By the time I staggered out of the Obsidian Howl Dungeon, the sky had already darkened. The forest beyond was quiet, save for the chirping of insects and the rustle of leaves in the cold evening wind. My entire body ached. Every step reminded me of how close I'd come to death.
And yet… I wasn't alone.
The sound of padded footsteps trailed behind me.
I turned, and there she was again—the kobold girl I had patched up inside. Her golden eyes glimmered faintly in the moonlight as she limped after me, stubbornly keeping pace.
I sighed. "You're still following me?"
She froze, ears twitching, as though caught in something shameful. But instead of looking away, she stepped forward, her voice hoarse.
"…Are you a beast tamer?"
The question struck me off guard. "…Yeah. I am."
Her eyes lit up faintly, her tail twitching behind her. "Then… can you tame me?"
I blinked. Of all the things I expected, that wasn't on the list. Usually, beasts resisted taming until beaten into submission. And yet here she was, practically offering herself to me.
Why?
Maybe it was desperation. Maybe it was the strange bond formed when I treated her wounds instead of finishing her off.
Or maybe… it was something else.
I considered her for a moment. She was adorable—even covered in dirt and blood, her fluffy ears and sharp curves made her far more striking than I wanted to admit. And beyond that… I was alone. My party had abandoned me. I had no one to rely on anymore. Having a companion—a friend, even—might not be such a bad thing.
"…Alright," I said at last. "If that's what you want."
Her ears perked up eagerly.
I raised my hand and focused. The crest of the Beast Tamer burned faintly on the back of my palm, glowing with pale blue light. I pressed my palm against her chest.
The contract flared to life.
A searing bond formed between us, raw and unshakable. She cried out, her body trembling as light engulfed her small frame. Her claws dug into the ground, her tail swished furiously, and her golden eyes glowed like twin suns.
I stepped back, shielding my eyes.
When the light faded, I froze.
She wasn't a kobold anymore.
Her body had grown, stretching upward until she nearly reached my neck in height. The fur along her ears and tail shimmered silver, thick and lustrous. Her chest strained against her torn leathers, her breasts fuller and heavier, her hips flaring, thighs thick and powerful. She had transformed into something far greater—an evolved Fenrir, a wolf spirit born of legend.
She looked down at herself, then back at me, her cheeks burning pink. And then she leapt at me, clinging to my chest with surprising strength.
"You smell… amazing," she whispered, burying her face in my neck. "Warm. Safe. I want to stay here forever."
Her tail wagged furiously behind her, thumping against my legs.
I swallowed, heat crawling into my cheeks. "Guess that's a good sign."
She looked up at me with sparkling eyes. "Give me a name. Please. I want a name only you can call me."
I hesitated, then spoke. "…Yelena. How about Yelena?"
Her face lit up like dawn breaking through clouds. "Yelena… I love it."
That night, we camped under the stars. I lit a fire with what little wood I could scavenge, while Yelena sat beside me, hugging her knees, her fluffy tail wrapped around herself. She spoke haltingly, as though unused to talking.
She told me her story. How she had once been part of the Demon Lord's army, only to be cast aside for being weak. How she wandered, hungry and alone, until adventurers found her. Instead of slaying her, they beat her, tortured her, laughing as she begged for mercy.
My blood went cold as the details matched all too well. Their cruelty. Their arrogance. Their voices.
It was them. My former party.
The fire crackled between us as anger simmered in my chest.
Yelena lowered her head, ears drooping. "No one ever helped me before. Not until you. You're the first… the only one."
I clenched my fists, then placed a hand gently on her shoulder. "You don't have to be alone anymore. I'll protect you. I'll be your friend."
Her golden eyes widened. And then they sparkled, brimming with an almost blinding joy. Her tail wagged so hard it kicked up dust.
"Friend…" she whispered, tasting the word like it was sweeter than honey. Then she pounced, tackling me onto my back, her silver hair spilling over my chest as she pressed close.
"I'll protect you too!" she cried, voice trembling with passion. "I'll comfort you, fight for you, and never leave you. You're mine now. You'll never be alone again!"
Her grip on me was tight, her claws pressing faintly against my shirt as though afraid I'd vanish if she let go.
And for the first time in years, I didn't feel like dead weight. I didn't feel like a burden.
I felt… wanted.
As the stars wheeled overhead and Yelena clung to me like her life depended on it, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe… this was the beginning of something better.
Something dangerous, yes. But better.