Black Badger

So, this was the result of Kyle picking a fight.

When I explained the situation this simply, Kyle got angry, but when asked, “And you—did you just stand there doing nothing?!” I could answer with confidence.

I had behaved quite politely, at least.

“I didn’t even get angry, and I only stepped in at the very end.”

Kyle stared at me as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

I blinked once.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It’s true. I just lodged a calm protest.”

“While drawing your sword?”

“They drew first. I didn’t even swing it.”

“You really are hopeless.”

Kyle said something rude.

I furrowed my brow in disbelief. But the black-haired knight didn’t even meet my gaze—he turned his head away.

He even snorted.

“Strange bastard.”

That’s a bit much.

And that was the end of it. I had just helped him stand up to a senior knight who was openly discriminating based on origin, yet instead of thanks, I didn’t even get a single kind word from Kyle.

Instead, he snapped at me, asking why I had interfered in the first place.

As if his anger still hadn’t faded, a faint crease remained between Kyle’s brows.

Black hair scattering in the wind.

Golden eyes gazing into the distance.

“They said lamb porridge is on the menu today.”

I muttered while looking at my friend, who was staring at something unreachable, but he ignored me.

“Should we check if there’s anything left before we head out?”

There was no answer.

Kyle stood still, hands shoved into his pockets. I had no intention of continuing the conversation either, so I closed my mouth and stayed quiet.

I hadn’t known him for very long.

But in that short span, we had been assigned to all sorts of missions together. In the western order, they kept tying us together, saying we were the most rootless ones there.

The western unit, largely made up of former mercenaries, had its own internal factions.

Those from renowned mercenary companies. Those sponsored by nobles. Those who had already made a name for themselves before joining the knighthood....

Kyle and I were none of those.

It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but in the western unit, there were very few who could match us in skill.

And yet, even after people stopped openly dismissing Kyle, discrimination lingered. Subtly unpleasant assignments kept coming our way. Jobs that earned no recognition and only exhaustion. Or missions so dangerous that safe return couldn’t be guaranteed.

We endured those together.

Alongside Rei Renyr, who chose to follow us of his own will, we spent dense stretches of time together.

Which is to say—I know Kyle isn’t someone stingy with gratitude.

And I know he takes care of his people fiercely.

A knight with deep affection for his own tribe.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Knowing no words could soothe his anger, I said that instead.

“There were matsutake mushrooms growing near the barracks. If there’s nothing else, we could pick some and make soup before we go.”

Kyle hated the fact that he belonged to the Empire’s knighthood.

Most of the time, it seemed like he kept that anger buried. But in moments like this, the rage he usually ignored surged back up.

Being discriminated against for being a conquered people would be infuriating enough, and it probably bothered him even more that I—stepping in to stop it—was insulted as well for being a rural orphan.

Even though I didn’t care.

Every time I was treated unfairly, Kyle exploded with anger.

He was soft-hearted like that.

I smiled bitterly as I looked at the creased space between his brows.

“Let’s just go.”

After some time, the black-haired knight finally spoke.

“It’s a damn long road.”

He roughly swept his slightly curly black hair back over his shoulder.

A breeze carrying the scent of grass tickled my nose.

Only then did I take my eyes off Kyle and turn my head, following his golden gaze.

We were standing on a hill overlooking the entrance to the Imperial Capital.

It was the hour when the sun was beginning to set.

In the wide-open view, the edge of the Empire stretched out, followed by a vast plain, and beyond that, a rugged mountain range at the far end of the plains.

At the entrance to the mountains, rows of white oaks stood lined up.

Bread made from white oak acorns is surprisingly good.

I thought of the trees often seen near temples.

Smoking meat or fish with their sawdust would be good too.

I’m hungry....

“How much food should we bring?”

I muttered, gauging the time.

“No idea how many days it’ll take.”

“Let’s stop by the mill at the edge of the Empire.”

Kyle answered.

Turning his body, he cast his gaze at a Creature circling in the crimson edge of the sky.

“No point bringing too much. It’ll just spoil.”

“Not wrong, I guess....”

“Hey!”

A clear shout cut me off.

Kyle and I turned at the same time.

Not startled, though. I had already sensed him approaching.

Fully prepared to depart, I smiled faintly at Rei Renyr as he came running, while Kyle let out a heavy sigh.

“There he comes again.”

“Well, if he were normal, he wouldn’t have joined the western unit in the first place.”

I replied, having caught Kyle’s mutter, which held no real malice.

“You knew he’d come.”

The only noble in the western unit.

More precisely, the only noble besides Kysis of imperial blood—Rei Renyr.

He stopped in front of us and tugged one corner of his mouth upward.

His white, curly hair fluttered in the evening breeze.

“I heard you smashed Lavatut.”

His eyes were the same golden color as mine and Kyle’s.

“And because of that, you’re heading to the western Rionov Mountains without even getting lamb porridge?”

“Tell this priest to pick his timing and place before sticking his nose in.”

Kyle grumbled, jerking his chin toward me.

“It was my problem to begin with.”

Kyle and Rei didn’t fight anymore.

At first, they couldn’t understand each other, but now they had come to accept one another’s attitudes. Kyle no longer saw Rei as an overreaching noble who wanted to play at being a commoner. Rei no longer thought Kyle’s anger excessive. Through numerous missions, they had learned enough about each other’s backgrounds.

Trust had built up.

“So, we’re leaving now?”

A smile spread at Rei’s words.

Kyle sighed as if resigned, then nodded.

“Yeah.”

“Alright, then let’s go. I just groomed Homebolt’s mane. He shouldn’t be too upset if I take him out now.”

“No.”

Kyle said curtly.

No?

I looked at the black-haired knight in confusion.

Rei wore an equally puzzled expression.

Kyle continued.

“The mountains are too rough to ride horses.”

“That’s true, but we can’t walk it either. We won’t even make it back to the capital before sunset.”

“We can’t use teleportation either. As far as I know, regular knights aren’t allowed to request magic.”

Rei spoke like a noble.

Commoners usually didn’t have mages they could call on for favors.

There were plenty who never even encountered a mage before taking the knighthood exam. Rei’s assumption that a mage would be nearby really was noble-like.

Of course, saying that would make him bristle, so I kept it to myself.

Kyle only nodded mildly.

Then he added,

“We’re riding Bambi Winged Bird.”

“Huh?”

“Bambi Winged Bird?”

Rei and I blurted out in disbelief.

Rei, especially, was flustered.

“That Creature—why all of a sudden.... Don’t tell me you’re planning to ride it like a horse? No matter how rough the mountains are, that thing?”

“Bambi Winged Bird are even harder to tame than Skybirds.”

Meanwhile, a bad memory surfaced for me.

Once, I had confidently mounted a Skybird favored by handlers and ended up violently airsick.

It was so bad that the moment I got down, I threw up.

And that was just a Skybird. Bambi Winged Bird?

That was an option even seasoned handlers avoided.

When I voiced my concern, Kyle grinned crookedly.

It was his distinctive, charming smile, brimming with innate confidence.

“We’ll get help.”

“Help? From who?”

“A handler.”

Kyle answered.

“Our handler.”

***

He’s called Kairos.

“Ever since he was a kid, he’s been obsessed with Creatures. He’s a bit odd, but try to understand.”

Kyle said as we crossed the sunset-drenched Imperial Capital.

“He’s not completely oblivious, but when it comes to Creatures, his eyes go wild before his sense kicks in. He does some baffling things now and then.”

“Sounds like his handling skills are exceptional.”

Kyle was planning to have four Bambi Winged Bird under control at the same time.

He intended to leave the handling of the Bambi Winged Bird entirely to that handler. Four Skybirds might be plausible, but four Bambi Winged Bird at once?

Still, maybe his skill justified such a plan.

Thinking that, I asked—and got an immediate answer.

“He’s the best in the tribe.”

I see.

Then getting help makes sense.

I nodded simply, while Rei let out a short groan.

“I don’t know about this....”

He looked up at the sky uneasily.

“Skybirds aren’t exactly easy to handle either. Accidents happen midair sometimes. They just seem easy because handlers use them so often for travel.... But riding Bambi Winged Bird? Wouldn’t it be better to wait until morning and take Skybirds instead?”

“You know there’s a giant that wakes up every dawn and wanders around the third western peak.”

Kyle replied, pulling his traveler’s cloak tighter.

“If we pass at night, we can avoid it easily. No need to take unnecessary risks.”

“Will he even agree? Asking this late doesn’t feel polite.”

When I asked, Kyle snorted.

“It’s fine. He’ll be happy, if anything.”

Huh?

“I heard that since being absorbed into the Empire, he hasn’t been able to handle Creatures like he used to.”

Does he just really like handling...?

Anyway, we entered the area where Kyle’s tribe stayed.

A place nobles wouldn’t even approach. An alley even imperial commoners avoided.

By now, entering this place made me feel strangely at ease.

Probably because Kyle’s people treated Rei and me so warmly.

It was also nice not having to worry about running into arrogant nobles. Aside from oddities like Rei, nobles usually never came near this alley.

It was comforting, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ too, that the residents all knew each other.

Today as well, Rei and I received more hospitality than we deserved.

Despite their lack of means, they even served us mushroom porridge.

After finishing it and playing reed pipes with the children, Kyle returned.

“He’ll be here right away.”

“Oh.”

“He says it’s absolutely possible—”

Baaang!

A thunderous roar cut Kyle off.

At the noise erupting behind him, we immediately reached for our swords.

Muscles tensed tight, we sensed the presence emerging from the smoke.

A presence accompanied by a Creature.

“Kyle.”

A red-haired man laughed cheerfully.

“It’s been a while!”

The hair of the man riding atop a massive lizard whipped in the wind.

I stared blankly into his vivid orange eyes.