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<b>The Sword and The Dress (Volume 4) – Chapter 10</b>
***
“Snowy.”
Hearing my call, the horse that was napping under a tree came up to me. He looked at Jullius standing behind me and glared at him with a look that said ‘I hate that fellow’. He isn’t fond of people without holy power but he usually didn’t show it.
What’s up with him now?
“You hate that guy?”
Neigh.
When Snowy nodded, Captain looked a bit down. He said he wanted to kill everyone around me. Is Snowy not included because he’s not a person? I gently patted Snowy’s back to coax him.
“Snowy, you know what, Captain Jullius here actually has a lot of money.”
Neeiiigh.
“In other words, we can buy whatever you want to eat. The delicious ones, not the cheap ones or leftovers.”
Although the Holy Church was never said to be poor, frugality was a virtue to the clergymen. Because of this, only cheap meat was given to him. Of course, a holy horse wouldn’t be given meat of bad quality, but Snowy still couldn’t eat the expensive meat that he wanted.
“You like pigeon breast, right?”
I continued, scratching the back of his neck.
“I’ll let you eat a lot, so much that your stomach explodes. When we go back, we should go to the market and you can pick whatever you want. He’ll buy you everything. So get along with him, alright?”
I feel a bit sorry for making Captain use his money, but he really does have a lot of money.
Hearing my words, Snowy looked at the Captain, bleary-eyed. Then he immediately snuck closer to him. I only told him to get along well with him, so how come this horse quickly changed his attitude? I feel betrayed. For a holy horse to be swayed by money…
“…I think everyone’s worried, so let’s go back now,” I said, holding back the desire to beat this horse.
We should go back for now and have a talk instead of running away. I tried to climb up without a saddle, relying only on my arm. Captain lifted me up. He let me sit on the back of the horse. Then, he climbed up, sat behind me, and grabbed the reins.
“Let’s go to Custos for now. If we wander through this vast desert, our paths may diverge.”
Unlike before, both sides had more than enough strength. We should just meet on the way or whatever. They’ll come back to the city for sure.
“Snowy, you know that city, right? If you feel holy power along the way, just follow it.”
Neigh.
We could just leave the work to Snowy. He can handle it. It’s easier that way. Snowy understands people’s words, has holy power, and is as strong as a well-bred warhorse. However, holy horses aren’t used in war because they’re too difficult to tame.
Holy horses could be seen grazing in a semi-wild state on the eastern plains of the Empire. Anyone who could tame them were free to take them. However, those without holy power didn’t seem to care about them, and most only belonged to the clergymen.
Currently, there are only three tamed holy horses, including Snowy. One was with a High Priest of the Elon Temple and the other was with a farmer who had holy power but had not become a priest.
We weren’t in a hurry so Snowy walked slowly. I leaned back against his chest as I listened to the sound of Snowy’s hooves. Perhaps because of the excessive use of holy power, drowsiness began to creep in. It seems to have a lot of pressure on my body. After a huge yawn, Captain put down the reins and put his arms around me.
“You can sleep if you’re sleepy.”
“It won’t be long before we get there. It’s better to sleep later when we get there than sleep now and wake up in the middle.”
“You don’t have to wake up. I’ll carry you and put you to bed.”
Oh, that’s good. I chose to trust him. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep but Snowy suddenly stopped. What’s the matter, is it a beast—ah, no. It’s the Saintess. Shortly thereafter, two people showed up. Everyone else other than Iner and Clauen were nowhere to be seen.
“What about the others?”
Iner rubbed her eyes before she stared at me intently—staring at my neck, to be exact.
“The demons were after the stupid demon king so they went back to Custos first.”
“They won’t be able to get into the city so they’re safe there.”
Half of the city’s people are combatants so they’ll be fine.
Just when I thought I could go back to sleep, Clauen looked at me with a blushing face.
“Hey, those clothes…”
“Huh?”
What clothes—ah.
“Captain ripped mine up.”
“What?!”
“Oh, you can just tell the others that we encountered a beast and it tore up my clothes.”
A lot of people would nag Captain if they learned of what happened so it’s better to hide it. Clauen puckered his mouth like a crucian carp and said, “C-can you hide those by saying that?”
“Huh? What?”
“Your neck and lips!”
“Oh…So there were traces left.”
“Of course there are! It’s totally red and swollen—!”
Aish, such a bother. Isn’t this kind of a wound as well? It could probably be healed by holy power as well. But I only have a little holy power left in me. I looked at Iner with my half-lidded eyes.
“Inertia, I need you to heal me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“I think it’s okay to make it obvious.”
U-um, but I don’t want Captain to be scolded.
“Well, let’s just say that I attacked the Captain.”
We can just say that I ripped my own clothes because I was too lazy to take it off. Clauen tried to say something, but I pretended not to hear it and closed my eyes. Whatever; I’m sleepy. I’m going to sleep.
***
“Who was kidnapped, what really happened?!”
…I was in the middle of my sleep when a loud noise hit my ears. After Tess spoke, I heard Cain’s voice.
“Does it make sense that it’s because of a beast?! Sir Rizar even had a sacred horse with him so how did Sir Roel’s clothes get ripped?!”
Not a sacred horse but a descendant of a sacred horse. Anyway, what are they talking about? I forced my sleepy eyes to open and realized that I was at an inn. We already got off the horse and were now heading inside.
Captain laid me carefully onto the bed. Behind him, I could see Clauen blocking the door to the room and Tess and Cain shouting loudly. What’s wrong with them now?
“What’s going on?” I asked as I sat up in bed. Soon everyone’s eyes focused on me.
Tess pushed Clauen aside and entered the room. I couldn’t quite see who else was there but I also saw Ortzen and the Demon King. I get why Ortzen is here, but what is Av doing here?
“Leader,” Tess said with a somber expression.
“What?”
“So…”
“What?”
“W-well…”
He had so much energy earlier, but now he’s speechless. Why is he like this? Tess grumbled like a puppy and looked back at Cain.
“…Please tell them.”
“What? Well, it’s a bit…” Cain shook his head in surprise as if pricked by a needle when Tess suddenly turned to him. The heck.
“If you have something to say, just say it. If you don’t, then I’m going to sleep.”
Tess took a deep breath and waved his hand.
“Your…clothes.  What happened to them?”
“Oh, this?”
Oh right. They were screaming that my clothes couldn’t have possibly been ripped by a beast. I answered nonchalantly.
“I ripped it up.”
“…What?”
“Happy now? I’m going to sleep.”
“No, please wait up!”
Oh, seriously, so annoying. As soon as I laid down, Captain took off my shoes. Then he glanced at the people who entered the room.
“She has to change her clothes.”
“What? Why on earth are you changing our leader’s clothes?”
Tess, you punk, just because you’re going to be the next leader soon doesn’t mean you can talk like that.
“Hey. Jullius is my fiance.”
“You’re not married yet!”
“So what? Get out.”
“Leader! You’re a woman now, you know?!”
“I have always been a woman.”
“Didn’t Adjutant Sieg tell you to wear your clothes properly?! If you keep doing this, I’ll tell on you!”
Damn it, this freaking bastard. I sighed, got up, and looked at Captain who was standing next to the bed.
“I’ll change on my own and go to bed.”
“But you look tired.”
“It’s even more tiring to see that bastard nagging.”
Because of my reply, Captain Jullius glared at Tess wordlessly. Tess, who received the Captain’s attention, took a step back. Then the demon king who had been idling beside Ortzen stepped in.
“I have something to say.”
At least let me sleep.
“What is it?”
Av sneaked into the room and spoke. “I think I’ve figured out something important but I won’t tell you yet.”
“Wanna die?”
“I-it’s really important! It’s not something that we could just talk about here…I’ll tell the High Priest! Instead, I’ll tell you a less important piece of information in advance.”
This punk who cowered for a moment suddenly puffed up again. I really want to beat him up, but I have to listen to him first.
“Speak.”
***
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