Do the Abyssal Guard Dogs Dream? — FUWAMOCO Fragment: The Demon's Perspective - The Twins' Oath — The Scent of Poison Lurking in the Shallow Layers

Morning came to the shallow layers of the Abyss. Not that the Abyss had anything so grand as a morning. There was only the pale, quiet glow of the phosphorescent moss that clung thick to the cavern walls. Still, for Fuwawa and Mococo, the hours when that light filtered through were what they called "morning." The air in the shallow layers was astonishingly gentle compared to the deeper reaches. The concentration of Abyssal force was low, and only the occasional low-tier monster — an Abyss Crawler or the like — wandered in by mistake. Before the cave the two called home, several blue-black trees — a species that grew nowhere but the shallow layers — had sunk their roots deep into the stone, their branches heavy with clusters of small fruit. Abyss berries. Their skins were a deep indigo, and when split open, they spilled juice that glowed faintly from within. Sweet, with just a whisper of tartness. Mococo's absolute favorite. "Big Sister, these berries over here are super sweet!" Mococo called out as she stretched toward a low-hanging branch. Her fluffy white hair swayed with the motion. The insides of the dog ears perked atop her head were a pale pink. Her eyes, by nature, should have been shining a bright, vivid pink. But this morning, that radiance looked just a little dimmed. Fuwawa had noticed the change in her little sister. Noticed — and said nothing. "Really? Then let's eat them together later, okay?" Fuwawa wore a gentle smile as she came to stand beside Mococo. Her hair was the same fluffy white as her sister's. But her eyes were a clear, translucent aqua, and the insides of her dog ears matched. Twin sisters — a paired existence. "Hey, hey, Big Sister. Let's play tag later, okay?" "Oh, Mococo, you're always so full of energy. Didn't we just play yesterday?" "But it's fun! Today I'm gonna beat you for sure, Big Sister!" Mococo clenched both fists and bounced up and down. At that innocent sight, something in Fuwawa's chest tightened. (She's been off lately.) Behind her smile, Fuwawa thought it. She couldn't point to anything specific. Just — sometimes, Mococo's movements would stop for the briefest instant. Her gaze would drift, unfocused, as if staring at something far away. Last night, too, Mococo's breathing as she slept in the cave had broken its rhythm more than once. The Guard Dog clan possessed absolute resistance to Abyssal force. They almost never fell ill. And yet — what was this unease? "Big Sister, what's wrong?" Mococo peered up into Fuwawa's face. "Nothing. It's nothing. Come on, let's get back to picking berries." Fuwawa gently stroked her sister's head. Mococo narrowed her eyes in delight. "Big Sister, today I'm gonna pick the biggest berry of all!" "Hehe, do your best." The two began picking berries side by side. The blue-black branches bent supplely, laden with countless tiny fruits. Mococo stretched up on her toes, reaching for a large berry at the very top. "Almost... almost..." She stood on tiptoe, straining. But just before her fingertips could close around the fruit, she lost her balance. "Whoa!" "Mococo!" Fuwawa caught her sister's body in an instant. Mococo's small shoulder bumped against Fuwawa's chest. "Are you okay?" "Y-yeah... thanks, Big Sister." Mococo smiled, a little embarrassed. "Look, see that branch? The berry on it is huge. I wanted that one so bad..." "I'll get it for you." Fuwawa leaped lightly and caught hold of the high branch. The physical abilities of the Guard Dog clan far surpassed those of humans. She plucked the largest berry with ease and placed it in her sister's palm. "Wow...! Big Sister, you're amazing! This one's so big!" Mococo's pink eyes sparkled. "But you picked it, Big Sister, so you should eat it." "Are you sure? You're the one who wanted it." "Yeah. But I'm giving it to you. Because you always give me the big ones, right?" Mococo beamed and pressed the berry into Fuwawa's hand. Something deep in Fuwawa's chest went warm and soft. "...Thank you, Mococo. Then let's split it in half." "Yeah! Half and half!" They broke the big berry in two and popped the halves into their mouths at the same time. Sweet juice flooded their mouths. Berries from the shallow layers carried a faint, tingling bite from the Abyssal force — a sensation the two of them couldn't get enough of. "It's delicious." "Delicious!" They looked at each other and laughed. "Fuwamoco!" Their usual call-and-response, voices in perfect unison. Their laughter echoed through the shallow layers. Watching her sister's smile, Fuwawa found herself remembering yesterday. Yesterday evening, Mococo had suddenly said this: "Hey, Big Sister. Lately, I feel like the deep places are... restless." "Restless?" "Yeah. Like something painful is stretching out toward us. ...I can't really explain it." Mococo had clutched at her own chest. A chill had run down Fuwawa's spine at those words. (Mococo's intuition is sharp. She can sense subtle shifts in the Abyss that even I miss.) "It's just your imagination, Mococo. The Abyss is the same as always." Fuwawa had answered with a smile. But inside, she was certain the Abyss was changing. For the past few days, the air in the shallow layers had grown faintly stagnant. The flow of Abyssal force was disturbed. Something had begun to stir in the deep places. (Don't tell me the seal is...) Fuwawa shook her head. (No, I'm overthinking it. We guard the door at the deepest layer. As long as no one breaks the covenant, the seal cannot be undone.) The Guard Dog's covenant. An ancient code passed down to the Guard Dog clan, who watched over each layer of the Abyss. "Never open the door at the deepest layer." "Preserve the balance of the Abyss." "Never become deeply involved with humans." Fuwawa had kept this covenant since she was small. "Big Sister, look, look! This berry is shaped like a heart!" Mococo's voice pulled Fuwawa back to the present. "It really is. How cute." "I'm giving this one to you, Big Sister!" Mococo gently placed the heart-shaped berry in Fuwawa's palm. "...You really are kind, Mococo." Ehehe. 'Cause I love you, Big Sister." Mococo squeezed her arms tight around Fuwawa. Feeling her sister's warmth, Fuwawa quietly closed her eyes. (I wish this moment could last forever.) She couldn't help but wish it. But the Abyss would never grant their wish. "Big Sister, um..." Mococo, face still buried in Fuwawa's chest, murmured. "...Lately, I feel like the deep places are restless. Like something painful is stretching out toward us." Fuwawa's heart lurched. The same words as yesterday. But this time, her voice was thinner, trembling with fear. "Mococo..." "Haven't you noticed, Big Sister? I'm... I'm really scared." Mococo's body was trembling in small shivers. Fuwawa held her sister tight. "It's okay. It's okay, Mococo. I'll always be right here." "...Yeah." Mococo pressed her face into Fuwawa's chest and gave a small nod. Stroking her sister's head, Fuwawa repeated it over and over in her heart. (It's okay. I'll protect her. I will protect Mococo.) That vow was something she had told herself again and again since she was small. The first time Fuwawa controlled Abyssal force was exactly one hundred years ago. She had been fifty then, and Mococo forty-eight. The shallow layers were relatively safe, but even so, Abyss Crawlers sometimes wandered in. Abyss Crawlers. Monsters roughly two meters long, with black, viscous bodies. Danger level C. Trash, to a Guard Dog — but back then, the two of them were still young, and barely knew how to use Abyssal force. That day, too, they had been picking berries deep in the shallow layers. "Big Sister, there are bigger berries over there!" "Mococo, don't go too far." "It's fine! I'll be right back!" Ignoring Fuwawa's warning, Mococo ran off. And vanished beyond the trees. Minutes later. "Kyaaaaaaaah!" Mococo's scream tore through the shallow layers. "Mococo!" Fuwawa ran at full speed toward the sound of her sister's voice. There, she found a swarm of Abyss Crawlers. Five. No — ten or more. Black blobs of slime writhed, surrounding small Mococo. "Big Sister! Help me! Big Sister!" Mococo sat on the ground, sobbing. The Abyss Crawlers closed in around her, inch by inch. Fuwawa's legs shook with terror. (I'm scared. I'm scared too.) But her sister was crying. (I have to protect Mococo.) Fuwawa forced her trembling legs forward. "Get away from Mococo!" She planted herself in front of her sister and thrust both hands forward. Abyssal force. The energy that seeped from the Abyss. The root of all magic. But it was also a dangerous power — every use eroded a tiny sliver of the user's memories. Fuwawa knew this. Even so, she didn't hesitate. (If it's to protect Mococo, I'll lose as many memories as it takes.) Fuwawa unleashed the torrent of Abyssal force from within her body. Aqua light enveloped her whole being and spilled outward. The instant the Abyss Crawlers touched that light, they shrieked their death cries and burst apart. In an instant, the swarm was annihilated. Fuwawa collapsed on the spot, spent. "Big Sister!" Mococo ran to her. "Big Sister, are you okay!? Big Sister!" "...I'm fine. Are you hurt, Mococo?" "I'm okay. You saved me, Big Sister." Her face a mess of tears, Mococo clung to Fuwawa. "Thank you, Big Sister. I love you, Big Sister." Feeling her sister's warmth, Fuwawa quietly closed her eyes. (Ah, thank goodness. Mococo is safe.) From that day on, Fuwawa threw herself into mastering Abyssal force. To protect Mococo. To never let her sister be in danger again. And she vowed: (As long as I live, I will protect Mococo. That is my reason for existing.) For Fuwawa, Mococo's smile was the origin of everything. The reason she kept the Guard Dog's covenant was that preserving the balance of the Abyss meant a safe life for Mococo. Never open the door at the deepest layer. Never touch the core of the Abyss. Keeping that covenant would keep Mococo safe. Fuwawa believed this with all her heart. "Big Sister, look! This berry is so big!" Mococo's voice pulled Fuwawa from her memories. "It really is. So big." "Let's split this one too, Big Sister!" "Thank you." They shared the berry and ate again. Sweet juice spread through their mouths. But Fuwawa couldn't taste that sweetness honestly. Deep in her chest, a small unease pricked at her like a thorn. (Mococo's words. The deep places are restless. ...That can't just be her imagination.) Fuwawa gazed into the depths of the Abyss. From the shallow layers, the deeper layers were invisible. But her keen senses caught the subtle shifts in the air. (Something is happening. In the deep places, something is.) Fuwawa bit down hard. That was when it happened. Mococo suddenly clutched her chest and doubled over. "...Big Sister." "Mococo!? What's wrong!?" Fuwawa rushed to her sister. "Something... hurts. My chest... it's squeezing." Mococo's face was pale. Supporting her sister, Fuwawa searched the air around them. And she noticed. The Abyssal air was stagnant. Invisible to the eye. But something was definitely flowing into the shallow layers. Abyssal poison. The poison that Valgrim wielded — the poison that eroded memory and perception. Fuwawa knew of its existence from her studies. (Don't tell me it's reached even these shallow layers.) She flared her nostrils. The smell of poison. A sickly-sweet stench, like rotting flowers, drifting faintly on the air. "Mococo, get behind me!" Fuwawa shielded her sister behind her back and focused her Abyssal force. Aqua light wrapped around her entire body. "...There!" Fuwawa loosed a torrent of Abyssal force at the invisible threads of poison. The air burst apart. The unseen threads scattered into mist. But a portion of them pierced Fuwawa's chest. "...gh!" A small, sh

日本語

What is Novelia? →

Episode 2

Name: Do the Abyssal Guard Dogs Dream? — FUWAMOCO Fragment: The Demon's Perspective
Author: Novelia

What is Novelia?

Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.

Learn more about Novelia →New sign-ups get 5,000pt