Weakest Beast Tamer Gets All SSS Dragons

Chapter 622: Chapter 622 - Taming the Fifth Year - Ceremony - 2

Hundreds of noble heirs straightened in their seats, their eyes fixed on the blue-haired girl who walked toward the platform with dignity. Her steps were measured, practiced, each one calculated to project confidence she didn’t entirely feel.

For many in the audience, she represented something far more valuable than any ceremonial award.

At the year’s end, when she finally turned fifteen, she would be the key to obtaining an absurd amount of wealth. The contribution of the key in opening the royal vault. The contribution of simple genetics for the next deeper vault that might someday be opened. And an enormous territory that now didn’t have its ”mute guard dog” protecting it.

Luna tried to ignore the stares that felt unpleasant and dirty from those nobles who wanted to use her, passing to the front with the dignified air she had practiced for weeks with Larissa.

But each gaze felt like hands grabbing at her, measuring her worth like livestock at a market.

When Julius began speaking about her achievements, murmurs spread through the hall like wildfire through dry grass.

”The defense of the northern sector during the recent crisis,” Julius announced, his voice projecting clearly across the vast space, ”was successfully coordinated under the field leadership of Luna Starweaver, who demonstrated exceptional tactical capacity despite her youth.”

”She escaped from the academy,” someone muttered loudly enough to be heard, the words carrying in the momentary silence.

”Achievements dressed up using legal loopholes,” another noble added, his voice dripping with disdain.

”A child playing at being a leader while adults did the real work.” This comment came from the Starweaver opposition faction, the contempt unmistakable.

The murmurs grew, spreading like poison through water. For many, it was notable that an endless number of argumentative loopholes had been sought in the law so that the ”girl” could participate in such a situation.

The very fact that she had been there represented legal gymnastics of the highest order.

Luna’s already small faction felt the pressure of losing their legitimacy. Some of her warriors exchanged nervous glances, clearly worried that their support of Luna would mark them as allies of a lost cause.

Political winds changed quickly, and no one wanted to be caught on the wrong side when they did...

”SILENCE!”

Victor’s voice resonated through the entire hall with an authority that made even the most arrogant nobles immediately shut up.

He stepped forward, holding a thick stack of documents that rustled as he lifted them high for all to see. ”These are the legitimate papers that authorize every action taken by Luna Starweaver during the crisis. I invite anyone who has objections to review them and search for inconsistencies regarding our written law.”

He paused significantly, his eyes sweeping the audience with challenge clear in his gaze. ”You’ve all already done so. Multiple times. And you’ve found nothing legitimately incorrect because there’s nothing to find!”

The challenge in his voice was clear as crystal. Some nobles shifted uncomfortably in their seats, suddenly finding their shoes fascinating. Many in this room had tried to find some legal violation they could exploit, and all had failed. The documentation was airtight, perfect, infuriating in its correctness.

Whoever had made those papers was a genius of law.

Larissa smiled with a winning air from her position, unable to completely suppress her satisfaction. Luna returned the smile, gratitude and relief in her expression, a silent thank you passing between them.

”Therefore,” Julius continued, retaking control of the ceremony with ease, ”Luna Starweaver is conferred half of the Starweaver territory, the one adjacent to the rift upon reaching adulthood, the title of leader in her faction, and permission to fulfill her role while Sirius Starweaver is absent.”

She had received the ”larger half”, the most important part of the territory.

The applause was mixed, creating a discordant sound that reflected the political divisions in the room. Luna’s allies applauded with genuine enthusiasm, their clapping loud and sustained. The neutrals did so out of courtesy, perfunctory and brief. The enemies barely moved their hands, the minimal gesture required by protocol and nothing more.

But then came the bitter moment for Luna.

The faction opposing her was called to the platform.

Luna’s uncles and their allies walked with obvious confidence, broad smiles on their faces while Arturo announced their achievements. Their steps were almost swaggering, reveling in their moment.

”For their contribution to the defense in Yino, thanks primarily to the effective use of the Stellar Artifacts, successfully repelling the greatest threat the kingdom faced during the recent crisis...”

The twin crystals were ceremonially presented. A black star and a white star united, shining with power that made the air itself vibrate around them.

The light they cast was hypnotic, beautiful, and to Luna, unbearably painful to look at.

She stared at her crystal with extreme rage, her hands clenching into fists so tight her nails bit into her palms.

The one that had been her father’s. The one that had been stolen from her family through political maneuvering while he was absent.

Her birthright, taken by vultures who circled the moment the guardian was gone.

Liora immediately moved toward her, embracing her discreetly while maintaining their formal positions.

Luna bit her lip with the fangs her partial fusion with her wolf generated. A single tear escaped from her right eye, running down her cheek like a traitor revealing her pain.

Her uncles smiled, clearly hoping to see her lose control. A public scene would be exactly what they needed to argue she was too emotional and immature to maintain her responsibilities, hence her rewards.

Just like Ren could lose his enormous awards if he didn’t demonstrate he was capable of handling such magnitude of a burden.

The embrace was brief but firm, a reminder that she wasn’t alone in this den of political predators.

Luna breathed deeply, forcing herself to maintain composure. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. Wouldn’t give them the excuse they sought with such transparent desperation.

Her uncles noticed her control and their smiles tensed slightly, frustration hidden behind diplomatic masks.

Things calmed for a moment, the hall settling into expectant quiet. But before the main moment arrived, there was one more award that would serve as a transition.

”Seiya Galehart,” Arturo announced.

A young man of about twenty years walked toward the platform with confidence. His tunic bore the Galehart house emblem, the largest family in Starweaver territory, similar in prominence to the Strahlfang in the old Goldcrest territory. His bearing spoke of someone accustomed to respect, to being important.

”For his participation in the defense alongside the Starweavers,” Arturo continued with a tone more formal than enthusiastic, ”he is granted complete succession rights.”

The applause was numerous and polite but clearly less enthusiastic than what Luna had received. Seiya noticed, his jaw tensing slightly, a muscle jumping in his cheek, but he maintained his composure.

He was a double tamer as well...

His father, Aldric, had used all his family’s power to get him a potion when they were in relative abundance after Ren opened that door.

Seiya’s achievements were respectable but pale in comparison to what had just happened and what would come next. He knew it, and that knowledge sat heavy in his expression despite his attempt to appear satisfied.

Still, he was indeed happy...

Complete succession rights meant legitimacy, real power within his enormous and powerful family. Being a double at Gold Rank with hope of going even further was more than sufficient reason to celebrate.

His pegasus had stagnated at Gold 2 after reaching Gold 1 as soon as his 7th academy year, but hope wasn’t lost yet. His second beast was advancing perfectly as well.

From his position, Seiya deliberately looked toward where Luna stood. He wasn’t the only one. Hundreds of noble heirs still evaluated the Starweaver girl with eyes that calculated political and matrimonial advantages.