Kays Translations

Chapter 7: Peaceful Hydrangea ⑥ – The Dog Hunt

I was intrigued, so I decided to help search for the dog.

“My name is Wof.”
“I am Celeste. Thank you very much for assisting with today’s search.”

Celeste spoke politely and bowed deeply.

“No, I’m just curious. Besides, it’s difficult to search in a city you’re not familiar with.”
“I’m sorry. I just arrived here and can’t tell left from right.”
“About the dog—are there any other distinguishing features?”
“It wears a large black collar.”
“That would stand out.”
“Yes, it should, but somehow I always struggle to find him.”

Celeste kept bowing her head.
She must be a very proper person. But what I really wanted to know was:

“Why is the dog carrying a greatsword on its back?”
“That is… forgive me. I cannot say the reason.”
“I see. If that’s the case, that’s fine.”
“My apologies.”
“No worries. It should stand out easily enough, so let’s try asking around like you were doing earlier.”
“Yes, thank you very much!”

She bowed deeply again. Alright, let’s start asking nearby.

I went around asking everyone I could, but not a single person knew.

One man even got angry and shouted at me, saying there’s no way such a dog exists.
I couldn’t argue back—I hadn’t actually seen it myself.

“Huh? Celeste?”

The whole time she had been clumsily questioning people with me, but suddenly she was gone.
Looking around, I spotted her… oh no.

She was moving with a group of shady-looking men into a deserted alley.

That narrow passage leads into the backstreets.

No way. I ran after them. And then—there it was!!

A huge dog with blue fur, wearing a black collar and carrying a greatsword!

It really had a greatsword… incredible. Straight out of a fantasy.

It calmly walked and turned the corner. Should I follow?
But Celeste! I didn’t have to choose which was more urgent. Both were.

I ran down the narrow path into the alley.

“Celeste… san…?”

In the open space of the backstreet, the corpses of men were scattered.
At the center stood a blood-soaked woman.

She held a curved sword loosely in her hand.
Amid such a gruesome scene, I still thought she looked beautiful.

She glanced at me, wiped the blood off her cheek with her thumb, and smiled.

A chill ran down my spine—because she looked ecstatic.

“Wof-san.”
“…Um, this is—”

I didn’t need to ask. Celeste had been lured into the alley.
That alone explained why these men were dead.

Several corpses had no heads. The heads lay scattered about.

“I’m sorry. They said they’d seen the dog, but as soon as I followed, they attacked me. I resisted lightly, and then they drew their swords. Forgive me, but I killed them all. I only cut off their heads, so they should have died without suffering. This is the last mercy I could give them.”

She sheathed her sword and bowed.

The sight was disturbing, but I remembered—ah, I should say something.

“Um, the dog—I found it.”
“Truly?”
“Yes. It was walking along, but since I prioritized you, I lost sight of it. Sorry.”
“No, I’m the one who caused you trouble. And where was it headed?”
“Uh, toward the west street corner—”
“Oh, my apologies. It seems that won’t be necessary.”
“Huh? Oh!?”

Startled, I turned around. The dog was there, sitting.

A huge dog with blue fur, wearing a black collar, and carrying a greatsword on its back.

I couldn’t identify the breed. It could be mistaken for a wolf, but apparently it was a dog.

The greatsword on its back was nearly as long as the dog itself.
Its hilt was wrapped in layers of black cloth, with a silver cross-guard that looked like knuckles.
The sheath was metal, engraved with designs.

It was impressive, though I had the feeling this sword wasn’t an artifact.
If anything, the curved sword Celeste carried seemed more like one.

The dog watched me with grey eyes.
In my previous life, I’d learned dogs see in black and white. Perhaps this one did too.

“You worried me. Please don’t wander off like that.”

Celeste spoke to the dog.

It looked at her, stood, and turned to walk away.

“Wait. Please, really, don’t just wander off like that. I—I’m so sorry. Wof-san, thank you truly for helping in the search today. I will make sure to repay you. But for now, I must go.”

“Uh, yes. Take care.”

I thought idly how tough her situation must be… but no, I couldn’t just leave things like this.

I used Vanish to clean up the corpses.

And then—

“That technique is convenient.”

A voice suddenly spoke behind me, making me jump.

“Wh-who’s there…? Eh—”

When I saw the figure, I was shocked a second time.

Hair of shining golden light flowing gently.
A dignified, strikingly handsome face with sharp black eyes.
A beauty mark below the right eye.

He radiated an almost mystical aura.

Like the ultimate masterpiece carved by a genius sculptor, a beautiful young man stood there.

He wore a red cloak and pristine white armor—an artistic creation, yet fully functional.

Just by standing there, the entire scene became a painting.
Such was the man before me.

“Wh-who… are you…?”

Everything about him screamed noble or royal.
The kind of radiant prince who would ride a white horse.

But what was someone like that doing here…?

“I am Alweld von Rutvelt.”

“A surname… you’re a noble?”

“Something like that, but it carries no meaning. You are Wof, yes?”

“Y-yes.”

“The witch’s apprentice, aren’t you.”

“Y-yes.”

“The witch’s apprentice, hm… I bear you no grudge. I have no personal quarrel with you. This is merely a commission. [Impact].”

“―――!?”

I leapt back on instinct.

“Oh? You sensed it.”

“W-what was that!?”

Just now… what was this man trying to do?
He hadn’t moved a step, and yet I knew he was about to do something.

That’s what it felt like. What… what is he?
A chill shot down my spine. Terror gnawed at me.
It was like staring up at an impossibly vast, perilous mountain.

“Fear not. I won’t kill you. The request is to knock you unconscious and take you away.”

“Take me? Where, and for what? Who hired you!?”

“Regrettably, I cannot answer those.”

“That’s kidnapping! That’s a crime! No such request should exist!”

“A direct commission.”

Alweld stated it flatly.
I drew the short blade I had just received and activated [Vanish].

Even with me in battle stance, Alweld didn’t move an inch.
He simply watched in silence.
I could try to run, but if I turned my back on him, it would be over.

I had no choice but to face him.
I launched my strongest [Vanish] at Alweld.

“[Crash].”

That one word—just a word—and my [Vanish] dissolved.
Stunned, I swung the short blade at him in desperation.

“[Crash].”

The blade shattered. Shaken, I invoked [Silent One].

“Curious.”

“…What is?”

“Why do you form it? You only need to see and call.”

“See… what?”

“The same kind of Relic, aren’t they?”

I had no idea what he meant.
But I knew—if I held back, I would surely lose.
I invoked [Generous], my hair and eyes turning violet, and glared at Alweld.

“Oh…”

His eyes widened.

Now! I immediately cast it.

“―――[Phantasmagoria]―――!”

Countless [Vanish] assaults swarmed Alweld.
They’re invisible—he shouldn’t be able to perceive them.

In moments, he should be completely erased.
But I stopped them just short. His armor was obliterated, but his body was untouched.

He may be a kidnapper, but he didn’t need to die. Besides, I still had questions.

Yet Alweld calmly incanted:

“―――[Crash Rumble]―――.”

…What!?
My [Phantasmagoria] quaked violently, vanishing one after another.
Impossible.
Could he see them? Even if he could—what did he do!?

It was definitely a Relic, but… his mastery was on another level. Overwhelming.

As I gaped, Alweld was suddenly right in front of me.
I slashed at him reflexively with a double-edged knife.

“[Crash].”

The knife shattered. Unfazed, I swung down [Arm of the Void].

“[Buster].”

It was blasted away, and at the same time, the Gloves of the Silent Saint shattered to pieces.

Everything—everything of mine was being destroyed.

“Kh!”

“[Rumble Impact].”

WHUDD!!
A crushing blow slammed into my abdomen, the shockwave reverberating through me. Blood spewed from my mouth as I collapsed.

“…Ghahh… haah… hhhhaaahh…!?”

Agonizing pain paralyzed my body. The ache radiated from my stomach through every limb.
Through blurred vision, I glared upward—Alweld’s cheek had a single shallow cut.

He touched the wound with two fingers.

“Impressive. It has been years since I was last cut. I see… so that’s why. Still, this I was not told. Narcissus…”

My body… the pain… I couldn’t move a single finger. My consciousness was fading.

No… this can’t… my sight was darkening.

So I lost. Defeated. Crushed utterly.
Alweld von Rutvelt…!

I glared up at him with all the killing intent I could muster.
For the first time in my life—rage, hatred, humiliation welled up inside me.

Alweld looked down and spoke:

“Sleep. [Impact].”

A jolt of force wracked my body, and my consciousness was torn away.

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