Chapter 492: Training a Mutt
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 492: Training a Mutt
The Regressor is moody. I’d known that for a while, but never had it been so apparent as it was these days.
“Hey. Where are you off to today?”
“Need anything? Something you want to eat?”
“Maybe a weapon you favor? I can probably get you a decent one!”
Unlike her usual prickly self, she was in such a good mood lately with how well things were going that she kept trying to give me things. You appreciate warmth more after feeling the cold. The Regressor’s goodwill felt truly alien.
But who am I? A mind reader. I graciously accept favors that come without strings attached. If I don’t take things now, when will I ever get the chance?
I answered her question with confidence.
“Please buy me some toys.”
“What?”
What’s with that look? You asked if I needed anything. Why are you scowling so scarily?
While tracking Okma, I had revealed my face and movements to the public. It was a decision made to quickly instill fear, possible only because I didn't plan on staying in this city for long.
But because of that, I was now in a position where I couldn't show my face. If Piggy spotted me, the mansion would become a target.
So, since I had to stay cooped up in the mansion alone, I needed toys to kill time. As I explained this, the Regressor replied, clearly displeased.
“You’re not just making excuses to stay inside, are you?”
“What are you talking about? If I didn't want to go out, I would have stayed inside from the start. I go out every night to beat up petty criminals, and you still doubt me? It hurts to have my intentions questioned after all that.”
“Ah, no. I was just asking.”
Excuses! I only went out to work because I didn't want to get nagged! The best way to avoid a lecture is to just do what they want!
“So, what do you need?”
“Long cloths, ropes, discs, and a scratcher.”
“A scratcher?”
“You know, that cork-like thing beastkin use to file their claws.”
“I know what it is. But why that?”
I had spoken lightly of fighting the Wolf King, and in truth, my presence in that battle would be light as a feather.
But that didn't mean I could prepare carelessly. My mind-reading only works on humans; I can't read how the Wolf King will move or where his fangs will aim. The terror of the wolf does not spare even the king of men.
Still, there was one reason I had stepped forward so confidently. I held up a hand toward Azzy.
“I think it’s about time Azzy and I got in sync.”
“Woof!”
Azzy leaped up and high-fived my hand. She did it without any force, keeping her claws retracted so she wouldn't hurt me. It was a result of her instinct not to harm humans.
But when we fight the wolf, there won't be time for such gentleness.
“Oh. Are you finally thinking up a strategy to fight the Wolf King?”
“It’s not much of a strategy. In a fight between Ende and the wolf pack, am I even in a position to make plans? And would they even follow them? Even if they did, our opponents are a mixed pack of wolves and humans. There’s no way things would go according to plan. I don't waste my time on lost causes. I focus on what's more important.”
“And what’s more important?”
“My survival.”
I held out my hand to Azzy again. She instinctively reached out and placed her paw on my hand. This was the amount of force she normally used with me. In an emergency, she was rougher, but never enough to hurt me.
However, when we fight the Wolf King, she needs to know how to hurt me. That’s the only way I’ll survive.
“Paw.”
“Woof!”
“Other paw.”
“Woof!”
When I raise my hand, she jumps to tap it. When I raise my foot, she lifts her own to meet it. Right now, she treats me like something fragile… but she needs to learn the limits of my body through these strength contests so we can survive the coming battle.
“Aha. I see. Can I watch?”
“Aren't you busy today?”
“Nope. Supplies are all sorted out, and there’s not much to do until Groll enters Ende. Everything’s going smoothly!”
“Hmph. Why do I feel so anxious when you say things are going smoothly, Shei?”
“Why? It’s normal for things to go according to plan, isn’t it?”
“That depends on the person, I’ve found.”
‘What does he mean? In every regression, things usually go according to plan… Is he saying I’m the type of person things don’t go according to plan for? That’s only because I’m doing things I didn’t do in previous timelines. This is kind of annoying.’
She was trying to understand my backhanded insult. I cut in just before a vague sense of displeasure could take root in the Regressor’s mind.
“Sure. You can watch. Actually, speaking of which, why don’t you help train Azzy, Shei?”
“Train Azzy?”
‘Come to think of it, I’ve never seen the Azzy who came out of the Abyss unscathed actually fight. Until now, she either vanished without a trace in the Abyss or was exploited by the Human Regime. This might be a good chance to gauge her power.’
“Alright.”
“Then go out and buy those toys I mentioned.”
“Okay.”
The Regressor readily agreed and left the mansion to run my errand. As she stepped out briskly, she paused and looked back at the firmly shut mansion door, tilting her head.
‘Wait a minute. Why am I running errands? I feel like I was just played.’
So what if you were? Just do it.
‘Well, Hughes has been working hard. I’ll just think of it as a walk. Where would I even buy this stuff? Gold coins should be enough, right?’
A moody person is a moody person. Her mood generous, the Regressor set off without another thought.
If a merchant decides to really rip her off today, they could make a year's worth of profit. I read her departing thoughts and sent my congratulations to the merchants of Ende.
Now, what to do? As I was pondering the future, Azzy came up to me and started barking.
“Woof woof. Woof woof woof.”
“If you have something to say, say it in human. I can’t understand you otherwise.”
You learned to speak human for my sake, since I can't read a dog's mind. A hint of worry appeared on Azzy’s innocent face as she spoke.
“Where you go, not sleeping?”
“When? At night?”
“Woof.”
“To work.”
Usually, that meant beating up violent pig beastkin. Rumors that the Dog King had appeared were already circulating in Ende. Azzy, who couldn't attack people anyway, wouldn't have been much help if I took her along.
Explaining all that would have been a pain and ultimately pointless, so I gave a vague answer. But Azzy seemed to guess.
“Fight? With humans?”
People call stupid individuals beasts. It’s not an entirely inaccurate comparison, since beasts are generally less intelligent than humans.
But intelligence is a metric defined by humans. What if beasts were given human language? What would humans think while conversing with them?
For the record, I don't think anything. I’m the same kind of beast.
Seeing that Azzy had seen through me, I replied without much emotion.
“Usually. There’s not much else to fight besides humans.”
“Woof woof. Wolves!”
“The Wolf King won't be here for a while. And I hear he has human helpers, too. They call it a fight between dogs and wolves, but it’s really a proxy war between two factions.”
“Woof…”
Suddenly dispirited, Azzy’s ears and tail drooped as she asked.
“Humans, why fight?”
“Why such a philosophical question all of a sudden? What’s wrong? It’s nothing for beasts to fight among themselves.”
“Woof! I, no fight humans!”
“You should fight a little. How long are you going to keep this up?”
Some dogs attack humans, and some wolves welcome humans into their packs and live peacefully alongside them. It’s probably because dogs and wolves share the same roots.
But Azzy doesn't attack humans, while the Wolf King attacks them on sight. Thinking about it, the gap between a beast and a Beast King feels strange. Then again, a Beast King represents the collective will of their species, so it’s not entirely incomprehensible.
“No fight! If no fight, then no fighting happens!”
“Is that really how it works? Beasts can't even remember what they ate for dinner yesterday. You might forget and start fighting again.”
“Still no fight! Woof! Forget fighting!”
Fine. If you say so, then so be it. The fights between humans will continue regardless, but if you manage not to fight amidst it all, then for you, at least, there will be no fighting.
“You’ll fight the Wolf King, though, right?”
“Woof! Promise!”
“That’s a promise for your sake, not for mine.”
“Woof?”
“Why the question mark? It’s your fight. Well, anyway, since we have a common enemy, you’d better protect me.”
“Woof!”
She doesn't seem scared. Then again, I don't feel particularly scared either. Because it’s inevitable. Even though I’ve lost all my power and become ordinary, the ‘promise’ of a Beast King still remains, compelling me to act.
I guess I really am a Beast King. Not that it helps with anything.
“Still, it’s better to prepare in advance and raise our chances of winning, even by a little.”
“Woof woof! Okay!”
“But I’m still not sure, Azzy. How can we increase our chances of winning?”
“Woof woof. Woof?”
“Exactly. I don’t know either. We’re not prophets.”
Someone who is a prophet might know. But a prophet can’t choose the future for others. They can only use what they’ve read to their own advantage.
I’m not asking anyone to choose for me. If one came near and let me read their mind, I’d use them, but otherwise, I couldn't care less.
“In that case, I guess the best we can do is give it our all in the moment, Azzy. You get it?”
“…Woof woof. Bad face.”
“Me? Who has a kinder face than me?”
Azzy slowly backed away and lay down a short distance from me. Seriously, she’s better at reading people's emotions than most humans. Because she’s simple, she isn’t fooled by words or situations. She just feels it with her animal instincts.
But that didn't last long.
“I’m back with the stuff!”
The moment the Regressor returned from her errand and set down the toys, Azzy’s tail started wagging as her interest was piqued. Seeing her like this, she really does look simple-minded.