A voice suddenly appeared in Harutos mind.
[Beast Tamer Activated.]
[Target available for taming.]
Harutos eyes quickly turned to Miyuki. She was standing next to him shaking, her body frozen with fear as the bandits closed in around them.
He thought to himself I just cannot do this. She saved my life, the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
Then Sophias voice came, calm and without any emotion.
[If you do not tame her both of you will die.]
Haruto was taken aback.
He was shocked his face showing it. Until now Sophia had only sent him messages she had never spoken to him like this.. There was no time to think about it.
He swallowed hard. Thought back to Sophia in his mind.
"Tell me " he said, trying to stay calm the Beast Tamer, Haruto said. "If I make a contract with Miyuki what do I get out of it? How do I survive?"
[There is no time for an explanation.]
[Your life is in danger.]
[Act first understanding will come later.]
Haruto slowly looked up at the bandits.
They were watching, waiting. If he did not do something now everything would be over.
His jaw tightened, the Beast Tamer Harutos jaw tightened.
I just cannot let her die again the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
He took a breath and then he turned to Miyuki and looked into her eyes.
"I know this does not make sense " he said quietly his voice firm despite the fear around them the Beast Tamer, Haruto said. ". If I do not do this we are both going to die."
Miyuki looked at him her fear still clear,. She did not look away.
"If this can save us " she said her voice shaking "then do it."
Haruto looked into Miyukis eyes for a moment.
Then he nodded, the Beast Tamer, Haruto nodded.
"Then I am going to form a contract with you, Miyuki " the Beast Tamer, Haruto said.
For a moment Miyuki froze.
The meaning of those words was not light the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought. No one would accept something like that easily.
But this was not a situation the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
After a moment she lowered her head slightly and nodded Miyuki nodded.
That was enough the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
Haruto slowly breathed out. Stepped closer to Miyuki.
But just before he moved he hesitated again the Beast Tamer, Haruto hesitated.
Before he had tamed beasts creatures without a will without thought the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
This was different the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
"How do I do it?" he asked internally the Beast Tamer, Haruto asked.
Sophia responded instantly Sophia responded.
[To initiate the contract physical contact is required.]
[Place your hand over her chest.]
Haruto stiffened for a fraction of a second the Beast Tamer, Haruto stiffened.
"You are serious?" he muttered under his breath the Beast Tamer, Haruto muttered.
[Confirmed.]
The bandits laughter echoed in the background the bandits laughed.
There was no time the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought. No other option, the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
His hand trembled slightly. This time it was not from doubt the Beast Tamer, Harutos, hand trembled.
It was the weight of the decision the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
"I am sorry Miyuki " he said quietly the Beast Tamer, Haruto said.
Before he could hesitate again he stepped forward. Placed his hand against Miyukis chest, the Beast Tamer, Haruto placed.
Miyukis body reacted instantly Miyuki reacted.
Her ears shot upright her tail stiffening behind her as her face flushed red Miyukis face flushed. A slight tremor ran through her. She did not move away Miyuki did not move.
She endured it the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
Because she trusted him the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
Harutos expression tightened, guilt flickering in his eyes the Beast Tamer, Harutos, expression tightened.
"I will not do anything to hurt you " he said softly the Beast Tamer, Haruto said. "After this I will accept whatever you decide, Miyuki."
At that moment a faint blue light began to glow from his hand the Beast Tamer, Harutos, hand.
The air around them shifted the air shifted.
Sophias voice echoed more Sophias voice echoed.
[Contract initiation in progress.]
Not away the bandits stared for a moment in confusion the bandits stared. Then they burst into laughter the bandits laughed.
"Boss, look at them!" one of them shouted one of the bandits shouted.
The leader smirked, crossing his arms the leader smirked. "Pathetic " he sneered, the leader sneered. "Could not even wait until night the bandits could not."
More laughter followed the bandits laughed.
"Guess he wanted to enjoy himself before dying the bandits guessed!"
They mocked without restraint completely unaware of what was happening the bandits mocked.
Meanwhile the light grew stronger the light grew.
A glowing mark slowly formed beneath Harutos hand spreading across Miyukis chest in patterns a mark formed. The symbol pulsed faintly reacting to their connection the symbol pulsed.
Sophias voice continued, steady and calm Sophias voice continued.
[Consent protocol available.]
[Proceed with or without confirmation.]
Haruto looked into Miyukis eyes again the Beast Tamer, Haruto looked.
"You are sure about this Miyuki?" he asked quietly the Beast Tamer, Haruto asked.
Miyuki did not hesitate this time Miyuki did not hesitate.
"I trust you Haruto " she whispered, Miyuki whispered.
That was enough the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
Haruto closed his eyes briefly the Beast Tamer, Haruto closed.
"Then proceed, Sophia " the Beast Tamer, Haruto said.
The light surged the light surged.
The mark completed itself glowing brightly before settling into place the mark completed. At the time an identical symbol appeared on Harutos right hand burning briefly before fading into his skin a symbol appeared.
[Contract established.]
[Demi-human successfully tamed.]
A sudden surge of power rushed through Harutos body, the Beast Tamer, Harutos, body.
His breathing steadied, the Beast Tamer, Harutos, breathing steadied. The weakness that had weighed him down began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of strength the weakness faded.
Then
[Level Up]
[Level Up]
[Level Up] x3
Warmth spread through his body flowing through his veins, like fire, warmth spread.
It was not just strength, the Beast Tamer, Haruto thought.
His senses sharpened, the Beast Tamer, Harutos, senses sharpened.
His awareness expanded, the Beast Tamer, Harutos, awareness expanded.
The world felt clearer the world felt.
Alive the Beast Tamer, Haruto felt.
Sophias voice echoed more Sophias voice echoed.
[New skills acquired:]
[Taming Bond]
[Demi-Human Detection]
[Shared Vitality]
[Summon Ally]
Haruto slowly opened his eyes, the Beast Tamer, Haruto opened.
For the time he did not feel weak the Beast Tamer, Haruto did not feel.