It's a terrifying horse. Before I realized it, everyone around us had stepped back, clearly indicating that if the horse went wild, nobody would be able to stop it.
Is this some plot to have me thrown off and killed?
Well, I'm familiar with horses, so I don't think I'll fall off and die or anything.
Before attempting to mount, I stroked the black horse's neck, silently asking its permission. In response, it gave me a look that seemed to say, "Try and I might kill you."
I really didn't want to mount it, but with the king watching, I didn't have much of a choice. Bracing myself for a potential fall, I jumped onto the black horse.
Immediately, the horse reared up.
Using my thighs, I gripped the horse tightly to avoid being thrown off. The black horse started to wildly gallop around the courtyard with surprising agility.
While I managed to hang on, I felt far from being in control. However, the black horse abruptly stopped its rampage and became calm.
What happened?
Did it change its mind?
"Wow! Big brother, you're amazing!"
From a distance, Shion approached with a beaming smile.
Then, from where he had been observing in the courtyard, King Dalia, ignoring the restraints of his guards, also approached me.
"Well done, Crow! As expected, you truly are different from the others! As promised, you can have that horse!"
I gave a wry smile from atop the horse in response to the king's words.
After the king and his guards departed, Shion and I stood, staring at the black horse.
It's perplexing how the king just left immediately after realizing I could ride the horse.
Should I just be grateful I got a good horse?
As I was thinking this, the Holy Sword on Shion's shoulder began to tremble.
Probably, Holly inside the sword was making a fuss.
"…Shion, please let Holly out already..."
"Hmm, should I?"
"Please. She seemed to want to say something earlier."
"Okay, if big brother says so."
In an instant, Holly appeared before us.
"You little brat! You dared to pull such a stunt on me!"
"What? Do you want to be locked up again? Forever maybe?"
"Even inside the Holy Sword, I can sense what's happening outside."
Shion, pressing herself against me, smiled mischievously at Holly.
"Should I show you how close big brother and I are playing without hearing your insults?"
"You little...! I'll make you cry! I swear!"
"Big brother, Holly is scaring me..."
"Enough with the feigned innocence!"
Their relationship seems to worsen every time they talk.
"Holly, didn't you mention something about a saintly sword earlier?"
To divert from the quarrel, I shifted the topic.
"Yes, I did! A saintly sword has been brought to this castle, so I came to tell you."
"In this castle? A saintly sword?"
"It's that black horse!"
"What?"
"It's the Pegasus Sword, Ramlei. Among the twelve saintly swords, it's the only one exclusively for the hero."
I stared at the black horse I'd just ridden, my face twitching in disbelief.
"I've heard that not all saintly swords are actually swords, but I never imagined it wouldn't even be a physical object."
"That's because it's a horse meant for the hero to ride. Sometimes, the castle where the Demon King resides appears in the sky. Without this horse, you wouldn't be able to reach the Demon King when that happens. Good thing we found it."
"Wait! The castle where the Demon King resides can be in the sky?"
"That can happen, yes."
"So every time the Demon King revives, an entire castle appears?"
"Yes. The Demon King can infinitely create castles, labyrinths, and monsters to attack humans."
"That's unsettling."
An ability to endlessly produce structures like labyrinths and living beings like monsters— it's a god-like power. The existence of a hero who can counter such a being is truly extraordinary.
"So, if the castle appears in the sky, this horse can fly?"
"Yes, especially when carrying the hero. It's a sight to behold— a hero soaring through the skies on this horse."
"This time, the hero is Shion though."
"Ugh!"
"Hey, don't be so blatantly disgusted."
I looked alternately at the black horse, the Pegasus Sword Ramlei, standing before me, and the Vacuum Sword Kurtana, which I had acquired and held close since the other day.
Since deciding to embark on a journey to find the saintly swords, I had discovered two in just a month. Originally, I was aware of three saintly swords. With these findings, I've nearly gathered half of them. At this rate, I can't help but feel a bit eerie.
Knowing that there are only twelve saintly swords in the world, and that they're scattered and lost, it's surprising that so many have appeared before me in such a short period.
There's something too coincidental about this, but it probably stems from the fact that the forms of the saintly swords of the Divine Sword are not necessarily swords, and the absurd fact that there even exists a Divine Sword in the shape of a horse, as Holly informed me.
If Holly wasn't around, I wouldn't have realized that Ramlei is one of the saintly swords.
I gently stroked the nape of Ramlei's neck.
"However, Crow, you have a strange talent."
"What do you mean?"
"Ramlei is the only one among all the saintly swords that is exclusively for the hero. If anyone other than the hero tried to ride it, they should be kicked to death."
"Wait, what? I just rode it!"
"Ramlei calmed down because it sensed the hero, Shion, nearby, but before that, it was wild, right? You're lucky you didn't die. Normally, people are thrown off and then kicked to death."
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?! That among the saintly swords, there's one only for the hero and that it's absolutely forbidden to ride!"
That was close. I was only able to manage because of my skills in horsemanship.
A horse that would kick anyone but the hero to death.
Perhaps King Dalia and his men, who earlier tested whether I could ride this horse, didn't care if I died.
After being attacked by an assassin, staying in this castle might be risky.
But setting out blindly on a journey to find the saintly swords might be even more dangerous.
It's like being between a rock and a hard place.
How did I end up in this situation?
I just hope things don't get any worse.
"Shion, this black horse is specifically for you. Want to give it a try?"
I tried to get Shion, the rightful owner of the Pegasus Sword, to ride it.
"...I don't want to. I'll give the horse to you, big brother."
"...What?"
But Shion didn't seem eager.
"I like to look at it, but I don't want to ride it. It's scary."
"But it won't act up with you. Like the Holy Sword, only you can handle it."
"I don't want it. I actually don't want Holly either."
"What did you say, you little brat?!"
"...I'm going back to my room."
Shion, looking unhappy, turned away and quickly left the courtyard.
"...Shion? What happened?"
"Tch! She's always like this when you and I are talking. She's a jealous kid."
"Really?"
Could it be that the fundamental reason for the bad relationship between Shion and Holly is me? Well, since I decided to search for the saintly swords, I've already found two. It's a good start. I might be able to gather all of them sooner than expected.
As I was thinking this, Holly stared intently at me.
"Crow? There's something odd about the Kurtana you're holding."
"What?"
Upon Holly's mention, I looked at the twin sword Kurtana I held.
To my surprise, the blade of the Kurtana was glowing purple.
It reminded me of when Iris's Arondight glowed blue, or when Instructor Cattleya's Galatine glowed red.
But this saintly sword shouldn't be active without its owner.
"...Whoa!"
While I was intently observing the glowing Kurtana, it moved on its own, nearly piercing my face.
In a panic, I let go of Kurtana. It floated in the air, darted around the courtyard, and then flew up and disappeared through the open ceiling.
Could it be...? "It returned to its owner."
"Manifestation..."
Manifestation, one of the basic skills in handling a divine sword, along with possession and release.