Back to the Future 1999: Raining at the Same Time

"Paper Letter Circle, where is the next place?"

"Let me see which direction the fireflies are pointing... East!"

"East? Hmm, I hope it's not what I think."

……

"—So, it was you, a little thing, who shamelessly said you wanted my most precious thing?"

The dog, speaking human language, opened its mouth, with its pink tongue sticking out slightly, trembling slightly up and down with its breathing.

"Yes, but I just—"

"You're going to say 'Yes! Boss!'"

The dog suddenly became vicious and glared at the paper letter circle fiercely.

"Yes, boss!"

"Yes, Boss! We didn't try to open the can and steal food!"

After hearing this answer, I knew it couldn't be a paper letter circle.

They are two other cute little dogs.

"I'm not talking to you two! Go chew your bones over there, little dog!"

As expected, a scolding.

"Oh okay."

Paper Letter Circle and the Lantern Operator watched in silence as the two puppies ran away dejectedly.

"...Yes, Boss. But actually I just want to borrow it."

Obediently following Boss Gilt's wishes, the paper letter circle expressed its demands.

"My name was stolen by evil goblins. They like to hide stolen names in things that others cherish. I just want to see if my name is here."

As he spoke, tears of grievance were about to fall from the corners of his eyes. Boss Gilt also slowed down his tone and asked:

"Why do you think they like to hide things in places like that?"

"Because...if it's something very valuable, people won't take it out easily."

"Completely correct."

Calmly acknowledging her cleverness, Gilt continued:

"I don't know the grudge between you and that goblin, nor do I care. I can lend you my treasure, but not for free."

"You must pass my test, one on one! If you win, I will agree to lend you my treasure."

He put forward the conditions and waited for the paper letter circle to make a choice, but the lantern attendant spoke first.

"This...paper letter circle."

She looked at the circle of paper letters worriedly.

It didn't seem like a good idea to go one-on-one with such a big, powerful-looking dog.

But after a little thought, Zhixinquaner nodded.

"I understand, Lantern Operator. But... this sounds much more reasonable than paying money. I accept it."

"But... I'll decide the content of the competition. Is that okay with you?" (What a Game of Life)

……

"Are you ready? I'm about to leave!"

Hearing the call from Boss Gilt in the distance, Paper Letter Circle, who had curled up in a ball and hidden himself in the corner of the factory, couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe... She'll never find me."

"I'm a champion at hide-and-seek. That time, even after dark, when everyone had gone home, no one could find me."

"But there's a lot of canned food here. Jelly eels, Sunday roast, toad in the hole, steak and kidney pudding..."

"And canned shepherd's pie! I love shepherd's pie the most. I wonder what the canned version tastes like?"

"Right? Right? Every puppy wants to know what it tastes like!"

"Where did you come from?!"

Paper Letter Circle thought she had hidden herself perfectly and didn't have any psychological defenses against the surrounding environment, so when the two puppies appeared, she was really scared!

"Shh! Don't be so loud, you'll be discovered."

"But even if you stay here, we'll find you eventually. We can smell where you are!"

"The eldest has a particularly keen sense of smell. Her wet black nose has led her to countless bad guys!"

"You're right...you're dogs! So what should I do?"

Realizing their negligence, Paper Letter Circle was a little flustered for a moment.

The two puppies looked at each other and wagged their tails.

"If you agree to one condition..."

"We'll help you!"

Another puppy joined in excitedly...

The scene changed and came to Boss Gilt.

"It smells like an old collar, not this...it smells like a glass bottle, not this...hmm?"

"Coarse clothes...little slips of paper and ink...the smell of the wind, the smell of the birds...Ahaha!"

"I win, little one. I found you!"

The barrier covering the small corner was overturned by Boss Gilt, but there was no one inside.

——Only a pair of very familiar shoes and socks were left there alone. (Quick! Whirlpool mouth!)

"...Woof?"

"Just want to—"

"attack!"

The two puppies gave orders at the same time, and Paper Letter Circle took advantage of Boss Gilt's brief moment of distraction to capture her in one fell swoop.

Bang—dust flew up, and the circle of paper letters falling from the sky completed a perfect sneak attack!

She stood up from the body of Boss Gilt, who was still unconscious and was pinned down by her, and proudly brushed off the dust on her skirt.

"Here's a little secret: when people are looking for something, they tend to ignore what's above their heads, even dogs are no exception."

The lamplighter also ran over immediately and checked her body to see if she was injured.

"I... can't believe you actually won the bet with Boss Gilt."

"Well done! We gave the boss a hard time!"

"Yes, we did it! Paper Letter Circle, you must keep your promise!"

The two puppies came up to her eagerly, jumping and dancing around the paper letter excitedly, urging her not to forget the agreement. Their eldest brother was so anxious that he jumped up with his teeth bared.

"You...you two little puppies! What kind of trouble are you causing?!"

"Aha! I see. You two, just because you wanted to eat canned food, you and this little guy—"

This time it was her turn to be interrupted, and it was her own younger brother who interrupted her.

"No, Boss! You're always like this, treating us like ignorant puppies!"

"We are no longer ignorant puppies who only think about stealing canned food. We can help you, Boss. Look, we can even surprise you, Boss!"

The two puppies competed to express their desire for recognition.

"Yes, Boss Gilt. They didn't help me just to steal the canned food. As a condition for helping me, they asked for..."

"Let me be a witness and prove to Boss Gilt that they are very powerful puppies."

"Yes, it's a very capable puppy! It won't steal canned food, and it can help the boss!"

"Can you take us with you on your next hunt? We don't want to always have to wait in a safe place for everyone to come back."

"You ignorant puppies, do you know that I'm doing this for your own good...!"

Boss Gilt still insisted on his stubborn opinion and shook his head slightly.

"...Tsk..."

As if she had gone through a mental struggle, or perhaps because she really saw the growth of the two puppies, she finally gave in.

"Okay... Anyway, I lose."

"Take that out."

The calmer puppy wagged its tail and took out a fang that looked very hard.

"This is the tooth I lost fighting the black dog at Newgate some years ago."

"I lost my sharpest fang, but I also won the duel."

"With this strong body and these sharp fangs, I call myself a protector, and I always rely on my own strength to solve all problems."

"This tusk is a symbol of my pride."

The tusk was handed to the letter holder, along with a final message:

"But... maybe it also makes me self-righteous."

"Perhaps I can do better without it. Take it."

"Is this okay? Isn't this something very important to you?"

"Unnecessary questions!"

Another scolding.

"Do I look like the type of guy who's going to go back and forth and change his mind?"

"Okay, then... I'll be nice. After all, it looks really cool! And... maybe it's exactly what I'm looking for."

Just as Zhixinquaner guessed, after she took the fang, the familiar light appeared beside her again.

"The fifth letter! Sure enough, it's here."

"Now there are only the last two left. It seems that our progress is still very smooth. You even passed the level of Boss Gilt."

The lantern bearer congratulated the paper circle, but now she was only concerned about which direction the fireflies would point next.

"Let me see where the fireflies are pointing... huh?"

"Strange, they seem to be still flying east. But... this is already the easternmost part of the crossroads."

He frowned slightly, and confusion was written all over the lantern operator's face.

The two of them looked at each other.

"Does this mean that the rest of my name is... outside the crossroads?"

The lamplighter's expression darkened and a look of worry appeared on his face.

"But that's... where Banagher hangs out."