Doggone Academy

It took two hours to leave the valley.

As we reached the end of the damp and stifling passage, the evening sunset greeted us.

The signs of exhaustion were evident on everyone’s faces.

And no wonder, we had hardly eaten anything all day except for breakfast. In the morning, due to the lizards’ pursuit, we had to completely block out any food scent, and thereafter, we couldn’t manage a meal due to the fight and subsequent movements.

Today felt unusually long.

Even I, accustomed to the bare ground, found myself longing for a warm and soft bed today—how much more so would the others?

Before setting out to find a campsite, we took a brief rest under a large tree. Luna was with me, while the rest were a little distance away, having a discussion. Since our paths were parting with the night’s camping, there must have been much to consider.

Leaning against the tree and resting, my eyes kept meeting Trisha’s, strangely enough.

There was no intention on my part—it felt as though she deliberately stood in my line of sight, signaling.

Though I understood she had words for me alone, her approach was a bit blatant, risking the notice of our companions.

To avoid suspicion, I turned away.

And spoke to Luna, who sat demurely beside me.

“Luna, how are you feeling?”

“Better. Much better.”

She could have been frank. But it was my fault for not instilling enough confidence in my team members to rely on me. For now, it seems I must take time to further build trust.

“Do you have any foods you can’t eat?”

Luna blinked several times, taken aback by the sudden question.

“I eat… just about anything.”

As a lady brought up in finery, I was unsure of her tastes. Besides, I had to invite her to a meal later, and I worried about her having to consume the giant reptile’s internal flesh.

Luna subtly averted her eyes.

“But carrots… I don’t really like them.”

I’ll have to remember carrots.

Cecil approached us, leading the group.

“Candy, this place looks good for camping, why don’t we rest here?”

They seemed too weary to go any further.

“Yeah. Let’s get ready for dinner.”

“We heard there are Barvania fruits growing nearby, so we thought we’d pick some.”

I got up and offered.

“Just tell us where; we’ll help too.”

Luna stood up beside me to join.

Trisha, seizing the opportunity, suddenly interrupted.

“Sis! How about we split up in pairs to look for them?”

“That was the idea, but… if wild animals appear when we’re split, it’s dangerous…”

“With three capable fighters, splitting into thirds works perfectly!”

I also threw in my support for Trisha’s idea.

“That sounds good.”

“So, how about…?”

Then Cecil, without much thought, grabbed my arm, wrapped hers around and said,

“Then I’ll go with Candy. We have things to discuss between group leaders.”

“…”

“…”

Wasn’t Bertang the group leader?

Trisha, her timing stolen, opened her mouth as if startled but couldn’t muster any other words. Ostensibly, there was no reason for Trisha to pair up with me.

Bertang stepped forward with a brave expression, looking at Luna.

“Then I will…”

Sensing an awkward tension, I interrupted him before he could finish.

“Luna, go with Trisha.”

***

We began our task in an area clustered with fruit trees, much like an orchard.

Barvania fruits resembled apples with red skins and cream-like flesh on the inside.

As I plucked the fruits with my wooden sword, Cecil came up alongside, collecting them in a makeshift pouch made from her cloak.

“That wooden sword gets more intriguing every time I see it. How does wood get so sharp?”

“Well, for a wooden sword, it’s quite useful.”

“Can I touch it too?”

After a moment of hesitation, I handed the wooden sword to Cecil, who was delighted as if inspecting a diamond ring.

Curious. Do magicians get so excited over research material?

Perhaps that’s why she’s showing interest in me.

She put down the pouch and inspected the sword this way and that.

“It’s heavier than expected, and apart from that, quite ordinary, isn’t it?”

Cecil wielded the sword lightly as if imitating a swordsman.

“Don’t hold on to it for too long.”

“Why? What’s the reason…!”

Startled as she felt the sword’s power, Cecil dropped it mid-sentence with a frightened look.

“What the heck? It just absorbed my mana.”

“That’s why it’s dangerous.”

I picked up the sword again and detached another fruit stem. She remained frozen, big eyes unblinking and said,

“Do you have an artifact that prevents mana absorption or something?”

“No, it takes my mana too.”

“How can you… How do you withstand that? You’re not a magician, are you, Candy?”

“No.”

With a face full of disbelief, she responded,

“How come I don’t recognize anything you have? It sucks in mana like it’s starving. How do you withstand that? And you’re not a magician? What really are you?”

“A proud student of Eternia.”

“Wait a minute, could your mask be made from the same wood as the sword?”

I wasn’t sure myself. The mask doesn’t absorb mana, so it could be made from a different material.

I continued picking fruits and replied,

“I got them from different places, so I don’t know.”

“It looks just as sturdy as the wooden sword. You fight so fiercely, yet your mask doesn’t have a single scratch.”

“…”

That was a keen observation. Erzebeth’s mask was as durable as my wooden sword. That I had not a single scratch on my face after so many battles was all thanks to the mask.

Whether Erzebeth intended it or not, it could serve as armor.

Cecil pondered for a moment before springing an unexpected question.

“Candy, are you by chance an elf?”

“…What?”

“Well… you wear a wooden mask and weapon like the elves. You have to hide your identity. Could those mysterious potions be for keeping your ears from returning to their natural state? You’re just like an elf.”

“I’m not an elf.”

Cecil sidled up next to me and playfully smiled.

“It’s okay to be honest, Candy. Our Fontar family has elven blood too. Even if you’re an elf, my father would welcome you.”

Wait a moment. Cecil’s half-elf?

Is that even possible? I didn’t even know humans and elves could intermingle.

“Why are you looking at me that way? Now that I’ve mentioned mixed elven blood, do I suddenly seem different?”

“…”

Was it just me or could I sort of see an elven lineage in Cecil’s features like Erzebeth’s? Maybe her aptitude for magic also had something to do with her elven blood.

Perhaps I should let Cecil examine the crystal I got from the ‘Wingless Dragon.’

“And what’s this about a discussion between group leaders?”

“That? I just made it up.”

***

After finishing our meal, everyone took to sleep early.

In the darkness, only the sound of a crackling fire and steady breathing filled the silence.

Only Trisha lay awake, unable to sleep, her mind tangled with various thoughts.

She rose and looked at Damian, lying afar on his own.

Once assured that the others were deep in sleep, she slowly approached him.

She lay down beside him, then, as quietly as possible, whispered,

“…Wake up.”

When he didn’t respond after several calls, she poked him in the side with her finger.

“Idiot… wake up and talk with me…”

Still no response.

“Ugh.”

Though frustrated, she couldn’t push him harder. Of them all, Damian had the most strenuous day.

Trisha pulled his arm over to use it as a pillow for her head. She watched his sleeping face, looking grumpy.

She badly wanted to complain to him but couldn’t bring herself to do it, reminded again of the harsh reality indicated by the scars on his body.

He was someone who fought without fearing death every moment. Damian hadn’t approached the Circulatory System practice with a half-hearted attitude. How could she question why she wasn’t included?

***

Damian awoke at dawn to check the camp. He looked for traces of human or wild animal footsteps and added wood to the dying campfire.

That was when he noticed something unusual.

Everyone was sleeping in their chosen spots, but Trisha was missing.

Footprints led away from where she had been lying. Thankfully, there were no unfamiliar tracks.

Damian, preparing for any potential situation, drew his wooden sword and followed the trail.

After about three hundred steps, he found a small brook.

And there was Trisha, crouched by the creekside, listlessly tossing pebbles like someone burdened with a story.

“What are you doing here?”

She turned to look at Damian then gazed ahead again with a deflated expression.

“Don’t worry. I’m by myself.”

“I slipped on the moss and twisted my ankle.”

“You should have called for someone.”

“I didn’t know. I was so annoyed I just stayed here.”

Damian went over to inspect her ankle, which was red and swollen.

“Let’s go back. We have potions at the camp. Get on my back.”

“…”

When Damian turned his back, Trisha hesitated just for show before quickly climbing on.

As they headed back, she spoke.

“Why is it so hard to talk alone? Must be nice to be so popular, Candy.”

“…”

“Why didn’t you wake up when I kept calling you? I was so frustrated I almost bit you.”

“I was too tired to hear anything. What did you want to talk about?”

There would be no other chance for leisurely conversation.

“…Your sword.”

“Yeah.”

“What is it… really?”

“I don’t know.”

She tightened her grip around his neck.

“Why do you have so many secrets from me? I’m really, really, really upset.”

“Sorry, but neither my master, nor I, nor anyone, knows. No one is more eager to find out than me.”

“Did you… fight with the dark wizard with that sword?”

“Yeah.”

Trisha fell silent for a while, pondering, before opening up again.

“Damian, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Come to my house during the vacation.”

Her sudden earnest and composed demeanor caught Damian by surprise.

“…Where is your house?”

“The most boring place in the world.”

“If they provide good meals, then sure.”

“Promise me.”

“Yeah, I promise.”

Damian began to wonder what kind of people Trisha’s parents were.

Upon his agreement, she yanked at his clothes and exposed his white shoulder.

“…?”

Without warning, she bit hard into his shoulder.

Startled by her sudden action, Damian flinched.

“What are you doing?”

She answered, still biting down.

“Mmmmphrrrmmm.”

Damian sighed deeply, half-resigned.

“Finish what you started.”

Without stopping, she sucked noisily on the bitten spot like a nursing baby.

Shocked by her behavior, Damian closed his eyes tight, inwardly berating himself for agreeing to carry her.

Once she was done, she wiped away the saliva with her sleeve and covered it up with her clothes.

“Done!”

“What did you just do?”

“I’ve marked you with Azelis’s special cursing insignia.”

“…”

“This is necessary for you to be welcomed as an honored guest at our house.”