Chapter 17: The Rise of the Waifu Tamer
The dungeon was eerily silent, save for the shallow breaths escaping Haru's lips. His body was battered, his muscles burned with exhaustion, and his system notifications flickered endlessly in his vision.
The aftermath of the battle lay before him—a cracked stone platform, the lingering heat of dragonfire, and, at the center of it all, the small, trembling form of Velmara.
Where once stood an enormous, terrifying dragon that could have swallowed him whole, there now lay a girl—petite and delicate in appearance, yet unmistakably powerful.
Her humanoid form was slender, with jet-black gold curling from her black hair, translucent wings twitching slightly as if testing their weight, and a thick, muscular tail curling around her bare legs.
Scales still clung to parts of her arms and thighs, a remnant of the monster she had been only moments ago.
Her golden eyes blinked up at him, unfocused at first, before she let out a delighted squeal.
"Haru! Master won! Master is very strongest!"
Before Haru could react, the dragon girl lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his chest with a purring sound of satisfaction.
For a moment, he stiffened. The warmth of her bare skin against him was distracting, and her tail instinctively curled around his leg, pulling him closer.
Then, just as quickly, the moment was shattered.
A massive hand grabbed Velmara by the back of her collar, lifting her clean off of him.
Shira.
The towering Oni warlord's single crimson eye glowed with quiet intensity as she held the squirming dragon girl at arm's length. Even without speaking, her message was clear—**Don't get too comfortable.**
Velmara, rather than showing fear, pouted as she kicked her legs in protest. "Hey! Big dumb Oni, let me go! Haru is mine now, I claimed him first!"
Haru sighed, rubbing his temple. "I don't remember agreeing to that."
Velmara turned her luminous gaze on him, her lower lip trembling slightly. "B-but you beat me. That means I belong to you now, right? That's how this works!"
Rhaelynn, who had been standing at the edge of the platform with her bow resting against her hip, snorted. "That's how **monsters** work, dragon. Not people."
"Velmara **is** a monster!" The girl huffed, crossing her arms even as Shira kept holding her aloft like a particularly misbehaving kitten.
Aryan, leaning against a broken pillar, rolled her eyes. "This is stupid. Just kill her already."
Haru shot her a flat look. "That's not happening."
The vampire assassin scoffed. "Then at least make her useful."
It was at that moment that the **system notification** appeared.
---
### **System Notification: Class Evolution Available!**
**New Class Available: [Waifu Tamer]**
*Description:* A unique evolution-based class specializing in the bonding, strengthening, and command of powerful female warriors. Enhances synergy with [Lady Killer] and grants greater combat adaptability.
*Class Benefits:*
- Enhanced [Lady Killer] effects on bonded familiars
- Increased experience gain for bonded warriors
- Unique skill tree tailored to supporting and evolving familiars
*Would you like to evolve into [Waifu Tamer]?*
[Y/N]
---
Haru's breath caught in his throat.
He had expected **some** kind of reward for defeating Velmara, but this?
His **only** class option was something so… ridiculous.
"Waifu… Tamer?" he muttered under his breath, feeling a strange mix of embarrassment and curiosity.
Aryan let out a short, barking laugh. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."
Rhaelynn raised a single eyebrow, but her face remained mostly unreadable.
Velmara, still dangling from Shira's grip, gasped excitedly. "Ooooh! That means Haru really **does** own me now! Right? Right?!"
Shira made a deep, disapproving sound in her throat, shaking her head once.
Haru ignored the growing argument and focused on the **decision before him.**
There was no other option.
He sighed, then selected **[YES].**
---
### **Class Change: [Waifu Tamer] Selected!**
*All Familiar Bonds Strengthened!*
*New Skills Unlocked!*
*Familiar Level Boost Applied!*
---
A sudden **pulse of energy** erupted from his body, like a ripple through reality itself. His bonded warriors—Shira, Rhaelynn, Aryan, and now Velmara—reacted instantly.
Velmara's body shivered, her golden eyes going wide as **power flooded into her**. Her small frame trembled, then **her wings flared out, larger than before, shimmering with new strength.**
Rhaelynn's **muscles tensed**, her fingers twitching as if adjusting to newfound precision. Her **bow glowed faintly**, resonating with an unseen force.
Aryan let out a **hiss**, fangs baring slightly as her **blood-red aura thickened around her**, strengthening the vampiric energy pulsing in her veins.
And Shira…
The Oni warlord **stood silently**, but the air around her crackled. Her **Buster sword shimmered with raw, physical force**, her sheer presence **growing even more imposing**.
Haru exhaled slowly.
He felt it too. His **Lady Killer ability had deepened**, its influence over his bonded warriors becoming something stronger, something unshakable.
His **bond with his familiars wasn't just a system mechanic anymore.**
It was **real**.
---
### **New Skills Unlocked:**
1. **[Familiar Teleportation – Lv.2]** – Instantly swap places with any bonded familiar within a limited range.
2. **[Booster – Lv.3]** – Temporarily increase a bonded familiar's combat power during battle.
---
Haru clenched his fist, feeling the rush of new power coursing through his system.
He looked up at his team—his **family**, in a way.
Velmara, still held by Shira, beamed at him with pure, childish delight. "Master! What's my new skill? What did I get? Tell me! Tell me!"
Haru pulled up her system panel and skimmed over the results.
His eyes widened slightly.
"...You got something called [Draconic Dominion]."
Velmara's pupils dilated, her tail twitching in excitement. "Oooh! That sounds **super** important! What does it do?"
Haru read the description. His lips curled into a smirk.
"It lets you command lesser dragons, even wild ones."
Velmara's **jaw dropped**. Then she let out a long, **evil-sounding giggle**.
"Heheheheh… Yes… YESSS… I'm gonna get my own army! My own dragon army! This is the best day of my life!"
Shira, clearly **unamused**, finally **dropped Velmara to the ground** with a dull thud.
Aryan let out a low growl. "Great. Now she's even **more** insufferable."
Rhaelynn shook her head but let out a small chuckle.
Haru exhaled.
He had come into this dungeon expecting a challenge. He had expected danger, pain, and maybe even death.
He hadn't expected to walk out of it with **an entire team of powerful women**, each one stronger than before.
And now?
Now, he was no longer just some forgotten survivor.
Now, he was **a Waifu Tamer.**