Ryuji's Modern Day Dilemma

There were two pairs of orbs looking back at Ryuji. Those pairs of eyes gave a look that was something he could not resist. He remembered some videos on the internet when he was in the previous world about animals being cute, while cats give those perfect circular eyes that are criminally adorable, other furry animals can do it too. He never thought that he would be seeing it in his second life and this time it's these wolves would pull such a trick on him. 'Where the heck did this thing come from?' Ryuji thought while cringing to resist, looking at the now crouching pair of giant fur staring back with eagerness as if telling him to take them. Their tails wagging as they try to control their excitement and anticipation.

Ryuji and Takehiko did not have an actual pet when they were living their former lives back on earth but only know these behaviors as they observed from afar and from online videos and pictures. Thanks to technology providing the wonders of the internet. He violently inhaled and mustered to compose himself but looking at the pair of eager orbs made him falter. He just wanted to search for his brother. He was touched by how this pair of wolf brothers became close. "Okay." He replied in defeat.

The wolf brothers' tail wagged vigorously as soon as they heard the goblin speak. They swore in their minds to follow such a great person. Pyun-pyun on the other hand is just observed. The slime seemed observing at the side and seemed oblivious that the fur beings that were bowing to his master will be serving alongside him soon.

"What now?" Ryuji was confused about what to do next. He knows about the tame he used on Pyun-Pyun before, but he only used it on Pyun-Pyun only that time because it was a spur of a moment.

The younger wolf spoke, "Great one, I have heard this to my elders, they called it a forbidden magic to bind creatures. You must use it to bind us."

Ryuji knew it came to this, but he has reservations. He would not like to bind a sentient creature. One because he does not like for them to be a slave. Second, if it does happen to creatures, does that mean he is also susceptible to this magic. It is different from domesticating a creature like Pyun-Pyun since its oblivious and behaves more like a pet. However, the wolf has sentience and intelligence to hold conversations which is a dilemma for him. These two have the intelligence to make their own decisions unlike when he first encountered a slime. "I think… I would decline to do that." Ryuji replied with reluctance.

The wolf brothers were confused. They already decided to follow this powerful creature to the end of their lives. Why is he hesitating? Then a familiar voice resounded. "I didn't think that the taming spell would have a dilemma to you of all creatures…"

The wolf brothers looked where the voice came from. A black jackal with a body of a man wearing weird clothing. For the wolf brothers, this being is the very personification of majesty. They could feel the tremendous power coming from the stranger who appeared out of the blue. The three creatures bowed as they were terrified by the mere presence. But the goblin was not scared at all, for Ryuji, Yubis, he could not have appeared the best time. It seems the gods were probably helping him. But he never knew that Tartarus had an eye on him since last night. The deity of technology has been working on a new system installed. A few hours ago, people just created a chat function. Now they are doing the testing as Hades planned.

Yubis came as an apparition sustained by the energy coming from the Tartarus realm, they are testing new ways of communicating. As per Hades this can be used in the future to sustain and increase the devotion of believers. This manifestation of Yubis is a beta test to connect Tartarus' power and Zariya's magical energy. It is partly Ryuji's fault due to the excess power that was transferred during the transmigration of his soul. The management of Tartarus was trying to implement this, but they did not have enough energy to run it but since they have a lot of excess due to Ryuji's last transfer, they can try this small test especially since there is a technical deity present.

"Yubis!" Ryuji exclaimed. He was happy to see this Jackal God again. He has some questions from Vreta's visit and he is craving wise advice with this dilemma. He has some morality left from his previous life.

"What are you doing?" Yubis asked so he does not seem to be snooping around. But in reality, he was monitoring this due to various reasons. First, he came to remind this guy about the Goddess of Dreams quest that was given the other night. It was something that needs to be addressed soon as the lost artifacts are required to bridge the dream realm and Zariya. Second, he can sense some dilemma arousing since he was watching the feed a few moments ago. He ought to do something since these canine creatures are his domain. He is a deity that embodies canine creatures. Not to mention that if this test succeeds, they can use this method to contact people as well as the other transferred people in the future. He will not be giving out precious papyrus anymore like he gave Ryuji when the latter first arrived. Or so he thought.

"I'm prepping for that thing, Vreta-chan asked." Ryuji replied. He needs to finish the dream Goddess quest soon. The loli goddess would be bugging him in his dreams again if he does not do what she wants. Oddly enough, it looked like a cliché to be asked by someone magical about it.

"You have a lot of guts to call Goddess Vreta." Yubis narrowed his eyes on Ryuji but then thought. "wait… on the second thought, it is kinda cute." This Jackal god will surely tease the loli goddess later on. To be fair, Yubis is a lot older by several millennia than Vreta so it would be ok to call the loli goddess 'Vreta-chan.'

No wonder that this goblin is peculiar, he has some sort of relationship with powerful beings such as this Jackal man. The wolf brothers and Pyun-pyun were cowering at the side. They still do not know who the person is exactly, but the power that in Yubis invokes is remarkable especially to the wolf brothers. The younger wolf feels that it's not just a mere powerful being, but he can sense that the Jackal man in a peculiar clothing is somewhat of a different realm, more like a divine being.

"Anyway, since Yubis-san is here, I would like to ask your advice on 'Taming'…" Ryuji is confused with his dilemma of taming and since Yubis provided the earlier taming instructions or the lack of instructions, it would be best to ask him. Though it was straightforward for him to ask a god with this trivial matter.

"Why? What is wrong with taming?" Yubis asked. After all these millennia spent on Zariya he just put the basic taming spell. Others were not able to derive from it much except for greater creatures like dragons. However, it usually ends up rampaging after the person tamed it met its demise.

For taming familiars, they usually end up dying as their life is linked to the tamer. Taming a monster would mean eternal servitude. Once the tamer dies, it will also kill any familiar that was attached to it. At one point in Zariyan history, everyone tried to tame creatures which eventually led to people clashing and fighting to the death. But now surviving tamer families are rare. If they do, they could only handle several familiars at a time. Ryuji did not know these details, but he still feels wrong when taming sentient creatures to follow his will. Though the wolves might suggest it, in a short span of time that they may change their interests. Also, it might probably be a mistake for him taming Pyun-Pyun with the simple taming spell, but it was when Ryuji did not think it thoroughly before. He would like to revisit the contract later on.

"You see… these wolves are sentient…" Ryuji explained briefly about his stance on sentient creatures. For him, its not different as to human slavery back in his previous life, much worse that taming is similar to human slavery during the ancient era back on Earth. Yubis might have an idea about this but he has a modern view with it. "and the 'taming' instructions seemed to be brutal to force them into servitude."

"if I may," the younger wolf spoke, he shivered as Yubis and Ryuji looked at him. The younger wolf felt his legs wobbled. His voice cracked, the mere aura of these two were too much for him but he mustered whatever left of his strength and spoke as if it was his last breath. "It was us that suggested this action, oh great one! My brother and I are willing to follow such a personage as this great goblin…" The young wolf did not forget to praise the seemingly divine being that this goblin was discussing with.