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centralgoldstarCain: Let me introduce this guy to everyone here. This is Richard, the horse I told you guys about.
Riquet: He is so dashing! Are horses all this big when we see them up close?
Akira: His fur is so glossy too! Nice to meet you, Richard!
Arthur: It’s been a while, Richard. How are you?
That day, there was a visit from Richard, the army horse that was Cain’s partner.
Riquet: Cain, I heard that horses love carrots, so I asked Nero to spare some. May I feed him?
Cain: Sure. Be careful so that he won’t chew on your hand too.
Arthur: I’d like to give him a brushing. It must feel nice to comb his fur under the sunlight like this. Master Oz, would you like to brush him with me?
Oz: No.
Riquet: Are you afraid of horses, Oz? Richard is a nice, friendly horse, so there should be no problem.
Cain: Ahaha, I’m glad everyone likes him. Akira, thank you for giving me the permission to bring Richard to the Magic Manor.
Akira: No need to thank me. I’m happy that I get to meet him too.
Looking at Cain’s face, which was full of joy, I recalled what happened a few days before.
[Recollection]
Akira: Cain, you have something you want to talk over with me?
Cain: Ah, I’d like to talk to you about inviting a horse to the Magic Manor.
Akira: A horse?
Cain: Yeah, an army horse that was my partner when I was with the Knights. From what I’ve heard, they decided to retire him and let him live in a farm near the border. He will go by the Magic Manor on his way there, so my former comrades asked me if I would meet him. Since a horse is still an outsider, I’d like to discuss the matter with you first, Master Sage.
Akira: Of course, feel free to bring him here! He must be happy if he can meet you too.
Cain: Thank you! I’d like to see him off, so I’m glad to hear that. That’s right! Would you like to see him when he is here? I’ll invite Arthur, Riquet, and Oz too.
[End of recollection]
Riquet: Whoa, why is he licking my cheek? Ahaha, that tickles!
Cain: That’s because he likes you, Riquet.
Akira: (Cain looks really happy that he can meet Richard)
Akira: Excuse me, can I give Richard some carrot….. What?! An explosion?!
Arthur: The sound came from the roof. Maybe the Norther Wizards caused it? Ah! Richard!
Richard: *neighs*
Riquet: Whoa! Richard is bolting!
Cain: Richard!
Richard: *neighs*
Startled by the sound of explosion, Richard became agitated and acted out.
Arthur: Calm down, Richard! Master Sage, please get behind me!
Oz: … Vox no…..
Cain: Don’t do that. I’ll calm him down. Everyone, please step back.
Having said that, Cain gently stroke the neck of Richard, who continued to lash out, and started talking to him.
Cain: Calm down, Richard. No one around here is your enemy. Calm down and look into my eyes. I’ll pet your back, so breathe, slowly.
Richard: …….. *snorts*
Cain: Yes, like that. Good boy. You’re really smart, aren’t you.
Akira: Amazing! He really calmed down in no time.
As I got close to him without thinking, Richard softly touched me with his nose as if to say sorry.
Riquet: It’s as if he really understands what Cain says! Does Richard know human speech?
Cain: He is smart, after all. If we sincerely try to reach out to him, he’ll listen to us. Hey Oz, you should come here too. It seems that Richard is curious about you. He has been moving his ears in your direction. He must have understood that you wanted to use magic to calm him down too.
Arthur: Master Oz, please come. Horses love sweet things, so I think he’ll be happy if you give him some sugar.
Riquet: You probably don’t know how to feed him yet, so I will show you!
Oz: …..
After a moment of complete silence, Oz slowly walked towards Richard. There was sugar on his hand.
Akira: He ate it!
Richard: *snorts*
Cain: He thinks that was tasty. Well done, Oz!
Arthur: As expected, Master Oz. If you don’t mind, how about you giving him a brushing next?
Oz: I will.
[Time skips to the evening]
Akira: Oh, time sure flies. The sun is about to set already.
Cain: The time to say goodbye to him has finally come, huh.
As he petted Richard, who kept pressing his nose at him, Cain looked at the forest nearby.
Cain: I’m going to take Richard for a walk around the forest one last time. You guys want to join me?
Riquet: It is a pity but I already plan to help with dinner, so I will come back inside.
Arthur: I’d like to join you guys but I’ve work that I brought from the castle. Master Oz, you will retire to your room, won’t you.
Oz: Yes.
Cain: What about you, Akira? Since there’s still time, do you want to go with us?
Akira: Yes. Since he came all the way here, I’d like to stay with Richard a bit more until we part with him.
Cain: Thank you. He’s happy that you go with us too. Well then, we’ll be going since it’s getting late.
As we arrived at the forest, Richard stopped and stared at us for some reason.
Akira: Huh? What’s the matter?
Cain: He wants me to have a ride with him. Do you remember how he pressed his face at me earlier? That’s his way to invite someone too.
Cain: I got you, Richard. I’m taking up on your offer since you insist. What about you, Akira?
Akira: May I?
Richard: *Snorts*
Cain: Haha, he has no problem with that. In that case, let’s go.
With practiced ease, Cain got on Richard’s back then lent me his hand from there.
Cain: Please take my hand. I am honored to accompany you on this little trip under the sunset.
Akira: Thank you for your kind offer! In that case, I will…. Whoa!
Cain: Good, you’re seated properly. What’s the view like from here? It must be a new experience from what you see normally.
Akira: I can see well into the distance! Also when you’re on horseback, you’re very knightly and dashing.
Cain: Haha, really? Then I’ll tell you a story about our time with the Knights. That day, it was raining when we were on our duty patrol at a village in the border area. We came across a pack of wolves that were about to attack a farm. There was a child playing by the fence and the sheep. The sheep immediately noticed the wolves and ran off. The child was left behind and got surrounded by the wolves.
Akira: Ehh?!
Cain: I thought the child would end up being eaten by the wolves if it went on like that, so Richard and I rushed to the child’s place and managed to rescue them in the nick of time. Afterwards, the wolves were driven away, and the sheep were safe. From the bottom of my heart, I was relieved that I could protect them.
Akira: So something like that happened. It’s really like you to rush to the child’s help when they were in danger.
Cain: Thank you. That incident is something I take pride in.
Richard: *snorts*
Akira: Ahaha, yes, you too, Richard. You’re a hero too.
Cain: That’s right. Back then, the child could be saved because you charged in the pack of wolves without hesitation. It’s all thanks to you, Richard.
As we continued our walk, we arrived at an open clearing. Richard immediately tapped his front foot repeatedly on the ground.
Cain: Akira, it seems he wants to have a run around the forest. He’s pretty fast when he runs at his full strength. I won’t let you fall, but please hold on tightly just to be sure.
Akira: Understood! Is this okay?
Cain: Yeah, you’re doing good. So, we’re done with our preparation. Let’s go, Richard! It’s our one last run! Don’t get tired in the middle of the way!
Richard: *neighs*
Akira: Wow, it’s like I’m riding the wind!
Cain: Ahaha, this feels great, doesn’t it!
My heart danced from this novel, brilliant, incomparable joyful experience. On their faces, which were lit up by the setting sun, there was no lamentation of a farewell. Only the radiant wholehearted savoring of this irreplaceable moment.
Card episode: A Shared Memory
Akira: Cain, if you don’t mind, could you tell me about other events from the time you were with the Knights that you remember? The story you told be the other day was great, so I’d like hear more and record them in the Sage’s Guide.
Cain: My stories will be recorded in the Sage’s Guide? What an honor! Thank you, Master Sage. Let me see, an event that I remember, huh. Ah, I accompanied His Highness as his bodyguard on his tours to inspect the city many times. So, that day, I went to town to buy cookies and kept it a secret from the rest of the entourage.
Akira: Cookies?
Cain: Yeah, cookies from a humble shop in the backstreets. Arthur saw people in the city eat them while walking around, so he got curious. But he couldn’t publicly go buy snacks in the middle of an official inspection tour, so I sneaked out and bought some in secret during the down time when I changed guarding shift with my subordinate.
Akira: That’s awesome! You’re so clever!
Cain: Haha, thank you. After that, I only planned to take a bite to check for poison, but Arthur gave me half of the cookies like it was only natural to do so. We ate them in secret on the way back.
Akira: Wow, what a beautiful memory!
Cain: I know, right! Master Sage, you too should make some beautiful memories with me.
Akira: Eh?
Cain: Ah, today I visited that shop again after a long while and bought cookies for everyone. Let’s eat them together after dinner.
Akira: That’ll be lovely! Thank you, Cain!
