The Revelation

It took a while for Anon to come to his senses. All this time, Susu, sobbing softly, licked his face, sometimes casting threatening glances at her ancestor.

Raikishi, watching her descendant's reaction, couldn't help but smile. She waited patiently for Anon to calm down in order to continue the conversation.

What she said really shocked him.

Raikishi explained that she did not seek to mislead him or give false hopes. He is not destined to become a beast tamer or a Contractor. Everything she had said before was meant only for him. She established a mental connection exclusively with Anon.

Finally, she revealed to him the reason why he would be hunted.

Raikishi explained that the path he has to follow, like the beast tamers, forms its own unique power upon awakening, as well as the soul of the beast, which is closely related to the soul. It is this power that attracts many tamers and beast lords.

It is especially desirable for all seventh-level beast tamers and seventh-rank overlords, because it is the key to reaching the eighth level and the eighth rank.

Raikishi noticed that Anon wanted to ask something, and understanding his interest, she answered the question herself.

As Anon suspected, Raikishi said that she was able to get this power from someone like him and break through to the eighth rank. It was then that she met the spirit, but did not disclose the details.

"As long as you can be calm, I'm not going to eat you. First of all, you haven't woken up yet. You're not valuable in this state, but that's going to change over time. Secondly, for people like me who have reached rank 8, your strength, although useful, is not as important for a breakthrough as for those who are at level 7 and below," Raikishi said with a slight grin, licking her paws.

Anon noticed that his right eye was twitching from Raikishi's acting. He finally realized why he would be hunted. It was an immature but extremely rare resource needed to advance from level 7 and rank to level 8 and rank.

Even he himself, being at level 7, would have hunted people like him if he had known about it. Having calmed down and accepted his fate, Anon began to comprehend the information he received.

"First of all, what I thought was a curse is actually not one. Secondly, as the spirit said, I'm really special, and I'm not destined to become a beast tamer and contractor. That means I won't be able to sign a contract with Susu. And thirdly, it turns out that I am a real rare treasure for moving forward," Anon summed up with a slight irony, reflecting to himself.

"By the way, I'm wondering why this power doesn't work on you?" he suddenly remembered the oddities that were happening to him.

"Yes, this force is really strong, that's indisputable. However, it only affects those whose level and rank are below sixth. Starting from the seventh level and rank, the deflection force becomes less powerful. Unlike us, those with the seventh rank and level will notice the oddities and find ways to counteract them, even if not immediately," explained Raikishi.

"So that's the thing. So it doesn't work on you?" said Anon in surprise.

"Yes, the force is trying to work, but it's not enough. It just tickles a little," said Raikishi, the second person who was not affected by this force. Realizing this fact did not cause Anon much joy.

"Over the three years of observation, I've noticed something strange about this power. It's like she has her own consciousness. You should have paid attention to how this power works too, shouldn't you?" asked Raikishi.

"Does she have consciousness?" Anon asked incredulously. Then he started going over the events of the past in his memory, trying to find something unusual, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember anything.

"Eh, you're already so used to your power that you don't notice anything unusual. But for me, as an outsider, some things seem strange. Usually, when you don't communicate with anyone, the force has a passive effect on all your friends and family, that is, on everyone who knows you. However, when you start interacting with someone, does this influence not only weaken, but also change?" said Raikishi uncertainly.

It was just her guess, but at such moments it seemed to her that the force was not only decreasing, but also beginning to manipulate their memory, allowing them to learn some details about Anon, which greatly simplifies his communication. After Anon ended the conversation, this force disappeared, and the old influence became noticeable again.

It seemed to Raikisha that the force followed Anon's intentions and helped him facilitate interactions and achieve goals. This may also explain the situation with Susu. Why was she the only member of his family who did not fall under the influence of this force, but on the contrary, became the same as him, and the force began to perceive Susa as Anon himself?

Perhaps the force saw in her the closest and most trusted person of Anon, who could never pose a danger to him. Like Anon himself, the force began to perceive Susa as the most valuable partner and began to protect her.

When Anon heard Raikisha's guesses, he didn't believe her at first. But after some thought, he realized that he couldn't completely rule out such a possibility.

"By the way, Anon, I do not know how to tell you. But after I've told you all this, I'll have to do it," Raikishi's words distracted Anon from his thoughts.

"I suggest, no, I strongly recommend, no, I demand that you leave your home, this city and possibly the country, and hide somewhere. If you value the life and safety of Susu, hide," Raikishi said urgently.

She added: "All these three years, I've been watching you, not because I had fun watching you, but because I was afraid that something would happen to you. Before I came three years ago and found out about your identity, I didn't care who you were. It was only later that I realized that the most dangerous people for you were the beast lords from the Fox Empire."

This revelation struck Anon again. Today was a series of shocking news that poured out of Raikisha's mouth.

"I haven't thought about why the beast lords of the 7th rank Empire show such a favorable attitude towards your family. But then I remembered how in history there were cases when the lords of beasts and some tamers helped certain people. They took care of them, helped them develop and create families. However," Raikishi paused, looked at Anon seriously and continued, "they treated these people like cattle, which they carefully raised and fattened in order to get more offspring. And in the end, they used them for their own purposes."

Anon realized what Raikishi was getting at.

"Don't tell me that my family… That among my ancestors..." he couldn't find the words, not wanting to believe it.

"Yes, Anon. You're a smart boy. Most likely, there were people like you among your ancestors. And the Empire knows about it. That's why they treat your family so favorably. At least that's how they behave in public. But in reality, your family is just cattle whose genes have the potential of people like you."