I’m The Brave Puppy That Will Save The Villainess - Chapter 50
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 50
The Dog Star Friends had said this.
“Coco, God said that powerful Special Abilities can cause equally powerful side effects.”
“And if your Special Ability is in an incomplete state, you might keep hearing auditory hallucinations.”
“So you absolutely must take care of yourself!”
Could this bad voice be a side effect?
‘Or maybe there’s some other reason?’
It felt like there was a hazy fog inside my head.
I looked at the grapes in front of me and pursed my lips.
‘Grapes, somehow I don’t want to eat them.’
The good thing about becoming human so far was this.
I got to eat many things that Sister always said dogs absolutely must never eat.
But grapes alone somehow felt unpleasant.
Duke Ardos cleared his throat a couple times and said.
“You’re a picky eater, aren’t you, kid?”
“That’s not it though…”
“Then?”
“…Ruth. You eat this.”
When I pushed the grape tart toward Ruth, he grinned widely.
“Father, she’s not being picky. She’s doing this because she wants to give me the grape tart. You’re so clueless.”
Ruth was the clueless one though.
Like a smart dog, I just stayed quiet and sparkled my eyes.
“…What?”
Duke Ardos frowned as he watched Ruth eating the grape tart.
Regardless, Ruth devoured the tart in one bite like the rascal he was.
“Ruth is stupid!”
“Ahem, you should call me Brother Ruth.”
“But I’m smarter…”
“That’s true. Ruth, you should call Coco big sister.”
“What kind of nonsense are you saying!”
After listening to their conversation, it felt like the hallucinations in my ears had disappeared.
Meanwhile, I looked at Sister who was diligently making something by herself and spoke up.
“Um, Duke!”
“Hm?”
“The cake Sister is making, I think she’s making it for you, Duke!”
But as soon as she heard my words, Sister answered firmly.
“…No.”
A dog’s paw print was drawn on top of the cake.
‘Huh, that’s the shape of my paw!’
Sister must have made a cake for me, the dog Coco.
‘But, honestly, that’s too honest….’
A cold wind was blowing between the two people once again.
Duke Ardos made a coughing sound and turned his gaze away.
“…Well, I wasn’t particularly expecting anything anyway.”
The two of them looked very awkward.
Come to think of it, when I’m not around, it seems like they don’t even talk to each other.
‘When on earth are these two going to get along?’
As I was looking at them both with a serious expression, Ruth smeared some cream on my face and said.
“Little One, why do you look like you’ve lived your whole life?”
“…I haven’t lived my whole life yet!”
“Oh, okay. I got it.”
I smeared the cream from my cheek back onto Ruth’s cheek and laughed with a “heh.”
Then Duke Ardos said to Ruth.
“Why are you bothering such a small child?”
“What, Father? When did I bother her?”
“…That’s what bothering is.”
“Hmph. It’s fine. I can bother her more!”
“What? This Little One…!”
It still seemed like there was a long way to go before Sister and the family would get close.
But it was truly a joyful and happy afternoon.
So much so that I could momentarily forget about the future where Sister and I are supposed to die.
* * *
After making and eating the sweet potato cake!
I wandered around near the annex where Caligo was staying.
Amicus came out first and politely opened the door for me.
“Hi, Caligo! I came because I have something to give you?”
“…Something to give?”
“Yeah! Sweet potato cake!”
I handed over the cake I had brought in my hands.
“I made sweet potato cake with my family to commemorate being officially adopted?”
I handed Caligo a fork while my eyes sparkled.
He took a bite of the cake and smiled slightly.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Let’s make one together later, Caligo!”
Then he spoke to me.
“…Yeah, congratulations on your adoption being confirmed.”
“Yeah! It’s all thanks to Caligo. Thank you!”
It was a heartfelt congratulation.
But I could sense a subtle bitterness within it.
When I looked at him puzzledly, he quietly muttered.
“But then…. You can’t come with me to the Northern Region, I guess.”
Ah, right.
Come to think of it, Caligo had said ‘if you don’t get adopted, let’s go to the Northern Region together’…?
‘Come to think of it, he might get bored, that prickly cat.’
Even though there’s Tiger Amicus, I’m Caligo’s first friend after all.
I added with a regretful tone.
“Then, will Caligo be returning to the Northern Region now? If so, I’ll get permission from Sister and definitely come visit the Northern Region….”
I tried to speak maturely, but my lips pouted because I felt disappointed.
‘Caligo is still my friend though.’
Then, Caligo, who had been staring at me intently, quietly shook his head.
“No. Elder Brother said he has a lot of work to do at the Ardos Mansion, so we decided to stay for a while.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah. Elder Brother is investigating a murder case. I didn’t hear the details. Anyway, he said I can continue staying at Duke Ardos Estate.”
Grand Duke Rivera, who had business at the Ardos Ducal House, specially requested cooperation from the Duke.
So naturally, the time for both of them to stay at the Ardos Ducal House was extended, he told me.
“Then Caligo, let’s play ball together while you’re here. Okay?”
“We can play ball.”
“Huh?”
“But I think it’ll be hard to see me for a while. I decided to train my Shadow Magic.”
I looked at him with wide eyes.
“Huh?”
“I think I was too weak. To protect my friends…. I want to practice Empathy more with Tiger and train my shadows more diligently too.”
This is strange.
This small and prickly cat….
‘He seems to have grown a lot, a whole lot.’
Perhaps using his Shadow Ability to help with my adoption was also a new experience for Caligo?
Then Caligo lightly bumped his small hand against mine with a tap.
Then he made a small purring sound like a cat and muttered.
“Coco, it’s not that I want to train because I like you, and it’s not that I’m trying hard to protect you. I’m just doing it to become stronger myself.”
“Uh-huh….”
“Really. I like being strong. The Northern Region is a world of survival of the fittest.”
I nodded and took a bite of sweet potato cake.
“Yeah yeah, I know! Caligo, eat more cake! To become strong, you need to get really chubby!”
We simultaneously stuffed our mouths full of cake side by side and chewed.
Sweetness spread throughout his mouth.
* * *
After Coco, who had eaten her fill of Sweet Potato Cake, left.
Caligo was at the Ardos Annex together with Amicus.
“You know, I think I was being petty, Amicus.”
When he heard the news that Coco had been adopted.
Somehow he hadn’t felt good about it.
‘Because now she can’t come to the Northern Region with us.’
If we went to the Northern Region, we could play Ball Playing together, just the two of us.
I could show her Mother and Father’s Portraits too.
I had planned for the three of us with Amicus to have fun together…
But seeing Coco’s bright smile as she handed him the Sweet Potato Cake, all that disappointment completely disappeared.
He smiled softly and petted Amicus.
“Still, it’s good that I don’t have to return to the Northern Region right away now…”
Amicus quietly listened to his words in silence.
“I want to make my Shadow Ability stronger. Shall we work hard together?”
Amicus bared his teeth slightly.
Just from seeing that expression, Caligo could tell that Amicus agreed with what he said.
‘…Using my Special Ability for something proper was really overwhelming.’
Caligo recalled the day he had used his Shadow Ability to help Coco.
Then he naturally remembered Coco’s eyes that had been directed toward Chloe.
‘They were warm and cozy.’
Caligo felt an ugly emotion digging into his stomach.
‘I want to have Coco’s warm gaze too.’
…What is this emotion?
He forgot that Amicus was right in front of him and muttered quietly.
“That kid only treats certain people specially. But I don’t know why she does that, and I’m curious…”
“…”
“I wish that kid would treat me specially too.”
It felt stuffy and nauseating, as if butterflies had entered his stomach.
[Love?]
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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