**Special Edition ②: EndBaron’s Heart-Pounding Puppy Life**
**Interlude**
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**Special Edition ②: EndBaron’s Heart-Pounding Puppy Life**
This is the second interlude.
—
So cute. From every angle, it’s a perfect, adorable puppy. In the mirror, a translucent white puppy with round, innocent eyes gazed back at me. Undoubtedly, it was I in my current form.
With its perked ears and soft, long white fur, its tail and everything else were fluffy, radiating an undeniable charm that would soothe anyone who laid eyes on it. This transformation into a puppy had prompted Alba to swing a hatchet without hesitation, a true Vampire Hunter devoid of mercy.
This wasn’t just any mutt. While I couldn’t pinpoint the breed, it was clear that this was a pedigree dog. Its combination of elegance and cuteness would surely earn it affection in the home of a wealthy merchant or noble. Though I couldn’t stand the thought of being a pet and having my freedom curtailed, I felt that if I played my cards right, I could live quite comfortably and happily.
For instance… how about this?
At night, I could seek out a girl with the enticing scent of delicious blood and whimper in front of her, begging to be let inside. If she took me in, I could charm her and receive all the affection I desired. Then, once everyone had settled down for the night, I could sneakily take a little blood for myself.
As a puppy, I was extraordinarily cute. Even setting aside my love for dogs, my adorableness captivated people of all ages. My whines were equally cute. Yet, I was still a naked Vampire inside.
Even if I were discovered, I could simply flee and find another place to stay. The real issue was that my clothes didn’t change with me, so I would have to figure out how to deal with that when reverting from dog to human… which might be a bit of a hassle. Even if I could hide my negative aura, being naked would still make me a criminal…
I stretched out my paw to tap the mirror, playfully scampering around the room. My power as a lower-ranked Vampire was completely suppressed. Yet, I still had to be cautious of the glaring sunlight, which remained my weakness.
But this form was perfect for escaping… I couldn’t use my full strength, and I would perish by morning.
If I had transformed into a pig or a spider, I doubt I would have accepted it so easily. But as a puppy, I could manage. I was a dog person, after all. In a pinch, if I ran out of money, I might even earn some by performing tricks. Perhaps I should practice something.
It was exhilarating to dart around with my nimble body, slipping into places I usually couldn’t, like under the bed, behind shelves, or inside boxes. No one could stop me in my current form.
As I frolicked joyfully in the relatively spacious room, a sudden sound broke the tranquility. I jumped up and opened the door. Though I had the body of a puppy, my mind remained human.
“…What are you doing, End?”
Looking down at me with narrowed eyes was Senri. My heightened sense of smell caught the exquisite scent of blood, making my head spin. I stumbled closer and rubbed my head against Senri’s feet.
“…Kuuun.”
“End, maybe that adorable appearance reflects your carefree inner self.”
Despite my irresistibly cute appearance, Senri’s response remained consistently cold. Perhaps they preferred cats over dogs. While I had been picked up by various people, Senri had never once held me.
Well, that was fine. I didn’t mind. If Senri turned into a cat, I would pick them up every time! Even as a dog, I would do the same. And at night, we would sleep together in the same bed. If I were a large dog, I might be taken off the bed, but a pet is treated differently.
Bouncing around, I silently pleaded, but it didn’t reach Senri.
“You are… human. Have you forgotten?”
“Kyann! Kyann!”
Look, Senri! I can’t bark like a normal dog! I can only make little yips! Alba had spoken human words even in dog form, but would I ever be able to do that too?
As I chased my tail in circles, Senri sighed in resignation, scooping me up by my front paws.
“High up. So high!”
“I understand. I’ll humor you for a while.”
“Kyann kyann!”
“What do you want? A belly rub?”
Senri’s face loomed large. My gaze was drawn to their soft neck. I hadn’t had blood recently. I craved it.
I wagged my tail eagerly, but Senri didn’t embrace me. With a serious expression, they spoke as if lecturing me.
“No good, End. You… intend to lick me, don’t you?”
“Kyann kyann!”
“Even if you try to deceive me, it’s no good! You are human. Even in the form of a dog, you are still human. And on top of that, you’re completely naked. Do you understand?”
Senri was definitely the type to train dogs firmly.
Once I was set down, Senri began to comb my long fur with one hand while using the other to keep me from moving around aimlessly. It felt like being petted on my back.
In that case, I preferred my human form. When I was human, Senri would hug me if I asked… Perhaps they were concerned about my nudity. I had somewhat gotten used to it… after all, I had fur.
“I won’t be fooled anymore. I know, End, you… have no limits when it comes to getting carried away.”
“Kuun…”
It couldn’t be helped. It was natural for a puppy of this age to be mischievous. It was instinctual.
“In dog form, it’s hard to tell if you’re reflecting on your behavior or not.”
I was! I was reflecting! But it was inevitable. As a dog, I would sniff around, and if my beloved Senri was nearby, I would joyfully run around. If they got close, I might lick them, and if Senri was sleeping in bed, I might snuggle up next to them. And if, by chance, I accidentally took a little blood, I wouldn’t be blamed for it.
It was instinct for my tongue to stick out. It was hard to put it away. Had Alba done the same?
“…You’re definitely not reflecting at all.”
It was love. I was starving for blood and affection. Puppies die when they feel lonely. Gazing up at Senri with my round eyes, they looked down at me with a cold expression.
“…Your thinking is deteriorating. Have you become a dog inside as well?”
“Kyuuun…”
That was fine. For now, being a dog was okay. If it meant getting hugs and being allowed to lick their skin, I would gladly be a dog.
As I pretended to do tricks, Senri remarked, “End, you just want blood, don’t you?”
“…”
I didn’t want that. Right now, I was a dog. Not a Vampire, but a dog. What I craved was love. I wanted affection. Please hug me.
With a composed expression, I stared at Senri. Then, Senri smiled gently and said,
“…How about we take a shower together? I’ll wash that wonderful fur of yours…”
“!!”
Wait, really!? Is that okay!? I had never been shown such lewdness even in human form.
Well, I suppose it’s fine. I may be a water-averse puppy, but if my master desires it, I shall accompany them. I’m not particularly interested in nudity. After all, I had slightly lifted my clothes when treating my stomach wound. But well, it could serve as practice for when I eventually drink blood in bed—no, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s not in a lewd sense.
It’s merely a Vampire’s instinct, akin to how humans peel fruit when eating…
Caught in a tremendous conflict, I struggled to keep my emotions in check. Senri, however, wiped the smile from their face and spoke in a flat tone.
“End… if you wag your tail that much, it’ll come off.”
“!?”
Looking back, I was shocked to see my fluffy, feather-like tail wagging with an intensity I had never witnessed before. I was completely unaware of it. This was an unexpected weakness of being a dog. Wow, dog tails really move like this…
Dazed, I watched my tail continue to wag like a separate living being when Senri gently pressed my head down and stood up.
“Come on, End. Change back quickly. If you don’t stop this soon, I’ll have no choice but to get serious.”
This was bad; I could be annihilated. Damn it, I hated this tail… If it weren’t for this honest tail, I might have been able to take a shower together.
With a melancholic whine, I trudged back into the room to revert to my original form.