Beast Taming: Starting From Zero Chapter 4: Requesting Leave
Previously on Beast Taming: Starting From Zero...
Her mother hesitated for a moment, "Are you sure about the Fire Fang Dog? Aren't they known for being too aggressive?"
When selecting a pet beast, every Beast Master naturally prioritizes attributes, innate talent, and growth potential.
However, for a novice Beast Master, the most critical factor is actually the creature's temperament.
Beginners frequently choose species like the Fat Dove, White Sand Fox, Short-Tailed Snake, Sand-Digger, or Deepfur Turtle primarily because of their mild dispositions.
It is a misconception that all pets raised in breeding centers are naturally docile or harmless.
If an amateur Beast Master establishes a contract with a volatile pet as their first companion, they will find it nearly impossible to train the creature, let alone direct it effectively during a battle.
Just last year, a student from South City who had recently completed his high school entrance exams formed a contract with a Fire Sparrow.
Within mere days, the Fire Sparrow chose to endure the pain of a contract backlash rather than remain bound to him.
The resulting damage to the boy's brain domain was so severe that he fell drastically behind his classmates by the time he was healthy enough to return to school.
It later came to light that the disaster occurred because the boy had pressured the Fire Sparrow to pose for social media photos...
The incident was so shocking it briefly dominated the local news headlines.
Fire-type pets are notoriously stubborn and blunt, and the Fire Fang Dog fits that description perfectly.
Qiao Sang, however, viewed things differently. She was convinced that temperament must vary among individuals of the same species; surely not every Fire Fang Dog was hostile.
To her, a species where every individual shared the exact same personality would be incredibly dull.
“Mom, you’ve always said I have a natural talent for Beast Mastery. I truly feel the Fire Fang Dog is the right match for me,” Qiao Sang insisted.
As a fire-type with high offensive capabilities, a Fire Fang Dog would easily allow her to reach the rank of E-grade Beast Master after its first evolution.
While not as exorbitantly expensive as a superpower-type like the Bubble Bell, the Fire Fang Dog is still a significant investment compared to a Fat Dove.
A Fat Dove might cost 30,000, but a Fire Fang Dog carries a price tag of roughly 100,000.
Knowing her family's finances, Qiao Sang knew this was an affordable expense.
“Very well. I will take you to the pet center tomorrow morning,” her mother conceded, ending the debate.
---
The following morning, Qiao Sang was roused from her sleep at the break of dawn.
Prompted by her mother’s constant urging, she hurried through her preparations and finished breakfast in ten minutes flat, allowing them to leave the house by 7:06 a.m.
Throughout the journey, Qiao Sang’s heavy eyelids betrayed her exhaustion; she looked like she was still half-asleep.
They arrived at the Hanggang Pet Center at 8:31 a.m., precisely when the doors opened for the day.
Because of the early hour, they were the only customers present to browse the pets.
There were no queues to wait in and no need for a prior appointment.
A female staff member, appearing to be in her thirties, stepped forward to greet them.
“How may I help you today?” she inquired with a practiced, professional smile.
“We are interested in purchasing a Fire Fang Dog,” her mother replied plainly.
“Understood, please follow me.” The employee began leading them through the facility.
She was clearly a veteran of the center, filling the walk with detailed information to ensure there were no quiet, awkward moments.
“Currently, we have 27 Fire Fang Dogs available, all of which are in peak health. Two individuals are actually on the verge of evolution. Of the remaining 25, 19 have successfully learned the Spark skill."
“Furthermore, 7 have already mastered Fireball. These are slightly larger than the others, and another 5…”
As she continued her briefing, they reached the specific enclosure dedicated to the Fire Fang Dogs.
Before Qiao Sang could even get close to the fence, a sudden blast echoed through the air, and a plume of fire scorched the ground only five meters away from her.
Startled, Qiao Sang recoiled and looked toward the source of the heat.
Two Fire Fang Dogs, both significantly larger than their den-mates, were snarling at each other with flames dancing around their teeth.
This skill, known as Fire Fang, is an inherited trait common to most members of their species.
The staff member remained unfazed, explaining, “Those two are the ones nearing evolution. They are constantly brawling to establish dominance, though their fights almost always result in a stalemate.”
Just as she finished her sentence, another streak of fire landed four meters away from Qiao Sang.
A cold shiver raced down Qiao Sang’s spine.
The employee then gestured toward some nearby shrubbery to the left.
“The Spark you just witnessed came from that Fire Fang Dog over there. Its output is quite formidable.”
Qiao Sang observed the indicated dog standing over another one; the tension between them was palpable.
Predictably, the pair lunged at each other a moment later, snapping and biting in a fierce struggle.
“They are rivals competing for the favor of a female,” the staff member added. “Though it’s likely in vain, as she seems to have her eye on someone else.”
Qiao Sang: “…”
After processing this, she asked, “Where is the female Fire Fang Dog?”
She reasoned that a female might possess a more manageable temperament than the aggressive males.
The staff member gave a small smile. “The one barking and cheering them on is the female.”
Qiao Sang blinked in surprise. Looking again, she spotted a Fire Fang Dog with a noticeably cleaner, silkier coat, yapping excitedly from the safety of the bushes.
“Yah!”
“Yah!”
The employee provided a translation: “She seems to be egging them on. Even though she isn't interested in either of them, she thoroughly enjoys watching them fight for her sake.”
Qiao Sang: “…”
While Qiao Sang stood there in a daze, the staff member turned to her mother, who had been silent. “Is there a particular Fire Fang Dog that caught your eye? I can bring it out for a closer inspection.”
Her mother shook her head. “I’m just accompanying my daughter. She is the one who will be contracting the pet.”
The staff member’s eyes widened in realization. “I see. Your daughter must be a self-awakened Beast Master.”
Her mother beamed with pride. “How could you tell?”
“Well, today is Friday, and your daughter is wearing the Wen Cheng Junior High uniform, which suggests she’s in her third year,” the staff member reasoned.
“The Beast Master Alliance hasn't held the annual mass awakening ceremony yet. She wouldn't be here looking for a contract if she hadn't awakened on her own. Besides, getting permission to miss school during such a busy year isn't easy.”
These were merely her educated guesses.
She was basing her logic on a similar case from earlier in the week involving another self-awakened girl from the same school.
She had been the one to assist that family as well.
The staff member made a mental note to talk to her husband about a loan for a better school district house; her own son was already in the fourth grade.
Meanwhile, her mother’s proud smile began to falter.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Qiao Sang looked at her mother. “Mom, did you actually call my teacher to ask for the day off?”
Her mother let out a nervous, forced laugh. “Haha, do you really think I’d forget something like that?”
“I know you asked for yesterday off, but as for today…” Qiao Sang pressed.
“I requested two days of leave for you yesterday!” her mother’s voice suddenly boomed.
“Oh, okay,” Qiao Sang replied.
She let out a quiet sigh to herself.
She wondered if her mother realized that her volume always spiked whenever she was being dishonest.