Chapter 164: Quite a Exhausting Job

Aurora looked at Jane... The Himalayan tigress, whose name was ‘Jane’.

White fur with black stripes, she was a very adorable ‘fur ball’ that made Aurora want to pet her.

She was quite large, measuring four meters long and two meters tall, with a long fluffy tail perhaps used by her species for warmth in cold weather.

Aurora did not deny that she was beautiful in her own way, like a giant cat... Anyone would admire the beauty of that tigress.

For such a reason, she did not feel embarrassed by the desire to pet her.

“So... Do you want us to be allies of the Hero Academy for the group challenge?” His owner, Daniel, asked.

That young man was the S-rank of the academy, along with his partner.

“Yes. Both academies are strong and our opponents will be strong too, but we think an ally with a reliable force is better,” Aurora replied and, diverting her gaze to Daniel, she added. “Your results in the tournament were excellent. That’s why we hope to ally.”

Cernunnos Academy was powerful and strong.

The tamer’s skill together with his beast made them too powerful an enemy.

Also, the students were quick learners.

Aurora had seen them improve and learn when she came to teach a little.

Adding the unity of the students and the beasts and them as an academy, it was undeniable that they were reliable allies.

It was going to be obvious that their opponents would be powerful, as each beast tamer was considered two individuals, however, they had the strength to take it on.

“I would first like to consult with my companions, but it is quite possible that we will accept because we were also planning to perform such a challenge,” Daniel said with a cold expression characteristic of him.

Aurora nodded.

His way of leading was like Edward, seeking the opinion of his companions, and that was something that allowed to maintain unity.

Neither of them wished for conflict between students if they came to be together.

“And if you wish, you can pet her... Jane, she won’t hurt you,” Daniel added as he noticed her look.

Aurora was a little embarrassed to see her intention revealed so easily, but in the end, she agreed and reached over to pet the head of that big tigress.

It was nice and the tigress let herself be petted, looking at Aurora seriously.

How did she know it was serious?

The answer was the innate stare of a predator and even though it sounded odd; she had met others of this type.

For someone visiting the magical forest, there came a time when she recognized some expressions.

“I thought you wouldn’t dare,” the tigress murmured.

Unsurprised that she would speak, Aurora gave a smile and stroked the tigress’s furry ears.

That she is Rank-S gave a domineering feel and greater fierceness to the look.

Surely, very few would dare to approach to pet her and if one added that she could talk and had human-like intelligence, then the number of people who would approach would be minimal.

After all, quite a few people thought that magical beasts had a similar status to a human and treated it the same way.

Contact was not common in people who just met, and it was the same with magical beasts.

“Actually, Rupert told me you weren’t bad,” Aurora confessed, smiling, amused.

The tigress let out a low growl, surely treating Rupert as her enemy.

After enjoying himself for a while, she eventually retreated so as not to disturb her too much.

It was no lie that Rupert had told her about the personalities of his companions and he spoke of Jane, perhaps because she had been looking at her quite a bit, the time they trained.

“I would have loved to hug her,” Aurora muttered as they stood in the elevator alone.

—I think she would have let you.

Her system gave its comment, and Aurora nodded.

Jane, as well as her human companion, who Rupert said, was a young man with a cold appearance but a warm heart, was similar.

“This is better. I don’t wish her to think I’m seeing her as a pet,” Aurora replied, going down the elevator.

To some magical beasts, being treated as ‘pets’ was an offense, and for that reason, Aurora always treated them as equal partners.

In that sense, she wouldn’t pet a Winged Lion or a Thundering Gorilla... Though it was another matter if they were small.

Arriving at the hotel room, Aurora noticed Elder Kernen and the giant Rupert.

The hotel for the beast tamers was very special.

It was next to a huge habitation where magical beasts could go to rest, although the hotel hall was also huge.

All to allow large magical beasts like Rupert to pass through to some of the hotel rooms designed for them.

Unfortunately, it was for some smaller magical beasts.

Giant individuals like the Zhar-Ptitsa could not get the comfort they needed in human society.

“And how was it?” Elder Kernen asked, smiling.

“They’re thinking about it, but I think they’ll accept,” Aurora replied encouragingly.

Elder Kernen helped the students train as he did when he invited her, but aside from helping them in those tasks, he took distance like the other teachers when it came to other areas.

“I hope they accept,” Rupert commented, and seeing that they were looking at him, he announced. “Two strong academies united... Their enemies will be even stronger!”

He had been excited by the strength of the opponents of the academy he represented and, as strange as it was, Aurora wasn’t going to deny that she was a little enthusiastic.

“I’m pleased that they’ve gained allies. The truth is, the other academies seem to be looking at them as a target,” Elder Kernen revealed for his part.

Each magical beast was worth one point and if one added its tamer, then it was two points... And that was a high number if someone defeated it.

Aurora gave a smile as she listened to him, realizing that Rupert was gently nudging his partner, urging him on.

The age difference between the two, though not visible, was noticeable from those interactions.

A gorilla who would be a ‘young adult’ in personality and an elder with a long white beard whose age exceeded sixty years of age.

Elder Kernen sighed at his companion’s insistence, giving him a look for reassurance before looking back at her.

“These days, do you have something to do?” the elder asked softly.

Aurora tried to contain her laughter, realizing that Rupert was excited and, in the end, only succeeded in making her lips quiver.

She didn’t want to make Kernen uncomfortable and even less so when the partner he had was slightly troublesome, so in response, she shook her head.

Aside from the late-night party, she would have in a few hours, she was otherwise available.

The few times she was busy were when she was training and visiting her teachers or when she was helping Edward and training with Nicole or other students.

Rupert let out an excited grunt, and Elder Kernen sighed back.

“We have been invited to participate as opponents for the group challenge. Of course, we won’t be facing our academy, but we will be facing other academies,” Elder Kernen revealed and, looking at Aurora, he communicated. ”I’m too old to fight young ones, but my partner still needs a partner."

Rupert looked at her with very animated eyes and a vigorous smile.

For the group battle, other people were needed to join and some teachers and other individuals who were participating in the tournament had been invited as support.

Inviting Elder Kernen was a common occurrence when his partner was thought to be an S-Rank.

Aurora could understand it, but...

“They invite so easily?” Aurora hesitated.

Professors were being invited too easily, and if Aurora was honest, not all professors were the same.

Some had more experience than others, better equipment, items, and even in personality, they were different.

“They will be properly limited when they participate, so you don’t have to worry,” Elder Kernen replied and when he saw her nod, asked. “So, do you want to accompany my partner?”

“We’re going to have fun!” Rupert exclaimed, unable to resist, and looked at her with intense ferocity.

He was leaving his place as an S-Rank tamer to her... And that meant she would be considered an S-Rank and would have to face students of that same rank.

Looking at the gorilla, whose gaze was intense, Aurora couldn’t resist.

“I accept,” she replied with a smile, and Rupert let out an animated laugh.

It would be interesting to look at the fighting from another perspective.

******

In a private room in the hotel, Cristian approached Andrés and reported. “Cernunnos Academy has just accepted our alliance.”

Andrés continued to use his holographic watch, checking the status of his targets and seeing that his friend was still looking at him, he muttered. “Wait a minute.”

He was checking where his targets were transiting and who they were meeting.

Elelin City was a highly technological city with countless cameras spread throughout the city to maintain high security.

So as long as people did not use alternative methods to hide, they would be seen.

No one complained, as this city literally belonged to the emperor and was not called the ‘Emperor’s Jewel’ for nothing.

So far, their targets were not doing anything suspicious.

Among their three targets were the old man with the kind smile, a businesswoman, and a man with the appearance of a crook.

The old man hung around the tournaments like an ordinary tourist, the businesswoman was working, and the man with the appearance of a thug hung out in bars.

Each of them had a past criminal record or suspected ties to drug cartels.

The businesswoman in her youth was in a drug trafficking company but was not found guilty of anything, and the thug-like man worked for a drug cartel and was released from prison after serving time.

It was common for them to be targets when one thought that the old South American countries were quite corrupt and that not only extended to politicians but also to the police force and judges.

Very different today, where every person who assumed a position of authority signed a magic contract.

So, if someone said that maybe they performed illegal actions and hid with bribes, it would prove credible.

Sighing as he found nothing, Andrés put down his holographic watch with disappointment.

He was taking his job quite seriously and was running the checks all the time, letting his AI keep tabs on each of them.

“Quite an exhausting job,” Cristian commented as he watched him.

Andrés gave a half-smile, as he hadn’t fully informed what his job was, and now his friends and family thought he worked for a security company.

“I guess... You always have to keep your guard up,” Andrés replied and, changing the subject, added. “It’s nice to hear acceptance. We have good allies now.”

Not only did the Cernunnos Academy have their magical beasts, but the tamers themselves were individuals with quite a bit of strength.

“True. We’ll face them later, but I think we have a better chance of victory now.” Cristian commented with a gentle nod.

Quite a few students would be participating in this great combat and not only did each student have a different profession, but the magical beasts themselves were different.

Moreover, he had heard from Aurora that some students had two magical beasts.

While they could only choose one beast, the truth was that they could choose a different partner for the challenge, having certain advantages.

“I’m thankful that I wasn’t chosen to participate in the Survival Challenge,” Cristian said, and seeing Andrés looking at him, he replied. “It’s too heavy.”

They had already taken some time to choose the students who would take part in the different challenges.

The authorities asked them to present the groups before the party.

All this to allow the authorities to prepare them.

The ‘Survival Challenge’ was where they would have to help a wounded member, and Andrés agreed that it sounded too heavy.

For that reason, in that challenge, the best students among the B-ranks were chosen.

Jordan, Alexey, Nicole, Érica and Leslie.

The others would be the students who would choose the Group Challenge.

The Spartan Challenge was left to the A-Rank students who, while they would surely face many enemies, were very strong.

Alice aside, Clémentine and Rachael were perfect weapons with area attacks.

“The tournament is more interesting than I thought,” Andrés said honestly.

These challenges sounded very interesting; he couldn’t deny it.

“Do you regret not participating?” Cristian asked curiously.

Andrés shook his head immediately.

He had work now and while the international tournament was important because of its prize, he couldn’t deny that doing his job was something he was excited about and enjoyed.

Looking at the time on his holographic watch, Andrés asked. “Aren’t you going to the party?”

The party would start in a few hours and if he wanted to go, he had better get ready right now.

It was true that it was going to be a very formal party, but Emperor Victor gave all the students an outfit so they could attend the party.

They just had to go to any of the fancy stores in Elelin City and choose the outfits according to the situation.

Those stores would help the inexperienced ones to choose the costume and outfit that would be best for the occasion... That was to reduce the nerves of the party.

For those who did not want to be embarrassed, it was a good method to accept it.

Since it was a paid gift, it helped students who didn’t have too much money and couldn’t afford fancy costumes.

“I’m too embarrassed,” Cristian replied, and smiling, embarrassed, he muttered. “Too important people will be attending. I don’t have the manners, nor the etiquette, for such environments.”

Andrés nodded in agreement with the murmur.

Like him, Cristian was chosen for a scholarship and came from an average family.

That kind of important party, not something that would be to his liking and even though he said they were going to see two rooms so that students could have their own party, it didn’t help when one thought about the high level of people.

“I won’t go either. It will be too stressful,” Andrés revealed sincerely.

In a sense, he had met important people, as was Cardinal Brousseau or Urfin, as a member of the authorities of Greece and the Falion Empire, but a party... It was a separate topic.

Adding his job, he had no reason to show up at that kind of party trying to make himself known and it was the same for Cristian who wished to serve his country.

“So, let’s check out the events with the others,” Cristian pointed out with a smile.

They were not the only ones who refused to attend that kind of party, so they could have fun in their own way during this night.

The events held for the public at the international tournament were a good tourist spot to relax with the others.