Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Beast Contracting, Start With Feeding!

Qian Qi did not waste words, going straight to the point as she asked Old Master Li: “Do you take part-time help here? Like feeding Magibeasts and cleaning up their poop?”

Old Master Li’s eyes lit up as he asked: “You want to work here?”

Qian Qi nodded, putting on the look of a dependable top student as she said: “Yes. I’m studying the relationship between Magibeasts and Magiplants, so I want a small job here, and I also hope to collect some free Magibeast dung for research.”

Clapping once in delight, Old Master Li said: “That’s great! I’m short on people, especially poop shovelers!”

Magibeasts are fierce by nature. Even though the school hires a team of Awakeners to help manage them, Awakeners are proud and rarely want to feed Magibeasts or clean up after them. That leaves most of the work to this one old man. If Qian Qi took the job, it would help him a lot.

Still, Old Master Li gave a kind reminder as he said: “This job is tiring and takes strength. Little Qian, are you sure you can handle it? The Awakeners can help keep the Magibeasts in line, and we have a Discipline Remote, but the shoveling is hard work!”

He did not want her to quit after two days like many men already had, let alone a young girl.

Qian Qi patted her chest and promised: “No problem, Old Master Li. I’m strong, and I can endure hardship. As long as the pay is fair, I’ll make it spotless for you!”

Laughing and rubbing his hands, Old Master Li said: “Good! Let’s go to the E grade Magibeast area. Show me what you can do first, then I’ll confirm your pay.”

Qian Qi answered crisply: “Deal.”

The Magibeast storeroom had two levels, one above ground and one below. The lower level connected straight to the Beast Taming Plaza’s north gate. The E grade area was on the second floor of the aboveground level. As soon as they stepped out of the elevator, Qian Qi saw this floor divided into dozens of equal-sized Magibeast rooms.

Five sides of each room were made of the same heavy material as the storeroom’s outer walls. The front side was a special vertical-bar gate. The gaps between the bars were just wide enough for an adult to slip through, but too narrow for a bulky Magibeast to squeeze out.

Looking around, Qian Qi saw that every room on this floor held a Flame Hound, each with a special black collar ring around its neck.

Pointing to a Flame Hound baring its fangs with a low growl, Old Master Li said with a smile: “This is an E grade Flame Hound. Among E grade Magibeasts, they’re relatively docile. You can start by feeding and cleaning this whole floor.”

He chose the first room and slipped through the bars. Then he waved her in as he said: “Little Qian, the tools are by the door. Bring them in and try.”

Qian Qi glanced around and found two big iron buckets, a mop, and a large iron shovel. She picked them up and followed Old Master Li inside.

The moment strangers entered, the territorial Flame Hound sank its front body low and let out a warning rumble. Its pale yellow fangs flashed outside its mouth as it glared at Qian Qi.

Qian Qi sized up this Flame Hound. Among E grade Magibeasts, Flame Hounds look good and tame a bit easier. Its orange-red eyes seemed to flicker with sparks. The long red tail ended in darker fur like a clump of blazing flame. It snapped the tail down again and again, thudding against the floor, making it look dangerous and very cool.

Old Master Li coughed and cast a quick look toward Old Master Sun, who was watching from the doorway, before he explained: “Don’t be scared, Little Qian. Normally an Awakener will intimidate them for you, and we also have a Discipline Remote. This Flame Hound is the most obedient and knows me well. With me here, it won’t attack you.”

Qian Qi nodded, not noticing the exchanged glances between the two old men. She set down the buckets and mop, then checked the state of the battlefield.

It looked like this Flame Hound had an upset stomach. The poop had sprayed everywhere. Some pieces were round like little apples, and some were mushy like porridge. She would need water and the mop to clean it all. Thankfully, there was a dedicated drain for waste, so it would not be too hard.

Raising the iron shovel, Qian Qi began her hard, honest work.

[System: Qian Qi, you got this, keep shoveling ^_^]

[Qian Qi: …]

She thought about how she might need to use her own mouth to bite this Magibeast someday, and forced down the urge to smack that noisy System straight into the poop.

Each Flame Hound dropping was about the size of a green apple, and it could produce dozens at a time. The pile was heavy, but Qian Qi had D grade Strength, so she handled it easily. After she mopped up the mushy parts and rinsed the floor, the room shone clean and bright, filling her with pride.

Old Master Li checked the room and gave a thumbs up as he said: “Nice work, Little Qian. Perfectly done.”

He was most pleased by her courage and strength. Facing a Flame Hound without flinching already put her above most Awakeners.

Qian Qi frowned and said: “Not quite. Something’s missing.”

After thinking for a second, she slapped her thigh and said: “Got it!”

She was here to build a bond with Magibeasts. How could she shovel and leave? She needed to do something so this Flame Hound would remember her, just like at a job interview where you want the interviewer to remember you.

Rinsing the mop clean, she marched straight behind the Flame Hound and pushed the mop head gently between its rear cheeks as she said: “Sweet doggy, keeping this area clean when you have diarrhea is very important for your health.”

Caught off guard, the Flame Hound went rigid, as if thinking: [What?]

Old Master Sun and Old Master Li burst out laughing together: “Hahahahaha!”

In the end, Qian Qi got the part-time job: feed the Magibeasts once at noon every day, clean each room once every three days, and earn 20,000 a month.

That very day, she cleaned every room and kindly checked every Flame Hound’s back door. She had to admit, those Flame Hounds had pretty big back doors, bigger than her face.

Old Master Sun and Old Master Li watched the entire “scoop and swab” show. Old Master Sun even recorded a video and shared it with the other old fellows. Elder Zhao, Elder Zhou, Elder Wu, and Elder Zheng all howled with laughter.

After leaving the Magibeast storeroom, Qian Qi went to Back Mountain to tend the Magiplants and helped classmates with their Magiplant problems. When she finally headed back to her dorm, she saw the beautiful Senior Li Shu Yun standing at her door, adjusting her stylish hair with a small mirror. Spotting Qian Qi, Li Shu Yun quickly put away the mirror and waved as she said: “Junior, you finally came back!”