The Beast Tamer
I brought the new beast tamer, Sienna, to the inner garden.
Rowell had vanished in the meantime, which meant guiding her was my job.
"Oh? There are two doghouses. Do you keep other animals in the mansion too?"
"Yes, one more dog."
"Where is that one? Judging by the size of the house, it must be a pretty big pup."
"It's me."
"Huh? Uh...."
Sienna glanced around the doghouse for a moment before turning to look at me.
"You're joking like before, right?"
"No. This is really my house."
I pointed inside the doghouse as I said it.
It was filled with things more suited to a person than a dog.
"Uh, th-that... um. Can I ask why you're living here?"
"Because I'm a slave."
"Ah."
Her eyes widened at the word slave.
She started examining my outfit.
"Hmm, uh-huh...."
She took in the fine clothes I'd changed into that morning and the hair the maids had styled after catching me lounging around earlier. She looked utterly confused.
"Huh, why... why is that?"
"The young miss of the house has peculiar tastes."
"I see...."
Yeah, that's the normal reaction.
The nobles who'd treated it as ordinary were the weird ones.
"Anyway, let me show you Whitey."
Still, whatever.
Now that the tamer was here, it was time to bring out the pupil.
I ducked into my doghouse, picked up Whitey—who was sprawled asleep on the cushion—and carried him out.
"Oh, he was sleeping way in the back?"
"He always crashes here."
Thanks to him, my space felt cramped as hell.
It was tight enough already with all the little rewards I'd gotten from joining that investigation team.
"Hmm, he must really trust you...."
"Here, hold him."
"Alright...."
True to form as a beast tamer, she carefully scooped Whitey into her arms and examined him closely.
After staring for a good while....
"Mm! He's so cute!"
That was her verdict.
"...And?"
"Huh? Oh... he's in good health? Well cared for. His coat has a nice sheen."
...Of course. The maids groom him every day.
They all have so much free time, they stop by and pamper him whenever they pass.
"How do you plan to train him...?"
"Well... he's still young, so just potty training and basics for now. But first, I need to gauge his temperament."
"Temperament?"
"Yes. Even wolves vary by individual, so you assess the pup and tailor the education accordingly."
Oh ho... a systematic approach.
"Treats work well, but since he's little...."
That's when, as she was explaining the training regimen....
"Oh, looks like he's awake?"
Whitey, who'd been limp and dozing in her arms, opened his eyes.
"We must've been too noisy."
Blink, blink.
After rubbing his eyes against the brightness, Whitey fully opened them and fixed his gaze on Sienna.
And then—
Kyeng...!
He wriggled in her arms, reaching out toward me with his paws.
"Aww, so precious!"
Hmm, still shy with strangers, then.
Sienna handed him over as he squirmed, and I took him, setting him down on the ground.
"D-do you not usually hold him?"
"Why bother?"
We sleep together at night, sure.
But lugging him around all day would be a hassle.
Drag, drag.
The moment I set him down, Whitey latched onto the hem of my pants again.
"That looks like a complaint...."
"He's teething lately."
I get that his gums itch, but chewing on everything is getting out of hand.
It's actually why we called in Sienna.
"Please train him out of that."
"Ah, yes... Um, how do you know Whitey? You two seem really close."
Sienna glanced back and forth between me and Whitey, then at the two doghouses side by side.
"I picked him up."
"Pardon? From where?"
"I was taking a stroll in the Kaine Mountain Range and brought him back."
"Ah, a stroll in the Kaine Mountain Range...."
My explanation sounded ridiculous even to me. > > My situation was too convoluted to convey simply.
"Ah, yes... must be a complicated story...."
Fortunately, Sienna didn't pry further.
Anyway, after that.
"Come here!"
Sienna started playing with Whitey in earnest, probably to kick off the training.
"Got a frisbee or something?"
"Inside."
"Oh, it's a bit worn? You play with this normally...."
"...I used it for my training."
"Pardon?"
"Don't ask."
"Ah, yes...."
There were a few awkward moments like that.
But Sienna spent the whole morning in the garden observing Whitey.
"Mm, he's playful and good-natured!"
She finally stood, brushing off her rear with her conclusion.
"Since it's the first day, we can try some simple training."
"Yes, please do."
Looks like the real training was about to begin.
One issue, though?
With Whitey's house right next to mine, I'd end up watching the whole session whether I wanted to or not.
"Oh, right. What does Whitey usually eat?"
"Meat from the mansion kitchens."
We'd started with warmed milk, but now that his teeth were in, it was meat time.
"Hmm, what kind?"
"See for yourself. Lunch should be here soon."
Thanks to Sienna playing with him all morning, it was lunchtime now.
So, feeding time....
"Ah, here it comes."
Sure enough, maids appeared maids approached from across the way.
"Lane, sir, your lunch."
"Thanks."
Mine was four perfectly grilled steaks, soup, and bread on a tray.
Whitey's was minced raw meat in a bowl.
And....
"We'll serve the beast tamer separately."
Sienna, as Rowell's invited expert, seemed to have a private meal arranged, but as they tried to lead her away....
"Whoa... Ah, no, I'll eat here."
Amazed by our spread, she said that.
"I need to bond with Whitey first. With wolves, building intimacy is key."
"I see."
"Yes, and spiritual beasts recognize close people well, so that's a plus."
She watched Whitey devour the minced meat as she spoke.
...She knew he was a spiritual beast?
Well, Rowell wouldn't have hired just anyone.
The Boyd family only brought on top talent with proven trust.
Wonder what her hometown was like.
Her striking looks had thrown me at first, but her movements showed signs of serious training.
"Why are you staring like that?"
"Oh, nothing. What weapons do you use?"
Our eyes met as she noticed my gaze, so I asked.
Should be fine to inquire about her main gear, right?
In this world, it's like asking about hobbies.
"Pardon? Uh... I use axes."
"Ah."
"Throwing axes or a crossbow, like whoosh-whoosh."
She mimed swinging her arm to demonstrate.
"For hunting?"
"Yep, back home we hunt with our wolf packs."
Hmm, makes sense.
The north was barren land, so heavy reliance on hunting.
Farming wouldn't thrive there anyway.
"What do you mainly hunt? Monsters common often?"
The north was piquing my interest now.
Hunting in the woods with wolves.
Sounded better than I'd thought.
Were there mercenaries up there? I was curious.
"Most things are fine, but trolls are a bit of a problem."
"Trolls?"
"Yeah, the ones up in the mountains come down and eat livestock."
That'd be a real headache.
Trolls were monsters that needed silver-rank mercenaries swarming them—or an Aura user— to take down.
"How do you handle them?"
"Hmm, the village elders go, or I lead my friends to kill them."
"...I see?"
I subtly sized her up.
Troll-slaying level?
Friends—actual people, or tamed beasts like her wolves?
My interest spiked.
"Wh-why are you staring again?"
"Sorry, my mistake. Eat up."
Whatever. She was Whitey's tamer, not mine.
I let it go.
I had plenty of sparring partners lately anyway.
Once my break ended, I'd head back to the Kaine Mountains, so better focus on resting.
And so.
"Whitey, come!"
After lunch, Sienna spent the whole afternoon playing with him and starting light training.
She showed no signs of leaving, sticking around the garden until late evening.
"...When do you head home?"
Whitey was starting to look worn out, so I asked. Sienna tilted her head.
"Me? I'm not going."
"Huh?"
"Room and board included!"
She pointed at the mansion, confirming she'd be staying there.
...So she'd be in the garden from dawn tomorrow too.
Rowell had really gone all out hiring her.
"Well, I'm heading out."
That day ended with her finally leaving at night.
And the next morning.
"Good morning!"
As I'd figured, Sienna showed up in the garden bright and early.
"Hm? Whitey's still sleeping? Does he sleep a lot?"
"Yeah, quite a bit."
"He's still a pup, so he needs his naps."
Sienna eyed Whitey sleeping, then rolled her eyes in mild distress.
"Hmm, hate to wake him."
She turned to me, lounging comfortably next to him.
"You seemed interested yesterday. Want to train together?"
"What kind of training...?"
"Rowell said I could use the training grounds! Can't let my skills rust."
I'd half-expected something Whitey-related, but she meant real sparring?
A bit out of left field, but....
"Sure."
I wasn't one to turn down a duel.
I hopped right up.