Chapter 5

If I can tame the sea hippo, it might be able to pull our ship.

Even if I can't tame it, if I can communicate with it, the possibility of avoiding conflict will increase.

There's no harm in trying.

"Sea hippo, what's wrong?"

While activating my Tame skill, I call out to the sea hippo.

Then,

"……………………?"

I can sense the sea hippo's unspoken will.

I understand that the sea hippo is interested in me.

I don't feel any hostility. It doesn't seem very hungry either.

If the sea hippo understood the common language of the demon race, it would respond with a verbalized will.

In other words, the sea hippo is a creature that doesn't understand our language.

Still, I gradually increase the intensity of my Tame skill while speaking to the sea hippo.

"We don't intend to harm you."

"……Soccer"

I make the sea hippo understand our language and verbalize its will.

This is the true strength of my "Tame" skill.

There are other users of the Tame skill, but in this world, only I can do this.

Being a member of the hero party is not just for show.

Still, I told the sea hippo that we have no intention of harming it, but it doesn't seem particularly interested.

Maybe it's because it's the strongest around here and doesn't know fear.

"What do you want by coming close to us?"

"It looks interesting, so I came."

It seems the sea hippo is a curious species.

"I see. I think we can get along well."

"Yep."

After listening to my words for a while, I report to Victor again.

"The sea hippo seems to have a gentle and curious nature. It just approached out of interest."

"Can we assume that conflict can be avoided?"

Victor asks in a loud voice.

Victor himself, who was nearby and heard my words, understands the situation.

So, this is a question for the adventurers to hear.

"Yes, you can relax. Conflict has been avoided."

I answer in a loud voice so everyone can hear.

The adventurers seem relieved after hearing the exchange between Victor and me.

"Theo, I have something I want to ask the sea hippo! Can you ask it for me?"

"Kerry, calm down, we'll do it later."

While brushing off Kerry, Victor asks me.

"Theo, is it possible to tame the sea hippo and have it pull the ship?"

"It depends on the sea hippo."

Taming has stages.

The first stage is communication of will. This is what I'm doing with the sea hippo now.

The second stage is an equal cooperative relationship.

A relationship where we pay a price and receive cooperation.

The third stage is the subjugation of the monster.

Specifically, connecting magical circuits to place the monster under my control and make it my familiar.

While the first stage is essential, to progress to the second stage or higher, we need the monster's consent.

It's not possible to forcibly tame a monster against its will.

I call out to the sea hippo, which is circling near the starboard side of the ship.

"Sea hippo, we're in trouble right now."

"Kyu?"

After making a sound, the sea hippo quickly approaches the ship.

It surfaces near the starboard side, tilting its head to look at me.

"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"

The monsterologist Kerry, excited and almost hyperventilating, was sketching furiously.

Ignoring Kerry, I explain the situation to the sea hippo.

"The wind has stopped, and we can't move. Can you pull us?"

"Kyu... I can... but..."

"Is there anything you want or something you'd like us to do?"

When dealing with monsters, a price is always necessary.

The price doesn't have to be a physical object. Mutual security guarantees can also be a form of payment.

"Um... Not really..."

The sea hippo seemed to be thinking, so I took out various items from my magic bag to show it.

But it didn't seem very interested in any of them.

Victor and the other adventurers were more interested in my gestures.

Skills are like innate magic.

While it's possible to raise the skill level through effort, it's not possible to learn them.

They are fundamentally innate.

Taming is a rare skill.

This is probably the first time the experienced adventurer Victor has seen someone actually taming a monster.

Taming is essentially negotiation.

Feeling the adventurers' gazes, I continue negotiating with the sea hippo.

"How about this? I don't know if it's to your taste, but..."

"Kyu?"

The food I offered didn't elicit much of a reaction.

It probably doesn't need food since it can easily catch its own prey.

None of the items elicited much of a reaction, and I was at a loss when the sea hippo said,

"Share magic power."

"Magic power? In that case, it would mean becoming a familiar. Is that okay?"

To share magic power, we need to connect magical circuits.

This requires subjugation.

Naming and sharing magic power can also be considered a form of subjugation in the context of a transaction with a monster.

While the second stage of taming is a one-time contract, the third stage of subjugation is a permanent contract.

I explain this to the sea hippo in detail.

But the sea hippo says,

"Okay."

It doesn't seem to hesitate about subjugation.

"I see. Thank you."

"Kyu"

Some monsters are inexplicably popular with my magic power.

This isn't the first time I've been asked to subjugate a monster.

In fact, a considerable number of my familiars live in nature around the world.

"If we subjugate you, we need to give you a name. Do you have any preferences?"

"Macel"

Since it was left to me, I had to think. I'm not very good at naming, but there's no choice.

I think of a name for the sea hippo, gather magic power in my right palm, and create a magic circle.

I hold the magic circle in front of the sea hippo's nose and chant.

"I, Theodore Durkheim, give you the name Hippolius and my magic power, making you my familiar."

"Kyu. I am Hippolius, a familiar of Theodore Durkheim."

When Hippolius, formerly the sea hippo, says this, the magic circle glows.

A magic circle appears on Hippolius's forehead for a moment and then disappears.

The effect activates when Hippolius, formerly the sea hippo, accepts the subjugation and the magic circle.

This completes the subjugation ritual.