More Money Than Sense

"I heard you took your Contract Beast for a grooming session at noon?" Duan Anxun gently stroked her Contract Beast's long feathers. "As it happens, I spent two thousand on a thorough grooming session for mine, too."

"Two thousand—that's the price of the highest-tier grooming package for a small Contract Beast," Du Ting declared smugly beside her. "You wouldn't understand what it's like to have every feather meticulously cared for."

Lin Yue studied the Rainbow Cloud Parrot, whose looks had clearly improved a notch, but her tongue remained merciless. "What? Do you have feathers? Have you experienced it yourself?"

"Honestly, anyone who didn't know better would think this Rainbow Cloud Parrot was your Contract Beast! Why are you the one doing all the talking?"

"You..." Du Ting glared at Lin Yue. "Is the Blazing Fox your Contract Beast, then?"

Lin Yue glared right back without backing down. "I'll say what I like. What's it to you?"

Warmth filled Su Xiaoxiao's heart as her deskmate stood up for her. She reached out and tugged on Lin Yue to signal her to stop. "The assessment will make it clear who wins and who loses."

"Well said." Duan Anxun nodded. "I win, you lose. Clear as day!"

After delivering that parting jab, Duan Anxun pulled Du Ting back to their seats.

Following another exchange of glares, Lin Yue looked away and muttered indignantly, "What's she so smug about? Two thousand for Contract Beast grooming? More money than sense!"

"Um..." Su Xiaoxiao's expression suddenly turned awkward. She lowered her head and tugged on Lin Yue's hand. "Yueyue, stop."

"What's wrong?" Lin Yue asked, puzzled.

"I..." Thinking of that shop's prices, Su Xiaoxiao lowered her voice even further. "I spent six thousand six hundred and sixty-six..."

Gasp-

Lin Yue sucked in a sharp breath. "What a rip-off!"

"Grooming a small Contract Beast doesn't cost anywhere near that much. You've been scammed!" Lin Yue bristled with righteous indignation. "Take me there after school. I'll help you get your money back!"

Su Xiaoxiao was momentarily at a loss for words.

In terms of price, the shop she had chosen really was far more expensive than Duan Anxun's grooming service.

But...

She compared the Rainbow Cloud Parrot before and after its grooming, then did the same for her own Blazing Fox.

If that was what a two-thousand grooming session could achieve, then she seemed to have...

Gotten a bargain?

Of course, she wouldn't tell Lin Yue that, or Lin Yue would surely think she'd gone crazy.

"It's our class's turn! Everyone, line up outside the classroom for the Contract Beast appearance assessment!"

The homeroom teacher poked their head through the doorway and called out.

"Come on, let's go." Lin Yue took Su Xiaoxiao's hand and stood, looking at her earnestly. "I have faith in your Blazing Fox. Duan Anxun won't stand a chance against you!"

"And..." She paused, a righteous gleam flashing in her eyes. "We'll go to that rip-off shop together after school. I'll get your money back for you!"

Su Xiaoxiao: "..."

"Duan Anxun."

"Here!"

Tall and slender, Duan Anxun stood out like a phoenix among chickens. At the sound of her name, she answered and strode briskly to the center of the assessment area.

"You two had better watch closely!" Having already finished her assessment demonstration, Du Ting looked toward Lin Yue and Su Xiaoxiao at the back of the line. "Anxun will definitely score above ninety-five!"

"What makes you so sure? Your eighty-one point three out of a hundred?" Lin Yue mercilessly rubbed salt in the wound. "Worry about whether I'll beat your score first!"

"You..." Du Ting's face flushed, then paled. Finally, she gave a quiet huff and turned her attention to Duan Anxun in the arena.

Lin Yue ignored her too, holding the hand of Su Xiaoxiao behind her as she nervously watched Duan Anxun begin her demonstration.

"Hello, judges. My name is Duan Anxun, and this is my Contract Beast, a Rainbow Cloud Parrot named Little Rainbow Cloud." Duan Anxun introduced herself with poise, then swiftly raised her hand.

The Rainbow Cloud Parrot perched on her arm beat its wings in perfect sync, shooting skyward like an arrow loosed from a bow before swiftly descending. Following Duan Anxun's simple gestures, the parrot displayed intricate flying maneuvers interspersed with various skills.

The Rainbow Cloud Parrot was a light-type supernatural creature. As the parrot performed, multicolored light flashed throughout the venue, and the girl amid that radiance, her short skirt fluttering, looked otherworldly and powerful.

"Wow! So this is what Duan Anxun can do!"

"Every move the Rainbow Cloud Parrot makes takes it right past Duan Anxun. A moment too late, and she could get hurt!"

"She makes it look effortless, like it's an extension of her own arm!"

"When will my Contract Beast and I ever be that in sync?"

"I think there's no question who's taking first place in this assessment..."

As Duan Anxun began her demonstration, the other students watching couldn't help murmuring in amazement and discussing it among themselves.

The demonstration lasted three minutes. As Duan Anxun's performance grew increasingly difficult, the gasps grew louder and louder.

Soon, the three-minute demonstration ended, and Duan Anxun's assessment score was announced.

97.4 points-a full five points above the current runner-up.

Du Ting looked even prouder. She stopped arguing with Lin Yue, but shot her a contemptuous look that seemed to say, "See? That's what Duan Anxun can really do."

"What's she so smug about?" Lin Yue huffed softly and linked arms with Su Xiaoxiao. "Don't be nervous, Xiaoxiao! You can do it!"

"Mm-hmm..." Su Xiaoxiao replied absently.

In fact, she was communicating with the Blazing Fox back home through their beast taming contract. She hadn't even paid much attention to Duan Anxun's demonstration.

As she'd expected, the Blazing Fox was watching a show.

And had eaten the snacks she'd just bought!

After Duan Anxun, the students took turns stepping up to perform.

Without exception, their scores fell well short of Duan Anxun's.

Watching from the sidelines, Du Ting smugly linked arms with Duan Anxun. "I told you, no one could compete with you!"

"Just as expected." Duan Anxun couldn't help smiling either. "I just want to see what score Su Xiaoxiao gets after talking so big."

As they spoke, Lin Yue, who was just ahead of Su Xiaoxiao in line, stepped into the arena.

A brilliant six-pointed star appeared behind her. Amid swirling gusts, a blue-green eagle with a wingspan of a meter and a half flew out of the void connected to the star.

A wind-type Contract Beast, the Azure Wind Eagle.

Whoosh!

The Azure Wind Eagle circled once above the arena and began its demonstration.

Su Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and clenched her fists.

I'm next.

"Little Flame, make sure you do a good job in a moment."

"Ying~"

An unhurried little cry answered her.

Lounging on the sofa at home and watching a show, the Blazing Fox wasn't taking this seriously.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head helplessly.

"If you do well, I'll take you back to that Contract Beast boarding shop for another grooming session."

"Ying!" (Deal!)

The Blazing Fox's reply was noticeably more enthusiastic, allowing Su Xiaoxiao to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Lin Yue, your assessment score is 86.3 points."

"Next, Su Xiaoxiao!"

"Here!"

Su Xiaoxiao answered and strode forward, taking her place in the arena as glowing lines interwove into a six-pointed star behind her.