Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 794 - Taming the Fifth Year - Genius - 2

But that was a problem to worry about at the end of the match. First she needed to finish the current battle efficiently.

Larissa had been using her Lynx extensively in this exam.

More than sheʼd ever deployed it before in her life. The Lynx wasnʼt her most versatile beast in terms of elemental options, but it was certainly her most agile and also required considerable concentration to use effectively in combat.

But she didnʼt mind the mental strain at all… Even liked it.

She also needed to improve her mastery with it. Needed to learn how to use it properly in varied situations. Needed to demonstrate that the gift sheʼd received from Ren wasnʼt being wasted on someone who couldnʼt appreciate its true value.

Because after years of uncertainty about her political situation and family standing...

She finally had complete backing from Selphira, Arturo, and Julius without reservation.

The weight that support lifted from her shoulders was difficult to describe adequately.

For so long, Larissa had been forced to hide her true circumstances from public knowledge.

And these last several months... Sheʼd had to defend every single crystal invested and moment of training time with other double-bonded beasts that certain opportunistic nobles considered ”wasteful” because the resources hadnʼt been used on someone with ”better disposition”.

The opportunistic nobles had complained constantly about the situation. Especially after it became clear that Arturo was planning to invest in Larissaʼs development seriously over the long term, potentially even supporting her advancement to Platinum rank, meaning tens of millions in investment concentrated on a single person.

One whom they didnʼt consider had sufficient accomplishments to merit such expenditure.

”Waste of precious resources,” theyʼd said in the meetings. ”We could train dozens of more competent tamers with whatʼs been spending on her development.”

”The traditions exist for good reasons,” others had argued with conviction. ”You canʼt simply decide that the established rules donʼt apply because the girl is the daughter of that former monster.”

”What happens when other spoiled nepo-babies begin demanding the same treatment?” some had added. ”When every spoiled girl starts requesting access to methods reserved for principal heirs of the greatest families and city leaders?”

”Having a surplus of cultivation potions doesnʼt mean we should spend them all immediately,” others had objected. ”Doesnʼt anyone think about the future resources for our descendants?”

Empty talk mostly. Complaints without real substance behind them.

But talk with sufficient political weight that it couldnʼt be ignored completely by those in leadership positions.

However in the end, the opposition had accomplished nothing of substance.

Because Larissa, crucially, wasnʼt claiming anything for herself through conventional channels at this point.

She wasnʼt demanding inheritance rights. Wasnʼt claiming territory or lands. Wasnʼt requesting a position in the noble hierarchy that would threaten othersʼ standings directly.

She was only training and using a potion that sheʼd already consumed and couldnʼt be recovered. Using ”personal” resources that Selphira and Arturo chose giving her voluntarily through their own authority.

And that made it difficult for the opportunistic nobles to build any real case against her continued development.

There were no actual rules she was breaking through her actions. No rights she was usurping from legitimate heirs. Only... she was going against some old traditions, but with the explicit blessing of the biggest family leaders.

Eventually the complaints had diminished to resentful murmurs that Larissa could ignore easily enough.

Though...

ʼIt could become a problem in the future for Ren,ʼ Larissa thought with slight concern while a faint blush colored her cheeks at the implication.

But that would depend on numerous other factors in the future as well.

A hundred variables that Larissa couldnʼt predict with absolute certainty about how the future would unfold...

Factors she tried not thinking about too directly right now when she needed focusing on the present battle.

She shook her head slightly to clear those distracting thoughts.

For now, it was sufficient that she herself had space to breathe freely without constant political pressure.

And honestly...

The real fear Larissa had carried for years had never been about the opportunistic nobles and their complaints.

It had been about her father and his potential reaction.

Not even Victor, who played at ”not getting along with her” in a manner that both of them understood was partially theatrical performance, represented a true problem in her life.

He didnʼt interfere in the matters concerning Larissaʼs development... But he also supported her when it truly mattered. Also recognized her progress and achievements when they deserved acknowledgment.

The game of ”not getting along” was simply that, a game both played.

Larissa understood the dynamic. Accepted it for what it was.

But her father... Well, it didnʼt matter now. He also would surely accept everything without objections if he knew who had pushed her to drink the double-bonding potion. Surely with how affectionate and relaxed heʼd shown himself to be with her at the end of their last conversation...

Larissa sighed heavily and her eyes became slightly teary at the memory.

With her fatherʼs current situation...

Larissa clenched her fists lightly, feeling tension she couldnʼt express completely in this public setting.

Letʼs just say there were no problems there anymore. No reason to worry about hiding herself as a double-bonded tamer. Not anymore.

♢♢♢♢

Yang raised his hand as for the ceremonial gesture. ”Begin the match.”

Mayo and Matilda were on the same team for this round. A circumstance that might seem fortunate for them on surface level. They possessed a synergy theyʼd developed during years working together even in service.

Rare beasts with unusual capabilities. Excellent coordination from extensive practice. Instinctive understanding of how to cover each otherʼs weaknesses through complementary tactics.

But without Luna leading them in the strategy...

Without all three being together to properly leverage Mayoʼs mist and Matildaʼs minefield in combination with Lunaʼs stealth capabilities...

They werenʼt even a tenth as dominant as they could be at their peak effectiveness.

Because the beasts alone, without that crucial team element that made them truly dangerous in concert, werenʼt excessively powerful individually when isolated.