Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint chapter 472

472 – Sheep, Shepherd, Shepherd’s Skill

There is something called a boundary line. It is not intentionally drawn by someone but a blue line created by the grand nature.

At a certain altitude, tall trees find it extremely difficult to survive. Low temperatures, thin air, insufficient water. Simply due to complex issues caused by high altitude, the survival rate plummets. Plants, being social organisms to some extent, wither away if there is no similar vegetation nearby, feeling embarrassed.

The space vacated by tall trees is filled with short grass. The grass that used to be pressed down by the towering trees stretches out its roots, flourishing as they measure each other’s heights in their own world.

The boundary line is thus carefully drawn over many years.

If there were such a long, slender line, I would want to walk along it, singing a tune. But I’m not a fool; I may have retained my childlike innocence, but I’m not a fool. If a human were to walk along the boundary line in the vast plateau where no trees grow, it would be too conspicuous. The village chief Vilter who told me to walk like that must have had his eyes on me.

But I wouldn’t do that. Even if I’m not a solitary wizard, I wouldn’t walk on top of the grass, leaving the trees behind. Just below the boundary line, hiding inside the trees, I cautiously walked. Ready to quickly hide underground if any beasts were to appear.

As I walked aimlessly, I saw in the distance a cloud-covered peak. Clouds, exhausted, seemed to pause as if momentarily resting on the steep cliff that suddenly appeared while climbing the rocky path. Normally, I would have said, “Look at that scenery,” and passed by. But now, I hid my body below the boundary line, carefully observing the peak.

“There must be a mountain called Mokingyeon Colli over there.”

Certainly, I could see a point in the distance twinkling. A white mass spread wide enough to be compared to clouds, and in between, shadows of people sticking out.

Vampires, humans, and the herds of sheep they cared for seemed to linger there.

“If it’s Mokingyeon, does that mean it raises people? Sheep, shepherds, and shepherd’s skills.”

According to what I’ve read, Mokingyeon Colli is a creature of Elder Lunkun. I vaguely read evaluations that it is a well-known lineage of dog and surprisingly intelligent for a beast. Roughly understood as a superior companion of a wizard.

It was difficult to know their abilities or weaknesses just by others’ thoughts, but one thing is for sure.

I can’t win.

I barely managed to defeat Eiling; what’s an Ain? It’s an Ain that can’t be killed properly because of its formidable physical strength, and I would be fortunate if I could win by decision even if I became a decision loser.

“So, if possible, it shouldn’t be too noticeable….”

In an instant, I felt a tingling sensation and quickly crouched down. It wasn’t something learned; it was a sense of danger ingrained at an animal level, creeping over my body.

Having partially dug the ground with earth magic, I raised my head to look across. On the opposite side of the ridge, a vast open plain spread out. A few beasts were roaming there with a slight air of unease. I observed their movements.

“…Wolves.”

Not all animals are hostile to humans. However, wolves are invariably hostile. As if they had taken away all the friendliness, just like their distant relatives, dogs.

I held my breath and hid until the wolves disappeared from sight. The pack that was roaming on the other side glanced towards the ridge for a moment and then departed somewhere. Confirming that the wolves were far enough, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Phew, I’m alive. If I had encountered them on the plain without earth magic, it could have been dangerous.”

Now, with earth magic, I can evade my body if I sense danger in advance. If I sense it in advance.

The problem is that I can’t read the thoughts of beasts. Wolves, at least, could ambush me in the bushes. They could persistently watch the ground I dug for days. Or they could possess the agility to bite my arms and legs before I use earth magic.

Wolves have always been the greatest threat to humans. It’s the same for me, a prince among humans.

“Mmm, definitely. Crossing the mountains is a significant risk. The mountain itself is dangerous, not to mention the vampire patrol and mountain beasts; it’s not just one or two risks.”

I might as well dig the ground to cross the mountains… but that’s practically impossible. Even with earth magic, it would take at least a month, and finding a path underground is also difficult. Moreover, the threats I would encounter are not to be underestimated. If I disturb a vein, I could suffocate underground, or if the tunnel collapses, I might leave behind the fossil of a human king.

“But it’s better than the border guarded by the Elders.”

Of course, coming here without any plan wasn’t an option.

The kingdom is not a country with a large population, not proactive in livestock education, and lacks motivation to become stronger, making it a difficult environment for a special human to be born. However, occasionally, even among livestock, there are individuals with abundant energy and unique magic, unexpectedly emerging. Like Lir Nightingale.

What would such a talented human do in the kingdom? One of two things: try to become a vampire or escape.

There must have been those who attempted to escape. My job is to either follow the path that the ancient sages walked or learn from their failures.

“Ain must have a reason for shepherding near the border. It must have been a hotspot for runaways. It might be difficult to pass through openly, but if you hide well, it can be easy.”

Although she lives separately as a shepherd, she doesn’t live alone. There must be a village nearby that serves as a base. Not as large as Hilld, but I’m confident in hiding among humans.

It’s an improvised plan, but not a bad one. I praised myself and headed towards the nearby village.

“Woof! Woof!”

…Of course. I should have been a bit more cautious.

A large dog stared at me and barked loudly. The only difference between this dog with its dignified beige fur and exposed sharp teeth and a wolf was that it hadn’t bitten me yet.

Damn it. I can read human thoughts, but apparently, I can’t read dog thoughts. I never expected such a big obstacle from the beginning.

“Ruff.”

“Are you a good boy, a good dog? I’ll find out. I’m human. I’m your human friend.”

“Ruff ruff ruff.”

“Even if it feels unfamiliar, I’m neither an enemy nor will I harm you. I’m your friend. Good boy.”

“Ruff ruff ruff…”

Easing my expression and maintaining a gentle smile, I continued sending friendly messages. The dog, showing a bit less vigilance, slowly approached me. Sniffing the air, it tried to determine whether I was a dangerous person or not.

Seems like a friendly one towards humans. Well, it has to be if it’s a dog. Since I’ve managed to avoid being bitten by a dog, I cautiously continued to communicate.

“Browny? Where did he go?”

Ah, there you go. There’s no way the dog came alone.

From a distance, I heard the voice of someone calling. The dog, without even looking back, ran towards its owner. The tail wagging as it ran was the unmistakable behavior of a well-trained dog.

“Why did you suddenly run like that? Is someone there?”

Encountering a person without being in control is not good… but it can’t be helped. Now is not the time to hide.

I revealed myself in front of the shepherd. The shepherd boy looked like a young cowboy, wearing a large hat and holding a staff. Upon noticing me, he became cautious.

A little kid is no problem at all… The problem is that dog. I don’t want to know how aggressive a shepherd’s dog can become. I’ll be the reference, so to speak.

Perhaps sensing its owner’s emotions, the dog’s expression became fiercer. Before the boy could say anything, I greeted him.

“Hello, little one. This place is…”

Reading minds with cunning, using an expression that wouldn’t betray any discomfort. Without approaching the boy, I raised both hands and inquired.

“Is this where Coli is? I have an important matter to discuss with Coli, could you tell me where to find him?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“Coli? What’s it about?”

Alright then.

To deceive someone, it’s often better to utilize the truth rather than lies. Creating a nonexistent Ace of Spades to show is more challenging than showing the Heart 2 twice to induce a mistaken belief in a pair.

I don’t go easy on someone just because they’re a kid. I whispered to the boy with a stern expression.

“The Village Chief of Bilitear in Black Valley sent me. There’s a fugitive from Black Valley, you see.”

“A fugitive?”

“Yeah, a fugitive. A stranger came looking for food, and when refused, they sneaked into the village, stole provisions, and disappeared. So Chief Bilitear asked me to deliver the news. Coli is the only one capable of finding a suspicious person.”

To the boy, I was the suspicious one. Although I wasn’t actively involved in the lively interactions with Black Valley Village, I had seen the comings and goings a few times. However, this was the first time I encountered a completely unfamiliar face.

So, I pretended to be chasing an imaginary suspicious person. Redirecting suspicion away from me.

The boy, after carefully considering, asked.

“A fugitive? When?”

“Not long ago. It happened last night.”

“Really…? That’s really strange.”

“What is?”

Approaching as if catching the fugitive was the goal had succeeded. With the mystery blossoming in his mind, the boy had no reason to doubt me. He shook his head and said,

“The fugitive has already been caught. Coli took them to the outpost.”

“What?”

The fugitive caught already? Was I the one caught?

This time, it was my turn to tilt my head.

What is the most crucial ability a shepherd should possess?

The ability to communicate with animals? The strength to fend off fierce wolves? The stamina to run through the fields with the sheep?

All are necessary, but that’s not the most important. The ability to endure boredom amidst the animals, that is what is most greatly demanded.

The boy, still an apprentice, had enough talent for shepherding. He embellished the story with all sorts of details in response to my questions. With this level of skill, he would be just fine spending several months alone.

Following the boy’s guidance, I headed towards the village. Listening to the boy’s words and reading his thoughts, I could deduce a rather astonishing fact.

“A wanted order has been issued?”

“Yes. Facing the night creatures, the poet and the elder staged a miraculous escape in the middle of Manwol’s Castle. They committed a tremendous mistake, so the Scarlet Blood Sect issued a stern order to capture them alive. That way, they can inflict terrible suffering!”

This must be a lie, right? Surely, they won’t kill me?

“Who conveyed this news?”

“The envoy of the Scarlet Blood Sect! So cool and magnificent! Came like the wind and disappeared like the wind!”

While I felt that the operation of the Scarlet Blood Sect was somewhat primitive, Vladimir’s fist was remarkably fast and sharp. I had done my best to escape, and the envoy had already come and gone. I asked, seeking information.

“The fugitive that Colly supposedly caught, was it the one who came to our village?”

“They said they found the fugitive last night, right? Then it can’t be. The village was noisy just yesterday.”

“Is that so? That’s quite strange.”

I even considered Hilde, but she was with me yesterday. Could it be someone else taking advantage of the weakened guard due to the night creatures?

“How about the impression of the fugitive?”

“Well… I was herding sheep at that time, so I didn’t get a good look. But considering that Colly hastily ran over and, looking tired, came back after a while, telling us to leave, it seems like it was a formidable opponent.”

To have a formidable opponent against Ein in this misty realm. Where could this person have hidden their strength? Apart from me and Hilde, there shouldn’t be anyone else of that caliber.

The boy sighed as if regretting something and asked me.

“There? What happened in the Black Valley village?”

“A fugitive sneaked into the village and stole food. Ended up having a big fight with Mayor Villitear.”

“A fight? With the vampire mayor?”

The story of a fight seemed to ignite a fire in the boy’s chest. I narrated my tale, adapting it to captivate the boy who eagerly questioned, eyes shining.

“Really?! The mayor lost?”

“Yep. We thought Mayor would give him a good scolding, but later found out the mayor was tied up while the fugitive calmly left.”

And that’s the story. You’re dealing with a formidable opponent you can’t even imagine. The boy muttered as if in shock.

“Even a vampire mayor can lose during the day….”

“That fugitive is something else. Managed to overpower the mayor even in broad daylight.”

Boasting proudly of my newfound strength, the boy shouted as if in disagreement.

“But Colly is the strongest. Mayor Villitear is a Yeiling, and Colly is an Ein! The fugitive is just a tossed bone in front of Colly!”

“That’s the problem.”

“What?”

Indeed. I barely defeated Yeiling, how can I beat Ein? I urged the puzzled boy as Brownie, who had been wandering around us, raised its head and barked.

“Woof! Woof Woof!”

“Browny? Why?”

“Woof! Woof!”

He’s running around as if he’s excited about something. It’s completely different from when he barks at me. The boy was taken aback by Browny’s wild behavior, not knowing what to do with his joy.

“What’s going on with him?”

“Woof woof!”

“Woof!”

Thump, thump. Soon, the sound of running footsteps could be heard. A dog suddenly popped out from the other side and stood in front of Browny. Browny, who had fiercely barked at me, now had his ears folded back and lowered his body as if to say, “When did this happen?”

Even dogs have hierarchies. Browny, who instinctively recognized the newcomer as the leader, obediently lowered himself.

“Browny? Who is that person? Did you become friends while I was away?”

Although the boy felt a sense of betrayal from Browny’s submissive behavior, there was no need for it. Unlike humans, it’s only natural for a dog to submit to the alpha dog.

But the question I had was something else entirely.

“Why did you come here?”

“Woof? Nice to see you! Nice to see you!”

Azzy, who was receiving Browny’s submission, wagged his tail and approached me without hesitation. We had been apart for quite some time, but it felt as if that time had been seamlessly stitched together. Azzy came right up to me without any delay and put his face against my thigh.

Both dogs who dislike people and dogs who like people are a problem. Either way, they both come running to find people. Whether it’s good or bad, I can’t help but get caught.

“What’s this? Are you two acquainted?”

“No. It’s just that…”

A dog-human hybrid may look like a dog, but it’s not a dog. However, Azzy may look like a dog-human hybrid, but he’s a dog. To me, it was just one dog welcoming a reunion, but in the boy’s eyes, it seemed like a hybrid circling around me.

The boy with widened eyes clenched his teeth. Before I could say anything in defense.

Another whimper came from behind Azzy.