The Elf Ranger and the Genius Puppy
I was sprinting across the garden grass like a madman, chasing a butterfly. It was an instinct burned into my body as a dog—the urge to chase something. I swear to god, I couldn't help it. My eyes were practically glued to the fluttering wings of that yellow butterfly. It felt like it was right at the tips of my paws, yet it kept slipping away, just out of reach. It was infuriating. You little bitch. Just wait until I catch you. I’ll rip those wings right off.
Gritting my teeth, I locked my gaze on the butterfly as it landed softly on a pink flower, then I leaped with all my might.
Huff, huff, huff! You little bastard!!! I got you—
Just as my front paws were about to touch its wings, a shadow fell over me. I flinched and looked up, watching the butterfly flutter away and land on the tip of someone’s finger. It was a sight almost like magic. I tilted my head back as far as it would go, and only then did I see her face.
The woman wore a green hood and a matching mask, with pointed ears poking out from the sides of the hood. Mysterious emerald eyes looked down at me. The impossibly beautiful woman crouched down and stroked my head.
"Hello there?"
A fresh scent of grass and crisp flowers wafted off her. Her long, straight hair—light green but shimmering like gold—spilled over a bust so voluminous that even her loose-fitting tunic couldn't hide it. My eyes went wide at the sight.
Crunch. Crunch.
I heard someone walking up behind us. It was that old geezer, Heather, the head butler. The woman stood up.
"I greet a friend of the forest. It has been a long time."
"About ten years? For a short-lived species, I suppose that’s true. You’re still as bald as ever."
"...Thank you for responding to such a rude request."
"Unlike humans, we do not forget a favor. Besides, this is a personal matter."
"Thank you."
I looked back and forth between Heather and the woman. A friend of the forest? Is she an elf? Then again, this is the cheat-code Esper Barony. They can easily boss around an elf, and that whole goblin-incitement thing earlier was clearly just to manipulate the commoners. But an elf in a mask? She’s gorgeous. Not quite on the level of my owner, Angela, but this light green hair and those emerald eyes... she’s mysterious and beautiful. My heart is pounding!
I quickly scurried under the elf’s legs. She was wearing tight white pants, but getting a direct view of her crotch and hip line from below was a different kind of treat. The only other women in the mansion are the maids, and they all wear skirts, so while I enjoy seeing their panties and crotches every day, this is nice too. As I was smacking my lips and staring intently at her ass, someone grabbed my collar and pulled.
It was my precious owner, Angela.
"Tommy. Come here."
"Woof!"
Pour, pour...
Angela poured water steeped with expensive black tea leaves—the kind reserved for honored guests—into a teacup, glancing sideways. A precious guest had arrived at the great Esper Barony. The elf, now without her hood and mask, sat with her eyes half-closed, looking strangely languid. Indeed, even if they look similar to humans, they are a different race from birth.
"I read the letter. You said you were in a difficult spot because your kin went missing?"
"That is correct. We suspect the work of goblins, but there are some points that don't sit right, which is why I called for you, Trisha."
"Is it because of the sudden increase in activity, even though it’s not harvest season?"
"How did you..."
The elf called Trisha sipped her tea and replied, "I happened to be investigating. The monsters in the Great Forest are acting strange. Their population suddenly spiked, and now they’re gathering in groups and leaving the forest. It’s hard to explain that as just being pushed out by territorial disputes."
"Could that be the reason they’re in our territory..."
"I’m not certain, but probably. I actually received a revelation from above. I was told to investigate the whereabouts of the monster hordes. Actually, Heather, you’re lucky. This is good tea."
While Heather’s face turned serious, Trisha, who was drinking her tea with a pleased expression, pointed at Chloe, the head maid, who was sitting nearby looking at her with curious eyes.
"Is this Heather’s child?"
"No, she is not."
"Her cheeks look full of greed. And seeing how short she is, she must be a halfling."
At Trisha’s sudden verbal assault, Chloe’s brow twitched subtly. Seeing this, Heather smiled and replied, "She is human and the head maid here."
"Unexpected. I see. Nice to meet you, what’s your name?"
To Trisha’s question, Chloe put on her professional customer-service smile and beamed. Regardless, this was an honored guest who might solve the crisis facing this godforsaken great Esper Barony. Besides, if she could build a connection with an elf, it might come in handy for a long time.
"I am Chloe. A friend of the forest..."
"You’re fake. That’s not something just anyone can say. Don’t do it."
"......"
As Chloe’s lips trembled from being openly ignored, Heather quickly spoke up. "It’s never easy to be acknowledged by an elf, is it? Hahaha."
"Is that so?"
"Anyway, we are putting together a team to find the missing people. I believe things would go much more smoothly if you, Trisha, were to accompany us. Will you help?"
"Sure. I’ll investigate while I’m at it. But where is the ruler of this place? Where did they go?"
"The Baron is out."
"I’ll come to see them once before I die. Tell them that."
"Thank you. In that case, please rest comfortably here. I will let you know when we are ready. If you need anything, please ask Angela, the maid here."
"Got it."
Head butler Heather stood up and took head maid Chloe away from the garden. I heard some grumbling in the distance about "what kind of person is that," but it must have been my imagination. The conversation between an elf and a human is truly bizarre. Should I call it arrogant? Or is it just a difference in species and culture?
Trisha, who was drinking tea while waiting for Heather, looked down at the puppy that kept sending her intense gazes. Soft, shiny black fur, mysterious blue eyes, and a small, panting tongue. The puppy’s gaze was fixed firmly on Trisha’s firm ass and voluptuous breasts.
Clack.
Trisha set down her teacup and pointed at the puppy.
"What about this one?"
"It’s a puppy I’m raising, his name is Tommy."
As Angela replied, Trisha’s eyes turned toward her. Her languid expression turned cold, and her eyes sharpened.
"...Why is a human raising a wolf?"
"I am aware. However, Tommy is a dog."
"He’s closer to a wolf than a dog. You’d be better off letting him go. He’ll grow up soon and might just eat you. Then this wolf will be killed for eating a human."
Trisha cut off Angela’s words and offered the advice, watching for her reaction. What kind of existence is this human woman?
"I appreciate the advice, but Tommy would never do that."
"Judging by your arrogance, you’re just a mediocre human."
At Trisha’s cold tone, Angela smiled faintly.
"Please don’t misunderstand. Tommy is special."
"Special? This one?"
"He has a talent for understanding speech. And he is very well-behaved."
".......?"
The elf’s brow furrowed, and she tilted her head. At that gesture of doubt, Angela unhooked Tommy’s leash.
"Tommy. Say hello."
Nod, nod.
"Sit. Lie down. Roll over. And run a lap around the garden."
Scamper, scamper, scamper!
The puppy, having faithfully carried out Angela’s command, ran a lap around the garden, returned, and stuck out his tongue, panting. Angela stroked Tommy’s head, praising him with repeated "Good boys."
"Wow."
An exclamation escaped Trisha’s lips. "I can feel magic. But it’s not coming from the wolf; it’s because of an artifact for a familiar."
"Yes. Tommy is a pure genius dog. He is very bright and clever."
"Interesting."
Trisha’s languid expression vanished. Her emerald eyes sparkling, she placed her hand on the puppy’s head and stroked it a few times. Even under the touch of someone other than his owner, the puppy remained in a posture of submission, obedient. Trisha stared intently at Tommy.
"This is truly amazing. In all my long years... no, this is extremely rare even in the Great Forest."
"By the way, do elves keep animals?"
"We don’t keep or raise them. We only coexist."
"I see. I have one more question. Would that be alright?"
"What is it?"
"...I don’t know how to teach Tommy."
Angela had never met her before, but she poured out her concerns to Trisha, an elf who was much older than her and possessed a wealth of knowledge about animals.
"Teach him? Teach him what?"
"I haven’t even had Tommy for a week. But he has already mastered everything I could possibly teach him based on my knowledge of dogs."
"Huh? Really? I can’t trust human words..."
"That’s not all. Thanks to the artifact, Tommy doesn’t just take human speech as simple commands. He understands them clearly. Human language."
Trisha, who had been sipping her tea, fiddled with it for a long time before answering.
"...A Spirit Beast."
"Pardon?"
"An existence that transcends the understanding and common sense of the Middle Realm. Spirit Beasts exist. It also refers to beings that visit the Middle Realm from the Spirit Realm. Unicorns are a prime example. If he were blessed by a wolf spirit, you couldn’t just verify it by touching him."
"It’s not that. I checked with magic. Tommy is a mixed... breed. He’s just a puppy with a lot of wolf blood."
"W-what?"
At Angela’s words, Trisha the elf was taken aback. "You even checked him with magic? Why?"
"I originally intended to make him the familiar of my young mistress, who is a mage. That’s why I checked."
"...A familiar."
Trisha pulled something from her robes. Holding a small gold tassel twisted like a rope, she closed her eyes and muttered. Angela instinctively knew it was magic. When Trisha finished the incantation and moved to go toward Tommy, Angela blocked her path.
"...I would appreciate it if you told me what you are going to do."
"You said the puppy’s name was Tommy, right?"
"Yes."
"It’s a blessing for Tommy. It will enhance the artifact’s ability so he can understand not just human speech, but also the language of the elves."
"A sudden blessing... why?"
"You’re very suspicious. This is just a reward for the good tea leaves."
As Trisha spoke with a languid, seemingly harmless expression, Angela shook her head, looking confused.
"...Let’s return to the original topic. I just want to know how to teach Tommy."
"That’s simple. But only if you want to hear the answer."
Trisha handed the tassel to Angela and said, "Weave this into the red cord on that child."
"...Are you sure this is okay?"
"Elves are different from humans. We don’t go back on our word."
At Trisha’s assertion, Angela hesitated for a moment before accepting the tassel. She brought the tassel to the artifact tied around Tommy’s neck, and as if ink were soaking into paper, gold leaves began to decorate the red collar.
"Now, please tell me."
"I don’t really know."
"...Pardon?"
"I told you. We only coexist. We don’t keep or raise them."
Trisha smiled slyly, mocking Angela’s bewildered expression.
"So, there’s no way I would know how to teach him."