The Goddess Granted Me the [Hatching] Skill and Somehow I Became the Strongest Tamer, Commanding Mythical and Divine Beasts - 46

Chapter 46: Douglas de Boyle, Earl

“You’re here.”

When I turned around, an older man with a white beard was standing there.

With a commanding presence, he called out to the people surrounding him, telling them to step aside.

Holding a glass of wine in his left hand, he approached me with a sharp gaze.

“I am Douglas, the head of the Boyle family.”

He introduced himself.

“Thank you very much for agreeing to be my sponsor for the national adventurer exam. My name is Klaus.”

I bowed in the proper manner and thanked him for offering his support as a sponsor.

The only reason I could take the national adventurer exam was because of several nobles, including him, who lent me their names. I felt relieved by his words of thanks.

“It’s not something to be thanked for.”

However, Douglas responded with an unamused attitude. Seeing this, I began to wonder if he disliked me.

When I glanced at Lebrant, he looked uncomfortable. I had heard that the Boyle family, as the founders of the Tamer Guild, held a great deal of influence, so I had assumed I wouldn’t be able to go against them…

“By the way, it seems that you have quite a rare monster as your familiar.”

As we exchanged glances, Douglas’ eyes grew sharper.

“Yes… well.”

It’s no surprise that the Tamer Guild knew I had Phoenix and Purple as my familiars, but it seemed that some nobles with information networks were aware of this too. His bringing it up in this situation felt suspicious.

“I heard that you had your familiar with you during the exam. Is that correct?”

Douglas looked at me as if interrogating me.

“…That’s correct.”

“The power of familiars is enormous. If you use them well, even high-ranking monsters could be hunted down, it wouldn’t be impossible.”

Indeed, Phoenix and Purple’s contributions during the Elder Lich hunt were impossible to ignore. If I had been alone, I would have likely lost or suffered casualties.

“Um… what are you trying to say?”

Douglas continued to look at me with a stern face, and it was clear he had some dissatisfaction.

After observing me for a while, he took a sip of his wine and spoke again.

“Being a Tamer is a profitable occupation. Monsters’ materials are obtained easily, and you can just sell them. Isn’t it foolish to expose yourself to danger by becoming a national adventurer?”

“…What?”

I was left speechless by Douglas’ words.

“Our family established the position of Tamers in this country. Even just selling the materials from familiars will ensure you a lifetime of comfort.”

Indeed, there had been people who had hinted at this or spoken to me with jealousy.

But I never expected to hear such words from the head of the family that founded the Tamer Guild.

“If you understand that, you should avoid bringing rare monsters into dangerous places, and limit your work as a national adventurer…”

“May I say one thing?”

I didn’t want him to keep speaking any longer, so even though it was rude, I interrupted him.

“What is it?”

I glared at him without looking away and said:

“Phoenix and Purple may indeed be rare monsters.”

Even though he was the head of the Tamer Guild, this was something I couldn’t let go.

“However, they are my family. Please stop talking about them as if they are just tools to be used!”

When I finished speaking, Douglas opened his eyes wide, and Lebrant’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

My heart pounded as I realized I might have angered him by speaking my mind.

I had just insulted the face of a noble… the head of an earl’s family. Perhaps this meant the revocation of my national adventurer qualification and expulsion from the Tamer Guild might await me.

(But… even if that happens, I…)

I continued to look at Douglas, not turning my eyes away, as if waiting for judgment.

Then, I thought I saw his expression soften. Was I imagining it?

When I kept staring, it seemed he noticed and said:

“This is your big day. You should go now.”

He replied curtly and turned his face away.

“Excuse me.”

Relieved that there were no repercussions, I left the scene.

I wondered what the purpose of this encounter had been, but I saw him smiling and speaking to Lebrant.

“What kind of person is he, I wonder?”

I tilted my head and looked at the head of the Tamer Guild from a distance.

★

After Klaus left, Lebrant let out a sigh of relief, finally showing a more relaxed expression.

“So, what do you think of him?”

Lebrant stood in front of Douglas and asked for his evaluation of Klaus.

“To speak so boldly to me… He’s got quite a bit of nerve.”

Douglas had already heard Klaus’ evaluation through Lebrant and the guild staff.

“But, as expected of someone raised in a rural town, he still has some naive parts.”

He had been provoked by a small challenge and had responded. If he wasn’t careful, the nobles would easily take advantage of him.

Upper-class nobles, including the Boyle family, had influence even at the country’s core, so he should never make an enemy of them. There would be times when he would have to endure even if they treated his familiars like tools.

He should have held back at that moment.

“Well… perhaps he didn’t realize what might happen from speaking back.”

Klaus was inexperienced with noble customs. Perhaps he didn’t foresee the consequences and just spoke without thinking?

Lebrant thought this, but…

“No…”

Douglas recalled that Klaus had never once looked away, keeping his eyes firmly locked on him.

(He wasn’t unaware of what would happen.)

He likely intended to throw away his status if it was for the sake of his beloved familiars.

(Those eyes are just like…)

Douglas remembered the great ancestor he had seen when he was young. This ancestor treated everyone equally and was loved by all monsters.

Klaus’ eyes reminded him of that ancestor.

“To stand your ground in front of a noble is not something that can be easily done.”

Douglas spoke to Lebrant, looking at the people gathering around him again.

“He will be a good Tamer and a fine national adventurer.”

He poured wine into his empty glass and chuckled.

Seeing this, Lebrant understood that Douglas had taken a liking to Klaus.

“I look forward to seeing how he grows and what he will accomplish.”

He raised his glass in a toast.

It was as though he was eager to see Klaus’ future unfold.