That's Not a Dog! It's Something Wearing the Form of a Dog!
"That's not a dog! It's something wearing the form of a dog!"
Rain from the storm poured mercilessly through the gaping hole in the ceiling. But the cold raindrops never reached the floor. A pair of enormous golden wings had descended through the air, radiating a blinding heat that even pushed back the gale-force winds.
Its true nature was that of an angel, bowed down to earth in service of the shining will of the heavens.
Thud! The flaming sword gripped in the angel's slender hand devoured the rain as it sliced through the air with a piercing whistle. The black mages gasped for breath under the pressure.
"Damn it... an angel..."
The overwhelming holy power pressing against their skin was like poison searing their innards from within.
"To think that mere dregs of darkness would dare target the Lord's lamb."
The voice slipping from the angel's beautiful lips was languid yet cruel.
"A fitting punishment shall befall your arrogance."
The men's eyes flashed with feral fury. Beneath their blood-soaked robes, grotesque relics twisted into view all at once. Pitch-black demonic energy coiled like venomous serpents, gnawing at the boundary of sacred light.
"A winged fly from the heavens...!"
Whoosh! With a desperate roar bordering on madness, orbs of curses that rotted flesh tore through the air. The angel merely tilted her arrogant chin upward.
The flickering blade traced an elegant arc through the empty air. A dazzling holy radiance burned the vision white. A chilling, bewitching slash rained down upon the black mages from above.
"Gaaah!"
Their densely packed barriers of mana tore apart silently, like wet paper. The men tumbled backward, vomiting dark crimson blood, and the sinister relics they'd drawn shattered futilely at their feet.
One black mage spat curses in rage.
"Goddamn it...!"
"Whoa! The angel's so strong!"
I couldn't tear my eyes away from the awesome spectacle. Ugh, my finger's still wrapped up tight with that rainbow yarn from playing with Elia earlier. No idea how to untangle it. Whatever, who cares if it's knotted—I clapped my hands together.
Flash! Boom!
Right in front of me, bursts of brilliant light exploded in a frenzy. A massive flaming sword whooshed back and forth, and every time it did, the bad guys in black robes went flying. So cool! It's like watching a blockbuster anime.
Lemme think. Time to analyze this with my adult smarts. Looks like Elia prayed and summoned that angel just now. In books, they call this Deus ex... something. Machi... Machiato? Now I'm just craving sweet coffee.
"Ah! Deus ex machina!"
Figures, this cheap romance fantasy novel skimps even on awakenings.
Ugh...
My head throbbed again. Trying to remember fancy words makes my brain sting. Screw it, whatever. Complicated stuff later! I give up!
Anyway, it's super pretty and flashy!
Whoosh...
"Achoo!"
Cold rain poured in through the massive hole in the roof. Droplets splashed against my cheek. The wind made me shiver all over. Brr, so cold. The roof's totally wrecked. Wonder what the director grandma's face will look like tomorrow morning?
I couldn't stop watching the sparkling fireworks exploding right in front of me. I clenched my fists and shook them.
"Push 'em back! Win! Win!"
In a mere five minutes, the battle hurtled toward its end. Bloodshot eyes gleamed in the cornered black mage. At this rate, they'd be slaughtered under that low-rank angel's blade.
Gritting his teeth, the black mage drew a grotesque dagger carved from beast bone from his robes.
This is the only way!
He slashed deep into his own palm.
"O great abyss, I offer the price of blood... grant me the fangs of the demon realm!"
Dark red blood splattered the floor, etching a crimson magic circle.
"Such... petty tricks!"
The angel grimaced.
Sizzle!
Space warped grotesquely in the interim. Amid the stench of sulfur, three massive hellhounds—demon realm hunting dogs—burst forth as if ripping through fabric.
Blue flames dripped from the maws of the beasts, their blood-red eyes gleaming.
"Draw that winged bitch's eyes! Head for the kids!"
At the leader's command, the hellhounds veered sharply.
"Grrr!"
Their path led straight to the corner, where the orphanage children trembled in terror—and Chloe sat among them.
"Kyaaah!"
The children's screams tore through the air.
"Stop!"
Telliel cried out in horror, spreading her wings and launching an attack.
Slash!
One hellhound was cleaved in two. But the black mages spewed demonic energy desperately, grabbing at her ankles.
"Groooar!"
Now two beasts from the demon realm lunged. The hellhounds bared their starved jaws toward the children.
In that instant, as murderous intent flooded the corner...
The silver-haired girl huddled on the bed ignored the chaos around her, wrestling with the rainbow yarn tangled complexly around her finger.
"Ugh...! Why won't this... come undone?"
Chloe irritably thrust both hands up high.
Snap!
The knotted strings pulled taut in all directions. In that moment, a geometric cross-knot wove itself in midair. Simultaneously, a pitch-black shadow surged from beneath the girl's feet.
"Grrr...!"
Kkamang's cute muzzle tore open grotesquely to its ears, its abyssal maw yawning wide to devour the demon hound whole from the air.
The predation never happened.
Crackle!
The lead hellhound leaping first brushed the thin rainbow thread stretched taut in the air just before reaching Kkamang's jaws.
"Grr...?"
The moment the string scraped across the empty air...
Slash.
The beast's body was erased—literally. Not even a scream was permitted. Before the laws of the universe twisted by the thread, the demon realm hunter disintegrated smoothly down to its base particles, without a chance to feel pain.
"...Woof?"
The black beast, mouth agape in midair, let out a dazed bark at the powder—that had been a hellhound—drifting into its jaws. The abyssal predator, robbed of its treat, blankly blinked at the empty air.
"...Wh-what?!"
The black mages' murky eyes widened in shock. An incomprehensible defiance of reason had obliterated the demon beast in an instant.
Telliel's eyes shook violently as she regripped her blade of light from above.
Did the aftermath of my slash reach that far?
The remaining hellhound hesitated at its comrade's pathetic end. Throat tightening, the black mage hurled himself forward.
We can't end like this!
The saintess's bud had to be plucked at any cost.
Even if it costs my life!
He exploded his demonic energy, lunging to seize Elia's nape and take her hostage.
"Grab that child!"
Elia's vision filled with the black robe radiating horrific killing intent. Behind her, the silver-haired girl and orphanage friends trembled in fear. The stench of blood and terror of death choked her throat. Hot tears streamed uncontrollably down her pallid cheeks.
But the girl didn't run.
Elia spread her arms wide, blocking the way.
"Get away!"
The moment the desperate scream left her fragile lips...
The invisible chains weighing on the girl's slender shoulders shattered. Deep in Elia's heart, in its most hidden crevice, an ancient heat she'd kept curled there swelled uncontrollably.
A primal flash bleached her vision white. A colossal tidal wave of holy light swallowed the rundown room.
"Gaaah!"
The demon beasts caught in the storm of light screamed. The lumps of flesh spewing blue demonic energy melted like boiling sludge. White ash swirled like snowflakes before scattering to the floor.
The black mages fared no better.
"Gr... Graaak!"
The murky mana coursing through their veins was crushed by overwhelming holy power, surging in reverse. Taut nerves snapped silently. Faces unable to even scream collapsed like puppets with cut strings, bloodshot eyes fixed blankly on the void.
The raging storm in the half-destroyed orphanage finally subsided. The damp reek of blood and foul sulfur vanished from the air as if it had never been. Only cool raindrops fell quietly through the collapsed ceiling.
Telliel's massive golden wings folded softly at the feet of the gasping Elia. The Lord's sword, the 9th-class angel Telliel, knelt on one knee to the wet floor. Her neck bowed in utmost reverence.
"Splendid."
Her clear voice carried a deep fervor.
"You are truly the noble lamb chosen by the Lord...! The destined saintess sent to this impure land to eradicate evil."
Telliel's lips curved in a benevolent smile. The angel cautiously extended her hand. If she merely kissed Elia's trembling fingertips and explained her purpose, her mission would be—
The angel's gaze slid indifferently past Elia's slender shoulder.
A girl with tousled silver hair yawned lazily. At her feet, a pitch-black beast gazed up at the angel, wagging its tail innocently.
In that instant, the breath leaking from Telliel's thin lips froze.
"That thing...?!"
It shouldn't exist here. A horrifying sense of wrongness that brazenly mocked the laws of this world clawed at Telliel's retinas.
"...Ah."
Like a statue of plaster, Telliel urgently reached out. She seized Elia's wrist, yanking her roughly behind her back to break the beast's gaze.
"Step back! You must get away from that beast immediately!"
"Huh? Angel lady, what's wrong?"
The once-clear voice cracked sharply under terror.
"That... that's not a dog!"
Shing!
The flaming sword she'd sheathed sliced through the air once more.
"It's something wearing the form of a dog! A sinister existence whose true nature can't even be fathomed!"
Chilling killing intent locked onto the black beast's scruff.
"I'll slay you, you demon...!"
The moment the blue blade honed in...
Something unexpected happened.
Chloe scooped up the beast at her feet into her arms.
"What are you doing! Put that down now!"
Though the sharpened killing intent pressed right up to her nose, the silver-haired girl didn't waver.
Instead, her lips puffed out in sulky protest.
"Why are you being mean to our Kkamang?!"
Her small fingers, still tangled with rainbow yarn, stroked the black fur as if it were precious treasure.
"Kkamang's such a good boy!"