The search party was quickly assembled. There were objections to trusting an untamed hunting dog and heading towards the lair of monsters, but since Laches led the way, complaints didn’t last long.

I soothed the hunting dog to prevent it from getting agitated.

Fortunately, perhaps because I was by its side, the dog wagged its tail and refrained from rampaging.

Instead, it occasionally whimpered, looking towards the western entrance from where it was captured.

“Don’t worry. You’ll be safe.”

Seeing the hunting dog’s devotion to its puppy reminded me oddly of my father.

My father, Count Niriel, who had never been able to save me despite my countless deaths.

“……You must save your puppy.”

Maybe that’s why I wanted to help this hunting dog more. I hugged the large dog’s neck tightly. The dog, which did not bare its teeth, gently leaned its chin on my shoulder and offered a warm comfort.

I gently patted the hunting dog.

“We’ll be leaving soon.”

Laches, changed into his armor, approached us. Seeing him fully dressed like this was somehow novel.

“……It’s fascinating.”

Laches came up beside me and stroked the well-behaved hunting dog.

“Thanks to your decision to save it, and Tom’s kind treatment, it didn’t become wary of people.”

I scratched the dog’s chin. Its wide mouth, big enough to engulf my hand, yawned before it quietly surrendered its chin to me.

“If there had been cruel people around, it wouldn’t have listened to me.”

“You have a way with pretty words.”

Laches chuckled lightly, petting the dog. The dog flinched at first but did not shy away from his touch.

“It’s surprising to see it tamed so easily.”

“Me too. I didn’t expect it to follow me so well.”

“How about I try taming you too?”

“That would be difficult…… What?”

I was startled by his casual remark, but Laches, as always, remained nonchalant.

Behind that casual facade, what exactly was he thinking?

Our eyes met, and Laches dropped his playful smile, standing up straight.

“Tell that dog if we don’t find its puppy, we have to give up and come back… well, if animals could understand us.”

“It probably understood you already… And I can’t talk to animals either.”

Laches went to check on the search party, and I tightly hugged the dog, promising to wait and return once it found its puppy.

Whether it understood me or not, the dog simply nestled in my embrace.

Soon after, the search party led by Laches was ready to leave.

The western gate, which had been closed since the monster’s lair was cleared, opened. The dog perked up its tail, ready to sprint out.

But the dog didn’t leave, watching me and Laches cautiously.

“Smart, aren’t you?”

Laches muttered softly, touching the dog’s collar.

“I’m not sure if you, still untrained, can really find your puppy. But I’ll trust you.”

“Woof woof!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve made a safe place for you to live. It’s your choice to go back out.”

Though his warning seemed directed at the dog, it felt as if Laches was speaking to me.

“If you fall behind, I won’t save you again.”

“Woof woof!”

The dog replied as if to reassure him. Laches smiled satisfiedly and released the tightened collar.

“Go find your puppy.”

Laches gave the command. The dog looked back at me, as if asking for permission to leave.

I nodded, and the dog dashed out at an unbelievable speed.

“Is that really how fast an animal can run?”
“Not just half-monster, with that speed, isn’t it basically a full monster?”

The surprised voices of the knights could be heard. Laches swiftly mounted his horse and shouted.

“Anyone who falls behind a mere dog will have their training intensity increased! Move out!”

He led the departure, and the search party quickly followed.

All I could do was wait for them, doing my tasks.

When the dim dawn light that had seen the search party off dispersed and dark night returned, the party finally came back.

Having waited at the western entrance since the end of my day’s work, I was the first to greet them.

Naturally, I couldn’t rest easy knowing they had embarked on a distant journey because of my word.

“Woof woof!”

The door opened, and a loud bark was the first thing heard. The hunting dog, covered in dust, returned with a small puppy – the very one I had seen in the dog’s memory.

“It’s alive!”

I was relieved. I had been worried it might have died alone in the wild… but now I was at ease.

The other members of the search party entered safely, and unlike when he led the departure, Laches was the last to enter.

Seeing me waiting, Laches widened his eyes in surprise, then frowned.

“Your nose is red.”

“You’re back?”

“Were you waiting here in the cold this whole time?”

I glanced around while answering Laches.

Thankfully, there were no signs of combat, suggesting they hadn’t encountered any monsters.

“How could I have waited here all day? I’ve been busy with work.”

Whether it was because the hunting dog saved its puppy, or because Laches returned safely, I felt oddly cheerful. I petted the dog’s head, which seemed to seek praise, and grumbled with a smile.