Malrik POV
While everyone was busy cheering for Saji and patting his back like he'd just saved the world (he hadn't—but sure, let the boy have his moment), I kept my eyes on something a bit more… slippery.
The tiger.
The damn thing had been knocked back a good ten meters by my deflection, but instead of retreating into the trees like a good little monster, it was trying to sneak away.
Sneak. A twelve-foot, tiger.
Cute.
I narrowed my eyes and lifted my hand. My Sacred Gear shimmered—a crack forming in the air like fractured glass.
From it, a glowing chain erupted. Smooth, silver, pulsing with energy.
"Stay," I said simply.
THWIP.
The chain flew forward like a serpent and wrapped itself around the tiger's hind legs before the beast even noticed it was caught. It roared, muscles bulging, claws digging into the dirt as it thrashed—
—and then promptly realized it couldn't move.
No matter how hard it pulled, the chain didn't budge. It shimmered faintly with runes and anchors—reinforced with anti-spirit and gravitational seals. I made it specifically for unruly beasts.
The tiger let out a low, defeated growl.
I gave it a glance. "We'll deal with you later."
Saji, meanwhile, was grinning like a kid who got a free upgrade on his Happy Meal. He was still kneeling next to his new wolf, petting it like it was a fluffy Shiba Inu and not a beast that nearly broke his spine five minutes ago.
"Alright," I said, stepping forward and holding out something I conjured on the spot—a sleek, rune-engraved black collar with a glowing blue gem at its center. "This will finalize the bond. Use it."
Saji's eyes sparkled like a middle schooler discovering anime for the first time. "Dude! A magical collar?! Sweet!"
He grabbed it and turned to his new wolf companion with reverence, carefully snapping it around the beast's neck. The gem flashed once—contract sealed.
The wolf's body shimmered. Everyone leaned forward in anticipation.
Saji's face lit up with unholy expectations. I could practically hear the internal monologue:
"She's going to transform… long silver hair… gentle golden eyes… toned, athletic body with fluffy ears… Please, gods… grant me my waifu."
Then—BOOM.
Light erupted.
Magic flared.
And standing where the wolf once was…
…was a six-foot-tall, jacked-out-of-his-mind wolfman, muscles rippling, pecs out, wearing tight black pants and a sleeveless tactical vest like he was auditioning to be Beastman Security Services: CEO Edition.
Everyone stared.
Saji's jaw dropped.
The wolfman gave a silent nod and stood protectively behind Saji like a loyal but intimidating bodyguard.
Aika blinked. "...Is it just me, or did his familiar turn into a literal bouncer?"
Momo coughed to hide her laughter. "Looks like he skipped waifu and went straight to 'Zaddy'."
Even the Towji tilted his head. "That ain't no magical girl, my boy. That's a man with protein powder for blood."
Saji's expression twisted from awe… to horror… to silent, broken acceptance.
"…Y-You were supposed to be a fluffy girl…" he whimpered. "Why… why do you have better abs than me…"
Issei, still hugging his genderless slime girl with a sigh of defeat, patted Saji on the back.
"Welcome to the club, man. We had dreams once too."
The wolfman let out a low growl—clearly ready to break someone's legs if Saji so much as sniffled.
I just chuckled and crossed my arms.
"Congratulations," I said. "You've got yourself a personal bodyguard-slash-gym coach. You'll thank me later."
Saji looked like he was about to cry. "I wanted a cute familiar, not Gerald the Protein Wolf!"
Aika burst out laughing, clutching her sides. "Gerald! That's it! I'm calling him Gerald now!"
Asia, bless her innocent heart, clapped softly. "I think he looks very reliable."
"Yeah," Mittelt added, deadpan. "Reliable enough to bench press a bus."
The group's laughter echoed through the forest as we wrapped up our insane familiar hunt. All in all?
Four contracts.
One lightning dragon girl, one muscular Undine, one genderless slime girl, and now... Gerald the Wolfman.
Not bad for one trip.
———
The forest had finally quieted.
No more beastly roars, no more flying Isseis, and—thankfully—no more slime-based trauma. The group was gathered near the clearing, tired but victorious.
Rias stretched with a sigh. "Well, I think we've accomplished more than expected."
Sona nodded beside her, adjusting her glasses. "Indeed. It's rare to obtain even one familiar on a trip like this, much less four."
Issei was slumped against a tree, still emotionally recovering from discovering that his beloved slime girl was genderless.
Saji sat beside him, arms crossed as Gerald—the jacked wolfman—loyally stood behind him like a silent sentinel of crushed dreams.
Aika was teasing them both.
Asia was chatting with her new dragon girl, who seemed perfectly content draped over her shoulders like a scarf made of thunderclouds and cuteness.
And me?
Well, I looked over at the giant tiger that was still bound, growling lowly in protest.
It had stopped trying to escape moments ago.
I walked over casually, hands in my pockets. The chain that still held it in place shimmered slightly, runes glowing faintly with containment magic. I knelt in front of the tiger and patted its head like a misbehaving housecat.
"You're lucky," I said. "I'm in a good mood."
Then I stood, turned toward the Towji, who was busy adjusting his massive backpack full of sprite treats and bottled dragon sweat or whatever it is he carries around.
"Hey, old man."
The Towji raised a brow. "You rang?"
I gestured at the bound tiger. "Consider it a thank-you gift—for leading us around the forest."
He blinked, surprised. "That beast is a rare class. A gift like this? That's no small gesture."
I grinned. "Then take it before I change my mind."
He grinned back. "I'll take good care of it. Might even enter it in a magical beast bodybuilding competition."
At that, I waved a hand, and my Sacred Gear shimmered to life. The glowing chain binding the tiger sparked, twisted—then morphed into a sleek black collar with gold trim. A long matching leash curled around and clipped itself into place like a loyal pet finding its new master.
The tiger growled once, but didn't resist. Maybe it finally realized this was the best deal it was going to get.
"There," I said, dusting my hands. "Gift wrapped."
The rest of the group was gathering behind me now. Everyone looked exhausted but satisfied.
Rias gave me a nod. "Thanks, Malrik. You really pulled off a miracle today."
"I try."
"Ready to head back?" Sona asked, looking around at her peerage.
"Yeah," I replied. "Let's go home."
The magic circle flared to life beneath our feet as the underworld forest began to fade from view.
As we disappeared in a flash of light, I gave the tiger one last glance.
It huffed.
I winked.
And like that, the Familiar Forest hunt came to a close. Everyone gained something... even if some gains were more muscular than expected.
----
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