Beast Tamer: I Can See Evolution Paths

It seemed as if Marie was afraid Asher wouldn't understand the importance of an academic conference, so she kept earnestly trying to persuade him.

"We mean you no harm."

'Well, not entirely no harm.'

Before meeting Asher, Marie, who had seen the Flame Fox Queen, felt as if her emotions were a wildfire igniting a field of dry grass.

Chaotic, with no clear direction.

Thinking about the six years of time and effort she had invested… Marie definitely had some grievances against Asher.

But after interacting and communicating with him, Henry let go of his reservations, and so did Marie.

Asher, as their junior, had been completely open and honest with them.

As seniors, they needed to show the proper decorum.

While it might take time for them to truly let go, their attitude toward Asher was unanimously friendly.

In just a month, Asher had successfully helped the little Flame Fox develop a new evolutionary pathway.

It was obvious.

Asher was a rising star in the field of pet evolution—a genius.

Forming good relations with Asher brought nothing but benefits.

Moreover, Henry and Marie, who had fully accepted the little Flame Fox's new evolutionary path, now genuinely regarded Asher as a close junior.

Helping and guiding Asher into this unfamiliar world was their responsibility.

"As a student, a senior in high school no less, having made such significant discoveries in pet research, you could theoretically be directly admitted to a top-tier university." Marie explained.

Harry, standing to the side, nodded. "Exactly. Actually, if a fourth-year university student made significant discoveries in pet research, they could be guaranteed admission to an Advanced Beast Taming Academy for graduate studies. But… the chances of that are slim."

"The last person to be guaranteed admission to the Advanced Beast Taming Academy was the now-renowned top-tier breeder, Mr. Avalos, right?"

Asher coughed twice.

'Guaranteed admission? That seemed a little out of reach for me.'

'But a direct university admission…'

Asher was interested.

After all, he was a student.

Who wouldn't care about such crucial information?

The evolution of Little Raven was a massive mountain weighing down on Asher.

Before graduating from senior year, he had to succeed in evolving Little Raven.

Otherwise, Little Raven would never become a Three-Legged Golden Crow.

Although the knowledge taught at school wasn't useless, if he could secure a direct admission, he could study on his own.

The extra time could be allocated to Little Raven—to increase their bond, build synergy, master various skills, refine the Fiery Essence, and more.

While dedicating a lot of time didn't guarantee success, not dedicating any time certainly meant failure.

Having thought it through, Asher proactively asked, "Does discovering the new evolutionary path for the little Flame Fox and the concept of bond count as significant discoveries?"

"Hmm…" Harry pondered for a moment before responding, "If the new evolutionary path for the little Flame Fox can be verified and proven not to be a one-off case, it would count as a significant discovery."

"As for bond…"

Harry frowned slightly and reluctantly added, "Without a second extraordinary creature evolving based on bond, it doesn't count."

Asher's hypothesis was just a hypothesis.

Who could guarantee that, besides the little Flame Fox, other extraordinary creatures could evolve under the influence of bond?

Without such proof, the concept of bond was just an auxiliary factor in the Flame Fox's evolutionary path.

Important, but not critical.

A single case isn't evidence.

"However, making the concept of bond public could still earn you bonus points for the college entrance exam," Jane offered as consolation.

"Verifying the new evolutionary path for the little Flame Fox might take a long time. If no second Flame Fox evolves into a Flame Fox Queen before your college entrance exam, direct admission won't be possible. Instead, why not hold an academic conference to make the concept of bond public?"

'That would be a faster option.'

With the Flame Fox Queen already there, Asher could present a new concept, while these seniors vouched for him.

No problem at all.

Once the idea was made public, there would always be people willing to experiment, right?

Everyone chimed in with their suggestions.

Henry and Marie, along with Harry and Jane, even helped Asher plan everything out.

By comparison, President Robb seemed even more unreliable.

He hadn't made any significant gestures or arrangements.

All four of them simultaneously cast disdainful looks at President Robb.

Even June, Ivy, and Don, who stood off to the side, started looking at Robb differently.

Who would've thought Robb was this kind of president.

Not taking Asher, such a key contributor, seriously at all.

President Robb: "…"

"Wait, you all…" President Robb wanted to explain but couldn't find the words. He rolled his eyes.

"Everything that could be said has been said by you. What else am I supposed to say?" President Robb complained. "Besides, I did take risks and contribute to the Flame Fox's evolution, okay?"

It was him who approved Asher's request to go to the mines.

It was also him who let Asher take away high-grade herbs worth millions.

He was the first one to truly support Asher, okay?

So how did he end up being treated like a scoundrel by these people?

In the end, everyone reached a consensus.

Robb would handle the venue arrangements, while Henry, Marie, Harry, and Jane would use their reputations and status to back Asher, helping him hold this academic conference.

———

Three days later.

Vicky, who was bored and scrolling on his phone at home, suddenly stumbled upon a familiar face.

Vicky: "???"

Moments ago, he was lying lifelessly on the floor. Now, he shot upright.

His eyes widened as he repeatedly confirmed the live stream account he was watching.

'No mistake.'

'It is the official account of the NY City Beast Taming Alliance.'

Not a counterfeit—there was even the shiny little yellow badge to prove it.

Looking at the person in the stream again.

Left, right, up, down, over and over.

That face was unmistakably his buddy, his bro, his son, his dad—Asher.

"The bond between Beast Tamers and their pets… the little Flame Fox successfully evolved into the Flame Fox Queen…"

In the stream, Asher, calm and composed, with a clear voice and poised demeanor, was presenting under the watchful eyes of veteran scholars and professors.

A mix of terms Vicky could understand and couldn't understand interwove into a dizzying swirl.

"Holy crap!" Vicky couldn't help but blurt out. "This is next-level cool."

Such a mind-blowing moment couldn't be enjoyed alone.

'Share!'

'I have to share it with the class group.'

The next second.

The quiet class group was suddenly blown up by Vicky's post.

[Why are people holding academic conferences again? Looks like this year's exam topics will increase. By the way, who is this? They look familiar?]

[Familiar? That's freaking Asher.]

[…No way? Are you joking? Couldn't it just be someone who looks like him?]

[Look at the ID badge on the table. Read those two big characters aloud!]

[Asher—Snow—]

[Holy crap!]

[What the heck? My classmate has evolved? Ascended? Asher, take me with you.]

═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═

patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator

🥰 Support the translation and help me grow.🤓

Read upto 20 Extra chapter in Patreon

https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y