confidence.

Meanwhile, Asher turned his attention back to Little Raven, still resting in his hand. Raising the little bird to eye level, he said warmly, "Little Raven, it's time for us to start training, too."

For the past few days, he hadn't started training with Little Raven, wanting to let it adjust to their bond after the contract. Now that they'd settled into a rhythm, it was time to get to work.

In general, a Oriental Peacock could instinctively master two or three basic skills. But with Little Raven's unfavorable mutation, it only had a single skill: [Eagle Eye].

[Eagle Eye: Enhances eyesight, with a chance to intimidate the opponent when used.]

That was it. No other skills.

With just one intimidation-based skill, Little Raven couldn't rely on it alone to spar with other Beast Masters once school started.

Learning new skills was now a priority.

While he hadn't yet found a fire-type pet to copy from, Asher did have [Heart of Protection], a unique skill gifted by the Fairy Butterfly.

It was time to see if Little Raven could learn it.

With the pet station deserted and Ron taking a nap in the equipment room, Asher didn't have to be too cautious.

He activated his Eye of Insight and selected [Heart of Protection].

The screen flashed twice before showing a prompt:

[Please choose a pet to learn this skill.]

[Pet: Little Raven]

Without hesitation, Asher selected Little Raven.

In the next instant, [Heart of Protection] vanished from the screen.

Asher: "???"

He looked down at Little Raven, who was staring back at him.

They exchanged puzzled glances.

'The skill is gone?'

'And why does Little Raven look like… nothing has changed?'

'Where is the promised flash of light or any kind of effect?'

Thankfully, his Eye of Insight skill was still active, allowing him to view Little Raven's updated profile:

[Pet: Oriental Peacock]

[Species: Mid-tier, Low Rank]

[Level: Tier 2, Mid Rank]

[Skills: Eagle Eye, Heart of Protection]

[Evolution Path: Three-Legged Golden Crow (Selected)]

[Evolution Items Needed: Incomplete]

[Why are you staring at me? Is it because you're captivated by my beauty? Ah, such natural charm, it's almost a curse.]

Seeing that Little Raven had successfully learned a new skill, Asher was thrilled.

Then he noticed Little Raven's inner thoughts and fell silent.

'Just what exactly is this bird thinking about all day?'

'And this self-proclaimed charm...'

Asher looked down, eyeing the feathered crown on Little Raven's head, feeling a mix of curiosity and mischief.

'One look… I willjust take one look.'

He was simply curious about Little Raven's gender, really.

Certainly not trying anything inappropriate.

Sensing Asher's intent, Little Raven's eyes widened in shock.

O△O

Before Asher could move, Little Raven fluffed up and, for the first time, zipped into his Spirit Space on its own.

Asher blinked in surprise.

'Wait… hold on.'

'Since when could a pet enter the Spirit Space on its own?'

During this past month, Asher had combed through his middle and high school textbooks, and he distinctly recalled the section on Beast Masters and the Spirit Space.

According to what he read, the Spirit Space is located within the Beast Master's mental realm, and a contracted pet has residency but no key to enter or leave freely.

In simple terms, the Spirit Space is like a house with a locked door.

The key is supposed to stay with the Beast Master. Pets can't just enter or exit at will.

This setup is designed to protect the Beast Master's mental realm.

In fact, the research recommended that Apprentice Beast Masters avoid repeatedly summoning and storing their pets, as it could strain their Spirit Space, permanently limiting its growth.

'So then… what just happened?'

Utterly confused, Asher pulled out his phone.

'Ask someone nearby? No, no, no.'

'PhantomNet to the rescue.'

[Search query: Can a pet freely enter and exit the Beast Master's Spirit Space?]

[Top Answer: Yes. Achieving stable mental linkage with your pet won't be a dream—just reach Grade Seven Beast Master.]

The search result left Asher with even more questions than before.

'Grade Seven Beast Master?'

'Stable mental linkage?'

He'd clearly stumbled into unknown territory.

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