The aspiring Tamers in the class fell into an uproar.
"W-what!? What just happened…!?"
"My pet that always obeys me without question… why is it ignoring my orders…!?"
"And of all things, it's running straight to that unemployed garbage…!"
"Look, all our pets have hearts in their eyes!?"
"No way!? That's the highest level of affection a pet can show!"
"It's making a face it's never shown me, its owner…!?"
"C-could he be the legendary…!?"
Feeling a little guilty, I quickly lowered my Charm stat.
At the same time, the vice-principal came flying over with a panicked face.
"Kyeeeeeh! G-get away! Pet-kuns!
If you keep clinging to something so filthy, you'll catch a disease!"
Only then did the pets finally return to their owners.
I noticed Teacher Domanna standing right beside me. She spread her arms wide in great excitement.
"W… wonderful!? This is the first time I've seen a student that animals love so much!
The whipping punishment is canceled! As a reward, I'll give you the best petting ever!"
Teacher Domanna ruffled my head like an animal and then pulled me into a strong hug, pressing her cleavage right against my face.
I couldn't breathe and let out a muffled "Mugyuu!?"
The boys let out envious "So nice~" sounds, while the girls glared at them with "The worst."
The vice-principal, whose face had changed color again, stepped in.
"St-stop that, Teacher Domanna! The students are watching! Not to mention the supporters…!"
But Teacher Domanna kept me suffocating and replied without any shame.
"Ehh, what's wrong with it, Vice-Principal? This boy is a genius!
He's definitely going to become a world-class Tamer!
So giving him this much of a reward is…"
"That's not possible! And it's a problem! If you don't follow the plan we discussed…!"
"Fiiine."
Only after being told that did Teacher Domanna reluctantly let me go.
The vice-principal dragged her back to the podium.
"Ahem! Let's pull ourselves together and continue the lesson!
Since today is Pet Battle, I have prepared a special prize!
Any student recognized by Teacher Domanna will receive the 'Teacher Domanna's Best Petting Award'!"
When they heard there was a prize, the students cheered "Ooh!"
Everyone suddenly became motivated.
However, one female student muttered,
"Earlier… Leopin-kun was the one getting petted…"
"Kyeeeeeh! That earlier one doesn't count! This award starts from now! From now on!"
"All right then, everyone, let's move outside to the 'arena'!
There's a tournament bracket, so we'll start in that order with a big bang!"
Led by Teacher Domanna, we exited through another opening in the tent.
There was a ring-like area made by piling up dry soil.
On the blackboard was the tournament chart, and the first match of the first round was listed as "Leopin vs Special Guest."
"Let's get started right away! So the first one to fight is…
Leopin-kun! Please step up to the blue corner of the ring!"
I went with the flow and stepped into the ring, entering the area with blue sand.
"Now then, let's introduce Leopin-kun's opponent with a big reveal!
The special participant who joined today's class just for this occasion is the sage, Weiss-kun!"
From a small tent beside the red corner, Weiss slowly emerged.
I had been wondering who would appear and felt a bit let down.
"So it's you. I didn't know you had Tamer abilities too."
Weiss gave a smug laugh.
"I'm different from you. In job, stats, family background, popularity, wealth—everything.
And of course, my pet as well…!"
With a theatrical gesture, Weiss raised his hand and shouted, "Come, Black Panther!"
…Bam!
A black shadow leaped into the air above the ring, spun gracefully, and landed.
It was a sleek black panther with glossy black fur.
In an overly dramatic tone, Weiss declared,
"This is the pet I found in the forest and trained myself."
"Uwooh!?" the students erupted.
"Amazing! A black panther! One of the strongest animal-type pets!"
"Even pros find them hard to tame, right!? And a student managed it!"
"As expected of the sage Weiss-sama…!"
Weiss had suffered several recent failures, but the students still looked at him with envy.
They cast pitying glances at me.
"Trash guy, you're finished. A sewer rat versus a black panther? No contest…"
"Pet Battles allow attacks on the owner too, right?"
"Aaah, poor guy… He's definitely going to get badly injured. He might even die if he's unlucky."
I raised my hand and asked the teachers,
"Um, Teacher. Is it okay if I call my own pet too?"
"Muhohohoho! Of course it's fine! If you have one, call as many as you like!
But trying to buy time like that is useless!"
I decided to take a gamble.
I opened the "Whispering Voice Potion" in my coat pocket, put a drop on my finger, and licked it.
Then I raised my hand dramatically and shouted,
"Come! Mark!"
…But nothing happened, so the area erupted in laughter.
"Gyahahahaha! He said 'Come, Mark'!"
"Trying to copy the sage like that!"
"And what's with 'Mark'!? Did you just make up a pet name on the spot!?"
"Hmph, Leopin, I know exactly what you're thinking.
Are you going to say 'the wolf is coming' next?"
"Muhohohoho! Only boring birds are coming! Muhohohoho… ho ho… ho…!?"
The laughter around us vanished.
Because everyone had heard it.
Everyone had felt it.
An overwhelming presence that shook the air and caused the ground to rumble…!
…Dodo dodo dodo dodo dodo dodo dodo dodo dodo dooooooooon!!
Raising a cloud of dust, knocking down the surrounding tents, it came.
It was a sight like a landslide approaching.
…DobaAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—n!!
Bursting through the tent and revealing its massive body, everyone except me trembled in shock.
"Eh… eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?!?"