Chương 15: Chapter 15: Do I Stand a Chance?
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Despite narrowly dodging, the Fairy Butterfly's wing still ended up with a small, singed patch.
It wasn't serious.
But to Ivy, it was painfully obvious.
She pressed her soft pink lips together, her eyes filled with self-reproach.
'This is all because I reacted too slowly, damn it!'
"Don't overthink it." June put her hands on her hips, grinning. "Little Fox and I have a decent amount of battle experience, you know? Just train with us more often, and you'll get used to it."
June's words were a small comfort to Ivy.
And they made her realize something important.
To become a good Beast Master, it wasn't enough to rely on her pet alone. She couldn't be the one holding the Fairy Butterfly back.!
Determined, Ivy declared, "This battle isn't over yet."
June raised an eyebrow, smirking.
"I just wanted to see how strong your Nene has become after evolving. Attack power aside, her dodging speed is pretty impressive."
"But make no mistake—I'll make sure you lose fair and square."
"Little Fox, jump and use Fire Attack."
Ivy huffed softly.
'Thanks, but… not comforting at all.'
"You think Nene and I have just been sitting around doing nothing all this time?"
As Little Fox leapt at the Fairy Butterfly, claws extended like a kitten pouncing on a butterfly, Ivy's eyes gleamed.
"Nene, Wind Blade."
The Fairy Butterfly's wings began to flap rapidly.
Invisible currents of air coalesced around her, sharpening into deadly blades aimed straight at the airborne Little Fox.
To everyone's surprise, the powerful gusts even blew Little Fox's flames back toward her.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Little Fox, caught off guard, crashed to the ground. Her once sleek fur was now a mess, singed and ragged.
Little Fox: ???
June: ???
'What in the world… What kind of bizarre attack was that?'
June immediately launched into a string of exclamations, while Little Fox sat there whimpering.
Little Fox wanted to cry.
'My beautiful, glossy fur—gone.'
Watching June and Little Fox's identical looks of dismay, Ivy barely managed to stifle her laughter.
'Cough… cough. I am absolutely not laughing at their faces.'
"There, there. Don't cry, Little Fox." June's heart went out to her furry friend as she scooped her up, soothing her with gentle pats. "Just eat some fire attribute energy stones, and your beautiful fur will grow back soon, okay?"
After a round of coaxing, Little Fox finally stopped sulking.
However, the look she gave the Fairy Butterfly had shifted from friendly to challenging.
'Just give me one more chance.'
'I will bring that damn butterfly down.'
The Fairy Butterfly fluttered her wings, looking as unbothered as ever.
'A little fox wanting to catch me? Dreams'
"Ying~"
She was waiting.
The Fairy Butterfly perched on Ivy's shoulder, casting a playful glance at Little Fox that clearly signaled, 'Go ahead and try.'
Ivy and June exchanged a look.
'Uh…'
Maybe they should just let these two settle their little grudge themselves.
"The Fairy Butterfly is way stronger than I expected," June said as she finally calmed down, studying the butterfly with a mixture of awe and disbelief.
"Honestly, people used to speculate about possible evolution paths for honeybugs," June began. Coming from a prestigious family of Beast Masters, she knew things most people wouldn't.
"A long time ago, they experimented with honeybugs. After all, it's common knowledge that many insect-type creatures naturally evolve into butterflies or moths."
'But honeybug evolution research eventually stalled.'
'Then, with the agreements later signed between the government and high-tier beasts, these experiments were abandoned entirely.'
'Honeybugs not evolving had become an unchanging truth for centuries.'
And now, out of nowhere, here was a honeybug that had actually evolved.
'A coincidence?'
June was skeptical.
"A mix of luck and chance, I guess?" Ivy tilted her head, explaining, "Professor Iris believes Nene evolved mainly because she had the willpower to survive. She didn't go crazy and self-destruct like other honeybugs."
June frowned slightly.
'That… actually makes sense.'
After all, no one understood how deeply Ivy cared for her honeybug better than June.
"This is a miracle made possible by your love," June said.
"But!"
Her tone shifted, and a gleam appeared in her eyes.
"My Beast Master instincts tell me that guy at the pet service center knows something. There's no way he didn't."
Ivy thought back to her interactions with Asher.
'Absolutely nothing out of the ordinary, right?'
June observed Ivy's pink, slightly flushed earlobes for a few seconds before narrowing her eyes and letting out a knowing chuckle.
"It's decided. Let's go meet this guy."
Ivy wanted to refuse, but then she heard June continue, "I want to thank him, too. After all, he saved the most important family member of my best friend."
With Little Fox in her arms, June set off. Though Ivy tried her hardest, but little did it affect June.
———
"…Asher?"
A girlish voice, tinged with a hint of doubt, reached him.
The sun was at its peak, scorching the world below. Ivy and June, shaded by their parasols, walked under the trees to avoid the midday heat.
And what did they see?
Someone sitting outside, directly below the blazing sun, legs crossed and eyes closed in… meditation?
Hearing the familiar voice calling his name, Asher opened his eyes.
The rush of hot air made his smile freeze for a moment.
'Ugh—'
'Yeah, it is definitely hot.'
"Hello."
Asher picked up a chair by the door and held it open for Ivy and June, letting them step inside first.
He followed them in.
"Asher, what were you just doing?" Ivy glanced at him, noticing the sweat on his forehead, and couldn't help but ask.
'Has he been singled out for some kind of special treatment?'
'Or… i-is he some kind of m-masochist?'
Understanding the look in her eyes, Asher waved it off with a smile.
"Oh, my pet, Little Raven, loves sunbathing. It's good for her, so I decided to keep her company."
Only then did Ivy and June realize that the small, black bird on Asher's shoulder was indeed his pet beast.
June leaned in, inspecting Little Raven with curiosity. "What kind of beast is this? Looks a bit like a Peacock, but isn't it a little too small? And the color… Is this some new species?"
She looked at Asher with even more curiosity.
She knew it—there was something special about him.
Not quite understanding June's intrigued gaze, but feeling a little self-conscious, Asher chuckled. "Little Raven is indeed a Peacock, but she's undergone an unusual mutation, which is why she's so small."
He didn't see the point in hiding it.
In a few words, he explained.
June nodded thoughtfully. "So, you're betting on her evolving in a positive direction after the mutation, huh?"
Ivy, who knew a bit about his situation, looked at him with concern.
"Isn't that a bit too risky? If… if it doesn't work out…"
June's eyes sharpened at Ivy's words.
'A Pre-licensed Beast Master working at a pet service center?'
'This guy have no money to spare, does he?'
'And yet he still dares to contract such a pet?'
June's gaze intensified as she assessed Asher, wondering if he was talented… or just plain reckless.
"Thank you, Ivy," Asher replied with a smile. There wasn't much he could say in response, nor was it easy to explain.
Quickly, he changed the subject.
"So, what brings you here today? Is something wrong with the Fairy Butterfly?"
"It's not me; it's June who…" Ivy trailed off, glancing at June.
Without hesitation, June stepped forward, meeting Asher's gaze directly.
"So, do I stand a chance?"
Asher: "???"
Ivy's eyes widened in shock, 'June, what on earth are you saying?'
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