Chapter 16 (2/2)

Also, the weakened dog survived and attacked Marcus because no monsters were a threat, or it would’ve been killed a long time ago.

Nobody could disobey Liszt.

Marcus touched his chest with one hand, expressing his respect for Liszt’s courage in the manner of knights.

Carter bowed. “My lord, may glory be with you!”

“It will.”

Liszt put on leather armor and got on the horse. “Let’s go!”

…

Two earth knights, followed by four squires, rode into Thorn Hill soon and reached the place where Marcus sensed the Rampant Earth Dog for the first time.

“My lord, it was in this place that I sensed the scent. Then, the dog tailed me for a mile before it ambushed me.”

“Its lair must be around here. Let’s search.”

The woods here were a mess.

The six of them searched for half an hour but found nothing. They were inevitably agitated.

“My lord, maybe the dog was a wanderer and its lair is not here, if there is a lair at all,” said Carl.

Liszt, however, was firm. “I believe that its lair is right here.”

The reward of the misty mission couldn’t be nothing. That was the source of his confidence.

After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Does any of you know how the Rampant Earth Dog barks?”

“The Rampant Earth Dog is just a dog. It barks the same as other dogs.” Marcus gave an answer.

“Then, Carl, Rom, Gray and Auden, you will imitate dog barks. If there are cubs around, they will respond quickly. They probably will think that their mom is calling.”

“That’s a good idea,” Marcus agreed.

Of course, his squires and he searched the area while pretending to bark.

A quarter later, Marcus raised his hand. “Quiet!”

After everyone fell quiet, he cocked an ear and said softly, “Lord Baron, listen.”

Liszt listened quietly. A few seconds later, he heard a feeble bark behind the bird songs. It was definitely a bark.

“It’s right there.”

“Yes, it’s there.” Marcus indicated. “Your barking is most similar to the original. Now, continue your imitation.”

Carl did as he was bidden.

He barked and was responded to now and then. Tracing the source of the sound, Liszt finally found the den of a dog behind a bush.

Waving away the grass at the entrance of the den, Marcus brought out a tiny cub that hadn’t even opened its eyes yet.

He delivered the cub to Liszt carefully. “Lord Baron, it’s a young Rampant Earth Dog, a priceless treasure! It hasn’t opened its eyes yet! It will acknowledge the first person it sees as its own master!” Not all monsters were tamable, but dog-like monsters retained the habit.

Most of the time, it was their mother that they saw, so acknowledging a master was the same as acknowledging a mother.

The cub shivered in Liszt’s arms. It appeared scared. It probably smelled the strange scent from Liszt that was different from what it knew.

“Hang in there. You will have new milk to drink soon.” Liszt combed its fur and got on his horse.

“Let’s go back!”