Logan turned in shock as the door was nearly torn open.
Standing there was a well-dressed, middle-aged man, breathing heavily.
His unruly chestnut hair, streaked with white sideburns, gave him a distinguished appearance. Logan couldn't help but notice the resemblance to Rubina—similar facial features, some likeness in their eyes with an oddly attractive glint to them. A pair of gold spectacles perched on his straight nose added a scholarly air.
Although Logan didn't recognize the man, he could feel the energy radiating off him—an aura of eagerness, as if he were on the verge of unveiling some great discovery.
"Hero! I see you've arrived. Wonderful to make your acquaintance. My name is Earl Victor Rosengard, owner of this mansion and lord of Hargate, east of the capital," the man announced with excitement, clearly wanting to breeze past introductions. "Now then, I see you're both seated—perfect. Just give me a few seconds!"
Turning to the hallway, the Earl called out, "Hestia, please bring me an incubator and a few large fire stones," while carefully settling in front of a nearby sofa. In his lap, he held a 15-centimeter-long egg.
Logan watched curiously.
The egg wiggled occasionally and shimmered between a soft orange hue and a deeper red glow.
Soon, a maid entered the room with three butlers in tow, placing a large incubator lined with glowing red crystals nearby. With their assistance, the Earl gently placed the egg into the device.
"Now then," he said, adjusting his glasses and settling comfortably in his seat, "while we wait, allow me to explain why I've summoned you here."
He removed his spectacles and began wiping them with a cloth. "As an Earl, I took it upon myself to support whichever hero the summoning brought forth. Naturally, we were surprised when an entire class of students appeared, each gifted with powers beyond expectation. I waited to see which one might align with my interests. And then I heard one of you had the power of taming…"
He smiled proudly, gesturing to the egg now nestled in the incubator.
"You see, I didn't become an Earl through inheritance. My title comes from my success as the kingdom's top monster breeder. My greatest achievement? Providing the kingdom with its first tamed dragon—a feat previously only the empire had accomplished."
The carefree Earl reached for a teacup, but the maid named Hestia swiftly stepped in and served it before he could lift a finger.
"Thanks, dear. Now then, I think you know where I'm going with this, right? I need your help to better understand the art of taming. We could make the perfect team—you, with your rare power, and me, offering the wealth and my valuable research. Together, we could accomplish goals that neither of us could reach alone."
"Father, can you calm down for a bit?" Rubina interrupted, clearly irritated. "You're going too fast. The hero won't be able to follow if you keep rambling."
"Oh? Right, right. I haven't even gotten your name yet, young man. How about a quick introduction?" the Earl said, taking a bite of a cookie and gesturing toward Logan.
"My name is Logan, Logan Aiden," the boy replied with a casual shrug, unsure what else to add.
"Alright, nice to meet you, Logan Aiden. A man of few words, I like that. I assume my daughter already gave you the rundown on how this world works. Let me fill you in on a few... juicier details about the other heroes." The Earl paused to lick some jelly from his finger. "The church has taken a particular interest in the Saintess. They're giving her their full backing. As for the kingdom, the King has declared full support for the Champion—that boy who beat up the knight. Other nations are each taking in one of the heroes as well, but the Empire's pick is the most curious... They chose the Alchemist. One would think the strongest nation would go for a warrior or mage, yet they took him in almost immediately. Odd, considering the church announced the heroes would remain in this kingdom for at least half a year..."
Before he could continue, the egg in the incubator began to thrash. The Earl stopped mid-sentence and motioned for Logan to come closer.
"Boy, come here. I need you to stand beside it. This creature—like some birds—imprints early. If it sees you first, it'll bond with you naturally."
Logan stepped closer, noticing that most of the fire stones surrounding the egg had faded.
Only three still glowed red, and one of them had already begun to dim.
The egg rocked harder, a fissure forming down the center. A small flame burst out as the creature within pecked and clawed its way free.
Logan barely had time to react before a section of the shell exploded outward, crystallized like glass, then incinerated in mid-air, missing his face by mere inches.
From the opening, a single orange eye peeked through, fixated on Logan. A soft chirping echoed from within, and with each tiny flame the creature released, more of the shell burned away and crumbled to ash.
The creature finally emerged from its shell with a long chirp, almost like a roar of triumph. What stepped out was a small, orange, newt-like beast, its bright eyes never straying from Logan.
"Father… don't tell me that's a Scorchwyrm," Rubina said, her voice rising with surprise.
"Did Miles sell it to you? No wonder you were late—I thought he sold it last week." She lowered her hand near its head and gently tried to pet it.
The little creature didn't appreciate the gesture. It released a few puffs of flame in protest, but the fire fizzled harmlessly before reaching her skin.
"I would warn you against doing the same, Sir Logan," she added calmly. "I have the Great Fire Spirit's protection. At this level, its flames won't harm me."
Logan, who had been about to reach out as she did, hesitated and straightened his back. But the tiny Scorchwyrm, sensing his retreat, chirped again and took a few steps forward, closing the distance.
"Well, that was part of the reason I arrived late," the Earl said with satisfaction. "Now then, there's something else we must help young hero Logan with."
From his pocket, he produced a small golden sigil. Encased within the crystal were glowing white symbols, pulsing gently with light.
"This is a shard of the Chronicle Crystal. I had to play a few strong cards to get it from the church. The other heroes may not be so lucky." He extended the object toward Logan.
"Take it. You just need to hold it, close your eyes, and concentrate. But heed my warning—whatever you learn, share only with those you trust. This information can help you… But in the wrong hands, it could put you in danger."
Logan took the warm, transparent sigil and did as instructed.
The moment he closed his eyes, a wave of energy surged through him.
Images and numbers flooded his mind—his basic stats, innate skills, and hidden abilities. It took a few tries, but he soon managed to arrange the information in a familiar format—like a menu screen from a game.
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Name: Logan / Class: Soul Bound Tamer / Level: 1
Blood Mark(s): Right index finger, Ring Finger / Loyalty: - / Spirit Blessing: Darkness and Light Great Spirit Blessings
HP: 10 / Mana: 8
Str: 3 / Agi: 2 / Dex: 2 / Con: 5 / Int: 2 / Char: 1
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Skills:
Taming (Beginner): Forms a permanent bond with a marked beast or being using the master's blood. The creature must be willing and not higher in level or rank than the master. (Max Beings: 2/3) [+1 per level]
Empathic Link (Beginner): Establishes a mental connection with tamed creatures, enabling silent communication and emotional feedback within a limited range. (Max Distance: 5 meters) [+2 meters per level]
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Abilities:
Tamer's Bond – Grants the ability to form a soul bond with creatures, making them permanent allies.
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Tamed Beings:
- Crimson Majesty (Level 1 – Blood Mark: Right Ankle)
Scent of Serenity: Emits a calming fragrance that soothes tension and attracts prey.
Hyper Sense: Detects nearby life through vibration and subtle movement.
Thorny Defense: Defends itself using sharp thorns from its vines.
- ??? (Level 1 – Blood Mark: Ring Finger)
Error: Unable to display further information
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XP: 16 / 50
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As Logan focused on the stream of information entering his mind, he noticed a few oddities in the game-like status screen he could see in his mind.
According to the crystal, he already had two bonded beings.
One of them—Crimson Majesty—was unmistakably a plant, likely the strange rose-like creature from the garden the day before.
The name matched its behavior and scent.
The second creature caught him completely off guard. It displayed no skills, no description—only a level and an error.
Confused, he searched his memories for any unusual moment that could explain it… and only one stood out. This was mainly due to it being in his ring finger, a mark that only appeared after a certain incident.
Lisa!