Warriors' Training and the Shadow of Orcish Tactics
Vesta glared at Bia with eyes blazing with killing intent.
He stood in a state of special armament, ready to bring her down.
A rope dangled from his hand—a secret weapon forged to bind the hooves of a renowned centaur knight.
If only he could fell her…
‘Too immersed.’
Vesta shook his head. The thought that he had gone too far into the role-play had struck him.
“Let’s begin.”
He addressed the Bia across from him.
“Where is this orc who would come in saying such words?”
Her playful remark drew a wry chuckle from Vesta.
The two were studying orc tactics right now.
*
“You wish to study orc tactics?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ahor and Bia had come with this suggestion.
The one who had proposed it first was Ahor.
It was no sudden story.
‘I’ve been wary of orc tactics all along.’
As commander of the Keshik, it was only natural for her to show interest in orc warfare.
As for Bia, it went without saying.
—It must be because of Arin.
“What should I do?”
“I would like you to recreate orc tactics.”
Among the parties involved in the incident, only Vesta was unscathed, so it was natural that they sought him out.
“I’ll take on Arin’s role.”
Bia spoke with a serious voice.
*
Vesta spun the rope, watching the situation unfold.
Fairy riders on horseback fired arrows. These were practice arrows with arrowheads detached and the tips finished in leather.
Bia moved her body vigorously. Her body leaned heavily to the side. That difficult sideways run.
Her brilliant footwork seized the battlefield.
Bia was making full use of the centaur’s greatest strength. It was a complicated motion that no one could teach a horse, yet Bia was not a horse.
Humans could be trained far more intricately than horses.
As was Bia.
‘That is the terror of centaurs.’
While Bia leaped sideways, curving toward Vesta as she drew near.
Vesta tossed the rope. Of course, it was not an attack aimed at Bia’s legs.
‘As long as it touches the body, it counts as a successful attack.’
Bia’s eyes sparkled.
“...!”
Her heavy body slammed into the ground.
Horses were heavy animals. Centaurs were no different.
And heavy animals instinctively feared leaping. A failed landing could be fatal.
Bia did not hesitate. She leaped lightly and dodged the rope.
“Ah…!”
Bia was approaching. Vesta raised his neck to block her attack.
Thud.
Bia’s wooden sword tapped Vesta’s thigh and passed by.
If Bia had gone all out, he would have been mortally wounded.
Vesta could not hide his disappointment.
“Too difficult to handle.”
Since he was not standing firmly on both legs, he could not withdraw his limbs.
‘Horse combat arts won’t work.’
Vesta turned his gaze. Bia smiled at him with an easy expression.
*
“I understand how Arin felt.”
Bia and Ahor shared their opinions.
“If those bastards had pulled out the chains from the start, Arin wouldn’t have come within a certain distance.”
“Some traps are most effective when they hide well.”
“Yes. They must have waited until Arin got close enough. Only then did they reveal the trap.”
Bia could not conceal her frustration.
“Targeting centaurs, huh. They prepared thoroughly.”
“Maybe they were aiming for you.”
“I suppose so.”
Vesta did not interrupt their conversation.
Quietly listening to the two dissect orc tactics, he gradually drew closer to the treatment tent where Arin was.
“Arin, are you awake?”
Bia called out to Arin in front of the tent. Surprised by Bia’s cheerfulness, Arin answered in a rather bright voice.
—Come in!
Vesta stepped inside. Arin, her hair damp with sweat, wore a smile she had forced into place.
“How’s your body?”
Arin shook her hand as if to say “don’t ask,” speaking in a weak voice.
“Don’t ask. If I hadn’t had painkillers, I’d be sobbing right now.”
Arin’s four legs were bound.
It might look severe, but one instinctive rear kick from her could take a human life, so it was unavoidable.
Because of that, she grumbled while complaining about the pain.
Beside her lay a bow and arrows—Arin’s effort to soothe her troubled heart.
“It must be hard.”
Vesta’s comfort made Arin shake her head vigorously.
“No. I almost became horse meat, so I can complain about this much.”
Arin expressed her gratitude to Vesta.
Her thanks felt unburdening, and Vesta received it with a light heart.
She grinned, returning to her usual cheerful self.
“You can’t lift this cloth?”
“What do you mean? It’s real.”
She had normally worn a garment that covered her belly and waist with cloth or leather, but for treatment, she had removed it. Now she was covered only by thin cloth on her horse body.
Meeting a man like Vesta in such attire seemed odd, but.
Cross-species culture was quite puzzling.
‘Especially clothing.’
Were there harpies who wore clothes?
They, having feathers, never realized the need for clothing.
Centaurs were different.
Some centaurs valued clothing, while others did not. One could not tell whether they wore it for warmth or out of shame.
‘They all seem unconcerned about me, so it must be nothing.’
In truth, the blanket she was covered with was far larger than the usual clothes she wore.
“What are you talking about? Lady Bia said…”
“Eeeeeeeee.”
“?”
Bia clamped her hand over Arin’s mouth.
“Uwhup.”
Bia pulled her hand away. Arin let out a childlike giggle. It was a frail smile, yet far more pleasant than a gloomy one.
“How is Rahan?”
“The wounds were stitched well, but he’s running a fever.”
“Have you visited him?”
“No.”
Rahan was not receiving visitors.
Apart from the rest-period Asmur, no one knew Rahan’s situation.
“Is Asmur stopping you?”
“No way.”
The one who answered Arin’s remark was Ahor. Vesta thought the same.
‘Rahan must have decided.’
“That little rascal. I wonder if he’s feeling burdened alone.”
Arin propped her chin and grumbled.
“I feel no emotions.”
“Really?”
Family-like Bia brushed Arin’s hair aside.
“He brought me a bow! That little guy showed real courage.”
The Khan’s evaluation matched perfectly.
“So don’t get too depressed.”
“You go and tell him.”
“I want to do that too!”
“He’ll heal faster if he rests.”
Watching from a short distance, Bia and Arin looked truly close—like real sisters.
The centaur’s unique bond forged from a lifetime spent in herds was palpable.
“Ah, right. Could you flip my body?”
“Flip your body?”
“Ah, I’m asking because of pressure sores, right?”
No one was more terrifying than pressure sores for patients who could not move properly.
If left in one position too long, ulcers could form on the compressed area.
‘Because blood doesn’t flow there.’
That was pressure sores.
Healthy-bodied people would change position before that happened, but Arin was not so fortunate. Being a heavy centaur made it worse.
Such patients needed a helper by their side to turn them frequently.
‘Not something to laugh at.’
Pressure sores were a terrifying illness. Countless gladiators had died from them.
“There is someone who flips them, but Bia is better than someone I’m not close with.”
“Hm.”
Yet with Bia’s body, it was hard to reach the right angle. Arin glanced at Ahor.
“......”
It was clear Ahor was an outstanding warrior. Objectively, however, she was merely a petite human woman.
She could not possibly flip a centaur’s body.
Ahor herself seemed hesitant, her eyes troubled.
“Flip it for me~”
Arin pointed at Vesta. Vesta, whose words had been blocked, pulled back.
“Jokes, right?”
Honestly, even Vesta thought Arin’s body looked far too heavy.
‘I’m no Uushun.’
Uushun would laugh heartily and flip her in one go.
“Weak.”
“No, it’s not like that.”
Vesta’s pride flared. He rolled up his sleeves. Ahor’s eyes widened as if to say “You can’t be serious?”
“Oh?”
Arin added an exclamation. Bia smiled awkwardly, as if she had no great expectations.
Vesta pondered the method.
There seemed to be no way other than lifting the thigh and pushing.
Vesta reached toward Arin’s rear leg.
“Eh.”
Arin’s words perked up. Bia, startled, sat up abruptly.
“?”
“N-no, that’s not it.”
Arin looked uncharacteristically flustered. Vesta had failed to understand the situation and only realized later as his hand trembled.
“Ah.”
If he had simply pushed the thigh straight…
In that case, the cloth would have slid down, leaving Arin’s body fully exposed.
‘Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be nothing?’
Was the difference between bare skin really that much?
Cold sweat broke out.
[What are you doing?]
[You’re a heavy guy.]
Somehow, the image of the imagined Khan approaching with a kitchen knife flashed before his eyes.
“Ahuu. I really didn’t know how to do it.”
Arin fanned herself with her hand and wiggled her hips.
“…No, why did you say it then?”
“No, I knew I’d give up when I got to the back!”
Arin cried out as if she were the one embarrassed.
“Trying to harass a virgin’s thigh who hasn’t even gotten married yet.”
“No, first, lower your voice.”
Vesta urgently hushed Arin.
“......”
Bia’s gaze burned.
“What kind of eyes are those…”
Vesta muttered as if he were the one wronged.