Beast Tamer

is a Japanese light novel series written by Suzu Miyama and illustrated by Hotosoka. It has been published online via the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō since June 2018. It was later acquired by Kodansha, who has released eight volumes since May 2019 under their Kodansha Ranobe Books imprint. A manga adaptation illustrated by Moto Shigemura has been serialized in Square Enix's Manga Up! website since January 2019; eight tankōbon volumes have been released as of September 2023. An anime television series adaptation by EMT Squared aired from October to December 2022. Plot Rein is a beast tamer who was expelled from the hero Arios' party who consider him too weak because he only has the ability to form contract with animals. While looking for work, Rein rescues Kanade, a member of the cat tribe who becomes his companion. By forming a contract with a member from one of the strongest races, Rein obtains some of her powers, becoming much stronger. The two then begin their journey together, with Rein befriending and taming other girls from different races who become powerful companions while obtaining new abilities with each new contract formed, his group eventually becoming far more powerful than Arios and his party. Overcome with anger and frustration, Arios begins loathing Rein, neglecting his duties as a hero and focusing on revenge against him and his friends instead. Characters The protagonist, a Beast Tamer, who originally had no other combat skills except basic martial arts training and weak fire and healing spells, which leads him to be expelled from the hero's party. However, upon meeting Kanade and making a contract with her, Rein learns he can obtain other skills from members of strongest races, which makes him stronger with each new contract. As skilled strategist, Rein is capable of taming multiple animals at once and using their abilities to have the advantage in combat. Rein's optimistic and caring attitude makes him earn the respect of his friends and the loyalty, devotion and even infatuation from his partners. Later Rein discovers he is a descendant of the original Hero who obtained power directly from the gods, which is the reason why his abilities far surpass those of regular Beast Tamers. Rein is also the sole survivor of his home village, whose inhabitants were also skilled tamers like him, before it was destroyed by demons.