---
Chapter 7: Chickpocalypse Now, Grandpa's Deal, and the Market Madness
Greenrest Village had seen many strange things.
Flying pigs. Singing frogs. Once, even a haunted bread roll.
But today?
Today was different.
Because Elric was marching through the village square...
With a glowing, vibrating, barely-contained baby chicken strapped to his shoulder like a ticking time bomb.
"Fear not, peasants!" he declared. "For I have tamed the beast!"
The chicken clucked ominously.
Old Man Ruckus ducked behind a cabbage cart.
---
> [Exploding Chick – Danger Level: Moderate to Unreasonable]
Nickname: BoomBoom (Pending Approval)
Bond Progress: 3%
"System, how do I stop it from blowing up every time someone sneezes?"
> You don't. You just run faster.
"Very helpful."
---
Meanwhile, Grandpa stood at the edge of the market, arms crossed, watching his grandson nearly burn down a fruit stall.
"You're going to get him killed," said the village chief.
"Nope," Grandpa replied. "I'm gonna get him strong."
---
That evening, back in the secret barn room…
Grandpa stood with his arms behind his back, eyes serious.
"Elric."
"Yes, O Wise and Mysterious Old Goat of War?"
"…Shut it."
He threw a glowing scroll onto the table.
"This is a Training Pact. Every Shepherd in history eventually signs one. It ties you to the path. You'll unlock real skills—but face real danger."
> [Training Pact: Shepherd's Flame]
Effects: Unlocks passive skill growth. Increases bond growth speed. Enables 'Herd Call' Skill at Level 10.
"Side effects?" Elric asked.
"You'll attract things that want to kill you faster."
"…Sold."
---
> You have accepted the Training Pact!
System Perk Gained: [Soul Link: Animal Party]
Beast Growth Speed: +10%
Goat Intelligence: +2
Exploding Chick Patience: -10% (Uh oh.)
---
Late that night, Elric sat on the barn roof with Grandpa.
Stars stretched across the sky like ancient fireflies.
"Grandpa, what was your first summon?"
"…A blind badger. It bit me. Then it bit a troll."
"Did it win?"
"No. But it never let go."
They both laughed.
A warm breeze passed between them.
---
Just as Elric started to doze off...
BOOM!
His room exploded again.
BoomBoom had found the soap.
> New Title Unlocked: [The Booming Shepherd]
Villagers Afraid of You: 17%
"…This is fine," Elric mumbled, buried un.
---
Chapter 8: Festival of Beasts, Chicken Rampage, and The Letter with the Golden Seal
Greenrest Village buzzed with excitement.
Banners were up. Stalls lined the market path. Kids ran around with wooden beast masks.
It was the Festival of Beasts, a yearly tradition where young tamers showed off their bonds.
"Only beast tamers allowed," said the sign near the entrance.
Elric stood in front of it, arms crossed, with BoomBoom clinging to his head like a flaming toupee.
"…I'm not a beast tamer."
The gate guard raised an eyebrow. "Then what are you?"
Elric grinned.
"I'm a Shepherd."
---
30 Minutes Earlier
Grandpa tossed him a scroll.
"Your first real skill," he said. "From the pact."
> [Skill Unlocked: Herd Call (Lv.1)]
Effect: Summons all nearby bonded beasts to your location and boosts their courage. Cooldown: 3 hours.
Elric blinked. "Even the exploding one?"
"Especially the exploding one."
---
Back at the festival, a crowd had gathered.
Children showed off fire foxes, wind weasels, even a lazy rock turtle that just refused to move.
Then came Elric.
"Presenting… BoomBoom!"
The chick puffed up its chest.
Then exploded a fruit cart.
Not fully. Just… casually.
Like it sneezed and reality blinked.
Fruits rained from the sky.
A tomato landed on the mayor's bald head.
"Did it do tricks?" someone asked.
Elric nodded. "Yes. It tricks reality into questioning its choices."
---
Somehow, some way, the crowd loved it.
Kids screamed. Old ladies clapped. One merchant offered to buy BoomBoom for three gold and a mule.
Elric politely declined. "He's not for sale. He's family."
BoomBoom exploded again.
"…Slightly unstable family."
---
Later that evening, Elric sat under the festival lights, munching on honeyed goat bread. Grandpa leaned beside him, watching fireworks.
"You're growing fast," Grandpa said.
"Thanks to the System. And BoomBoom. And chaos."
They laughed.
That's when the messenger arrived.
A tall woman in silver armor, riding a beast shaped like a lion crossed with a wolf.
She handed Elric a scroll sealed with a golden emblem.
"For the Shepherd of Greenrest," she said.
He opened it.
"To the Holder of the Shepherd Class,
Your existence has been registered by the Grand Houses. You are invited to attend the Trial of Young Masters in the capital two moons from now.
Your path begins.
— House Lysmere"
Elric blinked.
"…Trial of Young What?"
BoomBoom tried to eat the scroll.
---
> Main Quest Updated: Attend the Trial of Young Masters in Capital Lysmere.
Side Note: Wear something that doesn't smell like goat.
Absolutely! Here's Chapter 9 of My Shepherd Class — we're diving deeper into game elements, a new level-up system, more hilarious Elric-System bonding, and… chicken-based spiritual growth?
---
Chapter 9: Level Up, Chicken Enlightenment, and Grandpa's Go-Bag of Doom
The moment Elric opened the golden-sealed scroll, a soft chime echoed inside his head.
> Ding!
You have accepted a Major Quest: [Trial of Young Masters]
Main Quest: Travel to Capital Lysmere in 60 Days
Rewards: ???
And then—
> Congratulations, Elric! You have reached Level 5!
Skill Unlocked: [Beast Sense (Lv.1)]
Effect: Allows minor perception through bonded beasts. Cooldown: 10 minutes.
Elric blinked. "Wait—I leveled up just by reading a letter?"
> Technically, it was a recognition trigger. The System felt validation. I felt validation. Even BoomBoom looked smug.
BoomBoom did look smug.
Or gassy.
Hard to tell.
---
Elric's Current Stats
Name: Elric
Class: [Legendary Shepherd – Tier 0]
Level: 5
Skills:
• Herd Call (Lv.1)
• Beast Sense (Lv.1)
System Points: 15
System Shop: [Unlocked]
Beasts Bonded: 1 (BoomBoom – Tier: ???)
---
He opened the System Shop.
Rows of glowing icons hovered in the air.
> • Minor Health Potion – 5 SP
• Summon Token: Common Beast – 10 SP
• Skill Manual (??? Tier) – 30 SP
• Exploding Chick Mute Collar – 12 SP
• Goat Perfume – 1 SP
"…I'm both concerned and intrigued."
> You should buy the Mute Collar before he chirps the barn down again.
Elric sighed. Click.
BoomBoom stared at the mute collar, then blew up a piece of hay out of protest.
---
Grandpa's Packing Strategy
"You'll need weapons."
"I summon things."
"You'll need goat jerky."
"…Fine."
"You'll need this."
Elric stared at a rusted frying pan.
"Is this enchanted?"
"No. But it hurts."
"…Great."
---
As they packed, Grandpa paused.
He looked at Elric, a strange softness in his eyes.
"You're leaving for the first time."
"Only for a bit."
"No. Not really. Once you leave the village, the world changes you. The monsters outside don't just have claws—they have names, families, empires."
Elric nodded.
"I'll change the world before it changes me."
BoomBoom chirped.
Then farted a tiny spark.
"…We'll work on him."
---
That night, Elric sat beneath the stars, feeling… awake.
Awake in a way he hadn't since arriving in this world.
"I'm gonna do it," he whispered. "I'll become a Shepherd the world fears. No—respects. No—both."
The System responded with a soft hum.
> You're growing. Slowly. But beautifully.
"
---
Chapter 10: Bandit Raid, EXP Gains, and the Mysterious Beast Core
The road from Greenrest Village was quieter than Elric expected. The winding path through the forest was beautiful—golden leaves drifting in the breeze, distant sounds
Too peaceful.
"We're being watched," Elric muttered, eyes scanning the trees. BoomBoom perched on his shoulder, puffing out his chest as though he were the lookout.
Suddenly, a low growl echoed from the bushes.
"Elric," Grandpa said in a low voice. "Get ready. They're here."
Before Elric could respond, several figures leaped from the shadows, surrounding them on all sides.
Bandits.
They wore patched-up leather armor and carried crude weapons, their faces twisted in hunger.
"You there! Hand over your valuables," the leader growled, a scar running down his face.
"Not today," Elric replied, smirking as he stepped forward.
BoomBoom chirped in agreement and... farted. A small explosion of fire shot out from his feathers, singeing the nearest bandit's sleeve.
Elric grinned.
"That's my boy."
---
Combat Mode: Activated
> *Enemy Encountered: Bandit Leader (Lv. 6)
Bandit Thug (Lv. 3) x3
Recommended Action: Defeat to Proceed.
---
Grandpa stepped back, leaning on his walking stick. "I'll keep watch. Don't embarrass yourself."
Elric cracked his knuckles. "No promises."
---
Skill Activated:
[Herd Call (Lv. 1)]
Elric's hands glowed faintly, summoning a wave of energy around him. He didn't summon any beasts—yet. This was just the first taste of his growing power.
BoomBoom launched himself at the closest Bandit Thug, causing another explosion that sent the bandit flying backwards. Elric jumped into the fray, a fierce grin on his face.
He dodged a bandit's swing, countering with a swift punch to the gut. The thug grunted and staggered back.
Enemy Defeated: Bandit Thug (Lv. 3)
+40 EXP | +5 SP | Loot: [Rusted Dagger]
---
Another thug rushed in, but Elric's [Beast Sense] activated.
He could feel BoomBoom's presence through their bond, every chirp and every movement like a faint pulse in his mind.
It felt like he could hear the battle through the chick.
> [Beast Sense (Lv.1)] activated!
You can now perceive your bonded beast's position and actions. All attacks from BoomBoom gain a +10% accuracy.
"BoomBoom, go for his knees!" Elric shouted, timing the next strike perfectly.
BoomBoom, as if hearing the command, shot a blast of fire that blasted the thug off his feet.
Enemy Defeated: Bandit Thug (Lv. 3)
+40 EXP | +5 SP | Loot: [Old Leather Armor]
---
The Bandit Leader snarled. "You think you can defeat me?"
"Elric, I think it's time to get serious," Grandpa called from the sidelines, still looking perfectly relaxed.
Elric nodded.
"Alright, big guy. Let's see what you've got."
With a flick of his wrist, Elric summoned the energy of [Herd Call (Lv.1)] once again, but this time, the pulse was stronger, wrapping around the Bandit Leader, sapping his resolve.
BoomBoom launched another fireball, but this time, it was a little more controlled—a precise, sharp blast that hit the Bandit Leader square in the chest.
The Leader staggered, but then, with a roar, charged.
[Beast Sense] activated again.
Elric dodged the bandit's wild swing and used the momentum to land a punch directly in his face.
---
Loot Drop:
Enemy Defeated: Bandit Leader (Lv. 6)
+120 EXP | +10 SP | Loot: [Bandit Leader's Ring], [Beast Core (Cracked)], [Steel Fang Dagger]
---
Elric wiped his hands on his tunic. "That wasn't so bad."
BoomBoom exploded with pride, farting fire into the air, clearly celebrating.
Grandpa shook his head but couldn't help but smile. "You've got potential, kid. But remember, there's always someone stronger."
---
Elric's Current Stats
Name: Elric
Class: [Legendary Shepherd – Tier 0]
Level: 6
Skills:
• Herd Call (Lv. 1)
• Beast Sense (Lv. 1)
System Points: 30
System Shop: [Unlocked]
Beasts Bonded: 1 (BoomBoom – Tier: ???)
---
> New Beast Core Unlocked!
[Cracked Beast Core]
Can be used to strengthen a bonded beast or to summon a new beast. Recommended for use with an appropriate level beast.
---
Grandpa patted Elric on the back. "That was a clean fight. But the real challenge's coming. The journey's just beginning."
Elric nodded, eyes gleaming. "I'm ready. Let's go. We've got a capital to reach."
BoomBoom chirped in agreement. Or maybe it was just the usual fiery explosion of pride.
Chapter 10 End.