Ever since I was born, I knew something was… off about me.
I never cried about it, never complained out loud, but deep down, I always felt like a burden.
Born to a Fae mother and a human father I had never met—vanished on an adventuring quest before I was even born—I was different from everyone in Uruste Village. I inherited my mother's grace, but none of my father's strength. I was just… me.
So when I returned from Mavela City with my Class and Rank, I braced myself for disappointment. I stood before my mother and opened my status window.
---
Ares Meledric
Level: 1
Rank: E
Title: None
Strength: 0
Mana: 0
Vitality: 0
Dexterity: 0
Intelligence: 0
Agility: 0
Race: Half-human, Half-fae
Class: Tamer
Magic: None
Ability: Tame – 100% Taming Chance
---
"I'm a Tamer," I said quietly. "Rank E…"
But Amanda Meledric—my mother—didn't scold me. She didn't cry. She simply hugged me tight, her crimson hair brushing against my cheek, and smiled like I was the greatest thing in the world.
"You've taken your father's first step," she said softly.
I didn't understand what made being a Tamer so special. My stats were all zero. I couldn't even cast [Tame] properly. I had tried it on rodents, slimes, even a Wind Lizard once… which ended with me being blown halfway across the field. Despite the "100% Taming Chance" written on my status, nothing I tried was tamable.
To make matters worse, Ion Kalculos—my childhood friend, though more like a lifelong rival—never missed a chance to mock me. He had awakened as a Rank A Swordsman, blessed with noble blood, while my family were just commoners.
While he trained with knights, I was handed an old grimoire from my mother: Monster Pedia. But when I opened it, most of the pages were blank. I showed it to her, but even she couldn't explain why.
---
One day, after another failed attempt at taming anything, I returned home with my stats still stubbornly stuck at zero. Standing at our door was a tall man in a traveler's cloak, radiating a heavy, almost suffocating presence. As he walked past me, he patted my head.
"You must be Ares," he said, smiling warmly. "Your father would be proud of you."
"Th-thank you, mister," I replied nervously.
"You're a special Tamer — like me. And when your partner appears… she'll be beautiful." he added, then glanced at the sky. "Oh, crap, I've got to go. Bye."
I blinked. "…Huh? I don't have any."
Before I could even think of what to ask, he was gone. My mother called me inside moments later, holding something in her arms—a large egg, faintly glowing.
"Take care of it," she said gently. "Tamers bond through effort and patience. Monsters are born from eggs… after that, they evolve and breed like any other creature. But this one—this one chose you."
I didn't know what to feel. Nervous? Excited? Maybe both. But that night, I held the egg close and made a promise.
"I'll raise your level with me… and become the strongest Tamer in the world. …Probably."
---
A week later, while flipping through my Monster Pedia, the page suddenly shimmered faintly, the ink etching itself before my eyes. At the same time, I heard a faint cracking sound. I turned to see the egg shining brightly before splitting open. A small, jet-black-furred wolf pup tumbled out, staring up at me with glowing red eyes and letting out a curious bark.
My hands trembled. I hesitated… then cast [Tame].
For the first time ever—it worked.
"Aisha," I said softly. "That's your name."
---
Aisha
Race: Black Wolf
Rank: E
Class: Unknown
Magic: None
Level: 1
Class Ability: Unknown
---
The Monster Pedia updated with a page detailing her care. From that day on, I trained with Aisha in the Monster Forest, guided by my mother and my mischievous aunt, Testia. Aisha followed my every command—bite, scratch, pounce.
Three years passed.
Through our shared bond, Aisha reached Level 150 and evolved into a Hell Howler—a medium-sized wolf with tangerine fur, bright yellow eyes, sharp fangs, and an aura of forbidden Hellfire Magic.
---
Aisha
Race: Hell Howler
Rank: E
Class: Unknown
Magic: Hellfire – A forbidden magic capable of damaging even divine beings.
Level: 150
Class Ability: Unknown
---
I had reached Level 200 by then… yet my stats were still all zero.
Another three years passed, and Aisha evolved again—this time into a Blood Howler at Level 250. Her fur darkened to jet black with crimson streaks, her eyes burned brighter, and alongside Hellfire she now wielded forbidden Blood Magic. She had grown so large I could ride her.
---
Aisha
Race: Blood Howler
Rank: E
Class: Unknown
Magic: Hellfire, Blood – Forbidden magics that draw upon surrounding blood, even from allies.
Level: 250
Class Ability: Unknown
---
Time moved quickly.
Now, two years later, I am eighteen years old. My level? 400.
Aisha's? 340.
And yet…
> My stats are still zero.
Even now, I don't understand why. Strength, Agility, Magic, Vitality… all zero. But my level keeps climbing, and I've never stopped pushing forward.
Now that I'm of age, I can finally register for an Adventurer License.
---
I returned to Mavela City and stepped into the bustling Adventurers' Guild. The receptionist—a young but mature elf with olive-plaited hair, turquoise eyes, and a green-and-black uniform with a long-slit skirt—greeted me warmly. She handed me the form, which I filled out and returned.
"Huh!? All zero!? Rank-E!?" she exclaimed. "Hmm… Can you wait here for a moment, please?"
She disappeared into the back to speak with the Guildmaster. When she returned, her expression wasn't encouraging.
"Sorry… Ares, was it? The Guildmaster declined your registration as an adventurer."
"But I thought I could just get an adventurer license here?" I protested.
She studied me carefully… then smiled, handing me a wooden card with my name etched on it.
"Only Rank-E adventurers get wooden cards. It's fine—you're registered now. My name's Aula Hermistia."
She then glanced at Aisha—and for a brief moment, I saw her expression change, as if she felt something powerful from my partner. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything. I had the feeling she was hiding something.
Even if the only quests available to me were simple herb-gathering errands, I didn't care. I'd take them all. And honestly… they were kind of rewarding.
That evening, I set out to gather herbs with Aisha. She wagged her tail as she found plants—not always the right ones—and guarded me from prowling monsters in exchange for head pats.
Eight years had passed since the day I received the egg. Aisha had gone from Level 1 to 340. I had gone from Level 1 to 400.
And now… I realized I wasn't leveling anymore.
Why?
I didn't know why. But I'd find out — and when I did, the world would know my name. And the road ahead wouldn't be easy.