Episode 35
He was loved more than anyone else.
The owner’s daughter often rode him to gallop, and that day was no different. That girl, who was riding without even properly fastening the reins, almost fell off the horse, and as he tried to stop it, a protruding tree branch pierced his ear, causing him to lose his hearing.
Although the girl’s life was saved, she was left with a limp, and the owner sold him.
Having grown as sensitive as could be because not a single sound in this world could be heard, he was sold here and there.
For several years, if he failed to set a record, he was beaten.
Now, he was fed up with everything and wanted to end it.
Having thrown off a man whom most humans bowed their heads to, he thought that perhaps now, instead of being sold, he could truly end this tedious life.
However, the option given to him was to run again.
Moreover, carrying a young girl who was awkward at riding horses and didn’t seem to have good athletic skills either.
‘What is she mumbling like this for?’
Not knowing whether she realized he couldn’t hear her, she chattered constantly and attempted to touch him. When he snorted out of annoyance, she would get nervous, yet he couldn’t understand why she bothered to uncomfortably sleep by his side.
It was a day with heavy rain. Even without hearing sounds, he woke up due to the humidity.
Did the woman wake up because of the noise, or did she suddenly take an umbrella and go outside?
Did she leave because it was raining heavily?
Or had this child given up on him now as well?
His mood sank along with the dampness.
It was strange, considering only one human who had been annoyingly hovering around him had disappeared.
‘What are these men again?’
He sees the sharp blade held in their hands. He doesn’t have much attachment to life, but will that child who returned be startled?
‘No, maybe she is discarding me, who is no longer needed.’
Just like his first owner. Just like that young girl whose face he can’t even remember now.
He quietly closed his eyes. Yet, no pain was felt.
Thinking it was strange, he gently opened his eyes to find the men hastily running away.
What on earth happened? Just when he thought it was finally the end.
‘Huh?’
While he was bewildered, the door opened, and silver hair soaked through rushed inside.
‘What on earth is she saying?’
He had no idea what she was saying at all. However, it was certain that it was the most dazzling silver hair he had seen in his life, whether long or short.
***
“Something like that happened? Why are you only telling us that now?”
“Hehe, while I was hugging Star, I ended up falling asleep.”
When I came to my senses, both of us had fallen asleep. Melliot, who came to feed Star in the morning, was startled as well.
“If what Cynthia says is true, those guys might have also tampered with things when my father fell off his horse during the competition.”
Melliot’s fists trembled finely.
“I’m sorry, Melliot. It would have been great if I had caught those guys on the spot.”
“No. If you had done that, it could have led to a major disaster.”
“So who are those culprits?”
At Aidan’s words, Melliot raised her shoulders and spoke.
“Of course I know who they are.”
Melliot picked up a tree branch and drew a picture on the dirt floor.
“Roughly like this, the short man is Renol. And the tall man is Drodons. They are the youngest sons of this village’s lord, and the two horses have been the winning team in the horse racing competition for seven consecutive years as the same team.”
“And each time, they must have taken the thoroughbred breeding rights.”
Aidan lightly stroked his chin.
“I will order the knights to guard Star’s surroundings, so do not worry. And Cynthia, since you are friendly with the horse now, sleep in the lodging.”
“That’s right. You never know, so it’s dangerous.”
Since I couldn’t sleep in the stable until the match either, I nodded my head.
“Either way, these people have been winning through cowardly methods all this time.”
When I erased the drawing on the ground with my foot, Melliot nodded her head.
“To injure a horse for the sake of winning. Such people cannot be called people of Turtlely Village!”
She, who shouted in an excited voice, looked at me.
“So this time, we must win! Let’s flatten those guys’ noses!”
“Sounds good! Fortunately, it seems Star has opened his heart to me as well.”
At my words, Melliot replied with a bright smile.
“That’s what I’m saying. It seems Star knows now that Cynthia won’t hurt him either.”
“Wow, really? Then starting today, will I be able to practice jumping over obstacles with Star?”
“That might be unreasonable, but running should be no problem at all.”
“Really?”
I became excited naturally. I’m finally riding Star and running!
“Star, please take good care of me today.”
When I carefully stroked his neck like yesterday, he quietly wagged his tail. We have definitely become closer than before.
“Well then, shall we depart?”
A field of vision much higher than the horse I previously practiced riding on. Yet, a saddle that was just as much more stable. Holding the reins slowly, I began to walk.
“W-Wow. Did you see that?”
Star turned directions following my lead.
“That’s very good.”
“It’s certainly better than last time.”
“The two of them have become closer, and since Cynthia’s riding skills have improved too, Star looks comfortable.”
“The problem is that a horse riding competition isn’t a stroll on a horse.”
“Uh, shall we try practicing obstacles right away?”
“Won’t it be exhausting?”
“I’m fine!”
Following Aidan’s opinion, obstacle jump practice began immediately.
“Star, let’s run well.”
I carefully reached out my hand and patted his neck. Star not rejecting me is still unfamiliar, but it feels good. For a speechless animal to express trust in me was this pleasant.
Still, when I applied the spurs, he began to run. It’s incredibly fast; how I ran on horses until now doesn’t even count as running. I heard Star was fast-footed, but I didn’t know he was this fast.
In the distance, an obstacle was visible. Since the first obstacle is at most at my knee height, I can jump over it lightly, right?
Ah, but running at this speed might be a little scary? Isn’t my body going to be lifted when Star jumps?
Instantly, my body stiffened. Without realizing it, strength went into my hands holding the reins.
“…U-Uh?”
Star, who was running well, suddenly seemed to slow his speed down before coming to a complete stop in front of the obstacle.
“What is it, why stop after running so well?”
“T-That, it’s not that I stopped because I wanted to stop.”
A cold sweat broke out naturally.
“Star, what’s wrong with you?”
It was strange. Even after that, I attempted to run and jump over obstacles several times, but Star always slowed down and stopped in front of the obstacle.
“What could be the reason?”
“Well. I don’t know well either, since this is my first time seeing this. He does walking and running all well, but to stop in front of obstacles…”
If even Melliot doesn’t know, she really doesn’t know.
“Could he be in pain somewhere? Like muscles used only when jumping are hurting…”
“Or he might have been startled because of yesterday’s incident.”
Aidan clicked his tongue.
“Isn’t there a problem somewhere? Those guys might have already used some trick. How about formally submitting a request to change the horse altogether…”
“I’ll try one more time.”
Mounting back on top of Star, I began to run. Star’s speed was still fast. Since he ran several times, he might be exhausted, but as expected of a racehorse, his stamina was enormous.
And after a few attempts, I was able to figure out the cause.
Because it was faster than I thought, I held my breath without realizing it. Naturally, I applied strength to my thighs too.
It wasn’t that Star couldn’t jump, but he was refraining from jumping out of fear that I might fall.
I loosened the strength in my hands holding the reins and quietly patted Star’s neck.
As if to say I was fine.
Neigh—
As if he had been waiting, Star let out a loud neigh and kicked off with his feet. It was a speed much faster than earlier. The wind brushed past as if it would tear my ears, and soon, the obstacle came into view.
