01x02 - Comrades

[bunniefuu]

Ten pieces of goblin rune stone

and and 20 medicinal herbs.

Okay! Looks like it's all here.

You've passed the trial! Congratulations.

The Horizon Adventurer's Guild

hereby recognizes Rein Shroud

as an F-Rank Adventurer.

Here is your adventurer's card.

It's your identification from now on,

so take good care of it.

Right. Thank you.

And this is your reward. Fifty copper coins.

It was an F-rank job,

so it's not much, but

Still, as your rank goes up,

you'll be paid even more,

and given how quickly you passed the trial,

I'm sure you'll be promoted in no time!

Good luck!

Thanks.

If I'm going to work on increasing my rank,

I'll want lodgings to operate out of

But the amount I just

got paid won't cover it.

Okay!

Rein!

Sorry about the wait, Kanade.

Welcome back!

So, are you an adventurer now?! Huh?!

Yep, I sure am.

Really?! Congratulations!

Thanks.

I actually wanted to start accepting jobs

Is that okay with you, Kanade?

Yep! No problems here! Let's go!

Well, hell, you don't see this every day.

A bona-fide Cat Spirit.

Comrades

Do you need something?

Never seen a real one in person.

What's a Cat Spirit like you

doing in a place like this?

I've got nothing to say to you, buster!

Aw, no need to be cold.

How about we have some drinks?

It's bound to be more fun than hanging

out with this boring looking brat.

Hey!

Don't you mock my master!

Rein tamed me, got it?!

Huh? Tamed?

I'm a Beast Tamer.

Don't be stupid, kid!

Cat Spirits are one of the ultimate species.

How's a runt like this

supposed to tame one?

That just goes to show

how bad a judge you are.

Rein is an amazing Beast Tamer,

and way stronger than you!

Kanade

So this shrimp's supposed to

be stronger than me?

In that case

Let's see who's really stronger

between you and me.

And the girl will be the prize.

Kanade?

You're not gonna chicken out, are you?

Not when you're the kinda mighty Beast

Tamer that can tame a Cat Spirit

Someone like me shouldn't be

much of a challenge at all.

I don't care what he says about me,

but if I avoid this, he's likely to come

after Kanade again in the future.

Rein!

Found your nerve, huh?

She'd be in danger.

I can't let that happen!

Don't cry if I end up snapping

your twig of an arm.

There's a rare Cat Spirit on the line.

Maybe my luck's turning around.

Even if it's futile

I have to do whatever I can!

Ready go!

Rein wins!

Ow!

Okay, what's all the commotion?

You again?

My apologies, Rein.

The guild's actually

been aware of his antics,

It hurts so bad! What the hell?!

You stupid brat! Stupid brat!

and has been considering

suspending his license

You have our sincere apologies.

I can take it from here.

O-Okay.

I must ask, Rein

How did you end up contracted

with an ultimate species

during the course of your trial?

That came as a much bigger surprise to me!

S-Sorry

My apologies! My inner voice was leaking out.

Well, since you were able to

find such a powerful partner,

I'm sure we can expect

great things from you!

Until then!

How'd I do that?

I shouldn't be so strong.

Did you not notice, Rein?

When you're contracted with

a powerful species like mine,

it amplifies your own strength,

as the master, as a result.

Which means right now, you're about

as strong as a Cat Spirit, Rein!

I'm strong like you now?

That's like something out of a dream.

You honestly had no idea?

No.

I mean, no one back home ever contracted

with someone from an ultimate species, so

And I was just desperate, back there.

Oh, I see!

Well, I was super happy

when you protected me like that!

I mean why wouldn't I be?

Okay! It's about time we get to that job!

I'm gonna work hard!

Or so I thought, but

Why? Why this?

Why more herb gathering?

You are an adventurer, right?!

Shouldn't you be looking

for a legendary sword,

or rescuing kidnapped princesses?!

How about a job like that?!

I'm still at the bottom with an F-rank.

That means only basic jobs.

We'll just have to handle jobs like this

until we've got more experience

Okay, then. I understand.

I'm gonna work hard!

And yank all this grass out!

Okay, good job finding them.

Thanks. This should cover our quota!

Again with this?!

It's no fair!

I'm your familiar, so I want to help you.

Where do a bunch of temps

get off hogging all the credit?!

Well, we got the amount we needed,

so let's report back to the guild.

Wait!

Kanade?

Something's happening over there.

I can hear yelling and

Screams, I think?

Let's check it out!

Looks like your guards all

left you hanging, gramps!

They took off the second they

realized we were the Ebon Fangs.

How's it feel? Huh?

Having the adventurers you

hired abandon you like this?

The Ebon Fangs?

I heard about them while I was traveling.

They're a major band of brigands,

with over a hundred members!

They have a reputation all over

for the things they do,

and the things they do are really awful!

This is dangerous. Let's go get help.

No. I don't think we'll have enough time.

Please, spare my life!

"Hey, as long as you drop your wares,

we couldn't care less about you."

Did you really think it'd be that easy?!

P-Please, no!

We have to stop this.

I want to save him.

That's my master for you!

I'll jump in among them.

You protect the old man, Kanade.

Got it!

Here we go

What the?

Mister, are you okay?

Y-Yes

This way!

Who's this brat?!

Slaughter him!

To be absolutely honest, I was nervous.

Rein has the kind of potential

to redefine what a Beast Tamer is.

And on top of that, he's gained the power

of a Cat Spirit through our contract.

I would never think forming

this contract was a mistake.

But what if he has trouble

adapting to his newfound strength?

Would it negatively affect his mind?

Could it cause him to self-destruct?

I know what his orders were,

but I think it'd be safer if I was

the one fighting on the front lines.

Wow

It's like I was worried for nothing.

I can't look away from Rein as he fights.

What is this?

My heart is pounding!

That ought to do it.

Kanade, everything okay on your end?

Yep! He doesn't seem hurt at all.

Well, that's good to hear.

You're bright red! Were you hurt somehow?

No, no! This is nothing!

M-More importantly, Rein, that was amazing!

You did all that, without any weapons!

Well, to make sure we don't hurt the animals

we're trying to tame with weapons,

we were taught martial arts.

Wow, is that right?

Excuse me, but the two of you

really did save me from grave danger.

Oh, we're just glad you're okay.

But isn't a merchant traveling

without guards a little dangerous?

Actually, I had hired some, but

They took off the second things

took a turn for the worse.

They sound terrible.

They're of no concern, now.

I'm more worried about reprisals

from the Ebon Fangs

when they find out their men

have been beaten

You need to escape!

Everyone who has defied

them has been k*lled!

They're really that dangerous?

I guess we should capture them all, then.

Uh, Rein?

Hey, are you serious about doing this?

If they're as violent and vindictive

as they sound, we could run,

but that merchant and the people

and town might end up in danger.

I can't just let that happen.

But we're talking about

over a hundred bandits

Isn't that biting off a bit much?

Not exactly.

I've actually got a plan.

Looks like that's their hideout.

Thanks for the tip.

As for what we're gonna do Kanade?

I wanted to find the hideout!

But an animal beat me to it again!

I'm supposed to be Rein's familiar,

but I've been totally useless!

C-Come on, that's not true!

Oh, hey, ants

Really, Kanade, you've been a huge help.

I'm just goofing around.

So, Rein, what's this plan you have?

Well, it involves the temporary contract

That I made with this guy.

A bee?

These are actually called Ahrbees,

and they're a little special.

They've got a paralytic sting that will put

anyone who's hit by it down for 12 hours.

Wow! Wait

Aren't bees insects?

How can you tame them?

Oh, that. Have you heard of Insect Tamers?

Insect?

They're a sub-class of Beast

Tamer that tames bugs.

I went through the training

back home for a while.

I haven't quite mastered it, but

That's still amazing! Having the

skills from two classes?

The surprises never end with Rein.

You think so?

Anyway, I'm going to send

the bees after the bandits.

I want you to run to town

and get some reinforcements.

Roger! Wait

Shh!

Rein, you keep doing all

the dangerous parts yourself.

Am I really any help as a familiar?

Kanade, like I said before

It's fine! I just wanted to say it.

But what reinforcements do you mean?

Well, arresting a hundred bandits

will require extra hands,

so I want you to bring adventurers

and the order of knights.

The order of knights?

They're tasked by the government

with upholding the peace across the land.

Since we're dealing with bandits,

they're bound to come running.

Okay, got it!

But, just be careful, okay?

Knowing you, it'll be fine, but

I'll run away if it gets dangerous. I promise.

Okay! I'll be right back

with that help, then.

Looks like he brought his friends.

Okay, here we go

Did they follow us?!

It seems we managed to escape.

What a nightmare.

I thought it'd be a good way

to k*ll some time

and earn some coin until

we took on the Lost Woods.

And it should have been an easy job!

I can't believe we had to run

from a bunch of scumbag bandits!

We would've been better off schmoozing it up

with Arios and Aggath instead.

You were the one who said

that seemed "like a drag," Leane.

Because it would be.

I don't know why the Hero's

party is expected

to suck up to anyone

who isn't royalty, anyway.

But right now, more than any of that

I've got a bone to pick with you!

Isn't buying time for spell casters

in the rear the most basic of basics?!

Where do you get off

running away like that?!

True enough.

I'm amazed you accepted this job,

even temporarily, considering

Look, I already told you!

I'm a Beast Tamer,

and not cut out for combat!

Are you trying to put this on us?

Even someone as useless as Rein

could fight on the front lines

I d-don't even know who that is!

Then why weren't you more

thorough in scouting out the area?

Did you honestly think a single squirrel

was enough to gain the lay of the land?

Yeah! You should've just

tamed ten or twenty.

Where do you get off slacking,

you taming trash?!

What are you even talking about?

That's not even possible!

Forget ten. Most people

can't even tame two at once!

Fundamentally, a single Beast Tamer

tames a single beast at a time!

If you tried to tame

more than one at once,

it'd be enough to burn out

your nervous system!

And you two have been making

all these crazy demands

when you don't even know that?!

What is this?

What does that say about him, taming dozens of animals at once so easily?

Okay, fine.

It's clear you're useless, and a liar.

Well

We can hardly have people learning

that members of the Hero's

party screwed up like this.

Which is why you're going to

take responsibility for accepting

and failing this job on your own.

Got it?

B-But my reputation will be

I have over a thousand spells.

Mina has healing magic

that can even raise the dead.

Maybe you'd be more cooperative after dying

and being resurrected a few times?

O-Okay!

Fine then!

This has been a huge waste of time.

Truly.

And all of that nonsense he spoke

He was making it sound as if Rein was—

Dealing with this garbage has me exhausted!

Let's get back already.

I suppose so. Arios and Aggath

should be nearly done.

Wasting our time with those stupid lies

That piece of trash, Rein?

There's no way he's actually

any good at anything.

Whole body's numb

Can't move

Looks like that went smoothly.

Good work! And thanks.

Rein! I got help!

The little lady filled us in on the details.

I'm impressed you were able

to deal with the Ebon Fangs.

Then again, you were already

impressive back at the guild.

Well, you can leave the cleanup to us!

Thanks. That'd be a huge help.

Actually, I only see adventurers.

The knights aren't coming.

"We've no time to deal with

mere cutpurses," apparently.

You two should let us take it from here.

You already took care of the hard part.

Thanks for calling them so quickly.

You're probably tired, huh?

Nah, I'm fine!

I'm glad I was able to help you, Rein!

Yeah. And now it looks

like this is taken care—

What is that sound?!

Rein this is bad, I think those are

No way! King Lizards?!

What's the equivalent

of C-ranked monsters doing here?!

We were keeping them around

for just this kind of occasion!

Hey! Go ahead and wipe them—

This is no good, they're going berserk!

Rein!

Yeah!

He was able to hurt a King Lizard?!

There's more where that came from!

Damn

Take the bandits and get clear of the cave!

B-But we can't just

It's okay! We'll handle it.

Okay.

Everybody, move!

Don't you dare die!

This way! Quickly!

We'll see you later!

I wonder what the old me would have done?

The person who traveled with Arios' party

would've probably realized

he couldn't do anything.

But things are different now.

Kanade is with me.

And with her

It's been a while since we left the cave.

Yeah.

Taking on that many King Lizards

You've gotta imagine they're

You're amazing, buddy!

You too, miss!

She really is an ultimate species!

Hooray!

This is incredible!

Everyone's acknowledging me.

Me, the person who was kicked out

of the Hero's party for being useless.

Her being an ultimate species or my familiar

Those things don't really matter.

Thank you, Kanade.

With you by my side,

I get the feeling I can do anything!

Rein

Yeah!

Another Ultimate Species