The wild dog beastfolk clashed with Dad’s sword but couldn’t withstand the pressure and was pushed back.
Dad continued to press the beastfolk, creating distance between him and our location.
A fierce wind blew as the wild dog tribe howled.
Their cries drew other members of the wild dog tribe, who targeted Dad from behind.
Whoosh—!
It happened in an instant. My eyes couldn’t even follow what was going on.
I couldn’t grasp what had occurred. In the blink of an eye, four members of the wild dog tribe were lying on the ground.
“What, what just happened? What’s going on?”
“Teacher moved backward once, then sideways once… The last two moves, even I couldn’t see.”
Theon tried to explain Dad’s movements. Jeffrey clenched his fists and cheered for Dad.
“Amazing! Master Reytan!”
“…Incredible.”
I murmured.
The idea of Dad losing to anyone was unthinkable, so my admiration wasn’t for him—it was for the wild dog beastfolk.
The same beastfolk we had been negotiating with earlier.
Despite being in a starving state, it had managed to endure this long against Dad. Unlike the other wild dogs that had been taken down instantly, this one alone had blocked several of Dad’s attacks.
‘Is it the leader?’
Even if it wasn’t, it must be the strongest among the wild dog tribe.
“You dare exude killing intent!!”
Just moments ago, while I was offering the meat, that wild dog beastfolk had no intention of attacking us.
But Dad must have. He had seen us together with the wild dog beastfolk.
“I’m sorry. Because of me, everyone almost got hurt.”
Feeling dejected, I apologized, but the two of them brushed it off as if it was no big deal.
“I actually knew Teacher was nearby.”
“Me too.”
“What?! Since when?!”
Shocked, I looked back and forth between them.
“Before the wild dogs started attacking.”
“Big sister Berry, you’re so oblivious. I was terrified! Master Reytan was absolutely furious when he came running here.”
Jeffrey’s words made me break into a cold sweat.
This time, it might not just end with a reflection letter. I could already hear the sound of my precious ten thousand Kona allowance slipping away.
Wham! Thud!
Meanwhile, the fight continued. The wild dog beastfolk, who had been losing ground to Dad, let out a roar and stood up on two legs. Its body began to grow larger. It looked almost twice the size it had been earlier.
Dad’s wind formed a barrier in front of us. Inside it, a storm of dust was swirling, blocking our view of what was happening within. From our side, we only felt a gentle breeze.
“We can’t stay here. We’ll end up holding Teacher back.”
Realizing that the flow of the battle had shifted dramatically, Theon suggested we move elsewhere.
“Okay.”
“Let’s go!”
Theon was right.
We turned back toward the direction we had come from, trying to distance ourselves from this place.
But we soon had to stop.
“…Huh?”
Wobbling near the ground, five short tails were swaying.
***
Three bags of meat had been thrown by Dad’s wind. The contents had spilled out, revealing pieces of meat—and five small puppies with their heads buried into the ground.
“Chomp chomp chomp chomp.”
“Nom nom nom.”
They were devouring the meat in a frenzy, their big, round eyes brimming with tears. Those were the tears of someone eating something so delicious it brought them to tears.
“Who are they?”
“Puppies? Where did they come from?”
Jeffrey and I stared at the puppies in astonishment. They chewed and swallowed the meat, then chewed and swallowed some more, as if they were tasting a heavenly dish. Their intense focus made me hesitant to interrupt.
“They must’ve been starving,”
Theon muttered. One of the puppies noticed Jeffrey and raised its tail straight up, growling. Despite trembling with fear, it refused to let go of the piece of meat in its mouth.
I grabbed Jeffrey’s arm and said,
“Jeffrey, they’re scared of the wolf scent. Stay behind us.”
“Ugh, scaredy-cats.”
Jeffrey grumbled but moved behind Theon and me. As soon as Jeffrey was out of sight, the puppy resumed eating its meat.
Whoosh—
Dad’s wind continued blowing behind us. What should we do? At that moment, one of the puppies, who made eye contact with me, wagged its tail and opened its mouth.
“This is delicious! You guys brought this meat, right?”
“Gasp.”
Human speech.
“You… Are you from the wild dog tribe?”
“That’s right! I’m Coco!”
Coco licked the bits of meat off its mouth and swallowed. Hearing Coco’s words, the other wild dog beast pups perked up their ears and introduced themselves.
“I’m Toto! That one is Ex!”
“We’re Kiki and Titi!”
Perhaps because they were young, they didn’t seem to harbor any wariness toward humans. Their cheerful greetings, devoid of any hidden motives, were more than welcome. Smiling brightly, I introduced ourselves in return.
“I’m Berry! This is Theon, and this is Jeffrey.”
“Hello.”
“Hello, cowards~”
Theon waved, and Jeffrey peeked his face out from behind us. Seeing the wild dog beast pups tremble again, Theon quickly pushed Jeffrey’s face back behind him. Jeffrey let out a small huff but stood quietly.
I turned to the wild dog tribe and began to speak.
“So, when did you guys—”
Whoosh!
Thud!
Crash!
At that moment, a loud noise rang out as a wild dog beastfolk was flung into the air and then slammed into the ground. The sound of earth splitting followed. Theon quickly shielded my head, and I reflexively crouched in fear.
When the wind subsided and the dust settled, I could finally see what had happened. A new trench, several meters long, had been carved into the ground. At the end of it lay the fallen wild dog beastfolk.
Dad had won.
“D-Dad!”
Dad?
The voice hadn’t come from me. The wild dog beast pups ran past me and rushed toward the fallen beastfolk. They shielded the beastfolk with their small bodies, barking fiercely at my dad as if he were the villain.
“So, is there anything else you want to say?”
Dad directed his question at the wild dog beastfolk. It seemed there had been some kind of exchange during the fight.
“Of course not! You humans don’t understand our grievances!”
The beastfolk’s voice was filled with rage, but it couldn’t move. It had exhausted all its strength.
“Why do we attack humans? Then why do humans attack us?! All we’ve ever done is protect the land of our ancestors. But isn’t it your cruel alchemists’ potions that are drying up our land?!”
Growl!
The beastfolk’s cry of anger echoed into the sky. It sounded like a final lament. With a resigned look, the wild dog beastfolk closed its eyes, tears streaming down its face.
“Let the children go, human.”
“And why should I?”
“Children are innocent! We’re the ones who declared we’d kill the humans who failed to stop the land development!”
“And didn’t you try to attack my children?”
“…For that, I apologize. I lost my senses, consumed by hatred for the humans who ruined our land.”
“Is that so?”
Dad moved his hand, still gripping Wyndis. The white blade traced a graceful arc in the air, like white paint streaking across the night sky.
“Since you apologized, I’ll spare the children.”
“T-Thank you, human.”
“Then I suppose it’s okay to kill the rest of you?”
“………!”
The wild dog beastfolk clamped its mouth shut at Dad’s words.
Gasp.
Shocked, I grabbed Theon’s arm. Theon looked at me, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Dad.
‘It’s okay. Dad wouldn’t kill parents who have kids.’
The wild dog beastfolk had adorable pups. Dad, who always showed mercy to children, wouldn’t kill the wild dog tribe. I couldn’t interfere with Dad right now.
“Kill me, human. I would rather die than be pitied by you—”
Just as the despairing wild dog beastfolk let out its plea, Dad spoke.
“I’ll spare you.”
That’s my dad!
Dad sheathed Wyndis.
A few moments of silence passed. The wild dog beastfolk, unable to believe what it had heard, slowly opened its mouth.
“…Is that true?”
The beastfolk’s voice trembled. It sounded as if it was holding back tears, forcing the words out.
“Why…? I was trying to kill the humans….”
Feeling a sense of pride, I turned my head to the side. Just as I exchanged a smile with Theon—
“But before that.”
Huh?
Dad’s last words triggered yet another memory in my mind.
I remembered Crown Prince Theon making a baffled expression as I reminisced about Dad being a kind man during his lifetime.
– Do you know what your father was called outside?
– A kind and handsome gentleman? The gentle Grand Master? What is it?
– The Scoundrel of Travel.
Dad looked at the sniffling wild dog beastfolk with a wicked smile.
“Crawl.”
“What…?”
“I said I’ll spare you. So crawl here.”
‘Ahh?!’
Dad! That’s a bit too much! Those adorable pups with their big, sparkly eyes are watching!!
While I stood there with my mouth wide open, Jeffrey whispered to me.
“I told you, big sister Berry.”
“What?”
“Master Reytan is super mad.”
***
The negotiations were off the table.
Instead, it seemed Dad was about to become the new leader of the wild dog tribe.
“I refuse.”
Four members of the wild dog tribe, who had fainted after being struck by Dad’s sword, were now kneeling obediently before him.
“But it’s our tradition.”
“I’m human, you know? Can you really accept a human as your leader?”
“That’s… Well, since our former leader, Lord Zikal, approved it, it’s fine….”
“Go. Eat the meat or something. I can’t be bothered.”
Dad sighed deeply and waved them off.
“Yes, we will!”
“As the new leader has commanded!”
Thanks to the wild dog tribe sticking close to Dad, I hadn’t been scolded yet.
I spent some time playing with the young wild dog beasts, Theon, and Jeffrey. Then, I excused myself, saying I needed to use the bathroom. Since Coco decided to accompany me, no one else followed me into the forest.
“Coco! I’ll handle things alone from here!”
“Huh? Okay!”
…Grin.
I ventured deeper into the forest, away from where I had parted with Coco. There, I found an injured wild dog beastfolk leaning against a tree, resting. In their usual form, they walked upright.
“Excuse me, are you Coco’s father?”
At my words, the former leader of the wild dog tribe, Zikal, flinched in surprise. He glanced around cautiously before pointing at himself.
“Are you talking to me? …You’re using formal speech.”
“I became friends with Coco! Oh, by the way, I’m Berry! I have something I want to ask you.”
“…What is it?”
“You mentioned the land drying up earlier. What did you mean by that?”
