"Forget about that, meow! You idiot!!" The Old Patriarch knocked Sparky on the head without hesitation, shouting angrily, "Did you sleep through the entire story I told you, meow? I definitely told you about the dragon with a Great Sword for a tail!!"
"Huh?!"
Sparky never expected to be quizzed on his homework here... he was dumbfounded.
"When we get back, you're going to listen to the story again properly, meow! This time I'm going to watch you like a hawk!!"
"No, meow!!!"
A mournful meow rang out—the final cry of a poor student.
The Grimalkyne's mental state... was a bit loose.
There was a kind of pure beauty to it.
They didn't have complex thoughts or a cutthroat social environment. Even though they recorded past history and ancestral experiences, honestly, given a Grimalkyne's comprehension skills and literacy level, most recorded things were vague and confusing. No wonder Sparky wanted to sleep while listening.
For example, those weird cave paintings where you couldn't even tell what was drawn—very abstract.
The Old Patriarch's cane kept tapping Sparky's head, and Sparky covered his head to dodge. The other meows watched the show—these single-threaded little guys seemed to have completely forgotten where they were and what they were doing.
Until they suddenly felt something above them, and the fluorescent moss on the cave ceiling seemed to dim.
The Old Patriarch's cane slowed down. The smiles on the onlookers' faces stiffened... All the meows followed Sparky's gaze, whose eyes were wide open.
A pair of crimson eyes had opened in the cavern behind them at some point. That Great Sword Wyvern was awake, looking down at them condescendingly. His eyes were cold, devoid of warmth; just being stared at like that was enough to make an ordinary meow's legs go weak.
Asterion was, of course, awake.
Even though Glavenus aren't known for acute hearing, the underground cavern environment is naturally quiet. Even a slight noise echoes off the stone walls.
However, contrary to the Grimalkynes' imagination, Asterion wasn't staring at them coldly, pondering how to skin and bone them.
Honestly, woken up by a cacophony of "meow-speak," he walked out only to see a group of bipedal cats gathered together goofing around. Asterion didn't react immediately to the situation—why is my house suddenly so lively?
"The... The Great Sword Wyvern is awake, meow!!!"
After staring at each other for two seconds, an old Grimalkyne suddenly jumped up and screamed.
It was purely instinct; the six Grimalkynes who were huddled together scattered in an instant. Some scratched at the ground, trying to dig a hole—the Old Patriarch even whacked Sparky on the butt with his cane, triggering Sparky's childhood memories: run away immediately after causing trouble.
The scene was chaotic for a moment, confusing Asterion even more.
What were these Grimalkynes doing at his front door?
Yes, he recognized these little guys as one of the indigenous tribes of the New World from the game, so he didn't have any immediate intention to attack. Then he watched these little guys, who for some reason had gathered at his door carrying Wyvern Eggs on their backs, running around as if the sky were falling.
Simply mystifying.
"Wait, something's wrong, meow!!" After running a few steps with the egg on his back, the Old Patriarch realized something was off. "Why are we running, meow?! Everyone! Come here!!"
He finally remembered what they came to do today.
"P-Please accept our tribute, meow!!"
Turning back to look at Asterion, who hadn't attacked but was just tilting his head watching them, the Old Patriarch tremblingly placed the egg on the back of his basket onto the ground, then meowed while on all fours.
As the backbone of the group, after the Old Patriarch took the lead, the other old buddies who ran off also returned and placed their eggs on the ground.
"P-Please don't eat rocks in that direction anymore, meow! Our den is going to collapse, meow!"
"We can help the Great Sword Wyvern clean the den, meow! We can also steal eggs to feed the Great Sword Wyvern, meow! Just like an egg thief, meow!"
"Right, right! We have more people, we steal eggs faster, and they taste better!"
"We can also help the Great Sword Wyvern look after the little ones!"
"We can mine ore too! That way the Great Sword Wyvern won't have to go eat rocks himself, meow!"
"..."
At first, it was just the Old Patriarch speaking. Then, seeing that Asterion didn't attack, the other Grimalkynes started shouting their own benefits one after another.
It was like a massive recruitment fair. The Grimalkynes racked their brains to sell themselves, occasionally glancing cautiously at Asterion's expression—unfortunately, nothing could be read from the Glavenus's hard, armored face.
As for Asterion... Asterion discovered he could actually understand what these Grimalkynes were saying.
He decided to meow a few words—cough! Roar a few words!
To be fair, summarizing the key points from the chaotic "meow-speak" coming from all directions was a bit hard, like doing reading comprehension. Asterion only roughly picked up three points:
First, his rock and ore eating binge recently seemed to have reached below their den. They were worried he'd eat them or collapse their home if he kept going.
Second, these Grimalkynes wanted him not to attack them. For this, they offered meat or Wyvern Eggs... these little things even wanted to support him by stealing eggs, just like the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers.
Third, Grimalkynes lack employment opportunities.
Uh, anyway, these thoughts really gave Asterion the urge to retort. He felt the Grimalkynes probably misunderstood the main point.
First of all, the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers weren't offering him Wyvern Eggs for protection.
But regarding this matter... Gazing at the Grimalkynes looking up at him expectantly, Asterion suddenly felt this might be an opportunity.
"Roar, roar roar!" (First, don't call me Great Sword Wyvern, call me Glavenus!)
"Great Sword Wyvern"? What the hell is that name? Asterion didn't even realize who they were talking about when he first heard it. It's too stupid—the Lynian literacy level needs urgent improvement!
"Y-Yes, meow!" The Old Patriarch bounced up from the ground. "Glavenus, meow!!"
He understood!
He actually understood!!
Asterion looked at the Grimalkyne with white whiskers in surprise. Considering the language difference between Felynes and Grimalkynes, one can only say: as expected of a New World local... local Lynian, still slightly beast-like.
However, it was strange. Among these Grimalkynes, only the old one with the white beard seemed to understand. The others looked frightened when they heard Asterion's roar.
Strange indeed.
"Roar roar, roar! Roar roar roar!" (I can refrain from destroying your nest, and I don't need you to offer Wyvern Eggs. I can even protect you when you are in danger.)
"R-Really, meow?!!"
There was light! There was light in the Old Patriarch's eyes!!
"What is he saying, what is he saying, meow?!" Seeing the Old Patriarch so excited, his old buddies got excited too, urging him curiously. "Ah! What is a Glavenus, meow? What are you talking about, meow?! I'm so curious!!"
"Idiots, meow! Glavenus is obviously—Boss Glavenus, meow!!" The Old Patriarch forced a term out of his head. Pointing at Asterion, he shouted, "It's not Great Sword Wyvern, meow! It's Boss Glavenus, meow!!"
"But you were the one who said Great Sword Wyvern... I get it! It's Boss Glavenus, meow!!"
A Grimalkyne muttered for a second before standing at attention under the Old Patriarch's pressuring gaze.
"Anyway, Boss Glavenus says he won't destroy our home, meow! And he doesn't need us to offer Wyvern Eggs, meow!! He can even protect us!!"
"Meow?!!"
"Such a good thing actually exists, meow?!!"
The Grimalkynes were bustling with noise. Asterion didn't find it annoying; on the contrary, he found the scene quite interesting—ask anyone who has played Monster Hunter: who wouldn't love their Felyne Palico partner?
Cute, capable, smart, simply perfect.
Grimalkynes can be Palicoes too!
"Roar! Roar roar roar!!" (Don't celebrate too early! To receive my protection, you must pass a test first!)
"T-Test, meow?!" The Old Patriarch instantly got nervous. "Is it a trial, meow?! I know about this!!"
Legends of warrior trials existed in Grimalkyne tribal heritage. However, in the past, these trials were set up for strong Grimalkyne warriors within the tribe. For example, Sparky was a strong meow who passed the trial, which is why he could become the undisputed new Chieftain.
Unexpectedly, the Great Sword... Boss Glavenus had a trial too.
"Roar roar!" (Wait for me here.)
Leaving those words behind, Asterion woke up the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers, told them not to make a fuss, and strode out of the cavern.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
Since transmigrating to this world nearly two years ago, every day was spent hunting, eating, or sleeping. This was the first time Asterion had found an activity interesting enough to kill time—something that could even be called entertainment.
He went straight to his hunting grounds. Without much effort, Asterion killed an adult Apceros. Rare for him, he kept the carcass intact and carried it back to his new home in his jaws.
The Grimalkynes were still waiting. Not only that, Asterion noticed many more young Grimalkynes hiding in corners outside the cave and in cracks in the stone ceiling, observing in secret.
"Roar roar! Roar roar roar!" (Put everything you've got into making a delicious meal out of this guy!!)
Throwing the Apceros carcass in front of the Grimalkynes, Asterion announced loudly.
Wyvern of the Food Wars Version 2.0, officially begins!!
That's right, the Canteen!
Who, having played Monster Hunter, doesn't love Felynes? And who doesn't love the delicious meals they cook?
Except for the Bunny Dango.
Hot Spring Eggs can step aside too.
As a gourmet Wyvern (self-proclaimed), Asterion had tried cooking food himself. Unfortunately, limited by the lack of nimble fingers and rich seasonings, while his food was tastier than raw meat, it wasn't actually that much better.
But now it was different.
The moment he saw these Grimalkynes, Asterion thought of Felynes, and then of the Canteen.
This is the logical thinking every foodie Wyvern must possess.
Lynians have their own culture and language, and naturally, in their communal life, they developed a pursuit of cuisine—meaning Grimalkynes not only have nimble hands but have also mastered the use of various seasonings over their long history!
Raise a cat for a thousand days, use a cat for one moment!
After roaring to announce the start of the trial, Asterion coiled up in a corner of his new home. He began to observe the Grimalkynes' movements, watching the little guys run around noisily, shouting to one another.
The Grimalkyne who could understand him was called the Old Patriarch. Besides him, there was the new Chieftain, Sparky. Under the command of these two leaders, the entire Grimalkyne tribe was mobilized.
Some were busy moving firewood into the cave, some were building a roasting rack, others were bringing in fish, stone bowls, wooden bowls, and even sealed pottery.
Yes, Asterion was surprised to find that these little guys could fire their own pottery to store things, though not in large quantities.
But thinking about it carefully, the Kulu-Ya-Ku brothers occasionally dug up clay pots from the ground too, so Asterion wasn't that surprised.
Although the New World doesn't have human kingdoms like the Old World, there are indeed traces of civilization here. Lynian tribes, Wyverian tribes, First Wyverians—they have all lived hidden within the territories of Wyverns for centuries.
During the time Asterion went out to get the ingredients, the Old Patriarch had already explained the situation to his tribe. So, upon learning their tribe was about to undergo a trial, Sparky brought the hunting team's young meows over.
Uh, but they never expected it to be this kind of trial... a culinary trial.
No adventure needed, no fighting needed, no risking their lives.
Simply—amazing!!
"Oh! I'll make grilled steak, meow! I'm the best at that, meow!!" Blowing on the red-hot charcoal while lying on the ground, Sparky rubbed his paws together and said.
He was most confident in making BBQ.
"Don't cause trouble at a time like this! Move it, meow!" A Grimalkyne with shiny fur... a beautiful female Grimalkyne, bumped Sparky aside with her hip and grumbled, "Just burning meat until it's cooked doesn't count as BBQ, meow! If Boss... Boss Glavenus gets a stomachache, we'll be in trouble, meow!"
"He won't!" Sparky protested with an unconvinced look. But facing his childhood sweetheart-meow, his protest was completely ineffective. He could only sneak a peek at Asterion, who was watching him from the other side.
"...Boss Glavenus is so big, surely he won't get a stomachache that easily, meow..."
A tiny whisper.
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