Chapter 32
The place we'd come to was a pasture stretching as far as the eye could see. Horses grazed lazily here and there. In the distance, a large warehouse-like building cast a long shadow.
The military maintains a certain air of tension even in peacetime. That made it feel like it had been a while since I'd experienced such a leisurely atmosphere.
I thanked Bickhilt-san, dismounted at the entrance, and leisurely made my way inside.
"Ah, there they are."
In the direction of my gaze, I saw two people dressed in expensive clothes that looked out of place even from a distance, along with a middle-aged man who seemed to be fidgeting nervously.
"Hey!" Even when I called out to them, the two were too absorbed in their conversation to notice me at all. Only the middle-aged man looked over and showed an expression of relief.
"Are you with the knights? I am Vizer, the owner of this ranch."
When Vizer-san ran over to us and introduced himself, I asked what was going on, and he hurriedly explained the situation.
Apparently, two knights had suddenly arrived and demanded that he show them the horses, so he had hurried out and begun guiding them. Partway through, however, they had started arguing over whether the most important quality in a warhorse was explosive speed or endurance, leaving him at a loss.
It was utterly unimportant, and I felt bad for Vizer-san.
"Even so, they're awfully quiet for two people who are arguing."
The two spoke earnestly, but their voices were so low that it sounded almost like a secret conference.
"Horses dislike loud voices, so I think they're trying to be considerate..." Vizer-san explained.
...Their love for horses ran deep.
"Ah, you're finally here. Let's have the person in question choose. Roa, I think a great horse is one that can run long and hard. You can count on it during long marches." Ryuzel was clearly on the endurance side of the debate.
"Wait, wait, Roa. In your case, you need a horse that can get you out of danger in an instant. That means we should prioritize explosive speed."
"I understand both your points, but... personally, I'd like a gentle horse that's easy to ride."
"I see. Riding comfort, then. Vizer, choose a few promising horses with good temperaments and show them to us."
"Y-yes! Th-this way..." Vizer-san had been tense the entire time.
I hadn't paid much attention because Rays-sama, who was practically the highest-ranking person around, was always close by. But to an ordinary person, someone with the rank of unit commander in the knight order would be extremely intimidating to deal with. I felt even more sorry for Vizer-san.
As we walked under Vizer-san's guidance, some horses came trotting up to us. Apparently, curious horses came to investigate whenever visitors arrived.
"This horse has a relatively good temperament, and that one over there does too."
He showed us about five horses, and each time Frain and Ryuzel examined them with serious expressions.
I simply watched them do so.
Then, for some reason, the back of my neck began to feel ticklish. While listening to their conversation, I wondered what it was and reached a hand to my neck. My fingers touched something soft and squishy.
"Whoa!" I turned around in surprise to find a gray horse standing there. Apparently, it had been nibbling at the collar of my jacket.
"Hey, stop! Arrow! Not again. An important guest's clothes! I'm terribly sorry! I've soiled your clothes, sir knight!"
I reassured Vizer-san, who had gone pale, by saying, "It's cheap, so don't worry about it." In fact, it was a cheap jacket I'd worn regularly since my days as a civil official. It was nothing to worry about.
"This rascal is always using its cunning... I'll take it over there right away..."
"Wait, Vizer. That horse has quite good hindquarters, too. Is there some problem with its temperament?" Ryuzel rested a hand on his chin and began examining the horse named Arrow with interest.
"Rather than having a difficult temperament, I suppose you could say it's cunning... We don't rate it poorly, but it runs away when a horse dealer comes and plays pranks like this. It constantly refuses to obey, so it's been difficult to find a buyer..."
"...I see. So it's an intelligent horse." Frain, too, began staring at Arrow with a serious expression.
"As I mentioned, Arrow is far from obedient, you know? I can't say it's suited to be a warhorse..."
"It's true that obedient and strong horses are preferred for cavalry, but for an officer's mount, intelligence is important. In an emergency, it can take action to save its commander."
"Ryuzel is right. Roa, try riding this horse."
The two suddenly fell into perfect sync, and their enthusiasm made me hesitate a little.
When I glanced beside me, Arrow had also drawn its head back slightly and looked perplexed.
Arrow and I met each other's eyes. As we both narrowed our eyes slightly, I somehow felt that I could get along with this horse.
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"Are you leaving his name as it is?"
After successfully buying Arrow, Frain asked me as I rode Arrow.
"Yeah. It sounds similar to my name, so I thought it was a good fit."
"I see. Make sure you take good care of it. I'll teach you how to groom it," he said, full of enthusiasm.
"We finished earlier than I expected. Since we're here, shall we run along the coast before heading back?"
"Yeah, sounds good. It'll be good practice for Roa, too."
At their urging, we turned our mounts south. The weather was clear, and when I increased Arrow's speed, the wind against my face felt wonderful.
After riding for a while, the sea breeze began to tickle my nose. As someone born in a fishing village, I found the familiar scent soothing.
"Oh, I can see a navy ship. Looks like it's on patrol."
Offshore, a large military vessel was stationed some distance from the shore.
The navy. Perhaps because there were few major ports, the countries of this continent all tended to place little importance on their navies.
In contrast, our nation's navy had developed from local defense groups. It did not belong to the knight order, but was an independent body directly under the king's authority. There were even stories that its origins lay with pirates who had lived along the coast.
Though smaller than the knight order, numbering only about a thousand in total, it was accorded a certain amount of respect by the knight order as a specialist in all things maritime.
Perhaps for that reason, Frain and Ryuzel rode along the coast while following the military vessel with their eyes like children who had found something rare.
Thus, I got a refreshing change of pace and acquired a beloved horse of my own. It had been a fulfilling day.