Chapter 45

“You mean… training for a Pantera Stalker?”

I asked again, just to be sure — the request was coming from a rather unexpected person.

“That’s right. Is it… difficult?”

“No, that’s not it. It’s just… unexpected.”

Well, of course it was. Training a Pantera Stalker, a breed so devoted to its owner it never strayed from his side? And the owner in question was someone as important as Baskal, the man who’d managed the duchy’s internal affairs while the Duke was away? On top of that, someone of Baskal’s standing could easily have summoned me to wherever he was instead of coming to find me himself.

Starting with the Duke and working down, everyone in this ducal house was unexpected in one way or another. Not that it was a bad thing.

“I’m sorry, but — could you tell me what sort of training is needed? From what I’ve heard, the Pantera Stalker you keep, Baskal, won’t even settle down to sleep in its den, it’s so absorbed in watching over your safety.”

“…… Hm. It’s about that, actually.”

He made an awkward expression, then turned to look down at his own feet. I turned to follow his gaze.

The Pantera Stalker was a dragon that lived in jungle regions. Its fur gleamed smoothly in a dark green that matched the shadow of thick undergrowth.

The pale green horn on its forehead, its green eyes, and the forest-colored wings wrapped around its body would all help it hide easily among the foliage.

“Wow… what a magnificent creature.”

It was the first time I’d seen a Pantera Stalker up close, but I couldn’t deny it.

The dragon Baskal kept with him really was magnificent.

The Pantera Stalker hadn’t taken its eyes off me once. Under that unblinking stare, I slowly closed and opened my own eyes, again and again.

There was no good reason to get into a staring match with a dragon that occupied the position of a predator. I wasn’t trying to challenge it, after all.

“Grrrrrrrr…….”

Without moving a muscle as it watched me, it slowly closed its eyes once — just once — and opened them again. I smiled at that and turned my head.

“Such a composed creature. What’s her name?”

“Emeril. She’s female.”

“Ah, female.”

Female, was she. That would explain why she stayed so closely, protectively by his side. Pantera Stalkers, regardless of sex, felt a strong protective instinct toward a specific target, but females tended toward something closer to obsession, comparatively speaking.

Hm? Then wouldn’t that make even less room for me to step in?

I’d heard the Duke paired Baskal with a Pantera Stalker for the sake of protecting him, didn’t I?

So then what kind of training could possibly be needed? I couldn’t quite grasp it.

While I was still puzzling over it, Baskal hesitated for a moment, then let out a short sigh and spoke.

“…… I think I phrased it poorly. I do feel the need for training, but it’s not that Emeril is lacking. If anyone’s lacking, it’s me.”

“Ah, I see.”

Only then did I understand what Baskal wanted.

“You mean you can’t easily tell what Emeril’s behavior means?”

“Emeril normally keeps herself hidden. She doesn’t show herself unless we’re alone, and the two of us are rarely alone together. And on top of that, she’s not a dragon who reacts very actively, so……”

He clenched his fist, then opened it again, and finished his thought.

“I’ve looked into quite a few books on the Pantera Stalker breed. …… But what’s written in them is rather different from how Emeril actually behaves. And I’m not even sure how I should act toward her to get my feelings across.”

“I see. I understand.”

I knelt on one knee and turned my gaze to Emeril. The dragon, who had been sitting properly, gave a small flutter of her wings and met my eyes. Her beautifully shining green eyes felt almost like jewels.

I slowly held out my right hand. I offered it carefully, so she could see it clearly and wouldn’t feel threatened, and she stretched her neck out just slightly and sniffed at it.

“Grrrrr…….”

Her muzzle twitched. She sniffed carefully, like someone testing for poison, then rose to her feet.

Emeril approached me without a single sound, not even a footstep. Then she began slowly circling around me, as though keeping watch.

Each time her supple muscles shifted, her dark green fur reflected an odd, shimmering light. Whenever the sunlight caught her hide and it gave a faint, rhythmic shiver, colors other than green scattered across its surface.

If she judged me to be dangerous, Emeril would vanish instantly into hiding. And then she would hold her breath, watching for the moment to strike and finish me off completely.

Given her caution, I sat myself down on the ground. At that, Emeril gave a low purr, flicked the tip of her tail, and took a few more slow steps. Even as she did, she kept her eyes fixed on me, her nose twitching constantly.

The Pantera Stalker’s inspection went on for quite a while. I saw Baskal raise a hand as though to stop her, and I quietly shook my head at him.

For now, earning her approval mattered most. Otherwise, I’d be the one in danger.

Eventually, apparently satisfied that she’d finished her inspection, Emeril returned to Baskal’s feet. Then she settled comfortably onto her belly.

It was a way of showing that she’d finished assessing me and recognized I wasn’t a threat. Once I confirmed that, I got back to my feet.

“What a careful young lady. You’ve found yourself a fine partner.”

“…… I can see why a professional trainer is different. I didn’t expect you to sit down on the ground when Emeril approached you like that.”

I laughed, a little embarrassed by how genuinely impressed he seemed. Being admired that much was almost mortifying.

“You can’t do dragon trainer work without a bit of nerve. Setting aside what you’ve already told me — is there anything else that’s been bothering you, or that you’d like to improve?”

He reached out toward Emeril without thinking. At that, Emeril flinched and turned her gaze toward his hand. Baskal immediately drew the hand back and clenched it into a fist.

“I’m curious what I could do… to make Emeril happy.”

“Hmm… do you mean physical affection?”

“I’m curious about more than just touching her — the overall picture, really.”

Here was what Baskal had to say.

Emeril only ate and drank when no one was watching. Except for when they were alone together, she stayed hidden, and even when they were alone, she barely expressed any likes or dislikes at all.

So he had no sense of what she liked, what she disliked. And the materials available on Pantera Stalkers were only academic texts and notes on their general habits — nothing on how to handle one raised by human hands.

“I see……”

“And… I’m not even sure if I’m really a good owner.”

He looked down at Emeril. She lay comfortably sprawled on the floor, running her tongue over her wing feathers to groom them.

“I’ve raised her for several years now, but rather than an owner and his partner dragon, we feel more like… roommates with no real interest in each other. As if I provide the space and the food, and in exchange, Emeril provides protection.”

“I understand what you’re trying to say.”

Baskal did seem to be wondering whether this relationship with Emeril was really the right one. Whether he was doing well by her. Whether this was the proper kind of bond.

Looking at the other dragons on the estate and their owners, it was understandable that he’d feel this was strange by comparison. I understood.

“First, I’d like to say this: aside from the mating season, Pantera Stalkers live alone.”

“Yes. And I understand that even after bearing and raising young, once the offspring are ready to live independently, the mother leaves the territory to them and departs.”

“That’s right. They’re that independent and aloof a breed. But that doesn’t mean they’re without affection.”

I looked at Emeril as she yawned languidly. He’d said all he did was provide her food, but she was clearly in good condition. Her feathers and hide had a healthy sheen, her body was lean and firm, and her horn was smooth without a single rough patch.

“Emeril’s in excellent condition. Her hide is flawless and glossy, her body is firm without an ounce of excess, and even though you said all you did was feed her, you’ve clearly taken devoted care of her.”

“…… Is that so?”

“Yes. Otherwise, Emeril wouldn’t think of you as someone she needs to protect. You brought her home as a hatchling, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. She was still at the weaning stage.”

“You must have doted on her when she was little.”

“Of course.”

Baskal answered at once. His eyes shone faintly with excitement.

“She was so small and cat-like, I can’t tell you how adorable she was. Her fur was soft, and she’d follow me around mewing. But once she grew to a certain size……”

“Emeril probably realized it herself. That at some point, the father who brought her food had become weaker than her.”

Pantera Stalkers had the valuable ability to gauge the difference in strength between themselves and another, and they were clever besides.

“So she’s trying to protect you. Because you’re the one who raised her.”

“Didn’t you say they were an independent breed?”

“Unless you give Emeril a territory and leave her to it, she’s not truly independent yet.”

It was a truth that didn’t change, so long as she’d been raised by human hands.

“And as for Emeril’s preferences… I suppose we’ll have to observe her to find out. Would that be possible, Baskal?”

At that, Baskal’s eyes lit up for a moment. Just as I wondered if I’d imagined it—

“Of course. If it would help, I’d be more than glad to.”

“In that case, I’ll have no choice but to stay close to you for a while… I’ll try my best not to interfere with your work.”

“If anything, I’m the one who should worry about interfering with Trainer Litia.”

“It’s fine. This is my work too.”

Apparently pleased with my answer, he held out his hand.

“Then, I’ll be in your care for a while.”

“And I in yours.”

…… It felt strangely like he was gripping my hand a little tighter than he needed to as we shook. Was that just my imagination?