Chapter 16: Toma, the Red Hare

Contrary to my expectation that there would be several more ambushes, our schedule progressed smoothly.

The closer we got to the Capital, the better the road conditions became, which naturally made it easier for the horses to run, greatly increasing our travel speed.

On the way from Jennyck Barony to the Capital of Krezea, there were three territories we had to pass through.

We had already passed one, and it took a day to reach the second territory.

Two days were more than enough to reach the third.

Each time we stopped in a territory, we switched horses, allowing us to keep running at full speed.

After a day passed in that third territory, we finally arrived at the Capital of the Rivelan Principality.

“Wooah.”

I couldn’t help but admire it sincerely.

The closer we got to the outer wall of the Capital, the wider the Granary Belt stretched out before us.

This was what the Golden Plain truly looked like.

Seeing the endless barley fields made all the hardships and the long ride on horseback feel worthwhile.

We finally slowed down our pace.

From here on, since we were close to the Principality’s Capital, no one dared to draw their sword recklessly.

Moreover, since it was the Granary Belt, any trouble might provoke the fury of the Duke of the Principality, so everyone was cautious.

“Thank you for your hard work, Mage.”

“Thank you, Mage.”

“Thanks to you, we arrived safely.”

“Really, thank you.”

At the start, there had been so many soldiers with me, but now only four remained.

Maybe because I had ridden for days without rest and barely kept up, I felt even more sorry for them.

“Good job.”

I greeted them and glanced at the carriage following behind.

I wondered what the lord’s son thought right now.

He was probably lost in a tangle of complicated thoughts about his own life.

My job was simply to escort the lord’s son safely to the Capital.

More precisely, to his family estate in the Capital.

That was all I had to do.

Then I would collect my reward, buy what I needed, and disappear.

I had no intention of staying here—not even for a single night.

Well, if I did, it would only be for tonight. I was just too exhausted.

We passed through the outer wall and officially entered the Capital.

After the soldiers inspected us, I pulled my hood down tightly and slipped through the crowd of soldiers.

I had to remain as inconspicuous as possible.

According to the young master, the noble faction and the Royalist faction were already at odds and even engaging in skirmishes.

As long as I was careful not to be mistaken for a mercenary aiding either side, I would be fine.

“Sure, if they investigate, they’ll find out everything. But if I just leave amidst that, it’ll be over.”

I thought I needed to get a continental map first.

In the short term, I planned to leave the Rivelan Principality.

In the long term, maybe I would cross all the way to the opposite side of the continent.

The Capital was the Capital.

Countless people came and went, and all sorts of food were abundant.

Even the faint scent of fish—a smell hard to find inland—was present.

Knights clad in armor were everywhere, as well as youths decked out in all kinds of styles and beautiful maidens smiling as they passed by.

After several hurried days, my eyes were busy taking it all in.

‘Oh, pretty. Just my type. That guy’s definitely getting rejected. Who’s that beauty? Hah… when will I ever meet a woman like that?’

My eyes roamed busily, observing the people around me.

It reminded me of the days drinking with friends at a hunting tavern, enjoying watching others get rejected while on their own hunts.

-Skill: Search has leveled up.

-Skill: Reconnaissance has leveled up.

-Skill: Eavesdrop has leveled up.

I must have been so focused on my surroundings that even my skills leveled up.

Just as my eyes began to feel strained, the scenery changed.

The row of houses disappeared, replaced by only large and small estates stretching along the street.

Most had small gardens, and gazing upon the greenery calmed my eyes.

Continuing onward, we arrived at one such estate.

As we opened the gate and entered, I saw the servants lined up at the entrance.

The carriage stopped, and the lord’s son got out.

“Welcome, young master.”

“Tekt. It’s been a while.”

“You arrived earlier than expected; please forgive our insufficient preparations.”

“It’s fine. Let’s just go inside.”

“Yes.”

The conversation between the young master and Tekt was ordinary.

Truly ordinary.

The young master exuded the air of nobility, while Tekt’s formal wear suggested he was the estate’s head butler.

But unlike the butler’s behavior, the expressions of the maidservants standing on either side were peculiar.

‘Hmm… definitely strange.’

Their hands trembled slightly, and their faces looked pale and frightened.

Even the soldiers who opened the gate, as well as those stationed at the entrance, appeared uneasy.

They were anxious about something.

‘Heh, am I going to get some nasty surprise?’

Poison in the food, an ambush in the washroom, or attacked in the middle of the night…

I had to be cautious about everything.

When the young master entered, he briefly introduced me.

Contrary to my expectation that I would be treated as just a mercenary, I was told to be treated well as his personal retainer.

Maybe because of that, a maidservant stuck close to me, and I was led to my room.

That day, I was treated properly for the first time in months since I’d fallen into this place.

The bath wasn’t just warm—it was hot, soothing every tired muscle in my body.

Dinner was the best meal I’d had since arriving here, carefully selected and thankfully free of poison.

My stomach full, I returned to bed, hoping to sleep.

“Damn it.”

But sleep didn’t come easily.

I felt uneasy.

If only I had someone I could truly trust, I could fall asleep easily, but that was not the case.

In the end, I couldn’t fall into a deep sleep and spent the night half-awake.

***

The next morning.

I got up early and sought out the lord’s son.

I wanted to settle accounts quickly and leave.

Somehow, I felt the tavern would be safer than here.

“Hmm… already planning to leave? Stay a few more days.”

“No.”

“Well, can’t be helped then.”

The young master looked at me as if I were a reliable soldier.

His eyes seemed to silently plead for me to stay and help him more, but that feeling was dreadful to me.

The thought of getting involved in political fights made me feel I could die at any moment and not mind it.

“My father didn’t tell me the payment amount. I suppose it means I should pay you whatever you think is fair.”

With that, a heavy sack of money was placed before me.

“Twenty gold. I think it should be enough.”

“Thank you.”

Whether it was enough or not, I wasn’t sure.

It was certainly a large sum, but compared to the risk I took, I felt it was not quite sufficient.

Still, this wasn’t the time to make demands.

Behind the young master’s back, two fierce gazes were fixed on me.

One belonged to Tekt, the head butler of this estate.

The other was Lakazet, a knight guarding this place.

I didn’t want to provoke trouble in front of those two.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

I stood up.

Not sure if he sensed my eagerness to leave, the young master added,

“I hope to see you again.”

“Yes.”

I felt a prickling discomfort at the back of my neck.

Without looking back, I rushed out of the room as if escaping.

As I stepped outside, a soldier followed me and handed over one of the horses they had given me on the battlefield.

The horses’ original riders were no longer among the living.

Of course, those horses had been swapped in the second territory, so these weren’t the same ones I’d ridden before.

But that didn’t matter; since they told me to take one, I had to choose.

Honestly, I had no eye for horses.

Until now, all the horses I’d ridden were chosen by the soldiers.

There were 20 horses in the stable.

I had to pick one, but suddenly, one horse broke away from the group and approached me.

“Ah, be careful! That horse has a nasty temperament… hmm?”

The stablemaster cautioned me, then stopped mid-sentence.

It was because the troublesome horse was rubbing its head against me.

“Woah~ woah!”

I stroked its mane, and since the touch felt good, it started nuzzling my head in return.

At that moment, a notification popped up in my mind.

-The Unnamed Thoroughbred has chosen its owner.

The horse has chosen its owner.

-Pet Skill Activation has been completed.

-You may register it as a pet.

-Would you like to register?

I quietly nodded and registered it.

There was no reason to refuse when it had chosen me first.

Please name your pet.

“Red Hare… Toma will do.”

The moment I saw the horse, I thought of the Red Hare from Romance of the Three Kingdoms—the steed that wouldn’t approach anyone but its master.

Its well-defined muscular body and flowing red mane looked incredibly magnificent.

“Heeeyah!”

As if pleased with the name, Toma neighed loudly.

I nodded at the stablemaster, who saddled the horse and fitted the bit.

Toma offered no resistance but instead seemed to cooperate with me.

When everything was ready, I hurried outside.

Then I mounted and rode off.

***

Leaving the estate behind, I hurried toward the outer wall.

My destination was the closest territory to the Capital: the Grizal Marquisate.

On the way, I bought some urgently needed food and supplies, and after asking some merchants roughly, I learned that the Grizal Marquisate was a famous family long loyal to the Royalist faction.

It was also within two days’ ride, so I chose that direction without hesitation.

By chance, I managed to get a continental map.

The place where I first landed was a territory at the far eastern edge.

I had since moved westward into the Rivelan Principality, and my goal was to keep moving west.

While riding, I noticed one thing clearly.

“Is this a famous horse? It’s incredible.”

I was clinging tightly to the horse, holding the reins with all I had.

Toma ran faster and more wildly than any horse I had ever ridden.

But there was another surprise.

-Pet Toma has learned Skill: Sprint.

Even my pet was learning skills.

The horse, which was already fast, started sprinting like crazy.

It became so fast that it was hard to see ahead.

Then suddenly, my pet began slowing down.

“Hmm?”

Startled by the sudden stop, I carefully cast Search Magic.

And then I realized.

“Damn it.”

There were ten enemies caught in my Search Magic.

They appeared right in front of me.

“They came this way? I didn’t expect they’d arrive so soon.”

Sigh, I drew my weapon and prepared to fight.