Chapter 2-1:
Dogs
A YEAR HAD PASSED SINCE THE ORPHANS arrived at the manor. Their training now included various activities. Initially, my intention had been to eliminate Lewis, who had the least stamina, but it seemed that my excellent training had gradually enabled him to overcome various tasks.
They didn’t just build stamina. I had my private tutors teach them etiquette and provided them with a proper education. Since my squires were set to accompany me to Rosewood Academy in the future, it was vital that they had at least a bare minimum of knowledge. Some showed defiance toward the private tutors, but I punished this behavior by having them run laps around the garden and targeting them with my magic.
It was rather tough to aim my spells at moving targets, and thus it was good practice for me. It was just a shame that the orphans quickly stopped acting defiantly toward my private tutors. They underwent rigorous training, but even if they sustained a few injuries, we had a personal physician to attend to their needs. Since the physician usually didn’t work much, this was the perfect opportunity to have him do his job.
At times, the orphans would be so injured that the physician filed a complaint with my father, but I paid it no heed. My life was on the line here, and I wasn’t going to make the training easier.
Out of the six, Alice was the most adept at magic. Lewis had the talent to be a priest, so I had them both learn spellwork. Meanwhile, I had the other four train with weapons. Training went very smoothly. Recently, the orphans were even able to finish their tasks with time to spare and I decided to give them another trial: taking care of dogs.
“Sir, dogs, sir?” Richard asked.
He no longer made careless remarks but still didn’t seem to understand the danger of immediately asking questions. The other five likely knew that and still let him do as he pleased—every group needed a scapegoat, after all.
“Correct,” I replied. “Caring for dogs will educate your hearts. You orphans are lacking in spirit, and you will make that up by looking after the creatures.”
Richard immediately agreed. “Sir, yes, sir!”
He didn’t seem to question my words. The others were clearly a touch confused, but they remained quiet. Very smart, I thought.
These six were now in charge of six stray dogs that I had Lewis gather in the city. I didn’t know what their breeds were, but they were all still puppies. I had Lewis round them up because he was the least likely to flee. He had experience with taking care of a dog in the past; he was used to them. As a side note, ever since I was a child—or since my previous life, rather—I hadn’t been fond of dogs.
They tended to run up to me even though I didn’t call for them. For example, if there was a dog that was lovingly raised and considered precious by those who loved it, that animal would ignore its owner and run straight for me. If I tried to flee, it would give chase with all its might. Fortunately, I had never been injured or bitten by a dog. I suppose it was one of my best traits.
Many nobles liked to own dogs, and these animals were often brought to garden parties hosted by the royals. I was always afraid of those beasts.
In my previous life, I had attended a party and was engaged in a conversation with a noble child. Suddenly, I heard a loud sound behind me. It sounded like soldiers marching with gusto, and when I turned around in confusion, two dogs were frantically digging into the ground with their front paws, trying to pounce on me.
The nobles and their servants worked together to tug on the leashes and hold their dogs back. The beasts had a twinkle in their eyes and bared their fangs. The tongues that fell out of their mouths dripped with saliva. It was clear that they were trying to swallow me whole.
It was a terrifying experience. Between my two lives, it was the second scariest encounter I’d ever had, the first being the time that I was forced to drink the poison that killed me. Technically, that meant that my experience with those dogs was the most chilling ordeal I had ever been through.
But enough of my experiences. I would never again directly associate with dogs, and instead, I had the orphans each take care of a puppy. They would eat and sleep together; no corners would be cut. After they took care of their dogs for three years, I would order the orphans to kill the animals with their own hands.
According to the butler, that was the final step to create the perfect assassin—have them kill a dog that they loved and cared for. If that final step was skipped, the assassins tended to falter when they were asked to kill others on missions.
I could understand the reasoning. It wasn’t so easy to force someone to suddenly kill another person. By coercing assassins to do so with the dogs that they loved, I would break any psychological barriers than might hinder them.
I could only show the utmost respect to the knowledge of my predecessors. The orphans would kill their dogs and turn into cold, cruel assassins who shed no blood or tears. Only then would they become my official squires!
That’s fine and all, but why are all six puppies headed straight for me?
Lewis did his best to hold them all back, but none of them seemed to listen. Frankly, I was terrified. My current self could easily kill a dog, but the fear ingrained in my body since my previous life hadn’t faded. However, I couldn’t act so meekly in front of the orphans. I had my position to consider.
“My, oh my,” I sighed. I did my best to put on a strong front. “This is an issue. Can you not train even a single puppy? Will only the midsummer night mosquitoes come to you?”
“Sir, I’m sorry, sir!” Lewis apologized.
He desperately tried to carry away one of the puppies, but it squirmed out of his arms and rushed straight for me. The other five also charged. The dogs panted, huffed, barked, squealed, sniffed, and growled as they surrounded me. A couple began to howl, another tugged on my outfit, and the rest tried to climb up my legs. They were having a ball.
Honestly, I was ready to faint. If I let my guard down, my spirit would flutter away into the great beyond. But I couldn’t fall here. Getting bested by mere puppies before my battle against the saintess would just be ridiculous. What did I restart my life for? The orphans would underestimate me too. So I bit down hard on my tongue to retain consciousness.
“Dogs are cruel,” I said. “They make it clear just who’s the most charming of the bunch. You lot have been deserted by your parents, and now by dogs. You’re inferior to me in power, etiquette, and even magic—do you have any reason to stay alive? I shall provide you with another chance, so take these animals away. I have no need for those who cannot take care of mere puppies, I’ll have you know.”
Please! Take them away right now! I internally begged the orphans as I endured the hell of being smothered by these puppies. Though it shaved a decade off my life, Lewis and the others finally scooped up the puppies after a bit of a struggle.
“You will sleep, eat with, and raise those puppies,” I said. “Do you understand? They will be your friends, your siblings, and your children—you must treat them as such. As you saw earlier, the dogs and I already share an internal bond. If any of you cut any corners, I shall know immediately. Am I clear?”
“Sir, yes, sir!” the orphans replied.
They all looked solemn and seemingly believed my words.
You’ve got to be kidding me. If I shared some kind of internal bond with these animals, I would’ve ordered them to leave immediately.
I planned on giving the orphans and the dogs three years to foster bonds, though I hoped that they would form in three days. I could hardly bear the mere thought that those fierce beasts lived in the same manor as me. I would much rather raise a monster.