I had suddenly become the top idol of the forest.
Birds kept sticking to my face nonstop, squirrels burrowed into my clothes, rabbits tangled around my feet, and deer and boars rubbed their faces against me.
"F-famous people really have it this rough…!"
I crawled out desperately from the smoke screen of the animals' passionate affection.
I quickly reduced my Charm stat back down to 1.
The animals immediately returned to their senses.
As if realizing I was just a look-alike of a celebrity, they lost interest and wandered back into the forest.
"Phew… I never imagined raising my stat would cause something like that."
This time I redistributed my stats more carefully.
I greatly lowered Charm and spread the points evenly.
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Leopin
Job: Tamer
LV: 13
HP: 1810 → 2010
MP: 1810 → 2010
Status
Vitality: 1 → 201
Stamina: 1 → 201
Toughness: 1 → 201
Spirit: 1 → 201
Resistance: 1 → 201
Agility: 1 → 201
Focus: 1 → 201
Strength: 1 → 201
Magic Power: 1 → 201
Divine Power: 1 → 201
Intelligence: 1 → 201
Culture: 1 → 201
Five Senses: 1 → 201
Sixth Sense: 1 → 201
Charm: 3000 → 101
Luck: 2
Dexterity: 300
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"With around 100 points, I probably won't get smothered anymore."
I pulled myself together and decided to head to the forest pond.
As usual, animals were drinking water there.
Normally the animals would stop drinking and become wary the moment I approached.
But this time the fawn and rabbits at the edge of the pond came bouncing toward me like pets greeting their owner returning home.
Even when I crouched down and petted them, they did not mind at all.
Instead, they rubbed their heads against my hand as if asking for more.
"So cute. Maybe I don't even need to tame them…"
But I steeled my heart.
I activated the Taming skill toward the fawn that was looking up at me with round, innocent eyes.
"Become mine! Taming!"
The fawn reacted with a twitch as if it had heard thunder.
A heart-shaped light rose from its head.
"Looks like it worked… Sit!"
When I commanded it with the Animal Command skill, the fawn smoothly folded its legs and sat down.
When I said "Stand!" it stood up immediately.
"Oh, good boy! Spin!"
The fawn spun around following the movement of my finger like a trained dog.
"Ahaha, so cute! Good boy, good boy!"
When I grabbed its face and ruffled it, the fawn let out a sweet "Kyuuun."
"All right, let's take a walk in the forest. Follow me!"
As I started walking, the fawn toddled after me like a child following its parent.
Behind it, rabbits formed a little line hopping along, and I felt like the Pied Piper of the forest.
When I skipped, the fawn and rabbits bounced along too.
They were so adorable and fun that I completely forgot to watch where I was going.
Before I knew it, a large rock appeared right in front of me, and I crashed into it without time to dodge.
…Mof!
But the sensation was far too soft for a rock.
While I was wondering about it, the "rock" swelled up with a "Zumomo…!"
It was a bear easily twice my height.
Shark-like eyes gleamed in its massive fur-covered body.
There was a large scar on its chest, and I immediately realized.
"This guy…! It's the 'Lord' of this forest…!"
I tried to jump back immediately, but the bear was faster than I expected.
It pinned my side with claws like blades.
"Sh-shit…!"
By the time I shouted, my body had already been lifted high into the air.
The bear let out a triumphant roar as if it had already won.
"Roar!!!"
It was a deep bass that shook the surrounding air violently.
I instantly tried to use Skilled Job Change to switch to Ninja.
At the same time, I used Skilled Body to redistribute my stats and gain enough power to fight the bear, but…
No matter how many times I activated the skills, the effects would not trigger.
"Wh… why!? Why can't I use my Dexterity-Poor skills!?"
I did not know the reason, but I was in a truly desperate situation.
I flailed my legs wildly.
"L-let go! You—!"
Of course it did not release me.
The bear lowered me to eye level, then opened its mouth wide with a "Gwaa!"
Its maw was so huge it looked like it could swallow my entire head in one bite.
"If I stay like this, I'm done for…! In that case…!"
The moment I was about to be eaten, I would deliver a full-powered strike to its throat…!
I raised my fist, but once again the bear was faster.
"GUOOOH!"
With a roar, its mouth rushed toward me, and before I could counter, I took its attack full in the face.
…Berooon!
A warm, soaking wet tongue attack.
"Uwaaah!? A-a tongue!?"
I thought it would be fangs!?
Before I could even think, my face was being licked all over.
"Uhyaaah!? It tickles!"
The bear brought its face even closer and rubbed its cheek against mine.
Every time it did, it let out a "Kuoon, kuoon."
"Y-you… could it be…!?
Become mine! Taming!"
While feeling the bear's fur all over my face, I activated the Taming skill.
A heart mark appeared above the bear, and I ordered, "P-put me down!"
Reluctantly, the bear lowered me to the ground.
I ended up sitting hard on my butt.
"Phew. So even a bear can be tamed with Animal Charm… Thanks to that, I was saved…"
The bear looked down at me and let out a lonely "Kuooon."
"O-okay, okay, don't look at me with those eyes… Sit!"
The bear copied me and sat down with a heavy thud.
Despite its huge size, the way it sat obediently like a stuffed toy was surprisingly adorable, and I couldn't help but burst out laughing.
When I asked, "Want to come to my house?" the bear raised its paw happily with a "Kuooon!"
"All right! From today on, you're my companion!"
"Kuooon!"
"I need to give you a name…
How about 'Mark'?"
"Kuoon kuoon, kuooon!"
"Ahaha, that tickles!
Okay, Mark, let's head home!"
"Kuooon!"
I climbed onto Mark's shoulder and headed back home.
It was the moment a new companion joined the lonely Special Training Class.