"....You pass"
"Oh, nice"
Rualan watched the monster looking at her while it tries to hide itself from her, but cannot due to the thick rope tied around its neck all the way to the tail.
(Tying a rope to each limb to restrict the movement as it would disrupt the other limb with its strong pull, it also prevents them from going back inside the shell without the risk of strangling itself)
Admiring the attention to detail put into the capture instead of throwing it into the cage, Rualan couldn't help but thought how capable this person is, almost making her want to throw the entire list at him and demands him to go into the dungeon right then and now.
"Was it difficult capturing this one?"
"A bit, I have to punch it a few times, and hit it with a bat multiple times. The annoying part is where it keeps putting itself inside the shell"
"And you're not injured?"
"Well, not really, just dusty and stuff. Good armor right here", he pulled back his sleeve to show an arm guard around the wrist and extended all the way up the forearm.
"You're wearing armor underneath your uniform?"
"Yes, its less weirder that way"
(So, you're wearing an entire set of armor to school?) she thought but decided to let that question go.
"...So, any monsters that you want further down?"
"Tempting, but let's deal with this first, so stay close"
The guy move close to her, at arm reach distance.
"Sorry, I meant as in ready to intercept this monster in case I can't tame it"
"Oh, okay"
He took out a bat; a handle, splice and a blade with two edges, a spine and a toe.
(He really use a bat)
Ignoring the interesting choice of weapon, Rualan move towards the monster which began to growl intimidatingly at her, which caused the guy next to her to point at it with the bat and mime hitting it again which was enough to make it quiet down.
Taming Lv. 5 activated
At a distance apart, glowing hands extend out of Rualan's body and began reaching out towards the monster which began to snap at them ferociously.
But it didn't do anything to those arms as they began to reach the monster reaching out inside it or on its skin before rubbing it gently.
Taming Progress 26%
(Faster than usual, is it due to having been beaten and intimidated?) Rualan noted this down below concentrating on the Taming more.
Taming Progress 45%
(Maybe I should have knocked it out, maybe it would be faster) thought Guy.
Taming Progress 67%
(Good)
Then feeling itself losing, the monster began to fight back.
It manages to shake off a few of the arms and began to violently shakes its restraints.
"....?" looking at Rualan for some signal, she shakes her head and continue the process.
(So close)
The cage rattled as it rammed its body against it.
Taming Progress 72%
(No)
The arms began to falter.
Blinking in and out of existence.
".....!"
_____________
"Stop"
"Nope", Shin retract his finger but still touching her cheek before pressing on it again.
(Oh, what amazing feel~!)
He just realized how nice and soft her cheeks are after going for a grab out of curiosity, the sensation was something he didn't expect from her, since he assumed that her tough personality must extend to her cheek as well?
(Its way softer than Clara's, must be because of their training and build, but hers are also nice too)
"We're here", the red faced Alaine announced their arrival at her lab making Shin stops.
"Alright, let's continue on inside"
"No, we're not"
"Yes, we are"
"No"
"Yes"
"No"
"Yes, yes"
"....."
Opening the door, Alaine and Shin are greeted by the sight of Rualan and....that guy.
_________
"....."
"....."
"....."
"....."
Four people in the room remained silence for quite a while, not knowing why themselves.
"....You can try again if you want" then the guy began to speak.
"...." Rualan remained quiet, her gaze cast down at the rope that was tied around the monster, laying there in an empty bent cage.
"...." Shin watch the scene curiously, then look at the cage and rope inside.
(...A monster captured by one of these two or together, but it seems like taming doesn't work. Oh, wait....Why is that guy holding a cricket bat?)
"Give up already, will you?" said Alaine, breaking the silence.
Rualan turns to look at her, her expression neutral which can be said an epitome of beauty, but her eyes seems clouded and distance as she look at Alaine in that moment.
The sight is enough to make people think twice on what they're about to say to her.
"Taming monster, really?" asked Alaine with an annoyed tone in her voice, something that Shin realize is the start to her belittling the woman in front of them.
After a while of contemplation and silence, Rualan turned away from Alaine and heads to the back of the room, where she opened a side door and exit through it.
Due to it lack of usage, the door made a noise that seems to echo the user's feeling.
".....", Guy heads to the side door slowly and place his hand on the doorknob, but decided to say something to Alaine.
"For someone related to Aerina, you're way worse than I thought"