EP.6 There Are Only Bad Guardians
Humans are beasts that use tools, born with the ability to craft necessary things with dexterity and materials.
Before going to Aji, I found some torn cloth and roughly sewed it into a ball. It's a shoddy ball that could never be used in a proper match, but it's more than enough quality for playing with a dog. I walked along, tossing and catching the ball, and Aji followed me, orbiting around me.
Every time I threw the ball, my body shifted. Aji's sparkling eyes never left the ball. I led Aji's gaze with the ball and headed toward the wide courtyard.
And.
'Hiding behind this veil of darkness, I'll watch clearly what you're up to.'
Something strange was following behind me. Suppressing the urge to glance back, I slowly headed toward the courtyard.
This is troublesome. Why is it following me instead of doing its own thing? What did I even do?
I merely intended to train the King of Dogs with a ball and snacks. While gently whipping it.
They say training beasts requires carrots and sticks. I have no shame in my actions when I look up to heaven. But right now, with the regressor following me, the methods I can use are limited.
'The King of Dogs is one of the few beast kings that are allies of humans. If the King of Dogs turns hostile toward humans like in the previous iteration, it'll be greatly disadvantageous for the future battles. If this guy does anything improper to Aji... I'll have to fight to the death. I don't know how strong this man is, but I'll have to fight back.'
After reading those thoughts, I pushed the Military Nation standard-issue whip I'd found somewhere in the prison deep into my pocket. It seemed whipping would fall under the category of "improper actions."
The essence of training is alternating between positive and negative responses. The so-called carrot and stick. If it obeys or does something commendable, +1; if it's stubborn or displeases me, -1. I need to apply feedback to specific behaviors and gradually train it to learn behaviors favorable to me.
I intended to use ball play and meat pieces as the carrot, and this as the stick.
'If I ever torment or beat it, or even put a collar on it... that's the end. I'll go all out.'
I felt a chilling killing intent.
It seems I should seal the whipping for today. Without negative feedback, the efficiency drops to less than half, but that's better than losing my head. Let's stick to only carrots today.
Arriving at the courtyard, I held the ball high and shouted.
"Here!"
"Woof!"
As soon as I took a throwing stance, Aji pressed its hands and feet flat against the ground, lowering its posture. Meanwhile, its tail was spinning like a propeller.
At first, lightly. I rolled the leather ball along the ground. Aji darted out like an arrow, snatching the ball mid-run, then curved smoothly and dashed straight back to me. Its limbs are human, yet its quadrupedal movement rivals any beast.
Seeing Aji approach in an instant, I made a fuss over it.
"Good job! Aji, paw!"
"Woof!"
"Great. Left paw!"
"Woof?"
Okay. That's not working yet. That's fine. Don't show disappointment. A dog doesn't necessarily need to distinguish left from right.
I took out the meat pieces I had cut earlier and shouted.
"Nice! You can even tell paws apart. You really are the best, Aji!"
"Woof! I'm the best! Woof woof!"
"The best puppy deserves a reward. Here's a snack!"
I hid the cut meat in my fist and offered it. Aji pushed its nose into my hand, frantically digging through it. Like mining for treasure, it stuck its tongue out toward the meat hidden between my fingers.
Teasingly, barely letting it reach, I opened and closed my fingers. When Aji started getting impatient, trying to push my fingers away, I spread my hand wide and revealed the meat. Catching the opportunity, Aji quickly snatched the meat.
Sufficient hindrance and clear reward. It seemed to recognize this as a kind of play too, as Aji purred with satisfaction and rubbed its chin against my hand.
'From the looks of it, it seems like normal play, but...'
It's a scene like a painting. Wouldn't the word "idyllic" exist for this very moment?
Communication between animal and human. The king of beasts, a symbol of nature, is interacting with a human from civilization.
How about it, regressor? A perfect scene with no room for criticism, right?
'Something about... treating it like training a real dog feels kind of off-putting...'
No, what am I supposed to do if even this feels off-putting?
'It's the King of Dogs, but outwardly it's just a cute dog beast-person. Having a human appearance but being treated completely like a dog... as expected, not ordinary. I need to be careful.'
There has never been a time since reading thoughts that felt so unjust. They complain even when I do it properly.
Treating a dog like a dog is normal. Treating a dog like a human is abnormal, and treating a human like a dog makes you a pervert.
And if you treat a human like a human, they take you lightly. That's my personal experience.
Therefore, the only correct truth in the world is treating a dog like a dog. I am only doing what's right.
After that, I threw the ball a few more times and tossed meat pieces. During that time, the regressor continued to watch my actions while holding their breath.
Repeated routines breed habituation. Aji was focusing more on fetching the ball than on training. It was about time to use the whip, but the regressor showed no intention of leaving.
Just how long are they going to watch? They've seen enough, so I wish they'd head back soon. If I only give positive reactions, even the King of Dogs might get carried away and climb over its head.
No. I changed my mind.
Destiny must always be pioneered by oneself. Waiting indefinitely for them to leave is too passive. I'll drive out the regressor myself.
Of course, since I can't drive them out by force, I'll have to use another method.
I shook the ball once more. Never tiring of it, Aji flipped its body, ready to dash out at any moment.
"Go!"
"Woof!"
Aji answered excitedly and leaped back. After throwing and catching the ball a few times, I suddenly hurled it toward somewhere.
Toward where the regressor was standing.
'Urk?!'
I can't even see the location. What kind of stealth technique is this—even though I can sense there's something around there, all my eyes can see is the dreary prison beyond.
But my telepathy tells me the regressor is somewhere around that location.
So, well, I just need to pick a general direction and throw.
"Fetch!"
"Woof woof!"
'No... need to dodge. It missed. But...'
It can make the opponent tense.
Those who use petty skills like stealth techniques are all peeping toms. What these peeping toms fear most is their existence coming to the surface.
You think you can just watch comfortably from behind your veil? No way. Feel some tension for once.
"Aji! Fetch!"
"Woof!"
"Good job. Once more!"
"Woof, woof!"
"Yay!"
"Awoooo!"
Every time I threw the ball, Aji howled joyfully and ran after it. Each time, the regressor flinched with anxiety.
Aji running wildly and loudly was literally a rampaging beast, completely unpredictable, so the regressor shrank back fearing a collision every time Aji dashed out. Now, the thought of monitoring me and Aji was pushed to the back of their mind.
As always, it was quite enjoyable to make things difficult for someone who tries to cleverly scheme.
"Charge!"
"Woof!"
This time, the ball flew straight toward the regressor. The regressor stared wide-eyed at the ball flying straight at them.
'No! If I move hastily here, the Veil of Darkness will unravel!'
Vigorous movement breaks stealth. The regressor gritted their teeth, hunched down, and quickly rolled on the ground. The ball grazed dangerously overhead, and Aji leaped after it. The regressor slowly rose, letting out a sigh of relief.
'That took ten years off my life... But any more than this is dangerous.'
Good. Operation success. The regressor was slowly backing away.
'Tsk. I need to retreat for now. If I'm discovered being here, they might become wary of me instead...'
Their figure was still invisible, but the regressor's thoughts began to grow faint. It means they've moved far enough away from me.
Phew. Finally, I can train properly without interference.
'It's a shame, but it's fine. It's better than being discovered. As long as I'm not discovered, there'll be opportunities to observe later.'
I heard strange inner thoughts from the departing regressor. It sounds like they're saying they'll peep again later. Did they only learn how to peep during their regression?
Even though I want to chase after them right now and scream that I saw through their stealth technique, I'll hold back for now. There's no need to reveal my ability unnecessarily.
Just like that, the regressor disappeared from our awareness. Since she had her own things to do, she probably wouldn't come back.
What returned to me was only Aji, holding the ball in its mouth.
"Woof! Woof!"
When I didn't throw the ball, an impatient Aji rolled it to my feet. It was urging me to throw without resting. Bending down to pick up the ball, I looked down at Aji with a colder gaze and asked.
"Enjoying playing?"
"Woof! Woof! Like it! Like it!"
Really? My shoulders are starting to ache. You're just enjoying irresponsible pleasure, aren't you?
Now there's no unseen observer either. What remains between us is only the heartless law of nature.
I am human, and Aji is a dog. There exists a perfect hierarchy between us. Like oil floating on water, like smoke rising to the sky. Without the power to stir it up, it clearly divides into above and below.
That is called the ranking.
I roughly pulled out the whip from my pocket and said.
"Playtime is over, you mutt."
"Woof?"
I put the ball in my pocket. Aji widened its eyes, making an expression of disbelief as if it had been scammed.
Having cut off Aji's excitement, I coldly declared.
"The feast is over. There's no more meat for you either. Go back to your doghouse before I spread soybean paste on you."
"Arf! Arf! Arf!"
Don't joke around, keep playing. It barked complainingly, demanding more. I didn't miss the faint irritation in that howling.
I knew it. Dogs don't know moderation; they want the good things to last forever. You can't persuade them with words.
That's why humans invented the whip. I scattered the whip through the air. Bang—the sound of air bursting sounded threatening.
"Tch. Listen. Do I have to play with you all day?"
"Yeah!"
"Oh ho. Talking as if it's a given."
I raised the whip high. It's time to properly train the King of Dogs today.
"You'd better change that mindset."
Right after that, I swung the whip toward Aji's back.
This whip alone isn't something I made. It's a standard-issue whip supervised and produced by the Military Nation's Ministry of Defense.
The Military Nation is famous for producing terrible things, but precisely because of that, the whip's performance is unrivaled. It's a high-quality product made by attaching meticulously alchemized iron plates to processed leather, flawless even as an actual weapon.
The sound cutting through the wind brings fear, and the impact of the iron plates brings pain. Moreover, if handled well, it can inflict pain without internal injuries, making it perfect for handling beasts.
Let it be carved into your body along with the wounds. The greatness of humanity...!
"Keng!"
At that moment, Aji moved.
Aji's head turned at nearly the same speed as the tip of the whip. To my eyes, it looked like it moved in jerky frames, like film cut from a movie. Aji perfectly caught the flying iron plate with its eyes, and just as the whip was about to strike her, bit right into it. And then severed the whip with its teeth.
Crunch.
A Military Nation weapon made by attaching meticulously alchemized iron plates to processed leather, capable of being used lethally.
Aji chewed it like gum, then spat it out with a "ptui."
"Grrr. Tastes bad."
I looked at the whip with its severed tip.
You don't block a whip with your body. The snapping tip of a whip can exceed the speed of sound. If you recklessly try to grab a whip without knowing any better, your skin gets torn off.
And yet.
The King of Dogs precisely chewed only the tip of the whip aiming for its back and 'tore' it off.
Processed leather with iron plates attached... if it can sever it just by twisting its head.
"Grrrrrrrr."
Ah, right.
It's a dog, but it's the King of Dogs, wasn't it?
Hmm.
I carefully put away the whip and picked up the ball again.
"...Normally I should stop here, but since it's the first day. Shall we play a little more?"
"Grrr..."
"Here, fetch!"
"...rr. Woof! Woof!"
Aji ran after the ball again, seemingly thinking it was fine.
Alright. Establishing the hierarchy can wait for later. For now, let's just play until Aji is satisfied.
I didn't lose. I simply decided to continue a bit longer because playing with the dog was so enjoyable. I'm playing with the dog as a human, first and foremost.
Ah. How fun. I am happy.