Volume 1, Chapter 6:

*****

Using my Hawkeye skill, I quickly went to were Tsuyosa and the other Squirrels was and by the time I arrived, Tsuyosa and the one she was talking about were in the middle of their fight, where the enemy can barely even fight against to Tsuyosa, who didn't even got a scratch

"Tsuyosa, isn't that...?"

"Yes master, an Arachne, A violent one at that"

Eh? They even have spider looking creatures in this world?...but I don't know if I can even call this one a spider...

The Arachne's appearance was of any human like appearance. The only distinguishing features was that this Arachne on hand, had a black void eyes with human like arms to each side

As my eyes go wonder around it, Tsuyosa immediately went for the final blow, subduing her as I ordered...

But as to my and surprise, the Arachne disappeared into thin air right after she made a blow

"Eh?! She disappeared?!"

"That was a clone master, the real one is hiding in the shadows"

"The shadows? Can they do that?"

"Of course master, it is a Shadow Weaver Arachne after all"

"Shadow Weaver Arachne?"

"One who controls the shadows and darkness itself. I thought for sure they went extinct years ago"

I've never heard of a Shadow Weaver Arachne before, but if Tsuyosa says so, then she must be one...

Suddenly, two arachne appeared to us, same appearance to the one that disappeared 

"Isn't there an end to this?"

"There is master, but I wanted to play a little bit more"

She said as she killed the two arachne with an ease

"Stop. I want us to go home as fast as we could if possible"

"But this is a rare opportunity for me master! Shadow Weaver Arachne are a rare species! Worthy for me to fight with!"

"Make it longer and you'll see us and the squirrels eating without you"

"That's too cruel! As you wish, master..."

While sadly pouting, Tsuyosa casted her Hidden Needles to a random place where surprisingly, she hit a target

*Ack!*

The arachne appeared to us right after she got hit by the needles in her shoulder

"Oh no! My cover's blown-"

"Move an inch and it'll be your final moment"

Tsuyosa, in a millisecond, was already infront of the arachne, staring at her intensely...

...? Is it just me? Or I'm seeing an aura flowing in Tsuyosa?

Whatever it is, that dark aura she was showing was enough for the arachne to fall down to her knees, cowering in fear

"Master, I did my job, I can eat right after this, right?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah"

"Mas...ter...?"

The arachne looked up to me right after she said that

"This...is your master...? This weakling-"

"Do you want to die?"

Before I could even stop her, Tsuyosa was a few inches away from killing the arachne. She was already ready to kill her, holding the needle near her neck as she strangle her while drowning her in her dark aura

"Tsuyosa, stop it"

"But she insulted you master-"

"Tsuyosa."

As I gave Tsuyosa a sharp glare, she seemed genuinely terrified and scared. She quickly obeyed me and stood behind the arachne

"Move an inch and I'll kill you"

"*Shivers*"

Tsuyosa really traumatized her after what happened, I should probably approach her in a gentle way

"I'm sorry about Tsuyosa she's usually like that"

"*Urk!* I'm not master!"

"I'm Aki, Aki Hikari, you are?"

"..."

"I see...well, can you tell me what happened? What led into this?"

"...it's her fault"

"? Tsuyosa's fault?"

"She burned down my traps and even my home! She did it first!"

"So that's why...

...

What?"

I looked at Tsuyosa, who seemed that even she, didn't knew what the arachne was talking about

"Are you sure that it was Tsuyosa who did it?"

"I've confirmed it earlier when we we're fighting! That was the same firepower that burned down my house!"

"That was barely even a fight if you ask me"

Can't say that Tsuyosa was wrong on that statement

"Still, Tsuyosa, she insisted that it was you who did it"

"I-I swear master! That wasn't me! Sure I burned down a lot of cobwebs and such, but I've never seen a house!"

"Those cobwebs were my home! You just admitted to it!"

"*Urk!*"

I looked at Tsuyosa menacingly

"Guess that means no dinner for you then"

"Master! Please! Anything but that! I didn't intentionally do it! That wasn't on purpose!"

"But I heard you through my cobwebs that it would be a good aiming practice..."

"*Ack!*"

"That calls for a harder punishment"

"Master! Forgive me! I'll do anything! Please!"

"Don't apologize to me! Apologize to her!"

Tsuyosa, even dejected from doing so, walked up to the arachne

"Look...I know I've threatened you earlier but, can we forget that this ever happened?"

"That wasn't even an apology!"

"Eh?! Ah- uh..."

Tsuyosa look at me with teary eyes that said "she doesn't want to forgive me master what should I do?"

"*Sigh* I'm sorry about this. How about you come with us for the meantime while the squirrels and Tsuyosa fix your place? I promise you that we won't do anything to you. Food and shelter provided"

"Huh? Squirrels?"

"These guys"

Some squirrels circled around her as if its their way of greeting someone

"Eh?! You have this many earth spirits?!"

"Oh? You know them?"

"Know them?! They're a powerful earth creatures than common earth monsters! Seeing them in a pack is a serious threat!"

"Somehow, I can kinda relate to that reaction just now"

The squirrels at that time, were hiding due to Tsuyosa's order. They were at standby and would go and retreat from the battle if ever Tsuyosa loses in the battle

"So...you're a tamer?"

"That's where you're wrong!"

"Huh?"

"Master here is not a tamer, he's a Ruler!"

"Ruler...?"

...

"*Chuckles* there's no such thing as a Ruler anymore-"

Suddenly, Tsuyosa started leaking her dark aura to her again

"-I'm sorry for laughing"

"? What do you mean by that?"

"Thousand years ago, there was also one person that had a Ruler skill. He had a lot of followers and a lot of strong subordinates, they were the leading nation over nations at that time..."

So there was already someone who had this kind of skill already...but what does it mean...?

"Due to old age, he eventually died, leaving his kingdom to his subordinates' care"

"And what happened after that?"

"The kingdom still exists as of today, although it's nothing like the kingdom before"

"What do you mean by that?"

"His subordinates drifted apart, one by one...never to be seen again. Legends say that some of them are still alive, but some say all of them might be dead"

"Why did they have to go on their separate ways? Couldn't they had just stayed together?"

"You don't get it, do you?"

"About what?"

"What's a subordinate without a Ruler would do?"

"That's..."

It's because their ruler died hence why they aren't bounded anymore by the "rules" set by their ruler...was that the answer...?

"Anyway, I still don't believe that you're the next Ruler. It's been a thousand years since one showed up...It will never happen again"

I like to prove it to her for some reason, but I don't know how to...

"Master, show your mark"

"Eh? My mark?"

"Yes, I believe she'll be convinced one she saw it"

I guess it doesn't hurt to try Tsuyosa's suggestion for once...

"Alright, how about this as a proof?"

"Proof?"

I showed her the cross shaped mark on my right hand as Tsuyosa had mentioned earlier my right hand glow infront of the arachne as if it was signalling to her that it's real

"N...No way...for real...?"

"Hm? Did it convince you now?"

"That was the mark that the previous Ruler had...of course nobody can fake it...but to be able to see one again...there's no doubt that you're the next ruler"

"I see...wait, again? What do you mean by that?"

Before I could even ask her about that, she quietly and quickly kneeled down, bowing her head as she said something

"I, Arania, A Shadow Weaver Arachne, former subordinate of the first Ruler, hereby asking you, the new Ruler to be at your service"

"Huh

...

EH?! Former subordinate?!"

Although it surprised me about her 180° turn in her personality, her being the subordinate of the last ruler meant that-

"YOU'RE OVER 1000 YEARS OLD?!"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"N-no...I'm just surprised..."

"Well, what do you know Master, she's starting to acknowledging you even more! Why don't you take her in?"

Moreover, I can't believe Tsuyosa just whooped a former subordinate of the last ruler just like that...with a 5% power too...

"I want to be at your service, young master"

"Please don't be like Tsuyosa here, I already had enough of her calling me master, and what happened to your personality all of a sudden?! You're like a different person!"

"But isn't it natural for the subordinate to be formal to their ruler?"

"Don't compare me with your last ruler. I rather want you to act the way you truly are. I don't care about formality at all"

The arachne, or rather, Arania, looked up to me in bewilderment like she couldn't believe what she heard just now

"*Chuckles* That makes me want to be your subordinate even more! I can tell you'll be a great ruler!"

"You're totally right! Master is the strongest ruler after all! And I'm her strongest maid!"

Although Arania wants to argue with Tsuyosa, she couldn't because the gap between them was clear as day

"Are you sure about this? Aren't you happy that you aren't bounded by any rules now?"

"I'm more happy to serve a new ruler. Ever since our last ruler died, I was so lost that I don't even know what I would do after it happened. It even led me to separate from my sisters..."

Sisters? I couldn't ask her about that right now since I don't think its the right time to ask that but, I wonder where they are right now?

"So I want to be in your care! I want to be the subordinate of the new ruler!"

I can't really say no to that after that declaration, can I?

"Alright, if that's what you want, but don't say I didn't warn you though"

"Yes! Thank you!"

"*Chuckles* there's no reason to thank me"

Although there's none, I believe she said that because it gave her a new purpose in her life, which she was implying earlier...

"M-Master? I know I've made a mistake, but can I also eat? I promise I won't do it ever again!"

"*Sigh* I hope you learned your lesson, is that okay with you, Arania?"

"If that's what you want, Hikari sama"

"What's with the sama? I told you I don't need formalities"

"It's what I wanted to call you"

"...suit yourself"

Even if I wanted her to stop, she probably going to start thinking of more honorifics...

Tsuyosa, Arania, the Squirrels, and I had gone back to our place to eat first and then proceed to the contract after

*****

End of Volume 1, Chapter 6