Chapter 15

That day, Redgard came to visit as well.

...And that day became a memorable one.

"Sorry! Can you lend me something to wipe with?"

"Sure."

When I handed him a towel at the entrance, he thanked me and started to wipe his body.

...Yes.

"Man, what a terrible rain! It suddenly started pouring."

Today was the first rainy day since I came to this world.

By the way, this is the first rainy day since I came to this world. It had been sunny all the time, so the rain feels very fresh.

...I'm glad it didn't rain when I was sleeping outdoors.

"That's interesting. Did you get a roof for the horses too?"

"Yeah. It started raining, so I drew it in a hurry."

When it rains, the horses get wet and look pitiful, so I quickly made a roof next to the water trough so they could take shelter.

...By the way, I built a small hut next to the spring to use as a water trough because Redgard started coming to visit more often. Yes, since he comes suddenly, I might accidentally see something. ...Yes. That would be a bit embarrassing.

"The horses are lucky. They can take shelter from the rain and have a comfortable place."

By the way, this area has become a playground for pegasi and unicorns. Before I knew it, a considerable number of them started coming. It might be possible to run a ranch.

And because such a large number of horses come, I decided to make the shelter for rain wider. Yes. Creating large objects is really tiring.

But, I guess I've grown. If I were the old me, I might have fainted after drawing a roof this size, but now I'm fine.

...I'm really glad it didn't rain before.

"By the way, does it rain much around here?"

Thinking that it hadn't rained for over a month, I decided to ask.

Then,

"Hmm? I don't think it's that rare... Ah, but the last time it rained was about two weeks ago, right? Yeah, it hasn't rained much recently, I guess."

...That was Redgard's answer.

Huh? Two weeks ago, that was... when I met the bird? Or a bit before that? Anyway, it was when I was sleeping outdoors, but I don't think it rained then.

Maybe it didn't rain in the forest? No, that's unlikely...

"Hey, Tougo. Sorry, but can I stay the night? The rain doesn't seem like it's going to stop..."

"Sure. Go ahead."

Redgard decided to stay the night. I don't mind.

...You see, it's easy to add a guest room using the ability to reflect drawings in reality, not just materialize them. I added one room. Now Redgard can stay as long as he wants, and I can draw as many portraits as I want. Hooray.

"Man, I wish it would stop soon..."

Redgard scratched his head and sighed, looking out the window.

"Do you hate the rain?"

"Hmm? Well... I don't really like it, especially when I'm out."

Yeah. I can understand that. Rain can be annoying when you're out.

"What about you? Do you like the rain?"

"Yep."

I like the rain. Even though it makes the paint dry slowly and the laundry doesn't dry, I like looking at the rain falling outside the window.

Also, rainy days are quiet. All the sounds around you disappear, and everything becomes the sound of rain. This area is already quiet because it's in the forest, but rainy days have a different atmosphere. It's hazy, and the distant trees look pale green and gray. Ah, I want to draw this scene in the forest. ...I'll draw it casually so it doesn't materialize strangely.

I started drawing the forest under the eaves. Redgard is relaxing inside the house.

...By the way, I don't know much about him.

He doesn't hesitate to talk about himself, but I don't talk much about myself either, so it feels unfair to only listen to him. I think we only know the bare minimum about each other.

However, it seems that Redgard has been busy at home recently.

He said it's because of the poachers he has to deal with.

I heard that his family is the lord of this area, which means he's a noble.

And because of that, he has a lot of trouble. He's exempt from social obligations because he's the second son, but he has to deal with trouble in the territory because he's the second son. I don't really understand.

...In other words, I think Redgard comes to visit here when he wants to rest.

This place is quiet and nice. There are horses too.

But... one thing that bothers me is how Redgard gets here.

I asked him how long it takes to get from here to his house, and he said, "If you walk without knowing the way, it might take half a day. But if you know the way and go at a decent pace, it's about an hour." I wonder how you can turn a half-day journey into an hour.

...There's one more thing that bothers me.

It's how Redgard saved me from the poachers.

I fainted immediately, so I don't know, but... how many poachers were there? If all the ones I tied up with ropes were chasing me, there must have been more than ten.

Did Redgard deal with all of them alone? ...But he doesn't seem to have any weapons.

Hmm... I guess it's pointless to think about it. If it really bothers me, I'll ask him next time.

I stopped thinking and focused on the forest drawing again.

The forest on a rainy day is really beautiful. But it's hard to depict the rain.

...I once saw an oil painting of a rainy forest. There was a forest, a river, and rain pouring down, creating a mist that wasn't fog but clearly rain.

I want to draw something like that. I've been using watercolors since I came to this world, but maybe I should try oil paints. I think I can draw oil paints too. Yes, I'll have to try hard to remember since my memory is a bit fuzzy...

The forest on a rainy day is a bit cold. With just the shirt and pants I casually drew, it feels a bit chilly.

I get goosebumps under my shirt. Yes, it's really cold. I usually like to button up to the top, so I can't get any warmer.

I thought I should prepare something to wear, but for now, I'll use a blanket. Since it's raining, I want to draw the forest in the rain. I don't have time to draw something to wear.

...So, I stood up to get a blanket when...

The horses neighed.

As if they were afraid of something.

I squinted into the distance. Indeed, I could see something approaching through the rain.

Soaked by the steady rain, it was definitely coming this way... several people in hooded cloaks.

And... a giant snake made of water.

The first thing I thought was how beautiful it was.

I couldn't tell much about the people, but the giant water snake was very beautiful. The forest green could be seen through its translucent body. Ripples appeared on its surface as the rain hit it. And as it moved, its body swayed, distorting the scenery within.

...This world really has mysterious creatures. I don't know if it's a living thing, though.

Anyway, I watched the group... feeling a faint sense of danger, but still, I kept watching them.

Then,

One of the people said something, and the water snake, apparently having heard it, raised its tail...

...and brought it down on the roof where the horses were taking shelter.

A tremendous sound. The wooden roof shattered and broke. The beams snapped, and the pillars fell.

...And the horses, which had been taking shelter under it, neighed and ran in all directions... and eventually came to me.

The pegasi spread their wings and stood in front of the house. The unicorns lowered their posture in front of them, ready to attack with their horns.

I also put down my drawing tools and went to the front of the house.

"Hmm. There's a rather unusual kid here. He looks like a boy, but to be able to tame unicorns like this... Are you a beast tamer?"

The hooded person approached us and smiled. ...It was an unpleasant smile. I've seen it many times in my original world. It's a really nasty face.

"...Do you need something from my horses?"

Thinking it wouldn't look good surrounded by horses, I said this. I didn't hide my intention to say, "Whether you have a reason or not, just go away quickly."

"Horses, huh. Haha, calling pegasi and unicorns 'horses' is quite amusing. ...But, well. 'Now' I don't need pegasi or unicorns. Of course, if there's something I can take, I'd like to take it..."

...When I heard the word 'take,' I understood.

These are the poachers' companions.

"Our goal is Redgard's second son. ...Is he here? Come on, bring him out."

"...He's not here."

"Haha. I can't accept such an obvious lie. We know he came here."

Yeah, I guess so.

"He was here, but he left. Before the rain got worse. He seems busy."

"...Is that so?"

I thought it would be difficult to stick with "He's not here," so I added a bit of embellishment. But this doesn't seem strange, right? Probably.

Given Redgard's personality, it's not surprising that he doesn't hesitate to stay at my house... but it seems the person in front of me knows Redgard, so they should know he's busy.

...And then.

Something wrapped around my body.

Before I could think about what it was, my body was constricted. What was constricting me was the tail of the giant water snake that had appeared at my feet.

The pegasi flapped their wings in a panic, and the unicorns charged at the water snake, but its water body seemed to be impervious to any attack. I tried to struggle, but my hands slipped into the water, and I couldn't resist at all. Yet, the force constricting me only grew stronger.

"Ugh"

With a gasp, the air was forced out of my lungs. My ribs were pressing on my lungs, and the air was being squeezed out of my body.

Creak, my bones groaned. It was painful. My head felt like it was filling with blood. It was hot, but the parts being touched were cold.

...I thought I was going to be strangled to death, but the force constricting me suddenly weakened.

Air rushed into my lungs, and I coughed. Some water got into my throat.

"Poor thing. It seems you're not trusted by Redgard. If he had revealed his plans, you wouldn't have lied like that."

"...Huh?"

The hooded person said this and then gave some instructions to the water snake.

Suddenly, my body was lifted high. The pegasi flapped their wings and tried to help me, but the strange snake's tail still held me firmly.

"There's no need to care for someone you don't trust. Come on, tell us. Where is he?"

I pondered the meaning of his words, confused, but I knew I shouldn't reveal Redgard's location, so I remained silent.

"...Hmm. Then I'll try to get it out from the inside."

Then, the snake's tail that was constricting me slid up to my mouth.

...Ah, this is not good, I thought.

My bad feeling was right, and the water snake's tail tried to enter my mouth. No, this is not good. I'll drown. I'll drown.

But I couldn't do anything, so I tried to escape from the snake's tail by shaking my head and struggling...

"Hey! What are you doing?!"

...Ah, yeah. He's here.

"Let him go. I'm the one you want, right? Huh?"

Redgard had come out of the house.

The moment Redgard appeared, the snake's tail stopped aiming for my mouth. It seemed distracted.

I was saved, but I couldn't feel relieved. This situation is definitely not good.

"Finally, you show up."

"Yeah. I heard a loud noise, so I woke up. What do you want?"

Redgard came out of the entrance and walked straight towards us. I think it would have been better if he hadn't come...

"Hmm. It seems you have some attachment to this kid?"

"...Yeah. He's a benefactor."

...Yeah, it's my fault. I think it would have been better if Redgard hadn't come out, but since I was caught, he had no choice. I'm really sorry.

"Is that so? Then, it might be interesting to strangle this kid right here?"

"Hey!"

For a moment, the force constricting me grew stronger, but the moment Redgard's angry voice rose, it weakened again.

"...Stop it. If you lay a hand on him, I'll get angry, and the pegasi, unicorns... and the forest spirits won't stay silent either. Probably."

"Hah. Spirits, huh. I wish you had a better line. But... it seems the pegasi and unicorns won't stay silent. Then, we don't want unnecessary conflict either."

The hooded person said this with an unpleasant smile...

"Put down your equipment quietly. I don't think you can fight in this rain anyway."

Redgard glared at them. His eyes were as bright and sharp as a flame.

...Then, he took off his armband, earrings, and the gems on his cross tie and threw them into the spring.

Plop, the sound of the gems hitting the water, and the spring sank four bright red gems to its bottom.

"...Hmm. Quite a clean move."

"Heh. Thanks."

Redgard said this dismissively and then sat down on the grass.

"Go ahead. Take me. But leave the kid alone."

"Thanks for the easy talk, Incompetent."

The hooded person signaled, and the others came and tied up Redgard. ...And then.

"Hey! I said to leave him alone!"

They started to tie me up too.

"Hah. If the pegasi and unicorns won't stay silent if we touch this kid, then... this kid is good bait, isn't he? Of course, we won't let such valuable bait go."

After tying up both Redgard and me, the water snake picked us up.

"Don't worry. We won't kill you. ...Here, at least."

"You...!"

Then, we were swallowed by the water snake and lost consciousness.