Chapter 7

The dog-kin’s ranking ――――。

It appears to have a long history。

In ancient times。At the Dog-kin’s settlement、the men decided the strongest Dog-kin by fighting、and furthermore by creating a hierarchy under him they were keeping order。After all they were a intense vertical society。Rather if they didn’t make it clear where exactly is their standing in the society they would be so anxious they couldn’t help it。

Later when at the old continent a nation that revers pure-human-supremacy、started an oppression of the races that could turn their forms into animals、the Dog-kin also resisted。

Not because they were discriminated。

It was because the royalty of each nation were not an owner worthy of following。

Well then what is their basis for following。

If asked this、in my native country depending on the person a different answer comes back。

The distribution of wealth is skillful。Has power。Is captivating。Will acknowledge me――――。

But what about in the case of the dog-kin。

Previously、I asked my first guardian、the beauty prime-minister。

「That is when you feel you want to be with them、isn’t it」is the answer he offered me with a smile as if huge flowers were blooming。

Since it was too abstract I didn’t understand it well、so when I confirmed it with step-brother、

「Isn’t it about looking at and wanting to care for them？」

an even more troubling answer was returned。

The lying grove of understanding1 between humans and Dog-kin、is still very deep and full of things that I don’t understand。

WAN WAN、GYAN GYAN, BAU BAU。

Right now、at the Dog-Run-Court、the doggies are having a fight jumbled together。

The attacks towards Darius-sama especially are intense、but without changing the color on his face and with just a tackle with his front feet、he scattered the dogs picking a fight with him。

『It’s unfair Sir Wolfhound！　We are also desiring to be brushed、and wanted to be scolded！』

『Be silent Rottweiler』

『What is that choker！　……I will go on a rampage！　Rampage and will break even the water fountain！』

『You are going too far。Go to sleep for a bit Boxer』

『I will leave footprints on Lizelotte-sama’s skirt！　She will definitely get angry！　Banzai2！』

『And even then can you still say you are from a lineage of watchdogs, Doberman』

The participants that initiated the ranking order dispute、relentlessly picked a fight with him。

Each time、there was only puppies being blown and on the other hand、

『I don’t want to be low-rank anymore。I will defeat the guys from the Mad Dogs Knight Order、and will be by Lizelotte-sama’s side！』

『I want to be patted！』

Such as those、there are also those who only just rampage。

Those notable people、are giving up from a single sentence from Barbarian-sama『don’t care、I will bite you to death』。

However the bitten personage that even if they gave up『Their spirits are not broken yet huh』、are being retrieved by the Rescue Division of the Central Knight Order。

By the way their official name is the 8th Division。

It’s composed with women at the core、and when an especially wounded men try to fight anyway、by giving him the finishing blow they efficiently retrieve him、and give him medical treatment at the Rescue facility。

It seems that there were never any deaths coming out with this method、but it’s so pitiful。

（Ah、the 、「Kyai~n」scream of the one bitten by the Rescue Division）

However、is this a civil war……。

At the very least、I understood that they are rampaging because they want me to care about them。

I can understand that these are the actions of a doggie that wasn’t cared for enough、 so stress piled up。

The scene that can be seen from the sun-room that is overlooking the Dog Run Court below it is exactly the image of a dog fight。

They are bashing their bodies against each other、and getting entangled、and aiming at the ears and legs、throat and stomach they are facing each other’s fangs。

But a single question ――――。

「Why is it、that everyone are fighting always definitely one on one。And that is also in dog form」

The fluffy dog I am embracing、Theresa-san answers me。

『That is the「men’s aesthetics」of the Dog-kin (nano desu)』

―——— Rewinding the story a little bit。

「Lizelotte-sama！？　Why are you here！」

「Theresa-san！　Are you alright！？」

Taken by Leonheart-sama、I was guided into the room overlooking the Dog Run Court。

In there was a balcony that was like a sunroom。

It was made from reinforced glass、and even if hit by a stone it would be fine apparently。Furthermore a speaker was installed、 so that the sound from outside can be heard well。

To think there was a place like this、in the vicinity of the invaded bedroom。

When I entered in a carried state the room that was protected by the female guards、several ladies were sitting on the balcony’s sofa。Out of them one is Theresa-san。

She was in dog form、and had bandages wrapped around her head and neck。

She was so pitiful、I immediately descended from Leonheart-sama’s arms and jumped straight at her。

「I heard that you got injured！」

『It’s okay。This much will heal in only a little while。……I am very sorry for causing you to worry。More importantly why is Lizelotte-sama in this kind of place……Golden Retriever-sama、what is this about』

「This is an important fix of rank。Mainly we must her watch over it」

「To make Lizelotte-sama watch such a scene！　She is still just a 10 years old！」when Theresa-san objected、a single lady stood up。

「There is no need for a woman to go along with a men’s fight。Those crazy men。It would be better they just decided everything with Janken3 already……」

The beautiful women with the silky long brown hair flowing down her back、that was perfectly wearing a dress with splendid embroidery with grace on her tall body、sits down next to me who was clinging to Theresa-san。

Grace・Collie4・Von・Pittbull-sama。

It appears that、she is a civil official of this country。

Furthermore she was Barbarian-sama’s wife。

She was from the Collie clan、and with Barbarian-sama it seems she already has a child born from the two of them。

She doesn’t like fighting。

More like、most of the noble ladies don’t like fighting、and their interest is pointed more towards『children』。

『Child raising』『Building a countryhome where children grow up』『AgricultureThe source of food・commercethe source of the source of food』5

And so on、with a goal of「making an easy for child raising environment」it appears that they are participating in various administrations of the country。

I have also heard that this country quickly revived、was also largely thanks to their support。

Theresa-san being requested to attend to the royal palace、and being made the head maid、was of course their intention。

Saying「No well、even if you tell me that……」、Leonheart-sama slightly backed off。

It appears that he is not very good at handling her。

While escaping as not to enter Grace-sama’s line of sight、he proceeded to leave a verbal message for me。

「Lizelotte-sama、right now the Central-Knight-Order led by Darius、are gathering the rampaging dogs at the Dog Run Court。I will make them settle this over there、so please go ahead and watch over it from the balcony。So he won’t become a hostage by mistake、I will leave Bad here。The ladies that are here are all、people who have high ability to protect Milady(you)。

As long as you won’t leave the room、you getting buried in a treasure hole by an over-excited dog won’t happen」

「……What exactly is a treasure hole？」

Taken aback、Leonheart-sama’s line of sigh swayed and「……We are dogs after all。If we treasure something too much then we will carelessly、well、that is、eeh」is beating around the bush。

Then、Grace-sama laughed a little、

and taught me that「It means that there are dog-kins that unintentionally bury the things they like」……Wait6。

Eh？

I am going to get buried！？

Grace-sama with a whitebait like hand、touches my cheek who was astonished and whispers「It’s gonna be alright」。

「If it’s for the sake of protecting children、then there is no man that can win against us。Please relax and remain here」

「Please leave it us」

「We are the allies of children」

「A man will last only one bite」

The ladies with the high-ranking Poodle、Setter7、and the Bernerd noble family names、are also one by one surround me、and started messing around with my hair and clothes。

「So lovely」「Do you want eat a snack？　I have a high-class borne sweets8」「I want to make you my dressing doll」I am being talked to in quick succession。

Ehm this is、am I being taken care of？

Or maybe in a certain meaning、does this counts as giving them my attention？

With a「Well then I am going to put an end to it」、Leonheart-sama left、sending fluttering looks at me who calmed down and is clinging to Theresa-san。

Quietly muttering「Even though if it’s in the quality of the fur I won’t lose」。

The truth is、he is also gonna participate in the hierarchy uproar。

The uproar became too big、so for now after making the core of the dogs who are running wild to calm down、he decided that might as well make it in the shape of a tournament、and to fight in the royal palace main men camp it seems。

The Dog-kin’s male society、is an ability-based society。

Even with the title of Prime-minister、if it isn’t an individual with power to some extent、no matter how much of a magnificent personality he has he won’t be acknowledged or so it seems。Men are very difficult beings aren’t they……。

「Is older- (onii)、no is Bad-san not going」

「Since I am still a newcomer and is powerless、I am intending to study more for the future。Focusing on after-war care、I want to continue being an assistant for the Prime-minister。（Are you stupid。I would die。I will continue to run away to ‘office work only’ from now as well）」

Step-brother quickly decided on a fixed position in the corner of the room、and seem to have chosen to erase his presence。

On the other hand、with Grace-sama in the center the ladies continued to mess around with me。

Theresa-san requested of me that『Everyone are in enthusiastic state、so please let yourself to be their partner』while having a bitter smile。

「We will have Lizelotte-sama to live in a more calm way、we want you to become even more soft and round from being healthier」

「Lizelotte-sama、there is cake too」

「For a girl a popular brand is fitting、but I think that that the loveliness of this lace suits suits Lizelotte-sama perfectly」

「Watching something like the men’s fight will only bore you。Why don’t we do some embroidery over here」

Being clamorously surrounded by women is fun、but the men’s dispute below doesn’t end at all。

Currently、in place of the men who disappeared for the sake of the hierarchy dispute、it seems the Dog-kin ladies are managing the country’s administration。It is something that happens a lot in the Dog-kin society or something。

（Coming back from the fight to find that the work has disappeared、is something that seems like it’s likely to happen）

Huh。Now that I think about it。

I noticed the absence of an crucial being。

「By the way、what happened to Dashiba？」

「……」

The female camp averted their eyes。

What is going on！？

While scooping my silver hair、Grace-sama gently says to me。

「Lizelotte-sama。How old is that mongrel？」

「Umm、He came around the time when I gained awareness of my surroundings、so he is already around seven years old maybe。If we go by Dog-kin-san then he is about 44 years old……right？」

Grace-sama smiles beautifully、

and coldly says「A mature dog in a good age can at least protect his own safety on his own。There is no need to look for him」。

Eh。What does she mean by this。

「That’s right、even thought he is an adult and he is also just a mongrel anyway」「Truly、he is just a mongrel anyway」「A useless mongrel should just perish」I can hear some dangerous words being spoken。

When I looked up at Theresa-san、she tells me with a bitter smile。

『It’s because we women、are also basically Dog-kins。There are many who find Dashiba-san who is a mature dog to be irritating』

「But、Dashiba is not a Dog kin。He is a normal dog you know？」

『……Because on this continent there isn’t a dog who can’t take the shape of a people at all。No matter what we end up looking at him overlapping with ourselves on top。It can’t be helped』

（Could it be that Dashiba is……being taken to that thing below！？）(ED: Thing below? Like a prison cell? He’s being seen as a degenerate? I’m leaning towards the latter at this point) (TL: No, I think she meant the battle taking place below them)

I who ended up imagining something terrible、sent a gaze towards step-brother、who was reading while standing a【The dog path】magazine in the corner of the room。

Step-brother raised his face。

And、with one hand sent back the gesture of『I will pray for his happiness in the next world』。

Step-brother！

While my anxiety rising even further、the garden outside has gotten even noisier。

Originally the Dog-Run-Court（park with running dogs）、was created by the Royal family in order to admire the appearance of the doggies playing around。

Back when there were a lot of royalties、people who admire cuteness、people who admire their gallant figure when fighting、and people who played games getting stronger together、it seems there were various ways of using it

And、because me who is the only royalty there is has arrived。

This place、is now completely wearing the ambiance of a colosseum。

The dogs that have gathered and are making a commotion in the space that is spreading far and wide。

Among them half are already wounded。

Dragging their leg behind、wrapping a bandage around themselves、blood hardening on their fur……。Sometimes、『That person is hiding and seriously injured。Lets deal him the finishing blow』like that、they are being retrieved by the medical care unit。

However、dreadful things like the loss of limbs that I imagined at first isn’t hapenning。

I could understand that they have their own rules。

At the wide space that can be overlooked from the Sunroom、two Dog-kins were facing one another in their dog forms。

The ranking order fix that has changed into tournament form is already at the semi-finals。Darius-sama has already passed judgement on Grey-sama and is advancing to the finals。

Grey-sama is feeling vexed、but he seems to be content with it。(Ed: Isn’t this a contradiction?) (TL: It means he is feeling frustrated from losing but is also a fair sport about it, also he recognizes the fact that Darius is stronger)

5th place and below were already decided、and with weird sparkling letters、on the bulleting/notice board that was placed on the water fountain、

5th place：Mars・Von・Maltese

6th place：Apollo・Von・Great Den

7th place：Leonheart・Von・Golden Retriever

8th place：Ryouma・Von・Tosa[^9]

9th place：Rascal・Von・Malmute

10th place：Maso・Von・Borzoi

……like that、were attentively put up until the 100th place。

As expected from the Captains of the Mad Dogs Knights Order。Their titles weren’t just for show。

The Vice-Captain of the First Division、and it’s actual Captain on site、 Ryouma・Von・Tosa is also winning。

Furthermore、Leonheart-sama is also casually winning！

He showed me his gallant figure、but I am surprised that he wasn’t only a strange beauty。

The great fighter Mars-sama、was wounded all over his body、but he had a bright smile on his face。

And saying『With this I won’t let any hindrance get in the way of my Guarding dog duty！』、he is sticking out his chest with pride。

It seems that until now、he was hindered from doing his job out of jealousy by many nobles。

However、Maso・Von・Borzoi-sama……。

If I am not mistaken、he is being the Captain of the 6th Division。

That name、was about to make me dig up memories that were supposed to be forgotten、so I got the chills。

He is sitting below a tree with a slender figure and having a truly refined ambiance、but he is sending his glances at me across the glass and is muttering『Foot Matt……』。

I will try not look at him anymore。

The ones who are currently fighting are、Growley/Glory・Von・Rottweiler-sama and Barbarian-sama。

Both of them are an owner of a powerful set of jaws。

『Brat。Don’t get full of yourself just because you are young and came of age。Haven’t disregarded us from the Rottweilers and have gotten close to the Queen』

『If you want to be given attention then just go。You are just a loser dog that lost to the guards and was dispersed anyways、so don’t bark like you are so great』

『What was that！？　In the end the Pittbulls are just a mishmash mix。Don’t think you can win against us with our lineage！』

『There is no meaning to ancient history。What matters is who is the stronger one』

『You bastard…… We will defeat you and that brat Darius、and will gain the strongest seat！　And then will get spoiled by the Queen！』

『You idiot。If you want to get spoiled by the Queen just make a sudden visit。Patiently waiting to get called is the peak of foolishness！』

（No、please don’t give me a sudden visit）

The two clash、with my retort not making it on time。

However、the match took only a moment。

With a footwork that doesn’t fit his heavy looking masculine physique、 Barbarian-sama easily dodged Growley-sama、and simply took a mounting position。

He dove below and instantly took down Growley-sama’s pivot leg、exposing his neck。

Growley-sama、seems to not understand what exactly has happened。

Barbarian-sama’s victory announcement rings、and Growley-sama is barking、towards the leisurely returning dangerous man。But that is exactly the cries of a losing dog。The winner is completely ignoring him。

Returning to human form（he is a nice-middleish hand-to-hand fighter）、Growsley-sama shouted「Don’t mess with me、I want a rematch！」。It looks like he is in a stubborn state。

And barbarian-sama is still ignoring him。

However、then。

The stubborn Growley-sama took an unexpected action。

Seeing me who was overlooking from above the panicked Growley-sama gave someone from his clan an order「Now that it come to this there is no other choice but to use “that”」。

The one being brought out was ――――！

「Dashiba！？」

I stood up、and clanged to the window。

Under the glass window、my Shiba dog is being held hanging from his back-skin、by a Dog-kin that is taking human form！

His limbs are hanging in the air powerlessly。This is a really unacceptable method of holding！

With his entrance、 the dog-kin-sans who had their own rank already generally settled and started to calm down raised their killing-intent [^10] all at once。

With「Even though he is just a mongrel、it seems that he was receiving brushing from the Queen、and was living with her in the same room」、「It seems that he didn’t participate in this ranking order dispute、and was idly playing with a ball」。

He is rolling his tale between his legs with a「kyuu~n」、but that face is definitely the one he has when he doesn’t understand what exactly is going on。

Growley-sama shouts。

「Lizelotte-sama！　I could not become the strongest！

I wanted to become the strongest、and to serve mylady(you)！　So mortifying！

……But、that is the law of the Dog-kin。I shall swallow my tears here……however！」

Growley-sama’s gaze filled with Killing-Intent 、lands on Dashiba。

He who was easily scared、has leaked piss with a「kyan！」。

To that appearance、 Growley-sama broke out another blood vessel。(TL: Imagine those red and blue crosses anime characters tend to have on their heads when pissed in a gag/comedy scene)

「This guy did nothing！　Didn’t do anything！　If anything he is worthless just by existing！　No、just looking at him is irritating！　At least let me fight with this guy、and make him realize the reality that he is even lower then me！」

What a thing to happen。

If we do something like that、the mega-weak Dashiba will become a bloodbath in an instant！

I panicked。

「Wait、make him stop please！」

「Queen」

Grace-sama stops me。

「The mongrel is still as I thought、someone who is irritating just by looking at him。He is very different from the Dog-kin ideals。Isn’t it better to make them have one battle here、and have the mongrel be defeated once？」

「This seems like it’s definitely not gonna end with just being defeated isn’t it！」

This has become something outrageous。

Dashiba、is in a pinch。