[We Don’t Need It, Do We!]

Although I tried to ride the horse back after sending Luisina, I couldn’t move the horse with my complete amateur level of horse-riding skill on top of my dead tired legs.

The royal guard who was guarding the mansion, unable to just watch, went to have a discussion with Julia, who was inside the mansion, and although I wasn’t allowed to enter the premises, I got the permission to use the perimeter of the walls surrounding the mansion as a training track.

I knew I got this special treatment because she thought of me as Luisina’s acquaintance, but when I thought that I wouldn’t have to go through this trouble if Luisina hadn’t had brought the horse this far in the first place, I felt a little irked.

Anyways, thanks to the royal guard who had too much time to spare teaching me and Iris on how to ride a horse, I was able to make the horse walk around.

The royal guard, who has been teaching me how to swing a sword on horseback, return to his position in response to the sound of the carriage that is audible from a distance, so for the time being, we also pull the horse to the side and turn to the direction where the sound coming from.

What stops in front of the mansion is a high-class carriage pulled by two white horses with beautiful coats.

Although the ornament is somewhat lacking as a royal property, probably because it is for picking up guests, the spotless carriage that reflects the sunlight gives off an inerasable refined feeling, making one inevitably imagine that inside the carriage that is partitioned by curtains boards a person with a high status.

However, contrary to that impression, the ones getting off the carriage are three students.

Moreover, all of them are familiar faces, and as soon as they see me, they make a surprised expression.

“Eh, Sakurai-kun?” (Reika)

“Sakurai?” (Amanai)

“I wonder who it is, and turns out it’s Tōru. What’re you doing in a place like this?” (Ethel)

Yes, the ones getting off the carriage are Akano, Amanai, and Ethel.

After I lightly raised my hand to greet them, who each showed a different reaction, they all walk up to us.

“Are you also called by Knaust-san, Sakurai?” (Amanai)

“Nope. I’m just taking a break after getting tired from running all the way here because some freeloader said she wanted to come here while teaching this horse who’s the boss while I was at it.” Sakurai)

“I don’t get what you saying.” (Amanai)

“That just now should be a concise explanation that covered all of the main points, though.” (Sakurai)

“……Ahh, you’re not good at explaining.” (Amanai)

When Amanai shows a mysterious convinced expression, I direct an uncomprehending gaze toward Iris, but she averts her eyes. It looks like the horse that I’ve been with for a short time is my only remaining ally.

Next time, I have to revise people’s evaluation of me, including Iris. For some reason, I can’t help but feel like everyone’s treatment of me is sloppy. But well, I don’t mind it too much because it won’t get in the way of my leveling, though.

“You guys were called? What kind of problem did you cause?” (Sakurai)

“Unlike you, we did nothing in particular.” (Ethel)

“When we were choosing a horse in the stable after the opening ceremony, we were invited to the mansion to talk to Knaust-san about what happened at the opera house.” (Reika)

“……I really want to bring you up, but well, there’s that favor you gave us at the hospital. I will keep the truth.” (Amanai)

Ethel and Akano give a small nod to Amanai, who spoke in whisper so as not to be heard by the knight guiding them.

If it’s me, I would have ignored the call because it’s plainly a hassle, or just mixed some truths and lies and push it to somebody else, though; what’s with these guys’s strong sense of duty?

Anyways, it’s convenient for me, so let’s stay quiet and rely on these honest people’s sense of moral obligation and humane feelings.

“I see. Well, you can talk to me if anything comes up.” (Sakurai)

“Thanks. Then, we’re going.” (Amanai)

That said, Amanai and co go into the mansion. The carriage they were on also goes away, and we and the royal guard are the only ones left again.

My legs are recovering soon, so it’s about time we say goodbye and let him enjoy his free time. I have horse-riding skill to master anyways, which is my original purpose.

“Then, thank you very much for your help.” (Iris)

“Thanks a bunch!” (Sakurai)

Having said goodbye to the royal guard, we get on the horse and leave the place.

Then, after telling Iris to borrow the chariot prepared for the competition, I decide to head to the grove behind the student dormitory where Iris’s home is located.

Originally, I intended to learn the basics from the horse-riding instructor dispatched by the military academy in the sports ground, but I no longer have a reason to go there as the royal guard had taught me.

The chariot race being as it is, I want to avoid exposing my ability to the public, and I have to go my room in Iris’s place to get the necessary items anyways.

“I can’t go calling you horse forever, and you’re not a rental, so I think I have to give you a name.” (Sakurai)

“Neigh.”

“It’s not like you’re a pet, but whatever. Your name is Horsie, Horsie.” (Sakurai)

“……Nei~gh.”

Horsie neighs as though he’s disappointed with the name I gave him.

This guy, he’s so gutsy that he wasn’t the least perturbed with the hustle and bustle around him, and would answer with a simple response, so he must be quite smart. He has a slightly different origin from the real-world animals, so this much is normal, maybe?

Well, nothing’s bad from us being able to communicate easily— with that in mind, I grab Horsie’s reins and have him walk.

By the way, afterward, I realized that Iris had no way to carry the chariot without a horse, so I did one-eighty with Horsie and got back, but I encountered her with a chariot pulled by an ice horse midway.

“You can do something like that, Iris!?” (Sakurai)

“It is kind of like a golem, so I can only give it simple commands.” (Iris)

“If you can do that, then we don’t need Horsie, do we!!” (Sakurai)

“Neigh!?”