CH 299

“…… Seriously, you ……”

“Well …… haha.”

“I heard Tanji-san can get them into town!”

“Gaw.”

“Grrr ……”

“Kuon.”

In a short time, we were able to safely return to Illuminate from Glasco territory. I fought a lot of monsters on the way there, but on the way back, the situation was under control and with the parent Bear and Viking Wolf by my side, the monsters didn’t approach us at all. This was a big help since we always camp in between.

(T/N: I just want to say this to confirm. The monsters that Lars tamed this time is: 1 Parent Bear(Mother), 1 Little Bear, and 1 Viking Wolf.)

–It was a great help, but I didn’t feel comfortable using Basleigh-sensei’s power as an umbrella, so I brought them to Tanji-san with me.

“You tamed this ……? Deadly Bear and Viking Wolf …… the both of them are high ranked, though ……”

“We had a bit of a mix-up in Glasco territory, and we defeated the one that attacked us. But I felt sorry for them because they seemed to have been manipulated, so I healed their wounds and sent them back to the forest ……”

“So it came along. Hmm ……”

He put his hand on his chin and stroked the head of the baby bear that Makina was holding, and asked how the parent bear was doing.

“In the meantime, I’d like to have Tanji-san, who is qualified as a tamer, come into town and place her in the tamer facility, what do you think?”

“Well, we’ll be conspicuous here, so let’s just go to the facility.”

I nodded at Tanji-san’s words and walked off with the Wolf on a leash. I was followed by Makina holding a baby Bear, Fath-san holding the caged Sephiro, and a smiling Basleigh-sensei straddling the parent Bear.

“Why are you straddling her!?”

“No, I just wanted to make sure she wouldn’t get out of control. Besides, it’s a comfortable ride, Mother Bear.”

“Grr.”

“She’s quite attached to us, so it’s okay. Come on, the kid wants to get on, so get off, Minister.”

“I don’t have a choice. Mother, please stop for a moment so I can get off.”

(T/N: Not her mother, the little bear’s mother.)

After being rebuked by Tanji-san, Basleigh-sensei reluctantly got off. So you don’t care if your underwear can be seen …… Tanji-san is having trouble where to look.

“Huge! Mom, that’s a bear! I want to ride it!”

“You’re right, it’s really big. But you can’t, it’s too dangerous.”

A little boy was being led away by his mother. Then Tanji opened his mouth, encouraging the parent bear to walk.

“If they were a little more interested in monsters just like that kid, we might get more tamers.”

Tanji-san walked slowly, spitting out such words that could be called complaining. Eventually, we arrived at the facility and let the three of them loose in the open space, and we talked inside the facility.

“I’ve been carrying him all day, so he’s high spirits.”

“Sephiro is also very mobile.”

While they were watching the three of them with smiles in their eyes, Tanji-san, who had brought the tea, sat down, shaking his head.

“Hah~ …… I’m jealous that the girls have it easy. I’ll just tell you the result first, Lars …… I need you to pull out your guild card.”

“What? Here then ……”

When I handed him the guild card, he took out a thin metal rod and put magic power into the card. The card glowed for a moment, then he handed it back to me and there it was.

“‘Tamer Rank A’ ……? What!? Wait a minute, Tanji-san!”

“It’s exactly what it says. I don’t want to believe it, but if you can show me this much taming in a little over a month–“

“What do you mean? I don’t know much about tamer qualifications either.”

As soon as Basleigh-sensei said this with a mouthful of tea, Tanji-san’s explanation began.

“Basically, there are different stages in the taming process. Lars, who had this Treant with him, was an apprentice, but he had an E rank. He got a D when he started to listen to me, and a C for two monsters with low monster ranks. The reason why I gave him an A rank is because it’s a powerful demon, and also because of how much I like it. The reason why I gave it a grade of A is because it is a powerful monster, and also because of how much it likes you. It’s not possible for the young lady to carry the child in her arms or to put the minister on her back. And of course, I’m not supposed to pat his on the head too.”

Oh, so that’s why he was patting the little bear’s head earlier while asking how the parent bear was doing. Then Fath-san opened her mouth.

“Hmm, so you’re saying that’s what happens to ‘Lars’ friends’, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. It’s amazing that you understand that?”

“Umu. As I recall, in Glasco territory, that parent Bear brought back a man who had been cheated in the forest, and I just realized that she must have known that he was one of Lars’ friends by smell or something.”

“Now that you mention it, I didn’t understand why she back Orff, but now I see.”

Tanji-san smiled and nodded, sipped his teacup and looked at me.

“Well, that’s why it’s hard not to admit it when she’s even allowing to pet him, too. It’s an exception, but I’ve decided to hand over an A-rank qualification to Lars.”

“I appreciate that, but there’s still a lot I don’t know, isn’t there?”

“That’s true. However, I’m sure that whatever else you do will work and you’ll be fine, you know?”

Tanji-san said, but I showed him the ring and shook my head.

“…… This ring. I think this ring is a magical tool that can control monsters. In fact, it seems to have been used to control the Viking Wolves and the parent Bear. So it’s probably not my ability. I’ll tame something next time I take it off, so you can hold off until then.”

“Hmm, but I’ve already given it to you ……”

“Then I’m going to stay here until I learn everything you know. I don’t want to feel like I’m cheating, after all.”

When I said that, Basleigh-sensei’s mouth twitched in dissatisfaction.

“I think it’s good since it’s so convenient, though?”

“Well, I’ll use it to walk around town, but I don’t have enough knowledge about it yet. If possible, I’d like to work on it with my [Super Jack-of-all-Trades].”

“I knew you would say that because Lars is so serious! But we can take them home, so keep your qualifications♪”

Makina laughed and I chuckled at her words. Well, I’ll have to pay Tanji-san’s tuition, but I hope it’s at least enough for Nora’s [Animal Lover].

“I’ll come again.”

“Yeah, and you can keep that big mother of yours, okay?”

“I’ll bring her back because she has a cub. And the yard is still empty, after all.”

After the conversation with Tanji-san, we walked back to our house. The horses seemed to have gotten used to being on the move, and their noses no longer twitched when the parent bears were nearby. Just as I was about to go to the main street into a residential area, Basleigh-sensei ran into the street toward the castle.

“Teacher?”

“I’m going back to the castle for now. I’ll be back by evening, but about my food …… It’s regrettable, but I’m …… fine without one ……”

“I don’t think it’s worth crying over, but okay. Let me know if you need anything.”

“I’ll fill the bath now.”

We said a few words to each other, and Basleigh-sensei waved her hand and headed for the castle. We saw her off until she was out of sight, and then headed back home.

A new chapter from this time!

A big commotion, or rather, Lars is involved in a lot of things! (As usual)

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“My stomach hurts ……”

We’ve just entered a new chapter, though!?