The sun hung low over Renga Town, casting long, golden shadows through crooked rooftops and fluttering banners. The market buzzed with life—merchants shouting over enchanted trinkets, kids running after illusion kites, and somewhere in the distance, someone was absolutely losing a fight with a talking cabbage.
But Kazuki?
Kazuki was trying to get a corn dog.
"Just one more, please," he begged the stall vendor, face pressed against the glass. "It's not even for me. It's for… charity."
Slime bounced beside him, looking pitifully hungry.
The vendor squinted at him. "You were here fifteen minutes ago claiming you were on a diplomatic mission for the King of Frogs."
"That was technically true!" Kazuki nodded solemnly. "The frog did crown me with a lily pad."
"Come back when you've got coin."
Kazuki sighed. His Bronze adventurer badge glinted on his chest like a cruel joke. His wallet, on the other hand, was emptier than his logic during exams.
Just then—
BOOM. CRACK. HOWLLLLLL…
The town square trembled as a burst of wind howled through the air, sending carts flipping and cloth awnings tearing. A bolt of silver lightning slammed down near the guild's fountain, carving a crater into the cobblestone.
Everyone froze.
From the smoke emerged a wolf.
Not just any wolf.
This one had a sleek silver coat, fur streaked with lines of pale blue mana like lightning veins. Its eyes glowed gold. Its paws barely touched the ground, and every breath shimmered with magical energy.
The townspeople scattered, panicking.
Kazuki took a bite of his stolen corn dog.
"Cool," he mumbled, mouth full.
Aurelis came rushing down the guild steps, sword drawn. "Kazuki, step back! That's a Mana Beast, and a rare one! Silver-tier at least!"
Slime vibrated in alarm.
But the wolf didn't charge.
It stared.
Right at Kazuki.
Unblinking.
Unmoving.
Silent.
Kazuki stared back, corn dog halfway to his mouth.
"…Is it judging me?"
Aurelis stepped forward, tense. "That's no ordinary wolf. I've seen sketches of it in old bestiaries. It's called Raigen—a mythical lightning wolf said to appear only during celestial shifts. It's a companion-tier beast, untamable unless it chooses its own master."
Kazuki scratched his head. "Oh. So like Tinder, but for magical wolves?"
The wolf growled.
Aurelis sighed. "Please stop talking before it eats you."
Then, to everyone's absolute confusion, the wolf stepped forward… and sat. Right in front of Kazuki.
Like a good dog.
Like it had already chosen.
"…Huh?" Kazuki blinked. "Wait. Are you—?"
DING! [You have formed a bond with: Raigen, Stormfang of the Celestial Wilds] [Title Earned: Beast Idiot Whisperer]
Aurelis visibly froze. "No. No, no, NO. This isn't FAIR."
Slime made a smug bubbling noise.
The guild receptionist ran outside, clutching a scroll. "We heard the mana spike—what in the flaming wyverns is that?!"
Raigen sneezed.
The sky rumbled.
Later That Night…
Back in their temporary inn room, Kazuki was squished between Slime and Raigen on the bed while trying to brush corn dog crumbs off his shirt. Outside, thunder rolled like a lullaby.
"So," he whispered to Raigen, "are you, like… a god wolf? Or just really cool?"
Raigen blinked.
Slime bounced once, as if saying, "Don't let it go to his head."
Then, a knock at the window.
Kazuki turned, fumbled open the shutters—
And saw a person standing across the rooftop under moonlight. Long black cloak. Sharp features. Familiar scowl.
Atsumu Hoshikawa.
Kazuki's self-declared rival.
Top of his hero class.
Sword genius. Fire affinity. Guild Gold-rank.
And also the only person who actually did things by the book.
"You," Atsumu said, pointing.
Kazuki blinked. "Me?"
"Stop getting ahead of me. I swear, if you befriend a dragon next, I'll set something on fire."
"Hey!" Kazuki grinned. "I'm not doing anything. Stuff just kinda… happens."
Atsumu growled and vanished in a burst of flames, probably to punch a tree or scream into the void.
Kazuki yawned.
"Alright. Tomorrow we eat eggs and maybe rescue a princess from something."
Slime bounced twice.
Raigen curled up beside him.
The moon glowed.
The storm waited.