Chapter 60 Cavalry IV

Translator: Isekai Shousetsu

The Lord of the Equus Tribe has three wives.

Theyre called the First Consort, the Second Consort, and the Third Consort.

The Second Consort gave birth to Muzio.

The Third Consort gave birth to the eldest son.

The First Consort gave birth to the third son.

Basically, the youngest wife obtained the greatest position in both pedigree and social status.

Its this Third Consort who has fallen ill this time.

I see

Julia examines the Third Consorts body. She then checks her throat and confirms her heart beat.

Lastly, she checks her spirit through the eyes.

Can she be cured?

Lord Equus watches over Julias examination worriedly.

Julia nods her head.

Yes. Somehow. Ill conduct the treatment. I would request for everyone to please leave the room. Its a secret ceremony, after all.

Everyone, including Almis and Lord Equus exit the yurt.

Julia breaks the ice with the Third Consort after confirming everyone has left the yurt.

Youre not ill. Youre definitely cursed. Quite a clever curse at that. There are no immediate effects but its a troublesome type of curse that will slowly undermine your body. Do you have something that could be used as a curses medium? (Julia)

A curseis it? Something that could be used as a curses medium (TC)

The Third Consort desperately tries to think.

However, she couldnt think of anything she has that could be used as such.

Before youve fallen illDo you not have received anything that youve kept up until now? Around two or three months ago? Something that you normally use. (Julia)

Even if you ask me that (TC)

Then how about things youve received from either the First Consort or the Second Consort? (Julia)

Julia draws closer to the Third Consort.

This pendant was given to me by the Second Consort as a new years gift. It seems to have a garnet collected from the De Morgal Kingdom. (TC)

A bright green color shines from the jewel inserted in the pendant.

Julia takes the pendant and sniffs it to confirm its smell.

This isnt it. Are there anything else? How about things youve gotten from the First Consort? (Julia)

Like this pillow? (TC)

Julia takes the pillow and smells it. She frowns at the smell.

It stinks, yes? (Julia)

ImIm sorry (TC)

No, not like that. I mean it reeks of a curse. Can I tear this into pieces? Ill resew it later. (Julia)

Its quite an expensive pillow.

If you tear it into pieces, then naturally you wont be able to restore it to its original condition.

I dont mind. (TC)

Understood. (Julia)

Julia takes out a knife and starts to tear the pillow into pieces. You can now see the wool inside.

She then pulls out the source of the stench thats jammed inside the wool.

Its a dead centipede.

A poison curse, huhThe stereotypical curse, yes? However, its effectiveness seems to have been controlled by several medicines. The smell, too, is ingeniously hidden. For the meantime, lets return the favor to the caster. Although only the caster, and not the requestor, will die. (Julia)

Julia puts the centipede into her pocket.

She then pulls out her medicine box to make medicine from several medicinal plants.

She shapes the powder into a ball and covers it with preservative grass.

Take this medicine once a day for thirty days. It has a purification effect. With this, I think youll recover. All thats left is to eat properly and have sufficient sleep. Thats all. As for the perpetratorIll leave it to you. (Julia)

Theyre the same in being marred in succession problems. If she get any more involved, then itll become troublesome. She should leave this matter to the Third Consort.

That was how Julia saw the situation.

Thats what happened. (Julia)

Sigh, Succession problems plague no matter what country, huh. (Almis)

Thats true. There are those without a successor like our country but there are also those with too many successors like the Equus tribe. (Julia)

Julia and I talk while drinking wine.

Were talking about important things so we had to clear out the people. And because of that, theres no need to speak in polite speech.

It doesnt seem like the main problem is that the Equus tribe has too many successors. Rather, if I were to chose, I think the real problem is the consorts personality

I wonder how itll be for Julia and Tetra? Will it be alright?

It wont be somebody elses problem you know.

However, normally wouldnt you aim for the eldest son - Methyl-san? Although it would have been easier while he was an infant. (Almis)

I think that would be hopeless. Hed be under strict protection after all. (Julia)

I see. Its a last resort, huh.

Besides, its hasty to conclude that only the Third Consort was cursed. Relatives could have been cursed too or there might be plans to.

Besides, I heard that women have higher status in the Equus tribe than in the Rosyth Kingdom. I heard that the mothers speech carries a big weight. Isnt that a good reason? Wouldnt it be easier to kill Methyl if you kill the patron? (Julia)

Certainly. Low risk low return is safer than high risk high return after all. (Almis)

I tend to lean on caution and prudence, thats why I kind of understand.

However, wouldnt that plan take too long?

Ah, is it because theyd be found out if they used a stronger curse? Cursing is quite difficult too, huh. Its unexpectedly unsuitable for assassinations.

I wonder what that guy will do, that Muzio. (Almis)

Ah, That guy Almis I shared a night with? (Julia)

The way you say it is bad you know. Consider your words. Though youre not mistaken. (Almis)

Its true, though. We drank the night away together, after all.

Come to think of it, he promised to give you a new horse tomorrow, yes? Then after that would be the negotiations. (Julia)

Yes, thats right. Well distribute the loot from the Tyrannosaurs corpse tomorrow as well. (Almis)

If possible, I want to quickly finish the negotiations. Although, weve received a report from King Rosyths falcon that there are still no big movements.

I think a white horse would be much better. (Julia)

White, is it? Hmmm, I think a red or black horse would be better. Its cooler that way. (Almis)

Besides, Im not a prince after all. Im a great clansman. White doesnt fit me.

Then, its about time I return to my room to sleep. (Almis)

Its fine to stay the night here, you know. (Julia)

Stupid, itll be a big problem, right? Sparking our countrys succession crisis should come much much later, okay? (Almis)

I pull Julia towards me and give her a kiss on the lips.

Then, Ill see you tomorrow.

Right.

Well then, for the meantime lets start with dividing the tyrannosaur. Well, you dont have any objections with just splitting it into two, right? (Almis)

Yeah. The problems are the core steel (shingane) and the inverse scale (gekirin). How should we divide them? Though I dont think theres a way to divide them. (Muzio)

The core steel is a special metal found in the heart of a dragon.

Its a material you mix with Damascus Steel via a special process to obtain Dragon Damascus steel.

However, only the desert people know about that process. You wont get anywhere even if you get one.

The inverse scale, on the other hand, is a single scale on a dragon that grows in the opposite direction of the other scales. Its considerably softer compared to the other scales so its something you might call a weak point.

Its hue is beautiful so it has quite a high value as an ornament.

Actually, Im about to be married soon, see. Thats why I want the inverse scale. Is that okay? (Muzio)

Muzio points at the inverse scale and declare.

Im also about to be married soon butI still havent given Tetra anything for our marriage, huh.

Giving Julia something despite that would not be okay.

I guess its fine to let him have it.

I understand. Then Ill take the core steel. (Almis)

Ains-san would probably be able to turn this into money or dragon damascus for me, after all.

Honestly, I could care less about the tyrannosaur. Its fangs, claws, and scales might be hard as the average steel but processing them would be difficult.

Although its just right for making armor.

However, I give it a failing grade for armor because you cant guarantee a constant supply.

Besides, rather than that, I want a horse.

Lets not get too impatient. Come. Ill let you choose after all. (Muzio)

Sorry. About the payment (Almis)

Dont need it. You lost your horse because of my subordinates failure to detect the tyrannosaur after all. (Muzio)

Muzio guides me to the stables.

So, do you have any requests? (Muzio)

Hmm, lets see. Id be great if the mane were to be either red or black. Itd be better if it has a brave personality. The previous one was docile but it went and ran away, see. (Almis)

Furthermore, a horse which will run away when gunpowder is used would be out of the question.

Brave, is ita horse like that generally has a wild temperament so would that still be fine for you? (Muzio)

Ill think about it when I see it. If its no good then Ill just have to look for another. (Almis)

We arrive at the stable as I declared so.

Ive gathered only the good horses. The four steeds on the left havent been castrated. The seven steeds from the right have been castrated. Please choose as you like. (Muzio)

I look at the horses one by one starting from the left. Well start with the uncastrated horses first.

Although they had rough temperamentsthese horses doesnt look like theyd run away once roared at.

However

Ill have to pass on these fellows. I dont think Id be able to ride them. (Almis)

Or rather, these fellows look like they wont let me ride them.

Although you cant say Im bad at riding horses, you also cant say that Im good at it.

I dont want to die by falling off a horse.

I look at the remaining seven horses on the right.

They look mature and theyll probably be fast, too.

Not bad, but

Hmmm, theyre quite not what Im looking for. Are there any others? (Almis)

Lets go further inside the stable. Ill prepared some there in advance. (Muzio)

I follow Muzio further into the stable.

All thats left here are mares. Wouldnt these be weaker than the ones I showed you before? (Muzio)

Yeah, certainly these look like several times more inferior than those fine horses from before.

However, what I want is not a fast horse. What I want is one that wont run away when it matters the most.

Can I make a loud noise for a bit? (Almis)

I dont mind, but (Muzio)

I take out a firecracker.

I was thinking of using it for when we get attacked by wolves.

I throw the firecracker at the ground with all my might.

Bam. A large sound resonates throughout the barn. Muzio is petrified with fear.

The horses, too, neigh in terror and fall into disorder.

It takes a while until they calm down.

Hey! You should have told me that it would be that loud! So, did you find what youre looking for? (Muzio)

Yes, Ill take her. She wasnt frightened at all by the sound. (Almis)

I point to a red horse.

I like her coat color too.

This one, is it?Id pass on her if I were you. This girl has black spot patterns in the face, see? Its been said that horses with this pattern attract bad spirits, you know. When this horse was born, for example, her mother died immediately after labor. Also, the stable recently caught fire and for some reason only this horse survived. (Muzio)

Then whyd you show her to me? Didnt you gather only those that I can choose? (Almis)

Ah, no. Actually, I just brought her along as a joke. You get it, right? (Muzio)

No way Id get it. What are you, a high schooler?

Well, youre the same age as me so youd probably be one back in Japan.

Well. Ive already decided. Besides, thats just a superstition, right? Furthermore, you can consider her strong after surviving all that, dont you agree? (Almis)

Besides, Id feel bad to judge her just because of her face.

Also, if she was bad luck, why did you keep taking care of her? You could have just killed her already.

Her parents were fine horses, see. She, herself, is of quite the splendid quality. We kept her for breeding purposes. Well, if you want her then Id give her to you. Just dont complain if you die because of her, okay? (Muzio)

I wont be able to complain if I die, this guy.

So, would you like to try riding her? (Muzio)

Right. Itd be a problem if we have bad compatibility. (Almis)

That would be best. Just like women, you wont find out if a horse is good until you ride them. Furthermore, this ones a female too.

Its bad enough that you said that with a proud face but that joke just didnt fly well, you know.

Not bad. (Almis)

This unlucky horse I chose runs quite fast.

She also didnt struggle when equipped with a saddle and stirrup that shes not used to.

Shes quite brave.

What should we call you? Hmm. Well, lets just figure it out later. For the meantime lets call you Nanashi (Nameless). Its difficult to choose one for an unlucky horse, huh. N? Whyd you stop?

Nanashi suddenly stopped. Shes somewhat refusing to move.

When I look closer before us, a black cluster is moving inside the overgrown bushes.

Arent those

Arent those wolves?

Why the hell did we meet wolves in our first ride together? Even though its broad daylight and were near the Equus tribes capital.

You, do you seriously have bad luck?

Well, fine. I have some firecrackers after all. (Almis)

I take out some firecrackers from my pocket while I follow the wolves slowly encircling us with my eyes.

Here you go, get the hell away from us! (Almis)

The wolves got frightened and fled when I threw the firecracker.

There are even those that got too scared to move.

They look so cute if you look at them in that state.

Well then. I guess lets escape quickly. What? Dont mind it. For all I know, it might be me who has bad luck.

Just like that, we were able to safely return to the Equus Tribes capital city.

Next would be the diplomatic negotiations.

Authors Notes:

No, she wont be turning into human.

Ill just say this to be clear - Almis does and will not have bestiality inclinations.

And since I might as well, Im taking suggestions for Nanashis name.

If theres a good one, then Id use it. If none, then Id think of one myself.