Insect Tamer's Ascension Chapter 493. A plant type beast? Welcome to the Misfits club

The ensuing days saw Theo diligently persuading Selmira to expedite the procedure, and by the third day, the club's establishment was officially declared.

A dedicated room was allocated to Theo, which he promptly began furnishing with an array of books, funded by his academy allowance. The collection spanned diverse subjects, from the intricacies of politics to the nuances of aura manipulation, reflecting his personal interests while maintaining a breadth that might appeal to others.

Theo then meticulously designed a brochure, commissioning Clara to produce numerous copies, which he subsequently distributed throughout the academy.

A subtle touch of self-promotion was included as he decided to add his own name to the flyers.

For several months, the Merrick family experienced a significant upheaval as the former baron was elevated to the rank of count, a title also bestowed upon Theo. No longer relegated to the lowest rung of the nobility, he now held the position of young master within a count's esteemed household.

While many remained unaware of this transformation, the visibility of his name coupled with circulating rumors would soon ensure this fact became widely known.

Merely a day after the brochures appeared, the club room's door was met with a continuous stream of knocks throughout the day.

The very first visitor to arrive left Theo distinctly underwhelmed.

"What leads you to believe you are a misfit?" Theo inquired, his gaze assessing the young man standing before him.

The boy possessed sharp, piercing eyes, yet his physical frame appeared rather delicate.

"I consider myself a misfit because my sole passion lies in alchemy, but the academy compels me to study every subject," the boy articulated, a smile gracing his lips as if he had just unveiled a profound revelation.

"So... you simply wish to specialize in a single field?" Theo questioned, his expression unreadable.

"Yes! You understand me far better than my family and professors, young master Theo. Thank you!" The boy beamed, stepping a little closer.

Maintaining his composed demeanor, Theo recorded the boy's name and his stated 'misfit trait' before offering a polite smile.

"Very well, I shall review your application for the time being. If you meet the criteria, I will certainly inform you," Theo stated, prompting an eager nod from the boy as he departed.

"That was hardly a misfit," Theo murmured with a frown, casting a glance at Clara, who was diligently knitting luminous silk into fabric by the side.

"He's quite ordinary. Aspiring to specialize in a particular subject is a consideration for the third year, not at present."

Theo was uncertain whether to feel vexed or disappointed, and before he could voice further complaints—

Another student presented themselves. Then another.

Soon, a cluster of students arrived seeking to join. Theo interviewed each individually, probing for the reasons behind their self-proclaimed misfit status. To his considerable lack of surprise, not a single response remotely resembled the definition of what would truly set them apart.

Theo found no genuine connection for the subsequent two days. Students from all years continued to approach him, treating him more as a counselor than a club recruiter, before ultimately departing with hopes of acceptance.

By the third day, all of the initial ten applicants had left disappointed, and Theo had reached his limit. He was on the verge of temporarily closing the club's doors to regain his composure—

Just then, another slender young man approached the club, a palpable air of hesitation surrounding him.

Theo harbored no particular expectations for him either. However, he then observed the boy's eyes and the manner in which he directed his gaze towards him.

It conveyed an impression that the kid anticipated judgment from Theo and was reluctant to speak.

"Greetings. What makes you believe you are a misfit?" Theo asked, keen to receive the answer as swiftly as possible.

"I... I tame plant-type beasts," the boy responded, attempting to meet Theo's eyes. "Everyone dismisses them as too weak to be of any real use."

Theo sensed the boy bracing himself, anticipating further ridicule.

Instead, for the first time since the club's inception, Theo felt a flicker of genuine curiosity.

"Could you elaborate on that in detail?" Theo inquired.

The boy swallowed nervously but still nodded.

"May I summon my beast, young master?" the boy asked. Theo nodded; the room was sufficiently spacious to accommodate a few beasts without difficulty.

A faint white luminescence flickered across the boy's forehead, subtle yet persistent.

As the light dissipated, Theo witnessed something materialize upon the young man's shoulder.

Once the light had completely vanished, Theo beheld a sight that caused him to rise abruptly from his chair, staring with utter astonishment.

"What...?" he uttered, a subtle tremor of bewilderment coloring his voice.

The creature was utterly unlike anything Theo had ever encountered.

It was, quite literally, a plant affixed to the boy's shoulder. Not merely perched, its roots were entwined tightly around the shoulder, clinging like a parasite.

A solitary vine extended upwards, swaying with a gentle motion. Yet, it was more than the passive movement of a plant influenced by the breeze.

When the vine elongated and delicately brushed the boy's cheek with a minuscule leaf, Theo comprehended that the plant possessed independent mobility.

Clingroot Sprite

Rare

Level 4

Type: Plant-type beast

"This is Planopy... my beast, young master," the boy stated, his gaze lowered. Meanwhile, the plant continued its attempts to comfort the boy, as if sensing his unease.

"What can Planopy do?" Theo inquired immediately, prompting the boy to take a deep breath.

"It... it can latch onto targets and drain their life essence, leaving the opponent weakened... almost devoid of energy."

Theo regarded the boy with disbelief, as though he had taken leave of his senses.

"And you claim people consider it a poor beast? Are you certain of that?" Theo questioned.

The boy faltered, his eyes meeting Theo's. Confusion flickered across his face before he subtly frowned, a reaction he quickly suppressed, careful not to offend Theo.

"I've been mocked for it my entire life. By conventional standards... this is merely a weak beast. Something useless that would perish without ever serving a purpose..."

Theo scratched the back of his head, studying the boy intently.

It was akin to gazing into a mirror, yet not precisely.

He discerned the same self-doubt in the boy's eyes, but a critical difference set him apart from Theo's own past struggles.

Whereas Theo had once battled against such perceptions, this boy seemed to have completely surrendered, his confidence utterly extinguished.

"So, do you also believe your beast is weak?" Theo inquired. "Have you ever attempted to demonstrate its strength?"

Theo's words agitated the boy, his voice escalating slightly in pitch.

"No! My beast's ability is potent—I've witnessed it firsthand! But... I cannot risk engaging it in combat. Even against the most feeble adversaries... it could perish from a single strike," the boy articulated, his prior fervor rapidly diminishing.

The vine-like plant beast coiled again, gently stroking the boy's cheek as if attempting to soothe him.

"Eryn," Theo declared, his tone sharpening. "I require your attention for a moment."

The intensity of Theo's gaze made it difficult for the boy to maintain eye contact.

"Your beast is remarkable. I've never encountered anything quite like it. And its unique ability? It possesses the potential for significant damage when employed correctly."

Theo maintained a steady demeanor; he was aware the boy could feel the palpable pressure emanating from him, a sensation he projected deliberately.

Ever since mastering the use of aura, a subtle pressure had surrounded him, and though he couldn't fully control it yet, its impact was substantial enough to affect those with less resolute minds.

The boy was too astonished to respond, though no verbal reply was necessary. Theo posed another question.

"Where did you even discover this beast?" Theo asked, jolting the boy from his reverie.

"M-My parents are researchers. They explore gates with an exploration team. They found this beast within one of the gates they were investigating... Back then, Planopy's progenitor was merely a small, plant-type creature... so they were granted permission to study it outside the gate..."

He paused, swallowing before continuing.

"That was when they managed to cultivate and propagate the plant beast extensively, and in that process, I acquired Planopy... However, with each subsequent research phase, it became evident that the species was nothing more than a mundane support-type beast, possessing virtually no practical abilities under normal conditions."

The boy proceeded with his explanation, and Theo listened attentively, offering no interruptions.

"My parents advised me against taming Planopy," the boy confessed. "But I had already developed a deep affection for it. I was determined to prove its strength to everyone. So I did... yet, since then, I've been unable to showcase its true potential to anyone..."

As the boy finally ceased speaking after a lengthy five-minute explanation, Theo's gaze shifted to the small, perceptive beast that was still diligently comforting its distressed master.

For a brief moment, Theo observed the boy's expression.

Then, he retrieved a sheet of paper from the table and presented it to the boy.

Eryn blinked in surprise, studying the document until he recognized its nature.

"Welcome to the club, Sir Eryn. Please complete this form and commit to dedicating a minimum of ten hours weekly to the club's activities," Theo announced, extending his elbow in a firm, military-style handshake.

The boy looked from the form to Theo, then back to the form, his eyes wide.

"THANK YOU PROFUSELY, YOUNG MASTER! I SHALL NOT LET YOU DOWN!!"