Chapter 39

It has been three days since we called the Giolens. Nothing particular happened, and we spent our days in peace.

During this time, I improved my horse riding skills a bit. I wonder if I can now match the Pegasus to some extent.

"Hey, that's great, that's great. When did you get so good at riding, Togo?"

"Yeah. I had a good instructor."

Fey was quite pleased with my improved horse riding skills. Laocles, standing next to her, looked somewhat satisfied. Thank you for your guidance.

As I dismounted the Pegasus and stroked its neck to express my gratitude for today's practice, Fey suddenly said,

"You know, once your magic power stabilizes, you might want to make these creatures your summoning beasts."

"Eh?"

Summoning beasts? ...Ah, right. Fey keeps fire spirits and a red dragon in gems and carries them around.

"If you have a Pegasus, it would be convenient for travel. A unicorn could serve as a guard. It would be perfect, wouldn't it?"

Like how Fey uses the fire spirit for travel, if I could summon a horse from a gem and ride it, it would indeed be convenient. But, how would the horse feel about that?

...When I looked at the horse, it was flapping its wings and coming towards me. ...I don't think I need to worry. Yeah. However, deciding which horse to make a summoning beast might be a bit of a hassle. It was already difficult to decide which horse to ride, and it might be even more difficult to decide which one to make a summoning beast.

"Is it not possible to do that immediately?"

However, despite my concerns, Laocles seemed enthusiastic.

"Your guard is insufficient with just me. Having a summoning beast would be a great help."

...I think having Laocles around is enough for me, but he seems worried.

"No, I want that too. But, if Togo, who can't control his magic power, uses a summoning beast, he might pour all his magic power into it, causing a big problem... and in the worst case, he might be taken away by the summoning beast..."

"I see..."

While listening to Fey and Laocles, I couldn't really understand what was going on. However, it seems that I shouldn't have a summoning beast for now.

"Well, in Togo's case, as long as he has his drawing materials, he can manage to some extent..."

"...On the contrary, if his drawing materials are taken away or he doesn't have the time to draw, he would be helpless."

That's true.

I think I can manage to some extent as long as I can draw, but if I can't draw, I can't do anything. Yeah.

"So, to prevent your drawing materials from being confiscated, you should prepare something that looks like a weapon. Like a dagger. And, even if you don't have a summoning beast yet, you should have a magic stone that can hold enough summoning beasts. Something that would make the other party feel secure that your 'weapon' has been confiscated."

"Okay."

I don't really want to think about such things, but it seems that both Fey and Laocles are on high alert. I also have a feeling that the Giolens might come again, so I nod in agreement. I'll prepare fake weapons later.

"But, that won't solve the problem fundamentally. You should prepare a summoning beast as soon as possible."

"Yeah... So, I hope Togo can work hard to control his magic power soon?"

"I understand."

I also feel that I need to do that. However, with the strongest seal on, I can control it for now, and I don't have any trouble drawing. So, I'm stuck at this point. ...No, I'll try a bit harder.

"If Togo were to have a summoning beast, it would probably be a Pegasus and a unicorn, right? With your magic power, you could probably make several summoning beasts."

"Not that many..."

"A whole army of unicorns would be cool. Like, 20 of them, lined up at the front line, like this..."

"Before it comes to that, I can just ride a horse and escape, so one is enough."

"Even in that case, it would be better to have a summoning beast that can stop them. A dragon would be intimidating."

"Ah, that's a good idea. You should summon a dragon too. How about a fluffy color, like pink?"

"Pink is not my thing."

After that, I discussed summoning beasts with Fey and Laocles for a while, but since I don't know much about the creatures in this world, I couldn't really grasp the reality of it.

...Next time I go to town, I'll buy a monster encyclopedia.

That night.

I couldn't sleep and was rolling around on the bed.

Laocles, on the other hand, didn't seem to be sleeping. He was lying on his side facing the window, so I couldn't see his face, but he was probably awake and aware that I was awake.

But I hesitated to talk to him. As I was thinking about what to do and rolling around again,

"Put on your shoes."

Laocles said that.

I did as he said, put on my shoes... and confirmed that my portable watercolor set was inside. I also took my 'fake bag' as per Fey's advice, "In case something happens, it's better to have a fake weapon."

The 'fake bag' is more like a waist pouch, or a working belt, or a holder... something like that.

It has a large knife that Fey prepared and two crystal gems I drew. I hope this looks like my weapon.

I also took a sketchbook and pencil the size of a notebook, and some candy as emergency food. To make it look like a fake bag, I included a leather pouch as a wallet. The pouch contains 3 gold coins, 7 silver coins, and about 5 copper coins. (This is the change from when I bought ham.)

Equipped with all of this, I braced myself. By then, Laocles had already equipped his sword and shield and was vigilantly watching by the window.

...Then.

The outside of the window suddenly became bright.

Despite it being night, it became as bright as midday for a moment, blinding my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again after the brief blindness...

"...Fast."

A large bird that seemed to have broken through the window was being threatened by Laocles' sword.

Fast.

However, that didn't settle the matter.

Another large bird flew in. Laocles clicked his tongue and used his shield to block the bird that was flying towards me. The bird hit the shield and fell to the ground.

Laocles swung his shield again and hit the bird he had initially threatened with his sword. The bird also fell to the ground. I see. A shield can be used as a blunt weapon.

...As the two birds fainted, they disappeared, sucked away somewhere.

"There!"

Seeing this, Laocles leaned out the window and picked up a nearby candlestick, throwing it.

A scream came from outside the window. If the heavy brass candlestick hit, it must have been quite painful.

...While this was happening, it seems that the Redgard family's guards came out into the garden. The outside of the window suddenly became noisy.

Laocles continued to watch outside the window with his sword drawn... but he glanced at me and motioned for me to come over, so I went to the window.

Outside the window, several people were surrounded by the Redgard family's guards.

Among them, I saw a familiar head of golden hair.

"Oh, it's Santos."

The son of the lord came all the way here. Perhaps the birds from earlier were his summoning beasts.

As I looked down from the window, Santos looked up and saw us. He seemed to realize he was being watched. Blood was flowing from his forehead. ...I think it was hit by the candlestick Laocles threw. It must be painful.

Santos glared at us and shouted.

"Hey! Come down here!"

"I refuse."

Laocles cut him off. Yeah. I don't want to go down either. I wonder why he thought we would come down in this situation.

"What! Do you not care what happens to this guy!?"

...However, Santos then grabbed one of his guards and put a knife to their throat.

"...What is he doing?"

"I don't know..."

We wondered why he was using his ally as a hostage and looked at his hand. ...Then, we realized that the person he was holding hostage was a female warrior. It was dark, so we couldn't see her face clearly.

We were a bit at a loss with Santos' sudden action. The Redgard family's guards were also a bit at a loss once he started using his ally as a hostage. What should we do?

...However, Santos, ignoring everything, said to us.

"This is Interia Bels. ...Does that name sound familiar? She was your former colleague, right? You both killed the lord of Gorda, right?"

I saw Laocles stiffen beside me.

"Hey? Balkraed Oriens."

He was called by a name I didn't know. He opened his eyes wide, didn't blink, and just stood there, stiff... looking at Santos and the female hostage.

He looked like a statue.

Laocles didn't move. The Redgard family's guards couldn't move. I couldn't move.

I could vaguely understand the situation... and because I understood, I couldn't move.

The person being held hostage was probably... a former colleague of Laocles, who was a knight.

I think she was important to him. You can tell from the pale face of Laocles.

"Look, look, what's wrong? If you care about her life, bring that kid down here quickly! Come on! Oriens!"

The Laocles who was called out gripped his sword tightly. ...His hand was trembling.

"Hey. Which is more important, her life or the kid's? We don't intend to kill the kid. We just want to give him a good life. What's there to hesitate about? If you bring the kid, everyone will be happy?"

"...Shut up."

Laocles said this in a strained voice, but it was clear that he was shaken.

"Oriens! Come on, bring that kid here! Come this way! Then we'll let Bels go!"

"Interia...!"

The woman, who was the focus of our gaze, was also looking at us. ...No, she was looking only at Laocles, not at me.

Laocles, exposed to the gaze of the woman, Santos, and the Redgard family's guards... bit his lip.

And then.

"Interia! Hate me! I must protect my lord!"

He said that.

"What... Hey, are you crazy!? Does it not matter what happens to this woman!? She is a slave! The property of the Giolens! I can order her to die!"

"Ah, it doesn't matter! If you want to kill her, kill her!"

Laocles barked back at the flustered Santos. However, his hand was trembling, and his eyes were fixed on Santos and the female hostage.

...At that moment.

"Ah, it doesn't matter! Kill me! If I am to be a burden to my former comrade, I will gladly be killed!"

The woman laughed and took the knife from Santos' hand.

"Ed. To your new life... to your new lord, I offer my blessings!"

And the woman pointed the knife at her own throat.

"Wait!"

I couldn't help but shout.

Everyone looked at me in surprise because I suddenly shouted after being silent all along.

"...I'll go. Just wait a moment."

I said that and peeked out the window... and decided that jumping down was impossible, so I left the room.

"Hey! Wait!"

Laocles chased after me, but I ran out of the guest room, down the stairs, and out the front door to the garden.

...There, I found people who were at a loss about what to do and finally saw me come down.

"...What? Are you willing to go with me?"

I stood in front of Santos, who was probably the most confused, and he flinched.

"Yeah."

So when I answered, ...he was taken aback.

"If you want to take me, go ahead. But let that person go."

"Hey, what are you saying!"

My shoulder was grabbed from behind by Laocles. His hand, touching my shoulder in my pajamas, was quite cold.

"Will Laocles come with us?"

So I asked. Then, Laocles was also taken aback.

"Can you come with us? It would be a great help."

...Laocles, who was taken aback, quickly came to his senses and asked.

"...Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

"You might be kept as a pet for life."

"I don't think that will happen."

"I... might be overrated, but I am not strong. I can't solve all