Chapter 59: A Recurve Bow (1)
Viktor tousled his hair. "I'll take a quick bath and fetch an effigy from the training ground. Should take me around an hour, so make yourselves at home here."
Without waiting for Ingrid or Jake's reply, Viktor turned around and left the house.
Before the door closed, however, Jake called him out, "Mr. Viktor! Are you fine with pets here?"
"Pets? So long as they behave—yeah," Viktor nodded.
The door shut with a loud bang.
Jake smiled and activated his summoning skills.
Combining them with The Passive Pet Zone Skill, Jake called his trustful friends to his side.
In less than a second, Ender perched on Jake's broad shoulder. The mood swirling around him and the innate pride dwelling in his dark eyes spelled one sentence—I own this human. Which wasn't accurate, as Ender considered Jake his friend and even father.
In essence, that kind of mood brought Ender closer to the pet's side.
Medusa still couldn't really open her eyes and was a newborn that needed to sleep the most, so she slithered down Jake's hand to his shirt's pocket. Her nest was close to his chest.
That said, Jake could see that she had started sporting white scales already! Given enough time and levels, she could keep her eyes open, fix her poor eyesight, which is natural for snakes, and interact with others.
Hanging on Jake's left arm was naturally Wukong. He'd noticed Ingrid first because his taciturn side linked with his growing curiosity immediately made him look around the new environment, catching Ingrid's appearance.
He stared at her and saw that her eyes were down.
Ingrid's attention had been snatched by Odin, who had materialized in front of Jake like the boss. He usually would have howled to mark his presence, but Ingrid's twinkling eyes and boundless attention forced him to lie down.
This woman is suspicious, Odin thought.
Jake, however, laughed and called everyone, "Odin, Wukong, Ender, and Medusa. I'd like to introduce you to my Master, who has taught me a lot about archery back in my world. Now that we're on the mainland, you can meet my friends! Can I use your real name, Master?"
Ingrid nodded, her eyes still on Odin's fluffy nuzzle.
By now, Jake also noticed that his teacher seemed captivated by Odin.
He tactfully kept him for the last introduction as he made Ingrid become acquainted with his companions. While Wukong and Ender curtly nodded at her, Medusa didn't even bother peeking out from her nest, as though women were worthless in her eyes.
At last, Jake raised Odin to his chest, making his paws dangle before Ingrid. She was now utterly enamored by this fluffy white cloud staring at her with confusion brimming in his eyes.
How come she's not scared of my eyes? Odin thought. They are like thunder or red moons!
Jake leaned down and whispered to Odin, "Seems like you've appeared the cutest to my master."
Odin growled.
Ingrid's expression melted.
The confusion increased significantly in the wolf's heart!
Jake continued, "So it'd be the best if you let her pet you for a while. If you happen to not like it, just extend your paws toward me, and I will snatch you back. Just for a while, though, endure for me, okay?"
Though Odin loved being petted and having his chin scratched by Jake, his master wasn't sure if Odin would like the same treatment from other people. Jake spoke to him tenderly and promised to save him in case Ingrid's touch didn't feel as good as his.
Odin, knowing about his insurance, looked up at Ingrid.
Jake introduced him, "He's Odin. My first summon. He's the big brother of everyone and our little boss. He's always ready to protect us all, right?"
Woof! Odin loyally agreed with his master's introduction.
Finally, the fluffy white cloud had been passed to Ingrid's hands. Unable to resist Odin's charm, Ingrid stroked his fur and back, snuggling him into her chest.
A moment later, Odin's eyes drooped like a curtain. His half-closed eyes spelled about the comfort and happiness induced by the woman cuddling him.
Jake didn't hide his surprise, "Oh, wow. The usual energetic Odin wants to sleep already? That's a surprise."
"I have a few cats and dogs at home… but I've never really had a chance to pet a wolf. You're so adorable, Odin," Ingrid explained.
Odin whined in content.
Meanwhile, Ender's judgment of Odin changed one-eighty, and the baby eagle looked at the wolf as though he were trash. It was amazing how meeting other people could affect one's assessment of friendship, loyalties, and more, and Jake and his summons would be subject to that quite a lot.
Smiling, Jake glanced at other summons. Wukong also wanted to become friends with Ingrid, and he usually followed Odin in whatever he was doing, so it was only natural for him to want the same.
Jake helped Wukong get onto Ingrid's shoulder, and then the little monkey got some of Ingrid's skillful scratching.
"What about you?" Jake asked his baby eagle.
Ender eyed him with a questioning and condescending eye.
Jake chuckled, "So you're staying loyal until the end? Thanks." He scratched his head with his finger. Ender closed his eyes, his heart swelling with pride.
Medusa once again didn't show any signs of wanting to befriend anyone.
It meant that Jake was left with two summons when the other two went to develop their friendship levels with someone else. Since that someone was his master, Jake didn't mind them at all.
He left Viktor's workplace through the other end, stepping into the magical forest.
Jake put his hand on the fallen tree's stub.
[Art Wood(Unique)]
Jake's proficiency as the woodman allowed him to see through the wood's grade. The game system casually betrayed its name, but the rest of the information was hidden and could only be unlocked with the proper classes.
'It's unnaturally smooth and cold…' Jake said, sliding his fingertip across the stub's surface.
Ingrid caught up with Jake and saw him studying the stub.
She asked, "Can you feel mana?"
"I don't know… I don't really feel anything particular when using active skills, too. I can tell that the surface is unnaturally smooth and cold—that's it." Jake explained his inward feelings.
Ingrid smiled, "That's how you feel mana, then."
THIS CHAPTER UPLOAD FIRST AT NOVELBIN.COM