SSS-Rank Extra: I Got a Chaos System-Chapter 14: Taming Trouble, Inviting Chaos

Kazuki blinked blearily at the glowing notifications crowding his vision. He hadn't even had breakfast yet, and his system was already trying to ruin his day.

[System Notification]

Title Acquired: [Hydra Tamer]

Against all logic, you have successfully tamed (or been adopted by) a hydra. Congratulations! ...Probably.

New Ability Unlocked: [Summon Hydra (Sealed)]

A powerful bond has been formed. You may now call forth your hydra from anywhere. But beware—a bond with such a creature is not easily broken...

Kazuki read it twice. Then a third time.

Then he slammed his head against a tree.

"WHY. WHY DO I KEEP GETTING STUCK WITH THESE THINGS?!"

Lillian, who had been casually drinking tea on a nearby wooden bench, nearly choked on it.

"...What now?" she coughed, already exhausted despite the day barely starting.

Kazuki whirled around, waving his arms wildly. "I can summon it!"

Lillian raised a brow. "Summon what?"

"THE HYDRA!"

She blinked. Then slowly turned to look at the massive six-headed beast currently curled up nearby, basking in the sun like an overgrown cat.

Then back at Kazuki.

Then at the hydra again.

"...Come again?"

Kazuki dragged his hands down his face. "The system just gave me a skill called Summon Hydra—it means I can call it whenever I want." He ran a hand through his already-messy hair. "Which, for the record, I never want to do!"

Lillian put her tea down very, very carefully. "Hold on. Are you saying that thing is... bonded to you?"

Kazuki threw up his hands. "I guess?! Apparently, the seal I placed on it actually worked!"

Lillian's mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.

"You sealed a hydra."

"Yes."

"You. Sealed. A hydra."

"YES!"

Lillian stared at him for a long moment. Then, instead of speaking, she just buried her face in her hands.

A few villagers, who had been respectfully keeping their distance, were now muttering among themselves, clearly confused by Kazuki's distress.

One particularly bold old man stroked his beard. "The Holy One seems troubled... Perhaps this is part of his divine burden?"

Another woman nodded solemnly. "To command a sacred beast must surely come with great trials."

Kazuki, overhearing, felt his soul physically leave his body.

Meanwhile, Lillian had finally lifted her head, her expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "How. How did that even—how are you still alive?"

Kazuki flailed at the air. "I DON'T KNOW!"

Lillian let out a long, suffering sigh. "Alright. So can you remove it?"

Kazuki hesitated, then glanced back at the system notification. He hadn't really thought about that.

"...Maybe?" He frowned. "It says the bond isn't easily broken... whatever that means."

Lillian pinched the bridge of her nose. "Great. So you might be stuck with a giant murder lizard permanently."

Kazuki groaned into his hands. "Why do you sound less shocked and more like this is just my normal life now?"

Lillian gave him an unimpressed look. "Because it is your normal life now. Seriously, who else just... accidentally tames a hydra like it's a lost puppy?"

Kazuki pointed at her, indignant. "I did not stumble into it! I made a calculated decision!"

Lillian folded her arms. "...Which part of that was calculated?"

Kazuki opened his mouth. Closed it. Then weakly muttered, "It worked, didn't it?"

Lillian threw up her hands. "Unbelievable."

Just then, the ground trembled.

Kazuki froze.

Lillian froze.

The villagers froze.

They all turned just in time to see the hydra rolling onto its back, stretching all six of its massive heads toward the sky—its colossal body crushing an entire section of the village fence like it was paper.

A single, agonized yell rang through the village.

"MY CABBAGE STAND!"

Kazuki stared. His eye twitched. "OH, COME ON!"

One of the hydra's heads perked up and turned toward him. Its tongue flicked out.

It wiggled.

Kazuki's soul left his body again.

The rest of the morning was pure chaos.

Kazuki quickly realized that keeping the hydra under control was impossible. It nudged him for attention, coiled around the village grain storage, and tried to sit like a dog, which nearly caused a small earthquake.

A group of children gathered around, pointing excitedly.

One particularly brave child climbed onto one of its heads.

Kazuki almost had a heart attack. "KID, GET DOWN! YOU'RE GONNA DIE!"

"But it's soft!" the boy said, patting the hydra's head like a puppy.

Kazuki looked ready to cry.

Meanwhile, the hydra had spotted a butterfly fluttering near the market stalls.

It chased it.

And in the process, it crashed straight into a food stall, reducing it to rubble.

The merchant screamed.

Kazuki screamed harder.

Lillian, on the other hand, was having the time of her life. She stood off to the side, watching the unfolding disaster with an infuriating smirk.

"You know," she said, "if you had any actual control over it, this wouldn't be happening."

Kazuki whirled on her. "DO I LOOK LIKE I CAN CONTROL A HYDRA?!"

Before Lillian could answer, a voice interrupted.

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"Oh, Holy One! We have exciting news!"

Kazuki turned to see the village elder, who looked absolutely delighted despite the hydra wreckage happening behind him.

"Don't say it," Kazuki warned.

The elder beamed. "The village has decided to hold a festival in your honor!"

Kazuki physically collapsed onto the ground.

Kazuki sat on the dirt, staring at nothing.

The villagers bustled around him, setting up decorations, preparing offerings, and praising his divine bond with the "sacred beast."

Lillian crouched next to him, casually plucking a strand of straw from his hair.

"See?" she said. "I told you to embrace it."

Kazuki's eyes were hollow. "I hate this. I hate everything."

The hydra, sensing his despair, lowered one of its heads and affectionately licked his face.

A wave of cheers erupted from the villagers.

Kazuki twitched.

Lillian patted his shoulder. "Congrats. You're officially a hydra tamer."

Kazuki screamed internally.

Far beyond the village, hidden within the dense forest, a group of figures lurked.

A three men, clad in ragged armor, crouched in the shadows, their eyes fixed on the distant village—and more importantly, on the colossal hydra resting in its center.

Their leader, a man with a jagged scar running down his cheek, let out a low chuckle.

"That's a damn legendary beast," he muttered. "And that fool of a 'chosen one' controls it?"

One of the bandits shifted uneasily. "I dunno, boss. That thing looks—uh—unstable."

The leader shot him a glare. "Which is why we take the kid instead. If we control him, we control the hydra."

A dark grin spread across his face.

"Get ready, boys. We're taking him tonight."