The Tamer's Golden Embrace
It swallowed my entire body in a brilliant golden light. The glow was as warm and comforting as spring sunshine, making me want to stay wrapped in it forever. What was this? Some kind of buff? A little welcome gift from the team leader to a newbie like me?
Since she'd said that joining the 3rd team made us family, it seemed like our 3rd team leader truly cherished her team members like family. That's why she was giving me this warm light bath. Besides, taming wouldn't work on a person in the first place, so this glow must be purely for me, the new recruit. No need to be tense at all.
It's the duty of a subordinate to gratefully accept whatever a superior offers—that's what the head butler taught me back when I graduated from the academy and served at the Rate family estate. Following that lesson, I decided to relax and enjoy this moment.
"There, all done. That took quite a while, huh?"
With that, the brief light therapy session ended, and the golden light that had filled the entire team leader's office was completely absorbed into my body.
Zzt. Zzzzt.
Right after the golden light sank in, I thought I heard sparks crackling in my head, but it quickly faded. What was that just now? Did I really hear that sound? I glanced at the team leader, but she just wore her usual enigmatic, subtle smile, showing no particular reaction. Maybe I misheard?
Well, it was just a brief noise, and I didn't feel any pain—in fact, the fatigue lingering in my body seemed to vanish. Nothing bad about it. I chalked it up to some auditory hallucination from the light absorption process and let it slide.
Normally, I'd suspect Ska of pulling some stunt on me, but right now, there was something more important to do. My boss had used her ability just for a newbie like me, so I needed to express my gratitude. These little gestures are what make smooth social interactions.
"How do you feel?"
Perfect timing—the team leader prompted me just right. Laying out the perfect setup for thanks like this, she really seemed like a considerate leader. Ever since meeting Ska, I'd had zero luck with people, not even ant-shit worth. Finally, a decent human had come into my life.
Thank you, Guild Master, for letting me meet someone good.
I silently thanked the guild master—who I considered a pretty okay person—for arranging this meeting. Then, gripping the team leader's hands that enveloped mine, I bowed at a perfect 90 degrees and shouted.
"Thanks to you, Team Leader, all my built-up fatigue is gone! Thank you so much! I'll work hard from now on!"
"Huh? Were you always like this? It's been so long since I used it on a person, I can't quite gauge it. Hmm... well, you look fine enough."
I barely caught the team leader muttering behind my head, but I was too thrilled at the thought of proper social life without Ska to pay attention. Anyway, after the greetings, I straightened up and looked down at the team leader before me.
She'd seemed pretty tall from afar, but up close, she was even shorter than Ska. Must've been the great proportions making her look taller. Ska's in the mid-160s, so maybe the team leader's late 150s? She looks even prettier this close. Those eyelashes are insanely long. She might even be prettier than Ska...
"Now that you're part of my family, there's something you need to do first."
As I compared the fire-breathing world-burning Ska in my head to the team leader kindly feeding fish, her words snapped me out of it.
"Y-yes? Oh, right. What should I do, Team Leader?"
At my question, her eyebrow twitched for a split second. She brushed my cheek with her palm, her gaze sharpening slightly as she looked up at me. Her large amber eyes held mine, and she tapped my cheek with her fingertips, whispering in a ticklish, velvety voice.
"First, before I give you any work... change that uncute title from 'Team Leader.' Hmm... 'Master' is too cliché. Yeah, call me 'Senpai.' Not 'Senpai-nim,' just 'Senpai.' 'Master-nim' sounds cute, but 'Senpai-nim' feels distant. Family shouldn't have any distance."
"S-Senpai...?"
"Yeah, 'Team Leader' makes me sound old, right? Not cute at all. I hate being called that."
Team Leader—no, Silk Blond Senpai—pursed her lips straight and stuck out her tongue like she truly despised the title. Well, at 24—just a year older than me—it wasn't weird for her to dislike it. Her worldview seemed a bit unique overall. Still, unlike the former 1st team leader, she seemed like a good person. As her subordinate, I should accommodate her.
"Come on, try calling me."
A faint glint of expectation shone in Senpai's eyes. The first mission from the boss I'd spend time with—no way I could fail. Super easy command. Just say, 'Yes, Senpai.' No need to tense up. She's a good person.
This was basically my first order since joining Liar's Trap. Well, technically the second, since the former 1st team leader once ordered me to get out of the guild. Anyway, it was the most crucial task for my future social life. No matter the difficulty, I had to nail it perfectly. Good starts are half the battle, and getting the first button right is key.
So, Senpai's order to call her 'Senpai' was more important than anything—something I absolutely had to accomplish. It was no big deal, but it was the tensest moment since that academy day when Ska and I saw a letter with a heart sticker in my locker on the way home. (For reference, that letter got confiscated, read by Ska, and burned to ashes.)
TMI aside, I took a deep breath and opened my mouth toward her in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Ah... Y-yes, Senpai-nim."
"Hng. I said no 'nim.' Why'd you add it?"
Damn it. 'Nim' slipped out so naturally. I'd sworn not to mess up! Stupid idiot! That's why I couldn't escape Ska after 13 years!
I reflexively berated myself, but right now, answering Senpai came first. I made the most apologetic face possible, bowing my head slightly so she wouldn't feel burdened, and apologized.
"W-well... You're such an amazing awakener that 'nim' just followed after 'Senpai' automatically. I won't make that mistake again. Sorry!"
"To mess up the first order—and such an easy one. You look sharp, but the contents don't match the packaging, huh?"
"Pardon? Ah... sorry."
Guess I made a bad first impression. If I were her, I'd be annoyed too if my first subordinate was incompetent and airheaded. I got why she looked a bit uncomfortable. Pathetic that I couldn't even say a title right—I couldn't meet her eyes. With my head half-bowed and gaze down, a soft hand suddenly stroked my head.
"It's okay. Lift your head. Everyone messes up once. Of course, not if it repeats."
At her words, I looked up. Right in my view was an angelic beauty even prettier than Ska, smiling benevolently as she petted and encouraged me. She was a tamer incarnate.
'Silk Blond can tame humans too.' That absurd rumor must've started because she's so kind and warm. If my independence was any weaker, I'd have jumped into her arms calling her 'Mommy'—her aura of compassion was that inviting. No wonder people said she was born to be a tamer. Who else could do it?
"No need for guilt. Just don't repeat the same mistake. You were nervous, right? I get it."
A good person I hadn't met in ages was emanating good vibes and encouraging me with kind words. It stirred orphanage memories of the director I'd half-forgotten—I was genuinely moved by Senpai.
"Se-Senpai..."
We'd just met today, but every action from her felt sincere. Having survived the scheming academy days without being naive, I could tell. Yeah, I could pledge loyalty to someone like her.
"Yeah, good. That's enough encouragement. Come here for a sec?"
Just as I thought that, she stopped petting my head, beckoned me to follow, and headed to her chair.
"Ah, yes!"
With my favor toward Senpai skyrocketing, I resolved to 'nail whatever she asks perfectly!' and trailed after her eagerly.
"Now comes the most exciting part. Everyone reacts differently to this first task."
Senpai said something cryptic, sat in her chair, and I looked down at her, radiating 'order anything!' aura. Maybe sensing it, she smirked amusedly and slipped off her slippers hooked on her toes.
Huh? Why remove the slippers? Before the question faded, she crossed her bare leg toward me.
What? Foot massage? A 3rd team tradition to test loyalty? Nah, she's the only one in 3rd team—no traditions possible.
My wild guesses at her stunning pale foot cut off at her languid command.
"Kiss the top of my foot. With sincerity. That's an order. No mistakes this time."
The command blew away all questions and deductions—it far exceeded imagination. Was this a joke? An S-rank's S-rank prank? Had to be. No sane person would order this seriously, right?
I stared at her, doubting my ears. Senpai gazed up languidly with a bright smile. Not joking eyes. She was dead serious about making me kiss her foot.
No way. Kissing a foot—like something Ska would order...
Wait, Ska? Something she'd do?
"No thanks."
Thinking of Ska sparked instant revulsion, and I blurted out refusal before I knew it. Post-reflex, I wondered, 'Shit, did I screw up by refusing?' But no—kissing a foot was straight-up insane. I'd refuse even if asked again.
Anyway, foot-kissing? Thought she was good, but she's just weird? My wariness shot back up.
Looking at her suspiciously... no, Silk Blond stared back wide-eyed in shock. Her usually half-lidded eyes fully open revealed how huge they were. Why so surprised? Did she assume I'd kiss it? If so, working under a total weirdo...
The head butler said weird bosses are worse than mean ones—you can predict mean ones, but weirdos have alien thinking, leading to unpredictable madness. Nah, probably not. Just shocked at my firm no.
I tried denying it, but her next words shattered my denial.
"Why? No, how can you refuse?"
"Huh?"
"I tamed you, and you didn't dodge... Is this even possible?"
"What?! T-taming? How do you tame a person? Wait, were you trying to tame me? That rumor about taming humans wasn't a metaphor?! Holy shit, that's creepy as hell!"
"Huh? Ah, no, it's... a misunderstanding. I can explain. So, look over here for a sec?"
"Pardon?"
Fwssh!
At her request to look, I turned instinctively—and golden light burst from Silk Blond's pale palm, swallowing me again.
Pzzt!
The light absorbed into me once more, with that familiar spark crackle in my head. The glow faded, vision normalized. Before me stood Silk Blond, expectant.
The once-beautiful woman now looked like a brainwashing-beam-firing maniac. Indescribable dread surged.
"T-tamed now? It worked this time? Come on, kiss my foot..."
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
At the insane foot-kiss order, I spun and bolted full speed. Of course, I couldn't escape an S-rank—got caught immediately.