Free Web NovelChapter 5: The Mystique
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[The Rankings of the Beasts: ]
- There are various kinds of beasts; however, depending on their power ranks, their potential, and their skills, they are divided into six distinct ranks.
The most common are: <Normal-grade>.
- They are called (Household beasts) since they are found almost everywhere around us.
- Not all of the Household beasts possess a [Beast Skill]; however, they are creatures that have their distinct uses.
- They are common, are trained to help out around the houses, and sometimes are used as cattle.
Beyond the household beasts are: <Rare-grade> beasts that are called (Professional beasts).
- These creatures possess a special skill that professionals use in their different professions.
- Beasts that help the woodworkers, backers, alchemists, pharmacists, apothecaries, and even the beasts that help with mining work and blacksmithing are Professional beasts.
When a professional beast becomes proficient enough to do something on its own, or when they have understood their own skill use to a certain level, they reach the <Uncommon-grade>.
- The Uncommon beasts are also called (Expert beasts).
- These creatures have skills that a tamer can use through their [Bond] as their own.
- A creature of a lower rank can train to learn how to share their skills with their masters; however, the ability comes naturally to the creatures of uncommon grade and above.
Beyond the Uncommon-grade are the <Unique-grade>, <Historical-grade>, and <Fable-grade> creatures that are also called Master beasts, Weapon beasts, and Legendary beasts.
- However, seeing a creature of Unique rank above is as uncommon as their name suggests.
- Even in the Sungrade Cradles, the beasts of Unique Grade and above can only be seen in the fourth cradle and above.
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When you bond with a beast, you obtain their Essence card. And each essence card has a certain symbol recorded on it that indicates the ranks of a beast.
’These ranks aren’t the same as the ranks that we have established.’
The ranks on the essence card are something like this: <N> for normal rank, <R> for rare, <U> for Uncommon, <SR> for Unique, <SSR> for the Historical beasts, and <SSS> for the Fable grade beasts.
’No one really knows why the cards have a grade like that. But the essence grade on the card isn’t the same as the general ranks of the beasts.’
If we call the established ranks something that outlines the basic potential of the beast, their essence rank shows the beast’s true innate potential, which only gets revealed once they bond with a tamer.
’This true innate potential is also the reason why many tamers search for special beasts among the ones of the same kind... and this rank disparity is also the reason why hundreds of beasts are killed by the hands of the very people who tame them.’
Anyways, these ranks and stuff aren’t something I should be concerned about right now.
"Here she comes."
In the calm cradle of beasts where hundreds of beasts lived, there was a certain type of cat species that the Sungrade family raised for their impeccable tracking ability.
"Hmm?"
"Meow~."
"Why is a <Grey Tigress> here? They don’t travel all the way–."
"Shhhh. Quiet, Kiren."
I looked at her, the large gray kitten twice the size of a normal household beast that their kind was supposed to be.
She was a young beast. The normal kittens of her age should be half her size or maybe even smaller.
However, since she looked so big in comparison, the people here must have mistaken her for an adult and kept her here because she did not display any special traits.
But she was more special than the people here could understand at this stage.
"The <Southern Gray Tigress>, not just a simple <Grey Tigress>, first of all. They are an inherently superior species, live in the savannah of Karol region, are one of the apex predators of those rather peaceful lands, and they aren’t afraid of water, so this one doesn’t need this."
There was a red ribbon wrapped around her neck, a device that prevented these felines from getting wet.
’Their general species was not very fond of water, but since this particular one lived in the lands where water was abundant, they adapted to love the watery places.’
Knowing that, it must be suffocating for this little one to live without being able to play in the water.
"Can you help me? Ah, not on me though."
After petting her and tickling her in the places she absolutely loved, I placed her down and nodded at one of the other creatures that was following me around, a little <Earth mole> who could spray water from the spiky hair present all around its body.
-Spurrrrrr...
The mole was happy to help, while the water that was sprinkled all around the kitten brought a new kind of joy to the lady.
"Meow~. Mew!"
As if a starved, thirsty man had finally found an oasis, the kitten played joyfully in the sprinkling water.
She was so happy that she repeatedly rubbed her wet body on my legs and asked me to join in.
And I did join in, but not with her.
"Here you go then~."
I started pouring some water from the water pouches that we were carrying ever since we entered the cradle.
The flow of water here wasn’t like the sprinkles but splashes. All the water around us created a small puddle, and the kitten rolled around in it with pure bliss.
"How does he know all these... just, who is that man?"
Kiren was stunned to see this scene as well.
As someone who had worked with these kitten species, he knew what they were capable of and what things they liked.
As a guide, he must have studied monster zoology as well.
But, he still failed to recognise the actual species of this creature. Furthermore, it was clear from his expression that he had no knowledge of the creature that I was playing with.
’But that’s normal, after all.’
The southern gray tigress is a subspecies that only lives in a certain part of the world, and unless you’re searching for it specifically, there is no way you will learn about it.
’Even in a school, unless you’re doing a specific study on a specific kind, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll come across information on these unique subspecies.’
But normal people like him would never get the opportunity or idea to go that deep into a certain subject.
"Anyhow."
What I wanted here wasn’t merely affection for a creature known for her tracking ability.
The one that was covered in mud before me was much more than just a cute kitten.
She was a being that had come to possess a unique power too distinct from any of her kind.
"Come here, little one."
I picked up the large gray kitten with white straps present all over her body that reminded one of a tiger, looked into her deep blue eyes with a smile, walked towards the other side of the place with a small basin, and started cleaning her up.
At the same time, I whispered in her ear.
"You don’t have to worry. I’m planning to take you with me so you can speak. I know you’re worried, but it’s alright."
While cleaning her up, I was making her more relaxed with a certain kind of massage. Even when she heard me say those words, she was more relaxed than she would have wanted to be.
{ "Oh? You already know~. Ah... that’s so... ahh... yes. That’s the spot~." }
I heard a young female voice right inside my head as if someone was using telepathy to send the words inside my head.
This, right here, was the power that only a certain type of beast possessed.
’The beasts that awakened a unique higher-realm consciousness.’
A mystique.
Beasts that were too smart to follow their innate beastly instincts, too intelligent to stay constrained in a place like this cradle, and too powerful for their own good.
They were creatures with powers unrestricted by the ranks of society or their essence cards.
But most of all, they possessed skills that were too unique to be generalised into the simple categories of any society.
{ "Huh...? Wait. Wait! How...!" }
"Meow!"
{ "How do you...?!" }
"Shuuuuu."
She was too stunned when she finally grasped the situation she was in.
"It doesn’t matter how I know. I do. And it is fine if it’s me."
I reassured her.
I kissed her forehead, helped her dry herself with a clean cloth, and smiled at her warmly.
She didn’t have to worry if it was me.
Unlike in my past life, where she chose to trust the wrong person and ended up going berserk and destroying this whole facility, things would be different this time.
’This time, I won’t let them kill her just for wanting her freedom.’
This time, like the many who lost their life because of me, she will live a better life.
’It all starts from here.’
She and I will start the riot that we need to break down this damned family in a better way than how it happened in my past life.
’It all starts here...’
