Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 120: Mercenary Mission (Final)

"Not curious about our relationship with Julian?"

Raphael tilted his long brows, a teasing smile resting at the corners of his lips as he looked at Zora.

Zora only laughed softly, her expression calm and unhurried. "If you want to tell me, I don’t mind listening."

She had no habit of prying into other people’s scars simply to satisfy curiosity.

Besides, she already had a rough idea of what had happened.

Raphael’s eyes deepened, a trace of surprise and appreciation flickering within them. At Zora’s age, it was rare to see such restraint and understanding.

When they first met, he had admired her wit and composure. Now, in the White Mountains, her boldness and maturity only made her stand out more. No matter the situation, she always carried herself in a way that left nothing to criticize.

"Julian was once a special enrollee of the academy as well," Raphael finally began.

Since they would be acting together as a team in the future, it was better for Zora to understand the past. Julian and his group would not be causing trouble just this once.

As Raphael spoke, the entire story slowly unfolded.

Julian and Alaric Von Seraph had once been equally dazzling figures within the academy, matched in talent and strength.

Alaric Von Seraph was cold and solitary, devoted entirely to cultivation. Julian, on the other hand, was outgoing and sociable, fond of gathering people around him.

Sylvandria, the academy’s first beauty, admired Alaric Von Seraph from the beginning. Julian, however, fell for Sylvandria.

At first, there was no conflict between the two men. But when Julian realized that the woman he loved harbored feelings for Alaric Von Seraph, resentment and unwillingness took root.

He sought out Alaric Von Seraph repeatedly, hoping to challenge him and prove that he was the true number one of the academy, so that Sylvandria would finally see him instead.

Alaric Von Seraph, however, had no interest in such meaningless contests.

Then came the turning point.

One day, Julian sent a note to Sylvandria, asking her to meet him at the back of the mountain. Sylvandria mistakenly believed that Alaric Von Seraph was the one who had summoned her.

When she arrived and saw Julian instead, his suppressed emotions finally exploded. In a moment of madness, he tried to force himself on her.

Fortunately, Alaric Von Seraph and Raphael happened to arrive at the back mountain in time and stopped him, saving her from unimaginable consequences that could have befallen the poor girl.

Julian was then expelled from the academy, and the hatred between both sides was sealed beyond repair.

"So that’s how it was."

Zora’s clear eyes revealed understanding. The truth was not far from what she had already guessed.

"Syl was badly shaken by that incident," Raphael continued softly. "She was depressed for quite some time afterward. Seraph felt responsible, so he took extra care of her after that."

Zora raised a brow slightly. "I wouldn’t have guessed it. Alaric Von Seraph is more righteous than he looks."

"He’s cold and sharp-tongued," Raphael chuckled, stars almost seemed like they were dancing in his eyes as he added, "but he’s a good person at heart. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be friends with him."

"Maaster..."

Shihtzu’s tiny paws then scratched anxiously inside the Ring of Chaos, watery eyes filled with pleading, momentarily distracted her attention.

Talk, talk... and still not letting him out?

Black and White exchanged sympathetic looks. Honestly, they felt the same.

Watching drama from the sidelines was one thing. Being locked away while it happened was true suffering.

Only then did Zora remember that she still had a little fellow who absolutely refused to be lonely.

With a thought, she released him from the Ring of Chaos.

A snow-white furry figure instantly appeared at her feet. Shihtzu looked like an innocent puppy, clinging tightly to the hem of her trousers as he lifted his head pitifully.

"Master..."

Zora bent down, scooped him up, and placed him on her shoulder. "Wuuu..." The little fellow immediately brightened, rubbing his head against her neck and licking her cheek with shameless affection, clearly satisfied now that he had finally been let out.

She chuckled softly and patted his fluffy head. Although she still had no idea what species this creature truly was, she found herself genuinely fond of him.

Raphael stared at Shihtzu on her shoulder, his black eyes flashing with surprise as it appeared all of a sudden. "This little guy is...?"

"My contracted beast," Zora replied, lips curving into a gentle smile. Then she wrinkled her nose slightly. "Though I still don’t know exactly what he is."

"A contracted beast?"

Raphael froze for a moment, clearly taken aback. With Zora’s temperament and strength, this really didn’t match what he had imagined.

He hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Is... this breed a dog?"

As he spoke, Raphael reached out to touch Shihtzu.

The moment his hand approached, Shihtzu’s previously docile expression vanished. *Grrrrr* He bared his tiny teeth and glared fiercely at Raphael, eyes sharp and warning.

Raphael paused, then withdrew his hand with an amused smile. "Seems I was mistaken. This little one has quite a temper."

Zora sighed helplessly. Seeing that even Raphael thought Shihtzu was a dog, she couldn’t help wondering if that was truly how others would see him in the future, too.

She had once hoped that her contracted beast would one day shock the Holy Mystic Continent. Instead, she ended up with a creature whose only apparent talent was being adorably fierce.

Meanwhile, Alaric Von Seraph and Sylvandria just finished speaking and turned around. When they noticed Shihtzu perched on Zora’s shoulder, surprise flickered across their faces as well.

"This is Zora’s contracted beast," Raphael said, pointing at the furry creature. "Seraph, do you know what kind of beast this is?"

Alaric Von Seraph glanced at the fluffy creature, then at Zora, his gaze deep and unreadable. After a brief pause, he said flatly, "I don’t know."

Zora rolled her eyes inwardly.

That look clearly carried silent judgment.

Among cultivators, contracting a beast was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Most people would rather have no contract beast at all than waste that chance on something without combat value.

And hers?

Apart from being cute, it didn’t seem to serve any purpose.

"But it’s pretty," Alaric Von Seraph added calmly as he walked past.

Zora’s forehead twitched.

Was that supposed to be praise?

Raphael and Alaric Von Seraph returned to cutting the remaining armor from the armored rhinoceros. Sylvandria, however, stayed by Zora’s side, her eyes fixed on Shihtzu with unconcealed fondness.

"Zora, your contracted beast is really adorable," Sylvandria said softly, her eyes sparkling. "May I hold him?"

Shihtzu immediately puffed up, tail swishing, clearly enjoying the attention... yet still waiting for his master’s permission.

Zora glanced at Shihtzu perched comfortably on her shoulder. Recalling how fiercely he had reacted to Raphael earlier, she shook her head slightly.

"This little guy doesn’t like getting close to anyone except me," she said calmly. "If you try to hold him, he might bite."

"Oh." Sylvandria looked a little disappointed, but she quickly smiled again, her tone gentle. "So he’s very loyal to his master."

Shihtzu lazily flicked his tail, clearly agreeing. He nestled even more comfortably against Zora’s neck, eyes half-closed, enjoying himself to the fullest.

Inside the Ring of Chaos, however, Black and White exchanged looks.

"That fellow really stole our spots," Black muttered angrily.

"Exactly! We’re also contract beasts," White grumbled, pouting. "Why is the treatment gap so huge?"

Shihtzu got to lie proudly on Zora’s shoulder, while the two of them could only stay hidden, pretending to be harmless little decorations.

Heartache.

Pure heartache.

Zora sensed their grievance and raised an eyebrow slightly. "Wait. You two are my contract beasts as well?"