I Became A Starter Beast

'It's not called WcDonald's or something.' Twy thought as he looked at the logo of the fast food restaurant. 

There's no yellow letter, but instead, there's an image of a fat bear.

“So, where'd you buy that cat? It doesn't look like any of the beasts I know.” Johnson asked after swallowing a piece of his burger.

“I got Twy from Lion's Den. There's no Shadow cub left, that's why I bought him.” Aster put down the glass of soda as he answered.

“Oh right! You're planning to buy one.” Johnson's eyes went towards the kitten before he added, “But, I think that one's good for your first companion. It knocked out that Clark bastard in one hit when he's the same rank as you!”

“Even you could do that.”

“Hahaha, don't joke around, Aster.

“How would I do that when I'm stuck at my 1st star and my companion is not offensive type?”

Aster shook his head. 

He truly believes that Johnson has a chance of defeating Clark, if that guy underestimates him then Johnson could surprise him like what he did before.

“Speaking of beast, what about yours where'd you get it?” Aster pointed at Johnson with a piece of fries.

Healing-type beasts are always sought out by many people. No matter what rank or talent rating it has, each one of them has prices that are double that same rank beasts.

“My acquaintance's Tree-Sap Viper gave birth to a bunch of eggs months ago, he told me about it and I picked one of the eggs.” Johnson smiled warmly while he petted the small triangular head of his companion. “Luckily it was not a dud and safely birthed Slerene here.” 

“You're such a lucky guy.” Aster commented while munching on his fries, his eyebrows raised as he suddenly asked, “I heard it's hard for Tree-Sap Vipers to breed after it gets contracted?” 

“Yes it's true,” Johnson nodded before taking another bite of his burger, “—but that's not the hardest part. It's the eggs! It lays as many as 20 eggs, however!—only 10% of those are fertile.”

Aster's eyes suddenly widened as he watched Johnson's expression that told him his hardships. “Oh! So that's why you looked like you were about to shit your pants last month.”

“W-What? That's absurd!” Johnson slapped the table when he heard that, garnering attention from the people at other tables.

“Didn't you notice how our classmates are looking at you strangely?” Aster teased.

”Oh...” the light in his eyes dimmed the moment he remembered how he thought that it was because his popularity phase finally came.

'So that's why nothing ever changed until our graduation was over. It's all a misunderstanding on my part!'

“Don't be so down.” Aster smiled at him before pointing his chin towards Slerene, “With that guy with you, I think your moment will come soon.”

“I hope you're right... wait—” Johnson suddenly raised his head, meeting his classmate's eyes. “How do you know that?”

Aster smiled mysteriously while taking a glance at his side, where a kitten was having the time of his life licking an ice cream. “Through practice.”

“What? You're not making any sense.”

“Your face is like an open book.”

Johnson tilted his head hearing that idiom—this guy barely passed his literature subject.

“Anyway, Johnson how much venom Slerene produces daily?”

“U-uh, she's still young so it's about 10 ml a day. ” Johnson was caught off guard by the sudden change in topic by his friend. “It's just my estimate though, I didn't measure it precisely. Why?”

“I want some from your partner, to make potions with it.”

“Why not buy them in the market?” Johnson tilted his head, he had clear confusion on his face. “I'm sure you have some money since you've won against Clark.”

Aster shook his head. “Low potions are too diluted, while Medium ones are pricey, as for the venom—they're only selling it in bulk.” he then paused and showed his best friend a radiant smile. “Luckily though I have someone like you. I'm sure you would help this poor friend of yours, right?”

“Uh... Aster, those venoms are important in my part-time job—” Johnson tried to deflect all that shine with a reasonable defense.

But, his iron shield wavered the moment Aster pushed a stack of bills towards him. “I'm not asking for a donation; I'm going to pay. 6,000 Iglis for 60ml of healing venom—1k per 10ml.”

“Deal.” Johnson's hand was like a wind as he grabbed the money.

“2k downpayment, you'll get the rest once the deal is done.”

Johnson looked at Aster with a dissatisfied face. “You said I'm your best friend, yet you don't trust me with your money?”

“This is this; that is that.” Aster shrugged. “Anyway, I expect it at the end of the month.”

“What exactly are you going to do next month that you need to make a potion yourself?” Johnson asked with genuine curiosity in his eyes.

Aster crossed his arms and contemplated on whether he should tell him or not, in the end, he leaned back on his seat before opening his mouth. “I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you.”

He briefly glanced at the kitten, who was enjoying the fried chicken that he flaked for him, before meeting Johnson's eyes. “We're going to raid the closest demon dungeon to the capital, Mustivos, next month.”

“...”

Johnson's eyes and mouth were fully stretched, yet they couldn't fully express the shock that Aster's words left him.

In the end, the only thing he could do was— “Are you serious!?”

“I am.” Aster calmly closed his eyes and shrugged his shoulders.

“B-But, it's dangerous!”

Twy's ears perked up when he heard that. He already started having a bad feeling when Aster said 'demon dungeon', but he decided to ignore it like the adult he is.

“Of course it is, we're going to fight demons after all.”

Sadly, Twy's senses weren't as wrong as he hoped.

'What fighting demons!? Can't we do that after I at least form my first star!'

“Can't you do that after your companion built his foundation first? Why are you rushing?”

Twy's latter sentence almost overlapped with Johnson's.

Aster who's facing their gazes, still kept his eyes closed. “Only through battle can someone get stronger quickly.”

He then opened his eyes and smiled, dispersing a little of their worries. “And it's not like we're aiming to clear it. It's Mustivos, a controlled dungeon like there's anything that could go wrong inside.”

All fur in Twy's body suddenly perked up and he made a shrill shriek after Aster finished his words.

The young man's body jerked up from surprise, he turned to look at the kitten, asking, “What's wrong Twy?" 

'What's wrong? You're the wrong! Damn! I was so focused on my training that I forgot about the flags. And this guy just set one, no, two flags!'  Twy shouted inside his mind as he glared at Aster.

He's an adult already, but he wants to cry like a child right now.' Fuck! Why are you even rushing to get strong!? Are demons gonna invade your planet in 5 years or something!?' 

However, Twy also knows how stubborn this person is, no amount of tears and complaints would get through him—except, maybe, Aria.

He looked away from the worried Aster and looked outside with a helpless gaze. 

His mood mirrored the weather outside; it looked like it was going to rain soon.

'Am I going to die young, again?'

•••