Volume 1, Chapter 5: Not a tamer...?

*****

A year had passed since Tsuyosa and I met. Tsuyosa, as of now, spent a year dedicating herself to training that I've set up to her. One day while I was training, she wanted me to create one for her. Her own training. At first, I hesitated since I don't know what kind of training I could give to a dragon specie like her, but she still insisted

Not to mention, few days after I gave her own training regimen, she even started to create her own training regimen as she claimed that the one I've set up for her was too "easy". Since it was her own decision, I let her do as she pleased

Another thing that she asked of me was to "limit" her power using the ruler skill. I asked her why, and she answered-

"I don't want to rely too much on the power that you've bestowed upon me, master"

I thought that if that's what she wants, then that's what she'll get. I limited her power down to 50℅ and afterwards, she started to test it

"Fire Skill: Fire Needles!"

Her fire needle sliced through the trees, cutting tons of them in a line, then right after, all of them bursted out flames simultaneously

"That's...a fire needle...?"

I know that I shouldn't be surprised by now but seriously? A damn needle can do that?

"Yes, but my power is still too strong, master"

"What did you expect? You're now an arch dragon after all"

"Drop it down to 5%, master"

"Eh? 5%?"

5%?? Isn't that a big nerf?

"Please master"

*sigh*, "alright, alright"

I then proceed to limit her power down to 5%. She then casted another fire needle, but this time, chantless

...

The fire needle sliced through only five trees this time, then the flames within bursted simultaneously

"Eh? You're still this strong? But your power's down to 5% though?"

"Yes, but this is fine as it is master. Now I can fully practice my magic without worrying about the forest"

Oh...so that's why she wanted me to limit her power...well it'd be a huge problem if she did train without a limit on her power...

But...I wonder how strong she is right now if her power is at 100%...?

...

"Also, I still can't believe Tsuyosa evolved straight to an Arch Dragon..."

Right after Tsuyosa finished evolving, her class had gone up and she was classified as an Arch Dragon...if I'm not wrong, Arch Dragons are stronger than common dragons, and is rarer than them...for Tsuyosa to be able to evolved into one...who knows what her next evolution will be...?

I asked Tsuyosa about her lineage, but to no avail, she didn't knew. She also doesn't have recollections of who her family was

Finding for more clues, I started to look at Tsuyosa's info through my ruler skill, but what it says about her are the informations I already know. While I was finding more about Tsuyosa, there was one thing that caught my interest, Tsuyosa and I almost had the same Integral and Gained Skills

"Huh...Does the ruler skill also copies my skills to the target?" I thought to myself

Because if it is...then this could either be dangerous, or stupidingly a good thing...

Because in the conditions of the ruler skill, there was never specified if the skills gained by the target would be lost if they cancelled the contract. If the ruler skill does copy my skills and transfer it to the target and that target later on betrays me, the contract will break...

But...does the skills they gained from me retains?

There was no proof until now that my ruler skill can do that, hence I left that thought out at the back of my mind...

On the other hand, this could also play as an advantage for me. If my ruler skill does copy my skills, then I can literally make hundreds of people like Tsuyosa! But then, it also depends on which type of creature they are...

And now that I think about it, why would I need more people to get in contract with me when there's no real reason to?

Plus, there's that thought of the negative side of my ruler skill...

if I were to trust a wrong person...

...

Meanwhile, the squirrels also practiced with Tsuyosa. Since there are many of them, each squirrels set their own schedule of when's the time of their training. Of course I didn't come with any of that, they completely did it on their own. I just knew it the moment I noticed that they were taking turns on their daily routines

"Well what do you know, An arch dragon and squirrels being bestest of friends. Such a rare occurrence if you ask me"

Although they're really arent squirrels...just a name I unofficially named them with...

...

Unofficial name...

"Ah! That's it!"

Why I didn't thought of that sooner?! They were right beside me this whole time too!

"Now I really got to try it today to see the result!"

And with that, I called Tsuyosa through telepathy, a ruler sub skill, to call all squirrels back to our place for an important meeting

*****

As eager as I was, I asked the squirrels right away if they wanted to get in contract by the help of Tsuyosa. Apparently, Tsuyosa can understand what the squirrels were saying, I don't know if that's one of her skills, but I let her take the lead

The squirrels were happy to hear about it. Tsuyosa said to me that the squirrels said that they've been wanting for a master for so long that I was the perfect master for them, hence why they didn't left me. They treated me like I was their own master the whole time

I couldn't help but smile at the fact that they've been thinking that way about me. But I cleared things up to them that I didn't considered them as my servants, but rather, like a best friend that I've never had before. I can't see their reactions well, but I knew deep down that they felt what I was trying to say

Without further ado, I've put some of them in a contract circle. Since the ruler skill says that I can do multiple targets, I figured that maybe every each of them would be affected even though they're out of the contract procedure, and since they're one big family, I've named them as one, and the name I officially gave them was-

"Squirrels"

I've been calling them by that name for so long that I just had to call them by that name forever. They were happy about their family name, thus the contract was a success

As for the rules, I didn't set anything this time. I figured that maybe if I didn't put any rules, it would set it as "none" for them...the contract was sealed off so I think my idea worked

And I was right about the other idea. The other squirrels outside of the contract were also got affected by the evolution as well

"Squirrels...what a lovely name for them, master"

"Thanks, but here comes the final question..."

"Hm?"

Yes...the final question indeed...would my skills be copied and transfer over to the squirrels just like I thought...?

As the squirrels' evolution had finished, I immediately noticed that they're not the same little creatures anymore...infact, they've gotten a little big...

"Now you guys look more of a mole rather than a squirrel..."

"But they've gotten cuter, don't you think, master?"

"Yeah, they sure did"

I mean, I don't know what's Tsuyosa's definition of cute, but appearance wise, they look the same to me, only gotten bigger

"More importantly, their skills..."

...

Squirrels: Earth Spirit-

"E...earth spirit?!"

"Master?"

"Hey...Tsuyosa..."

"Yes, master?"

"Earth spirits...are...?"

"Strong and intelligent species master. They're also superior to common earth creatures, meaning that nobody, a common creature, dares to fight one"

"*Sigh*...the squirrels are Earth Spirits now..."

"Ho...now they're more powerful than ever, master"

"You aren't even surprised?"

"I am, but I'm stronger than them"

"Why are you competing with the squirrels out of the blue?"

...

As for their skills...

Integral Skills:

Eternal Vitality

Eternal Essence

Endless Regeneration

Versatile Wall

Gained Skills:

Reflect

Stone Barrage

Flash Step

Earth Prison

Illusion Fissure

...It did copy my 3 integral skills, but other than that, every skills were different...

"So I guess that Ruler Skill copies some of my skills?"

That's my hypothesis for now, but there's also a possibility that it depends on the species or class...

"Versatile wall...reflect...flash step..."

Sounds like a cheat skill to me! Looks like I also need to limit the squirrels' power too...

*Sigh*...I still can't believe that they get these ridiculous stats and skills right after evolution...

I wonder if the evolution result is the same for every tamer out there...

"That's where you're wrong, master"

"Stop reading my mind, Tsuyosa"

"Its your fault for saying out loud your thoughts, master"

"So? Does every tamer have this drastic evolution results?"

"Drastic for them, but not as drastic as yours, master"

"What do you meant by that?"

"Your tamer skill is of different than those tamers. Usually, we creatures and demi humans wouldn't be able to drastically have that huge impact and many skills, but it's the opposite in your case, master"

"So you're saying that this kind of evolution that you got was far from average?"

"It was above average, no, a rare drastic evolution, master. Also, tamers don't have sub skills like you do"

"Seriously? So even telepathy, and limiter are-"

"They don't have such access to those things, master"

"What about skill copying?"

"Tamers don't also have that kind of power, master"

"Rule setting?"

Tsuyosa just shook her head to gave me a "no" response

"N...no way..."

So the "Ruler" skill isn't even a tamer skill...?

Then...am I the only one who have this skill...?

"I can definitely say that you're the strongest tamer, master"

"Yet it's not even a tamer skill, its called "Ruler" skill"

"The strongest ruler then, master"

"Why do you sound so enthusiastic right now?"

"Because master's the strongest ruler, and I'm her strongest maid"

Her saying that while having a straight face made me let out a slight laugh

"Whatever you say. Let's prepare for lunch, its almost time for it anyways"

"Understood, master"

"You can at least call me by my name you know"

"That would be rude of me, master"

*Sigh*...

After letting out a sigh, Tsuyosa and some newly evolved Squirrels went out to gather some meat, and ingredients for our food for lunch

*****

Now back to the present, nothing major has happened since then. We've been doing the same thing what we've always do everyday, and all of us were contented by that kind of life

It had been a while that I've farther progressed my cooking skill, craftsman skill, and my two new skills, herbalist skill and gardening skill. As Tsuyosa and the squirrels gets stronger and acquire more skills day by day, I too was not only gathering various skills, but also renovated and built some infrastructures, tools and other stuff

The old hut that I poorly built was renovated into a comfy house with an indoor kitchen and two basic bathrooms. The reason why I built two was Tsuyosa lived under the same roof as me. She insisted that she wanted to be in the same house as mine so that she can protect me at any time. Of course I could refuse her, but knowing her, I doubt she'll listen, hence why I built a separate room for each of us with bathrooms next to our rooms

As for the squirrels' hut, I made it so it looked like a big stable house with a playground in the center for their upcoming kids to have fun. The playground that I mentioned was just some see saw, wooden slide, and a wooden monkey bars. I made their whole house a one big square rather than having rooms because with it, I felt like they'll be cluttered, they also agreed to my train of thought so I proceeded with that idea

As for the campfire, I made a base for it, surrounding it with stone walls and placing a fire core inside. The fire core came from Tsuyosa, whom she got from a creature that she fought last time. By putting her fire skill on the core, the core was activated successfully, having us a campfire than can be turned on and off by the snap of Tsuyosa's fingers. And since Tsuyosa has Eternal Essence, there's no need to worry about leaving the campfire on, not that we've done that before and are going to do it, its just a reminder for us...

As for the new stuff, I've built a well next to the Squirrels' house. The reason why I built a well was because I started my own farm and growing my own herbs. Although my intention from the start was to only grow ingredients, Tsuyosa suggested that I should grow herbal plants as well. I thought that It wouldn't be a bad idea since I may get another skill out of it and maybe even learn more skills through it, hence why I've built the farm a little bit farther from the well and the other side of the farm, the where the herbals would grow

Lastly, as of now, I've done nothing but cooking, training, and farming. I'm not complaining, but rather happy that I get to enjoy this kind of life than being in my bed unable to get up...

"If I hadn't died, I would probably still be in that hospital, all alone, with nothing to do"...I mumbled to myself...

Suddenly, Tsuyosa reached out to me through telepathy

"Master, I've encountered someone. I don't think they're here to be friends, what should I do?"

Looks like Tsuyosa met with someone that isn't a creature, she would've killed it without telling me otherwise...

"Hold it down for me, and as much as possible, minimum injuries. I'll be right there soon"

"Understood, master"

Before I left the place, I told the other squirrels to patrol and guard every area incase something happens. They swiftly got right into it and did their part as I quickly left the place onwards to where Tsuyosa and the other squirrels are...

*****

End of Volume 1, Chapter 5