My Beloved Dog is the Strongest in Another World

Liza was sleeping in the most comfortable place

“…Maybe she went to the bathroom? But then, I doubt she would go off when she is still not familiar with this place…”

Yesterday, I had told where the bathroom was, just in case.

That was one thing no one could help her do, after all.

In any case, I had to find her.

But when did she leave…and why…

Thankfully, there was no one in the mansion who hated beastkin, so she wasn’t in any real danger…Still, I was worried.

“Hey, Leo. Wake up. Liza has gone…”

Leo was rolled up into a ball and stuck to the side of the bed. And so I tried to wake her up so we could search for her.

And then I noticed it.

In the center of Leo’s large, rolled up body, there was some brown hair sticking out.

“…Could it be…?”
“…Wuff.”
“Leo. You’re awake? In that case…”

As I slowly approached, Leo opened her eyes and barked quietly.

She was awake, but not alarmed about Liza’s absence… She was quiet, and then there was hair.

I felt relieved now that I knew what had happened. Still, I looked closer just to make sure.

“Hah…there you are…”
“Mmm…zzz…”

Liza had wrapped herself up in Leo’s fur and was sleeping with a big smile on her face.

I didn’t know when she had moved, but Leo must have noticed.

And so she was keeping still and did not bark loudly.

Her expression was so happy that it made me feel happy as well.

I suppose this was a feeling that parents experienced?

That old man who had taken care of Liza in the slums… I had never met him, but perhaps this is what he felt as well.

“Good morning, Leo and Mr. Takumi.”
“Tilura… Shhh.”
“Wuff…”
“Huh?”

There was suddenly a knock on the door and Tilura entered.

She was as energetic as ever.

I raised a finger to my mouth to signal for her to lower her voice, and then I gestured over to Leo.

Upon seeing this, Tilura tilted her head as if puzzled, but then she saw Liza sleeping on Leo.

“…She looks cute when she sleeps.”
“Yes.”
“Wuff.”

Though they were similar in age, Tilura was still supposed to be the older sister.

And so she looked at Liza with a tender expression.

“Zzz…zzz…mmm…”

“Ah, she’s going to wake up.”
“Indeed. Perhaps we were too loud?”

Either she detected our gaze or presence, as she frowned once and then her eyes opened.

“…Faaahh…mmm… Grandfather?”

“Good morning, Liza.”
“Good morning, little Liza.”
“Wuff.”

After yawning, she rubbed at her eyes and muttered about her grandfather before realizing where she was.

“…Uhh… Oh, papa!”

“Woah! Haha. Good morning.”
“Good morning! And sister Tilura is here too! Good morning!”
“Yes, I’m here!”
“Wuff-wuff.”

A few seconds later, she looked at us and blinked her eyes.

And then her mind cleared and she started to recognize things.

Then she sat up and hugged me.

After hugging her back, I put her down on the floor and we all said good morning.

She was especially happy to see Tilura again.

“…So what happened yesterday wasn’t a dream! Papa and mama and sister Tilura are all here!”
“Yes, it’s not a dream. You won’t be alone again, arlight?”
“Yes!”

As she had been talking about her grandfather at first, perhaps she had been dreaming about him.

While it was unfortunate that he was dead, she now had me, Leo, Tilura and the people who lived in this mansion.

And so I told her that she would no longer be alone, and she nodded with a smile.

“Now, I have to get ready. …Uh, Tilura.”
“Yes!”

“Can you take Liza and have one of the maids help her wash up?”

“Okay. Let’s go, Liza.”
“…But…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere. …Leo, will you go with them?”
“Wuff… Wuff? Wuff-wuff.”

Liza looka little worried to leave me and Leo, and hesitated to take Tilura’s hand.

And so I asked Leo to go with them.

Leo looked puzzled at first but then nodded understandingly.

“Alright, we’ll go now, Mr. Takumi.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes!”
“Wuff-wuff.”

“See you later, papa!”
“Yes, go along now.”

And so Tilura and Liza left the room while holding hands.

I watched them leave, and then I was alone in the room.

“…Papa, huh…”

I thought about it as I washed up.

As I had never had children, I was never called that before.

However, it did not feel bad. If anything, the fact that someone so honest and lively would think of me that way put a smile on my face.

“…Though, I’ll have to wipe that smile off before going to the dining hall.”

I muttered as I looked at myself in the mirror and started to shave.

…I did not want to look like Mr. Ekenhart and end up scaring Liza.