Rebirth Of The Bastard Spirit Summoner

The mountain was a steep climb with a lot of obstructions lining the path, but it took just a few minutes to leave the foot of the mountain.

Now, they had gone off the mountain trail and were wandering through the thick forest.

Since they were being paid for the commission, Stark and Jade walked ahead of the group. Although his weapons were still in their sheaths, Stark kept his eyes wide open for any sudden ambushes.

His new dagger was sheathed at his waist and the short sword at his back, so it would take less than a second to draw his blades.

"You said the mimic was last seen around here?" Kael asked, staring at the environment with a keen eye.

Stark nodded. "One of the local hunters said they saw it some weeks back. But didn't you say they are mostly on the upper parts of the mountain?"

The professor glanced to the side, narrowing his eyes as he tried to spot even the tiniest detail. "Yes, it would have gone up there by now."

"Then what are we doing here?"

"It's just a simple matter of curiosity. I wish to find its nest, and maybe a few clues to where its mother is."

His reason seemed valid enough, but there was one thing that still bothered Stark.

Kael was not just a professor of the academy, but a crusader as well. He could have gotten the location of the last sighting easily and done everything himself.

Stark was nowhere near strong enough to be valuable to a crusader. There were even more powerful adventurers in the guild.

And it was obviously not because they had picked up the quest...

"Why did you want us to come with you?" Stark asked, slowing his pace to glance at him from over his shoulder.

Everyone turned their attention to Kael. Jade, Eurus, and Jasmine… they all awaited his answer.

Kael adjusted his spectacles, an action that was more of a habit than a necessity.

"Why did I choose to go with you, right?" He stroked his chin as they continued walking. "You have a point. From your point of view, it must be strange indeed."

"You are nowhere as strong as my students. In fact, your strength is so pitiful that it is laughable."

Stark ignored the insult, his face remaining impassive. He knew that they were indeed strong, but strength was not all that mattered in a battle.

If battles were decided by strength alone, then he would have died a long time ago.

Kael continued…

"You can call it a matter of curiosity. I am a researcher after all." He glanced at Stark, his eyes sharp.

"How strong can someone grow when nurtured by the harshness of life? How will they fare against the country's absolute elite?"

"I have to say, Mr. Stark, I am curious about you. I have a list of all the half-elves in the south back at home. You see, we elves keep track of all of them…"

Then he smiled, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"You, my friend, are not on it. So either you fell down from the heavens, or there is something more about you than meets the eye."

Jasmine glanced at him, her expression disapproving, but he continued.

"I won't move a muscle during our expedition. Show me what you are capable of…"

Stark stopped and scoffed. "What am I? A clown for your entertainment?"

Although he had gotten a little curious about the beast, he would not stand to be insulted by a man like Kael.

An elf who had known comfort his entire life. A man who sat at his point of privilege and used others for his own entertainment.

He turned around and began walking away. "Jade, let's go."

Jasmine raised her hand to stop them, but her mouth hung open—she had no words to say.

Meanwhile, Jade just followed behind him, looking completely bored by what was going on.

Then Stark heard a jingle.

Click!

A sound that made him freeze in his tracks.

He glanced at Kael to see him holding out a leather pouch.

'Is that what I think it is?'

"100 gold coins. I will pay you a hundred gold coins for this expedition." He pulled out a coin to show that he was dead serious, the coin glinting underneath the light.

'100?! That is ten times the normal price of the commission!'

It was more than what he needed to pay back the blacksmith and live a comfortable life in the city for some months.

Revenge was not easy. In fact, it was a very expensive venture.

And yet…

"You can't buy me with your filthy money—"

"200."

"Deal!"

"Eh?" Jasmine's eyes widened in surprise as she looked between them both. Then she ran her hand down her face. "I don't even understand you guys anymore…"

Meanwhile, Kael pushed up his glasses with his index finger, the lenses turning white from the glare of the sun.

"Shall we?"

•

They continued deeper into the thick forest until they arrived at the spot Stark had mentioned.

"??"

All around them were countless claw marks that split the trees apart.

There were a few footsteps as well. Most of them had been distorted by the passing of other animals, but a few still remained.

Kael moved over to the tree and leaned in to inspect it. It could be mistaken for any other wild animal or monster, except for one thing…

A newbie would not notice it, but for a beast tamer like him… a man who had studied over a thousand beasts…

It was as clear as day.

Every single one of the claw marks was different. The mimic had been unstable at birth and must have morphed multiple times before stabilizing.

He smiled and took a step back, turning to face the half-elf boy who had led them here. With the mimic confirmed, this would no doubt be an interesting expedition…

You see, he had not been entirely honest when he laid out the plans of capturing the mimic.

The truth was that, unlike what he said, mimics never strayed far away from their mothers. Everything he said about it leaving its mother and going up the mountain? That it could not morph at this age?

Absolute bullshit.

Kael was more than powerful enough to protect his cute students from the monstrous beasts.

But as for Stark? As their vanguard, he would encounter it first.

Only in the face of death could you see the inner workings of a man.

He had come here looking for the mimic. What he did not expect to find was an undocumented half-elf with no history, who was also an awakener…

His gaze darkened.

If this was the elven kingdom, then Kael would have executed him right then and there. But this was the south—a bit of decorum must be maintained.

He adjusted his glasses.

Kael would use this expedition to decide his fate. Either to leave him be…

Or exterminate a future problem.