Early morning.
A resident of Village Five filed a report with the security team.
An incident was confirmed. Five guards rushed to the scene, but they failed to resolve the matter.
Noon.
Thirteen additional guards were deployed, and assistance was requested from nearby residents. Despite their efforts, the situation remained at a standstill.
By this stage, Yoko had been informed, though she did no more than formally authorize the security team's continued actions.
Night.
Seven different rescue plans had been executed, and all had failed.
Determining they were at an impasse, the security team sought a final judgment from Yoko.
Yoko hesitated.
Her priority was how the Village Head would feel once the matter was concluded.
Considering his personality...
She dumped the decision in the Village Head’s lap.
"A puppy fell into the Village Five Sewerage and can't get out?"
I received the report from Yoko after dinner.
The site was at the foot of the mountain in Village Five—an area with quite a few houses and shops.
Apparently, the puppy had fallen into a hole meant to drain rainwater into the sewers; a cover that should have been in place had somehow been removed.
Because the shaft was slanted rather than a straight drop, the puppy had slid about three meters down and, fortunately, survived.
However, the opening was too small for a person to climb through, and because it was pitch black inside, they couldn't even see the animal. They only knew it was alive because of its cries.
Multiple rescue attempts had been made to no avail. Now, they were at a crossroads. They either had to demolish part of a residence and the sewer system to reach it, or abandon the puppy.
"Is there any chance it could climb out on its own? You said the hole was slanted."
"It's merely not vertical," Yoko replied. "It is unlikely a puppy could scale it."
"What about magic?"
"To prevent sabotage by hostile forces, the entire sewerage system has been treated with anti-magic wards. It’s impossible."
"How about you turning into a fox and crawling in there?"
"Unfortunately, even in my smallest form, I would not fit."
Hitoe might have been able to do it, but Yoko was reluctant to send her into a place where she couldn't be seen. I didn't want to put Hitoe in danger either.
Hmm. This was a tough call.
I reviewed the rescue plans the security team had already tried, but they’d already thought of everything I could come up with.
I suppose there was no other way. The safest bet would be to dig a rescue tunnel from a spot where it wouldn't cause too much trouble. I could do the digging myself.
"That will not work, I'm afraid."
Yoko shot down my suggestion.
"We are out of time. According to the sewer's designer, the area where the puppy is trapped will flood if it rains."
"Wait, I thought the hole was designed to prevent rain from getting in?"
"Indeed. But when it rains, the total volume of water in the system increases. The space where the puppy is currently stuck is intended to act as a Water Tank to handle the excess flow. And the forecast says rain will start around midnight."
I really wish she’d led with that. There was no time to sit around. We had to move.
"Do we proceed with demolishing the residence?"
Yoko asked for confirmation. It seemed like the only option.
"...Fine. Get it ready immediately."
"Please," I added, starting to stand up. Just then, a leg—not a hand—was placed on my shoulder. It was Zabuton.
What was it?
As I stood there wondering, several of Zabuton's Children stepped forward tentatively.
...
I looked at Yoko. She nodded, said she would handle the arrangements, and headed back to Village Five.
Late that night.
Just as the first scattered drops of rain began to fall, we arrived at the scene. Only the security guards remained; the residents had already been evacuated. Aside from the guards, it was just Yoko and me.
That, and seven fist-sized spiders—Zabuton's Children.
They were the Puppy Rescue Special Squad, specifically assembled for this operation.
Everything was going smoothly... well, mostly. One security guard after another fainted at the sight of Zabuton's Children. They weren't even that scary.
There, there. No need to feel down.
I pulled myself together and gave the signal. The plan was simple: the seven children would enter the hole, secure the puppy, and bring it back up. That was it.
I watched as they disappeared into the hole. Incidentally, we left the unconscious guards where they were on Yoko's advice. She said if we woke them up, they’d just start shouting again. Sorry, guys.
A short while later, yapping echoed from the hole. It sounded like a puppy, but... wait. Wasn't that a bit too fierce? I thought a puppy’s bark would be much higher and more desperate.
As I was wondering about that, the sound of explosions rumbled from deep inside the hole.
What was happening? Were they fighting? It sounded far too violent for a simple puppy resisting rescue.
Just as Yoko and I were discussing what to do, Zabuton's Children emerged.
All seven of them. Good, everyone was safe.
Then, pulled up behind them by a length of thread, was the cargo.
What on earth...?
It was a puppy, but it had two heads. Yoko informed me that it was a magic beast known as an Orthrus.
I see. Was it common for them to wander into cities?
"Hardly. While they are no match for an Inferno Wolf, an Orthrus is still a dangerous beast. It is far more likely that someone smuggled it in, only for it to escape and fall into the hole."
Is that right?
"I have received no reports of an Orthrus pup entering Village Five. Therefore, we must assume this is the work of a hostile force. ...I will not tolerate this."
Yoko was fuming. As her anger flared, five men bound tightly in spider silk were dropped onto the ground in front of her.
I looked up. Lined up along the rooftops were several half-tatami mat-sized spiders—the Hangman Spiders.
So, they had caught the ones responsible for this mess. Thank you.
Still, as for them operating inside Village Five... it turned out Yoko had been secretly granting them permission. A "Secret Special Squad." Sounds pretty cool, actually.
The children who had gone into the sewer waved their legs at the Hangman Spiders.
The five men they’d captured were infiltrators from a foreign nation. They had secretly brought the Orthrus pup into Village Five to raise it in the sewers. Their plan was to let it loose once it was fully grown to cause chaos from within.
Talk about a long-term project.
I felt like I’d heard a story like this somewhere before... Ah, right. The Royal Capital Incident Tiselle and the others were involved in. That one featured a Lich, though. I don't think they were raising it, exactly.
...
Maybe I should report this to the Demon King or Beezel and have them check the other cities. There's a high chance other places are being targeted too. I'm worried about Shashato City.
Actually, the same thing had already happened in Shashato, but Miyo had apparently resolved it on her own. She’s incredible.
Still, I really wish people would report these things to me.