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IBP 155
“Coco is coming?”
Amius nodded solemnly.
[Co Co, mi-ght be back.]
Caligo bit his trembling lip.
After slowly adjusting the bag slung over his shoulder, he took a deep breath.
“Who said so?”
[Tur tle.]
“...Is it a reliable word this time?”
It wasn't the first or second time the Sage Turtle had made a prophecy. Until now, most of them had ended up being confessions that they were 'lies just to get attention.'
As Amius nodded vigorously once more, Caligo's eyes wavered.
“Then, where is Coco now?”
[Darkest pla ce. Grey.]
“Let's go right now.”
“Huh?”
Caligo spoke firmly.
“There's a place I need to go immediately!”
* * *
Meanwhile, the inside of the back alley was bustling in a different sense.
“I'm telling you! I definitely saw light shining from that grey one's paw! Everyone saw it, right?”
“From now on, you are no longer Grey.”
“Then what am I?”
“We shall call you Sparkle.”
The puppies all cheered, making a fuss.
However, only the cat was carefully examining my paw.
“Strange. It feels as if the light is flowing out from your body.”
At that moment, a black darkness flowed out from the tip of my paw that the cat was holding.
Startled, the cat hurriedly pulled back, then paused.
“Wait, this symptom is...!”
Eventually, light and darkness began to move atop my paw as if they were dancing.
Watching the darkness envelop me like black smoke, the cat let out a deep sigh.
“Why, why is that?”
“What's happening?”
Everyone gathered around, chattering with worry. I, too, looked at the cat, so nervous that my front paws were practically sweating.
“Well, it seems that...”
As the cat looked at me with frighteningly bright yellow eyes, I couldn't help but gulp.
And finally, the cat's mouth opened grandly.
“It seems to be a terminal illness.”
“...Gasp.”
I just fell from the sky.
I don't have a single memory. And I'm dying already!
The cat patted my drooping tail to comfort me.
...But I really liked that light and darkness.
I felt truly happy when the dazzlingly sparkling warm light and the murky darkness enveloped me.
But there's no way the cat is wrong. He's the smartest cat in our alley.
With my ears drooping, I muttered gloomily.
“I guess I'm gonna die.”
“Your ears couldn't possibly droop any lower than the floor.”
“But I'm dyin'...”
With my ears flopped against the ground, I scratched the floor with my paw, where light and darkness were mixed.
Then, the cat spoke loyally.
“Do not worry.”
“Uwoong...?”
“I shall search every possible way to save you.”
“What's every possi-ble...?”
“...Ah, the stupid puppy who doesn't even know what 'every possible way' means should just hide over there for now.”
* * *
A cool breeze blew across the open sea in front of the cliff.
Chloe looked around, lifting one side of her dress.
The first place Chloe visited after sensing a trace of Coco was the place once called the <puppy den>.
At the time, it was simply a place where wounded puppies gathered to live together.
After Duke Ardos purchased the land, it became a sort of private estate.
“Woof! Woof!”
She could see people who cared for the puppies playing frisbee and running around.
‘I wonder if my Coco is around here.’
Surely her small, lovely Coco would be gathered with the other puppies.
With that thought, her pace quickened.
However, she discovered an unexpected person there.
“...I see you here, Grand Duke Rivera.”
“It has been a while, My Lady.”
While Chloe felt glad to see him, she slightly furrowed her brow.
“I apologize if this is rude, but did you follow my carriage?”
Grand Duke Rivera arched an eyebrow.
“It was a coincidence. I heard Lady Coco needs to show you many wonderful things, so I was thinking of bringing her to the beach nearby. I stopped by here while scouting the area, and there you were.”
...When she first met him, his willful attitude seemed nothing but strange. But since he had stayed by her side consistently for five years, perhaps she had developed a sort of fond attachment to him.
It might be a bit strange to admit that she now liked those kinds of remarks.
She averted her gaze and whispered softly.
“It's not bad, then.”
She began to walk naturally, then stopped.
“Why aren't you following? Won't you look with me?”
Grand Duke Rivera smirked and took her hand as if escorting her.
“Is it because I like it when you wait for me like this?”
“There are many things you like.”
“Ah, then let's go in together. This escort isn't following Lady Coco's orders; it's my own will.”
Chloe chuckled and nodded.
“That sounds good.”
Grand Duke Rivera asked back with a blank expression that didn't suit his polished face.
“Huh?”
“I said it's good.”
Chloe spoke nonchalantly, taking his hand first.
“Let's go in quickly. I need to check the puppies.”
By the time Grand Duke Rivera paused, staring at Chloe who had taken his hand, Chloe had already shifted her gaze away from him to stare at the puppies.
A spring breeze like a zephyr or feelings of fluttering excitement were no longer her concern.
Entering the den, Chloe looked around at the white, wool-like puppies scurrying and playing.
“Woof! Woof!”
There was a puppy that bit the hem of her dress and wouldn't let go, but...
‘No. It's different.’
Just then, Grand Duke Rivera called Chloe's name.
“My Lady. Look over there.”
At the highest spot of the den, she saw a small puppy standing majestically.
A tiny body that looked like it could be held in one hand.
Pure white fur.
A body slightly scruffy from playing.
And...
“It's holding a sweet potato.”
...Yes, even the sight of it eating a sweet potato with gusto.
Chloe walked slowly, her wavering gaze fixed on the puppy.
Her steps were cautious, as if finding Coco were the sole purpose of her existence.
However...
When she got within about one meter, Chloe let out a shallow sigh.
“It's not her.”
“...But it looks so similar.”
“Even if the whole world were filled with nothing but puppies, I would know her.”
Whenever Coco looked at Chloe, she always twitched one nostril.
When eating sweet potatoes, her ears would perk up, clearly showing her excitement.
So...
‘I only have one puppy.’
She swallowed her next words and looked at Grand Duke Rivera. Though she didn't show it, Grand Duke Rivera noticed her disappointment and spoke.
“Now that you've looked around, shall we leave, My Lady?”
As they were leaving the den, Caligo appeared abruptly, breathing heavily.
“I don't want any intruders on a date.”
Normally, Caligo would have countered his brother's playful remark with a joke of his own.
But this time, Caligo was different.
His eyes wavered as he looked back and forth between Grand Duke Rivera and Chloe.
“I have something important to say. I came here immediately after hearing the news.”
A wavering gaze.
Perhaps Chloe sensed this moment instinctively.
“A prophecy has come regarding Coco's location.”
* * *
“The darkest place? Then it must be somewhere like the Imperial back alleys.”
After hearing Caligo's words, Chloe headed straight to the darkest back alley in the Empire.
Having declined Grand Duke Rivera's escort, she had just changed out of her conspicuous dress into something more like a commoner.
Passing by a shop with a cheap flyer that read 'Will kill for just 5 gold,' Chloe narrowed her eyes.
“Is there a dog here?”
“Sounds like a noble's way of speaking. Looking for a killer who listens well?”
Chloe frowned as she looked at the man puffing on a cigar right in her face.
...She hadn't realized this was a world where the word 'dog' was used as a metaphor.
“I don't want a killer, a real dog.”
“...What a peculiar noble. If you want to adopt a decent dog, why not go to a boutique that sells pets?”
“That's not what I'm looking for.”
“If it's just one dog, the old man over by the pub is raising one.”
Chloe walked quickly in the direction he pointed. Unconsciously, her steps became urgent.
The combination of the words 'pub,' 'back alley,' and 'dog' did not feel pleasant at all.
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