The Demon King's Pet Project
By @john1208
Zoryan Veles, the dreaded sovereign of the Underdark, is officially retired. His new life goal is simple: run a quiet pet shop on the surface and enjoy his golden years. He even registers at the local hero academy as a 'Beast Tamer' to blend in, adopting a trio of seemingly useless F-rank 'familiars' who are actually just broke students looking for a sponsor.
Believing he's just raising some high-maintenance magical creatures, Zoryan applies his ancient, world-ending expertise to their 'training'. A little soul-forging here, a casual demonic pact there - soon, his 'pets' are bulldozing through dungeons meant for S-rank legends. The dysfunctional party - a knight who trips over air, a mage who only casts explosions, and a thief with a penchant for spoons - are baffled by their own success, crediting it all to their sponsor's 'unconventional' pet care. Zoryan, meanwhile, just wants them to stop shedding on his furniture. But when an 'impossible' cataclysm looms, created by his own forgotten magic, will Zoryan realize he hasn't been raising pets, but the only heroes who can stop him?
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