The Emperor's Dog Chapter 2

Translator: s.h.i.+ko

Proofreader: asuramaru

Chapter 2

“f.u.c.k.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes. When I tried rubbing them, fluffy paws were lifted instead of hands. Slowly, I raised my paws and let out a dejected sigh. 

I see. I’m a dog. 

I was reborn as a dog.

As a dog.

A dog…

After realizing the situation I was in, numerous questions arose. How can a dog speak? How can a dog speak this language? No… how does a dog even speak in the first place? 

I’m confused. I don’t know what’s going on. It was when I was in shock that lost control of my tongue–

“Did the dog just say ‘f.u.c.k’?”

I lifted my head… and then I saw them. Two very handsome men. Oops, I automatically opened my mouth.

“If not, I must be going insane, Sir Abel.”

“Then I must be too, Your Majesty.”

Two beautiful men were talking to each other whilst watching me. I was sure of it. The man on the left was the emperor who held great power in the conversation I’d heard before. Right next to him was Sir Abel, the knight who’d helped him rebel.

They’re people. People. They’re human, so why am I a dog?

I was unknowingly fascinated by the Emperor’s beautiful appearance. He possessed black hair as dark as the night sky and red eyes which looked at me affectionately. 

The emperor smiled.

“Yes, I’m sure you heard wrong. You’ve been busy managing politics lately. You should take a break.”

“You’re right.”

“I wish the mother was alive. It’s a pity to die leaving behind a child. I’ll tell Mav to pay special attention to the little one.”

With a cold expression, the emperor turned around. A feeling of shock enveloped me. They were the first people I’d seen since I’d woken up. Suddenly, I felt a great sense of despair.

(T/N: monok.u.ma??)

(PR/N: but I already beat you in the first game wyd)

Are you leaving? Don’t go… Stop, don’t go… Don’t leave me behind!

“Don’t go!”

The emperor stopped in his place. Then, with a slight frown, he turned his head. His eyes wandered down. Soon, I meet the emperor’s gaze.

“I-I am the guardian dog of the imperial family! My body will become that of a great dog who will protect the Empire in the future!”

f.u.c.k, someone shut my mouth.

He seemed to be interested. I was a little intimidated, to be honest, but I still lifted my head up proudly. Even though I was reborn as a dog! Will I be intimidated? No!

…Cough.

me, opened his mouth and laughed.

“What do you think the puppy is trying to say?”

“Kill it.”

What?! That b.a.s.t.a.r.d! 

I glared at the man named Abel. He talked as if it wasn’t his business. Do you know the sorrow of becoming a dog all of a sudden? Exactly, you don’t know! You don’t know! I don’t believe that it’s true either! Huh?!

Abel looked down at me with a cold stare. It was so cold that it almost felt like winter. 

“A talking dog… that’s unlucky. We should go ahead and get rid of it.” 

“If that’s your opinion…”

Th-These people are really trying to kill me! 

I was on the verge of dying soon after I was born. Even if I’m a dog and not human… I don’t want to die. Ugh, I want to live a long life and possibly even become immortal! 

I needed a tactic to solve this situation. For a short moment, I thought really hard. Brain… please work!

“If you kill me, you’ll be in big trouble!”

“What kind of trouble?”

“I-If I die, I will put a curse on this empire! That’s right, I’m going to put a curse on this empire!” 

I had no idea what I was rambling on about. To say such a thing… what is wrong with me?

The emperor and Abel looked down at me in unison. I saw it. As they looked down from a high above, I suddenly felt scared. Since a dog’s eyes were so small and low, it was natural for humans to look so big. 

I took a step back. Only then did I realize that I was standing on all fours. My legs quivered as it was hard to stand.

I asked in a trembling voice.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“Hmm, what should I do…”

The emperor smiled a bit and touched his chin. My life was at stake for every word he mutters, but his face was too handsome. I forgot about my circ.u.mstances and admired his face. But then I realized the severity of the trouble I was in and began to cry.

“Don’t kill me. I was just born…”

I dropped my head in misery. I couldn’t open my eyes or stand still. Still, I diligently listened to the conversation around me. 

Even though he was handsome, the emperor before me is a tyrant. A tyrant who brutally murdered his father and brothers to ascend to the throne! 

This was my life as a talking dog (though I don’t want to admit it) and it was as good as it could get. It’s not been long since my birth and I’m already on the verge of death? It seems like the second round of my life has failed.

“Sir Abel, are there any reported cases of talking dogs?”

“Will there ever be?”

When asked by the emperor, Abel replied coldly. Everytime that b.a.s.t.a.r.d spoke, my life was on the line. I needed him to shut up for me to be able to survive. But how do I get him to shut up?

It was then. The emperor took a step towards me. Squinting his eyes, he began to look at me carefully. I backed up. Feeling the floor with four legs felt strange.

“It’s just a waste of time to kill it.”

“R-Right? Don’t you think so too?”

I blinked my eyes and put on the cutest expression I could manage. I was  just a puppy, but that didn’t matter. Survival first! It’s most important.

But Abel wasn’t such a pushover.

“Your Majesty, that dog’s eyes are impure.”

“What impurity?! You’re more impure!”

I exclaimed in my rage. If I was a big dog, I’d have bitten you already, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d! It hasn’t been long since I was born, okay? Recognize that fact! Do you understand? Huuuu…

“Sir Abel.”

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“A talking dog… isn’t it amazing? I think we should watch it for a while.”

The ‘Tyrant Emperor’ was very benevolent. Someone said he was a tyrant, but his supposed cruelty was nowhere to be found. He must be a great emperor, being so handsome and benevolent.

My eyes sparkled even more when I glimpsed hope of survival. Abel, who was staring at me with a disapproving look, sighed deeply. 

“If that is what Your Majesty wants.”

“I lived…”

I tried to lift my foot to put on my chest and let out a sigh of relief… but of course I failed at doing so. It stopped at lifting my foot. For now, I decided to be satisfied with the fact that I didn’t die.

“Then, what should I do with the dog?”

“Do as you please.”

“Sir Abel, are you mad?”

“Do you think I’m mad at you because of what happened?”

“Yes.”

The emperor nodded firmly. Abel’s face crumbled all at once.

“Even if I were to oppose it, you’d do as you pleased, wouldn’t you?” [Abel]

“Is that right?” [Abel]

“It is.” [Emperor]

I stood still as I watched their quarrel. I didn’t care about the topic of their conversation, fight or not. So, what should I do now? I was more curious about that.

“It’d be best to stay near me, too.”

“Ack?”

I cried out in horror. You’re just going to leave me here! No, please, that’s just..!

I could instinctively tell the outcome. The most powerful man here was the emperor. Therefore, sticking to the emperor increases my chances of survival. Plus, I’d have a luxurious life.

Alright, from now on, my goal is to stick to the emperor. He’s the only person I need.

“Take me with you!”

Their eyes landed on me.

“Please raise me. I’ll pay you back if you raise me, Your Majesty!”

I quickly changed my posture, rubbing my fur against the emperor’s feet. Abel looked at me as if I was dumb, whilst the emperor wore a strange expression.

Am I not cute? Am I going to die because you don’t want to raise me? Actually, I didn’t know what I looked like since I hadn’t seen myself in a mirror yet… but I had confidence in my looks.

Every newborn is cute, so I must also be cute!

“What an amazing thing to experience. How wonderful– 

–Is what I want to say.”

The emperor admired me whilst Abel laughed dejectedly. I ignored Abel and continued acting cute, looking at the emperor only. Soon, the emperor nodded with a slight smile. 

“Alright, I’ll take you in.”

“A great decision, Your Majesty. You’ll never regret it!”

It seemed like Abel was staring at me intensely, but I didn’t care at all. I realized the emperor’s judgement was much more important than Abel’s.

Then, the emperor lifted me up. My vision, which was normally limited to a low height, started getting higher and higher. The distance from the floor to the emperor’s chest made me dizzy. Suddenly, a sense of shame filled my mind.

“…I shouldn’t be held like this by a person.” [Hari]

“I’m a dog, not a human…”

“…” [Hari]

I became overly-conscious once again. That’s right, I’m a dog. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been born, not as a human, but as a dog… 

The emperor patted my head. The feeling of being stroked by a warm and large hand felt comforting. Is this the process of being tamed? 

“What would be a good name? Doggy?”

“Eek!”

I shook my head in a panic. Doggy. It was a genderless and basic name. I didn’t want to be named ‘Doggy’. ‘What’s your name? Oh, my name’s Doggy.’

That situation could happen. I opened my mouth in a hurry.

“Hari! My name is Hari.”

Abel, who was standing still, gave another empty smile. 

“A dog naming itself. Amazing.”

“Don’t say my name, I didn’t allow you to say it.”

“Your Majesty, please let me kill that dog…”

I rubbed my head against the emperor’s chest, staring at Abel who looked like he wanted to kill me. I was desperate to live a long life.

“Hari. That’s an unusual name.”

Once the emperor called out my name, I ceased being a nameless puppy. I approached him at his call, and became ‘Hari’.

Ju Hari. This is my life. No, my second life.

I was born as a dog in my second life.