Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 137 - Taming Family

”Interesting spectacle,” Kassian began once they were alone in the room. His tone was soft, almost casual, which made it all the more threatening. ”Especially the part where a little girl brought you to your knees. Father will be... fascinated when I tell him.”

Klein clenched his fists, the bruises from the battle still fresh. ”It was just a friendly tournament. In the finals…”

”In the finals there will be no excuses,” Kassian cut him off. ”You better have followed the cultivation method to the letter and reached bronze rank 1 by then. You and your... companions.”

The word ʼcompanionsʼ dripped with contempt from his lips.

”Astor and Feng will also reach bronze 1,” Klein assured quickly. ”Weʼve been cultivating according to the traditional method and…”

”Oh, and you think that will be enough to get conceited again?” Kassian smiled without humor, his eyes cold as winter frost. ”Iʼve already heard the gossip, did you think I wouldnʼt learn about a boy with a mere spore humiliating you?”

Klein felt blood rush to his face. ”That was…”

”A disgrace,” Kassian completed the thought. ”A stain on the Goldcrest name that will need more than words to cleanse. All caused by stupid overconfidence.”

He stepped closer to Klein, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper that seemed to chill the very air.

”Listen well, little brother. If you donʼt reach bronze rank by the finals, if you lose again even with that advantage...” he made a meaningful pause.

”Youʼd better forget your place in the family.”

Klein paled. ”You canʼt…”

”Canʼt what?” Kassian arched an eyebrow. ”Inform father about your incompetence? Suggest that perhaps the second son isnʼt as valuable as we thought?”

He stepped back, subtly gesturing toward where Harold watched like a sentinel.

”Our new friend will keep me informed of your... progress. So I suggest you start training harder. Todayʼs humiliation must be erased no matter what.”

”It will be,” Klein tried to keep his voice from trembling. ”I promise that…”

”Donʼt promise me anything,” Kassian cut him off. ”Prove it. Or the next time I speak with father, it will be about the possibility of sending you to a different city... where no one knows you.”

He turned to leave but paused for a moment.

”Oh, and Klein? Next time you decide to let a girl strike your noble parts...” a cruel smile curved his lips, ”at least make sure itʼs not in front of the entire academy.”

Klein remained motionless long after his brother left.

Five thousand crystals weighed in his pockets, a useless reminder of his failure. The prize didnʼt matter, the rank didnʼt matter. All that mattered was reclaiming his honor.

And if that meant training until exhaustion, until he bled...

So be it.

♢♢♢♢

Luna had barely finished changing when her cousins burst into her room, followed by their maid who tried to maintain some semblance of decorum.

”That knee strike was epic!” one cousin exclaimed, throwing herself dramatically onto the bed. ”Did you see his face? It was like his brain had to restart!”

”The knee strike was vulgar,” Matilda commented while collecting the training clothes, though her lips twitched. ”But I must admit it was... satisfying to witness.”

”The way the wolf seized the moment to bite the lion!” the other cousin perched on the bedʼs edge, her eyes sparkling with mischief. ”And then with the cobra... it was brilliant!”

”Everything went according to plan,” Luna smiled while sitting at her vanity, allowing Mayo to begin brushing her hair with practiced strokes.

”You planned the knee strike too?” María asked with feigned innocence.

”That was... creative improvisation.”

Laughter filled the room. For a moment, they were just a group of girls celebrating a victory, without the weight of their responsibilities or appearances.

”Although...” Luna hesitated, her expression growing more serious. ”Thereʼs something we need to discuss.”

Her cousins straightened, recognizing the change in her tone.

”The message I received last night,” Luna continued. ”It seems Kleinʼs brother didnʼt come just for the tournament.”

”The Director informed me,” the first cousin nodded. ”The Goldcrest family is moving pieces. Theyʼve inserted a new student into the academy.”

”Can they do that just like that?” the second cousin frowned. ”Brother Julius is one thing, but they…”

”Apparently,” the other cousin sighed. ”The Director says he canʼt reject all their requests. The family provides too many resources to the academy.”

”We need to keep an eye on the new student,” Luna mused. ”Find out what theyʼre planning.”

”If someone needs spying on, you know Iʼm the one for the job,” the first cousin pointed to herself with a flourish.

”Oh no,” the second cousin crossed her arms. ”You already have Ren. Besides, Luna is very interested in him so you canʼt stop watching him...”

”Excuse me?” Luna turned so quickly Mayo had to dodge with the brush. ”Iʼm not interested in anyone!”

”Please,” the first cousin rolled her eyes. ”We all saw how you smiled when the roar didnʼt affect him because he used the ear trick.”

”That was technical appreciation!”

”Oh, then you wonʼt mind if I investigate him while our ʼstar spyʼ switches to watching the new guy,” her second cousin smiled mischievously.

”No way!” The first cousin blushed at her own outburst. ”I mean... Iʼm already familiar with his routine. It makes more sense for me to…”

”Oh? Do we have a new interested party?” The second cousin feigned surprise.

”No! I mean...” The first cousin looked to the maids for support, but they seemed to be suppressing laughter.

”Then Iʼll handle Ren and you take the new one,” the second cousin interjected with a playful smile.

”My lady,” Mayo commented with mock seriousness, ”if your attachment to young Ren is purely professional, there should be no issue reassigning the observation task... After all, youʼll continue your ʼobservation support dutiesʼ in class and in your free time...”

”Mayo!”

”Sheʼs right, you practically have two people watching him already so our ʼexpert spyʼ isnʼt needed,” Matilda nodded solemnly. ”Though I must say your observation methods are quite... intense. Especially during training.”

”I donʼt watch him during training!”

”Oh, then why do you always insist we practice near where he…” her first cousin began.

”Itʼs coincidence! He runs right in front of us because heʼs that fast!” Luna had turned completely red. ”And we should be discussing the new student!”

”Of course, so itʼs decided that Iʼll watch him from now on,” the second cousin grinned. ”But Iʼll do it when Luna canʼt... After all, we wouldnʼt want to distract her from her current ʼtechnical appreciationʼ.”

The three maids could no longer contain their laughter, which only worsened when Luna shot them a betrayed look.

”Youʼre impossible,” Luna muttered, sinking into her chair. ”All of you.”

”We love you too,” her second cousin blew her a kiss. ”Now, whoʼs watching whom?”

”Alright, since we donʼt know his perception level yet... Itʼs decided then,” declared the first cousin. ”Iʼll watch the new guy, and you can help Luna continue her thorough ʼinvestigationʼ of a certain ʼcuteʼ mushroom pot.”

Laughter erupted again, even Matilda abandoning her usual composure to join the fun.

”I hate you all,” Luna murmured, but a small smile betrayed her words.

”We love you too,” they responded in unison, causing another round of laughter that echoed through the room.