The Strongest Beast Tamer: My New Life in Another World

Max groaned dramatically as he stirred awake, the morning light filtering through the small window of his room. His body felt sluggish, and he flopped an arm over his face.

"Ugh, mornings… why do they exist?" he muttered to himself, his voice gravelly with sleep. "I swear, if the gods wanted me to wake up early, they could've at least made it painless."

He let out an exaggerated yawn, stretching his arms and legs like a zombie rising from the grave. "Alright, Max," he said, rubbing his eyes. "Time to face another day in this crazy world."

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, he shuffled to the small mirror on the wall. He stared at his reflection, blinking a few times as he examined himself.

"Black hair, golden eyes… yup, still me," he said, leaning closer. "But why do I look younger? My face was definitely more… worn out in the old world. I guess reincarnation really does come with perks." He smirked, running a hand through his hair. "Not bad, Max. Not bad at all."

After a few more moments of self-reflection, he grabbed his clothes and quickly got dressed. Before heading out, he stopped in the middle of the room and held out his hand.

"Tails, Tusk, come on out," he called.

A soft glow filled the room as his companions materialized. Tails hopped onto the bed, chirping happily, while Tusk let out a low grunt, trotting over to nuzzle Max's leg.

"Morning, you two," Max said, crouching to pet Tusk. "How was the Pocket Dimension? Comfy enough for you?"

Tails chattered in response, bouncing on the mattress, while Tusk snorted and wagged his small tail. Max laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. Alright, just checking in. You two behave in there, okay?"

With another wave of his hand, he sent them back into the Pocket Dimension. The room returned to silence, and Max stretched one last time before heading downstairs.

The smell of fresh bread and sizzling meat greeted him as he descended the stairs. His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of how hungry he was. He muttered to himself as he walked to a nearby table.

"Man, I could eat an entire boar right now. Wait, no offense, Tusk," he added quickly, chuckling to himself. "Seriously, though, I'm starving."

The innkeeper, the silver-haired woman he had met last night, approached him with a warm smile. "Good morning," she said.

Max blinked, then smiled back. "Oh, right! I forgot to introduce myself yesterday. I'm Max. Thanks for letting me stay here."

The woman nodded. "Nice to meet you, Max. I'm Elara, the owner of Traveler's Rest. I hope you found everything comfortable."

"Absolutely," Max replied. "This place is great. Cozy, quiet… just what I needed after the day I had."

Elara chuckled softly. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. So, Max, what brings you to our city? You seem like a traveler."

Max scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, you could say that. I'm kind of… figuring things out as I go. New to this world, you know? Trying to find my place."

Elara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "New to this world? That's an interesting way to put it. Are you… an adventurer, by any chance?"

"Sort of," Max said, shrugging. "I'm a Beast Tamer. I work with creatures, train them, and, well, sometimes fight alongside them. It's a bit unorthodox, but it's working out so far."

Elara's eyes lit up. "A Beast Tamer? That's fascinating. You must be really talented to handle creatures like that. I've heard taming beasts requires both skill and patience."

"Yeah, it's not easy," Max admitted. "But it's rewarding. I've got two companions right now—Tails and Tusk. They're amazing."

Elara smiled. "You'll have to tell me more about them sometime. I've always loved hearing stories about adventurers and their companions."

"Sure thing," Max said, grinning. "But enough about me. What about you, Elara? Running this place seems like a lot of work."

Elara laughed softly. "It can be, but I enjoy it. I grew up in this city and inherited the inn from my parents. I've always loved meeting travelers and hearing their stories. It makes the hard work worth it."

Max nodded. "That's awesome. You've built something great here. It's a nice place to come back to after a long day."

"Thank you, Max. That means a lot," Elara said warmly. "Now, about breakfast. Are you ready to eat?"

"Oh, absolutely," Max said, his stomach growling again. "I'll take whatever you recommend. Maybe some eggs, bread, and… uh, do you have sausage?"

Elara smiled. "Of course. I'll have that ready for you in just a bit." She turned and headed back toward the kitchen.

As Max waited, he thought about their conversation. "She's nice," he muttered. "Really easy to talk to. It's refreshing, honestly. Most people I've met so far are either trying to sell me something or kill me."

After a few minutes, Elara returned with a plate of food. The smell alone made Max's mouth water.

"Here you go," she said, setting the plate down. "Enjoy."

"Thanks, Elara," Max said, giving her a grateful smile. He picked up a piece of bread and took a bite, sighing contentedly. "Oh, this is good. Really good."

Elara chuckled. "I'm glad you like it. If you need anything else, just let me know."

As he ate, Max continued to think aloud. "First day went pretty well. Let's see if day two can top it. One step at a time, Max. You've got this."

With his plate slowly emptying, Max felt a renewed sense of energy for the day ahead, ready to take on whatever challenges came his way.

After finishing his breakfast, Max stepped out of the inn, feeling the warm sun on his face and the lively sounds of the city filling his ears. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and began to wander through the streets, his thoughts swirling as he tried to sort out what he wanted to do with his new life.

"Alright, Max," he muttered to himself. "You're here. You've got a fresh start. So, what's the plan?"

He glanced around at the bustling market stalls, the cheerful chatter of people, and the children playing in the streets. A small smile crept onto his face.

"First off," he said, "I've gotta get serious about becoming an adventurer. Can't just wander around aimlessly. That's step one."

His gaze drifted to a vendor selling maps and journals. "And step two? Tame as many beasts as I can. Learn about them, research them, maybe even help them. It's not just about fighting. There's so much more to it."

As he continued walking, his smile softened, and his voice grew quieter. "And maybe… maybe I'll find something I never had in my old life. Someone to share this with. Love. A partner who gets me, who'll stand by me no matter what."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Listen to me, getting all sentimental. One step at a time, Max. Focus on what you can control."

The streets were alive with energy, and Max's mood lifted as he took in the sights. Merchants shouted their wares, offering everything from spices to weapons. Musicians played lively tunes on street corners, and the scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air.

"Man, this city is incredible," he said, grinning. "Feels like anything's possible here. So much to do, so many people to meet. It's a whole new world."

As he walked, he suddenly heard raised voices coming from a nearby alleyway. His smile faded, and he stopped to listen. The voices grew clearer, and Max's expression darkened as he caught snippets of what was being said.

"C'mon, ladies," a man's voice sneered. "Don't be like that. We're just trying to have some fun."

"Leave us alone!" a woman's voice shouted back. Her tone was sharp and defiant. "We told you, we're not interested!"

"Yeah," another woman said, her voice equally fierce. "Back off before we make you regret it."

Max edged closer to the alley, peering around the corner. He saw a group of rough-looking men surrounding two women who looked like twins. One had long black hair and green eyes, while the other had short black hair but the same striking green eyes. Their expressions were a mix of anger and frustration as they stood their ground.

"Aw, don't be like that," another man said, laughing. "You should be flattered we're inviting you to join our party. Not everyone gets that kind of offer."

The first woman crossed her arms. "Yeah, well, we're not everyone. Take your 'offer' and shove it."

The men laughed, clearly unfazed. One of them stepped closer, his grin widening. "Now, now, there's no need to be rude. We're just trying to be friendly."

"Friendly?" the second woman shot back. "You're about as friendly as a pack of wolves."

Max's hands clenched into fists as he watched. He could see the tension rising and knew it was only a matter of time before things got worse. Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the alleyway.

"Wow," Max said loudly, drawing all eyes to him. "Is this a party? And here I thought I missed the invitation."

The men turned to face him, their expressions shifting from surprise to annoyance. One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, sneered. "Who the hell are you, little twerp?"

Max tilted his head, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Just a guy who doesn't like seeing others get pushed around. So, what's the deal here? You bothering these ladies for fun?"

The scarred man stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "You've got a big mouth for someone who doesn't know when to mind his own business."

The twins exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of surprise and curiosity as they watched Max confront the group.

To be continued…