Jaden dismissed the [Epiphany Zone] and returned to the grey walls of the personal training chamber within the Bannister mansion.
The training chamber was lit up by the light mana cores embedded in its walls. The light mana cores were harvested from the light-type star beasts. Jaden flexed his muscles before heaving a sigh and walking towards the iron door at the end of the room.
He pushed the door and stepped out, just in ti to et Jamie, who had just stepped out from his personal training chamber. His whole body was drenched in sweat, and he could see bruises and soreness in his hands. Jamie also studied Jaden for a mont before he spoke.
"Did you learn it?"
Jaden blinked his eyes at the sudden question and asked, his expression puzzled.
"What are you talking about?"
Jamie shook his head and pointed at his head as he spoke sarcastically.
"Do you think of yourself as smart or others as stupid? Because the way you are acting does imply that you believe in one of them."
"..." Jaden turned silent at his remark and just continued to stare at him with confused eyes.
Jamie heaved a sigh and shook his head as he spoke. "Did you learn a magic spell from the branch of war?"
Jaden’s eyes widened as he muttered in a surprised voice.
"How did you—"
Jamie narrowed his eyes and replied sharply.
"You... you truly think that everyone other than you is stupid, don’t you? You are one arrogant fuck. Do you think it’s that hard to conclude based on your ability to bind with other grimoires?"
Jaden turned silent at his words. He, of course, knew that others would conclude it, but it doesn’t an he had to sing about it to them... and the more foolish he seed, the lower others’ guard would be
"Ah... I didn’t think of that," Jaden replied in a silly voice as he turned around and left.
Jamie looked at his departing back with clenched fists and mumbled dejectedly.
"You truly believe it, huh..."
He followed behind him and left.
Jaden walked through the hallway with his usual playful smile, and the servants greeted him with a slight bow; he was the guest of their masters after all. As he continued his steps, his eyes fell on Maria... she was just as beautiful as always, and her mature figure was highlighted even further by her tight-fitting outfit. The soft sunlight fell on her like the touch of the divine. Jaden’s eyes, however, were locked on the two puppies peeking out of her outfit.
He walked towards her and pointed at them as he asked, "Can I touch your puppies?"
Maria gave him a mischievous smile as she spoke playfully, "My, how can you ask for sothing like this? That too in public... we should get in so priva—"
Jaden looked at her with a deadpan look and spoke flatly.
"Just take them out."
"Heh. You are no fun, little Judy," Maria added as she took out the two puppies as small as her palm from her outfit and gave them to Jaden.
He looked at the two small puppies and caressed them as he spoke in a surprised tone.
"What are these?"
"Oh, these are devouring pups... they may look cute, but they can eat anything in seconds. But for that, they need to be commanded by their chief, which would be or my mother in the case of these two."
Jaden raised an eyebrow and looked at the two devouring pups with a surprised look, rubbing their belly with his finger as he spoke playfully, "You both sure are so mischievous deceivers, huh?"
He shifted his gaze towards Maria, who was looking at him with a soft smile, and asked.
"How do I get one of my own?"
"What?" Maria spoke as her smile disappeared and a frown took its place.
"I want one of my own," Jaden replied while showing the devouring pups to her, their light orange fur brightened under the streaming sunlight as they stared at her with their big black eyes.
She also stared into their cute, gem-like eyes full of innocence that hid their endless hunger and looked away while biting her lower lip, "Only the mbers of the marquisate of Bannister can have them... and their use for personal activities is prohibited by the imperial council."
"So... I can’t have my own?" he asked with a frown and saddened eyes.
She shook her head and said, "You can."
His frown receded, and his eyes turned bright as he questioned energetically.
"What do I need to do?"
Maria lifted two fingers and grabbed one of them as a grin appeared on her face.
"First, you can simply join the Bannisters by marrying ."
Just then, a panicked female voice called out
"Young lady, you can’t—"
"Shut up, Alia," She turned towards the maid at the far end of the hallway and responded as a vein popped out on her forehead.
She turned back to Jaden as he responded, "What’s the second option?"
"You really don’t want to marry , huh... I was just joking anyway," She chuckled and said before answering his question as she grabbed the second finger.
"The other way would be for you to beco a war knight. You have to complete one of the gold missions for the ruling family of Ambitus to beco one. However, to even get a gold mission, you need to have a great reputation within the great nation of Ambitus."
He listened to her words with utmost focus and asked while rubbing the back of his head, "Can’t you just give one?"
Maria’s smile faded, and a serious look appeared on her face.
"Jaden, I keep my personal and professional lives away from each other. If you want to pet the devouring pup, you need to follow the procedure just like the others."
’Heh. That would be enough to make him back down... I don’t want him to do sothing reckless after all,’ she thought.
’How could I forget that she is the eldest daughter of Marquise...? There’s no way she could do sothing like that,’ he thought.
Jaden bowed to her as he spoke seriously.
"I am sorry, Lady Maria."
"You can stand," she replied, her expression as serious as before. Jaden straightened himself and asked, "Can I just complete so of the lower-ranked missions to increase my reputation then?"
"Huh?"
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