Magic Store 23



The Pomeranian's voice was deep and resonant.

If I had heard it from a distance, I might have wondered what kind of creature was making that voice - it's quite surprising that such a sound could come from such a small throat.

"You can talk?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"But why didn't you say anything before?"

"I generally don't talk much, even normally."

"Then why are you talking now?"

"Wasn't it you who first asked if I had anything to say?"

That's true, but still, what am I supposed to do now that it's actually talking?

I'm not just making an offhand remark - out of all the bizarre situations I've encountered in my 3 days on the job, this one feels the most surreal to me.

I can understand those dog-headed Kobolds or Orcs, since they're inherently different creatures.

But this one looks exactly like the Pomeranians in my neighborhood.

Even now, after speaking, it's just panting with its tongue out, staring up at me.

Are all the dogs around here like this?

"Hey, um... what's your name?"

"They call me ‘Puppy’."

"Your owner named you 'Puppy'?"

"That's correct."

What a lazy name.

Seems like the owner doesn't care much for it.

"Anyway, Puppy, I'm curious - do other dogs around here talk too?"

"I'm not sure. I don't have enough experience with other dogs to give you a definitive answer on that."

"How old are you?"

"I'm two this year."

Why does it speak so well for a two-year-old?

Anyway, since the dog said it doesn't have enough experience with other dogs to know, I tried to do some rough calculations.

If I assume this one started going on walks outside around 6 months ago, that means it hasn't seen another dog talking for at least the past 1.5 years.

That means while not all dogs may be able to talk, most of them probably can't, right?

Of course, I can't say that with certainty.

The quickest way would be to call the store manager and ask, but the timing is tricky - the owner is supposed to be back in about 10 minutes, so I'd probably run out of time while on the phone.

So instead of trying to satisfy my curiosity right away, I should probably hear out what this dog was hesitating to say earlier.

"Puppy. You said you had something you were hesitating to say earlier?"

"Well... I was wondering if this kind of situation happens often..."

"You mean, with your owner leaving you here and going to get cigarettes?"

"Yes, that's right."

Of course it doesn't happen often, your owner is just a weird drunk.

As I said that, the Pomeranian's tail drooped down.

"I see..."

"Doesn't seem like you're too fond of the situation either, huh?"

"Well, not exactly, no."

"If you don't like this, you should tell your owner. They can't just ignore you, right?"

"That's a bit difficult though..."

Summarizing his mumbled response, it seems he's never actually spoken to his owner before, and the owner doesn't know that he can talk.

"Why have you never spoken to your owner before?"

"Well, when I was young, I overheard my owner and their partner talking, and I was told that if I make too much noise, they would... remove my vocal cords? Something like that."

"You mean a vocal cord resection surgery?"

"Yes, that's it. They said I'd need to have that done, so since then I've never even barked in front of my owner. And of course, I've never spoken to them either."

Hearing this directly from the dog is quite unbelievable, but I understand.

With the threat of having his voice taken away, it's no wonder he's never tried to speak up.

"And since the other dogs around here don't seem to talk much either, I just assumed they were all scared of it like me."

"I'm not sure about that. The other dogs may not talk, but they probably still bark, right?"

"Ah, I suppose that's true as well..."

It does seem this dog is just special. The Pomeranian, with its ears now drooping, hesitated a moment before asking me:

"Do you perhaps know how other dogs live?"

I was about to say I wouldn't know that, but then I remembered a few stories I've heard about pet owners.

Might as well try to give some kind of answer.

"Well, they probably get lots of doting and affection. The ones I know even take their dogs on trips abroad and stuff."

"That sounds... rather envious."

"Your owner doesn't do things like that for you?"

"Apart from the occasional late-night walk, I don't get to go out much. And there's also..."

The Pomeranian then went on to complain about other aspects of its life - how it's fed dog food while its owner eats chicken, how unpleasant it is when the owner comes home drunk, and how bored it gets being left alone at home all day while the owner is at work.

After listening to everything, I shared my thoughts.

"Maybe you're just not cut out to be a pet dog."

"Do you think so?"

I do think so.

Dogs that run out and don't come back when the door is open aren't just feeling cooped up. Maybe they like the outside more.

"Hmm..."

He began to drag out his words, as if he was having second thoughts.

Worried, I added, "But that doesn't mean you should run away from home."

"..."

"I'm not joking, pal. Running away from home is tough. You're a Pomeranian; what if you get caught by a dog meat truck while wandering around outside?"

It's not like dog meat trucks really roam this intersection, but I wanted to scare him out of any weird ideas.

Judging by the Pomeranian's wavering eyes, it seemed to have an effect.

"That's true, but..."

"Talk to your owner about going for walks more often. Have a conversation, okay?"

After that, he stayed quiet. His owner's estimated arrival time was approaching.

The Pomeranian, who had been silent for a while, suddenly tilted his head as if something had come to mind and asked,

"Excuse me, but can I ask one more question?"

"What is it?"

"My owner mentioned something I needed to do..."

He tilted his head back and forth a few times, trying to piece together his thoughts.

"It was some kind of procedure... something like... neute-?"

"...neutering surgery?"

"That seems to be it. You are very knowledgeable, sir."

Seeming pleased that I understood, he wagged his tail and looked at me expectantly.

"But what exactly is that?"

Oh man, this dog is heading towards a real shock.

"Hey, pup. Forget what I said earlier; just run away from home."

"That sounds a bit different from what you said before."

"That's why I'm telling you to cancel it. I'm not joking; you're in big trouble. You're going to end up in a tonkatsu shop."

"Tonkatsu sounds good, doesn't it? I've only ever watched my owner eat it, but it smelled great. It must be delicious."

Well, once you visit a tonkatsu shop, your opinion might change.

I quickly checked the time on the POS system.

There were less than three minutes left until this dog's owner was supposed to arrive.

So, I briefly explained what tonkatsu is and why pet dogs that have eaten it seem so dejected afterward.

I tried to soften the blow as much as possible because I thought it might be a harsh reality for a two-year-old small dog to handle.

But it was futile.

He seemed to understand what I meant immediately, shivering and muttering.

"You're saying... I'll become a eunuch...?"

"Yes, buddy..."

"Why... must I suffer such a cruel fate...?"

There are several reasons for neutering surgery.

From a health perspective, it has its benefits.

It helps prevent testicular cancer, prostate enlargement that comes with age, and bladder cancer.

It’s also effective in curbing sexual urges and aggression.

Of course, there are also downsides.

The disruption of hormone secretion can lead to obesity, depression, and if done during growth periods, it can cause growth imbalances and skeletal structure issues.

But that’s the story for dogs who can’t speak up for themselves.

This one can talk.

I don’t know if other dogs feel confused and wonder, ‘Where did my balls go?’ but if this one clearly expresses that he doesn’t want it, shouldn’t it be respected?

"When is your owner planning the surgery?"

"I think... Monday morning."

It’s currently 2 AM on Sunday, so there are roughly 28 hours left until the surgery.

If he’s going to do something, it has to be now.

"You don’t have much time, buddy. Either negotiate with your owner quickly or throw a tantrum. You don’t want to become a eunuch, right?"

"...No."

The Pomeranian answered firmly, his trembling now gone.

"I’ve finally made up my mind."

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