Chapter 233: Childhood Friend – Mount
“Are you going to stay here like this?”
The burly crusader swept his wind-tossed hair back as he asked.
The dry autumn wind blowing from the northern Kingdom of Astin often prompted the people of Jerome’s Holy Kingdom to hurry in wrapping up the year.
Before the northern cold front swept in, they hurried to harvest crops and prepare winter clothing.
They also needed to stock up plenty of hay for the livestock. Having grown up on a farm in the Holy Kingdom, Sir Javad instinctively became busier with the autumn wind.
Unfortunately, the person being questioned did not grow up in the Holy Kingdom.
Cardinal Mihaer sat leisurely in the driver’s seat. He gazed far into the plains and responded.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to continue pretending to be captured? If they weren’t careless… And at this point, it would be fair to say that they can’t control the situation.”
Cardinal Mihaer scratched his head.
Despite their long time together, there was still a cultural gap between him and Sir Javad.
“Well… Let’s not rush things. Fleeing in the carriage would be undignified. Do you think they will succeed in their hunt?”
The cardinal’s gaze remained fixed on the plains. Sir Javad turned his head to follow his gaze, finding it difficult to read the man’s thoughts.
The ruffians who had captured them were preparing for a hunt.
Ten young men on horseback were forming a wide perimeter. They were surrounding the massive beast, a Nightmare, in a broad circle, repositioning themselves according to their leader’s commands.
The young man with brown hair and exceptional swordsmanship directed the others, making sure they were ready. However, to Sir Javad’s eyes, their preparations were full of flaws.
“It will be difficult. That beast is famously impossible to catch. Every knight with an interest in horses knows that.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“I’ve only heard rumors, so I’m not certain, but they say the beast is smart and easily frightened. Traps are useless, and it remembers anyone who has threatened it. The moment it spots them, it just runs away. It’s so fast that pursuit is futile.”
“Then why not ambush it at night?”
“I don’t know. I heard that Count Simon once mobilized a large number of soldiers to catch it but eventually gave up, so it must not be easy.”
“Hmmm…”
Cardinal Mihaer stroked his chin, where a short, prickly beard was growing. Recalling what he had heard in the Uena tribe’s village, he asked again.
“What do you think these people are?”
“I think they might be warriors searching for beasts. I’ve heard there are such people in the north.”
“I thought the same. They seem like indigenous warriors, but something tells me they aren’t from the north.”
“Really? Then again, with the Kingdom of Astin at war since spring, it’s unlikely that northern warriors would come down here.”
“There’s that, but…”
Cardinal Mihaer concluded briefly.
“Their accent is southern. Ah, it’s starting now.”
Lev rode toward the Nightmare.
The Nightmare, with its sleek, shiny black coat, watched Lev and the young men surrounding it with wary eyes, then snorted and stomped its feet, showing its displeasure.
Lev didn’t approach rashly. He stopped in his tracks, simply watching the creature.
– Neigh!
There was a tense standoff for a while.
The Nightmare observed the human acting strangely in front of it, then stamped its feet. It flaunted its massive size, more than twice that of an ordinary horse, showing off its powerful muscles as it charged like the wind.
White steam snorted from its nostrils.
The ground trembled under its heavy body.
The sheer force of its charge was enough to make one’s mind reel. The Nightmare’s black mane fluttered like a lion’s, obscuring Lev’s and his horse’s vision.
He could have used his horse as bait, jumped up, and decapitated the beast with his Aura Blade at the moment it trampled his horse. However, Lev patted his frightened horse. He tapped its neck, urging it to trust its master, and gently pulled the reins.
– Neigh!
Lev leaned back significantly.
The horse’s weight shifted to its haunches, lifting its front legs high as it turned in response to the reins.
[Achievement: First Ride – Leo’s horsemanship slightly improves.]
Lev’s horsemanship was exceptional.
His skills were not limited to the “First Ride” achievement he had earned long ago. He had greatly improved his horsemanship under the guidance of Sir Galen during his previous life as a beggar.
“Everyone, run!”
Leaving the bewildered Nightmare behind, Lev shouted.
The young men, who had formed a wide perimeter, began to run. But instead of charging at the beast, they started running in a circle, as if chasing each other, and Lev led the Nightmare into their formation.
– Snort?
The Nightmare, startled by the sudden retreat and the running figures, slowed its pace.
While observing the situation within the large, rotating circle, the sound of hooves from the horse running beside it was pleasing. A young man with hair resembling appetizing hay matched its pace.
– Clop clop, clop clop.
Lev ran at twice the pace of the Nightmare. Every time it took a step, Lev urged his horse to take two, maintaining rhythm and speed without leaving its side.
“Now, gather!”
After about two laps, Lev broke away from the circle.
The Nightmare, naturally following Lev’s horse that matched its rhythm, was soon pursued by the ten young men who enthusiastically chased after it. They formed a single herd, galloping across the vast plains.
– Neigh! Neigh!
The Nightmare felt happy.
Always wandering the plains alone due to its massive size, it had not run with other horses for a long time.
It had grazed in solitude and slept standing at night due to the lack of companions to keep watch. One day, it had become a monster, perhaps after accidentally swallowing a butterfly while grazing.
“Ha ha! Are you enjoying it?”
While riding, Lev reached out and patted the Nightmare’s side. His hand and the wind brushed against its sleek, sparsely-haired coat.
Lev never intended to hunt this creature.
Though he had once come seeking to capture it and had been fooled, it wasn’t he who was deceived (it was Leo Dexter), and it was Count Simon who had tricked Leo, not the Nightmare.
Moreover, Lev’s fondness for horses had grown after learning about their behavior from Sir Galren.
Lev had a unique tendency to care deeply for his horse, unlike other Leos.
Woody, Bante, Kuss.
All names given by Lev.
Although influenced by Minseo in naming them, neither Leo Dexter nor Leanne de Yeriel had ever named their horses. Only Lev named and took meticulous care of his horse.
Perhaps that was why Lev decided to capture the Nightmare.
Though he wouldn’t earn the “Monster Hunt” achievement, it seemed more meaningful to capture and bring it along, which would impress Count Umberto Simon more deeply.
The Nightmare ran without restraint.
Despite the slight lack of speed, running with other horses for the first time in ages delighted it, making it toss its head joyfully.
Occasionally, it would leap with excitement, which was exhausting for the other horses trying to keep up.
As the young men with less horsemanship gradually fell behind and sweat poured from Lev’s horse, Lev stood on the stirrups. Like Sir Galren, he leapt onto the Nightmare’s high back. The Nightmare didn’t resist.
“Good, stay calm…”
Lev settled on the beast’s back, as if lying down, sitting close to its neck and gently soothing it. At that moment, a message appeared.
Lev was momentarily speechless, while the Nightmare neighed joyfully.
[Achievement: Mount – Leo can now summon a mount.]
* * *
Lev and his group received a great deal of attention.
The nightmare, as tall as a carriage but twice as long, followed them leisurely. Occasionally, it would lick Lev’s head, leaving his hair perpetually windblown.
On the plains governed by Count Simon, tenant farmers watched the bizarre sight in amazement. Children from farmhouses gathered, chasing the back of the carriage, and the adults did the same.
“Did you capture that creature?”
“Isn’t it dangerous? Shouldn’t you muzzle it or something?”
Lev had to repeatedly reassure the approaching farmers, “It’s alright. It’s very gentle.” Despite the holy symbol on his forehead, their attention was captivated by the nightmare as if they were under some sort of spell.
“Oh my, thank you. Please take it far away!”
It was understandable, as the nightmare had been a notorious nuisance on these plains.
It often entered the tenant farmers’ fields and ate their crops. Although the eating itself was manageable—how much can one horse eat, even if it’s large?—the real problem was the damage its wagon-sized hooves did to the farmland. The farmers tried to scare it away with pitchforks, but the nightmare was too fearless. It would leave briefly, only to return, causing considerable trouble.
The situation was so dire that the neighboring tenant farmers formed a cooperative to help those who suffered damage.
Even Count Umberto Simon was aware of this cooperative, occasionally contributing funds to assist.
So, the farmers were witnessing the creature finally being “captured.”
They dropped their work and followed Lev’s group as if it were a festival. They expected the city gate to open and for the residents and Count Simon to be surprised, but the gate did not open immediately. The guard captain recognized the holy symbol on Lev and the youths’ foreheads.
“Halt! You are not criminals! Dismount at once! If not, we will attack!”
“Criminals?”
“Why is the guard captain acting like this?”
“I don’t know.”
The farmers murmured. They were puzzled as to why the guard captain was behaving this way on such a joyous day—until the soldiers on the wall aimed their bows. Only then did they realize the gravity of the situation and fell silent.
Lev spoke up.
“I carry a token issued by the Marquis of Guidan of this kingdom. I am not a noble, but I am under his protection. Do you still wish to disarm me?”
“…I’m sorry, but I don’t know who the Marquis of Guidan is. Such matters are for the Count to decide, so please disarm and dismount. Whatever crimes you may have committed in another country, compliance will help your case.”
The guard captain’s tone softened somewhat, but Lev neither dismounted nor disarmed.
The paladins sitting on the carriage jumped down with suspicious movements. As Cardinal Mihaer prepared to dismount, Lev drew his sword and raised it high.
[Achievement: Monster Hunt – ‘2’, a faint mana imbues your body.]
The sword shone with a stronger light than before. Though not as bright as when he had captured Oriax, the glow was still visible even in broad daylight.
The soldiers aiming their bows from the wall lost their target. Both the guard captain and the soldiers guarding the gate were stunned, and the farmers who didn’t know what the holy mark was stared in disbelief.
While they might not recognize the holy mark, they certainly knew what it meant when a sword emitted light. A Sword Master, something they had only heard of in legends, was standing before them.
Lev sheathed his sword and turned around. He exchanged a look with the cardinal, who was just about to step out of the carriage, conveying that he still had the situation under control. He then spoke to the bewildered guard captain.
“I’ve come to see Count Simon. Could you guide us, if you please?”
“Th-that… those people behind you, are they knights too?” the guard captain asked, trying to remain composed. Lev smiled and nodded.
“They’re my disciples. They haven’t been knighted yet.”
“Your, your disciples…”
Lev let the guard captain misunderstand. By identifying the youths as his disciples and clarifying that they weren’t knights, he subtly suggested their training status.
For the guard captain, the issue would be allowing potentially dangerous knights into the castle. There might not be a rule against admitting a Sword Master, but he certainly wouldn’t want to be underestimated by the count.
While a Sword Master is indeed formidable, they aren’t invincible. The aura blade wasn’t limitless, and if a high-ranking noble decided to kill a single intruder, even a Sword Master, they could succeed with enough resources and men.
However, having ten disciples would change the situation’s dynamics. The count would likely assume that all the disciples, as Sword Master’s trainees, were at a knightly level. There was no way to avoid such a misconception.
The once tightly closed castle gate creaked open. Lev’s disciples rode in with a commanding presence, followed by the silent Cardinal Mihaer and the subdued paladins in the carriage. Lev waited for the last to enter—the cheerful nightmare.
But just as the nightmare entered the gate, Lev, looking back, spotted a familiar face among the clustered people at the gate.
A man in a shabby robe, observing the scene. As the gate closed, Lev was struck by a sense of unease.
The man was Sir Bryan, who should have been serving the Baron Agatha couple at Vidrin Castle near the northern border of the Kingdom of Austin.
