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, Yūsha Pātī o Tsuihou Sareta Bīsuto Teimā, Saikyōshu no Nekomimi Shōjo to Deau; "The Beast Tamer Who Was Exiled from His Party Meets a Cat Girl from the Strongest Race") 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 twelve 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; twelve tankōbon volumes have been released as of September 2026. An anime television series adaptation by EMT Squared aired from October to December 2022.
Contents
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, Rein Shuraudo)
Voiced by: Shōya Chiba (Japanese); Kevin D. Thelwell (English)
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)
Voiced by: Azumi Waki (Japanese); Jalitza Delgado (English)
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 wife. She possesses superhuman strength and endurance, a trait Rein inherits upon making a contract with her.
Tania (タニア)
Voiced by: Rumi Okubo (Japanese); Molly Searcy (English)
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 wife. Tania possesses enhanced magical ability and Rein's contract with her increases the power of his spells.
Media
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 March 2, 2026, twelve 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 2026, twelve 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 streamed the series worldwide outside of Asia; an English dub premiered on the service on October 15, 2022. Muse Communication licensed it in South and Southeast Asia.
