Grave of Death ⑤ – Wof, Age 13 ⑪
Someone is calling.
“Wof! Hey. Wof!”
This has happened before. When was that?
“Woof woof. Wawaan. Lord Wof! Um, woof. Lord Wof! Woof. Lord Wof!”
Ah, I hear a dog barking. A dog? John? Jessie? Ein? Hanako?
“Na! Na! Na! Na! Na!”
Na? Whatever, the floor is cold. Ah, so cold.
“Wof (boy)! Wof (boy)! Wof (boy), pull yourself together, nee! Wof (boy)! If you can hear me, answer, nee. Wof (boy)! Wof!”
“………..Y-yes… I can… hear you…”
I replied unconsciously and slowly opened my eyes.
I saw the Witch’s face, brimming with tears, and Dagaa’s innocent face.
And then, Mr. Agaro’s relieved face came into view.
“Wof. You’re awake?”
“Wof (boy). Wof (boy). Oh, good, good. You’re awake, nee.”
“………Where… am I…?”
As I slowly sat up, the Witch and Dagaa naturally moved back.
Juicy-san jumped into the space between them and hugged me tightly.
“Woof woof! Wawaan! Um, um, Lord Wof! Lord Wof, Lord Wof! Lord Wof! Lord Wof! Lord Wof! Lord Wof!”
She repeated my name over and over, hugging me with great strength. It was soft, yet painful.
“Ju-Juicy-san. Um, I’m okay. I’m alright!”
When I said that, Juicy-san let go of me. She was crying.
My heart skipped a beat.
“Hic, sob, hic, sob, Lord Wof…”
“Juicy-san…”
“…Sob, hic, I’m glad. I’m so glad. So glad. Woof. Wawaan. Waooon. Woof woof. Woof! I’m really so glad… So glad…”
“I’m sorry. For making you worry.”
“Woof. Hic, wawaan. Sob hic! Um, um, um, Lord Wof—”
“What is it, Juicy-sa—”
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed.
Juicy-san had slapped my cheek.
My ears rang, and I was stunned.
“………?”
Even Mr. Agaro and the Witch were surprised by this.
I didn’t understand what was happening either.
Juicy-san hit me.
I had never even considered the possibility of her hitting me.
With sharp eyes wet with tears, Juicy-san apologized.
“Um, um, um, Lord Wof. I’m sorry for hitting you. But I felt I had to.”
Her expression was unusually serious.
I gently touched my cheek. It stung, deep in my heart.
“………”
“Yeah. Wof. When we found you, you were in bad shape, practically on death’s door. Your limbs… one of each was nearly torn off, and you had a hole in your stomach. Honestly, it’s a miracle you’re even alive right now.”
“…?!”
I was speechless at the contrast between Mr. Agaro’s casual tone and the gravity of his words.
“The Witch healed you. Surprisingly, a full recovery. Man, it felt like one of those bad dreams you have when you’ve had way too much to drink…”
She probably used an Elixir.
But it sent a chill down my spine. Was I really in such a desperate situation?
Just as I thought, [ Silent Move ] is tricky to use. If I’d messed up, I would have died.
It wouldn’t have been strange if I had died.
“Now, now, Wof (boy). Why did Juicy (girl) get angry? Why did she slap you? Think about it very carefully, nee.”
The Witch said this with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
She was angry too. The air felt heavy. I mumbled.
“I was scolded… for acting on my own.”
“Yes, yes. That’s part of it, nee.”
“M-My body just moved on its own before I realized—”
“Yeah. I get that too.”
“Um, um, I understand! Woof. I understand, but just because you understand doesn’t mean it’s okay to do it!”
Juicy-san shouted, letting out a low growl, Grrrrr.
I looked down.
“Y-Yes. I’m sorry. I apologize.”
That’s right. Just because that’s the case doesn’t mean it was okay to rush out on my own.
Saying my body moved on its own isn’t a valid excuse.
I mustn’t forget that my independent actions could cause huge trouble for everyone.
Group action, huh.
Hmm? Wait, Juicy-san… doesn’t look convinced at all.
She looks genuinely exasperated and angry.
“Um, um, Lord Wof. Woof. Do you still not understand?”
“Eh?”
“Um, um, woof! I’m angry about you Acting Independently and putting everyone in danger because of it, yes. But the most important thing, the very first thing you need to reflect on, is how little you value your own Life! I don’t like a Lord Wof who doesn’t cherish his own Life!”
“………”
“Um, um, woof. Um, I thought this back at the Junkyard too, but why didn’t you rely on us? If you’re going to do something, please consult us, even just a word or two. Um, um, we are Lord Wof’s allies. I think we’ll get better results facing things together rather than you doing it alone.”
“…”
“Um, woof. Long ago, Dova-neesama used to say, ‘Ah, yes. If you try to do everything alone, you’ll eventually break. Besides, it makes everyone sad. Please rely on us. That’s why we’re here.’ — Lord Wof, you are not alone. I’m here, the Witch-sama is here, and Mr. Agaro is here too.”
“…”
I…
“That’s right. You’re a kid. It’s okay to rely on adults. We’re a Party. Rely on us.”
Mr. Agaro said gently, yet bluntly.
“Well, well, I understand that since you’ve been doing things alone for so long, you haven’t developed the habit of relying on others in times like these, nee. Kon is the same way, nee.”
“…”
“Really, really, what a hopeless, shy master and disciple pair, nee. That’s why, Wof (boy), let’s learn to rely on others together with Kon, nee.”
The Witch laughed.
“Hey, the Witch doesn’t need to rely on anyone. But it’s not a bad thing, I guess.”
“Fufu, fufu, Kon wants to rely on everyone too, nee. There are times when I want to be pampered, nee.”
“Huh? The Witch wanting to be pampered? What kind of joke is that? Oww-ow-ow-ow-ouch! Gurgle!”
The Witch grinned mischievously. While laughing, she put Mr. Agaro in a chokehold.
Since she wasn’t applying it properly, it was just painful. Hahahahahaha.
“Um, um, um, woof. Lord Wof.”
Juicy-san. She was looking at me with a sad expression.
I don’t want to make her look like that, I shouldn’t make her look like that… It’s my fault.
I… I… I… I… confessed.
“…I’m sorry. I… I didn’t understand that either. I didn’t intend to treat my own Life carelessly, but now that you mention it, maybe I don’t value it much… Also, it’s true, I should have consulted everyone. I didn’t even think about whether it was okay to consult you. It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s just… I didn’t understand that it was okay to rely on others like that.”
I only thought about handling things by myself.
I just assumed you’d oppose me before I even said anything.
That’s right. I could have consulted you, even just a little. I could have talked about it.
Why didn’t I do that?
And… Life, huh. My own Life.
It’s not like I want to throw it away, but there are times when I think it’s okay to discard it.
If it means someone else can be saved, then that’s fine. If it’s to save someone, I don’t mind being sacrificed.
That’s just how I am.
I don’t know if it’s because of the memories from my past life.
“Um, um, Lord Wof. Just as the Witch-sama says, woof. You just need to learn from now on.”
Juicy-san gently patted my head and spoke softly.
“Y-Yes.”
Juicy-san’s hand was gentle and soft, and somehow, it felt embarrassing.