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IBP 75
“Master! Master!”
I decided to go find Master Belief.
“Hmm? Coco?”
“You told me before that a trial is necessary when awakening a supernatural ability to a higher stage.”
“Yes, I did. Because every trial is accompanied by growth.”
“What is the next stage I have to go through?”
“The 4th stage. It is commonly known as the stage of <Essence>.”
The stage of <Essence>.
I didn't know what awaited me once I reached that stage.
But at the very least, I would be able to become much stronger than I am now.
Then, even if my sister were in danger, I could save her more easily.
“Our Coco is quite strong, isn't she?”
“Woof! Woof!”
“My goodness... Our Coco is so cool!”
Then, I will become someone more necessary to my sister than anyone else.
Not as a puppy, but as a human.
‘Come to think of it, I've been far too lazy until now.’
Any number of those wicked puppies could try to steal a spot by my sister's side.
Just then, Belief whispered as if he could see right through my heart.
“But Coco. Do not overdo it.”
“.......”
“As I always tell you, your supernatural ability is based on life force.”
“If you spend all night practicing your ability just to find a way to control it or to improve... your life force will be depleted by that much.”
“.......”
“Look at you today. Why are you breaking out in such a cold sweat?”
I shook my head side to side.
“I don't hurt one bit. Then Master, I'll be going now!”
* * *
I looked around and shut my bedroom door tight. I strictly told the maid sisters not to come in.
Then, I closed the door and dove into intense practice.
The 5th stage of the light ability.
They said that if one awakens to the final stage, they can even bring the dead back to life.
‘I have to find a way to manifest the light ability.’
I rubbed my chin, lost in deep thought.
“He said what I lack is the ability to set a target and fire the light.”
Whenever I used my ability, it would go well at first, but there was a chronic problem where the light would suddenly scatter across the entire void.
In other words, I lacked ‘aim.’
If so, wouldn't I grow another stage if I found a way to aim the light accurately at a specific position?
Thinking deeply, I tried firing light at the ceiling of the room.
Since the light I emit is merely healing power, it wouldn't affect the ceiling, which is an inanimate object.
Thinking of it as marking a dot on the ceiling.
Once.
Twice more...
Three times, four times.
As I repeated firing the light meaninglessly like that.
Before I knew it, cold sweat was dripping down my forehead.
Exhausted beyond measure, I flopped down onto the floor.
And in that moment, my eyes suddenly widened.
Why didn't it feel like a 'flop,' but rather like I just 'clicked' right down into the floor?
‘I feel like... my body got a little smaller?’
But I couldn't even check. Because I truly didn't have the strength to even twitch a finger!
I barely managed to turn my head and then froze.
‘...Gasp, what is this. It's fur...?’
But when I blinked, the snow-white puppy fur had disappeared.
“I'm seeing hallucinations now...”
I let out a deep sigh.
“I guess I wanted to be a puppy too much...”
* * *
After taking a short break. Feeling a bit gloomy, I soon opened the window.
It was right then.
Perhaps I looked too depressed earlier?
Thunder and the Emperor of Mouse gathered before me again.
“Oh, Coco!”
“Did you curse that arrogant puppy and kick him out?”
“What's the word? Did that little brat say he's looking for another owner?”
I looked at them blankly and spoke bravely.
“...It's not like that.”
“Eh, then what is it?”
“I'm tired, so I'm going to sleep. Everyone, go to sleep.”
“Hey, wait—”
“Emperor of Mouse, come here.”
“Hey, Thunder! Don't bite me! You brat! My neck's gonna snap!”
“I said come here.”
I laughed, "Hahaha," at their conversation and waved my hand toward them.
“But you guys are really like idiots. Ahaha!”
“What do you mean we're idiots!”
“Idiots! Bye-bye!”
I laughed as I watched the mouse and Thunder move away.
After they completely disappeared, a quiet silence fell around me.
‘I'm really fine.’
Maybe Thunder and the mouse thought I was upset.
But, truly.
I was really okay.
“It's a good thing if my sister becomes happy because of that puppy.”
Because I'm not a puppy anymore.
As I was looking in the mirror, trying hard to rationalize it.
‘Somehow, I look plain.’
The face I had liked when I first got this body, I didn't like at all now.
I hated the puffy cheeks like steamed buns, and I hated that there was no white fur.
The round purple eyes weren't black, so I hated them now too.
But...
‘But my sister might find this face cute too.’
I decided to go to my sister's mansion again.
Because she might have returned to the mansion after finishing her hunting competition practice.
And because she might say to send that puppy back.
However...
I felt like I would never be able to forget the sight I saw that day for the rest of my life.
Near my grave.
A snow-white puppy was digging and rummaging through the ground as if it were his own playground.
A cute baby puppy, without a collar, playing brightly with the maids.
My head spun, and I just stood there still, watching the scene.
‘That's my spot.’
My sister said so.
She said this field belonged to Coco.
“Since it's our Coco's, you get out.”
That's why she told me, even after I became human, not to come.
I was upset then, but I liked it.
Because it felt like my sister hadn't forgotten me.
But...
I silently watched the puppy, small as a palm, running around wildly.
“Our Coco's paw prints will wear away.”
...In the spot of the field where my sister had said those words, that puppy's paws were being stamped all over.
Round, jelly-like paws were thumping down.
That wasn't all.
The puppy was moving wildly, rummaging through the area around my grave.
Was he trying to hide a bone in front of the grave?
Because of that, the small holes I had worked so hard to dig long ago were being filled in, pat pat.
My grave.
My field.
All my territories...
It felt as though they were being filled by that young puppy with a good pedigree.
I lowered my head deeply.
All I could see were the pretty shoes I was wearing.
Round, human feet.
Feet that could run for my sister, feet that could move for my sister.
Until now, I was so happy to have become human. Because there were so many more things I could do for my sister.
But.
Now, I've grown to hate the fact that I am human.
‘Because I've become human, is my place disappearing?’
Sister, don't you remember now?
No matter how far away I am.
That you promised to make sure my place was kept.
“Coco, our Coco. Can you not hear well now?”
“Muuung...”
“Then Sister will just speak louder. Our Coco should be bravely marking territory here and there, but what to do since you can't walk.”
“.......”
“Sister will do it all for you. This house, the fields here, all of it is Coco's. Sister promises. When our Coco wakes up healthy, Sister will definitely show you everything...”
Even though she said that.
“Even though you said it's Coco's, Coco's house, Coco's grave...”
Before I knew it, tears welled up in both my eyes.
I hope my sister isn't sad that I died.
I hope my sister is incredibly happy while hanging out with many people.
Even so...
“That guy is taking all of Coco's spot...”
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