Chapter 36

"Back when I was 14, I became an apprentice knight and started serving the family there," Laocles began to speak. "It was a family that governed the territory to the west of here. It wasn't a particularly large territory, but it flourished modestly under good governance."

"Like the Redgard territory?"

"Perhaps. In terms of area, it was much smaller than here. Of course, it didn't have a vast, inviolable forest at the center of the territory, so it's not a fair comparison."

That's right. The Redgard territory is quite inconvenient because of the forest I live in.

"Anyway, I served such a lord. I was recognized as a full-fledged knight at 18... and this sword was given to me by the lord at that time."

The lord. ...That means the lord of the territory.

Laocles, looking at the sword, seemed a bit nostalgic, a bit happy, and a bit sad. ...Yeah. Probably, it was good to have this sword back.

"It's a sword forged from meteoric iron. If you take good care of it, it will last forever. The lord wanted it to last as long as I served the family."

"...Yeah."

But Laocles didn't turn out that way.

"The lord was a good man. He was beloved by the people. I was determined to protect him. ...But the lord had a younger brother who wasn't very competent."

As I vaguely imagined what happened next, Laocles, who probably hadn't fully come to terms with it, continued.

"And the lord was, most likely, killed by his younger brother."

"...Any evidence?"

"The assassin was found. He had apparently used poison. The culprit was, of course, punished as a criminal. But that's all. He never revealed who had ordered the assassination."

I see. That... must be hard to accept.

"It's not uncommon in the world of nobles. Human life is worth so little. If it's covered up, that's the end of it... In the end, the younger brother became the lord. But he was a real fool."

Laocles, calling him a fool, looked a bit scary.

"The territory deteriorated in just a few years. He extorted taxes, and if anyone resisted, he purged them. If there was a young and beautiful woman, he would take her as a concubine. I sent several complaints to the royal castle, but there was no response."

I see. ...I started to dislike the royal castle.

"The knights, instead of protecting the lord and the people, became tools to oppress the people. I killed a person for the first time there."

"Huh?"

Seeing my reaction, Laocles smiled wryly. It was a rare expression, but I didn't have the luxury to be glad about seeing it.

"Yeah. An innocent citizen. He just tried to correct the lord's foolishness."

I felt a bit breathless. It was as if I couldn't breathe.

Seeing me, Laocles asked if I was okay. I said I was fine, but I was more worried about him. I thought it was unnecessary to worry, but...

"...That night, I killed the lord. I thought killing one person or two was the same, and if so, I should do it."

I almost asked if it wasn't painful, but I stopped. I didn't think I should dig up painful memories.

"I consulted my colleagues who had been with me since the lord's time, and they all agreed. ...We defeated the lord's newly hired bodyguards, reached the lord, and I successfully killed him."

Saying he killed him, his expression was blank. But it was far from his usual stony look, and he looked very tired.

"I don't regret killing the lord at the time. I had to do it, and I still think it was necessary."

"Yeah."

"But involving my colleagues in it... I feel sorry for them. If I had done it alone without consulting them, they might not have been implicated."

...If I had been his colleague back then, I think I would have preferred to be involved rather than left to bear the blame alone. Being left behind with nothing would probably have been more painful.

It's all just my imagination, though.

"...I became a criminal slave for killing my lord. I've been living as a slave for the past few years. I've been bought and sold several times. You are the first to buy me because you want to 'draw' me."

"Yeah."

That thought and the feeling that it was a waste made me nod deeply. He was indeed an excellent warrior, but he was also an excellent model. Not drawing him would be a waste.

"...This is the first time I've told my story."

"Huh?"

That's right. In a way, that means... you trust me, right?

"How do you feel?"

At that moment, Laocles looked at me intently and asked.

"After hearing my story, what do you think of me?"

His eyes were serious, and yet, they seemed a bit scared. I don't think a brave warrior should be scared, but to me, it looked like fear. The shock made it hard for me to speak.

"Uh... What do you mean...?"

Not knowing how to respond, I hesitated, and Laocles, perhaps misinterpreting my silence, looked away and slightly bowed his head.

This is bad. He must be misunderstanding something.

If he is, I should clear up the misunderstanding as soon as possible.

I don't look down on Laocles. I don't dislike him. I'm not afraid of him. I want him to be well. ...But I can't summarize all that in one word, so there's nothing I can do.

"...I hope we can continue to get along."

That's what I decided to say.

"...Is that your conclusion after hearing my story?"

"Yeah."

...Yeah, but thinking about it after saying it, wasn't that not really an answer to Laocles' question?

Realizing this, I panicked and tried to give a proper answer. I wasn't afraid or anything, and I thought it must have been tough for him, but...

But before I could, Laocles started laughing.

...Yeah. He laughed.

I never imagined him laughing out loud. ...So, Laocles can laugh out loud.

Surprised, I looked at him, and Laocles, noticing my reaction, stopped laughing with a slightly awkward look.

"...That's like you."

Then Laocles smiled wryly.

"I feel like I've asked this before, but are you okay with being with someone who has killed people? There are plenty of better people than me. You could sell me and buy someone else."

"I don't find you particularly scary, and I have no intention of selling you..."

"Okay."

"Yeah."

Yeah. That's all I can say.

"I'm glad you came to me."

"...You're the second. You are."

"Second...?"

"Second master. Didn't I say I've been bought and sold several times? And no one else used me as a model. Did I hear wrong?"

"...That's all my story. I'm sorry for making you listen."

"No, I'm glad I got to hear it."

I'm glad I got to hear about his life... No, I feel honored to have heard about the weight of his life, but is it disrespectful to feel happy about it?

"Go to sleep now."

"Yeah. Good night."

Since I was told to sleep, I decided to do so.

When I got into bed, a nice smell made me sleepy. Maybe the noble family uses good fabric softener or something.

The next day, when I woke up, Laocles was already up. He was looking out the window. ...I don't think he was watching all night, but...

"Good morning."

"Yeah, you're up."

"Laocles, did you sleep well?"

"I slept."

If he says he slept, I'll take his word for it. I skip lunch, and I don't stop people from slurping noodle soup, and I don't complain about people whose sleep I can't confirm.

After breakfast, we decided to go to town for a bit.

The reason was to buy ham.

Yes, ham.

...The large piece of prosciutto that was eaten by the black ghost, which I was looking forward to, was never eaten. I decided to go buy it again.

However, the people who said "summon a red dragon" might still be around, so I will follow Laocles' instructions.

I walk on the building side of the road. Laocles goes first at corners. We don't enter narrow streets. We only enter the butcher's shop where I bought the ham last time.

There were still many strange and mysterious things in town, and I wanted to look around, but... there was no choice. We went to buy ham without stopping, as Laocles said, on the "optimal route."

...But.

"Ah, we meet again."

We met...

I held the ham I just bought and took a step back. Laocles, holding his shield and putting his hand on his sword, stepped in front of me.

"Y-You don't need to be so cautious."

"Get lost."

Laocles' stern command was quiet but sharp, like a sword thrust. It was cool.

"No... I deeply, deeply regret my rudeness last time."

Despite being glared at by Laocles, the person from the Giolene family fumbled and... signaled to the people behind him.

Then, they showed more gold coins, many jewels, and, of course, a staff, more than last time.

"This reward is proof of how much we desire you! If you give us more time, we will bring even more!"

Hmm... Being expected is a bit uncomfortable. Being desired is quite troublesome.

"Please, grant the red dragon to the Giolene family, just like the Redgard family."

"But... I can't do that..."

"Can't you hear me telling you to get lost?"

When Laocles glared again, the person took a step back... and said, "I'll come again" and left. I hope they don't come back.

That day, I drew and practiced controlling my magic, and the next day, I practiced riding.

Riding a pegasus, I walked around the Redgard family's garden.

I wasn't riding with my stomach pressed against the pegasus but was sitting properly, which made it hard to keep my balance.

But it was a good experience. Yeah, learning to ride here might be useful later, mainly when drawing Laocles on a horse.

...And when I have to ride in front of people. Yeah. It's better to look good.

"How are you doing?"

"A bit tired."

"Of course."

I had to sit properly and maintain my balance as the pegasus walked, which used my whole body and was tiring.

On the other hand, Laocles, riding another pegasus next to me, didn't look tired at all.

"Since you're riding a bare horse, it's natural to be tired. Do you not intend to put saddles on them?"

"Umm... If they're okay with it, I'll consider it."

Saddles might not be comfortable for horses, so I didn't want to use them... but the pegasus neighed and nodded. Hmm, they're okay with it?

"Then I'll prepare saddles. It will make it easier to ride."

"Yeah."

If it looks good, that's better. Yeah. So, I thought I'd like to try using a saddle once.

"But it will be troublesome to go to town to buy them."

"We might run into them again."

...But we can't go to town to buy saddles. If we meet the Giolene family again, it will be a hassle.

"Then, should I draw them? ...Ah, I don't know the shape of a saddle."

"Like a shield. ...Then, ask the Redgard family to borrow an unused one. There should be at least one."

"Yeah. I'll draw based on that."

"...Can't you use it as is?"

So, we continued our riding training in the Redgard family's garden without going out, to avoid the Giolene family...

...But.

"Tougo-sama! Please, the red dragon!"

They came again...

"I don't want you to come into someone's garden."

Indeed, I was riding in the back garden, which was larger than the inner courtyard. But it's not right to call out from outside, is it?

"We are prepared to visit you as many times as necessary until we receive your consent. Please, summon the red dragon for the sake of the Giolene family's heir."

No. This person isn't listening to me.

"...Why do you want the red dragon so much?"

So, I asked. ...And.

"Of course, because the Giolene family's heir needs a suitable familiar."

...I got a confusing answer. No, I think this person is listening to me, but we can't communicate.

"If the legendary red dragon became the property of the Redgard family, the Giolene family also needs an equivalent."

"Dragons are living beings, not decorations."

"That's right. The living legend of the red dragon has a value that cannot be compared to mere decorations."

No. We really can't communicate. ...I'm getting tired.

Seeing my distress, Laocles sighed and then lightly patted the pegasus's neck. ...What is it?

"Tougo. Stay back."

"Huh? Yeah."

When I gave the pegasus an instruction, it walked away from the spot as I directed.

"Tougo-sama! Let's talk a bit more!"

The person from the Giolene family, as if chasing after me who had moved a bit away, stepped into the garden...

...At that moment, the pegasus Laocles was riding charged.

The pegasus spread its wings and took off with just a few steps of acceleration. A decisive takeoff. Then... it easily cleared the low hedge and aimed its front hooves at the people from the Giolene family on the other side.

...It was impressive.

"Ah!"

The hooves, moving at a speed far exceeding that of a regular horse, would not let