~Chapter 19~

“Clothes?”

“Yes! The ones you brought are too old and worn to wear. I did buy some ready-made clothes just in case, but Master said it’d be best to have ones that fit you perfectly, so he told me to order some!”

Sophia leaned in toward me and began rattling off her words at lightning speed.

“What kind of style do you like? Something with a voluminous skirt? Or something that falls more calmly and neatly?”

“…”

“If you tell me your preferences, I’ll pick something for you!”

Honestly, I didn’t care either way.

To be more precise, I wasn’t even sure what the difference between the two was.

After thinking for a moment, I cautiously gave my answer.

“Well… I’m not really sure what I like. I’ve never worn clothes like that before. I was always busy completing requests. Most of the time, I just wore combat gear or comfortable pants.”

“That’s unthinkable!”

“Huh?”

Sophia slammed the table with a loud noise and shot to her feet, clearly agitated.

“There are so many beautiful dresses that would suit you perfectly, Lady Luna! Of course, you also look great in combat gear and casual pants, but still…”

“Sophia?”

Muttering to herself for a while, Sophia turned to me with her fists clenched and declared:

“This won’t do. I’ll head out for now. I swear I’ll find the perfect outfit for you by tonight!”

“What?”

“Just watch! I’ll find a boutique with designs so stunning that anyone who sees them will gasp in awe!”

With that declaration, Sophia bowed a full ninety degrees and quickly rushed out of the room.

After that whirlwind passed, only Chris and I were left in the room.

“That girl… I’ve been watching her, and she really adores you. To pour that much passion into someone else’s affairs…”

“She’s just a kind person.”

As I answered, listening to Sophia’s footsteps fading away, Chris awkwardly approached the sofa.

“Anyway, I wonder when we’ll hear back. Will it be today?”

He repeated the same words he’d said earlier. He was clearly anxious and hopeful.

“It’ll come soon.”

“What if she forgot about me and is living happily at my friend’s place?”

Though he sounded bitter, his eyes betrayed the hope that she really was doing just that.

I suddenly became curious. What kind of dog was Eve, for Chris to love her so much?

“By the way, how did you meet Eve? And what about your other family?”

“My whole family was killed by evil spirits. I was the only one who survived. But surviving… it felt like hell. After that, I stopped working, spent every day drunk. Then I met her—on Christmas Eve. Like a gift.”

Chris smiled faintly.

Yes. That day.

When life had lost all meaning and the world felt like hell, Eve appeared like a miracle gift.

(Flashback)

“You damn mutt! Why are you wandering around?!”

“Whimper!”

A dog’s cry rang out from somewhere nearby.

It was an ugly noise that didn’t suit the happy Christmas Eve, a day meant for love and well-wishes.

Perhaps that’s why—although some passersby frowned—no one stepped in.

“I said get lost!”

The kicks grew more violent.

Chris staggered to his feet at the sound.

People nearby scowled and backed away from him.

“Ugh, he reeks of booze.”

“Don’t make eye contact. Homeless people have been attacking pedestrians lately.”

To them, the dog and Chris were both unwelcome intruders.

Then Chris turned his head—and saw the dog cowering on the ground.

Clicking his tongue, he walked toward the man kicking it.

“Hey, don’t you think that’s enough?”

“What the hell?”

The man was a knight.

Having worked in a knight order before, Chris recognized the badge on the man’s chest.

“What would the White Horse Order’s captain say if he saw you?”

“W-What did you say?!”

“Let’s not cause a scene. Why don’t you just leave? It’s better for both of us.”

“….”

“I’ve got nothing to lose, so I’m not scared. But I doubt the same goes for you.”

The knight glanced between the dog and Chris, gritted his teeth, then shoved past Chris and stormed out of the alley.

“Che. Consider yourself lucky!”

Now only Chris and the dog remained.

“Whine…”

The dog looked up at Chris with trembling eyes.

Eyes as clear as a blue sky.

Eyes that seemed to beg, please don’t look away, please save me.

—Dad, help me!

Chris recalled the tiny hand he lost while fleeing from evil spirits.

The child dragged away by the monsters.

The crumbling house.

“Damn it.”

Chris picked up the bloodied dog and staggered home.

People pointed and whispered like they’d seen something disgusting.

The dog Chris had brought home was in terrible shape.

—I treated her, but it’s bad. She might not make it through the night. Honestly, it’s unlikely she’ll survive at all.

The doctor from next door sighed and left.

Chris just stared silently at the dog, who was barely breathing.

“Whimper…”

She looked like she couldn’t even move anymore.

The doctor wasn’t wrong.

Anyone could tell by her ragged breathing that she was on death’s door.

And yet—

“Wouldn’t it be unfair if you just died like this?”

“…”

“The guy who did this to you is probably sleeping peacefully right now. Isn’t it unfair that you’re the only one suffering?”

“…”

“So fight with everything you’ve got. At least you have someone to get revenge on. If you live, I’ll help you.”

Of course, there was no reply.

The dog just trembled, unable to speak.

Chris knew she couldn’t understand.

And yet, he kept talking anyway.

“What the hell am I doing?”

Shaking off the heaviness in his chest, Chris collapsed into bed.

He shoved sleeping pills into his mouth, hoping—like always—that he wouldn’t wake up the next morning.

“Woof! Woof!”

Chris grimaced at the noise.

What the heck…?

Before he could process the situation, a big paw landed on his bed.

“What… You… How?!”

“Woof! Woof!”

The same dog, who seemed to be dying just yesterday, now wagged her tail and looked at him like nothing happened.

“…Ha.”

Chris let out a dry laugh and slowly got out of bed.

The dog just wagged her tail patiently.

“…Did you actually listen to me?”

“Woof! Woof!”

Her bark seemed to say yes, and Chris was too stunned to react.

The miracle of a dog coming back from death—those clear blue eyes now only saw him.

“You really want revenge?”

Grrr…

She growled and stomped her paw, like she was frustrated he even had to ask.

Chris felt like he could actually understand her.

“Ha.”

Letting out another laugh, Chris went to his closet and pulled out clothes he hadn’t worn in ages.

“Whine?”

The dog tilted her head and circled around him excitedly.

“Stop running around. I’ll go get you something to eat.”

After changing, Chris left the house.

He headed straight to Elga’s home—the neighbor who had agreed to take care of Eve.

“Ugh, my head…”

“John, did you drink again last night? What if you did something while drunk?!”

“Shut up. Go away if you’re just going to nag.”

John rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh.

Last night?

He didn’t remember anything.

But then again, that wasn’t unusual.

Sure, he’d drunk with his colleagues, but he came straight home afterward…

“Hey, John!”

“What now?”

As John scowled and lifted his head, he saw his friend’s pale face.

“The captain’s calling for you. Hurry!”

The White Horse Order’s captain—strict, self-disciplined.

He’d always told John to control himself, especially because of his drunken misbehavior.

Not that John ever listened.

“Damn it.”

What now? Another lecture?

Grumbling, John stumbled toward his fate, still nursing his hangover.