何故かと言うと、ハムを買いたかったからだ。
そう。ハム。
......黒いお化けに食べられてしまったので、生ハムの大きい塊を結局食べ損ねている。僕はあれが少し楽しみだったので、もう一回、買いに行くことにした。
ただし、『レッドドラゴンを召喚しろ』の人達が居ないとも限らないので、僕はちゃんとラオクレスの指示に従う。
僕が歩くのは道の建物側。曲がり角を曲がるのはラオクレスが先。狭い道には入らない。前回、ハムを買った肉屋以外には入らない。
町には相変わらず変わったものや不思議なものが沢山あって、見て回りたい気持ちは山々だったけれど......しょうがない。僕らは寄り道せず、ラオクレス曰くの『最適な道』で、ハムを買いに行った。
......のだけれど。
会ってしまった......。
僕は買ったばかりのハムをしっかり抱えて、一歩下がる。そしてラオクレスは盾を構えて、剣に手を掛けて、僕の前に出た。
「失せろ」
ラオクレスにじっと睨みつけられながらも、ジオレン家の人はあたふたしながらそう言って......後ろに控えていた人達に合図した。
すると、前回よりもたくさんの金貨や沢山の宝石、それからやっぱり杖1本を出して見せるのだ。
うーん......期待されるのはちょっと苦しい。渇望されても結構困る。
その日は絵を描いて魔力の制御を練習して、翌日は乗馬の練習をした。
お腹をぺったり天馬にくっつけるような乗り方じゃなくて、ちゃんと『馬に乗る人』っていう姿勢で乗っているから、バランスをとるのが大変だ。
でも、中々いい経験になる。うん、ここで乗馬を覚えておけば、後々役に立つかもしれない。主に、馬に乗るラオクレスの絵とか描く時に。
「だろうな」
姿勢を正しくして座っていなきゃいけないし、馬が歩くのに合わせてバランスをとらなきゃいけない。結構、全身を使うから疲れる。
その一方、僕の横でもう一頭の天馬に乗っているラオクレスは、特に疲れた顔もしないで乗馬している。
「鞍のない裸馬に乗っているのだから、疲れるのは当然だろう。こいつらに鞍をつける気は無いのか」
「うーん......彼らがいいって言うなら、考える」
「なら鞍を用意してみるか。その方が乗りやすいだろう」
恰好が付くならそれに越したことはない。うん。だから鞍も......1回は、使ってみたいな、と、思っていた。
「だが、買いに出るにはあいつらが厄介だな」
「また出くわすかもしれないからね」
......けれど、鞍を町に買いに出るわけにはいかない。何と言っても、またジオレン家の人と会ってしまったら面倒だから。
「盾と同じか。......なら、レッドガルド家に聞いて使っていないものを借りろ。1つくらいはあるだろう」
「うん。それを元に描く」
「......そのまま使うわけにはいかないのか?」
ということで、僕らは外に出ることなく、ジオレン家の人達と会わないように、レッドガルド家の庭から出ずに乗馬訓練を続けて......。
「トウゴ様!どうかレッドドラゴンを!」
また来た......。
「人の家の庭にまで来ないでほしいんだけれど」
確かに僕は、中庭じゃなくて、中庭よりも広い裏手の庭で乗馬してたよ。でもそこに外からわざわざ声を掛けてくるっていうのはどうなんだろうか。
「それは勿論、ジオレン家の御子息に相応しい召喚獣が必要だからですとも」
「伝説のみに名を残すレッドドラゴンがレッドガルド家の持ち物になったのであれば、やはりジオレン家にも同等のものが必要でしょう」
「竜は生き物だよ。飾りじゃない」
「トウゴ。離れていろ」
僕が天馬に指示を出すと、天馬は僕の指示通りにてくてく歩いて、その場から離れてくれた。
少し離れた僕を追いかけるように、ジオレン家の人は庭に踏み入りかけて......。
ばっ、と、天馬が翼を広げて跳ぶ。
ほんの数歩分の加速で十分すぎる程についた速度。迷いのない踏み切り。そして......庭の低い生垣を易々と飛び越えて、その向こうに居たジオレン家の人達に向けて、繰り出される前足の蹄。
普通の馬を遥かに超える速度で繰り出される蹄だ。蹴られたら、ただじゃ済まないだろう。それが分かったのだろうジオレン家の人は、後ろに控えていた人達も含めて全員で散り散りに逃げていった。
天馬で突っ込んでいって、蹴ると見せかけて、滞空。......すごいな。ラオクレスは僕より馬との付き合いが浅いはずなのに、もう僕より乗りこなしている。
ラオクレスは、ジオレン家の人達が逃げていった方を睨んでいる。
対抗してる......んだろうな、とは思う。要は、レッドガルド家に張り合いたいからドラゴンを出せって言ってるんだろうし。でも、対抗していなくても、相手の家が貴族の家じゃなくても、そもそも他所の家の庭に勝手に踏み込もうとしちゃいけないし、嫌がっている相手を追いかけ回すべきじゃない。
「フェイ・ブラード・レッドガルドの所へ連れていけ。話がある」
Because I wanted to buy a ham.
Yes, ham.
...I ended up missing out on a big chunk of ham because it was eaten by the black ghost... I was looking forward to tasting that one, so I decided to go buy it one more time.
However, I follow Laocles' instructions properly, since there may be some of the "Summon a Red Dragon" people around.
I walk on the building side of the street, and Laocles will turn to the corner first. We don't go into the narrow streets. We don't go into any other butcher shops except the one where I bought a ham last time.
The town was still full of strange and mysterious things, and I wanted to look around, but we had to keep moving... We didn't make any detour, but took what Laocles called "the best street" to buy a ham.
...but.
We meet again...
I stepped back, holding the ham I had just bought firmly in my arms. Then Laocles stepped in front of me with his shield at the ready and his hand on his sword.
"F*ck off." (Laocles)
The Dioren family servant, while being stared at by Laocles, said this quickly... and signaled to the people who had been waiting behind them.
Then he displayed, more gold coins and more jewels than last time, and after that, he showed me another staff.
Hmm... It's a bit painful to be wanted. Even if they give rewards, it's quite troublesome.
That day I painted and practiced controlling my magic, and the next day I practiced horseback riding.
It was difficult to keep my balance, because I was riding in a posture of a "horse rider," not with my stomach flat against the horse.
But it is a good experience for the future. Yes, if I learn to ride a horse here, it might be useful later on. Mainly when I draw a picture of Laocles riding a horse.
"I guess so." (Laocles)
You have to sit up straight, and you have to keep your balance as the horse walks. It's quite tiring because you have to use your whole body.
On the other hand, Laocles, who is riding the other Pegasus beside me, does not look particularly tired as he rides.
"You are riding a horse without a saddle, so it is natural for you to be tired. Don't you want to put a saddle on these guys?" (Laocles)
"Hmm... if they allow me, I'll think about it." (Pegasus)
"I'll get you a saddle, then. It would be easier to ride." (Laocles)
If it's going to be more comfortable, it's better that way. Yeah. So, I was thinking that I'd like to use the saddle... At least once.
"But those guys are a pain in the ass when we go shopping." (Laocles)
"Maybe we won't run into each other again." (Tougo)
... I'd like to use the saddle, but I can't go into town to buy it. After all, it would be troublesome if I met someone from the Dioren family again.
"Is it the same as a shield? If you want to know more about it, you can ask the Redgardes and borrow one that they don't use." (Laocles)
"Yeah. I can draw something like that." (Tougo)
"...can't we just use it as is?" (Laocles)
So, we will continue our horseback riding training without leaving the Redgarde family's yard so as not to meet the Dioren family...
"Lord Tougo! Please, the Red Dragon!" (Old Man)
Here we go again...
"I wish you wouldn't come into other people's gardens." (Tougo)
It's true that I wasn't riding in the courtyard, but in the backyard, which was larger than the courtyard. But I wonder what it's like to have someone call out to you from the outside.
"Of course, it's because we need a summoned beast suitable for the son of the Dioren family." (Old Man)
"If the Red Dragon, which is only a legend, has become the property of the Redgarde family, then the Dioren family must also have something equivalent." (Old Man)
"The dragon is a living creature. It's not some decoration." (Tougo)
"Tougo. Move back." (Laocles)
I instructed the pegasus, and he did as I instructed and walked away from the area.
Following me a short distance away, the Dioren family almost stepped into the garden...
*Pow*, the Pegasus spreads its wings and jumps.
The speed that comes with just a few steps of acceleration is more than enough. A step without hesitation. And then,......, he easily jumped over the low hedge in the garden, and his front hooves were unleashed toward the Dioren family members on the other side of the hedge.
The hoof extended at a speed far exceeding that of a normal horse. If someone gets kicked, it won't be something you can walk away from. The servant of the Dioren family, who must have understood that, scattered and ran away, including the people who were standing behind them.
Charging with the Pegasus, pretending to kick, and staying in the air. ...amazing! Laocles should have a shallower relationship with horses than I do, but he is already riding them better than I do.
Laocles stared in the direction from which the Dioren family members had fled.
I think they're fighting against each other... The bottom line is that they want to compete with the Redgardes, so they want a dragon of their own. But even if they are not competing with them, even if their family isn't a noble family, they shouldn't try to step into someone else's yard without permission in the first place, and they shouldn't chase around someone who doesn't want to talk to them.
"Let's go to Fay Bullard Redgarde. We have something to talk to you about." (Laocles)
The Picture Perfect Mochi I Drew Tastes Good
今日も絵に描いた餅が美味い
https://www.novelupdates.com/series/the-picture-perfect-mochi-i-drew-tastes-good/
Adventure Fantasy Shounen Slice of Life Supernatural
Adapted to Manga Artists Caring Protagonist Fantasy World Friendship Loner Protagonist Male Protagonist Mythical Beasts Naive Protagonist R-15 Selfless Protagonist Spirits Stubborn Protagonist Transmigration Transported to Another World Weak Protagonist
https://ncode.syosetu.com/n7921gj/
もちもち物質