Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 25: Restocking at the Beast Taming Institute
Fortunately, for the combat class exams, students were allowed to rely on external support—such as their contracted magical beasts. The academy considered contracted beasts to be a part of the mage’s own strength.
Some might wonder: what if a student had a high-level beast under contract? Wouldn’t such a beast just wipe the floor with everyone else?
But of course, there were restrictions. Contracting was tied to a mage’s own level. Without sufficient mana reserves and control, there was no way to form a contract with a high-level beast. Without powerful mana to suppress the contract runes, the beast could easily turn on its master.
That was why most mages contracted beasts a rank lower than themselves. Contracting one of equal rank—or even higher—was possible, but managing such beasts was far more difficult than handling those weaker by a level.
Besides magical beasts, students were also allowed to use alchemy tools, rune arrays from runology, and all sorts of potions from potionology during the exams.
Of course, these items couldn’t exceed the user’s mana capacity. Forcing the use of high-grade alchemy tools, rune arrays, or potions without the necessary mana could drain a mage dry, causing temporary or even prolonged unconsciousness—or, in the worst case, death.
Just thinking about the upcoming finals gave Merlin a headache. Aside from alchemy, he also had two exams for combat class.
One was a duel against other students. The other was an expedition to the academy’s designated trial grounds, where they would hunt beasts, collect materials, and so on.
The alchemy exam didn’t worry him at all. It was basically cooking. For first-year alchemy students, the final exam was perfumery, and Merlin feared nothing of the sort.
But those two combat exams… well, those were concerning. Still, there was some time left before finals. He’d think of something when the time came.
For now, money was the most important thing. After all, if passing could be done with the help of external tools, then as long as one had money, what couldn’t be bought?
Merlin pondered for a moment, then said, “I’m not sure if this purchase certificate I have allows me to buy magical beasts. I’ll go ask today and let you know when I’m back.”
If it did work, Merlin certainly wouldn’t mind “helping” his classmates. He could charge, say, ten percent… or twenty… no, better yet, thirty percent as a service fee. He’d make a killing. Magical beasts ought to fetch a hefty price anyway, right?
“Alright, I’ll leave it to you.”
“Me too, me too! If it’s cheap enough, I’ll buy one as well!”
Merlin shot the speaker a look of disdain. If it was cheap, he wouldn’t even bother doing this business. He fully intended to push the expensive ones onto these nobles.
Since tomorrow was when the lotus-leaf beggar’s chicken would be ready, the students crowding outside Merlin’s dormitory soon dispersed.
Merlin stroked the owl that had delivered his certificate. The owl affectionately nuzzled into his arms, then fished out a few frost-blueberries from who knew where and dropped them into his hands.
Looking at the berries, Merlin couldn’t help but laugh. The owl was more reliable than Fitt. He’d been waiting so long, yet in the end, it was an owl—not Fitt—that finally let him taste frost-blueberries.
He picked one up. The berry was small and round, its bluish-purple skin coated in a white powder like frost. It felt cool against his palm.
“So this is a frost-blueberry?” Merlin popped it into his mouth. Sour, sweet, and refreshingly cold—it was delicious.
This thing could probably make him a fortune! Merlin shook his head. One step at a time. For now, he needed to head to the Beast Taming Academy.
Arcane Academy · Beast Taming Academy
The Beast Taming Academy was far from the Alchemy Academy, nestled deep in the forest behind the school rather than next to the other colleges.
It couldn’t be helped. Breeding and raising magical beasts required a vast amount of land. Most beasts—and poultry—produced waste that smelled awful. As a result, the Beast Taming Academy was built far from the others. Only beast taming students came here; everyone else stayed away. The distance was one reason. The smell and filth were another.
Merlin was lucky enough to hitch a ride on a donkey cart with a beast taming student returning from combat class.
“Thanks so much, senior. If not for you, I wouldn’t have known how to even get here.” Merlin had been at the academy for so long but had never once visited the Beast Taming Academy. If not for this senior, who happened to be driving the donkey cart, reaching the place would have been no easy task.
The senior wore a straw hat and the academy’s uniform. His skin was tanned dark by the sun, but his eyes were deep and bright. His broad, calloused hands bore the marks of long labor, with dirt still caught under his nails—a testament to his closeness with the earth.
“No need to thank me. We’re all academy students. Helping when I can is no trouble. But tell me—what’s an alchemy student doing here at the Beast Taming Academy? Normally, you alchemists look down on us mud-stained folks.”
“Senior, if you talk like that, you’ll kill the conversation. I came with a purchase certificate from the academy. I’m here to buy something.”
Merlin pulled the certificate from his robe. The senior raised his brows. “Well now, isn’t that something? So close to finals and you’ve managed to get your hands on a purchase certificate. Your family must wield some influence.”
“Huh? What do you mean by that?”
“You don’t know? Well, I suppose you wouldn’t—being from Alchemy. With finals for combat class coming up, lots of people try to buy beasts from us to boost their strength. To prevent that, the academy usually doesn’t hand out purchase certificates during this period.”
The senior gave a wry smile. “Of course, that restriction only applies to ordinary students. Those with connections—like you—don’t have to worry. The academy’s so-called rules are a joke.”
His tone carried a hint of sarcasm, clearly resentful of people like Merlin.
Merlin hadn’t expected this. So the old man who gave him the certificate must have had quite the pull. All the more reason to milk that connection properly later.
“I see. So with this certificate, I can buy a beast?”
“Of course. But one certificate only lets you buy one beast. Then the certificate has to be returned.”
Merlin nodded. “So it gets taken back, huh… Don’t worry, senior, I’m not here to buy beasts. I’m here to buy some of the chickens raised in your academy.”
If the certificate was taken back after one purchase, then he couldn’t act as a middleman for profit. As for asking the old man for more certificates…
It wasn’t worth it. Favors were hard to repay, and all for just a bit of middleman profit? Better to save that favor for something more important later.