16 – Dog Call
“Flyingdust Dog!”
Marcus was greatly startled and his lance trembled.
But the next moment, he suddenly discovered that his lance had left a small b.l.o.o.d.y hole on the Flyingdust Dog. The Flyingdust Dog"s momentum was also blocked by the strike and it heavily dropped to the ground.
Once the Flyingdust Dog reached the ground, it turned around to conceal itself.
However, Marcus did not give it any chances. He cast away the lance not suited in melee battle, drew the one-handed sword from the back of his horse, and slashed at the Flyingdust Dog.
The Earth Knight"s strength was amazing and he had also trained systematically with the one-handed sword.
Suddenly, the Flyingdust Dog, who"s figure was larger than that of the Windblade Wolf, yelped from being slashed at. It retaliated chaotically, without any rhyme nor reason. Besides, from start to finish, the Flyingdust Dog had not released any magic, only fighting at close quarters with Marcus.
“How come Thorns Ridge"s most formidable magic beast, the Flyingdust Dog, is no different from a common beast and is so weak?” A myriad of doubts pa.s.sed through his mind.
However, the sword in his hand did not stop. A short while later, the Flyingdust Dog was seriously wounded and slumped to the ground, bleeding all over.
The only thing left was it drawing its last breath.
Marcus did not dare relax. He picked up the lance on the ground, pointed at the Flyingdust Dog"s throat, and struck out.
Sqwelp!
“Uh uh…”
The Flyingdust Dog"s eyes dimmed as it took its last breath.
Marcus took out the rope he was carrying, tied rope on the Flyingdust Dog"s tail in a practiced manner, mounted his horse, then turned back and followed the path he had come from. He did not dare to continue staying in the Thorns Ridge, in particular with the body of the Flyingdust Dog reeking of blood, capable of drawing in beasts and even magic beasts.
According to the laws of the aristocracy, all the yield inside a territory belonged to the lord.
Therefore, even though Marcus was the one to kill this Flyingdust Dog, it was still Liszt"s property. While sprinting, he quickly returned to the two-story-tall castle.
“Teacher Marcus.” Karl Eisenhammer was on duty. The retainer knights were required to guard the castle.
“Quickly, notify the sir baron, I have killed a magic beast!”
“What? A magic beast!”
In no time, the entire castle was alerted. Whether retainer knights, or servingmen, maids, butler, housekeeper, and cook, everyone followed Liszt to look at the magic beast. Magic beasts were not uncommon, with the Tulip Castle raising their own magic beasts. But in this insignificant place, they were still a rarity.
Not to mention that magic beasts were valuable, with every part being a treasure!
“Teacher Marcus, is this the king of Thorns Ridge, a very formidable low-ranked magic beast – the Flyingdust Dog?” Liszt"s eyes flickered as he contemplated.
“It is indeed a Flyingdust Dog. Normally, even if there were two of me, I still might not be capable of defeating a Flyingdust Dog. With it releasing its impossible to guard against earth-attributed magic – Rock Thorns – one can only escape upon meeting one. But the one I had killed had only attacked alike a common beast, not even once releasing its magic.”
“It had not released its magic, what do you think might be the reason?”
Marcus had evidently pondered over this issue as he observed the magic beast: “I think that when I came across the Flyingdust Dog mother, it might have just given birth.” Look at its abdomen, shriveled and loose, those are postpartum characteristic, still at the breastfeeding period. Also, I have discovered quite a few bite marks on its body.”
“Breastfeeding period? Bite marks?”
"Here, here, and here, those are bite mars. Sir baron, remember the Windblade Wolf we had previously come across? The bite marks had already started healing and are not too distinct, but I think that they were made by a Windblade Wolf.”
“That is to say…” Liszt conjectured, “The Flyingdust Dog was attacked by a Windblade Wolf while pregnant, it may have won and given birth to its offspring, but it had drained its stamina and magic power during the fight, and as a result, it had no choice but use its beastly instinct to hunt, before coming across Teacher Marcus.”
“Quite likely.”
Liszt suppressed his excitement and said calmly: “Since this is the case, then, Teacher Marcus, compared to the worth of the Flyingdust Dog"s body, the real treasure is its cub. Can you still fight? Do you want to enter the Thorns Ridge together with me and search for the Flyingdust Dog"s cub?”
“I am always ready to fight.” Marcus stuck out his chest, before immediately adding, “However, the Thorns Ridge is very dangerous. I can go look for it alone.”
“Let us go together, I am also an Earth Knight.”
“Sir baron…”
“Do not forget, aristocrats also have to fight. Think of this as an actual combat knight lesson.” Liszt said righteously.
In fact, what he was thinking about was the mission reward, how could he not be willing to go?
Moreover, the weak Flyingdust Dog being capable of surviving until it had attacked Marcus indicated that there were no magic beast capable of threatening it; or else, would have already become feces.
No one could deter Liszt once he made his decision.
Marcus. .h.i.t his chest with one hand, respectfully putting to use the knight etiquette and conveying his respect for Liszt"s courage.
The butler old Carter bowed: “My lord, your courage is splendid! You shall be glorious!”
“It is only natural.”
Liszt changed into his magic beast leather armor, mounted his horse, and then said extremely valiantly: “Set out!”
……
Two Earth Knights, followed by four retainer knights, sprinted along. Before long, they had entered the boundary of the Thorns Ridge. With Marcus leading the way, they reached the place where he had first detected the Flyingdust Dog"s aura
“Sir baron, it was here that I have detected the aura. Shortly after, the Flyingdust Dog followed me for 0,5 li (italico), before attacking me.”
“Then, its lair should be nearby. Let us start the search.”
The hill was sinuous, going up and down, the woods were in disorder, without any rhyme nor reason.
A procession of six people searched for half an hour without finding the Flyingdust Dog"s lair, feeling a bit impatient and disappointed.
“Sir, perhaps the Flyingdust Dog had just randomly pa.s.sed through, its lair might be some place else, or it might not even have had a lair.” Said Karl.
Liszt insisted: “I believe its lair is somewhere around.”
He was convinced that the reward granted by the smoke mission existed.
After thinking it over, he asked, “Who of you knows the Flyingdust Dog call?”
“Flyingdust dogs are also dogs, their call no different from that of common dogs.” Marcus answered.
“Then, Karl, Röhm, Gray, Oden, the four of you do a dog call. If there are any Flyingdust Dog cubs out here, then they will certainly respond. They are bound to take your dog calls for their mother"s call.”
“Good idea.” Marcus agreed.
At once, he also joined the four retainer knights in a variety of dog calls as they proceeded in searching the vicinity.
A quarter hour later.
Marcus suddenly raised his hand: “Silence!”
When the other stopped making noise, he whispered: “Sir baron, can you hear that?”
Liszt listened intently. A few seconds later, he heard a very faint whimper behind the call of an unknown bird.
“Over there.”
“Yes, it is over there.” Marcus hinted to Karl, “Your dog call is the most genuine-sounding, call them.”
Karl did just that.
He called out. In response, came a whimper from not too far away. Following the call, Liszt and the others had finally found the Flyingdust Dog"s lair inside the shrubs.
After brushing aside the gra.s.s at the entrance of a cave and then exploring its interior, Marcus picked up a very small puppy, its eyes not yet opened.
He carefully handed Liszt the puppy: “Sir baron, this is a puppy of the Flyingdust Dog, a priceless treasure! It has yet to open its eyes, but once it does, it will recognize its master!” Not all magic beasts would recognize a master, but dog-type magic beasts did exhibit such a behavior.
The first thing they ever see would be what they approve of.
Most of the time, what they would see was their mother. Perhaps, them recognizing a master was in fact them recognizing their mother
The puppy shivered in Liszt"s bosom and from time to time, it would also whimper. It seemed to be extremely scared, probably because it smelt Liszt"s unfamiliar scent, which was different from the one it smelt when it was being fed breast milk.
“Persevere, you will be drinking breast milk soon enough.” Liszt caressed the puppy"s s.h.a.ggy fur, then mounted his horse, “Return!”