Insect Tamer's Ascension

"Taking that level 7 boar away without any permit when that boar could clearly be a very good asset for the Barony is considered wrong. I will have to research some more about them later, young master."

Theo listened to the man stating one explanation after another and he couldn't help but see him in a new light. He nodded giving him permission yet addressed his mind.

"But still… this can't be used against them right now, not until I talk with father…" Theo stated and Elias nodded. This was not something the youngest heir could accomplish.

"This meeting will be a great time to meet up with father. Until then, I should focus on my strength... There's been enough break." Theo stated.

After getting up from the chair, he took the wooden sword from the corner of the room and went to the dummy to start training again.

Seeing Theo make the first strike, the Mantis who was munching on some green leaves looked at him for a moment before leaving the food and coming toward him.

SHING!

When Theo stared down, he saw many of the dummy's ropes cleanly cut by the Mantis's foreleg.

With a grin, he went on to strike the dummy with his all while the Mantis practiced with its own skills.

Elias from the back marveled at the bond of Theo and the Mantis. After looking at them, even he craved to train with his beasts like this.

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"Okay, I am ready."

In his room, Theo wore his good outfit for the dinner. It was a celebration, so he decided to dress accordingly.

"Are you nervous? You haven't been in front of father before, I believe?" he spoke, looking at Elias from the mirror.

"Worry not, young master. I have been trained for this." Elias spoke with a puffed-up chest, and Theo chuckled inwardly. Clara said this too before she faced the Baron head-on for the first time.

"It's time."

They made their way through the corridors and finally reached the dinner hall.

Theo felt weird coming here without his mother because that was how things were for a long time.

It made him smile that in this world too, he was finally becoming more independent.

"9th son Theo Merrick has arrived." The announcer shouted, and Theo entered the dinner only to see that not many had come till now.

"Come sit here, Theo. It's vacant for now." From the table, Elara waved her hand at Theo and called him.

"It's been a while since I met you, elder sister. How have you been?" Theo asked while Elias pulled the chair out.

"It's been good, but from what I have heard, you're the one everyone has been gossiping about for a long time now." Elara spoke with a teasing, gentle smile, and Theo chuckled. Fоr а bеttеr rеаding еxpеriеnсе, visit М(VLЕМРYR).

"It's nothing major. People like making things seem a lot more than they are, elder sister."

"You forget that I have many years on you, little boy." Elara tapped his head with her finger and shook her head.

Theo only smiled and then moved his face toward the one other guy sitting there right now with his eyes closed.

"It's good meeting you too, elder brother Cedric."

The boy to the other side opened his eyes and looked at Theo with his usual calm face.

"… You've grown stronger, Theo." He spoke while looking at Theo's opened palm. The marks were not that deep, but he could see a lot of calluses all around his hand.

"It's nothing compared to you. I am trying to become what you have already accomplished, elder brother." Theo tried buttering the guy up.

Now that Rhys was not available to train him for a while, some thoughts came to his mind of knowing what a prodigy that was going to attend a knight academy would be like.

Cedric looked at Theo for a few seconds with an unchanging expression. He slowly leaned forward toward the table and looked at Theo with a frown.

"If you're going to half-ass this like right now, you'll never be great… little brother." He stated in aa serious tone.

"CEDRIC." Elara looked at Cedric with anger. "Don't forget your manners."

Without even looking at her, Cedric leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes.

"You know he's always been like that, Theo. Don't mind him."

Listening to her, Theo chuckled. "I don't mind this at all, elder sister. It only makes me more motivated." Theo spoke making Elara nod but he continued, "I was able to change even our father's opinion about me. It won't matter if another brother gets added to the list." Theo ended with a light smile on his face.

Elara froze in surprised after hearing that. It was as if she had never guessed Theo would say something like that.

Cedric too eyed Theo with his usual calmness before a light grin formed on his face for a few seconds before he went back to resting.

Theo made casual talk with Elara for a while before other heirs started coming in one after another.

First was Lucien, who Theo had already met with, then Rowena—the one sibling he had least interacted with. And it was not because he didn't want to but due to her having a reserved personality.

Now that everyone was coming in, Theo quickly got out of Isolde's chair and went to his in the corner of the table.

Even Bram came to the room soon enough and was delighted to see Lucien and Theo.

And only after them all did the twins finally arrive. They were in high energy as usual, but Celeste quickly frowned seeing that she had to sit beside Theo.

Theo just nodded at her with a light smile, which she didn't even care to reciprocate.

In the end, they didn't even talk, and after a long time, Theo thought about something. Celeste was not always like this.

She was a sweet girl that always welcomed Theo whenever there was a dinner. It was only after his ceremony that things started to change, and Theo didn't know the reason for that.

When he looked at her again, Theo couldn't help but want to know.

'Maybe I should talk with her later? Kids only learn when they are told to fix things… Hm…'

"Baron Aldric Merrick, Baroness Seraphina Merrick, and 3rd daughter Isolde Merrick have arrived."

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