Chapter 85
Chapter 85
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: The Hunting Dog's Vengeance
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"...".
Pushed aside by the child, Nihil quickly backed away from the bars. Lianus looked ready to snap and give the kid a piece of his mind for shoving him, but Nihil shook his head firmly to stop him.
The blood-smeared bars were a place of terror for the children, but they were also the only barrier shielding them from the hunting dogs—a sanctuary no designated "prey" could enter.
With one child left outside as bait, the others could cling to the small comfort that they weren't the target this time, that they'd survive another day. And right now, that feeble reassurance meant everything to them.
Nihil gazed up steadily at the approaching host, having witnessed the kids' shattered spirits.
"What're you staring at? Hand over the key!"
"...".
Maybe break one limb at a time before we go. If the children weren't there, he wouldn't have held back like this.
Hiding his killing intent, Nihil flashed a bright smile.
He considered taunting the host to stall longer, but the noble looked ready to snap and have his knight smash the bars, so Nihil tossed the key far away instead.
The host spewed curses as he scrambled for it, but after all the grief Nihil had given him, he didn't dare charge and bolted out of the cage.
Two knights stepped inside.
Sir Evan drew his sword as far from the children as he could manage.
His opponent swung wildly, but the skill gap was vast from the start. Evan's only goal was to shield the kids and buy time, so he simply deflected every blow.
To onlookers, it seemed Evan was just retreating nonstop, drawing jeers from those who'd bet on him. But the enemy knight grew tense as his attacks slid harmlessly away.
Seeing Evan widen the gap on his own, Nihil edged toward the bars. The frightened child started to open his mouth again, but furious Lianus—puffed up like a burst sea cucumber—shoved him aside and flung the door open faster.
"Nil, it's dangerous. Hurry over."
"I'm fine. Doggy'll handle it. Lend me my robe?"
"Oh, yeah!"
Lianus handed back Nihil's robe, with the puppy still rolled up inside it, then tucked the little guy into his own arms quick.
"What about the puppy? Taking it with?"
Nihil pulled the hood low over his robe-wrapped head as he asked. The pup in Lianus's arms wriggled and squeaked, almost like it was chiming in.
Lianus eyed the fidgeting bundle in his hold, hesitating.
He adored the puppy and desperately wanted to keep it, but pets he'd tried raising before always turned up dead soon after. He couldn't bring himself to say yes lightly.
What if I drag it home selfishly and just make it miserable?
"I... don't know if I can protect it..."
"We'll protect it together. If you want it, let's take it."
"Really okay?"
"Yeah. But first, let it say hi to Mom."
"Mom...?"
Nihil signaled Sir Evan to draw eyes, then cradled the puppy and headed for the hunting dogs' cage.
Sir Evan scowled hard.
How the hell does he know intel agency hand signals?
Worried what this wildcat had up his sleeve now, he nonetheless flared his aura spectacularly to steal the spotlight.
Lianus stared blankly at Sir Evan's dazzling golden aura for a beat, lost in thought.
If I could wield mana, what color would my aura be?
But no—that was just self-torment. He shook it off and trailed close behind Nihil.
The hunting dog snarled viciously at the sight of the kids, but as they drew near, it broke into pitiful whines.
"C'mon, say hi to the baby."
Nihil held the pup out carefully.
Spotting its squirming offspring, the dog paced anxiously in the cage, whining nonstop.
Nihil pulled out the key he'd deliberately held back and unlocked the door. The host outside caught sight of the kids and bellowed what the hell they were doing, but Nihil shouted right back, "Doggy's so pitiful!" and even yanked off the muzzle.
That pulled eyes back to the kids, but when Sir Evan sheathed his blade and threw punches, cheers exploded as everyone locked onto the duel again.
The battered hunting dog tensed at the shifting mood but crept cautiously from the cage when Nihil nudged the pup closer. It started licking its baby clean, then swiped its tongue over Nihil's face in what felt like thanks.
Once the reunion wrapped, the dog gently gripped its pup by the scruff and passed it to Lianus.
Lianus took the puppy on reflex, arms full, heart churning with weird feelings.
The dog fixed him and the pup with a long look, then nosed Nihil's pants pocket insistently. Candy from the host was stuffed inside.
Nihil fished it out, rolled it in his palm wordlessly for a moment, then grimaced and whispered something to the dog—so soft even nearby Lianus barely caught it.
Lianus watched silently as Nihil conversed with the hunting dog. Soon his friend planted a gentle kiss on the dog's snout, stood, and chucked the candy to the floor. Looked like he had no appetite for it, and the dog perked up at once.
"Time to go."
"Huh? Oh? Uh, yeah. Mom dog's coming too, right?"
"...No. She stays."
"Why? The palace—no, our house is huge. Room for one more dog, easy..."
"She doesn't want to. Take good care of the pup."
"Wha—? What're you—"?
Lianus panicked, glancing between the hunting dog and puppy. He tried offering the pup back, but all that earlier tenderness vanished—the mother turned away, pretending not to know it.
"Nil, why's she—?"
"Shell, gotta go. They're almost here. Should've snapped that guy's limbs one by one..."
"Wh-who's limbs? What's almost here?"
Too focused on his surroundings to reply right away, Nihil checked the kids safely back in their cage, then hefted his staff and hurled it with all his might.
Bang! The cage door shattered with a massive clang, swinging open with a screech.
Sir Evan, fresh off stripping another combo from the rival knight, started to shout in shock when Nihil snapped the dog's collar.
"[Atonement and Revenge.]"
The hunting dog exploded into action.
The arena dissolved into pandemonium from the rampaging beast.
The dueling knight bolted to shield his master the instant the dog broke free, but Nihil's whip lashed out, binding his legs in a flash—he went down spectacularly.
Sir Evan scooped Lianus into his arms and grabbed Nihil by the scruff.
"You mad bastard!"
"Doggy, let's bounce."
"You wreck everything then play it cool alone?!"
"Knight Order's here. Run."
"What Knight Order?!"
"Not guards. Knights."
"...Royal Knights?"
"Yeah."
"Son of a—!"
Sir Evan was a Royal Knight himself—the youngest inductee ever, and back then the only commoner. He'd been fast-tracked to prince's guard, so hadn't stuck around long or mingled much, but aside from a few juniors who'd joined after, nearly every Royal Knight knew his face.
Panicking, he slung Nihil over his shoulder like baggage and drew steel.
Just sneaking out the seven-year-old prince was bad enough—selling him for eighty silver and dragging him to this death-trap den? If word reached His Majesty, Evan was toast.
"Break that way."
Even now, the wildcat helpfully pointed the exit while dangling from Evan's raw strength. Stomach churning, Evan slashed the indicated direction anyway.
A crumbling corner of the rundown underground ceiling caved in instantly.
Sir Evan sheathed quick, readjusted Nihil, aura-wrapped his legs, and vaulted high.
Den patrons gawked at the sudden emergence, but Evan ignored them. Groundside, the Knight Order's presence hit him like a wall.
They were nearly at the entrance—no door exit possible. He reached for his sword to smash a wall.
"Doggy, rats're fleeing. No wall holes. Kill presence first, up to second floor."
"...".
"Hurry."
Evan caught himself riled, drew a deep breath. Double-checked the kids' hoods, yanked his mask to his eyes, then bounded upstairs. Eyes tracked him, but the knights' arrival would scatter them.
"Left. Room four."
"...Going, but how d'you know?"
"Don't. Ask. Focus, break."
"...".
Sir Evan shut up and followed orders. The kid pulled off anything effortlessly, so this too? Apparently not that effortless.
But room four was a private deal spot—soundproof, sure, windowless.
"Blocked."
"This wall. Thin. Control power."
Sir Evan shifted Nihil, cradled both kids one-armed, drew sword. Aura slash carved a slit; he ripped the wall like paper, revealing void.
Nihil—who rarely praised—muttered, "Strength's solid," and kept directing.
"Ceiling vent. Follow duct."
"...Tight fit."
"You're huge."
"...".
True enough. Evan pried the vent, hoisted the kids up, then hauled in after.
Scanning the passage, he sighed.
"...Gonna lose it."
The kids scooted fine with a waist bend; burly Evan belly-crawled flat-out, couldn't even splay limbs—the width was pitiful.
Nihil, balled up tight, eyed Evan's elbow-scramble.
"Why not slide on your back?"
"...Can't flip."
"All bulk, no use..."
"Quit poking, move!"
"Next time, doggy-sized."
"Keep talking!"
"Don't rage. Didn't peg the duct this narrow. Shell, here."
Nihil tugged Lianus from going straight.
"Ugh, crap. Labyrinth passage much?!"
"Whoa, Sir Evan, light ahead!"
Evan's face eased at the end-of-hell promise. But crawling out...
"Damn it all. Who builds an entrance this tiny?!"
"...Pfft."
"Don't you laugh!"