"Hey wake up!"

Let me sleep, I'm comfortable right now.

"Wake up we are about to start."

[5 more minutes…]

"Hurry up and wake up or you'll miss the test!"

What? A test? Oh, right I forgot about that! I wake up to a scholarly young man in front of my face. He has silver glasses and tied-up brown hair.

"Awake now? Hurry up and head in!"

Oh! I see.

[Thanks for telling me, you are here for that too?]

He nods.

Does that mean everyone else just gave up on me and left me to sleep here? How mean!

I follow him until we reach a medium-sized room with a few people inside already. In the middle, there is some sort of beast statue. It looks to be a mix between many creatures. Some sort of weird chimera. This is kinda cool.

We seem to be 7 people here to take the test. On the opposite side of the room, there are 2 guys with a shiny emblem on their chest. I'm guessing they are official beast tamers. Both have 2 stars on their badge probably their rank. That kinda reminds me of that hunter token I used to have. I probably lost it at some point, didn't I? Oh well, it wasn't that useful anyway.

"Welcome everyone we will now start this orientation test. The statue in the middle of the room is one that contains a sliver of will from more creatures than you guys can even fathom. Touching it you guys will be able to know your talent for beast taming. Just know that affinity is extremely important for a tamer. It is the only way to assure loyalty over a long period. There are records of many great tamers dying eaten by their own creatures in a moment of weakness because they failed to consider this point."

Well, that point really doesn't concern me. I just want to become a tamer to bring Wolfie and the unicorn around. As if they would ever eat me lol. I guess it is a good thing that they do mention it. Many newbies would probably overestimate their own capabilities otherwise. A challenge is all good until you die from it. Need to stay alive to improve.

"Alright everyone, step up and we will go from the order of arrival."

I check out the others. The atmosphere is tense. For most of them, it seems to be an opportunity that will determine their future.

Besides me and the glasses guy, there are 5 others. 3 seem to be from the middle class, one guy is arrogant and well-dressed and totally some kind of young master. I better stay away from him for sure. The last one seems to be from humble origins.

So in total, we have the fodders, the elitist antagonist, and the dark horse. Checks out. I get the feeling the well-intentioned glasses guy will turn out to be some low-key genius. Why? Well, he has some sort of demeanor to him.

He doesn't look worried about the test at all. He seems to be curiously observing the others, that includes me too.

"Will the first step up!"

There goes one. He touches the statue. After a few seconds, comes a few roars and lights. It looks awesome. Everyone in the room nods slightly.

Yeah, I have no clue how to interpret this. I'm not even able to figure out what kind of creatures the sounds belonged to. It seems to be many somehow all mixed together. I only know the basics. You know the stuff we get taught in pre-school!

He goes back to the line. His face a mix of emotions. I'm not even sure if that was supposed to be a good or bad result.

It keeps going in this way. Sometimes the sounds are louder or weirder and the lights keep changing too. I can't figure out a pattern at all. I try to analyze the facial features of the examinators, but it doesn't help either. I'm ready to be amazed by the performance of the ones I am sure are the dark horse and the antagonist. Nope, as normal as the others. This is boring.

I hear a whisper behind me. "Aren't you worried at all?"

[I have no clue how any of this works. I just want a basic license for my pets nothing else.]

Oh seems it's my turn now!

I touch the weird chimera. I somehow get the feeling it is trying to peer into my soul. Then again might just be because of the way the eyes are sculpted. Full of expression and very big. Make this one cuter and it would fit right in an anime. The surface is fairly cold, kind of weird given how many people just put their hands on it.

Then again there is magic that exists in this world why am I getting hung up on the small details.

I wait and nothing happens at all…until finally its eyes roll towards the back and it lets out a scream that sounds like begging. What is happening?

Everyone seems confused, me, the challengers, the examinators, and even the statue itself.

What now? Does this mean that I have a great affinity for beast taming?!

It would make perfect sense!

Exhibit 1: I have always loved animals.

Exhibit 2: I have never been that good with humans.

Exhibit 3: I have no talent for magic at all.

Exhibit 4: Wolfie and the unicorn are following me for some reason.

All this simply means that I am some kind of born tamer genius. HAHAHAHAHAHA It will finally be my time to shine I will tame hundreds of strong creatures and ….

Oh no, I just realized an issue. The fee at the gate for every tamed beast. No way would I be able to afford that.

A better idea, I will find myself the strongest most powerful creature there is and tame it! Then I will swagger around the world showing them how amazing my party is.

I do wonder if the unicorn is considered strong? For now, she will be my main trump card.

Well as long as she willingly follows me. No way I will even try to bend to my will a living creature. At least not one that powerful haha.

One of the examinators runs out of the room to ask for directives from the higher-ups.

HAHA, my time to shine has finally come!