This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange-Chapter 596: Souvenir Selection

Kain opened his eyes.

The grey-stone waiting room materialized around him suddenly. His knees hit the floor before he realized he was back, his breath ragged, his hands trembling from the emotional impact of what he just went through.

He didn't move.

A heavy breath escaped him, shallow and cold, like mist curling from the lungs of a dying man. His entire body felt like it was carved from brittle stone—cracked, hollow, and ready to shatter.

The memories—if they could be called that—flooded in, vivid as dreams, real as scars.

'Was any of that real? Or did the relic just build worlds based off of my memories and worst subconscious fears?'

The question clawed at his mind.

The mysterious disease that had killed him in his past-life—had it been some twisted precursor to the Abyss? The way it turned bodies black, the way the infecteds' eyes burned red... Was that what had brought him here?

Moreover, after his death, had it truly spread beyond that rainforest, passed borders, and oceans, to the entire world? Did that disease really consume his home planet like in the simulation, and did that mean... it was gone?

A hollow silence filled him. He focused his mind on something else.

Also, was Airalai's disappearance a necessary condition for his current family to be realized? What could have changed to make some of his siblings no longer join the orphanage?

And…the simulated reality Kain least wanted to think about came to mind.

Kain's hands curled against his knees, nails digging into flesh.

The one where he lost everything. Most of all his sense of self.

If he lost control—if the System failed for whatever reason—would he become the monster from that vision? A creature who'd drain Bridge dry without a second thought?

He saw the blood again. Bridge's expression—shock, betrayal, horror—all reflected back at him like a cracked mirror.

His stomach twisted.

Likely sensing his internal turmoil, but not fully understanding its source, his contracts surrounded him—except for Vauleth, who up until now had still not regained consciousness.

Queen leaned her large head on his shoulder, her antennae brushing his cheek in a silent question. Aegis loomed beside him, his new obsidian form radiating quiet comfort. Even Bea's presence pressed against his mind, steadying.

Chime

[Trial Complete.]

The mechanical voice snapped him out of his spiral.

[Analyzing mental integrity… complete.]

[Sanity retained: 87%. Personality divergence risk: minimal.]

[Final Verdict: Excellent.]

[Qualifies for Reward Selection.]

[Reward Available: Souvenir Selection.]

[Choose One.]

Three objects shimmered into existence before him, each hovering atop a pedestal of light:

Research Portfolio – A comprehensive collection of notes and theoretical papers created by Kain throughout the various simulations.

The leather-bound tome hovered slightly above its pedestal, glowing faintly at the seams. Its worn cover was scuffed, the title faded. It smelled faintly of ink and age. Kain could almost hear the scratching of his own pen—countless nights spent hunched over makeshift desks, recording everything he could in the face of extinction.

Kain stared at the leather-bound tomb that had research from across his 'lives'. He remembered the scribbles, the long nights. It had taken him a lifetime to compile that—several 'lifetimes' technically.

Useful. But with effort—and Bea's help to remember any faded memories—he was confident that he could replicate much of it from memory.

But memory could be unreliable, even with Bea's help, and the cost of replicating those experiments would be steep…

He'd consider it if the other options sucked.

He moved on.

Pendants of the Unforgotten – A pair of intricately crafted spirit-infused pendants. When one is worn by the user, the second can instantly teleport to the wearer's side so that they can protect them. There is no distance limit, though it may be impacted by skills that block space. Can be activated once per month.

The pendants floated together, chained by matching links of polished blackened silver. Their surfaces were carved into twin teardrop shapes, one bearing a firebird motif, the other a blooming iris. Even now, they pulsed faintly, as if resonating with each other with a hidden bond.

A spike of pain went through his heart. This was from the simulation where Cherry was once again kidnapped, but he was unable to rescue her.

Mad with regret he'd used pretty much all of his money to get one of the top blacksmiths to manufacture a rare item that can bypass the distance limitations of most space-attribute equipment.

The pair of pendants was more than tempting. After the vision of Bridge's death, the idea of a guaranteed method of helping him during a critical moment was almost too sweet to resist. But Bridge was strong. Kain could upgrade his gear, buy him trump cards—this wasn't his only way to protect him.

Binding Balance Bracer — A bracer forged from a piece of Kain Newman's fragmented soul after his death, retaining a portion of his last semblance of lucidity during his final moments after succumbing to mental collapse. Allows the wearer to sacrifice mental strength to attain the power of the out-of-control Kain, alternatively, the wearer can temporarily sacrifice all of their strength to regain lucidity in the event of possession or corruption. The brace acts as the perfect balance between an out-of-control body and mind. Warning: Usage inflicts lasting mental fatigue.

The bracer was jagged and raw, pulsing with a quiet, dark energy. It was made of a dull metal that shimmered like mirror-glass under the right angle and had faint etchings of runes burned along the outer edge, some scorched into the material, others bleeding with violet light.

His hand hovered as he contemplated his selection.

"...If I ever lose myself... at least this way, I won't drag everyone down with me."

He selected the bracer.

He reached out, and the second his fingers closed around it, the relic's voice boomed:

[Conditions Met: Phase Two for the Trial of the &$$% Unlocked.]

'Huh?' Unfortunately, a key word seemed to be censored, adding to Kain's confusion.

[Transporting Participant…]

The waiting room dissolved—but this time, his contracts were transported with him.