Chapter 37: Bearing the Name of Xaya, I Must Not Lose
"Did you hear? Sylvia seems to have caught some kind of strange illness—she's locked herself in her room for an entire week! She might even miss the coming-of-age ceremony."
"I heard that too! Apparently, she can't even speak anymore—she has to write to communicate."
"That's not all. The servants say her hair and eye color are changing—gradually turning pale. Maybe she's been cursed."
"Cursed? Hah! More like divine retribution! The ghosts of the thousands she's slaughtered are finally getting their revenge!"
"If she really is doomed to die from a curse, that would be the best outcome for everyone!"
"Honestly, it's a good thing she won't be at the coming-of-age ceremony. This is our family's grandest annual event—her presence would just ruin the mood."
"And what about that Xaya guy? That outsider who's been hanging around Sylvia? He probably wanted to use her to climb up in the family… Too bad this happened."
"I heard his parents died in that great disaster too. Guess he's really a heartless bastard, willing to betray anything just to rise up the ranks."
"What a shame—he bet on the wrong person. Once the ceremony is over, he'll probably be kicked out of the royal capital."
Xaya Ignored the Gossip.
The idle chatter carried by the wind did not concern him.
After all, what was that saying again?
"Never argue with fools."
"Master, I strongly disagree with your statement!"
"You're absolutely right."
"Sixth-degree schemer who's ruthless enough to cut ties with family to climb the ranks of the household? Sure, why not."
Xaya actually found that image quite convenient.
It saved him the hassle of socializing and risking exposure—since he lacked any real memories from the historical echoes of this world.
Right now, most of his attention was focused on the status screen in his mind.
[Newbie Quest Updated]
[Objective 4: Successfully complete the Cangting Duchy's Family's Coming-of-Age Ceremony and become a core member of the family, officially gaining access to Elder Norton's plans.]
This had appeared after he completed the previous favorability tasks.
Xaya had already figured out one thing—
Elder Norton was planning something big.
Despite Cangting Duchy being in the middle of the "Era of Calamities," with constant border skirmishes, forcing the Duke himself to remain stationed at the frontlines—
The duchy itself was still relatively stable.
It was far from the brink of collapse.
Which meant—
The only way Cangting Duchy could be destroyed within a year… was if someone from the inside made it happen.
Unfortunately, historical records about Cangting Duchy were extremely scarce.
Even with the information he had gathered from historical echoes, Xaya could only speculate—he lacked concrete details.
Previously, he had earned Norton's trust through a convincing performance.
But after their initial cryptic conversation, Xaya had received no further instructions from him.
"Truly realistic. Even if someone controls your lifeline, if you lack power and status, you still won't be granted access to the core of the plan."
Xaya 's gaze fell on the words "Coming-of-Age Ceremony" on the screen.
The Brunestadt Family ruled an entire duchy.
So naturally, their coming-of-age ceremony was not just a simple ritual marking the transition from childhood to adulthood.
It was a trial.
A test of worth.
Similar to the Masai warrior initiation from his previous life.
Passing the trial meant proving one's potential—
Securing a future as a key figure within the family's hierarchy.
Failing meant being cast aside.
A discarded noble left to fend for themselves.
But for an outsider like Xaya, who was merely adopted into the Brunestadt family—
Failure would mean more than just neglect.
He wouldn't even have the luxury of being a useless aristocrat.
He would be immediately exiled—sent to one of the small rural towns under the duchy's rule.
A fake government position at best.
A forced exile at worst.
Xaya didn't care about the duchy's future.
But if he wanted to gain Norton's trust and insert himself into his plans—
Then passing this trial was the perfect opportunity.
Cangting Royal Capital – Outskirts
A massive forested training ground, nestled within layered mountain ranges.
Towering magical barriers surrounded the entire site—
Forming a massive containment field.
In the center of the clearing, a white-haired elder stood tall.
His sharp gaze swept over the gathered young elites of the Brunestadt family.
He was one of the Brunestadt Elders.
Unlike Norton, who wielded immense power as the acting family head, this elder rarely interfered in family affairs.
Instead, he remained stationed here, overseeing the family's trials.
His presence was restrained—but Xaya could still sense it.
This man was a genuine Four-Ring Beast Master.
Though age had weakened his soul's intensity,
He was still far above the strength of a standard Three-Ring High-Level Beast Master.
While he might not be as strong as Major Zieg, who was still in his prime—
He was not to be underestimated.
The White-Haired Elder Surveyed the gathered youths, then gave a subtle nod.
"I assume that since you have all come here, you already understand what this coming-of-age trial means."
"Especially for those of you born outside the main bloodline."
"This family has no room for the weak."
"You have already received shelter and resources to grow into adulthood. That is the limit of what we will give you."
"From this point forward, status, power, prestige, and extraordinary resources—these must be earned through your own strength."
The elder's voice was ancient yet commanding.
"But there is one more thing you must remember."
"This trial is not just about your future within the family."
"It is also crucial for you as Beastmasters."
"Because for many of you, this may be your one and only chance to contract a High-King-class beast."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
The very next moment—
A silvery-white tempest erupted upon the empty ground.
A majestic humanoid figure, entirely composed of liquid silver, appeared silently behind the elder.
Glowing with a soft, ethereal radiance, it exuded an overwhelming pressure—
Even though it had not yet reached the full King-Class, it was not far from it.
With the support of a Beastmaster's contract,
Even a wild Tier-4 King-Class beast would not intimidate it.
It was worthy of the title—
"Quasi-King."
As the silvery humanoid manifested, everyone's eyes burned with intense desire.
The Silver Spirit.
An Elemental Beast.
A true High-King-class species.
"To contract a Silver Spirit means you can cultivate it to the High-King class without any natural bottlenecks."
Like the pure-blooded dragons, Elemental Beasts possessed incredibly long lifespans—
Which meant they also grew painfully slowly.
Without a large supply of extraordinary resources to accelerate their growth,
It was very possible that a Beastmaster would die of old age before their Silver Spirit even reached its full maturity.
Take, for example, the elder's own Silver Spirit.
Even after decades, it still had not fully matured into a King-Class beast.
But its potential was undeniable.
And more importantly—
For everyone present, the Silver Spirit was far more than just a powerful contract beast.
"The Silver Spirit is also our family's guardian species—the very symbol of Brunestadt."
The elder's tone turned solemn.
Although there were other supernatural paths in this world,
It was undeniable that, for humans, the most universal and most potent path to power—
was Beastmastery.
Nearly every major human power in the Western Continent had their own legacy species.
For example:
The Crowned Gryphons and Blackscale Drakes of the Freesta Empire.
These beasts were not just symbols of their respective Beastmaster families—
They were the foundations of their unshakable legacies.
"From the founding King of Cangting, to our current Duke, who has earned great military honor on the frontlines—"
"They have all fought alongside a Silver Spirit."
"They have shed blood together, repelled beast tides, and defended our borders."
"For the Brunestadt family, the Silver Spirit is more than just a species."
"It is a legacy."
"A legacy that spans centuries—"
"A legacy known as the Honor of Brunestadt."
The moment the elder finished speaking,
The entire training field buzzed with excitement.
Their eyes burned—not just with ambition,
But with passion.
"A legacy of family honor, a continuation of history…"
"What an inspiring speech!"
Seeing the atmosphere reach its peak,
The elder nodded in satisfaction.
He had spent decades overseeing the cultivation of the Silver Spirit bloodline.
He had hosted countless coming-of-age trials.
So he knew exactly what words would ignite the flames of youth.
Then, the elder stepped away from the clearing—
But left his Silver Spirit behind.
"This year's coming-of-age trial is simple."
"You must withstand the attacks of a Peak Commander-Class Silver Spirit—for thirty seconds."
"During this test, I will not provide my Silver Spirit with any support or enhancements."
"You may choose to send in only your beast—"
"Or you may enter the battlefield alongside it."
"However—once you enter, you cannot leave the designated area."
"If, after thirty seconds, either you or your beast can still stand, you will pass the trial."
"Alternatively—if your ability set does not specialize in defense or evasion…"
"You may choose to attack my Silver Spirit with all your might."
"I will judge your attack's strength and determine whether you pass accordingly."
"The same rule applies to support-type Beastmasters."
With those final words,
The elder clapped his hands lightly—
And the trial began.
...
"If you pass the Trial, you will be given a chance to enter the Silver Spirit Habitat and choose a young or adolescent Silver Spirit to form a contract with."
"Remember, the Silver Spirits are our guardian species.
During the selection and contract process, you must not use force—nor are you allowed to provoke conflict.
Anyone who violates this rule will be permanently expelled from the family."
With the white-haired elder's announcement, the coming-of-age ceremony reached its climax.
The intensity in the air was palpable.
Even Xaya 's eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Not Because of "Family Honor."
It had nothing to do with all that Brunestadt family glory nonsense.
Xaya had barely spent a month in this historical echo.
Aside from his interactions with Sylvia, he had zero attachment to this duchy family.
Forget loyalty—he had no interest in their so-called honor.
But he did want that beast.
A High-King-Class species.
Even after Silver had been enhanced, its species tier was only at Mid-King-Class.
And Shiny?
It was just a Low-King-Class species.
In the Empire's black markets, a High-King-Class beast cub was practically priceless.
Whenever one appeared, the auction price would skyrocket past 100,000 gold coins.
One hundred thousand Rhine Gold Coins.
And how much did Xaya have?
Nothing.
Short of selling all his Black Lily District assets, he couldn't even dream of affording one.
But that would be like killing the golden goose—an outright loss-making move.
Sure, with his "Stat Boost" ability, he could turn a low-tier beast into something on par with a High-King-Class beast.
But let's be real.
Saying species tier doesn't matter is just straight-up deception.
A higher species tier means:
Better base stats. Stronger racial abilities. Higher growth potential. Superior combat power at the same level.
In short, if you can contract a high-tier beast, you absolutely should.
This is a fundamental rule that applies to every Beastmaster—from legends to apprentices.
That famous "There are no weak beasts, only weak Beastmasters" quote?
The guy who said it?
His grave is already covered in two meters of grass.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The battlefield erupted with chaos.
The training grounds were filled with the cries of defeated beasts and Beastmasters.
Although these participants were all members of a ducal family, meaning they were elites by normal standards—
Compared to the Saint Roland Academy, where talents were handpicked from the entire Empire?
They were still a cut below.
Most of them were High-Tier Ring 1, with a few at Ring 2—and most of those had just broken through.
The Silver Spirit was holding back.
It wasn't fighting at full strength, nor was it receiving buffs from its Beastmaster.
Even so, for these low-ranked Beastmasters, surviving 30 seconds against a Quasi-King-Class opponent was nearly impossible.
After half an hour, only a handful of mid-tier Beastmasters barely scraped by using special abilities.
The rest?
Failed miserably.
Those who passed were relieved.
Those who failed looked ashen-faced.
For these family-dependent Beastmasters, failing this trial was devastating.
Their futures were now sealed—
They would never take another step forward.
And just like that, the fiery atmosphere turned ice cold.
No matter how grand the speech, no matter how much glory was promised—
Cold, hard reality always wins.
Meanwhile, in Xaya's isolated corner…
Due to his association with Sylvia, the other family members had unconsciously excluded him.
"Kiki! Kiki!" (Master, I can't stand watching these weaklings peck at each other any longer!)
"Kiki! Kiki!" (Master, master! You promised I'd get to fight this time!)
After enduring Shiny's endless chatter,
Xaya finally tossed it into the arena.
"Fine, fine. Go."
"But remember—this is just a test run for your new combo skill. Don't overdo it."
"Kiki! (Leave it to me, Master!)"
Shiny's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Then, it reached into its spatial pouch.
After a brief moment of indecision,
The golden-furred monkey pulled out a custom-made outfit.
A Uniform for Battle.
Xaya may be stingy, but he was also a responsible Beastmaster.
He often told bedtime stories to his beasts—
Stuff like "The Fourth Village Brawl: Eyes vs. Eyes" or "The Pirate King of the Eastern Seas."
Both Shiny and Silver were hooked on these stories.
So much so that they kept begging Xaya to make them battle uniforms.
Did they actually help with combat?
Or was it just for fashion?
Who knew.
But in the end, Xaya gave in and had a custom uniform tailored for them.
And today—
Shiny was wearing its naval officer's coat.
A white cape billowed behind it, with two bold, inked kanji written across it—
"Justice."
"Chirp, Chirp-Chirp~ (Don't embarrass us. Don't make me and Master lose face.)"
On Xaya's shoulder, the snow mink Silver opened one eye lazily, swishing its fluffy tail.
"Leave the fighting to the underlings.
As the main pet, my job is just to be beautiful."
"Kiki! Kiki!" (Don't worry, Boss! I got this!)
Shiny's determined gaze sharpened.
With a powerful leap, it landed in the arena.
A tiny, golden figure now stood before the towering Silver Spirit.
Its cape fluttered in the wind.
The "Justice" kanji blazed boldly on its back.
"Kiki! Kiki!" (Bearing Xaya's name, I must not lose!)
From the sidelines,
Xaya's expression darkened.
"Are you in the wrong manga?"