Reunion Junkyard ⑥ – That’s Why I Smile.
Not effortlessly, but not with great difficulty either.
Juicy-san lifted it like she was carrying ordinary luggage. Then, she put it down for a moment.
“Was it heavy after all?”
“Um, this weight… it’s actually easier to hold with one hand!”
“Huh?”
Certainly, this square chunk wasn’t that large in size.
If you can hold it, doing so with one hand is possible.
But just as I thought, ‘It’s that heavy!’, Juicy-san lifted it with one hand. A-amazing.
“A-amazing.”
“Um, um, Lord Wof, you’re the amazing one! You didn’t faint even after seeing my Fenrir form, and you weren’t fazed at all. You really are strong!”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“Normally, if someone saw me after I turned into Fenrir! They’d be hit by something called Divine Energy from my pressure and aura. Then they’d feel sick, or their body would freeze up, or—woof!—they’d faint!”
“…I-Is that so…”
I was shaken inwardly. This was the first I’d heard of it. Divine Energy, huh.
Could it be that The Witch back then also fainted because of [Generous]’s Divine Energy?
Come to think of it, The Witch was the first person I’d used [Generous] in front of.
In that case, Edda’s Sanctuary… Was what the divine statue in the Great Temple was emitting Divine Energy?
And it has no effect on those who possess a [Pseudo-Deification Relic]. I see. I see.
“Wafu, Lord Wof. What should we do now?”
“…Right. I thought this was a dead end, but…”
Yes, I thought it ended here. But there’s still a path ahead.
Saying, “Wait just a moment,” I went a little further ahead.
Just in case, I checked with the Relic [Wheel of Fortune]. No reaction.
The Relic [Danger Detection] also showed nothing special— Yep. Okay, let’s go back.
Perhaps if we went much further, there might be something.
But for now, this result is more than enough. Besides, I’m tired. Not just physically, but mentally too.
I want to go back and rest. I’m hungry too.
Well then, let’s head back.
Before that, this arm that was gently bitten. Leaving it like this isn’t great.
I’m not the kind of pervert who’d say, “Thank you for the beautiful girl’s drool.”
So, I took out the Elixir Sacred Egg from the back of my pouch and opened it.
I applied just a little. It was instantly purified. That’s better.
When I returned, Juicy-san was wagging her tail, her face beaming.
“Woof! Welcome back, Lord Wof! How was it further in? Um, is there anything? Was there? Should we go on?”
“No, Juicy-san. Let’s head back now. It’ll take time, though.”
How long has it been since we came here?
I didn’t want to think about it too much, so I kept quiet. The round trip would probably take until nightfall.
Or maybe it’d be morning by the time we got back… Yeah. I don’t want to think about it.
“Um, um, in that case, it’s alright! Woof! I have this!”
Juicy-san put down the chunk and took something out of her pink pouch.
It was a stone. I recognized it.
It was transparent, rhombus-shaped, and its center shone with rainbow colors. A Return Stone.
Using it consumes it and teleports you to the first floor of the Dungeon. Its other name is Forced Return Stone.
But, that’s strange. The one I saw was more distorted.
And it had cloth wrapped around it… Oh well.
“Juicy-san. Are you sure?”
“Um, please use it! Actually, it would be bad for me too if I return late!”
Ah, right, she’s a Marquise’s Daughter. That would be bad.
Is it even okay for her to be out alone in the first place? No matter how strong she is, shouldn’t she have guards or something?
While wondering about various things, I accepted it.
She picked up the chunk again. A-amazing.
I slammed the Return Stone onto the ground. As it shattered, our figures vanished.
When the light faded, I saw a faintly familiar rocky ceiling.
I know this place. It’s the first floor. Fortunately, no one was around.
We went straight out of the Dungeon.
Good. It seems it wasn’t closing time yet. Huh, I didn’t see Gauro-san.
I asked another gatekeeper, and they said he was on break. Getting food? Maybe he went to the Cidre Tavern.
Then Juicy-san, who had been hiding behind me, asked.
I was surprised when she hid behind me as I approached the other gatekeeper.
Ah, but my family’s dog back home also had strange shyness around strangers.
“Um, um, um, this chunk… Lord Wof. What should we do with it?”
“…Right.”
I pondered, but there was only one option.
The Witch’s House is too far. Then, it has to be my place.
“Excuse me. Could I ask you to take it to my house?”
“Woof! Leave it to me. I’ll carry it!”
“Sorry. Please.”
Since I can’t carry it, I have no choice but to ask her.
Normally, I’d feel pathetic and get depressed about this.
But this weight… I think only a gorilla could manage it.
So it can’t be helped.
And so, Juicy-san and I left the town’s Dungeon behind.
I thought Pies and his group from earlier might be waiting, but they weren’t there.
Good. Dealing with them would have been a pain.
But he was the Hired Pup Brigade Captain, wasn’t he? He acted high and mighty, but he probably has no real authority.
There’s a method of giving someone a title with no authority to boost their loyalty and contribution.
Of course, the person themselves doesn’t know it’s just a title.
Slaves remain slaves. It’s a tactic used by black companies.
Pies. Sounds like Pierrot. Sigh, I’ve had enough of clowns.
While taking the shortest route to my house, I gave her a little tour.
The Hero Statue. The Triumphal Arch Stone Monument. The Fountain Plaza. The Hero Statue. The Arch Bridge on the Small Path. The Bell Tower. The Hero Statue.
“Come to think of it, you don’t have any guards with you, do you?”
I thought they’d be waiting at the entrance.
“Um, actually… I… snuck out without telling anyone.”
“Eh…”
“Um, um, I locked my room door and climbed out the window, and really! I only planned to go into the Junkyard and come right back!”
I turned pale.
That’s no joke. If things go wrong, it could be mistaken for kidnapping.
Wrongful arrest, lèse-majesté. Those words flickered in my mind.
“W-We need to get you back quickly! Depending on the situation, I’ll apologize too!”
“Woof!? Um, um, there’s nothing for Lord Wof to apologize for!”
“No. There is, right now, as we speak…”
On top of the suspicion of kidnapping, there’s the mauve square chunk.
Because it’s too heavy for me to lift, I’m having her carry it.
And what’s more, I’m having her carry it all the way to my house.
It’s like I’m ordering a Marquise’s Daughter around with a jerk of my chin.
No matter how you look at it, this is definitely, absolutely not okay.
My second life is going to end.
While trembling slightly, we somehow managed to reach my house without any trouble.
“Um, is this Lord Wof’s residence? It looks like a warehouse!”
“That’s not entirely wrong. Please, come in.”
I opened the entrance and invited her in.
“Um, woof. Excuse me for intruding.”
Looking somewhat nervous, she entered.
She restlessly looked around, glancing everywhere. Like a dog entering unfamiliar territory for the first time.
“Um, um, there’s a small tower in the yard!”
“Ah, the Watchtower… Now, it’s the Illegally Occupied Tower… More importantly. That chunk…”
“Wafu? Where should I take it?”
Now, where should I put it?
My room is out of the question… The room next door is for washing up, and the basement too… So, the room on the right?
“This room here.”
I guided her to the right. There are lots of wooden boxes, but I think around here… there it is.
Heave-ho, I looked at an old, single-legged round table.
It’s something that was here from the beginning, but I had no particular use for it, so I just left it here.
There are several Scrolls on the table. They’re in the way.
I moved them all onto this wooden box over here and pulled out the table.
“Um, are you putting it on top of this? Will it be alright?”
“If it collapses, I’ll figure it out then.”
Now that she mentioned it, I started to worry.
Juicy-san slowly placed the mauve square chunk down.
There was a creaking sound, but the chunk settled safely onto the table. Phew, thank goodness.
“Um, um, it’s sitting properly. Woof! That’s great!”
“Thank you very much.”
I lowered my head. Deeply. Pouring feelings of gratitude and apology into the gesture.
Juicy-san hurriedly spun around and spread her hands.
“Um, um, woof! Lord Wof, please raise your head! If anything, today was full of firsts for me! My first time exploring the Junkyard. It was so, so much fun, and I was so happy, and besides, you’re the first person who wasn’t affected even when I turned into [Fenrir]! It’s been so long since my heart pounded like this! It’s all thanks to Lord Wof! I’m truly glad I could meet you today, Lord Wof!”
She showed a smile like the sun.
It sparkled brightly like stars.
I was overwhelmed and felt embarrassed.
“Me too…” I should have replied like that, but I was too embarrassed to say it.
I can’t say things so straightforwardly like her.
But I have to say something, I have to convey something to her at least… I want to convey it properly.
“Th-Thank—”
“No way!? Wof brought a girl home…?!”
I turned towards the voice. A small face was peeking out from behind the door.
The face of a girl about the size of a small doll. And she was flying. Right, it was Mineha-san.
Why is she peeking like some nosy housekeeper?
No, more importantly, she seems to have gotten the wrong idea.
“M-Mineha-san!”
“Woof woof! A Fairial!? A real one!”
“And in a dim place like this… What did you bring her here for!?”
“N-No. That’s not—”
“Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof!!!”
Ah, Juicy-san dashed straight towards Mineha-san.
Shoot. Mineha-san. She’s been locked onto.
“Gyaahhh, what is this?!”
“Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof!!”
Mineha-san was being chased around.
Ah, dogs really do that, don’t they?
I remember they used to chase cats and birds often.
“You! What are you just standing there watching for?! Help me! Kyaaahhh!”
“Woof woof! Woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof woof!!”
Juicy-san wasn’t speaking human words anymore. She was too excited and had turned into a dog.
If I don’t stop her soon, Mineha-san’s going to get caught and licked all over.
“Stop! Stay! Stay! Stayyy!!”
Drawing on memories from my past life of stopping my family’s dog, I somehow managed to bring Juicy-san back to her senses.
I almost got my face licked.
After she calmed down, Mineha-san got angry. Naturally.
“Wh-what is with this dog-woman?!”
“Um, um, um, I’m sorry! My name is Juicy=Tasan!”
“Tasan, as in that Marquise house!? Really…?”
“I know what you’re thinking. Yes, I’m the real deal.”
Unfortunately, she is the real deal.
Mineha-san glared at me, looking troubled.
“…Why is a Marquise’s Daughter in a place like this…”
“Um, I’m sorry! Um, um, for chasing you around, I apologize!”
“You certainly should! I sometimes get chased by cats or dogs in town, but I never thought I’d be chased by a human!”
She gets chased occasionally?
I briefly explained how I met Juicy-san.
Mineha-san listened silently, then sighed.
“That sounds exactly like you were inside a Dungeon. And fighting a Prime Body? What a strange place.”
“So it seems. It really does seem that way…”
“Well, about that weird thing, if anything comes up, you can just say I’m the one who found it.”
“Ah, thank you very much. That helps a lot.”
That’s a relief.
Juicy-san, who had been listening to our exchange, looked puzzled.
“Wafu, um, um, Lord Wof. What did that just mean?”
“Basically, ownership of things obtained in a Dungeon isn’t recognized for anyone other than Seekers, not things from the Junkyard. But since Mineha-san is a Tier III Seeker, if we say she obtained it, the ownership becomes hers.”
“Woof! You’re a Seeker! And a Tier III!?”
“That’s right. I’m Mineha. Ten years old. A Tier III Seeker.”
“Um, the rumored youngest genius Seeker by special exception!? I’m shocked, I’m amazed!”
“Genius… Yes, that’s not wrong. You. I like you.”
Mineha-san didn’t seem displeased at all.
It was hard to believe she was the same person who was desperately running away just moments ago.
“Um, um, um, thank you very much!”
Juicy beamed, wagging her Tail. It looks like these two could become good friends.
That’s all well and good, but it’s about time.
“Juicy-san. Isn’t it bad if you don’t head back soon?”
“What?”
“Woof, yes! That’s right! I’ll go back!”
“I’ll walk you back.”
“Um, Lord Wof. I couldn’t possibly trouble you. It’s alright.”
“What, what, what is it? Wof. Explain.”
“Actually, Juicy-san. She came out without telling anyone, so it’ll be bad if she doesn’t get back quickly.”
“Hmm. In that case, I’ll take her.”
“Eh, are you sure?”
“Um, um, I’ll be fine! Woof! I can get back by myself!”
“This town is pretty easy to get lost in, you know. Do you want to become a lost dog?”
“Wafu, um, um, that would be troubling!”
“Besides, isn’t it better to have cute little me than a boy like Wof?”
Mineha-san hopped onto Juicy-san’s right shoulder.
That was certainly true. A girl is better than a boy.
If it were me, I might even get thrown in jail.
“Um, Mineha-san. Th-thank you very much!”
“Alright, let’s go. Where to?”
“Woof, the Noble District in the center of town!”
“The Central Noble District, huh? Just as expected of a Marquise house.”
“Well then, please take care of her, Mineha-san.”
“This is easy.”
“Lord Wof. Um, thank you for everything today!”
“No, thank you. For helping me back then, and for going out of your way to bring this to me, you really saved me.”
She’s a benefactor to both me and my Knife.
Juicy-san looked embarrassed for a moment, then her large wolf ears and Tail perked up.
She looked straight at me with a serious gaze.
“Um, I have a request for you, Lord Wof!”
“What is it?”
“Um, um, Lord Wof. I want you to, woof! Be my friend!!”
“Okay. If you’re okay with me, let’s be friends.”
“Woof, thank you! Um, I’m so happy!”
“Now that we’re friends, let’s drop the ‘-sama’, okay?”
Do friends use ‘-sama’? No, no, they don’t. Finally, things can be normal.
“Woof, since we’re friends now, yes!”
Did she finally understand? Juicy-san kept smiling.
“Well then, Lord Wof! Thank you so very much for today! Woof, I hope we can meet again!”
What was that ‘Well then’?
Well, I knew it was impossible. So I just smiled.
“Yeah. Let’s meet again sometime.”
“Woof! Um, um, um, goodbye!”
And so, I parted ways with the Marquise’s Daughter, an idol dog shining as bright as the sun.
However, she was a Marquise’s Daughter. We probably wouldn’t meet again.
But thinking that way was truly naive of me.
This was merely the beginning.