This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Kain had Bea control the stalker and bring him to a secluded area of the park, far from the walking paths and surrounded by thick vegetation. It was an ideal location—no one would see or hear them here.

When Kain arrived, he finally got a good look at the man who had been tailing him.

At Kain's silent command, Bea gradually released her influence. The man staggered back, blinking rapidly, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he regained awareness.

His expression immediately hardened.

The man was in his late twenties, with a muscular build that spoke of years of physical training. A faint scar ran from his left temple to his jawline, giving his rugged features an even sharper edge. His clothes were simple but well-worn—the kind favoured by mercenaries or labourers who valued practicality over style.

Yet, despite his imposing physique, there was no trace of spiritual power in him.

Kain frowned slightly. An ordinary man. And yet, this ordinary man had managed to evade him for hours—possibly days. Even some trained beast-tamers would have struggled to keep their presence hidden from him and his contracts.

That meant he was either highly skilled in tracking and counter-tracking or had help.

The man's eyes darted around the clearing, taking in the dense walls of trees and the man-sized giant wasps hovering in every direction to prevent his escape.

His breathing was ragged, his hands clenched into fists as he tried to make sense of what had just happened. One moment, he had been following his target and the next, he was here, standing face-to-face with the very person he had been stalking.

"What did you do…why did you suddenly…?" the man demanded, his voice low and tense. There was a flicker of fear in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by defiance.

Kain crossed his arms, his expression calm but firm. "I could ask you something similar. You've been following me for days. Why?"

The man hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed his options. He glanced at Kain, then at the dozens of spiritual creatures encircling him, as if considering whether to make a run for it—after all, how strong could those bugs be? Even though he was an ordinary person, he'd killed spiritual creatures before.@@novelbin@@

And this kid? He was young. Probably no stronger than a 2-star beast-tamer.

But something in Kain's demeanour—the quiet confidence, the unyielding gaze—made him think twice.

"I don't owe you an explanation," the man said finally, his voice tinged with bitterness. "You're just another beast-tamer, another cruel human who believes that just because they had a little luck to awaken an affinity they can control the lives and deaths of us ordinary people!"

Kain raised an eyebrow, his tone measured. "I don't have the patience to philosophize the unfairness of the world with you, I only want my questions answered. So let's try this again. Why were you following me?"

The man's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it seemed like he might refuse to answer. But then he let out a frustrated sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "Fine. You want to know why I was following you? It's because of him. That bastard Alaric."

Kain's expression didn't change, but inwardly, he was intrigued. He had sensed the man's hostility toward Lord Alaric when Bea had briefly taken control of his mind, but he wanted to hear the story from the man himself. "What about Lord Alaric?"

The man's face darkened, his hands trembling with suppressed anger. "That greedy, arrogant bastard… he's the reason my family is dead."

Kain remained silent, giving the man space to continue. The clearing was quiet, the only sound was the rustle of wind through the leaves and the man's heavy breathing.

"It was fifteen years ago," the man began, his voice low and filled with pain. "I was just a kid, barely thirteen. My family lived in a small house on the outskirts of the city. We weren't rich, but we were happy. My older sister… she was beautiful. Kind, smart, full of life. Everyone loved her."

His fists clenched. "Then he saw her."

He paused, his eyes distant as he relived the memory. "One day, she went to the core of the city to run an errand and came across Lord Alaric. He saw my sister and immediately decided he wanted her—not as a wife, not as a partner, but as a trophy. He offered my parents money, land, and anything they wanted in exchange for her. But they refused. They loved her too much to sell her off like some piece of property."

The man's voice grew harsher, his fists clenching so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "But Lord Alaric didn't take no for an answer. He came back with his guards, demanding that my sister be handed over. When my parents still refused, he… he had them killed. Right in front of her."

Kain's expression softened, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. He could see the pain etched into the man's face, the raw emotion that had been festering for years.

"My sister… she couldn't take it," the man continued, his voice breaking. "She killed herself that night, rather than let that monster take her. And Lord Alaric… he didn't stop there. He ordered his men to burn our home to the ground. Everyone related to us—my other siblings, my neighbours, and nearby friends—they were all slaughtered. I only survived because I had gone to the butcher to try and bargain for some of his nicer cuts of meat. When I came back… there was nothing left."

The man's eyes were filled with tears now, but his voice was steady, fueled by a lifetime of anger and grief. "I've spent the last fifteen years planning my revenge. I've trained, I've studied, I've done everything I can to get close to him. Even if he's a 5-star beast-tamer, and I'm just an ordinary man…I will use my life to drag him to the grave with me!"

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Kain studied the man for a long moment, his mind racing.

"What's your name?" Kain asked finally.

The man hesitated, then said, "Darius."

"Darius," Kain repeated, his tone thoughtful. "You've been carrying this burden for a long time. But throwing your life away won't change the past."

Darius's eyes flashed with anger. "What would you know about it? You're a beast-tamer, one of them. You don't understand what it's like to be powerless, to watch the people you love be taken from you."

Kain's expression hardened his voice firm. "You're wrong. I've lost people too. And I know what it's like to feel powerless." Kain recalled the horrible car accident caused by a drunk driver that killed his entire family in his past life. "But I also know that revenge alone won't give you peace. It won't make you whole," Kain continued. "You've spent fifteen years preparing to die for this. What if I told you there was another way?"

Darius eyed him warily. "What kind of way?"

Kain took a step closer. "You're skilled. You managed to evade me for days, and that's not something just anyone can do. You have talent. If you work with me, I can give you the power you need to take down Alaric. And not just him. Anyone who preys on the weak."

Darius's breath hitched. Hope flickered in his gaze before suspicion took over. "Impossible. I don't have an affinity."

Kain smirked. "That's not a problem."

Darius stared at him, then scoffed. "And what's the catch?"

"Loyalty," Kain said simply. "Absolute loyalty."

Darius stiffened. "Loyalty to what?"

"To me," Kain said. "I don't do charity. If I give you power, I expect you to use it wisely. No reckless vengeance. No wasted sacrifices."

Darius hesitated. And then—finally—he nodded. "Alright. But only on one condition."

"What's that?"

Darius met his gaze, his voice unwavering. "That loyalty only holds as long as it leads to taking down that bastard Alaric."

Kain's smirk widened. He extended a hand.

"Deal."