This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

"Vera. Any insight that you could provide would be great right about now. Surely after seeing 6 tries you've collected enough data."

"Six attempts are not nearly enough in order to deduce the source of the failure 100%," Vera said.

"However, I do predict that along with the Infernal Stone that is the irreplaceable centerpiece of the evolution to an Infernal Salamander and used in conjunction with other fire-attribute materials that can be substituted, there must be a similar necessary material needed by the other bloodline it possesses."

Vera's statement confirmed a guess that Kain had hoped was incorrect. After all, how exactly was he going to broach this subject with Yara's mother without being torched to death.

"You can confirm with 100% certainty that the mutation is due to another bloodline? Not a random mutation." Kain asked. He had to be sure before he went around throwing out accusations.

"There is no 100% in science, but I can say with at least 99.99% probability that the mutation is due to an additional bloodline. Likely, a light-attribute lizard-type spiritual creature similar in appearance to its other parent so that the appearance of this bloodline is subtle."

Kain really did not know how to feel after having his suspicions confirmed. His mind flashed back to the male half of the loving pair he'd seen earlier.

"Sigh…poor guy…"

However, completely unable to continue with his simulations Kain had to develop a plan to increase his GP. Due to being a city more to the west and slightly closer towards the core of the Empire, and not along the Empire's border acting as a defensive wall to the vast wilderness to the east like Dark Moon, Moonstone City did not have as many high-level spiritual creatures surrounding it.

In fact, the lack of danger is probably why this city is so large. Had Dark Moon City not been the site of the college, it likely would have been surpassed in scale long ago.

However, while this safety was great for the residents, it meant that Kain couldn't even go on a quick hunting mission to solve his issue of low GP.

"If I knew this mission would take so long, I would have risked missing class on Monday to go to a far enough region with powerful enough spiritual creatures. Now, if Yara can't quickly learn Light Shroud, I'll be in a similar predicament of missing class. Maybe I could request to return back to the college until Yara is finished learning? But while Darius would likely agree, Alaina seems…difficult.

Especially now that I revealed that I can improve Yara's condition, she may not let me go…"

"Ugh! All of my professors have said that attendance was mandatory. I've never seen anyone miss a lecture before, and I absolutely do not want to be the first."

"I'll settle the issue of GP by maybe asking the Ashenclaws to provide me with living spiritual creatures to feed my spiritual creature. I only need to kill 3 more orange-grade spiritual creatures to complete the current mission anyways and have it reset."

"However, 3 to 4 more tries won't be nearly enough if I can't at least narrow down what that other required material is. Which means…I'm going to have to have a little chat with Yara's mother."

A shiver ran down Kain's spine at the thought. When Yanna wasn't hostile to him she was already terrifying, once she does become hostile to him he really doesn't even know what he'll do… What he CAN do. He's completely hopeless against green-grade spiritual creatures, much less the more powerful blue-grade spiritual creatures.

'I wish the Genetic Reconstructor also could identify genes and tell me the species. Then I could skip out on a very awkward conversation. Unfortunately, it could only take the genes of certain traits and put them into another creature.'

With a feeling of futile hope, Kain went to the System Shop praying that there was something he could exchange for that could maybe protect him against creatures at Yanna's level.

However, there was nothing of the sort, not that he'd have been able to afford it anyways with only 50 GP left.

"Argh! I'll think more about it in the morning…"

Kain went to sleep, but it was definitely a restless night filled with tossing and turning as his dreams were filled with 100 ways to die, starring him and the Blazing Ember Wyrm Yanna.

---------

The next day Kain woke up with huge dark circles under his eyes.

Thankfully, he wasn't questioned about the reason behind his evidently poor quality of sleep. In fact, the members of the Ashenclaw family took it for granted that he must have been staying up late working on Yara's case. As a result, the faces of Alaina, her father, and even the butler, were much more gentle today than yesterday.

"You didn't have to come so early to continue working. Yara's trainer and many of the staff for the manor haven't even arrived yet since they come later on weekends."

Kain waved his hand carelessly. Like hell he'd want to stay in his hotel room and be killed by Yanna 100 more times in his dreams. It was best to get an early start and preoccupy his mind.

Seeing Kain's "dedication" to his work, Alaina's voice became even softer. "Please then, join me for breakfast. Yara will also be there, so you can also take the time examine her again."

At this Kain nodded. He hadn't had an appetite when he first woke up so it wouldn't hurt to get a free meal off of them.

Kain followed Alaina to what was likely a less formal sitting room used only for family and not for hosting. However, he only said so to the smaller more intimate size of the dining table. Everything else from the massive hanging crystal chandelier to the intricately carved wooden table and chairs screamed opulence.

After sitting down at the table with Alaina, her father Darius, and her mother who he'd just met today—Seraphina Ashenclaw. She was also contracted to the male Blazing Ember Wyrm Kain saw yesterday—Yara's "father."

Seeing her, Kain was once again reminded of the awkward secret he seemed to have stepped into and looked at Yara who looked noticeably better than yesterday and was eating a bowl of specially prepared food next to the table.

However, as Kain continued to examine Yara, an idea hatched in his mind on how to more safely get the answers he needed…