The piece of meat passed through the bars and into the cage, yet the interior remained silent. A single monster with green eyes carefully approached and took the food, chewing on it quietly.

Even as this happened, the other monsters did not throw a tantrum or fight over the food.

“Well done, my little ones!” Crescent said cheerfully, pulling back her sword with a bright smile. From inside the cage, only the soft sound of the green-eyed monster chewing could be heard.

The knights, watching the scene unfold, were utterly dumbfounded.

…Did that actually work?

They couldn’t believe their eyes. Somehow, Crescent’s bizarre strategy of push-and-pull had worked on the monsters.

But the person more shocked and appalled than anyone else was none other than Cardinal Reuben Pluto.

***

<Congratulations!>
<Successfully completed ‘Feeding a Demon Realm Animal (Difficulty: A)’!>
<Affection with the target animal increased by 30!>
<Secondary Job: ‘Animal Care Specialist’ level increased to 20!>
<Communication skill with animals increased to level 18!>
<Affinity with animals increased to level 19!>
<All Difficulty A-level Demon Realm animals now perfectly understand your commands!>

‘Oh!’

When one of the monsters ate the food I provided, a series of system notifications popped up.

Feeding not just any ordinary animal, but a creature of the Demon Realm, had instantly raised my job level from 10 to 20.

The efficiency of leveling up in this way, especially after taking the ‘Animal Care Specialist’ job, was almost absurd.

‘Perfect. Let’s keep feeding and training them to build affection.’

I proceeded to feed the rest of the monsters one by one.

Now that I was level 20, I could communicate with the monsters far better than before. It was like we could almost understand each other completely.

“Well done, Franklin! Oh, right, that’s your name from now on. You’re my precious little ones, so I’ll give each of you a name. Do you like that?”

“Kya-kya-keeek!”

‘Name? Who cares about a name? Bring more meat!’

<Successfully named a Demon Realm animal (Difficulty: A)!>
<Affection with the target animal increased by 40!>

Wow, their affection increased again!

It felt strange to receive affection from such a grotesque and foul-smelling creature. But given the circumstances, I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.

With the combined effect of feeding and naming, Franklin’s affection had risen by a total of 70. The monster let out a triumphant cry.

“Keeek!”

‘Franklin... I think he likes it?’

“Great! Since you seem happy, I’ll give you another piece of meat!”

“Kyaaaang!”

‘Awesome!’

<Successfully fed a Demon Realm animal (Difficulty: A)!>
<Affection with the target animal increased by 30!>
<Target animal’s affection has reached 100!>
<Secondary Job: ‘Animal Care Specialist’ level increased to 27!>
<Communication skill with animals increased to level 25!>
<Affinity with animals increased to level 26!>

Franklin, now with 100 affection, began hopping around like an excited puppy. The cave shook violently under the impact, but my level continued to soar.

Other monsters, still lacking affection, glared at Franklin with a mix of confusion and annoyance. But Franklin seemed genuinely happy.

“Wait… is that monster smiling?”

“Isn’t that the one that was thrashing and trying to kill us earlier?”

“It’s smiling… but it’s so unsettling.”

The holy knights muttered in disbelief.

Even I had to admit that the sight of a monster smiling was so grotesque it was hard to look at. It was as if the saying, “You can’t spit on a smiling face,” didn’t quite apply here.

At that moment, Cardinal Reuben Pluto, who had been silently observing, approached me.

“What… what is happening here?”

“Pardon?”

Reuben alternated between looking at me and Franklin, his expression filled with disbelief. He seemed more shocked now than when he had measured my divine power at the Holy Palace.

“That vicious monster is obeying you completely!”

“Ah…”

Another knight chimed in, equally baffled.

“This is incredible. Are monsters really that easy to tame?”

Reuben immediately shook his head.

“Impossible. While I’ve never seen a monster before today, I know they’re not creatures that can be easily controlled. Even though I suggested taming them out of desperation, it was never supposed to work. And yet, Crescent, how…?”

It was the question I had been expecting.

To anyone, the sight of a human communicating with monsters so effortlessly would seem extraordinary.

I carefully responded, feigning uncertainty.

“Well… I don’t know either. I just treated them like I used to treat the chicks I raised at home. Strangely enough, these monsters seem to understand better than the chicks did! Maybe they’re smarter than I thought?”

“Kraaaang!”

“Kaak!”

‘She gets us! She knows we’re smart!’
‘Yeah! We’re an intelligent species! Don’t you dare underestimate us!’

The monsters started causing a commotion, and I glanced around nervously, realizing I understood their words perfectly.

Wait a minute. Are they seriously that full of themselves?

It was already fascinating that they could think, but to be so self-confident? A little more praise, and they might be entirely under my control.

Watching the monsters stomp and flail in excitement, I exclaimed, “Wow! Look at them go! They’re so thrilled because I recognized their intelligence. They’re actually pretty cute when they’re happy!”

The knights looked at me with utter disbelief.

“You call that… happy?”

“They’re not trying to kill us anymore?”

“Yes! They’re so overjoyed! Honestly, I’ve always loved animals. Sure, they look a little scary, but they’re so quick to listen that I don’t find them frightening anymore. In fact, they’re starting to look adorable!”

“Ugh.”

“Kraaaak!”

The humans and monsters reacted simultaneously, both equally dramatic.

Adorable?

The knights bent over, looking ready to retch, while the monsters froze in shock.

“Kraaak!”
“Kyaaang! Kuueeek!”

‘Did she just call us adorable?’
‘No one’s ever said that to us before! Ismir always said we were so ugly no one else would ever want us!’

What?

Hearing their words, I immediately turned to them.

This was the perfect chance to farm affection points.

“What? Count Ismir called you ugly? How could he say something so cruel? Don’t worry. If we become your new owners, you’ll never have to hear that again. Ugh, Count Ismir really is such a demon… Oh, wait. He actually is one.”

“Kyaaaak!”
“Kuwaaang!”

‘She’s right! She’s absolutely right!’
‘Kuwaaang!’

The monsters howled in unison, their cries echoing through the cavern. Almost every monster in the room joined in, their collective voices shaking the walls.

Their roaring wasn’t out of rage but pure elation, as if my words had deeply resonated with them.

At that moment, the system window appeared again with a flurry of notifications.

<You have healed the longstanding trauma of the target animals, earning their affection!>
<Affection with each target animal increased by 70!>

…Huh?

Was being called ugly really such a traumatic experience for them?

I was floored by this revelation. Who would’ve thought monsters could harbor such insecurities about their appearance?

Sure, they looked terrifying, but still…

Calculating in my head how much affection this would amount to, I didn’t even need to finish the math before the system window flashed again.

<Affection with all target animals increased by 10,290!>

“!”

This was insane!

A total affection gain of over 10,000. With 147 monsters in the room, each granting 70 affection points, it all added up.

I didn’t even have to feed or name them individually to achieve this!

What about my level?

<Congratulations!>
<Secondary Job: ‘Animal Care Specialist’ level increased to 107!>
<You can now perfectly tame all Difficulty A-level animals!>
<Your reputation among Demon Realm animals has soared!>

I could hardly believe it. I was now a certified Animal Care Specialist at an insane level.

Reuben, still in shock, muttered under his breath.

“This… this is unbelievable. The killing intent from the monsters is fading…”