Spirit Beast (5)
The wolf clearly should have taken an interest in Hanji, but it didn't stop approaching me.
What the hell...? Ah, I see...
A sudden realization hit me, and I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Spirit beasts can pierce through to a person's true essence.
Hanji's Supernatural Ability fixed his alignment toward good, but even so, he'd committed big and small sins in life. Stepping on an ant while walking by, unknowingly hurting someone's feelings...
All those things would leave traces behind.
But me?
How long had it been since I possessed this body in this world? I hadn't had time to resent anyone, nor had anyone had time to resent me.
Of course, I hadn't killed anyone either. I'd been holed up in the Lord's Castle all day.
To the spirit beast's eyes, I must look like a newborn babe.
The purest soul in this world belongs to Haven's captain... Heh.
The leader of the most dangerous organization having the purest soul in the world—it was the kind of thing that would make even street kids snort in disbelief.
Hanji's expression told me everything.
He definitely knew. Spirit beasts see through to a human's essence, and they could be drawn to souls purer than his own. But he couldn't even imagine that person being Haven's captain, so he was fidgeting anxiously, wondering if his ability was broken.
His instincts must have vanished because of me, too.
At that moment, as the wolf drew closer, Rowen stepped in front of me, and the wolf immediately turned hostile.
Rowen was a knight of the Lord's Castle. He'd undoubtedly spilled plenty of blood, and an elf like that couldn't have a good essence. Spilling blood meant bearing the resentment of many.
I quickly analyzed the situation.
Mid-grade spirit beast and Rowen are about equal. Rowen might even be stronger... but the problem is special abilities. Rowen's abilityless, so he's at a disadvantage there.
Of course, being abilityless didn't mean he was weak. But at the same level, those with Supernatural Abilities had the edge—that was undeniable.
Besides, spirit beasts had wildly varied special abilities, and wolf spirit beasts especially were among the strongest breeds, so it likely had a powerful one.
Guess I have to subdue it myself.
The wolf had already lost interest in Hanji. To claim it as my own force, I needed to be the one chosen.
If I could make this wolf mine, I wouldn't need to drag Rowen along to future opportunity spots.
Rowen was ultimately just a Lord's Castle knight—not truly my force.
But the wolf was different. It could follow me all the way to my territory right now, becoming wholly mine.
There were two ways to take a spirit beast as a pet in the game.
The first was building affinity like Hanji, becoming friends.
What I was about to use was the second.
Subduing it by force.
The wolf had already seen my essence and built affinity, so showing strength would make it submit quickly.
I unleashed the presence I'd been holding back.
Inside my Domain of the Absolute, with Rowen, the wolf, and even the faint Hanji, I could emit a fairly strong aura.
Captains really are strong. Even gathering this much, it's not even a third of a captain's power.
"Yelp..."
"Wolf, do not bare your killing intent before me."
The wolf, already affectionate toward me, submitted swiftly. It slowly lowered its head, approached, and finally prostrated itself fully on the ground.
Jackpot. Getting a mid-grade spirit beast this easily.
Hanji's face hardened at the sight. As a spirit beast tamer, no one knew better than him how unreal it was to subdue a mid-grade spirit beast with a single word.
To Hanji right now, I must look like a monster who tamed it with speech alone.
My ability, even inside the domain, only pressured those I willed it to. I'd learned that during ability tests at the Lord's Castle.
Hanji had probably just felt the air grow heavy around him.
"Hanji, as you said, the wolf that should befriend you has submitted to me."
"As expected of Haven's captain. How did you do it with just a word..."
Hanji's voice trembled.
"It's only natural."
Rowen declared proudly.
Why are you the one bragging?
I let out a sigh without thinking. Rowen's demeanor was exactly like Leon, Ellis's guard knight.
"We've secured the wolf spirit beast as planned. Hanji, lead the way to your village."
"Y-Yes! Right away. I'll take the lead!"
With that, Hanji hopped onto the pig.
Why does that guy leave the fine horse and ride a pig?
There was a magnificent steed right beside him, yet he chose the giant pig. Sigh... I made it that way, but he's not normal.
I shook my head.
"Lord Astra, shall I prepare the carriage?"
Having just subdued the spirit beast, riding it would be polite, right?
Truth be told, I just really wanted to try it. Riding a wolf? So romantic.
"No need. I'll ride this wolf. Just prepare the carriage."
"Gasp! Have I made too many mistakes..."
Rowen's face fell like he'd been heartbroken.
"Rowen, you have nothing to worry about. I trust your loyalty completely."
"Ahh! Thank you! Such merciful words from you, Captain... Right away—no, immediately! I'll fetch the finest carriage!"
Rowen dashed toward the carriages like he'd grown wings.
For a split second, I saw something red trickling down his running face.
A nosebleed? But he looked so elated... I shook my head, dismissing it.
Must be my imagination.
With that thought, I turned to the wolf.
Its gray fur gleamed softly like it held moonlight, paired with striking amber eyes.
I cautiously reached out and stroked its head.
"Grrrm..."
With a soft rumble, silver energy rose from the wolf's body, flowing up my hand to envelop me entirely.
This must be the Spirit Beast Imprint.
The Spirit Beast Imprint was the ultimate contract, formed when a spirit beast fully acknowledged and bound itself to someone. Once complete, a tattoo appeared somewhere on the body, allowing instant summoning and revealing the beast's true power.
Looking at my left palm, a white cloud tattoo glowed faintly.
"So you're a wind manipulator."
A smile tugged at my lips unbidden. Spirit beasts wielding natural forces were top-tier. Wind, especially, was exceedingly rare.
"Your name is... Fenrir."
I recalled the giant wolf from Norse mythology, feared even by gods. It suited this silver wolf perfectly.
"Awoooo!"
A joyful howl carried Fenrir's emotions straight to me.
Too bad. If it were high-grade, we could even talk.
Mid-grade spirit beasts had human-level intelligence but couldn't speak. High-grade ones could converse, but this was more than enough.
And the imprint brought more than just that.
Supernatural Ability: Domain of the Absolute
Background: Haven Jin Gang Regiment Captain
The imprint with a mid-grade spirit beast shot me up four levels at once.
No need to think about this one.
I dumped every stat point into Charisma without hesitation.
Supernatural Ability: Domain of the Absolute
Background: Haven Jin Gang Regiment Captain
At first, I thought raising Strength or Vitality and leveraging special-grade traits would make me strong enough.
But the more I used it, the clearer its true value became.
Domain of the Absolute...
For someone with the Domain of the Absolute, the Jin Gang Regiment captain position was a perfect blessing.
Surrounded by powerhouses, absorbing their auras was like gaining an infinite power source.
And amplifying it with my Charisma? The higher the stat, the stronger the aura I could wield—meaning my growth had no limits.
Of course, there were limits.
No direct physical attacks... But maybe that was for the best.
Pressuring foes mentally with my will-infused aura, crushing them like invisible gravity. Wasn't that the mark of a true ruler?
Even the demon kings in those kingly tales were like that. No one saw their true power firsthand—only the overwhelming might of their subordinates and the rumors passed mouth to mouth.
Those rumors stirred fear and imagination, turning the demon king's mere existence into terror. Ruling through unseen intimidation, not brute force.
That's what I'd become.
A being who made enemies surrender before the fight even started. One whose rumors alone inspired dread, without ever being seen.
...But something's off.
I'd pumped Charisma this high, so why hadn't anything changed?
Honestly, it felt anticlimactic.
Twenty whole points... If I'd put them in Strength or Vitality, I'd feel firmer muscles or easier breathing—something tangible.
But Charisma? Nothing. It felt like a scam.
Eh, don't be so impatient. I raised it for the ability anyway.