Episode 36
And then.
The jumping point was still far off, but Star kicked off the ground and rose into the air.
In an instant, my body floated gently. The scenery beyond the obstacle unfolded like a painting moving in slow motion.
Thump—
The descending Star’s feet firmly hit the dirt ground and made a clean landing. I wondered if the impact would be huge, but it was better than expected. Without stopping, Star rode the momentum and dashed refreshingly toward the wide grassy field.
“Ha… Haha! We cleared it! Young Lord, Melliot! Did you see that?!”
When I turned around and waved my hand, I saw Aidan’s surprised expression and Melliot’s face as she clasped her hands together in prayer with her mouth wide open.
“I saw it! That was totally cool!”
Melliot smiled, waving both hands enthusiastically.
“What’s there to be so thrilled about over clearing just one obstacle?”
Aidan grumbled, but the corners of his mouth were twitching. That sight brought my dad to mind once again, so I stared at him for a long time.
If my dad were in this spot, he would surely be looking at me with that kind of expression.
“As I’ve said repeatedly, we really have no time left now. Starting today, it’s intense practice.”
“Sounds good! Since we started later than others, we should practice even more.”
“Let’s run the full course of the competition!”
Thus, for the first time, I came to run the entire course with Star.
“Get ready… Go!”
In rhythm with Melliot’s signal, we began to run.
Star was undeniably a fine horse. Star was taking it upon himself to make up for my lack of skill. Was it because he became more sensitive to other senses since he couldn’t hear? He seemed just that intelligent.
Even without me signaling the jumping points through the reins, Star leaped on his own and even slowed down by himself when rounding corners.
“This should be enough for today. Both you and Star are soaked in sweat.”
At Aidan’s words, I looked at Star. His glossy fur was covered in sweat.
“Haha, you’re right. I can’t ride any longer either.”
The moment I dismounted from the horse, I lay flat on the grass field and caught my breath.
“By the way, this is just my opinion, but I don’t think those two will back down like this, you know?”
“That’s why we decided to strengthen the security.”
“I’m uneasy with just that. I feel like they’ll pull some scheme at the competition venue.”
Aidan, who understood my words, nodded his head.
“I’ll investigate it.”
And no sooner had the investigation begun than we were able to learn new news.
“The competition format is changing?”
“Since it’s been the same course for several years, the association announced that they’re trying something different this time. Naturally, they said the altered course will be kept secret.”
“Well, if no one knows, it would be fair, but…”
At Melliot’s words, Aidan shook his head.
“There’s no way those guys would act fairly.”
According to what Aidan investigated, those bastards were already practicing at the newly designated arena.
“And although I couldn’t find out the details, it seems they’re going to set some trap at the arena. Since they couldn’t harm Star, they must be quite anxious.”
“This is too cowardly! It’s only natural for the horse that has practiced to win!”
Unable to contain her fury, Melliot stood up from her seat and rolled up her sleeves.
“This won’t do, I’m going to go demand an explanation right now! I’ll expose everything, including how they intentionally injured horses to win until now!”
“Wait, wait a minute! We don’t have evidence!”
After barely calming down the excited Melliot, I fell into thought.
“At this rate, winning is impossible. As Melliot said, it would be better to make some formal protest.”
“No, a way to win did cross my mind.”
“Is that real?”
“What is it?”
The eyes of both turned toward me.
I hesitated before opening my mouth. After listening to my story, Melliot’s eyes grew wide.
“Is that really possible?”
Aidan pondered deeply before nodding his head.
“Theoretically, it isn’t impossible.”
“However, it’s a somewhat cowardly method. That’s why I’m hesitant.”
“Those bastards are acting cowardly first.”
“That’s right! The fact that they won until now by injuring other horses is already extremely cowardly!”
“Then, shall we give it a try?”
At my question, both nodded their heads at the same time.
***
And today was the day of the competition.
“Phew, I’m nervous.”
As I grew thoroughly nervous, Star rubbed his cheek against mine.
“Telling me not to be nervous? You shouldn’t be nervous either.”
“Fufu, Cynthia communicates well with Star now too.”
Melliot laughed while checking Star’s condition.
“You’re wearing the protective gear properly, right?”
And the one checking my condition was Aidan.
“Just because others rush ahead during the competition, there’s no need for you to overdo it at all. Your own pace is what’s most important. And over there, do you see them?”
Following Aidan’s gaze, two men who closely resembled the drawing Melliot had made came into view.
“It’s those people.”
I had only seen their faces through Melliot’s drawing.
They really look cowardly.
Ah, we made eye contact.
I quickly turned my gaze away, pretending not to notice.
“You must be careful. Although we couldn’t find out what they did, judging by their confident expressions, they definitely pulled something at the arena.”
“I know. Because they are bastards who have won through cowardly acts all this time.”
Those bastards had come looking for Star once more after that, but they ran away after seeing that Aidan had stationed knights.
Just to win, to inflict injuries on a speechless animal. Is that something a human should do?
“I will definitely win.”
I stared at the prize placed conspicuously for the competition. Since I couldn’t get close, I couldn’t confirm it, but it might be a core.
I must take that and check it out myself.
I steeled my resolve grimly.
“Now, everyone please stand in front of your own bib numbers.”
The person hosting the competition called out to people while waving a flag.
It really is starting soon.
“Melliot, what number were we?”
“Number 3!”
Number 3, if it’s number 3, it’s here.
Together with Star, I stood at Lane 3, where we were to start, and as if by some twist of fate, Drodons was standing right next to us.
Don’t tell me they planned even the number order?
“Pfft, kid. Can you even ride a horse by yourself?”
Riding a pure white horse, he sneered while scanning me and Star.
“Still, since you’re light, at least the kid will run fast.”
Who are you calling a kid?
Demonstratively mounting on top of Star, I scanned Drodons.
“Old man, you’re so heavy, will the horse even be able to run?”
“O-O-Old man?”
Did he expect me to call him brother or something then?
How shameless.
I carefully stroked Star.
“Let’s do well, Star. I believe in you.”
“Ha, what are you whispering so affectionately to a deaf one for? How would a horse understand human speech in the first place?”
“They understand everything too, you know?”
For the son of Turtlely’s lord—a region known as a horse producer—to hold such thoughts. That’s really awful.
I looked straight ahead. The red flag signaling the start plunged downward.
Clip-clop, clip-clop—
Over a dozen racehorses kicked off the grass field simultaneously and dashed out. Dirt dust splattered in all directions, and the cheering sounds of the crowd echoed in my ears.
Running alongside, Drodons’ white horse shot into the lead, as expected of one accustomed to the course. Other participants followed closely behind him.
Star prudently maintained his pace and ran in the middle pack. Intelligent as expected. Since we didn’t know what the course was like, it seemed better to make a push in the final stretch.
Rounding a corner, the obstacle area came into view.
“Alright, jump here.”
It was the moment we smoothly cleared the first and second obstacles.
“Huh?”
Star somehow became slower than before.
I saw Drodons up ahead snicker at us.
“What is it, what did you do?”
Don’t tell me a trap at the spot where horses land from the jump?
Star was limping on his hind leg.
“Stop, Star, stop!”
I signaled him to stop, but Star did not stop.
Is it okay to make him keep running while dragging a painful leg? Is it okay for me to do this for the sake of the core?
I don’t know, but…
If Star wants to keep running, I want to let him win.
I readjusted my grip on the reins.
Cowardly bastards. To go as far as injuring a horse?
“Star, I’m going to make you first place.”
In the end, I decided to use my trump card.
