My Horn Hurts... (1)
My Horn Hurts... (1)
Unicorns—one of the most famous mythical species.
Technically classified as monsters, but unlike common mongrels, they don't just chase base instincts and mindlessly slaughter.
They have their own rules, and they're on the gentle side. It's wrong to treat them like other monsters.
After all, the category 'monster' is just a human construct.
[Does this kind of thing happen often?]
"It's rare, but not unheard of."
[I see.]
But I'd heard unicorns had a temper—calm one moment, ferocious the next.
'Was that true?'
I nodded along to the emaciated researcher's explanation, but I tilted my head internally.
The unicorns I'd encountered were all gentle. I'd never met an aggressive one.
Maybe it's because my mana compatibility is high, so they simply acted that way around me.
No, considering they deliberately came all the way to find me and carry me off, maybe that's closer to the truth?
'This is troublesome.'
Whatever it was, it wasn't a welcome situation.
Originally, I planned to quickly meet the unicorns before the end-of-semester ceremony, and if possible, collect some unicorn horns.
I didn't mean the horn attached to their forehead.
Unicorns shed and replace their horns a few times in their lifetime, similar to losing baby teeth. When I observed them before, I saw them scattered all over the place.
From the edges of the grassland to a corner of the thicket. Or stacked neatly like luggage in the nests the unicorns made for themselves...
I confirmed that high-grade materials were literally scattered around the premises.
Among them, I was planning to somehow get the unicorns' permission and pick up a few...
'If they're that sensitive, it'll be awkward to go in.'
Sneak in and grab some? It wouldn't be difficult, but strictly speaking, they belonged to the unicorns, and I didn't want to steal them.
For reference, the unicorn horn I manifested with Homogenization ultimately disappears.
Cutting it was also torture. The moment I held a blade to the horn, my body shivered uncontrollably, as if I was pointing a sword at my own genitals.
To make matters worse, my emotions took over, and tears dripped down... I barely managed to cut it off, but it soon scattered and vanished.
It seems any body part manifested through Homogenization dissipates when separated from my body.
'What now... Should I stop by the research building and ask for a few collected pieces? Or just take some from the secret vault...'
"Actually, I was about to contact you about this, Cadet."
[Huh?]
My branching thoughts were cut short by the researcher's words.
.
.
.
[Me?]
"Yes, how should I put it... a kind of request."
A meeting room in the research building where I'd been guided by the researcher.
The woman sitting on the sofa opposite me was Professor Alida, who had been in charge of the 'Monster Taming and Response' course during the second semester.
"It's not like unicorns never throw tantrums, but... they've never been as violent and aggressive as they were yesterday."
Professor Alida, who placed a coffee cup in front of me, shook her head.
"Even for such prickly and sensitive creatures, this is unprecedented, so naturally, an investigation and research are necessary, but..."
[But?]
"These temperamental kids just kicked us out without hesitation."
The answer was just as I expected. Since angry unicorns had no reason to welcome guests.
"I'm not asking for anything grandiose. Even from a distance is fine. Please use your detection ability to check the unicorns' status, collect some data, and relay it to us. That's all."
I nodded along to Professor Alida's wry smile, then voiced my doubts.
[But why commission me?]
"I thought that even if they've suddenly become prickly, they might treat you differently, Cadet Lee Ha-yul."
At my question, Professor Alida took a sip of her coffee and shrugged.
"That time... it was the first class of the second semester, right? The day a unicorn suddenly barged into the lecture."
[...Yes.]
My face stiffened.
The notorious 'Unicorn Cadet Kidnapping Incident.'
Usually, I'd just brush it off as 'well, that happened,' but I couldn't laugh since I was personally involved.
"Usually, they are gentle creatures, but there's no precedent of them trying to kindly—or rather, kidnap—someone to take care of them like they did with you, Cadet Lee Ha-yul."
[...I see.]
"Moreover, even if the unicorns try to jab you with their horns, with your level of skill, Cadet, you'd be able to escape without any issues."
Professor Alida took another sip of her coffee.
"Yes, so I'd been planning to contact you before the vacation to ask if you'd be willing to visit them. Although, by coincidence, you came to us first."
I closed my mouth at that. Professor Alida chuckled and drank her coffee.
Was there a reason to refuse? I thought for a moment. Even working for free wasn't a bad idea.
[Yes, I'll accept. Can I decide the reward?]
"Yes, yes! Of course. I'll make it as generous as possible."
At my answer, Professor Alida's face lit up. I'd just tested the waters, but it seemed she really wanted me to go and investigate the data.
[Everything else is fine, but if I get the unicorns' permission, could I take a few of the fallen horns? I wouldn't just take them, only if the unicorns allow it.]
"What? That's all you want? No, wait, unicorns don't easily give up their horns..."
Professor Alida's voice, which had been asking in bewilderment, gradually trailed off.
"Give up... they might?"
A strange emotion spread across her confused eyes.
The commission was accepted.
.
.
.
The territory allocated to the unicorns was quite vast.
It seemed to account for their nature as equine monsters that like to run around.
But I'd already made the trip there and back. Without straying, I headed straight for the area dense with unicorn nests.
[Hmm...]
I walked calmly but made a strange expression.
A long stretch of green grassland. Occasionally, there were elevated hills and oddly shaped trees.
...And there were also subtly damaged areas.
I crouched down and felt the inside of a crater near my foot.
It looked like a bomb had hit, but I judged it to be a kick mark.
There were many such pits. Most were traces of kicks, less than a day old.
The long, dug-out scars resembling trenches... were the aftermath of mana cannons blasting away.
'All this... is from them throwing tantrums?'
I stood up, tracing the marks that would've left a corpse behind if a person had been hit.
Professor Alida had sent me hoping the unicorns would welcome me, but if they were this ferocious, I was a little worried I might get kicked too...
But I couldn't turn back now. Plus, I was confident I could block a few kicks without getting hurt.
I dusted off my clothes and moved again.
Since walking the whole way would take too long, I occasionally kicked the ground to shorten the distance.
- Boom!
It wasn't long before I arrived near the nests. The clean mana sensed through Qi Sense was clearly felt.
- Purrung...
Most of the unicorns were sprawled out on the ground.
It was similar to when I'd met them before, yet different. Back then, I strongly felt they were enjoying leisure, whereas now, they seemed drained, as if suffering from incomplete combustion.
- Crash!
"......"
There were unicorns that weren't like that.
A loud explosion rang in my ears. The murderous atmosphere soured my expression.
- Crash!
The ground exploded under the innocent kick.
Its long, sturdy legs could snap most weapons even without mana.
- Purrung!
The unicorn snorted roughly and shook its head. Dust rose in clouds from the freshly made pit at its hooves.
'...Should I just leave?'
Feeling that momentum firsthand, I didn't think I'd be welcomed either.
- Purrung?
[Ah.]
The moment I took an unconscious step back, my eyes met the unicorn that had been turning rocks into pancakes with its stomping.
[Uh... hi?]
- ......
The unicorn's eyes, filled with a strange anger, turned towards me.
Realizing the jig was up, I released my concealed presence, and the heads of the other unicorns shot up.
All their gazes were fixed on me.
Clop clop... The unicorn approached boldly like a representative, leaving the flattened rock behind.
- Sniff sniff...?
The unicorn lowered its head near mine and sniffed me as if checking something.
For a moment, I considered running, but I didn't feel any hostility, so I just stood there rigidly.
- Purrung...
[Phew...]
Eventually, the unicorn rubbed its head against me as if affirming my thoughts. Breathing a sigh of relief, I stroked the unicorn's back.
[Hi, long time no see.]
- Purrung...!
Was it because the representative's confirmation was over? The unicorns that had kept their distance began to approach one by one and rub their heads against me.
Some skillfully angled their horns away to rub their heads, while others playfully poked at me with their horns.
Though their horns were sharper than any famed sword, they didn't even scratch my clothes when poking me.
At the deep affection that erased my worries, I smiled softly and sat down on the ground.
'They all seem to be in good condition. So why were they so angry?'
I tilted my head while petting the continuously approaching unicorns one by one.
I was examining them with observation at the same time, but nothing felt off.
Even when I observed the whole territory, I couldn't find any anomalies.
There wasn't much to write in the report, but since nothing was wrong, wasn't that actually better?
Why were these gentle and well-behaved kids like that earlier?
When I gently stopped them by signaling that I had to pet the others too, they were such good kids that they politely stepped aside...
- Purrung...
[Ah, it's been a while for you too. You're such a good kid...]
While I was drafting the report in my head.
The one that approached just then was the baby unicorn I'd lain beside and napped with back then.
I tightly hugged the child rubbing its head affectionately against me and pet it a few times, and it stepped back, seemingly satisfied for now.
It suddenly buried its head in the ground and started munching on grass.
'Ah.'
Observing it, a thought suddenly came to mind.
[Wait a moment.]
I motioned for the surrounding unicorns to step back, got up, and reached into my subspace.
'Here it is.'
Amidst their curious gazes, I pulled out a handful of what I had grabbed.
They were carrot seeds. With my toes, I dug up the ground appropriately and scattered the seeds inside. Then I covered them with soil again.
Naturally, merely planting seeds doesn't guarantee they'll grow.
Is farming something you can take lightly? It's so difficult that neglecting just one thing can ruin that year's harvest.
'Manifestation, Homogenization, Taesan.'
But in this world, there are many methods.
The moment I imitated Taesan, my senses expanded through the legs touching the ground.
It meant I had established dominion. Exercising that authority, I manipulated the soil, drew in a bit of earth energy and vitality, and injected them into the carrot seeds.
Then, as if throbbing, sprouts shot out from the trembling carrot seeds. Growth acceleration. The taste and nutritional changes that would occur during the process were adjusted using Taesan.
'Manifestation, Homogenization, Azure Sea.'
As a bonus, I imitated Azure Sea. The water of Azure Sea trickled onto the soil where the seeds were planted. The soil and seeds imbued with the water glistened with even more vitality.
In just a few minutes, carrot leaves peeked out above the ground.
I directly manipulated the ground, pulled out the carrots, and held them in my hands.
'Oh.'
As expected, a quick observation showed the color was exceptional.
They were plump and just the right size for eating, with bright and vivid coloring. The leaves were also fresh and green.
They were nutrient-packed carrots grown with Taesan and Azure Sea.
Before I knew it, the unicorns' eyes were sparkling not just with curiosity, but with anticipation.
[Here you go.]
I chuckled and extended a carrot to the baby unicorn right in front of me. The baby unicorn, which had been waiting while wiggling its bottom, bit into the carrot right away.
- ...Purrung!
The unicorn's mouth chewed briefly. Soon, the baby unicorn's eyes sparkled, and it began chewing faster.
[It seems to taste good. Come on, everyone eat.]
I nodded in relief, and the unicorns, having understood my words, began to devour the carrots piled up on one side.
Seeing them all eat with sparkling eyes felt so pure and cute that I felt completely satisfied.
I stroked the head of a unicorn nibbling on a carrot nearby.
[Shall I come back later and make you more?]
Of course, only when I have the time, but it would be nice to visit occasionally.
I chuckled softly and touched the long, pure white horn that had somehow ended up in my hand.
It was a unicorn horn, exuding a clean, pure white energy.
.
.
.
It was the next day.
Right after waking up, I blinked at the sensation felt through Qi Sense and went outside the mansion.
A secluded spot, not the garden, but a quiet lawn a little distance from the mansion.
[Why are you here?]
- Purrung?
There, sprawled out in the middle as if it had signed a lease, was the baby unicorn. It tilted its head innocently at my question.