Chapter 13
For the past few days, the mansion had been unusually bustling.
Originally, this place had no guests, hell, you could even call it secluded. After two years in this new mansion, the first guest, and a *Noble* guest at that, was scheduled to arrive.
Everyone was energetically preparing, and even I could see it from where I lay in the garden.
They diligently prepared for the guest's arrival, and finally, the day arrived.
***
"Rain! Are you there?"
"Yes, I am."
"Let me fix your hair!"
As usual, the mansion's maids barged into the doghouse where I was alone.
For the record, Rain is my name. The maids who came here are among the few in this mansion who call me by my name.
"Your hair is so nice."
"Can I tidy up your house?"
"Go ahead."
The maids often came to the doghouse to take care of me when they had free time.
At first, they were definitely scared of me.
"Oh dear, you spilled your snacks again."
"Oh, did I? I forgot."
"You should have kept them in the container. I'll wipe your disc for you!"
Now, well, that fear has long since disappeared.
Maybe because Young Lady calls me 'dog' every day, my scary image has faded.
"A guest is coming today, so please be careful not to wrinkle your clothes or mess up your hair."
"Yes."
"Besides, Young Lady is going to show you off, so we should make you even more presentable."
"I'd appreciate that...."
Some of the maids, perhaps bored with working in the garden, often touched my hair.
This time, however, because of the guest, they were being very thorough.
"Stay still. Don't shake your head."
"...I won't."
"Now, shall we slick it back today?"
Still, it's nice and comfortable to be surrounded by maids like this.
It feels like just yesterday I was stuck with those guys at the Colosseum all day.
I don't know how I survived back then. If they told me to go back now, I wouldn't, not even if they beat me to death.
"I bought this at the night market the other day. It’s supposed to hold your hair in place."
"Oh, that? Everyone’s using it these days."
"Just apply a little... Oh my, I put on too much! I'm sorry!"
More than that, the way they treat me is... how should I put it? A bit ambiguous.
It's too careful to be treating a dog. But it’s not as casual as how Daren or Kaiden, the Knights, treat me.
It's like they're handling a very precious dog, or something?
Anyway, I know they’re being kind to me.
"What are you all doing?"
"Ah!"
"Get back to your positions!"
Just like that, before they got caught by the head maid, the maids were scolded and quickly retreated, leaving me alone again.
I lay sprawled out inside the doghouse.
Well, it’s a bit more spacious now that they cleaned it. I'm always grateful for this.
I’ll definitely repay them later if I can.
By the way, when are the guests supposed to arrive?
I think I heard they were coming in the afternoon. It's noon now, so I should just take a short nap.
The only problem is, there’s nothing to do but train.
There’s just no entertainment in this world.
Thinking that being bored is better than being in pain, I closed my eyes.
When I opened them again...
"There’s a doghouse here?"
"I suppose it's where they keep their pet."
I heard the voices right outside the doghouse.
"Oh...."
"Judging by the size, it could be a pet monster, so don't get too close."
...Who is it?
It's not the voices of the usual servants.
"I'll take a look."
"Be careful."
I could feel someone approaching, determined to see what was inside.
It's not the Masked Person from last time...
I had a good idea who it might be, so I went out to greet them before they looked inside.
"Hello."
"Huh?"
"Um?"
The two people were surprised to see me.
One was a girl who looked about my age, and the other was a middle-aged woman.
"W-who are you?"
"Are you the caretaker?"
"No, I live here."
…They must be the guests who were supposed to come. Why are they here alone? Where’s Young Lady?
"Are you, by any chance, the guests who were supposed to arrive today?"
I asked politely, as they were at least Nobles.
"Oh, yes, that's right, but... who are you?"
"Oh, I am...."
Just as I was about to tell the two confused people who I was, having just emerged from a doghouse...
"Hey, you two!"
Young Lady approached from the front garden.
"What are you doing with my dog?"
"Dog...?"
The two people looked puzzled at Young Lady's words, who had so confidently called me a dog.
Hmm, I guess the rumors haven’t spread because this place has been so secluded. The servants here are tight-lipped.
"Dog, come here!"
Young Lady called me, so I went over to her. She held out her hand... She wants me to offer my head, right?
I knelt down on one knee.
*Pat pat.*
"Good boy!"
...To think I'd be shown off like this in front of outsiders. Well, it wasn’t like I felt embarrassed or anything anymore.
It was a common sight for the servants, after all.
I've become numb to being treated like a dog.
"The dog you said you'd introduce... was a person?"
"Yes! I've been raising him for two years."
"My goodness."
However, it seems some semblance of common sense still exists in this damned world.
The other two still wear expressions of bewilderment.
Right, *that's* the normal reaction. What kind of young lady raises a person like a dog…?
“...If I'd known, I would have brought a different gift.”
“What did you bring?”
“I brought a dog toy… I should have asked beforehand.”
…What the fuck.
Their reaction is different than expected.
Though surprised at first, the two soon nodded in understanding.
“He’s a very handsome dog.”
“Yes, he has an air of dignity. He’s well cared for.”
What the actual fuck.
I thought I'd learned a lot in this world, but I'm still fucking blind.
“Hee hee, my doggy *is* handsome.”
*Pat pat.*
Seeming to enjoy the compliment, the young lady patted my head even more enthusiastically.
Which completely ruined the hairstyle the maids had given me.
…If the maid who did this saw it, she’d fucking cry.
“My doggy can do lots of tricks too!”
“Tricks? Does he have any special skills?”
It seems the young lady wants to brag some more.
“I was going to save this for later… Doggy! Teleport!”
“Huh?”
“Teleport!”
“Ah…”
Look at those bright, expectant eyes.
I wondered how she’d show off.
Was it going to be a *real* show-off?
“Alright.”
Well, gotta be a good boy.
I stood up and used Fleet to move onto the doghouse roof.
“Hmm?”
The two guests looked momentarily surprised as I disappeared.
“Fleet?”
“...You know it.”
I said, turning back to them.
They recognized Fleet right away.
“Wow, he looks about our age, but he uses Fleet so well?”
“It’s doggy’s special skill!”
“He’s no ordinary dog.”
Yeah, I guess it’s surprising.
What dog in this world uses fucking Fleet?
Especially this cleanly.
If nothing else, I've really honed my Fleet.
“Can he do anything else?”
“Of course! My doggy has so many tricks.”
Well, I can show off a lot.
But do I really have to do it all *here*?
I'm not really comfortable doing my whole trick set in front of guests.
“Young Lady…”
So, I tried to carefully dissuade her.
“What are you all doing in the garden?”
Just then, a voice I wanted to hear came at the perfect timing.
“Lowell?”
“Yes, Young Lady. You have guests.”
Right.
That old man's timing is always impeccable.
“Ah! Hello, Master Lowell…!”
“Haha, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“I-I’ve heard so much about you.”
However.
The noble girl immediately bowed her head, flustered, at the sight of Lowell.
…Was he really *that* amazing? I mean, the young lady treats him like a kindly grandfather, but the other servants are respectful, so I figured he was someone of importance.
It's surprising to see another noble react this way.
“The honor is mine.”
Moreover, the middle-aged woman next to the girl gave Lowell a small salute.
Clearly, he’s a respected old man.
“But it seems the Young Lady is showing off the dog I trained.”
“Trained…? You, Master Lowell?”
Lowell spoke casually as soon as he arrived.
At the mention of training, the two guests' gazes shifted towards me.
Were they wondering if it was ‘training’ in the dog sense?
Or perhaps ‘teaching’?
…What's there to wonder about?
If I can use Fleet, I must have been taught.
“Hmm.”
“He’s certainly no ordinary dog…”
So.
I tried to ignore their slightly uncomfortable stares.
“What’s everyone doing down there?”
A woman's voice called out.
Not from in front or behind.
The voice came from above, so I looked up.
*Whoosh-*
A woman descended, accompanied by a gust of wind.
Her red hair flowed behind her.
The woman I’d only seen from afar.
“Teacher?”
“Master!”
The Magician Woman, whom even the respected Lowell considered remarkable.
She just dropped out of the sky.
“Fancy meeting you here? Hmm….”
And.
Her red eyes landed on me.
Not beautiful, jewel-like eyes like the young lady’s, but eyes like burning flames.
“So you’re the dog?”
*Pat pat.*
The woman reached out and stroked my head.
“You look like you have quite the temper.”
I inwardly sighed as even this remarkable Magician Woman, the young lady's master, treated me like a dog without a second thought.
Well, alright.
Guess this is just common sense in this fucked up world. I don’t have to hide in the doghouse when guests come over anymore.