Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: Stabbed in the Back When You're Relieved (2)
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After much deliberation, Ben brought the creature back and named it Blackstar. He cared for it with utmost sincerity.
And sure enough, Blackstar lived up to those expectations.
Its growth rate was twice as fast as any ordinary horse, and it grew into a massive beast that far surpassed even the giant horse breeds renowned for their size.
Back then, Ben was thrilled at the thought of turning it into a warhorse or breeding it for superior offspring.
'The trouble started when it revealed its true nature.'
Blackstar's temperament couldn't even be described as merely "fierce." It was incredibly belligerent, brutal, and in short, had a rotten personality.
It bullied the other horses in the stable to the point of trying to bite them. It spat out its feed and threw tantrums. It even ignored and constantly rebelled against the one who had picked it up and cared for it.
'Hold on.'
A strange sense of déjà vu made me frown.
'This sounds just like a description of Abel, doesn't it?'
...Being compared to a horse doesn't sit right with me.
In any case, Ben finally gave up on the idea of raising it as a warhorse.
But no one in the stable could handle the fully grown beast. And he couldn't risk letting outsiders know he'd been raising a monster.
In the end, he had no choice but to lock Blackstar in a sturdy iron cage and feed it just enough to keep it from starving.
That's how Blackstar remained imprisoned until the day Abel brought down Ovest Territory, finally regaining its freedom.
'This time, it'll gain its freedom in a different way.'
I planned to use it as my means of transportation. Its speed and ferocity were the perfect keys to the plan I had in mind.
"Heh."
The thought of meeting Blackstar made my heart race.
I like vicious creatures. More precisely, I like subduing them.
"Judging by your reaction, looks like I hit the mark."
A sharp smile curled my lips, and the young man belatedly covered his mouth.
"Uh, uh-uh."
He was so flustered that he momentarily lost the ability to speak.
'He must be shocked that I know about Blackstar's existence.'
If Lord Diego found out about this, not only he but Ben too would face punishment. It wouldn't end with just being fired from the stable.
"Uh, uhhh."
The young man seemed to spiral into panic with all sorts of dire imaginings, even though I had no intention of making them reality.
"Hey."
Unable to stand it any longer, I tapped his shoulder. He finally snapped out of it and bowed deeply.
"Ah, uh. I'm sorry."
"Never mind. So, where is it?"
"Pardon?"
His eyes shook wildly. Without any reprimand for secretly raising a monster, he seemed thrown off.
"Uh... right now?"
"Yeah. Lead the way."
Only then did he read the faint curiosity and interest on my face.
"R-Right!"
Color rushed to his face. He figured that if he played along nicely, he might avoid punishment.
"It's in the back of the stable..."
But then he thought of something and his expression darkened again.
"B-But that thing has a terrible temper. Even I never let it out when old man Ben isn't around."
"Is that so?"
I chuckled and turned away immediately.
"Then I guess we should go right now. And this forbidden stable in the pasture..."
"Nooo!"
The young man scrambled over and grabbed my arm. In the end, he had no choice but to lead me, swallowing his tears.
"H-Here."
The place he guided me to was the deepest part of the stable.
"Ugh, just a moment."
Grunting, he lifted the lock on the iron door, his arms trembling as he flung both sides open.
'They've locked it up pretty securely.'
Creak—
As the iron door swung open, the spacious interior came into view.
"Oh?"
I let out an exclamation and strode inside.
"Snort."
Inside stood a horse that exuded an extraordinary presence at first glance.
Its sleek black coat like fine silk and its luxuriantly flowing mane made for a striking sight. Even in the dim light, its golden eyes gleamed sharply.
The problem was the iron bridle on its face and the chains binding its body.
'Chains... four of them?'
Not just the bridle, but connected to the saddle too, ensuring the horse couldn't move an inch.
'They're treating it like a complete monster.'
Of course, given its true nature and abilities, that's exactly what it was.
"So that's Blackstar."
I smirked and took a step forward.
"Y-Young Master?!"
The young man let out a strangled cry.
"You can't approach it like that! It tries to bite people..."
His voice trailed off.
"Try to... bite? Huh?"
Blackstar harbored intense hatred for the humans who had imprisoned it here. Whenever it saw one, it couldn't control its temper and went berserk.
That's why even Ben couldn't get close and had to feed it from afar with a pole.
But.
"......"
Far from rampaging, Blackstar simply stood there calmly.
Its golden eyes stared straight at me, as if appraising me.
"Oh?"
Not bad for a monster.
I narrowed my eyes in a smile. At least it wasn't cowering in fear at the sight of me.
Moreover, those cleverly gleaming eyes meant its brain was working overtime to size me up.
'Good. To carry me, it needs to be at least this capable.'
Satisfied, I smiled and said,
"I'll take this one."
"Pardon?"
The young man blinked, not understanding. I repeated firmly, without a hint of doubt.
"I'm going to ride this one."
Finally comprehending, his eyes widened like saucers.
"Bl-Black... Blackstar?"
"Yeah."
"But if you try to ride it..."
His anxious gaze flicked to my arm.
"Even four grown men couldn't handle it. And Young Master, your arm is injured too..."
"I'll handle that. Just unchain it."
"Young Master, please reconsider. Yes, secretly raising it was wrong. But if you get hurt, we'll be in even deeper trouble..."
His nonstop pleas slowed to a halt. Seeing my utterly unwavering expression, he finally gave a resigned look.
"Ben took the key with him..."
"Is that so?"
I grabbed the chain bolted firmly to the wall. Twisting my wrist with force,
Snap!
The chain tore right off.
"Gasp!"
The young man stumbled back in shock.
"This should do it, right?"
I muttered as I ripped off the remaining three chains one by one. The broken pieces clattered to the floor.
Clang, clang.
All the while, Blackstar just watched me silently.
Clang!
The last piece hit the ground. Blackstar tilted its head curiously.
"Snort."
It was a much deeper, heavier whinny than any normal horse. The vibration prickling my eardrums confirmed it was no ordinary beast.
"Snort."
Blackstar pawed the ground once with its hoof.
Thud.
The impact of its solid hoof against the floor was immensely intimidating.
"Uh, uh? No way?"
The young man pointed at Blackstar.
"Snort."
Blackstar turned its head side to side once each, then lightly lifted and set down its legs repeatedly.
No matter how you looked at it,
'Warming up?'
Then, Blackstar's knees bent slightly.
"Y-Young Master!"
The young man screamed at the top of his lungs.
Because Blackstar's eyes, poised to leap at any moment, were fixed on me.
"Dodge!"
The next instant, Blackstar charged straight at me.
"Eek!"
The young man screamed and covered his eyes, as if he couldn't bear to witness the aftermath.
"Oh?"
I stood ramrod straight, staring calmly at Blackstar.
"Now that's more like it."
A satisfied smile brushed my lips.
From the young man's view, Blackstar would seem to have vanished suddenly.
Its instantaneous acceleration and top speed it reached in a blink were on another level.
"I like it."
Especially those eyes, locked firmly on me without budging.
As if the whipping chain on its mouth and the cumbersome ones on its body meant nothing.
That straight gaze aimed solely at its target,
"Perfect."
It really grew on me.
Rip!
Grinning, I tore off the splint on my right arm. At the same time, I twisted my body to dodge Blackstar's charge.
Whoosh!
It grazed past me by a hair's breadth. So fast that the air vibrated fiercely as it passed.
"Snort!"
Blackstar skidded to a halt right there, then turned back to face me squarely.
"Snort."
Its nostrils twitched in dissatisfaction. Its eyes seemed to say,
'Not bad for a human?'
Giggling, I crooked a finger at it.
"Come on. Let's see who wins."
Understanding the challenge, Blackstar's gaze sharpened. It charged at me again.
"Snort!"
Its whinny carried a clear intent to ram this human down.
I deliberately waited until it was right in front of me. The moment it closed in,
Clang!
I grabbed the dangling chains on either side of its head.
"-!"
Blackstar's body jerked to a halt. It yanked its head back furiously, but couldn't overcome my iron grip.
"Snort!"
With an enraged cry, it reared up on its front legs, trying to stomp me flat.
"Where do you think you're going!"
I stuck close to its side to evade the kick, then sprang up, planting myself on its back.
"Incredible!"
A gasp of astonishment erupted from the young man behind me, his acrobatic feat stunning him. Hearing no scream from me, he'd uncovered his eyes to watch.
"Snort!"
Blackstar unleashed a storm-like roar. It twisted its body wildly, trying desperately to throw me off.
Any normal rider wouldn't last even a few minutes before falling.
"Hmm!"
But I gripped the chain connected to its head and held on steadfastly.
"Snort!"
Frustrated that things weren't going its way, steam billowed from Blackstar's nostrils.
"Snort, snort!"
It began bucking its hind legs frantically, going completely berserk.
"You little!"
Its resistance was fierce. And the more it fought, the more my competitive spirit blazed.
"Want to go at it, huh?"
I released one hand from the chain. Perilously dangerous atop its wildly shaking body.
With my freed hand, I swung to the side, maintaining perfect balance with utmost care.
"Got it."
My hand caught the end of a chain—one of the two that had secured its body to the wall earlier.
Blackstar twisted its head to look at me.
"Snort, snort!"
Realizing what I was up to, fire blazed in its eyes.