The Emperor's Dog Chapter 3

Translator: s.h.i.+ko
Proofreader: asuramaru

The emperor's arms proved to be a comfortable ride. Although I'd never been out in one, it was comparable to the Lamborghini that had ended my life.

After my brush with death, I ended up exploring the area I'd been born in.

Back when I couldn't open my eyes and overheard the conversation between the Duke and the Emperor, I thought I was a n.o.ble. The place where I was born was covered in a soft yoglike mat inside a squalid building next to the stables.

However, there was an old fireplace and two rocking chairs placed in front of it. It was like a place for hors.e.m.e.n to rest.

"I'm a dog…"

I closed my eyes in shock. It really wasn't a dream. The reasoning that had run away never returned.[1]

The emperor held me in his arms and left the room. Abel followed; he looked at me with wary and dissatisfied eyes.

"Your Majesty, do you really intend to let that dog live? I can't stop worrying every time I think about it. Please kill it."

What? You want to kill me again? You son of a b.i.t.c.h. I glared at Abel but soon became glum.

Oh… I was the b.i.t.c.h. [2]

"Abel, we've already been through this. And what can a newborn puppy even do? I have no reason to be wary."

Abel sighed. He really wanted to kill and get rid of me.

The interior of the room was so dazzling that it seemed to sparkle in the light. Paintings that looked like the work of famous artists were hung on the walls and seemingly expensive statues surrounded the centre of the room.

Plus, the decor was a gold-coloured feast and s.h.i.+ned excessively. My eyes widened as I stared at the wealth displayed in this room.

"Huh, how much does it cost?"

"Well, I haven't thought about turning it all back into money yet."

I'm talking to myself again. I felt embarra.s.sed and shameful for rambling to myself. I think I should do something about this mouth that can't seem to shut up.

At one point, the Emperor halted his steps. I slowly turned around. 

Where are we… who am I… It looked like a room but there weren't many things here. It seemed to be a guest bedroom.

"Where are we, Your Majesty the dignified Emperor?"

"This is where you'll stay from now on."

"What?"

I opened my mouth wide. The Emperor looked worried seeing my shocked expression. 

"What? You don't like it?"

It's not about the location but rather the t.i.tle. I'm a dog! A dog! You even gave me a name! It's Ju Hari, you idiot!

He was quick to come back to his senses and opened his mouth to speak, but Abel was faster.

"Your Majesty, you'll be late to the meeting. You have to hurry."

"Oh, it's already that time."

The emperor left me on the floor without hesitation and left. I instinctively followed him, waddling and falling down. I raised my head and saw the Emperor striding out through the door. 

I saw it happening. I opened my mouth urgently.

"Wait..!"

Bang.

I blinked as I watched the door closing.

"I-I've been abandoned."

Leaving me in an empty room, the Emperor departed. He didn't say he would come back. Somehow, I lost my energy and laid down on the floor, staring at the door. Everything was noisy until this moment so the silence felt like a dream.

Suddenly, I felt very lonely. It was the first time I was alone since I'd opened my eyes. Slowly, I pulled myself up and tried to move. 

"Ha… Puppy. Baby dog… Dog baby… Dog… Baby…"

I was a puppy that had just opened its eyes. I started denying reality again… but going by appearances, I was just a dog. 

What have I done in my past life to deserve this? No matter how much I thought about this, I never remembered doing anything worthy of such a punishment.

"I was incredibly nice and sweet, anyways, I was great…"

As expected, there was only one answer. Obviously, I was condemned to live as a dog for the rest of my life as punishment. That unhelpful b.a.s.t.a.r.d back on Earth. G.o.d punished me because my brother went out drinking… and now I'm a dog.

I was sad because it made sense.

"I'm going to kill you, Ju Haru!"

My anger still burned, but I was starting to calm down. What should I do if I stay like this? He must be sleeping peacefully in the living room after getting hungry, enjoying his vacation. My pulse quickened temporarily before slowing down again.

"Huhu, huuu…"

I buried my face in my feet in cried. The fact that I was crying as a dog was strange… and I cried more because I realized that I was a dog.

I can't live like this; it's so unfair. I feel terrible. After crying for a long time, I raised my head.

“I can't sit still!”

Yeah, Ju Hari. You can do it! There's got to be a way. I'll become a human..!

There was no knowledge of people being reborn as dogs back in my old world. Holding onto my last hope, I raised my front feet vigorously.

I cheered and jumped up. It was relatively easy to stand up for the second time. Walking on all fours felt weird the first time, but that was because I wasn't used to it. I tried to walk naturally, but it turned into a waddle.

I need to grow up quickly and become human. The extent of my terrible situation struck me almost immediately, but I didn't give up and instead started looking around.

It was a neat room, just like my first impression. But there was no sign of people. The Emperor said, “This is where you'll stay.” …So you're going to come back, right? I didn't like that it was so neat and simple, but it was better than the stable.

"To be honest, this is a big step forward. I leveled up from being a stable dog to a guest room dog."

The more I thought about it, the more satisfied I was. Ha, is this all because I'm too smart? I may be stupid for a human being, but I'm sure I'm smarter than actual dogs.

I felt better after I gave myself a small pep-talk. I wandered around the room awkwardly and found a dressing table. A dressing table should have a mirror. I wonder what I look like.

The eyes of dogs are different from those of humans. The color was nothing unusual, and my feet looked white, so I could be a white dog.

“I wish I was a cute dog.”

The low-pitched wind howled and I groaned as I tried to get onto the vanity chair. However, it was hard to even lift my front foot. Ah, I'm just a newborn puppy. There's no way I could climb up onto a dressing table.

“Oh, you dirty b.a.s.t.a.r.d…”

I fell back onto the floor, lamenting my loss. Soon, I fell asleep from exhaustion.

G.o.d, please let me wake up from this dream. I wished earnestly.

I opened my eyes. I had the ability to sleep my whole life if I wasn't woken up by anyone, but I could never win. Instant hunger. I had no choice but to wake up to the pain tearing apart my stomach.

"Food…"

I murmured eagerly and glanced around. Before I went to sleep, I thought it was a bright day, but before I knew it, a thick blanket of darkness had descended and I couldn't see a thing.

I stayed in the place where I'd fallen asleep. There were no signs of anyone entering the room, and the door was still closed.

“What……no one's up…”

I hummed and drooped a little bit. What a helpless, helpless newborn creature I was. Because of my splitting hunger, I had no strength.

Isn't that the most important part of being a host? I was a dangerous beast because that important need was not met. 

"I want to eat meat… kimchi stew… ttukbaegi-bulgogi… beef intestines soju..!"

Being hungry, I came up with a list of things I wanted to eat. However, the hunger caused my legs to feel weak, forcing me to stay limp on the floor.

“Why isn't anyone coming, it's already night…”

I think I've been asleep for a long time. Why isn't anyone coming? You're not going to starve me to death, are you?

"Fu." [3]

That was a possibility. I wasn't even human, and I didn't think he would blink an eye if a dog died. What's more, this was the imperial palace! Don't tell me you forgot you put me in this room? Ah, no!

I couldn't let it stay this way. Desperately, I walked to the door before it suddenly burst open. 

"Puppy."

"I'm not 'puppy'!"

I reflexively yelled at the emperor. At the very least, I was happy to see his face. The fact that he left me was forgotten. But more importantly… 

"I'm hungry, huh!"

I was hungry.

When I raised my front paws with tears in my eyes, the Emperor lifted me up. The view gradually increased and it soon felt dark. Terrified and dizzy, I stared at the emperor's face without looking down. He looked down at me with a distressed look.

“So you couldn't eat anything.”

"Food…"

I yelled. I was hungry, so I had no strength. I drooped my body over the emperor's arm. He burst out laughing, fixed me up, and headed somewhere. 

Wow, food. Food… I was happy, but I didn't have the energy to be happy. I closed my eyes and imagined the food I was going to eat.

Haha, since it's a royal palace, it's going to be a great feast, right? What kind of menu will be available? I thought I could eat well regardless of what came out. I didn't enjoy seafood, but I could finish a few plates now……!

I suddenly felt sad when I recalled the past when I went to buy a scallion and died. I wouldn't have been so careless if I'd known that the chips I ate that day were the last thing I'd be able to eat.

I wouldn't have done it…

I suddenly opened my eyes to the noise. I looked around and glanced at the Emperor. We both spent a moment staring into each other's eyes. It was the emperor who opened his mouth first after a long silence. 

“Why do you do that, puppy?” 

"I'm not 'puppy'… But why… Why are we here?"

"Why did we come here? Didn't you say you were hungry?"

I'm tired. That's a lot. But there was no real feast here. No, there was nothing.

The Emperor brought me to none other than the stable where I was born. The floor was covered with soft yoga mat and the fire in the fireplace was almost completely extinguished. There were two rocking chairs in front of it.

The room hadn't changed even a little since I'd left. The place was pretty neat because of the time I spent with my eyes shut… But the most important thing was missing.

There was no food!

Why did you bring me here? I thought about it hard for a brief moment but couldn't figure out why.

“There's nothing to eat here…”

“Wait, I'll be right back.”

What… who are you calling? Do you want to call the chef here? Suddenly, I felt great anxiety. But I waited patiently because I couldn't be hasty. It was not long before he reappeared in the stable…

“Your Majesty, I've brought you Bonita, as you ordered.”

“Yes, you may go now.”

“Yes.”

W-What appeared in front of me was…

“It's Bonita, one of my loyal dogs. The dog that's been nursing you with its milk."

A dog.

The big white dog wagged its tail as soon as it saw me. I slowly shook my head at the sign of intimacy.

Don't tell me… no? I don't think so…

As I struggled to escape from the emperor's arms, he put me down on the floor. At the same time, the dog named Bonita ran at me. Then, it started licking me.

My mother died during childbirth, so it definitely wasn't related to me. Why are you so affectionate when I'm not even your own child? I thought I was going to look after myself.

Even if it was an expression of affection between dogs, it was quite awkward for me – a human being. I ran away in fright, but I was so hungry that I quickly became tired.

"S-Stop! Don't do it!"

I'm sorry to be born a dog, but I can't be licked by a dog! I was so sad that I cried. Why did G.o.d make me reincarnate as a dog? I hate you! I was so sad that I started weeping.

the emperor is my very best boi