This monster…

  Calvin honestly began finding it cute, the last few thousand tries.

  Right. This was a living being too, even if a feared monster of the dungeon that the humans wanted exterminated and dead.

  “You’re trapped in this because of me, huh?” He asked, almost whispered, when he looked at the Relfow.

  Maybe he was anthropomorphising it, but it looked more tired and exhausted of what was happening than him. It must experience pain, fear, boredom, dullness. Everything that he did, and maybe more.

  Except, it did not have a sense of purpose driving it when it was battling him. It did not have a hope for the future, in the form of his master. It did not have Hannah, a woman clearly growing alongside Calvin, someone he—would never admit it out loud, in fear that she would tease him even more—had come to see as a reliable ally.

  The monster had nothing, except pain. And pain. And some more pain.

  He couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of sympathy bubbling up on him.

  In a way, this Relfow was also a companion in his journey, wasn’t it? This poor thing was stuck in this cycle with him, and didn’t have any choice in this, not like him. He was subjecting it to this hell, completely out of his own selfishness.

  Did he truly have to kill it? To progress, to grow? This specific dungeon monster, who he’d let endure hell for his own purposes?

  A system notification popped up in front of him.

  You have reached a breakthrough level of empathy for dungeon creatures.

  You have gained the Title, ‘They’re living beings too, man! [Epic, S Grade]’.

  You have gained the Specialization, ‘Beast Tamer, Lvl 1’.

  For gaining a S Grade Title, you have levelled up to Level 52.

  The Title expanded, explaining itself before Calvin could even think about it. Or perhaps he subconsciously had, and the system was reacting to his subconscious commands?

  They’re living beings too, man! [Epic, S grade]:

  Description:

  This Title pairs with the Specialization, Beast Tamer. With this pair, you can befriend and ally yourself with dungeon monsters that you have formed sufficient affinity with. Affinity shall be judged by the time you have spent with that monster and the bonding that you have created with it.

  Calvin blinked. He gained a Title out of feeling empathy for a monster, but he would still kill other monsters like this, other Relfows, without too much hesitation, wouldn’t he? So was this title really deserved?

  Then again, perhaps Rift Sealers in general didn't feel any sympathy at all for monsters, so the fact that he was feeling any sympathy at all for the Relfow minion meant that he cared at least somewhat.

  He stared at the monster.

  Did he really have to fight this thing? This poor creature. Did he have to kill it? He could just befriend it. Clearly, with this new Beast Tamer ability, it was only a matter of a few thousand if not a few ten thousand tries, or even in the worst case, a few hundred thousand tries before he would definitely manage to befriend it.

  The part of him that had gotten tired of the monotony found that aspect very appealing. And the part of him that found the Relfow minion cute also found this potential venture very lucrative.

  But how would he begin to befriend this thing? He didn't have any treats to give it. Maybe he should give it head pats?

  So, to the surprise of both his master and Hannah, he began patting the monster.

  Only to of course get pierced in the chest by its claws.

  Dominic stared at his disciple with raised eyebrows.

  “He's actually trying to tame it,” he murmured under his breath. “But doesn't that require him to feel empathy toward the monster that's killed him? What, at least a million times by now? How can he… be so kind as a mortal? Truly, to already be learning godly qualities…”

  He began wiping away at the tears of pride at the corners of his eyes when Gabrielle chimed in,

  I don't think it's kindness as much as being broken in by this process.

  ?(??︿?)?

  Dominic blinked. Torture? Isn't this pretty tame? Well, I wouldn't say tame, but I've done this—no, things even more intense than this—multiple times, you know. Sure, I've heard that other gods don't have this kind of ritual. But me and my master and a few others, like the God of War, do do this.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  And you would say that you're not broken, Mister Dominic?

  (???︿???)

  Dominic stared at the message. I object to your phrasing, but…

  He wanted to argue, but as much as he hated to admit it, Gabrielle did have a point. He wasn't fully sane, was he? Even though he would argue that broken wasn't the correct term, the screws in his head had loosened after such a long time of being a demigod and experiencing and learning about things mortals—or even some gods—could never even dream of.

  Honestly, that was a necessity, in this line of field. Those without their eccentricities and a few screws loose wouldn’t last for long as a god.

  Though he did wonder, what would have happened if he had felt a sense of empathy with the Soul Eaters? Could he have become the Soul Eater King, ended the war with the power of friendship and love?

  Becoming the Soul Eater God, hm? Well, it would be interesting to see, but he doubted he could make it come to fruition in this branch of existence.

  Maybe, if he managed to become a true Godking, he could dive through the parallel universes and find one in which he’d become the Soul Eater God. Even becoming a standard Godking was an impossibly high goal, but Dominic was nothing but ambitious. And immortal. In a way, it was inevitable, wasn’t it? The impossible was only impossible until you figured out how to do it anyway.

  But that was a stream of thoughts for another day.

  Dominic shifted his attention back to what was happening in front of him and found himself slightly amused by the expression of horror on Hannah's face as she watched Calvin get repeatedly skewered by the monster as he tried to pat it, scratch at it gently and give it hugs.

  He couldn’t begrudge her for her expression—Calvin did truly look like he’d gone clinically insane, trying to hug a monster trying to kill him.

  In his opinion, though, most humans could empathize with Calvin. They felt the urge to hug fluffy, brown bears, even though they knew what the consequences would be. He honestly felt that if they, too, had access to the same level of healing capabilities that Calvin now had, many of them would try to hug a brown bear.

  Of course, perhaps after taking a heavy dose of a sedative in advance.

  You must think this isn’t necessary, hm, Gabrielle? Dominic couldn’t help but ask.

  (?· v ·?) ?

  Is it, truly, Mister Dominic? Must he become a god? There are many lucrative careers he can take under your mentorship that do not include the frontlines.

  I don’t think there are. Dominic hummed. He’s become my first disciple. The Universal System will be itching to make him a demigod any second now. And for beings like us… Things like pain become a naturality for us, Gabrielle. We have to face the Soul Eaters at the battlefield endlessly, ‘die’ in all but name and come back repeatedly, do it till we break down utterly and crave retirement.

  (ó﹏ò?)

  True, with my influence I could prevent him from entering the battlefield. Hell, if he wanted me to, I could leave him at the brink of becoming a demigod, powerful enough for very few to be able to defy him, but also not technically ‘strong’ enough to be granted responsibilities by the Universal System. Use the loophole so that he doesn’t have to suffer at all.

  Dominic sighed and murmured under his breath, “I would love to just have fun with him, you know? For as long as I can.”

  For as… long as you can?

  (ó_ò)

  He switched back to talking to Gabrielle in his mind.

  I do have to eventually return to the Soul Eater Battlefield. They will attack again. If not them, then the Twisted Abominations. But it is inevitable I return. And this kid… do you think he’s the type to simply want to stay here while his master is away, fighting? Do you think he’d take kindly to being separated? Do you not think self esteem issues, deeper personality issues, will manifest, making him not be able to fully enjoy his life, making him guilty that he ‘abandoned’ his duty and responsibilities?

  (′?︵?`)

  That… does not seem unlikely.

  “Yup.” Dominic nodded. I chose the boy for a reason, you know? If I felt ‘fate’ spark between us, it means he’s similar to me to an extent. And really, if he unable to become as strong as his master, or even beyond… If he’s forced to watch his master, and his future friends suffer…

  …It would probably cripple his self esteem.

  (?? ?)

  Do you think it is cruel, for me to have taken him as a disciple and laying all this responsibility on him? Dominic asked.

  It was a genuine concern of his—because, at the core, he did want to give the boy a better life. That was what had motivated him to heal and take the boy in. But now, seeing his willpower, determination and stubbornness, it didn’t look like Dominic could just help the boy establish a nice large cafe in an utopia and leave to the Soul Eaters Grounds when the time came.

  This kid? Calvin would sooner hunt down Dominic and join the war then simply desire peace. Unless, perhaps, Dominic behaved in such a manner, intentionally, that Calvin not only hated him, but never wanted to associate with him again.

  Dominic wasn’t sure if he wanted to do so. It felt like it would be an injustice, to this boy who only wanted his master’s affection.

  The alternative would have been that the boy rots and dies, before he’s shipped off to Tartarus and then experiences an eternal cycle of suffering, living lives ignorant to the grand scheme.

  And truly, Mister Dominic, you make it sound like being a god is all suffering, and godhood is a very unappealing prospect, that you’ve cursed him to some hateful fate, but…

  Why do so many mortals become gods, then? Why do they stay as gods? Why have you continued performing your duties?

  Ignorance? Idiocy? Nay, Mister Dominic. I think, at the core, the tradeoffs are worth it, for them.

  And I believe, with your guidance, care, and protection, the tradeoffs will be worth it, for this boy, too.

  Dominic didn’t quite know what to say to that, but a soft smile did spread across his face at Gabrielle’s words. It felt oddly suitable, that this was one of the few times she hadn’t used a text emoji.