This is the perfect outcome.

He is leaving and he is actually grateful toward me too.

Now I just need to…. AH!

[Wait up committee member!]

"What is it?"

[Do you know where I can find little Bai?]

"Little Bai? Who is that?"

[Ah, maybe you saw him before he was probably going around with a slime in his arms!]

"Ah! You mean fatty Bai! Why are you looking for him?"

[I'm supposed to meet him up as he shows his tamed beast or something.]

"I understand. Follow me I'll bring you there. There is a designated gymnasium to test the abilities of pets."

[Nice! How fancy!]

"It kinda is, to be honest."

[How does it work?]

"Actually most people don't know either. It is a magical construct from headquarter. It blends illusion magic and some other stuff to create a believable scene."

[VR?! That's amazing!]

"I have no clue what you are talking about. But it does let one test the combat prowess of a pet safely."

[If it's an illusion, how can it accurately gauge the power?!]

"That's the other stuff I was referring to. Something about creating a pseudo physical manifestation through magic."

[Wow, that's amazing! Can I learn that too?]

"Well, it's an extremely complex thing. No one just does that alone. Also didn't you say you can't use mana?"

[That…you are right. I'm just really curious.]

"Well, I can relate to that. I spent a year researching that very same thing you know!"

He looks proud, but that's legit amazing!

[What else can you tell me about it?]

"Oh? That was it."

[All of it? But what about your whole year of research?!]

"Oh, what I told you was a compilation of the research of many scholars. That was the summary of all we understand about it."

[So, you guys don't understand it at all?]

"Exactly! You learn fast!"

Oh my god! I don't know whether to be pissed at the guy or at their sloppy research methodology!

Then again, I'm not one to talk.

How many times did I successfully use divine energy without bothering to understanding how it really works?

Since day one pretty much.

More like, I do try to understand how to use it.

However why it all works the way it does?

That I couldn't care less.

In an awkward silence, we reach a big building.

Many tamers are going about their business.

There is a big counter and many doors behind.

"Every single door leads to a unit from A to G, every single one having 7 rooms each. All of it is powered by the main artifact."

There are many people waiting on the sidelines.

From time-to-time numbers are called.

[This place is where the guild tests the tamers?]

"It is also used to test your own progress or to challenge others to a taming duel."

[Let me guess, they compete over who can perform better in the test?]

"Exactly!"

[Let me guess there are also competitions on who can tame a wild beast the fastest between tamers?]

"No, that would be dumb. Taming is not about having a menagerie. It's all getting the strongest creature. Time is less of a concern. Anyone rushing is setting himself for failure."

Now that I think about it, it makes sense. There was that novel I knew where the tamers had a speed taming competition.

It was a way for the MC to showcase his amazing capabilities.

But yeah, in the real world it would be pointless.

So what if you can tame a drake really fast? Here comes a dragon motherfucker!

Well, it's good if you can speed tame your opponent's creature but that's obviously fiction.

Kinda like these writing sprints I heard about from an author.

He really disliked those.

Who cares about being fast?

It's all about writing something that has good quality!

Then again, the guy that introduced me to the whole concept was probably just a sore loser.

After all, he was both a slow writer and a bad one.

But I do see the issue here. Taming is an art.

"You are finally here! I was waiting so long for you and …. wait…you came with him!"

So he says while pointing at the committee member.

"Hello fatty, it has been a while."

[You guys know each other?]

"He is my archenemy!"

"C'mon fatty we used to be childhood friends. Let it go already! Let bygone be bygones".

"Never! I will never forgive you!"

"It wasn't that big of a deal! I just ate one!"

What the hell is happening?

Eating?

Are they talking about some kind of spiritual treasure?

I could totally see people fight over a devil fruit that would give supernatural power, but I doubt such a thing exists.

Then again…. magic. So, perhaps.

[Alright guys stop with the pointless conflict! Explain the situation to me!]

"This nemesis of mine did something atrocious. My mom died suddenly. The only memory of her that I had was some of her cooking from the day before. Then he ate it!"

"It was by mistake! I did not even know it was that important to you! It would have gone bad a few days later too!"

[That is what made you guys go from friends to enemies?]

"YES!"

"*Sigh, indeed."

This….

I never know what to expect from these guys.

Most people are said not to take things seriously enough.

Not these guys!

They are so damn serious about the wrong stuff!

Ah, I guess I am the one that will have to be the mature one and help resolve the conflict.

I am no saint, but almost.

[You guys. You, apologize for eating his food! You, accept his apology! This is not that big of a deal. You guys should get over it already.]

"That…sure, but only if he begs for forgiveness on the ground and licks my boots. Then I'll forgive him."

"See! Every time I try to reconcile it goes like this. All this exaggeration just cause I hate that one pie, it's ridiculous!"

Wait…what?!

[Repeat that!]

"All this…"

[Not that part!]

"It's ridiculous?"

[What did you eat?!]

"The pie his mother…."

[On the ground! Now! Start kneeling already! Pie is sacred!]

He looks at me flabbergasted.

[Now! There are things in life one cannot ignore, and this is one!]

It seems my momentum is impressive enough that he's already bending his back.

"What idiot is causing a ruckus in my testing pavilion?!"

*Sigh* What now?!