NOVEL NEXT Ch6 - Second Tame
Chapter 6: Second Tame
The grasslands surrounding the small town of Danatzera fell eerily silent as night descended. It seemed that more monsters were secretly active at night than during the day. The surroundings were dim enough to barely move, and in just a few moments, it would be completely dark.
Lena and her group advanced cautiously, hoping to escape as far as possible before losing the ability to move entirely.
She felt her anxiety spike, causing the grass underfoot to rustle. Calm down! Don’t panic, she repeatedly reminded herself. They were doing their best to avoid areas where monsters might lurk, like dense thickets or rocky outcrops.
As scouts, the slimes moved along Lena’s feet, bouncing softly as they traveled.
“…!”
Suddenly, Lena caught a whispering sound in her ears. Voices drifted from the town of Danatzera, which she had been keeping in her peripheral vision. The many lights illuminated the entire town, revealing a far more vibrant scene than yesterday. … This only fueled her unease. Had the guild members noticed that they had escaped from the lodge? Perhaps the whole town was intent on capturing them.
A wave of fear washed over Lena, prompting her to hug her arms tightly against herself.
I have to escape quickly…!
However, she felt a bit insecure about traversing the midnight grasslands with this group. It seemed the slimes weren’t very good at scouting. She desperately needed a new companion specialized in search and reconnaissance.
“Kureha, Izumi,” she called.
“‘What is it?’”
“Do you know of any monsters in this grassland that have good night vision and are skilled at scouting? Something I could tame…”
Lena posed the question to her summoned familiars, wishing to tame a monster before it was completely dark.
Fortunately, the slimes seemed to have some leads.
“Hmm… maybe a Night Butterfly?”
“They confuse their prey with illusions and escape while they’re distracted. They generally don’t attack, so they’re a good choice for you, Lena.”
“If they get spotted, they can escape really quickly, so they might have a skill for detecting presence!”
“They’re usually found in the forest!”
“! …A Night Butterfly, huh? That sounds like a monster that would do well at night. Alright, let’s go look for it!”
“‘Okay!’”
Please let it look more like a butterfly than a moth! Lena silently prayed, as that was also a concern for her. It was important that it didn’t look gross.
They adjusted their course slightly and headed toward the forest.
The forest was even darker than the grasslands. The abundant leaves and branches of the trees cast shadows on the ground, blocking out even the light of the rising moon. They decided to search for the Night Butterfly near the entrance of the forest, where it was still just barely possible to see.
When Lena asked the slimes about the monster’s physical features, they responded with vague answers:
“It’s white!”
“It’s blue!”
“Hmm…” Lena placed a hand on her forehead, pondering. (…Well, it’s supposed to glow softly in the dimness, so I’ll try searching while crouched down. If it glows, I’ll be able to spot it, right?) It seemed that Kureha and Izumi, who knew what a butterfly looked like, would take the lead in the search.
“…I can’t see it anywhere.”
They searched for the butterfly, careful not to make any noise and keeping a slight distance from each other.
As expected, it wasn’t easy to find one right away. They all strained their eyes, glaring into the shadows, determined not to miss anything.
“Hmm, it should be about the size of Lena’s palm, so if it’s there, we should definitely notice it.”
“It often lands on the Churele flowers. So maybe we should look closer to the ground!”
“Is that so? Alright, let’s do our best to find it!”
“‘Okay!’”
They had also prepared for other monsters.
Kureha was primarily responsible for searching for the Night Butterfly alongside Lena, while the less noticeable Izumi kept watch from a rock, scanning the surroundings for potential dangers.
Every now and then, Izumi would spot a monster and quietly instruct, “Lena, don’t move left from there!”
She was incredibly reliable.
…After a while, just as the area was plunging into complete darkness, Kureha finally spotted the Night Butterfly.
“Lena!”
“! That must be the Night Butterfly!”
The butterfly monster was indeed white and blue. Its body, clinging to the flower petals to sip nectar, had a fuzzy appearance that glowed faintly white, while its wings were blue. It looked like an ordinary butterfly and was not grotesque at all. Relieved, Lena let out a small sigh.
The butterfly seemed ready to begin its meal. With the three watching quietly, it unfurled its curled proboscis and inserted it into a flower. It gently opened and closed its wings as it started to feed.
If they spoke loudly, it would probably flee immediately, so the group held a hushed discussion.
“…If it doesn’t attack us, I think we can manage this time without using the [Inspire] skill.”
“I think we’ll be fine!”
“We just have to make sure it can’t escape!”
“The moment that butterfly notices us, it’ll put us under an illusion, right?
Hmm…
To tame the monster, I need to convey that I want to make it my familiar and challenge it to a duel.
So, I’ll use the contract magic.
Then, I’ll have Kureha jump at it right away.
I’ll make her body inflate like a balloon and trap the butterfly inside!
Can you do that?
Izumi, please continue to watch for any other monsters around us.”
“I can probably do it! Leave it to me!”
“Leave the vigilance to me, Iz!”
“Thank you, I’m counting on you!
Alright, then let’s go with that strategy.
I’ll do my best to draw the butterfly’s attention so that it targets only me.
Even if I see scary illusions, I’ll trust in your victory and wait for you, um…”
““Rena, fight!””
“…I’m sorry for only being able to help like this!
…But I’ll do my best too!
Will you fight alongside me?”
““Of course! Let’s go!””
“Thank you!”
Rena and the slimes took their respective positions.
Izumi climbed a medium-height tree to keep watch over Rena and the others from above.
Kureha quietly hid on the other side of the butterfly, ready to flank it.
Rena held her breath and approached directly in front of the butterfly.
She pushed through the grass and as soon as she caught a glimpse of a white light in her view… she suddenly leaped up, making a loud rustling sound.
▽ Rena burst out of the bushes! (From the butterfly’s perspective)
“…I want to tame you! [Familiar Contract]!”
Rena spoke so quickly, she managed not to stutter.
“(Huh!?)”
Determined not to let it escape, Rena activated her skill at an unprecedented speed.
The butterfly, startled, fluttered its wings vigorously, passed through a magic circle, and assumed an attack stance.
The moment it took off from the flowers, it scattered faintly glowing powder from its body, attempting to blind Rena.
“………!”
Her vision swayed wildly, and Rena instinctively knelt on both knees.
…The forest in front of her began to fade away.
It seemed like an illusion.
In its place, a vividly colorful scene of Japan, which she longed for, emerged from the dimness.
She could no longer see the butterfly’s figure, even faintly.
…She felt like crying.
In front of Rena stood a man with his usual gentle smile, extending his large and warm hand to her.
She wanted to call his name right away. …She wanted to cling to him.
“———”
I miss you.
…But right now, the name I need to call isn’t yours…
“Kureha!!!”
“Yes, my master!”
Rena now had her familiar companions fighting alongside her.
Kureha was leaping at the butterfly, and Izumi was seriously watching over them from the tree.
(I must never forget that they are here with me!)
Shaking off the sweet illusion, Rena focused her gaze back on the butterfly.
This time, she properly captured its form.
The “Japan” that had been right in front of her, along with the man, faded away like a dream.
……………….
“I won’t let you escape!”
Kureha firmly captured the flapping butterfly inside her body.
“…Nice job, Kureha!”
Rena switched her thoughts and ran closer to Kureha.
As expected, the butterfly hadn’t noticed Kureha hiding.
A familiar’s strength is considered part of the monster tamer’s power, so even if Rena herself doesn’t fight the butterfly, if her familiar defeats it, it will still count as a condition for taming.
“Keep compressing it.”
Rena added her instructions.
“Compress?”
“Don’t let the air inside escape; just make Kureha’s size smaller.
Then, the pressure inside her will increase.
We can definitely deal damage to the Night Butterfly that way.”
That’s ruthless.
“Got it!”
Kureha began to shrink.
As her body gradually became smaller with a squeezing sound, the butterfly began to struggle in pain.
The number of flaps decreased gradually, and then… it stopped moving its wings feebly, looking at Rena.
“!”
A high-pitched sound like a bell echoed.
“…We did it!”
They all cheered quietly while doing a small victory pose, and immediately used the skill [Familiar Recovery] on the butterfly.
She was eager to check its status.
It would be really helpful if it had skills advantageous for detection or escape…
“From now on, I’ll be counting on you, Night Butterfly!
I’m Rena Todo. I’d be happy if we could get along.
Can I check your status?”
“I’m Kureha!”
“I’m Izumi!”
“…I don’t have a name yet. …Nice to meet you.”
Rena and the others exchanged light greetings.
The dusk was almost upon them, and visibility was nearly gone, leaving no room for leisurely conversation.
The status of the new familiar was as follows:
“Name: Butterfly (Temporary)
Species: Night Butterfly ♀, LV. 2
Affinity: Black Magic, Yellow Magic
Health: 15
Intelligence: 4
Agility: 12
Magic Power: 18
Luck: 12
Skills: [Illusion], [Vampirism]
Gift: [Butterfly Eye] ☆2”
Since it was low level, the stats weren’t very impressive, but what mattered were the skills and gifts.
“V-vampirism…”
So this butterfly has a terrifying skill, huh? Haha.
Rena’s face twitched slightly.
Even if this grassland monster doesn’t look grotesque, is it really filled with such things inside…?
Like the slimes’ [Dissolution], it’s quite brutal.
“What’s this Butterfly Eye?”
Rena decided to change the topic and asked the butterfly.
“…Night vision. Also, there’s an effect of the heart eye…”
“! That’s great! Night vision will be really helpful from now on! And what about the heart eye?”
“It lets you see the other person’s… lies, truths, whether their soul is beautiful or dirty… you can tell by looking.”
“Wow, that’s super helpful!!!”
Right?! Rena’s eyes were glistening with tears. She had painfully realized how important it was to discern the nature of others.
It seemed that her current master possessed the most essential ability through her familiar. From now on, it would surely be a gift that would prove to be incredibly useful. Her familiars were too reliable…!
“Nice to meet you. Um… Lily-chan. So, how about it?”
“…Yes. I am Lily.”
It seemed they had decided to name the knight butterfly Lily. From her pale, shining body, it seemed they imagined a lily flower. She apparently liked flowers, and she was a girl too.
“Good girl, good girl,” Rena said with a smile, gently stroking Lily’s little head.
“Ah—so nice!”
“Hey, hey, Rena—! What about Kuu and Izu too!”
“Of course!”
The slime duo came to cuddle. Squishy. Hehe. Floating. Rena reminded herself that she had to stay alert, considering they were still on the run…
Suddenly, Rena remembered that. It seemed her original nature was a bit too carefree.
In a hurry, she asked Lily, “Can you take us to a relatively safe spot in the forest!?” In response, she floated silently from Rena’s palm.
However, instead of flying ahead, she landed on the collar of Rena’s sailor uniform.
“Hmm?”
Rena stared at Lily with wide eyes.
“Master, I’m hungry. …Please give me blood.”
“W-Wow!”
Already?! Well, they were the ones interrupting the meal.
…It seemed that the new familiar had quite a laid-back personality. Rena was a bit scared of how strong her attraction was. She loved all her familiars and had no regrets about taming them, but their characters were quite pronounced.
Ah, they were so cute and healing.
“(Chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu)”
“Eek!?”
Now wasn’t the time to be escaping reality, Master!
Rena had always been very bad with injections. “Please give me a signal before you suck my blood, Lily-chan… I need to prepare myself!” she begged, almost prostrating.
In the end, Rena offered a decent amount of blood to her new familiar and her party quietly continued to move deeper into the forest.
A few days after entering the forest:
Despite getting numerous scratches all over her body, Rena was desperately trying to avoid encounters with monsters. She forced herself to bathe in a cold stream, and sometimes she would eat roasted snakes to stave off hunger (she was willing to eat anything at this point…).
She was fully enjoying her survival life. Hahaha. At this point, she couldn’t stop laughing.
Rena had been using almost all her restored magic power for [Familiar Recovery]. Since her familiars were far more useful than her whip, she was serving them tirelessly. Her constant repetition of “thank you” had even made the laid-back familiars a bit worried about her mental state.
Stretching out on a slime body bed was her only source of relaxation now. …She was in a state where she was almost living purely on willpower. She couldn’t let her guard down for a second, as she was genuinely exhausted, and more importantly, Rena, who had grown up in Japan, lacked basic stamina. Her steps were heavy and sluggish.
The familiars were also taking turns keeping watch, and fatigue was starting to accumulate for everyone. In the harsh environment with no clear end in sight, the expressions of the four of them inevitably grew dark.
…What would happen from here? Rena, who had been walking, finally sat down, hugging her knees and feeling lost.
…Though she had decided to escape the country, she wasn’t even sure which direction to go, and she had no plans for how to live after escaping.
She might even be on a wanted list. For now, she had only escaped from Danatzela. While that was of course important, thinking about the future, the path to peace was still very far away.
(I just want to live normally…)
Her familiars looked at her worriedly, so Rena managed to smile, but fatigue was evident on her face. She lowered her gaze, ashamed of it.
Hmm, what should I do…? Just as she was about to get lost in the same thoughts again…
A glimmer caught her eye from the shadows of a tree not far away. She felt a sense of incongruity from the dazzling gold that she shouldn’t be seeing in a forest like this.
“What is that…?”
Rena murmured. To be precise, it wasn’t “what,” but “who” that was correct.
Slowly emerging from the shadow of the tree was a young man with a perfectly arranged face, who was far too well-suited to an elegant noble outfit.
Blonde hair and purple eyes. At first glance, he looked just like a perfect prince. What was he doing in a place like this?
…Yes, he was a prince only in appearance.
Rena was too tired to feel the excitement of seeing someone like a prince from a story, like “Wow, so cool!”
(He’s definitely the type of monster that lets people let their guard down with their appearance and then kills them… I won’t be fooled by that sparkly prince vibe! Heh! After all, I’ve been through enough pain already!)
“Hello. Nice to meet you, Rena.”
His first words were also terrible. How did he know her name…?! Her wariness shot up.
The tenor of his unreasonably pleasant voice intruded on Rena’s thoughts in a bad way. As a result,
“…Aaaah! Evil spirit, begone!!”
This is how it went down.
▽ Rena is confused!
▽ She swung her whip around wildly!
▽ It hit her own head, and she was in agony.
▽ A golden monster (tentative) appeared!