The picturesque rice cakes are delicious today

16 Stories: Requests and Thunder * 4

"I was supposed to take care of the house there as a knight apprentice when I was 14."

Laocles, yes, starts talking.

"It was a house ruling the western realm from here. territory not so great, but was flourishing whispering by good governance"

"Kind of like Red Gard territory?

"I don't know. Much smaller than here, if you think only of the area. Especially since there wasn't an inviolable vast forest in the heart of the territory, it wouldn't help."

Speaking of which, I was. Redgard territory is a lot of inconvenience because of the woods I live in.

"... well, that's the kind of lord's house I served. I was recognized as a one-man knight in 18... and this sword was given to me by the Hall of Lords at that time."

Dear Hall.... of lords, I suppose.

Raocles, who sees the sword, seems a little nostalgic, a little happy, and so, a little lonely....... yeah. Maybe, this sword, I'm glad I got it back.

"I hear it's a meteorite-forged sword. If you take good care of it, you can use it all the time. That long, so that you could serve the house,"

"... yeah"

But Laocles didn't.

"The innkeeper was a good one. The people admired me. I had decided to protect this man, too.... but the hotel had a younger brother who didn't do very well."

Waiting for me to continue somehow imagining what lies ahead... Raocles said a word that he probably hasn't broken off yet.

"And the hall master, perhaps by his brother... was killed"

"... the evidence"

"The assassin was found. They planted the poison. Naturally, he was tried as a criminal. But that's all. He didn't open his mouth till the end to see who ordered him."

Oh well. I guess that's... I guess it's inseparable.

"It doesn't seem unusual in the aristocratic world. The weight of a person's life is such a thing. Until then if it was rubbed off...... in the end, my brother's guy became the lord in the form of inheriting the hall's marks. But this is the fool inside again."

Laocles, who says' fool ', is a little scared of his face.

"... the territory was desolate in a few years. I squeezed the tax and solemnly swept it away if there were a people who would defy it. If there was a young and beautiful woman, she followed me to grab her and made me a concubine. I sent several appeals to the Royal Castle, but never heard back"

Oh well.... I hate royal castles and stuff.

"The Knights were not there to protect the Lords and the Lords, but to be at the mercy of the Lords and to abuse the Lords. I killed one person there for the first time."

"Huh."

Seeing my reaction, Laocles laughs bitterly. It's a rare look, but I can't afford to be happy to see it.

"That's right. He was a sinless citizen. I was just trying to correct my lord's stupidity."

A little, I'm having trouble breathing. It makes me feel like I can't breathe air.

Look at me like that. Laocles said, "Are you okay?" I said I was okay, but I was more worried about Laocles than I was. Though I thought it would be an extra favor.

"... that night. I killed my lord, and I thought killing one or two was the same. And he said I should do it."

I almost asked if it was hard, and I stopped. I thought we shouldn't bother digging back hard.

"I talked to the colleagues who were with me from the hotel's bill, and they all rode.... defeated the new SS the lord had hired, and we got to the lord... I killed the lord safely"

I don't have a lot of expression for him to say I killed him. But that was far from the usual plaster statue, and I looked much tired.

"I have no regrets for killing the lord of the time. I should have, and I still think I had to."

"Yeah."

"But I'm sorry I got my colleagues involved because of that... If I hadn't talked to them and done it alone, I might not have had to sin against them"

... If I were his colleague at the time, I would feel like we were doing the same, rather than being sinned on our own without being consulted about anything. Maybe it's harder to be left with nothing.

It's all my own imagination, though.

"Clear, I killed my husband. I'm a criminal slave. That's why I've been living as a slave for the past few years. I was bought and sold several times. I've had a few of them before... but you're the first guy to buy me for 'wanting to draw'"

"Yeah."

I guess, the thought and the thought of wasting together made me snort deeply. He is a very good model at the same time, although I'm sure he is a good warrior. It's a waste not to draw.

"... you're the first person I've ever talked to about my background"

"Eh."

Oh, yeah. I mean, that's... that's all you trusted me with, right?

"What do you think"

At that time, Laocles looked at me and asked.

"Listen to me now. So, what do you think of me?"

His eyes were serious, and, well, he also seemed a little frightened. Though I don't think a brave warrior could be frightened, it looked frightening to me. The shock blunts my words.

"Uh... I don't care what they say..."

Laocles took his gaze off me and leaned slightly over what he thought of the silence, not knowing what to say.

I shouldn't do this. Maybe something is misunderstood.

And if it is misunderstood, we should solve that misunderstanding as soon as possible.

I don't despise Laocles. [M] I don't hate it. I don't think you're scared. I want you to stay well.... but I can't put that together in one word, so I can't help it.

"... good to see you again"

That's what I decided to say.

"... is that the conclusion I just heard?"

"Yeah."

... Yeah, and then I reconsider, isn't that the answer to the question Raocles, the guy from earlier?

Realizing so and panicking, I opened my mouth to give a proper answer. I didn't think it was anything to be scared of, it was tough, and I thought, put that together properly...

But before that, Laocles laughed.

...... yeah. I laughed.

I never imagined where he would raise his voice and laugh.... Oh well. Does Laocles ever laugh out loud, too?

When I was a little surprised, Laocles noticed me like that, looked a little awkward and stopped laughing.

"... sounds like you"

Then Laocles says so and laughs a little bitterly.

"I feel like I'm gonna ask you a few questions, but can you stay with the guy who killed people? There are as many people better than me. You can sell me and buy another guy."

"I don't think I'm particularly scared of you, and I'm not going to sell you..."

"Right."

"Yeah."

Yeah. That's all I have to say.

"I'm so glad you came to me."

"... the second one. You are."

"Yeah...... yeah?

"You're the second Lord."

Didn't I just tell you I was taking a turn between a few people? So, not a single one of them modeled him. Did I hear you wrong?

"... that's all I'm talking about. I'm sorry I let you hang out."

"Yeah, glad to hear it"

Glad you could tell me what kind of life he's been through... No, would it be careless for you to tell me, or happy, about the weight of his life?

"Go to sleep now."

"Yeah. Good night"

In the meantime, I'm going to bed because they told me to.

When I dived into bed, I started to get sleepy as soon as I smelled something good. Maybe he's using a good softener or something because it's a futon from a noble house.

The next day. When I woke up, Laocles was already awake. Wake up and stare out the window.... Uh, I don't think I've been watching you all night.

"... good morning"

"Oh, you're up"

"Laocles, did you sleep properly?

"Slept."

All right then. If he says he slept properly, I won't say any more. I skip lunch myself, and I don't stop people who like it and sip Mentsuyu, and I don't complain about people who don't know if they slept or not.

After a treat for breakfast, we decided to head out of town for a bit.

For whatever reason, I wanted to buy ham.

Yes. Ham.

...... I ended up missing a large chunk of raw ham because it was eaten by a black haunt. I was a little excited about that, so I decided to go buy it again.

However, I do not necessarily follow the instructions of Laocles without the people of "Summon the Red Dragon".

I walk on the building side of the road. Laocles is first to turn the corner. I don't go on a narrow road. Last time I bought a ham, I wouldn't go in there other than the butcher.

There are as many unusual and strange things in town as ever, and although the desire to look around was mountains... I can't help it. We didn't stop by and went shopping for ham in what Laocles called the 'best way'.

... though.

"Oh, I see you again."

I've seen him......

I hold the ham I just bought and take a step back. And Laocles set up his shield, and put his hand on the sword, and came out before me.

"Well, you don't have to be wary like that."

"Get lost."

Laocles' one drink was quiet but sharp, as if poking a sword at him. Nice.

"No... you know what? I did reflect deeply and deeply on your disrespect last time."

Though Laocles stared at me, the Geolen family said so warmly... signaling to those who had refrained behind them.

Then you show them more gold coins, more jewels, and then you show them a wand.

"This reward is a testament to the fact that we crave you so much! If you give us some time, let us take you on board even more!

Hmmm...... it's kinda painful to be expected. It's quite difficult to be thirsty.

"Please, would you like to give the House of Geolen a Red Dragon, like the House of Red Gard?

"I don't care what you say..."

"Can't you hear me telling you to lose it?

When Laocles showed up awesome again, they backed off... and said, 'I'll be back' and left. I don't want you to come anymore.

That day I painted and practiced magic control, and the next day I practiced horseback riding.

Ride the Heavenly Horse and come and walk through the garden of the Redgard family mansion.

It's hard to balance because I ride in a proper 'horseback riding person' position, not in a way that sticks my stomach to a peppered Heavenly Horse.

But it'll be a good experience inside. Yeah, if you remember horseback riding here, it might help later. Mostly, when you paint a picture of Laocles riding a horse or something.

... and then when I had to ride a horse in public. Yeah. I've never been over fitting.

"How's it going?"

"A little tired"

"I guess."

You have to sit in the right position, and you have to balance as the horse walks. Fine, I'm tired because I use my whole body.

Meanwhile, Laocles, who is riding another Heavenly Horse beside me, is riding without even looking particularly tired.

"I'm riding a saddleless bareback horse, so I guess it's only natural to get tired. Aren't you going to saddle these guys?"

"Hmmm... if you say they're good, think"

I think saddles are uncomfortable to wear when I try them from horses. That's why I didn't really feel like using it... but the horse shook my head to snort, hissing. Um, okay, does that mean?

"Then why don't you prepare a saddle? That would be easier to ride."

"Yeah."

If it fits, I've never been over it. Yeah. So the saddle... once, I thought I'd like to try it.

"But they're a pain in the ass to buy."

"Maybe we'll run into each other again."

... but you can't go out and buy a saddle in town. Whatever you say, because it would be a hassle to see someone from the Geolene family again.

"So, draw and let it out?... Oh, I, I don't know the shape of the saddle"

"Is it the same as a shield? … then ask the Redgard family and borrow what they haven't used. There will be about one"

"Yeah. Draw based on that"

"... you can't just use it as it is?

So we continue our horseback riding training without going outside and without going out of the Red Gard garden to meet with the Geolen family...

...... but.

"Dear Togo! Red Dragon, please!

Here we go again......

"I don't want you to come to the gardens of people's homes."

Sure, I was riding in a backyard that was bigger than the courtyard, not the courtyard. But what about calling out from the outside out there on purpose?

"We are ready to visit as many times as we can until you acknowledge. Please, summon the Red Dragon for the son of the House of Geolen."

No, he's not listening to me.

"... Um, why do you want the Red Dragon so bad?

So to try, I asked.... then.

"Because, of course, the son of the Ziolen family needs the right summoner."

... I'm not sure. The answer came back. No, maybe this guy's listening to me, but he can't talk.

"If the Red Dragon, which will only be named after the legend, has become the property of the Redgard family, the Geolene family will still need the equivalent"

"Dragons are creatures. Not decorations."

"Right. Exactly. Let the living legend of the Red Dragon be worth nothing compared to the decorations there."

No, I can't really talk to you.... I'm getting kind of tired.

When I was in trouble, Laocles sighed one and then slapped him gently around Tenma's neck.... I wonder what.

"Togo. Stay away."

"Huh? Yeah."

When I gave Heavenly Horse instructions, Heavenly Horse walked up to me as I instructed and left the scene.

"Dear Togo! Talk to me a little more!

Like chasing me a little further away, the Geolen family stepped into the garden...

... At that moment, the Heavenly Horse on which Laocles rode, ran.

Bullshit, Tenma spreads her wings and jumps.

The speed at which just a few steps of acceleration is enough. Unstrayed stomping. And… the hooves of the forefoot that are rolled out, easily jumping over the low hedge of the garden, towards the people of the Geolen family who were beyond it.

... full of force.

"Hino!

It's a hoof that rolls out at speeds far beyond normal horses. If you get kicked, you won't just be sorry. I guess that's what you figured out. The Geolen family ran off to scatter, all of them, including those who had refrained behind them.

... and Heavenly Horse, without anyone kicking, without landing, with Laocles on, with his hooves rolling out... was stagnant.

"I'm so glad now"

I'm going in with a Heavenly Horse, and when I kick it, I make it look like it, and it's lagging.... Wow. Laocles is supposed to be shallower with horses than I am, but he's already ridden more than I am.

Tenma looks like 'not bad' too. Yeah, maybe you figured out that I'd rather have Laocles on board than keep me on board. You're right.

"... did those guys get away"

"Yeah."

Laocles stares at the people of the Geolen family fleeing.

"It's a good courage to try to get into the garden of a nobleman's house you would be up against."

I'm up against it... I guess, I guess. The point is, I guess you're telling me to get the dragon out because I want to stick with the Redgard family. But even if you're not up against it, if your opponent's house isn't a nobleman's house, you shouldn't try to step into the garden of another house on your own in the first place, and you shouldn't go after someone you don't like around.

"This...... what do we do? In the meantime, I feel like I'm pushing you to your room."

"Right."

Laocles looked sinister as he stepped down from the Tenma... then told me.

"Take him to Faye Brad Redgard. We need to talk."

... Laocles talks to Faye? I wonder what it is.

"Whether you're hiding from them or avoiding them, things don't get better. We should go and attack from here."

Oh well.

... I mean, a fight?