Beast Tamer

Beast Tamer (勇者パーティーを追放されたビーストテイマー、最強種の猫耳少女と出会う) 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 contracts with animals. While looking for work, Rein rescues Kanade, a member of the cat spirit tribe who becomes his companion. By forming a contract with a member from one of the strongest races known as an "ultimate species", 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

 * Rein Shroud (レイン・シュラウド)
 * 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. A 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.
 * 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. A 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.


 * Kanade (カナデ)
 * A teenage member of the Cat Tribe, the rarest of the strongest races, Kanade left her hometown in search for adventure until she is rescued by Rein and she becomes his friend, agreeing to be his partner, and later, his first fiancée. She possesses superhuman strength and endurance, a trait Rein inherits upon making a contract with her.
 * A teenage member of the Cat Tribe, the rarest of the strongest races, Kanade left her hometown in search for adventure until she is rescued by Rein and she becomes his friend, agreeing to be his partner, and later, his first fiancée. She possesses superhuman strength and endurance, a trait Rein inherits upon making a contract with her.


 * Tania (タニア)
 * A teenage member of the Dragon Race, Tania travels the world challenging other fighters until she is defeated by Rein and Kanade. Upon befriending them, she decides to join the party as Rein's second partner, and later becomes his second fiancée. Tania possesses enhanced magical ability and Rein's contract with her increases the power of his spells.
 * A teenage member of the Dragon Race, Tania travels the world challenging other fighters until she is defeated by Rein and Kanade. Upon befriending them, she decides to join the party as Rein's second partner, and later becomes his second fiancée. Tania possesses enhanced magical ability and Rein's contract with her increases the power of his spells.


 * Sora (ソラ) and Luna (ルナ)
 * Francine Gonzalez (Sora), Celeste Perez (Luna) (English)
 * Twin sisters from the Fairy Race. Rein and the others first met Sora when she was trying to rescue Luna from a monster alone, until they helped her. Since then, they became close to Rein and became his third and fourth partners. Sora is more polite and reserved while Luna is more mischievous and playful. Both can hide their wings using magic to cover their true identity. Sora can conjure illusions and her contract with Rein gives him the ability to cast multiple spells in succession, while Luna is capable of enhancing and tuning another person's magic, improving the effectiveness of her and her sister's spells and her contract with Rein made him immune to the effect of abnormal conditions, including instant death magic.


 * Stella Enplace (ステラ・エンプレイス)
 * The vice-captain turned Captain of the Horizon branch of the Order of Knights. When Rein stands up to the mayor of Horizon, she asks him for help in taking down the corrupt knights and arresting the lord and Edgar for the many crimes they committed.
 * The vice-captain turned Captain of the Horizon branch of the Order of Knights. When Rein stands up to the mayor of Horizon, she asks him for help in taking down the corrupt knights and arresting the lord and Edgar for the many crimes they committed.


 * Nina (ニーナ)
 * A member of the Demigod Race, she is a child with fox features. Nina was worshipped as a deity on her homeland, until she is captured and turned into a slave upon being forced to wear a magic collar to restrain her, until she is rescued by Rein, who uses his magic to break Nina free from the collar and she becomes his fifth partner. Nina can teleport herself and others with her instantly and her contract with Rein gives him the power to materialize specific items with his magic.
 * A member of the Demigod Race, she is a child with fox features. Nina was worshipped as a deity on her homeland, until she is captured and turned into a slave upon being forced to wear a magic collar to restrain her, until she is rescued by Rein, who uses his magic to break Nina free from the collar and she becomes his fifth partner. Nina can teleport herself and others with her instantly and her contract with Rein gives him the power to materialize specific items with his magic.


 * Tina Hollee (ティナ・ホーリー)
 * The ghost of a young maid haunting a mansion. She befriends Rein and his party after they buy the mansion and move there. After Rein's group help Tina enact revenge by having her murderer arrested for the crime, she becomes his sixth partner. Her contract with Rein gives him the power to manipulate gravity.
 * The ghost of a young maid haunting a mansion. She befriends Rein and his party after they buy the mansion and move there. After Rein's group help Tina enact revenge by having her murderer arrested for the crime, she becomes his sixth partner. Her contract with Rein gives him the power to manipulate gravity.


 * Iris (イリス)
 * A young child member of the Celestial Race, considered the most powerful of the strongest races, able to cast divine magic. She loathes humans and after being freed from her seal by Arios, she agrees with his plea to kill Rein for him. However, upon meeting Rein, she becomes interested in him instead, eventually befriending him and becoming his seventh partner. Aside from casting various types of magic, Iris can summon weapons and animals to assist in battle, a trait that Rein inherits with their contract, albeit with less proficiency.


 * Rifa (リファ)
 * A member of the Oni Race, vampire branch, who can manipulate her blood to use as a weapon and perform powerful shadow magic. She meets Rein and the others while looking for help to deal with demons attacking her hometown. After her hometown is saved, she becomes Rein's eighth partner, their contract giving him the power to charm or paralyze enemies with his glance.


 * Arios Orlando (アリオス・オーランド)
 * (Japanese); Alejandro Saab (English)
 * The main antagonist in half of the series. Arios is the Hero chosen by the king to slay the Demon Lord and defeat his army. As a descendant of the original Hero, Arios possesses a skill called "Limit Break" which means his growth potential as a warrior is limitless. However, after being defeated by Rein, who became much stronger since he was expelled from his party, Arios becomes extremely jealous of him, to the point of making plans to ensure his downfall. When Arios' true colors are exposed by the royalty, his title is revoked by the king. In response, Arios betrays and kills the other members of his party and joins forces with the demons instead to continue with his revenge plans.


 * Edgar
 * The corrupt son of a mayor, who helps Arios with his plans. He met his demise after being turned into a demon and being killed by Rein.

Light novels
Written by Suzu Miyama began publication as a web novel on the novel publishing site Shōsetsuka ni Narō on June 11, 2018. The series was later acquired by Kodansha who have published it in print as a light novel with illustrations by Hotosoka since May 2, 2019. The announcement of printed version and manga adaptation was on the same date, October 20, 2018. As of July 1, 2022, eight volumes have been released.

Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Moto Shigemura began serialization in Square Enix's Manga Up! website on January 30, 2019. The first volume was released on June 12, 2019. As of September 2023, eight volumes have been released.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on June 10, 2022. The series is animated by EMT Squared and directed by Atsushi Nigorikawa, with Takashi Aoshima overseeing the series' scripts, Shuuhei Yamamoto designing the characters, and Yuki Hayashi, Alisa Okehazama, and Naoyuki Chikatani composing the music. It aired from October 2 to December 25, 2022, on AT-X, Tokyo MX, ytv, TVA, and BS Fuji. The opening theme song is "Change The World" by MADKID, while the ending theme song is "LOVE＆MOON" by Marika Kōno. Crunchyroll licensed the series outside of Asia, and have streamed an English dub starting on October 15, 2022. Muse Communication licensed it in South and Southeast Asia.