episode_0019

19.

Ray looked down at the fallen Thunder Tiger.

-Grrr.

Thunder Tiger grumbled as if he was uncomfortable somewhere.

“Good job Ray!”

Chris ran towards Ray.

Ray, who was carefully observing Thunder Tiger, headed towards Thunder Tiger’s forehead.

“What, why?”

“This guy, Thunder Tiger. He is a dangerous monster, but he is not a violent monster that starts a fight without thinking about the consequences. Something is strange.”

Ray had lived for a long time and knew the tendencies of each monster well.

Thunder Tiger was a fearful monster.

I thought it was strange to see them fighting to the death like this.

As Ray examined Thunder Tiger, who had collapsed on the mud floor, he noticed a suspicious black crystal embedded in Thunder Tiger’s forehead.

“What is this?”

When I looked closely at the black crystal, I saw that an evil spirit was emanating from it.

It didn’t seem like the crystal was originally embedded in Thunder Tiger’s body.

Ray took off the black crystal.

-Grrr!

Thunder Tiger writhed in pain, but was unable to resist as all of his strength had already left his body.

“What is that?”

Chris came up next to Ray and looked at the black crystal.

A purple glow was slowly seeping out from the palm-sized black crystal.

“It seems like the evil spirit from this black crystal is what made Thunder Tiger go wild.”

-Krrr.

Thunder Tiger seemed to want to say something to Ray.

Ray approached Thunder Tiger and exchanged a few words.

“What does Thunder Tiger say?”

“Three months ago. Those wearing masks and black robes forcibly inserted a black crystal into Thunder Tiger. Thunder Tiger lost his memory and became violent after that.”

Chris is startled by the sudden news.

“Are there guys who can subdue and make this strong Thunder Tiger so ferocious?”

It was amazing.

These are the people who have the power to subdue and violently change the S-rank monster Thunder Tiger. What kind of people are they?

-Krrr.

“Thunder Tiger is grateful that you saved him from losing his mind.”

“You shouldn’t be thankful. It just happened by chance while we were fighting… .”

“Chris. I think now is a good time to do Thunder Tiger a favor. How about asking Thunder Tiger to become your summoner?”

As Ray said, Chris had two goals in the Blue Lightning Swamp.

One was to complete the task. The other was to summon the rare monster Thunder Tiger.

“Thunder Tiger. If it’s okay with you, will you be my summoner?”

-Grrr.

Thunder Tiger licked Chris’ hand with a low growl.

It seemed like he was accepting that he was being summoned.

“Thunder Tiger also wants to become a summon.”

“Okay, then let’s sign the contract!”

Chris raised his staff high.

“Ar- Melon! Karin Daror Ralais! I don’t know Sanda Onona Melon!!”

Chris reciting a spell in Elvish.

Simply translated, it meant that the summoner and the summoned creature swore to be eternal friends.

A white light extended from the summoning staff, connecting Chris and Thunder Tiger.

Pfft!

The light shattered like candy glass.

Chris felt a spiritual connection with Thunder Tiger.

[Experience gains greatly increase with a contract with a powerful summoner!]

-Tiroloring!

[Level up.]

[You have become a level 3 summoner.]

Thunder Tiger, an S-class monster and the master of the Blue Lightning Swamp.

That was the moment when he became Chris’s summoner.

#

Chris moved the summoned Thunder Tiger to the giant mushroom colony to rest.

“You want me to cure this monster?”

Healer Austin looked at Thunder Tiger resting under the mushroom with a fearful expression.

Thunder Tiger was lying under a giant mushroom, grumbling in pain.

“Now that it’s my summon, it won’t attack people or anything like that.”

“I really believe in you, Chris.”

Austin approached Thunder Tiger to tend to his wounds, as Chris had suggested.

-Grumble… .

“Eek!”

Thunder Tiger licked Austin’s surprised cheek with his tongue.

“Wow… I’ve endured it for ten years.”

“It’s not dangerous.”

“Hmm… Looking closely, it looks like a big cat… .”

Austin used his heal magic on Thunder Tiger.

A green light gently enveloped Thunder Tiger.

“Because you’re healthy. If you rest for a few days, you’ll get better.”

Ray said, patting Thunder Tiger’s back.

Jeremy approached Chris.

Jeremy was covered in mud and had scratches all over his body from the Thunder Tiger, but he seemed to be able to walk on his own after recovering from the healing potion.

“Thank you Chris. I survived thanks to you.”

Jeremy looked exhausted and extremely tired.

“Jeremy, shouldn’t you go to the hospital quickly?”

“I guess so. Before that, I want to say thank you to you. If it weren’t for you, our party would have been all dead.”

Jeremy admitted his defeat without hesitation and thanked Chris.

It seemed like he wasn’t as twisted of a nature as I thought.

“I can give you the 2nd place in the rankings.”

“No, I don’t care about rankings or anything.”

“Really? You’re saying you have no intention of fighting with the number 1 ranked Nick?”

Chris really didn’t care about rankings.

Because it’s nothing more than students deciding on a fighting ranking.

“But be careful. Nick seems to be interested in you. He might challenge you even if you don’t want him to.”

Number one in the pecking order is Nick Galloway.

I heard he is a knight of great talent.

Is that guy going to pick a fight?

Chris was a little worried.

Archer Duken found the bodies and heads of each warrior cadet and placed them neatly under a giant mushroom.

“I’m sorry, but can you watch every body until we get Jeremy to the hospital and back?”

It seemed as if he was afraid that his fluids would be damaged every time by monsters.

“Don’t worry. We’ll be watching.”

“Thank you… .”

Archer Duken left, supporting Jeremy.

Vera followed the two men and glanced at Chris.

‘Chris… You’ve really changed. When did you become so mature?’

The Chris she encountered today didn’t seem to be the same Chris Vera knew.

Of course, I hadn’t really talked to Chris since I was 14.

Because just talking to a low-level guy like Chris was considered a lowering of one’s status.

Just three years.

I don’t know what happened, but Chris had done a 180 degree turn.

‘…chris….’

Vera’s cheeks turned red as she thought of Chris grabbing her wrist in a manly manner.

I saw Chris without realizing it.

Chris happened to be watching Vera.

Their eyes met.

‘ah…!’

Chris smiled at Vera and waved goodbye.

Vera was annoyed with herself for being so squeamish towards Chris.

He quickly turned his head away, pretending to ignore Chris.

‘Chris, don’t get me wrong. I just scored some points today, but I didn’t accept you as my fiancé!’

Vera made up her mind to do so in order to preserve her pride.

Decided to watch Chris a little longer.

#

Several hours passed.

Meanwhile, Chris’s party hunted about 50 Magic Cubes.

Thunder Tiger rested under a giant mushroom, receiving regular healing spells from Austin and recovering from his wounds.

As the sun sets and the red sunset disappears below the horizon,

Archer Duken returned to the giant mushroom colony alone.

They came to collect the corpse every time.

“Chris. Thank you for protecting my body every time.”

“We’re both academy students, so of course we have to do it.”

Douken had a gloomy face.

“I’ve been friends with him since middle school. How can I let him die because of my mistake… .”

Chris had no words to comfort Duquen.

“The Academy is an institution that trains warriors to protect the kingdom from the demons. I knew it was dangerous. But seeing my best friend die, I don’t think I can go anymore.”

As a nobleman, attending the dangerous academy was an exercise in noblesse oblige.

Only nobles who graduated from the academy could advance to central government posts.

I could have dropped out of the academy, but that would have meant giving up on my own success.

“There may be some people who don’t fit into the academy. Everyone should go their own way.”

Chris couldn’t help but pat Douken on the shoulder.

“Thank you. I think a noble like Chris should rule the kingdom. You should definitely graduate from the academy and enter a government position.”

Douken thanked Chris and disappeared out of the swamp, taking the bodies of his friends with him.

Chris watched Douken disappear into the sunset, his mind racing through many thoughts.

#

Chris Party ultimately failed to meet his Magic Cube quota on the first day.

“At night, there are many more dangerous monsters in the swamp. On the other hand, Magic Cube hides in a place that is hard to find and sleeps. Since our goal is Magic Cube, it would be better to come back during the day when they appear.”

Following Ray’s advice, Chris and his party stayed overnight in a village near the swamp and then returned to the Blue Lightning Swamp the next day.

#

The next day.

As they returned to the swamp, Thunder Tiger greeted Chris and his group.

He seemed to have recovered to some extent and was walking around without any problems.

-Grrr.

“Thunder Tiger wants to help us hunt?”

Ray translated Thunder Tiger’s words.

“Really?”

-Grrr.

Chris went on a magic cube hunt with Thunder Tiger.

‘Thunder Tiger… It’s really fraudulently strong… .’

And, in less than an hour, I was able to hunt 100 Magic Cubes.