When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a white ceiling.
Then, I felt an uncomfortable pressure on my body.
Looking down, I noticed that my entire body was wrapped in bandages.
Am I in the infirmary?
More importantly, I’m alive.
I briefly recalled my last memory.
The mansion being attacked.
The battle with the Aura user leading the masked figures.
“…Looks like you’re awake.”
“…Already…?”
And the chaotic brawl in the burning mansion.
Right after that, I saw the young lady and her escort knights before collapsing.
“Are you fully conscious now?”
“Ah, yes, I’m fine.”
“Eek!”
As I answered and tried to sit up, the woman in a white coat jumped back in surprise.
“You shouldn’t get up! Stay absolutely still!”
“I’m sturdier than I look; I’ll be fine.”
This isn’t something that should keep me down for long.
Stretching slightly to loosen my body, I looked around.
This infirmary seems rather luxurious. Judging by the person tending to me, a healer, it’s definitely high-quality.
Next to her was…
“Lowell.”
“You’re awake, I see.”
Lowell, with bandages wrapped around his arm, stood nearby.
“So, it’s all over?”
“Yes, thanks to you, it was resolved splendidly.”
Of course, it’s over.
Those people seemed well-prepared, but I caused enough chaos to ruin their plans.
The remnants, or whatever is left of them, must be grinding their teeth in frustration.
“Where am I?”
“You’re at the Boyd family’s mansion.”
“…Didn’t it burn down?”
“This is one of the Marquis’ other estates.”
“Ah, I see.”
Two estates in addition to the main residence?
Well, nothing surprises me anymore.
“Your arm—was it injured?”
“Yes, it happened in the rush.”
“Tsk, unbelievable.”
Even someone as formidable as him got hurt.
I can’t help but wonder how badly the opponent must have fared.
“So, what’s going on? I think I deserve some answers now.”
I hadn’t asked much before, pretending not to care.
But this time, I need to know.
I’m not too concerned about who the thieves were.
But those well-coordinated and terrorizing robbers—I can’t help but be curious about their identity.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
“Ah, yes…!”
Lowell, seemingly ready to explain, sent the healer out of the room.
“Hm. First, they were indeed remnants of the Lugar Kingdom.”
“Remnants? There were so many of them.”
All those swarming attackers were remnants?
That’s hard to believe.
How did they even get into the capital?
Where were they living? Feeding and clothing a group that large would be no small feat.
“…Most of the masked figures weren’t remnants. They were part of another organization in a cooperative relationship.”
“A cooperative relationship?”
“Yes, we suspect they are demon worshippers.”
“…What?”
Demon worshippers?
“…What’s that supposed to mean?”
What are they, some kind of cult?
“…You’ve never heard of demon worshippers?”
“No.”
“You’re aware that demons exist, right?”
“…They do? That’s terrifying.”
Demons actually exist?
Well, in a world with magic and Aura, I suppose it’s plausible.
“I’m not sure where to begin explaining this.”
Realizing how little I knew, Lowell closed his eyes briefly, likely gathering his thoughts.
“You don’t need to explain everything right now. Just tell me roughly who they are and why they cooperated with the remnants.”
“Hmm. The demon worshippers likely approached the remnants first.”
“And who are these demon worshippers?”
“They aim to connect the underworld with this realm to summon demons here.”
“…huh?”
Are these people insane?
Why would anyone open a portal to hell in the middle of the peaceful world we’re living in?
“Is that even possible?”
“We’re not sure, but they’ve existed since ancient times.”
“Unbelievable.”
I’ve encountered all sorts of bizarre groups, but this takes the cake.
“So, where did these lunatics come from?”
More importantly, how did they end up at the mansion in the capital?
Did they rent an apartment or something?
They didn’t suddenly fall from the sky or rise from the ground.
“They seem to have tunneled up from underground.”
“…They literally rose from the ground?”
“Demon worshippers are known to dig and live in underground tunnels.”
“Even under the capital?”
“Yes.”
“…Can’t magic detect them?”
Then why do people even learn magic?
They can’t track, can’t detect, and the most impressive thing they do is toss fireballs that can burn down a mansion in one go.
…Okay, maybe that’s worth learning.
“They live so deep underground that ordinary magic can’t detect them.”
“Really? How deep are we talking about?”
“Deep enough that it’s nearly impossible to predict.”
“How is that even possible?”
Even in my past life, digging tunnels and building underground structures wasn’t easy.
What sort of tricks are these people using?
“They likely had help from demons.”
“Demons are good at digging?”
“They’ve been trying to connect hell and the surface since ancient times. In this field, no one can match them.”
“What does hell have to do with tunnels?”
Does being closer to the ground make gates easier to open?
Lowell seemed to realize I didn’t understand and added more context.
“Well, hell is deep underground. That’s why, isn’t it?”
“Huh?”
Wait, wait.
Hell is actually deep underground?
That’s… kind of terrifying.
“Didn’t you hear about this in children’s stories? Never mind.”
“Yeah, well, if I grew up in a house where they read fairy tales, I wouldn’t have been a gladiator slave.”
My parents didn’t teach me even the most basic stuff.
That’s why I lack so much common knowledge.
“Anyway, demon worshippers dig deep tunnels and live there.”
“And this time, they emerged near the capital to launch an attack?”
“That’s correct.”
Unbelievable.
“Does that mean the masked figures from last time were also them?”
“Yes, they were demon worshippers.”
“…Can I ask why they keep coming?”
Why on earth are demon worshippers targeting the Boyd family?
No, wait—on second thought, they’re not targeting the family.
To be precise…
“They’re after the young lady.”
Ah, of course. It’s the young lady they’re after.
“I see.”
That explanation alone told me everything I needed to know.
Her crimson eyes, which occasionally shine with an otherworldly brilliance—
Of course, demon worshippers would be desperate to have her.
It makes sense that they’d be obsessed.
Anyway, I’ve gotten the gist of the situation now.
The remnants of the fallen Lugar Kingdom wanted to terrorize the Boyd family.
Meanwhile, the demon worshippers wanted to kidnap the young lady.
So, naturally, they joined forces.
But ultimately, they failed spectacularly.
Still…
“On another note, since you’ve done a great service, I’ll reward you now.”
In the end, I’m the only one walking away with benefits here.
“Can you teach me one of your family’s secret Aura techniques?”
This is the only reward I want.
The Boyd family, the most prestigious in the Adel Kingdom, is known for its unique Aura techniques.
I’ve been striving for recognition specifically to learn this.
“Of course. I’ve already received confirmation from the Lord himself.”
“Already?”
“Given the gravity of the situation, we’ve already been in communication.”
Fair enough.
If my daughter’s mansion were attacked and burned down, I’d have contacted someone immediately too.
“Shall we start the training right away?”
It’s great that I can learn the technique.
I was ready to get up, but…
“…You should rest first.”
“I’m really fine.”
“I also have other matters to attend to, so it will take some time.”
“Hmm, alright.”
If that’s the case, I’ll wait.
I sat back on the infirmary bed.
“Oh, and one more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Shall I speak to the young lady about improving your position? You can’t stay in the doghouse forever.”
“Is that even possible?”
I could already picture the young lady lying on the floor, stubbornly refusing.
“I’ll persuade her.”
“If my position improves, what would I be?”
“You’re an Aura user, and once you learn the family’s technique, you’d naturally become a knight of the Boyd family.”
“Oh…”
I must have accomplished something truly remarkable.
To rise from being the family’s watchdog to becoming an official knight of the Boyd family—it’s an incredible promotion.
“Then…”
Of course, I should say yes and grab this opportunity for social advancement.
“Um, uh…”
…But for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.
I thought of the young lady’s crimson eyes—those striking, almost otherworldly eyes that demon worshippers coveted.
They weren’t just for show; there had to be more to them.
And honestly, was there any reason for me to become a knight when I’d already be learning the family’s techniques?
Even now, I ate well, trained as I pleased, and lived a responsibility-free life.
I could bask in the sun in the yard, spar with the young lady occasionally, and dedicate myself to training.
Compared to my gladiator days, this life was already paradise.
Plus, as someone learning the Boyd family’s most treasured techniques, I wasn’t exactly being treated poorly.
The guards had already shown their respect during the fight with the masked figures.
So then…
“No, that’s fine. I’ll stay as the dog.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’ll just remain the young lady’s puppy.”
Why not keep playing the dog for a bit longer?
“If that’s your choice…”
“It’s just a feeling I have.”
“Well, alright then.”
Besides, this didn’t feel like my last chance.
If I ever wanted to leave my “dog” status behind, there would be plenty of other opportunities.
“Take care of yourself.”
“Of course. Good luck with the training.”
The treatment continued after that.
“Don’t move! Absolutely no strenuous activity!”
“Yes, but can I do Aura training?”
“No! Absolutely not!”
The overzealous healer was exhausting, but my body steadily healed.
“Wow, these herbs are incredible. I’ve never seen such rare ingredients.”
“Are they that special?”
“Very!”
The Boyd family spared no expense, providing high-grade medicines.
Apparently, they were absurdly expensive. Honestly, they could’ve just given me money instead.
“Uhh… Your wounds are healing so quickly.”
“I recover fast naturally.”
Anyway.
Thanks to the premium treatment and my already strong recovery abilities, my injuries healed rapidly.
The cuts mended, the stab wounds closed, and in no time, my scars began to fade.
Finally, the day came when the healer declared me fully recovered.
“You’re all healed! Completely!”
“Finally?”
I was officially declared healed.
…Although, by my standards, I’d been fine for over three days.
These people really do fuss too much.
Anyway.
With confirmation that I could return to my daily life, I was finally free to leave the accursed infirmary.
“Puppy!!”
The first person to greet me outside the infirmary was none other than the young lady.
Her face was lit up with a radiant smile, as though she couldn’t be happier.
“It’s been so long!”
“Yes, it has, young lady.”
I learned that after the attack, she hadn’t come straight to this estate.
Instead, she stayed at the palace for a while.
Understandably, it was far safer there.
She returned only after Lowell’s arm had healed enough for him to resume his duties.
“I built you a house! A new one!”
“Oh, a house, you say?”
“Yep! It’s really nice, you’ll love it!”
A good place?
I hadn’t heard anything about this beforehand, so my curiosity was piqued.
Where would I be staying now?
Given that she still called me “Puppy” and was leading me outside, I suspected the new “house” was somewhere in the yard.
Could it be… a small cottage?
Considering the size of the Boyd mansion, that didn’t seem entirely implausible.
When we arrived at the garden, however…
“…This is my house?”
“Yep!”
I let out a dry laugh as I stared at my new home—a larger, roomier, and even taller doghouse.
Well, I suppose this is technically an upgrade.
“I’ll make the most of it.”
“Good! I even put in a super-soft cushion and some snacks!”
“Oh, what an honor.”
Well, I did turn down Lowell’s offer to improve my status, so I’ll accept this with grace.
Anyway.
After checking out the “house”, I took a moment to look around.
“Puppy!”
The young lady called out again, catching my attention.
“I’m listening.”
“Now that I’ve shown you your house, I’m off to my lessons!”
“Alright, have a good class.”
“B-But don’t go anywhere while I’m gone, okay?”
“Yes?”
“D-Don’t disappear! Stay here, okay?”
“Ah, of course.”
So, she wanted me to stay put.
Was she still uneasy because of the attack?
I glanced at her eyes, just to be sure.
They weren’t glowing, so this was probably just her usual clingy behavior.
“Understood.”
“Good! I’ll be back soon!”
With that, she left, but not before looking back at me several times, as if to make sure I wouldn’t vanish.
I turned my attention back to my doghouse.
The cushion was indeed soft, and the snacks weren’t bad.
There were even some items that looked like dog toys.
Then my eyes fell on something… peculiar.
“Hmm.”
There, neatly placed in one corner, was a collar—reminiscent of the one I’d lost during the mansion attack, now replaced with a brand-new version.
Did they really expect me to wear this? In my free time?
I sighed and decided to humor them.
As I put it on…
“Huh?”
It didn’t restrict my Aura flow at all.
Ah, so it’s not a restraint.
Just an actual collar.
…Should I feel relieved?
Or should I despair at the sight of myself willingly putting on a collar in a doghouse?
“…What are you doing in there?”
“Ah.”
I snapped out of my thoughts to see Lowell standing behind me.
“Lowell?”
“The young lady would’ve been upset if I hadn’t replaced it, so I had a new one made. Seems to suit you.”
“You know that’s not what this is about.”
“Enough of that. Let’s get started.”
“Started… Oh.”
Right, I’d almost forgotten.
The most important thing.
“Is the young lady’s lesson schedule the same as before?”
“Yes. There’s plenty of time for training before she returns.”
“Good.”
She told me to stay here, but…
Even a “dog” has its own life to live, doesn’t it?
“Let’s go.”
At last, it was time to claim the reward I’d been waiting for.