The Ashford family had a private estate on the Academy grounds.
Of course they did. Because why would a wealthy family settle for their heir living in the standard student dormitories like a common peasant?
The estate was a sprawling complex of traditional Japanese architecture mixed with modern luxury—multiple buildings arranged around a central courtyard, complete with a private training ground, creature habitat areas, and even a small artificial lake.
It was excessive, ostentatious, and exactly the kind of thing that had made the original Ren Ashford so insufferable.
But right now, I was grateful for it. Because what I needed to do next required privacy.
"Young Master, will you be requiring dinner?" The estate's head butler—an elderly man named Sebastian who'd served the Ashford family for forty years—stood at the entrance to the main building.
"Not yet. I'll be in the training ground. Do not disturb me unless it's an emergency."
Sebastian bowed. "As you wish, Young Master. I'll have the kitchen prepare something for later."
I made my way to the private training ground—a large enclosed space with reinforced walls designed to withstand high-level creature battles. The original Ren had barely used it, preferring to show off in public rather than actually train.
Bessie trotted beside me, her bell jingling with each step.
As soon as we were inside and the doors sealed shut, I pulled up the system interface.
[UNIVERSAL TAMER SYSTEM]
User: Ren Ashford
Level: 1
System Points: 350
Available Features:
Status Screen Creature Appraisal System Shop [NEW] Quest Log Evolution Guide
I focused on the System Shop.
A new window materialized, displaying rows upon rows of items organized into categories:
EVOLUTION MATERIALS
SKILL BOOKS
STAT BOOSTERS
EQUIPMENT
SPECIAL ITEMS
CONSUMABLES
Each item had a price in System Points. I scrolled through, my eyes widening at some of the options.
Dragon Heart Essence - 50,000 SP
Ancient Evolution Stone (Random) - 10,000 SP
Skill Book: Meteor Strike - 5,000 SP
Legendary Bond Enhancer - 25,000 SP
And dozens more, ranging from basic items worth 10 SP to absurdly expensive treasures that cost hundreds of thousands.
I had 350 points. I was basically window shopping at a luxury store with pocket change.
But there were some affordable options:
Basic Stat Booster (Strength) - 100 SP
Skill Book: Enhanced Tackle - 150 SP
Training Efficiency Potion - 50 SP
Creature Food (Premium) - 20 SP
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Reminder: You have 1x Basic Evolution Stone in inventory
Quest "First Evolution" requires using this stone within 48 hours
Right. The evolution.
I pulled the stone from my inventory—it materialized in my hand as a smooth, egg-sized crystal that glowed with a soft white light. According to the system guide I'd read earlier, evolution stones contained concentrated essence that could trigger a creature's transformation into their next form.
"Alright, Bessie. Come here, girl."
Bessie ambled over, looking at the stone with curious brown eyes.
"Moo?"
"This is going to change everything," I told her, scratching behind her ears. "You ready to become stronger?"
She licked my hand in response.
I'd take that as a yes.
According to the evolution guide, the process was straightforward: hold the stone against the creature's forehead, channel your energy through your tamer bond, and let the stone do its work.
Simple in theory.
I pressed the stone to Bessie's forehead.
Immediately, the crystal began to pulse with light. I felt something flow out of me—not quite physical energy, more like intent? Will? Whatever it was that made the bond between tamer and creature work.
Bessie's eyes widened. "Mooooo!"
The stone dissolved into particles of light that sank into her body. She stumbled backward, her legs shaking.
"Bessie!"
Then she began to glow.
Bright white light enveloped her entire body, so intense I had to shield my eyes. I could feel the bond between us thrumming with energy, strengthening, evolving along with her.
The light grew brighter, forming a cocoon around her.
[EVOLUTION IN PROGRESS]
Current Form: Common Dairy Cow (F-)
Analyzing available evolution paths...
Path 1: Draft Ox (E) - Physical power focus
Path 2: Highland Bull (E+) - Balanced stats
Path 3: Iron Horn Bull (D) - Combat specialization [RECOMMENDED]
Select evolution path:
Iron Horn Bull. The system had recommended it in the initial appraisal. I focused my intent on that option.
[SELECTION CONFIRMED]
Evolving to: Iron Horn Bull (D-Rank)
The cocoon of light pulsed once, twice, three times—
Then exploded outward.
Where Bessie had stood, there was now a creature that was definitely not a dairy cow.
She'd grown A lot. She now stood nearly five feet at the shoulder, with a muscular build that spoke of raw power. Her brown and white coat had darkened, taking on a subtle metallic sheen. Her legs were thicker, built for charging and combat rather than milk production.
But the most dramatic change was her horns.
Instead of the small nubs she'd had before, she now sported a pair of forward-curving horns that gleamed like polished steel. They looked sharp enough and strong enough to gore through solid rock.
She shook her head, testing the weight of her new horns, then looked at me with eyes that held more intelligence than before.
"Moo!" Her voice was deeper now, more resonant.
[EVOLUTION COMPLETE]
[CREATURE STATUS]
Name: Bessie
Species: Iron Horn Bull
Rank: D
Level: 1
Stats:
Strength: 45 Defense: 40 Speed: 30 Magic: 15 Intelligence: 25
Skills:
Iron Charge (D) - Rush forward with iron-hard horns Harden (D) - Temporarily increase defense Power Stomp (E) - Ground pound that creates shockwaves Intimidate (E) - Roar that can frighten weaker creatures
Hidden Potential: ★★★★★ (MYTHIC)
Evolution Paths Available: 5
Next Evolution Level Requirement: Level 20
I stared at the status screen, then at Bessie, then back at the screen.
She'd jumped from F-minus to D-rank. Her stats were respectable—better than most starter creatures. And she had actual combat skills now.
"Bessie, you look amazing."
She trotted over and headbutted me gently—though "gently" for her new size and strength still nearly knocked me over.
[QUEST COMPLETE: First Evolution]
Rewards: +500 SP, Skill Book: Basic Combat Techniques, Bond Strength +10
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE]
Quest: First Training Session
Objective: Train with Bessie to familiarize yourself with her new form
Recommended: Test all new skills
Reward: +100 SP, Training Efficiency Boost
I grinned. "Want to test out those new skills?"
"MOO!"
For the next hour, we ran through exercises in the training ground.
Iron Charge was devastating. Bessie could accelerate to surprising speeds and hit like a battering ram. The first time she used it, she left a crater in the reinforced training dummy.
Harden turned her hide metallic, deflecting practice weapons that should have cut her.
Power Stomp created actual shockwaves that cracked the ground.
And Intimidate—when she lowered her head, horns gleaming, and let out that deep, resonant roar—even I felt a primal urge to back away.
By the time we finished, I was exhausted but exhilarated.
[QUEST COMPLETE: First Training Session]
Rewards: +100 SP, Training Efficiency Boost (Active for 24 hours)
Current SP: 950
I pulled up the system shop again, browsing with my new budget.
There were some interesting options in my price range now:
Skill Book: Enhanced Defense - 200 SP
Creature Food (Premium, 30-day supply) - 300 SP
Basic Attribute Enhancement Elixir - 400 SP
Skill Book: Thunder Step - 800 SP
I hesitated over Thunder Step—a mobility skill that would help with Bessie's relatively low speed stat. But something else caught my eye.
Beginner's Combat Manual (For Tamers) - 500 SP
Description: Teaches fundamental combat techniques for tamers who fight alongside their creatures. Includes basic sword work, evasion, and bond synchronization in battle.
In this world, tamers didn't just stand on the sidelines ordering their creatures around. The best tamers fought alongside their partners, using weapons and magic to support each other in battle.
The original Ren had never bothered learning. He'd assumed his creature would do all the work.
But I knew better. If I was going to survive what was coming—the tournaments, the conspiracies, the invasion arcs—I needed to be able to hold my own.
I purchased the manual.
[PURCHASE CONFIRMED]
Remaining SP: 450
The book materialized in my hands—a leather-bound tome that felt warm to the touch. As soon as I opened it, knowledge began flowing directly into my mind. Not just reading comprehension, but muscle memory, stance techniques, breathing patterns.
It was disorienting but efficient.
[SKILL ACQUIRED: Basic Swordsmanship (Lv.1)]
[SKILL ACQUIRED: Combat Evasion (Lv.1)]
[SKILL ACQUIRED: Bond Synchronization (Lv.1)]
I also bought the premium creature food for 300 SP. Bessie's growth would depend on proper nutrition, and I wasn't about to cheap out on that.
[Remaining SP: 150]
A knock at the training ground door interrupted my shopping.
"Young Master?" Sebastian's voice. "Forgive the intrusion, but you have a visitor."
A visitor? Who would visit me at this hour?
I opened the door to find Sebastian looking unusually flustered.
"It's... she's..." He seemed unsure how to proceed. "Miss Seraphina Nocturne is here to see you, Young Master."
My brain short-circuited.
Seraphina? Here? At my estate?
"She's waiting in the courtyard," Sebastian continued. "She said it was urgent and refused to leave until she spoke with you."
I looked down at myself. I was covered in sweat and dust from training. My expensive clothes were rumpled. I probably smelled like a gym locker.
Perfect first impression material.
"Tell her I'll be there in five minutes. Offer her tea or something."
Sebastian bowed and hurried off.
I quickly cleaned myself up using water magic from the training ground's facilities, changed into fresh clothes, and tried to calm my racing heart.
Seraphina Nocturne. The Ice Queen. The villainess I was determined to save.
She was here. At my estate. Wanting to talk to me.
This wasn't in the original plot. This had never happened in the novel.
I'd already changed things more than I'd realized.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped out into the courtyard.
The sun had set, and lanterns illuminated the traditional Japanese garden. Koi swam lazily in the pond. Cherry blossom petals drifted on the evening breeze.
And standing beside the water, her Fenrir sitting regally beside her, was Seraphina Nocturne.
She turned as I approached. In the lantern light, she looked almost ethereal—silver hair catching the glow, ice-blue eyes reflecting the flames.
"Ren Ashford," she said, her voice cool and measured. "We need to talk."
I stopped a respectful distance away. "About what?"
"About why you scored 89 on the synchronization assessment with a cow." She took a step closer, those analytical eyes studying me. "About why you didn't make a scene at the ceremony like everyone expected you to. About why you've been acting completely different from your usual personality."
Another step.
"And most importantly, about why you've been staring at me like you know something I don't."
Shit.
She was observant. Of course she was observant—she wasn't a generic villainess, she was smart, calculating, and paranoid because everyone in her life had betrayed her at some point.
"I don't know what you mean," I tried.
"Don't lie to me." Her eyes narrowed. "I've been studying people my entire life, Ashford. Reading intent, catching deception. It's how I've survived. And you..." She tilted her head slightly. "You're different. Changed. Like you're playing a role but forgot some of your lines."
The Fenrir growled softly, a sound like distant thunder.
I had two choices. Lie and risk her digging deeper. Or tell her a version of the truth and hope she'd understand.
"You're right," I said finally. "I have changed. Recently. Very recently."
"Why?"
"Because I looked at my life and realized I didn't like who I was becoming." Not entirely a lie. "So I decided to be better. To actually train my creature instead of relying on my family's reputation. To treat people with respect instead of contempt."
She studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable.
"And staring at me?"
"You're beautiful and intimidating," I said bluntly. "Most people would stare."
A flicker of something crossed her face—surprise? Amusement? It was gone too quickly to tell.
"Flattery won't work on me, Ashford."
"I know. That's why I'm being honest."
Another long silence. The Fenrir's ice-blue eyes never left me, evaluating, judging.
Finally, Seraphina spoke. "I'm going to be watching you. If this is some elaborate scheme, some new way to mock me or use me for social climbing, I will find out. And I will destroy you."
It wasn't an empty threat. She had the power and the will to do it.
"Fair enough," I said. "Watch all you want. You'll see I mean what I say."
She turned to leave, her Fenrir rising to follow.
But at the edge of the courtyard, she paused.
"That score you got—89. That's not normal for a first-year student with any creature, let alone one that was F-rank yesterday." She glanced back over her shoulder. "Either you're hiding something, or you have genuine potential."
"Maybe both," I replied.
The corner of her mouth twitched. Not quite a smile, but close.
Then she was gone, vanishing into the night with her legendary creature.
I stood there for a full minute, processing what had just happened.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Special Character Interaction Complete
Seraphina Nocturne Relationship Status: -20 → 0 (Neutral/Curious)
Note: First major plot deviation with key character achieved. Relationship development path unlocked.
Sebastian appeared at my elbow. "An interesting young lady, that one."
"You have no idea," I muttered.
Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed, Bessie settling down on a custom cushion nearby.
Tomorrow, classes would begin. The real Academy life would start. And I'd have to navigate a world that was already deviating from the plot I knew.
But tonight... tonight I'd made progress.
Bessie was stronger. I had new skills. And Seraphina Nocturne was curious about me instead of dismissive.
It was a start.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
Day 1 Complete
Overall Progress: Excellent
New Quest Available: "First Day of Classes"
Unlock at 6:00 AM
I closed my eyes, a smile on my face.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges.
But for the first time since transmigrating, I felt like I might actually survive this story.