The Magical Beast Cub Asolun

"What's your name?"

"My name is Asolun."

Hearing the little fellow answer more clearly than Bebe, Matthews realized that he definitely wasn't a magical beast cub like Bebe, who had been abandoned right after birth.

So he asked, "Where are your parents?"

"My parents are Level Nine Magical Beasts, Green-Veined Water Pythons. They kicked me out because I was born with wings!"

Matthews was about to ask for more details when he heard his younger sister Mia cry, "Big brother, are you all right?"

From Mia's perspective, her brother had suddenly been attacked by the magical beast cub. Then two magic circles had entered his body, and he had suddenly closed his eyes and stood there without moving.

"I'm fine. It and I just signed a magical beast contract."

Mia had seen other students contract magical beasts at the academy. With tears in her eyes, she said, "But they all said that contracted magical beasts don't act like this!"

"Hahaha, don't worry."

Matthews smiled and patted her head, then explained, "The kind you're talking about is a Master-Servant Contract initiated by humans. What we just signed was an Equality Contract, which some high-level magical beasts initiate."

"Really?"

Seeing the doubt and worry on his younger sister Mia's face, Matthews nodded and explained the differences between the two contracts.

Mia asked, "It's already two meters long. How are you going to take it home?"

"That's a good point."

Only then did Matthews realize that Asolun was a snake-type magical beast, unlike Bebe, who was a tiny mouse-type beast. Asolun couldn't fly yet, either, so it would be hard to bring him along.

"Asolun, follow us."

As soon as Matthews finished speaking, the little fellow shrank into a tiny snake, just over twenty centimeters long and three centimeters thick. He slithered up Matthews's thigh, climbed onto his right arm, and coiled around it.

"Ah, Asolun! How can you change your size?"

Matthews was very curious. In this world, magical beasts could only change size once they reached the Saint Realm. Asolun definitely wasn't a Saint Realm magical beast, so how could he change his size?

Asolun's voice, that of a little boy, sounded in Matthews's mind. "I've just naturally been able to change my body size for as long as I can remember."

"Okay!"

Matthews didn't dwell on it. With a magical beast that could change size at will, he'd definitely come out ahead by signing an Equality Contract!

After returning home, Matthews and Mia tidied up the smithy, which had gathered dust during the month they'd been away.

That night, Matthews lay beneath the darkening sky, beside his younger sister, who had also eaten too much, while the magical beast Asolun coiled around his arm.

"Little sis."

"What is it, big brother?"

Matthews looked at the tranquil night sky and said to her, "Once you start school, I'll probably head to the Magic Beast Mountain Range to train."

Worried that Matthews would meet the same fate as their parents, Mia asked, "Can you not go?"

Matthews fell silent for a moment, then said, "I can't. You and I don't have the luxury of lying around and enjoying life. Besides, your big brother has already reached the sixth level as a warrior. It's time for me to get some training."

Mia didn't say anything more, and silence fell between them.

"Come on, let's go back to bed!"

"Okay!"

Mia stayed at home for several more days before Matthews finally took her back to school.

"Go get Winter and your classmates. Let's meet at the same restaurant as last time. I'll treat them to a meal!"

Matthews knew that he could be away training in the Magic Beast Mountain Range for an unknown length of time, so before leaving, he planned to ask Winter and Mia's roommates to look after her.

After the meal, Matthews walked them back to school. Then he went to the bank and transferred some money to his lovely younger sister!

Drawing on what he'd learned before, Matthews raised the temperature for forging iron and adjusted the carbon ratio in the bullets. He finally improved their strength. After leaving a letter for his younger sister, he set off for the Magic Beast Mountain Range to train.

Before reaching the Magic Beast Mountain Range, Matthews spotted some students wearing uniforms from his sister's magic academy. He didn't greet them. In a dangerous place like this, no one could be trusted, much less strangers.

Matthews chose a direction different from theirs and ventured into the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Although he was still in its outer reaches, the trees were already tall and the undergrowth thick.

The past few days had gone fairly smoothly for Matthews. He hadn't run into anyone trying to ambush him, nor had he encountered any magical beasts.

"Boss, I found a magical beast."

Asolun's voice sounded in Matthews's mind. Matthews had spotted it too: a Level Three Bloodthirsty War Boar. It was the first Level Three magical beast he'd encountered in the mountain range. Until now, he'd only come across small beasts like Level One and Two rabbits.

Magical beasts couldn't form Magic Beast Cores before Level Three. Unless he needed meat to fill his stomach, there was no reason to kill them.

Matthews couldn't be bothered to act himself, so he told Asolun, "Go kill it. We'll find a place to roast some meat tonight."

Asolun didn't object. The Level Three Bloodthirsty War Boar knew only one Earth Element spell, Earth Spike. It probably wouldn't stand a chance against Asolun, who could fly with his wings.

The boar was soon killed. Matthews walked over, cut off two of its legs, and left.

That night, Matthews used branches and logs to make a ring in front of a huge boulder. He lit a fire and began roasting the meat.

In the bright firelight, Matthews leaned against the boulder as he roasted the meat. It sizzled and gave off a delicious aroma.

Seeing Asolun drooling with hunger, Matthews handed him a piece. "Eat."

He took a piece for himself, sprinkled on some salt he'd brought with him, and began cutting it with a small knife. While Matthews was eating, the firelight and the smell of roasted meat had already given away his position.

After eating, Asolun changed back into a little snake and coiled around Matthews's right arm again. Matthews leaned against the boulder, folded his arms, and prepared to sleep!

Not far away, more than a dozen Wind Wolves, led by a Level Six wolf king, closed in on them. Their noses were extremely keen. They'd smelled the roast meat from far away!

"Awo—"

A short howl startled Matthews, who had just begun to doze. He immediately drew the twin blades Cold Light Ghost Shadow from his belt and braced himself against the boulder, taking a defensive stance.

Through the gaps between the branches, Matthews saw countless pairs of glowing green eyes staring at him. He looked around and only then realized that he'd been surrounded by a pack of wolves.

"Boss, above you!"

Asolun spotted a wolf leaping down at them from the top of the boulder. Matthews immediately realized it was the old trick of a wolf feigning sleep to lure its prey.