A thick fog blotted out the moonlight that should have bathed the earth, and the guards at the orphanage entrance looked up in confusion.
"Fog?"
"Didn't see this in the forecast."
They picked up their shotguns leaning nearby and warily watched the sudden mist.
Behind them, inside the building, all sorts of dogs in wire-mesh cages trembled, their limbs shaking as they let out continuous, pitiful whimpers.
A light breeze brushed past the guards, but the dense fog didn't disperse. Instead, it grew thicker.
"Something's wrong." A guard narrowed his eyes, peering in a direction within the fog where a slender black figure was slowly emerging.
Thud. Thud. The sound of shoes stepping on the soft earth was oddly muffled.
He craned his neck forward. The blurry shape grew clearer: first a black dress, then a slender waist, and finally...
His gaze traveled slowly upward. On the figure's head, round, black pupils held a dazed, almost dopey look, and a dark, beak-like mouth gaped open right in the middle of its round head.
What the...
"A penguin?"
The guard's eyes widened. This boring night shift had just run into some performance art. A grin spread across his lips. "What is this?"
He reached back and patted the spot where his partner should have been, wanting to share this bizarre delight, but his hand swiped through empty air.
"Hey, man, where'd you go?" He turned his head, smile still in place. "Weren't you just here...?"
The face that met his smile wasn't his companion's familiar one. Instead, it was a collection of gaping maws, each lined with razor-sharp teeth.
Sharp teeth materialized from the fog, their points gently brushing against him.
Snap. Tear.
Amid the grotesque sound of rending flesh, the man vanished into the white mist without even a chance to cry out.
The penguin slowly, leisurely, continued its pace forward.
Like a young girl out for a stroll in the woods.
--+--
Under a clear night sky, stars twinkled, and the bright moonlight washed over the building ahead.
"We're here?"
"Mhmm, yes, this is the place." Komurasaki nodded, looking excitedly at the orphanage ahead.
Her personality being rather unrestrained, she was just about to sneak forward when Alice's voice pulled her back.
"You stay outside. Don't go in."
Komurasaki puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.
"Didn't Shouko tell you to be obedient?" Alice gently took out a long, flat gift box, its external wrapping already removed.
Komurasaki crossed her arms and leaned against a nearby large tree, her cheeks puffing out even more, clearly sulking.
"And stay away from the fog."
Fog?
Komurasaki tilted her head. She glanced at the cloudless sky; everything around was clearly visible under the moonlight.
Fog, in weather like this?
Alice pinched one corner of the gift box and opened it. Inside lay a costume.
Komurasaki stood on her tiptoes, sneaking a peek at the contents.
Was that... a penguin costume?
She racked her brain, trying to recall the creatures she'd seen in books. White belly, black, stubby wings, and yellow, webbed feet. It was definitely a penguin.
Robin also tilted his head. He hadn't seen this costume back at the mansion.
But the vaguely familiar gift box reminded him of the present Suiseiseki and Souseiseki had given Alice when they officially joined the mansion.
Alice gently pinched the edge of the costume, swept it to the side of the box, and picked up the separately packed hood beneath.
She really wondered how Suiseiseki had learned about penguins.
Silently, she put the hood on properly and handed the box to Komurasaki.
Kuonji Alice was currently on the Night Party battlefield. The one here right now was just a penguin.
"Remember to stay away from the fog."
With those parting words, the penguin softly walked towards the orphanage.
"What fog...?" Komurasaki muttered, confused. There wasn't a trace of fog anyw—
Before she could finish her sentence, a thick mist began to rise.
The dense fog appeared out of nowhere, spreading outwards from around Alice.
The anomalous magic power within the white mist made Komurasaki shiver slightly, and she took a few more steps back.
Within seconds, the fog filled her vision. The orphanage building, the surrounding trees and grass—everything grew hazy. It seemed as if some kind of creature existed within this world of white mist, silently emitting joyful, gleeful roars.
Alice's figure had already vanished into the thick fog. Komurasaki couldn't help but take a few more steps back, shivering as she crouched at the base of the large tree.
--+--
All sorts of dogs hung their heads low in their cages, letting out soft whimpers.
Their coats lacked luster, and their shoulders were fitted with armor similar to Rabbi's. The level of realism suggested they were taboo dolls modified from real dogs.
Alice walked softly, the fog swirling and frolicking eagerly around her.
Deep within the building was a stone-built room. Its heavy door was made of steel, sealed with magecraft, and its small window was barred with iron grating.
A claw, crimson as blood, easily tore through the iron door. The magecraft seal on it was as fragile as paper before the claw.
"Good evening." Alice looked into the dark depths of the small room and greeted softly.
"...What do you want?" A voice, hoarse like an old woman's, sounded. A wolfdog crouched in the depths of the room.
Her ears were pricked and tilted forward, a sign of alertness.
Alice, noting her resemblance to Rabbi, asked quietly.
"...Is Frey's Rabbi your child?"
"...Yes." The wolfdog suddenly relaxed. Even with her eyes closed, she seemed to be glancing outward.
Alice raised a slight eyebrow. Could she see?
"Magic Circuit?"
"Correct."
"Sonic?"
"...You know quite a lot. The 'Garm' series of dolls, including Rabbi—my son—all have this Magic Circuit installed within them."
The wolfdog lifted her neck, the locked collar around it glinting faintly.
"I emit a sound, and by interpreting the changes in the wavelength that reflects back, I can see the world and hear sounds."
"Good." Alice nodded in approval. That meant she had definitely been here long enough. "Show me around this orphanage."
"..."
The wolfdog tilted her head outward, as if noticing the surrounding guards had all vanished. She shifted her paws uneasily and didn't reply.
Alice blinked in confusion, then suddenly remembered something.
"There are artificial [Promised Children] inside, aren't there?"
"..."
The wolfdog remained silent, her head hanging low.
"The reason I'm here is that Bronson has offended me and my friend." Alice slowly crouched down beside the wolfdog. A crimson claw emerged from the mist and cleanly severed the collar around the wolfdog's neck.
"I promise you, I will not harm the children."
Alice placed a sandwich in front of the wolfdog.
The wolfdog glanced at Alice, sniffed the sandwich, and took a bite.
Then immediately spat it out.
"Salty as hell, but it's definitely Frey's handiwork." The hoarse voice spoke again. The wolfdog stood up and walked towards the door, her tail giving a slight, single wag. "My name is Yomi. Follow me."
Yomi moved forward softly, without a sound.
"Ah, one more thing." She suddenly turned back, her eyes opening, gleaming brightly within the mist.
"Could you... stop smiling like that? It's... a bit creepy."
Alice froze, then abruptly raised a hand to feel her own lips. A distinct, curved shape met her fingers.
Was this... because of the Hound?
Pressing her lips back into a line, the girl silently stepped forward, following Yomi, who waited for her ahead.
Light, delicate footsteps echoed in the fog as the girl walked slowly, the wolfdog keeping pace beside her. The scene was like something from a picture-book fairy tale.
If only there weren't all those scattered bits of flesh and blood around.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.