The Puppy's Farewell
“Fortunately, it looks like they didn't touch it. No wounds at all. Mind seems fine too, and the way it's welcoming humans...”
I nodded. Even a pup from an ancient monster, infamous for its ferocity, wouldn't act this tame if it'd been abused by humans.
So what were they researching?
The magic circles here?
Or maybe there was something in the cave to begin with?
Like an ancient monster corpse or traces of one...
For now, it seemed their goal was to artificially create an ancient monster.
Like some Mechagodzilla knockoff.
“Mosik. You got nothing on this?”
“Info on ancient monsters? You won't find it even in the empire's biggest library.”
Then how does Jenella know?
I stared at her, and Jenella whistled innocently, pretending not to notice.
Eh, probably heard it from her parents or something.
Anyway, that's not the issue.
What to do with this pup? This adorable little guy?
“How about we take it with us?”
Jenella suggested cautiously.
“Take it? You serious?”
“Yeah. I don't know what this place is exactly, but... it seems like it was made to protect or seal this little one away. But it's not safe here anymore, right?”
“Yeah. This is the most dangerous spot now.”
“So we take it, find its mom... or raise it ourselves?”
Can we even raise it?
Hmm. Probably could.
Once I graduate the academy and head back to the temple, my successor or Arcana would handle it anyway.
“But how do we find the mom?”
“I know a few habitats for ancient monsters. One's probably this dog-like one, right?”
“And if not?”
“We bolt. You'd make it no problem, Eugene.”
“What? Me?”
“Well, it'd take me like five years...”
“Ugh.”
But most importantly...
“What do you think?”
The pup's own opinion.
Woof! Woof!
The pup grinned innocently, like anything was fine.
Hmm. Guess we'll take it for now...
“!”
I froze mid-reach. The pup's body was fading.
Dying?
No. In my eyes as priest of the War God, one word flickered faintly.
<Return>
Once the collar came off and the bindings vanished, the magic on the pup activated.
“...Teleportation?”
Jenella murmured in surprise.
The pup faded more, but its expression was peaceful.
Like it was finally heading home, happy about it.
Woof! Woof!
It panted, licking my palm.
Like saying goodbye.
I chuckled, stroking its cheeks with both hands.
“Take care. Hope we meet again sometime.”
Woof! Woof!
And with that, the pup vanished.
Good. No worries about its fate now.
Probably set by its mom or dad. More intricate than those high-level magic circles even.
Bet it made it home safe.
Time to get out of here...
Rumble rumble rumble!
I looked up.
Cracks spiderwebbing the ceiling. And water gushing from the fissures.
It's collapsing.
“Uh-oh.”
“Oh.”
“Whoa.”
—It's collapsing?
We're screwed.
“Run for it!”
“Gahhh!”
“...No! You first—piggyback! Mosik! Follow us!”
“Got it!”
People down here underground!!!
I glanced back. Amid the crumbling cave, the central structure collapsed too.
* * *
BOOM!
The ground sank deep. The entire underground caved in.
The nearby river flooded, sweeping the whole city.
But not my problem. It's a criminal den anyway. The old man probably evacuated folks. Or they'd come after me if not.
Bit of a mess, though.
Suits me fine.
House Arishion's heads will explode. Rumors spreading, near-total city wipeout.
Once clear of the city, no tails in sight, I ditched the mask.
“Whew! Man, thought I'd suffocate.”
No more stale back-alley stink—just fresh, nature-scented wind on my face.
“Ahh, so refreshing~”
—Ahh. Bare face is the best.
Eodukshini, mask off too, stretched atop my head.
What are you?
—What? Can't a slime get some air?
“Not saying you can't.”
Eodukshini and I spread our arms, savoring the breeze.
Jenella, hand on a tree, catching her breath, looked up.
“Hey. I carried you while running. Why're you wiped?”
“...I wasn't heavy, right?”
“Super heavy. Nearly snapped my back.”
“...”
“Kidding. Don't make that face?”
She's taking jokes now.
Kinda scary?
“Anyway, food time. Meat?”
“Meat!”
Mosik, sensing his cue, puffed his chest and stepped up.
“I know a great chicken breast salad spot.”
“Shut it. Meat and booze.”
“Muscle loss incoming.”
“Gotta eat big when it counts. Don't you know meat's key for gains?”
“Chicken breast handles that...”
“Ignoring my gesture now? Hah, the nerve!”
“...Understood. Let's eat.”
“That's right! Let's go! Eodukshini!”
—Leeeet's gooooo!
“Me~at yaaay~”
—Me~at yaaay~
And so the chaotic day ended.
* * *
“Ugh... w-water...”
“You okay?”
I handed water to Jenella crawling from the bedcovers.
First time drinking last night, way past her limit. Hence this.
She'll recover soon, groaning or not.
She'll get used to it.
Senior pride swelling. Seeing a booze newbie wrecked? Comedy gold.
Hangover health hit?
Body not adapted yet. Soon mana'll purge the booze and toxins.
“Ughhhh...”
“Move a bit. You'll gain weight.”
“What?! Nooo!”
Jenella bolted up.
Whoosh!
Flying blanket, uncovered... yeah. That's enough.
She noticed late, screamed.
“Kyaa! Pervert!”
“No! You messed up! Help! Eodukshini did it!”
What?! I was just admiring—gah!
Total chaos.
“Huff, huff...”
“C-can you put clothes on before freaking out...”
“Puked on mine... no spares...”
“...”
I sighed, handed her extras.
In the loose fit, she slurped hot soup I got, sobering up.
“Hoo! Hoo!”
—Hoo. Hoo...
“Why're you sobering?”
Eodukshini next to her, doing the same. Passed out after one bottle yesterday.
—Slimes need sobering too. Why fuss?
“Sure. One-bottle tolerance.”
—Not true!
“Right? I downed ten fine~”
—...You're the freak!
“Nah.”
“Kinda sounds right...”
Jenella chimed timidly from the side, promptly ignored.
Sipping soup, she suddenly asked.
“Where's Mosik Karma?”
“Met him before you woke. He tapped out after two, up earlier.”
“...Was I good at drinking?”
“Nah. Eight bottles? Amateur.”
“...Right?”
—True?
“Yeah. I do twenty.”
I seem off, but this is normal.
“Gave him hangover soup too. Said no thanks.”
“?”
“Claims workouts beat hangovers. Was bodyweight grinding.”
“...”
Jenella shook her head, finished her soup.
Bored now, I checked yesterday's docs.
Artificial Creation of Ancient Monsters: Feasibility
10%
Project Name: Creation
I snorted, flipping pages. Creation? Even god Arcana couldn't touch that unknown—no, forbidden realm.
Only the main god who forged this world can create from nothing.
Even if humans pulled it off, it's just upgrading existing stuff, not true creation.
Arrogant fools. Experiments progressed, but crumbled on one guy—me.
Copies exist or not...
Once atrocities spread continent-wide, even a ducal house balks.
If the emperor? Other dukes, counts rebel. One noble house?
Smashed to bits. They'll hide or delay smartly.
Delay means years at least.
By restart, I'll be way stronger. Easy block.
“Checked the contents?”
“Yeah. Puppy info too—they researched it. Dragon traces and 'dragon' mentions... probably studied a corpse or remains outside, plus inner magic circles.”
Our guesses spot-on.
“So they didn't touch the pup?”
“Nope.”
“Good.”
“Relief.”
Jenella beamed innocently. A pure smile, agelessly sweet.
First time seeing it... past life, this life. Like Ashy's fan-girl grin at me.
—Homework done, you two?
“Ah.”
“Ah.”
Right. Assignment.
* * *
“That concludes the report.”
“...”
The city's collapse replayed on the screen.
The old man in crisp suit under robe eyed the papers.
Damage scale, losses, experiment result.
One stark word. Short, but enough to enrage him.
Crack!
Space warped, mana twisted.
The reporting mage choked yet felt awe.
This is an archmage...!
8-circle. Beyond 7-circle Master threshold—the sole Sage.
“...What did you say? Repeat.”
Malia Arishion, greatest house head, strongest mage.
He was furious.