Leaving Kanum’s House, the first place we stop by is the Horse Rental Shop. It’s time to pick up Ruta.
“He’s as attached to you as ever…”
As I greeted Ruta, who had broken out of his stall, and stroked his neck, Retze said with a sigh, glancing at me sideways.
If I didn’t have money, I might not have been able to keep Ruta, but luckily I do, so it’s fine. Today, like any other day, I solved it by giving the old man at the Horse Rental Shop a generous tip.
We each led out a horse, moved to an unpopulated area near the Demon Forest, and then teleported.
We’ve arrived in Chris’s hometown! Via the Great Sage’s [Teleportation]! It’s been arranged that we came via the Great Sage’s [Teleportation]!
“Whoa. It’s green!”
Dean.
I wonder about “green” as an impression, but it is green, with hills covered in young grass. It’s a different, vibrant, beautiful green, unlike the dark, almost black green of the Demon Forest.
“Wow! There really are lots of sheep-san!”
“They’re browner than I expected!”
“No, grayish!”
Tina, En, and Baku’s voices rose up.
“To the top of the hill… no, are those stones I see in the distance?”
Dinoss.
In the distance, whitish-gray stones are visible, scattered about. Is it grassland because large trees can’t take root in limestone terrain?
“Hahaha, they become pure white if you wash them, you know!”
Chris laughed.
It seems their brownish or grayish color is due to dirt. That’s what happens when they’re out grazing, right? It’s humans who care about them being white.
…Our sheep and goats are pure white, though. I wonder if they’re bathing themselves voluntarily?
“I’ll guide you to my house.”
Saying that, Chris mounted his horse, and En joined him.
Tina was with Ash, and Baku with Dean. Dinoss and Shiva were riding together, all lovey-dovey.
House Ease has horses, so the horse Chris is currently riding is supposed to be ridden by Dinoss later.
The kids look like they’re having fun, and Shiva looks happy. Dinoss too! Maybe it’d be fine if Chris just kept riding the horse from the Horse Rental Shop.
Should I practice horse riding instead of relying on Ruta every time?
Since I don’t know where Chris’s house is, we used [Teleportation] to a spot on the map that seemed uninhabited—we’re a large group with horses, after all. It’s a bit of a distance to Chris’s house.
As we rode along clip-clop on our horses, distant villagers (?) started waving at us. They’d stop their work and look suspicious for a moment, but then they’d smile when they noticed Chris.
“We sure stand out, huh?”
Dinoss said.
“Yeah, we’re a group, and completely visible. It’d be impossible not to stand out. Good thing we had Haulon come with us.”
Retze.
“It feels like a legend about me, different from the truth, is about to be born on this Island.”
“That kind of thing happens, you know.”
I think legends do take on a life of their own.
“What are you nodding for! Make it not happen, please!”
It seemed Haulon wasn’t okay with me nodding in agreement, as he whisper-shouted at me.
“Outsiders rarely come here, you see! Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.”
Chris said, smiling and waving back at the residents.
“Chris, you’re popular with the residents, huh?”
Even though he should have been away from his hometown for a while, everyone who notices us waves.
“Rather than me, I guess the people of my House are popular? We proactively go out to defeat Demon Beasts when they appear. Besides, most people around here have chestnut-colored hair, so mine stands out!”
He said, pointing to his own head with a finger and winking.
I wonder if his whole family has personalities like Chris.
And then we arrived at House Ease. It’s a pretty big mansion. Well, I knew it would be big since it can accommodate this many people.
“Welcome to the Viscount Ease Estate. Please unload your luggage here, and bring the horses this way. Chris-sama, welcome back. You’re right on time.”
We were greeted by a muscular man in a tie and vest, whose chest buttons looked like they were about to burst.
“I’m home, Sebastian. We’ve received a lot of souvenirs.”
Sebastian!?
“Chris, you were a Viscount?”
Also, is Sebastian a butler?
“Not me; my parent is the Viscount, and the next head will be my youngest brother! Besides, compared to the ranks in other countries, it’s treated as about a Baronet level.”
Chris laughed.
Cultural standards differ from place to place, so the ranking systems are all over the place, huh? But it definitely feels like a mansion, and I think it’s amazing. They even have a Sebastian.
Is Chris’s family’s succession based on ultimogeniture? It’s not strictly the youngest child, but rather the child who comes of age when the parents are getting older inherits, I recall.
Ultimogeniture is a form of inheritance common among nomadic peoples whose property is mainly livestock and easily divisible, right? Like the older siblings quickly get their share of sheep and become independent. I feel like it’s common in cultures that don’t place much value on land.
Is it because the people of Chris’s House tend to become independent quickly and aim to be Knights? Is Chris also looking for a lord? His younger brother, Rease-kun, was also traveling to gain various experiences, either to choose a lord or to be found by one someday.
I wonder if he managed to get the Spirit’s Droplet safely? That marshland looked tough to get through. I feel a bit concerned since I unintentionally got in his way.
I’m also curious about Sebastian.