**Chapter One: The Caravan**
The strong vibrations jolted my body as the carriage rolled along. The night sky, unobstructed, was filled with a myriad of twinkling stars.
Winter was approaching, and a damp breeze brushed against my fur. I stretched widely and wagged my tail while perched on Senri’s lap.
Senri gently stroked my back. The cold wind was nothing to me, with my glossy coat. Well, for a Vampire, temperature changes hardly mattered…
“Hey… you girls are heading to RoN/Aburg, huh? What do you plan to do there? That place isn’t exactly for a Human like you… it’s… the front lines.”
“…I’m going to fight. I can wield a sword, you know.”
“Oh really? With those delicate arms? You must either be quite the confident one or utterly reckless.”
The man had a rough demeanor, with deep scars etched into his cheeks. His lewd gaze crawled over Senri’s body, and I, wagging my tail on his lap, let out a high-pitched growl to warn him.
At my reprimand, the filthy-looking man laughed heartily. “You seem like a reliable Knight, but bringing such a pretty dog to RoN/Aburg? It wouldn’t last a week before being devoured.”
Unfortunately, I was not a Knight but a Baron.
Having grown accustomed to being treated like a dog for a month now, Senri and I had joined a large caravan, making our way north across the continent. The endless line of carriages and people stretched both ahead and behind us, appearing like a single herd when viewed from above.
In these times, the outside world was perilous. There were magical objects and bandits lurking about. While someone as strong as Senri and I could traverse safely between towns, for most Humans, venturing outside was a matter of life and death.
Thus, merchants who couldn’t afford to hire proper guards formed large caravans when leaving town. In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, Humans held a low status. Survival depended on traveling in numbers.
Human society was built on mutual support. Those with combat abilities, like Senri and I, were hired by these caravans in exchange for transportation, meals during the journey, and a small reward. No matter how strong one was, safety lay in numbers, making cooperation essential for long-distance travel.
However, in our case, the situation was slightly different.
As I protested by wagging my tail at the lewd mercenary, Senri gently patted my head.
Joining the caravan had been Senri’s idea. If it were just the two of us, running would be much faster than using a carriage. I had no fatigue and could outpace horses, while Senri could simply ride on my back, making it the best means of escape. However, a lone female traveler stood out too much. Even if I took on my Human form, I would still attract attention. While the outside world might be calm, entering a town or passing through a checkpoint required us to go through gates. We had no idea where the Order of the Final Knights’ influence extended. If we were to hide, it would have to be among people.
We were positioned in the middle of the caravan. The front and back had the highest chances of encountering danger, but Senri appeared delicate, and I was a dog, so we were placed in a safer position.
Still, perhaps due to the scarcity of female mercenaries, the other mercenaries often harassed Senri for amusement, which made me furious.
While they hadn’t dared to touch her after twisting my paw, their lecherous gazes made me feel like Senri was being sullied.
Unfortunately, I was confined to a cage during the day, and while I could be let out at night, I couldn’t transform into my Human form, leaving me helpless. If I were a large dog, I might have been able to instill some caution, but I lacked the imposing presence.
Moreover, since joining the caravan, I had already been abducted three times by ruffians enamored with my beautiful coat, forcing us to change our position each time. While stealing a dog was a crime, it seemed I was so adorable that they were willing to break the law to possess me.
Merchants within the caravan had also approached with offers to buy me multiple times, each negotiation filling me with a sense of superiority, though Senri appeared somewhat exasperated. The prices offered were gradually increasing, and at this rate, I might be sold off soon.
“Baron, you wag your tail too much at everyone.”
“Woof!”
It wasn’t that I intended to wag my tail; it was simply something I couldn’t help. Such was the mystery of a dog’s body.
—
We had set our sights on a remote town as our next destination.
RoN/Aburg. A fortress city where Humans and magical objects vied for territory. Known as the city of blood and iron, it was said to be the fiercest battlefield on the continent.
There were three reasons for choosing this city as our destination. First, it was far from the headquarters of the Order of the Final Knights, making it less likely for them to arrive. Second, the repeated battles would not only promote my mutation but also earn us money. And third—if the need arose, we could flee into the territory of the Demon King.
Rumor had it that RoN/Aburg was both the most terrifying city and the most technologically advanced, a realm where Humans and Demons mingled. If one wished to hide a Human, they would do so among Humans; if hiding a Demon, among Demons. While we had no intention of settling there permanently, it was an optimal temporary destination.
The problem was that RoN/Aburg was quite far away.
The crackling of the campfire filled the air. A pot brimming with ingredients simmered over the flames, releasing a tantalizing aroma. Despite being outside the city, the atmosphere was lively, reminiscent of a tavern.
The caravan moved with purpose. Unlike the AnAdero, both horses and people needed regular breaks at water sources, making rest essential.
The mercenaries took turns standing guard against potential attacks from beasts or magical objects. Senri was included in the rotation, but I, being a pet, was unfortunately excluded from the shifts.
However, during this time, I had my own special task to perform.
“Baron, have you been a good boy?”
“Yip!”
As the break began, the children of the merchant families gathered around, their eyes sparkling with excitement. There were few dogs in the caravan. If there were any, they were sturdy dogs suited for battle, not adorable ones like me. It seemed these lovely children were desperate to feed me.
Some even brought their own dried meat or precious sweets. The merchants watched their children with kind eyes.
Well, I suppose I can’t help it… I let out a small whine and wagged my tail vigorously as I approached them.
—
**To Be Continued!**
Next chapter: The world’s first calculative dog. Stay tuned!
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/ Tsukikage
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