Chapter 75

Wyvern (1)

"Wait a moment."

Neohu said with a look of disbelief.

"Are you telling me to take you to the Glide Mountains on my wyvern, Your Highness of the 7th Dominion?"

"Yes."

"Why should I...!"

She was about to protest but soon closed her mouth again.

It must have been because she remembered their recent conversation, where she had agreed to help him in exchange for information about the spirit.

"If you take me to the mountains... will you tell me the location of that spirit?"

After a moment of silence, she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

I shook my head.

"Of course not. Do you really think a favor like this would be enough to match the value and weight of that information?"

I had no intention of settling for just a round trip on a wyvern to use Neohu's power.

I planned to receive as much help as possible until I could ask for a significant favor.

After all, with the information as bait, she wouldn't be able to refuse such a minor request.

"…So you planned to use me like this? To keep using me this way until you get a big favor someday?"

"…."

Oh.

But she had seen through it in one go. Still, a dominion lord is a dominion lord.

However, nothing would change just because she figured it out.

I gave Neohu, who was looking at me with a stunned expression, a sly smile.

"So, are you going to refuse?"

Neohu, as if trying to regain her composure, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before asking.

"Why do you suddenly want to go there?"

"I'm going to catch a wyvern."

"Why do you need me to take you there?"

"Because it's faster this way."

I originally planned to go to the Glide Mountains after returning from the conference, as there was no time left.

But if I could go there and back in the meantime, there was no reason not to go now.

I had thought I would rest well before the conference, but after a few days of rest, I was already feeling the time slipping away.

Perhaps it was because the matter was a matter of life and death, or maybe it was the inertia from my recent intense search for the spirit.

I was definitely not a diligent person by nature.

"Anyway, I'm leaving now, so get ready, 2nd Dominion."

With so much to do, I had to keep moving without a moment's rest to survive.

The brief respite I had enjoyed over the past few days was now over.

***

"The Glide Mountains…?"

"They are where the wyverns live."

While I was talking to Neohu, Ashel, who had been watching over the Rife siblings upstairs, looked a bit flustered.

It was because of my sudden announcement that we were heading to the wyverns' habitat.

"Wow…."

Rigon, who had been sitting in seiza as if meditating, looked at me with sparkling eyes.

His reaction showed that he was interested in the wyverns, but of course, I couldn't take him.

I had the butler quickly prepare everything and then we headed outside.

In the open space within the castle, I saw Neohu and a knight in blue armor, along with two massive creatures, the wyverns.

I tilted my head at the sight.

'Did the bodyguard come along too?'

【Lv. 83】

The knight was a formidable warrior, two levels higher than Ashel. Moreover, he rode a wyvern.

While it wasn't unusual for Neohu's family, a massive clan, to have such a powerful knight, it was still impressive.

'Still, they're much bigger than I thought.'

【Lv. 67】

【Lv. 62】

Up close, the wyverns looked even more enormous, and their levels were quite high.

Neohu's wyvern, which was a higher level, was red, while the bodyguard's wyvern was green.

Neohu was frowning at me from a distance.

Grrr.

Her wyvern also growled lowly, showing hostility towards me.

Was it reading its owner's emotions and perceiving me as an enemy? It was quite intelligent.

Neohu stroked her wyvern's neck to calm it down and then spoke.

"I don't understand why I have to do such a thing."

Her voice was harsh, as if her anger had grown while waiting.

It was understandable, given how I was using her like a delivery service.

I told her,

"We can ride two to a wyvern."

I hadn't planned to take Ashel, but since there were two wyverns, it didn't matter.

However, Neohu's expression hardened.

"…Two to a wyvern? You mean you want to put someone on my wyvern?"

"Can't you see?"

I pointed to Ashel, who had come to see me off.

Neohu glared at Ashel.

At that moment, the bodyguard stepped forward, bowed to me, and said,

"7th Dominion, I will take both of you."

I looked at her wyvern.

It was big enough for three people, but it would be better to ride two to a wyvern.

When I looked back at Neohu, she seemed relieved but also a bit reluctant.

Did she not want someone else on her wyvern, or did she just not want to ride with someone else?

Given her pride, it was quite possible.

"Is there a three-person saddle in the castle? If so, could you get it for me?"

"Ah, please wait a moment."

The butler, who was standing nearby, was about to move.

I stopped him.

"Never mind. I'll go alone."

There was no need to take Ashel along.

I told Ashel,

"I'll be back within a fortnight. Take care of the siblings and wait for me."

"Yes, I understand."

The bodyguard's saddle was already designed for two people, so there was no need to change it.

It seemed he was prepared for situations where he might have to carry a guest.

"Shh, be good."

The bodyguard calmed the wyvern, which was showing clear signs of dislike, by stroking its neck.

This was why it was impossible to domesticate wyverns like livestock.

They were so strong and fierce that capturing them was extremely difficult, and they would never follow anyone who wasn't their recognized master.

Many had tried to tame wyverns and failed at the very beginning for the same reason.

Captured wyverns would refuse to eat and starve to death, or they would harm themselves and die.

'So, it's impossible to borrow another wyvern unless you're riding with its master.'

The bodyguard climbed onto the wyvern's back first, and I used spatial leap to get on behind him.

When I suddenly appeared behind him, he flinched, put his hand on his sword hilt, and then quickly withdrew it, startled.

"…I'm sorry!"

"No, I should have warned you."

Instant teleportation wasn't a common ability in this world, and it was understandable to be startled when someone appeared behind you unannounced.

In any case, the preparations were roughly complete.

"Safe travels."

Ashel bowed to me from below.

I nodded and turned my gaze.

Flap!

Neohu's wyvern took off first, flapping its wings and creating a gust of wind.

I watched and then grabbed the handle on the front of the saddle.

Soon, my wyvern followed Neohu's and took to the sky.

As soon as we ascended, the wyvern accelerated and began flying at an incredible speed.

The dominion castle below quickly shrank to a dot.

'Ugh.'

I tightened my grip on the handle and my thighs, enjoying the thrill of a ride I hadn't experienced in a long time. I was afraid I might fall off if I let go.

I had never enjoyed amusement park rides in the real world.

Datsun had said I needed to move, and I was already starting to worry.

***

In fantasy anime and movies, ordinary people ride wyverns and griffins as if it's nothing.

But in reality, it was clear that fiction was just fiction.

The constant wind in my face and the precarious balance with each flap of the wings made riding a flying creature a completely different experience from riding a horse or a carriage.

The bodyguard was fortunate that the body I possessed had a constitution that didn't easily get motion sickness. Otherwise, I would have vomited on her back long ago.

If I were to catch a wyvern, adapting to this speed of flight would be a necessary challenge.

I tried to enjoy the flight with this mindset.

While I wasn't really enjoying it, I quickly adapted to some extent.

The ride was still uncomfortable, but the scenery was breathtaking.

'Oh…'

I marveled at the green mountain peaks below.

I wanted to check the map to see where we were, but I had no free hands.

The wyvern flew without tiring for about half a day at a steady speed.

After a long while, as the sun began to set, we landed on the ground.

"Where are we now?"

"About here."

The bodyguard pointed to a spot on the map.

I nodded and put the map away.

We had covered a distance that would take at least a week by carriage in just half a day.

The speed was truly incredible, probably because flying eliminated the constraints of the terrain.

The bodyguard prepared dinner.

She skillfully took out the dishes from the saddlebag on the wyvern's back and started preparing the meal.

It was her responsibility since there was no one else to do it, but it was a bit absurd to think about.

I was asking a superhuman of level 83 to cook.

'Is she a servant, not a knight?'

Neohu, who had been leaning against the wyvern's side, spoke.

"Viola…"

But then she noticed me and closed her mouth.

She got up and quietly approached the bodyguard, whispering. However, I heard everything due to my heightened senses.

"What are we having for dinner?"

"Cheese stew."

"I'm tired of stew. Grill some meat."

"Understood."

She then returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.

I found it even more absurd and chuckled inwardly.

The way they spoke to each other without formalities suggested that their relationship was not a typical lord-servant relationship.

Neohu had been a precious young lady of her family before becoming a dominion lord, so it made sense.

Neohu, noticing my gaze, snapped at me.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?"

"No, it's nothing."

I shook my head.

The bodyguard quickly set up a grill, took out some smoked meat, and started grilling it.

Soon, the meat was cooked to perfection, and we began our meal in a quiet atmosphere.

As the meal was almost over, Neohu spoke.

"You said you were going to catch a wyvern."

"Yes."

"You have to attend the conference soon. Do you think you can catch one in that time?"

She said this with a hint of pride in her voice.

I understood why she was saying this.

Taming a wyvern was nothing like taming a horse.

It was purely a matter of luck, searching for a wyvern and hoping that one would choose you as its master.