32. The Escaping Horse and the Mage on Horseback
Horseback was higher up than I'd imagined. There was Cecily gripping the reins, and me clinging to her from behind.
"Hold on tight!"
Cecily shouted. I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind, locking her in a firm hold.
We were chasing after the escaped horse down a narrow forest path.
It was going at a serious speed. The trees rushing toward us were terrifying. Branches looked like they could poke my eyes out any second.
"Ugh, you're too stiff. You're all tense. Loosen up and move with me, but don't let go!"
I got it, but scary was scary. We hit a corner, centrifugal force nearly throwing me off, so I hugged her even tighter.
"Jeez!"
"This is way too advanced for a total newbie!"
"It's because you're so scared—your fear's spooking it. ...And could you loosen up a bit? Y'know, in situations like this, stuff like accidentally groping boobs happens, right?"
Cecily glanced back with a provocative smirk.
So, distract myself with horny thoughts, huh? Clever. I hiked up her robe and grabbed her crotch hard. I'd figured it'd be bare under there, but nope—shorts.
"Eek! What the hell are you grabbing?! You're breaking my focus! Boobs—go for the boobs!"
"Make it sexier! And how dare you trick a pure-hearted boy like that! Shorts under the robe? That's cheating!"
"Huh? You filthy old perv! If I didn't wear shorts for riding, my panties would show! Just move your hand already!"
Cecily yelled. I didn't want to mess up her control by groping more, so I reluctantly gave up on her crotch and slid my hands to her chest.
"Hm? Where're the boobs?"
I groped around like I was searching.
"This guy... But yeah, you're loosening up. Feels good. Don't forget this when you're riding solo!"
The speed picked up even more. We were closing in on the lead horse. Scary as hell, but Cecily's squishiness kept me going. Might as well map out the nipple spots too. If they're perky, I won't forget.
But before I could pinpoint them, the horse ahead gave up its escape and stopped.
Too bad—the lewd, er, terrifying chase was over.
It all started back at breakfast that morning.
We were eating.
Bread, sausage, grilled tomatoes, beans, and a wild salad of torn veggies mixed together. One plate every morning, just like that.
No clue what kind of beans. Simmered in a ketchup-colored soup, but salty, not ketchup-y.
Around the table, clockwise from me: Fam, Myra, Ira, Cecily, Mizuki. My ideal scene, but being surrounded by this many women made me tense.
"Dungeon again today?" Fam asked.
"Yeah..."
"Shopping?" Mizuki chimed in.
"Yeah..."
"Day off?" Mizuki again.
"Yeah..."
"Are you feeling unwell?" Myra looked at me worriedly.
"Dungeon, huh... Well, fine whatever," Cecily said.
"Is there something you'd like to do?" Myra asked.
"We're guarding a caravan, right? Can you all ride horses?"
Makes sense. Caravan escort means horse time.
Myra shook her head. She glanced around, and Fam did too. Me, Fam, and Myra were the newbies.
"Mizuki, you got experience?"
"Yeah, but just a few times in elementary school experiential riding. Count me as a beginner."
Lady-like with horses, huh? Gotta request some ojousama play next time.
"I actually practiced a little back in the village. But I don't remember anymore," Fam said.
"I'm... not confident either," Ira added.
"Too late to practice now, right?"
Mizuki asked.
"Probably. But learn the basics, get used to it on the road?"
"Mash, what do you think?"
"Yeah..."
"...Hey, Mash!"
Mizuki was pissed.
"Sorry. Including today, we've got four days left in town. Team combat practice, shopping, day off... horse riding? Anyone teach that?"
"Let's visit my knight acquaintance. It'll speed things up if you come too, Mash," Myra said.
"Got it. Today: riding if possible. Tomorrow: shopping. Day after: dungeon. Then day off."
Everyone nodded.
We all went to see Myra's knight friend.
Retired old knight. Deep faith in Rakushel—saw my face and hooked us up with an instructor and horses right away.
Practice at the ranch north of town.
Renting horses for a day plus lessons? Pricey.
Myra asked via her connection—no charge.
Feels super awkward. Must be a hassle.
As I fretted, my instructor was Cecily. Felt like I'd get mocked. But couldn't say no to her enthusiasm. Tried "Fam can teach me," but "You idiot?"—shot down.
During practice, my horse jumped the fence and bolted. Leaped a man-height barrier easy. Watching close-up made horses scarier.
Someone had to ride back to retrieve it—so Cecily and I doubled up to chase.
And now here we were.
"That's why you're too damn scared."
Cecily's line of the day, on repeat. There's a ditty: "May those who block lovers' paths get kicked dead by a horse." Me, blocking Lead and Cecily's romance? Might be my fate.
"Professionally, you're the most suited for riding."
"Me?" No idea.
"...You know nothing. Mages get big mana bonuses. Mizuki's swordsman gets sword bonuses. But minuses elsewhere. Worse as levels rise."
"Got it. Bonuses apply."
Jobs tweak stats to fit. Base stats matter. Young like Fam and Mizuki grow; old folks screwed? Bad base + bonus = meh.
"Adventurers special—all bonuses, small."
"First job mage, second swordsman?"
"First strongest. Seconds minor pluses. No adventurer bonus."
"...Got it."
"Not 'got it'! You're adventurer—riding boosted too."
"Even so..."
Scary's scary. Base zero stays zero.
"Fine, pretend it's Mizuki."
"This is Mizuki?"
"See? Pretty butt, cute, right?"
Cecily patted the chestnut horse.
"Oh, Mizuki!"
I'm the man who tames wild Mizuki. Confidence boost.
Looked again—doe eyes adorable.
"Hop on."
"Yeah..."
Smoother than ranch practice.
"Since we're here, let's hit that pond ahead. Not far."
"Alright, let's go, Mizuki!" Called the horse's name.
"Even you'd... " Cecily was done.
I rode Mizuki—no, the horse—toward the pond. Forest path northbound.
Now trotting light, walking slow, turning left/right at will. Wind felt great with speed.
Cecily rode alongside.
"Thought you'd suck, but you're improving fast. Good."
"Thanks to your tips. Bonded with Mizuki—er, the horse."
"Never thought that'd work... Heard about the perv old man from Mizuki, but..."
Cecily muttered.
"Really going to Migurutto?"
"Yeah. Had to split with Lead eventually. Now's fine."
"Why?"
"You know. He's noble, I'm commoner. He'll return to nobility. Can't be together. Hid his fiancée, but I knew. Ira thought marriage real; I was over it."
"You're slaves now." Had to say it.
"Ugh."
Class walls thick here.
"I dated him first, y'know."
"Yeah? Ira later?"
Cecily shook her head.
"Opposite. Ira and I longtime friends. Met Lead in dungeon. Ira had a boyfriend then. He dated me and secretly hooked up with her."
Messy. Hunk privilege. Jail fits.
"Body holds up?"
"Hm? Nights? Stamina pills."
"For real?! Exist?! Gushers?"
"...One to two rounds max. Floor 12 monster drop. Make ya some?"
"Mixing skill?"
"Yeah, second job Apothecary level 10. Helped parents as kid. Want?"
"No side effects?"
"Dunno. Overdose maybe?"
"Please!" Mental fist pump. Myra-ready. Loved Cecily now. Sorry for flat-chest jab—adore small tits.
"Can make aphrodisiacs for girls too."
"...Wild life."
"Hey! Made for cash on request! Experience: one guy!"
Wanted to know, didn't. Lead took it. Shame.
"Ira too?" Didn't wanna, but check.
"Dunno. Prob 3... no 4. All guys I liked..."
Ira seemed less experienced. Boob gravity irresistible?
"Always fighting over same guys?"
Friends battling for bfs? Messy.
"I like someone, tell Ira—next thing, she's dating him."
"You let that slide?! Still friends?!"
"Yeah. We fight sometimes."
No "yeah" about it.
"...Real friends? Separate rooms?"
Goodwill rising.
"Nah. Bad to leave her alone now."
Cecily shook head. Caretaker type? Special bond.
"Aphrodisiac?"
"Pass." Fun natural reactions.
"K. Addictive, side effects."
Drug-like? No crackdown?
"Tried?"
"Used on me few times. Habit-forming."
Yep, Cecily's lewd.
"Wanna relearn magic in Migurutto."
"Dungeon levels enough?"
"No basics, apps, combos—huge diff."
Adventurer starter spells sucked first.
"True. Fire magic trash."
"Huh? Fire's supreme! Burn 'em! Earth sucks!"
"What?! Rock barrage!"
"Hey! On horse! Beginner—focus!"
Scolded. Fair. Gripped reins.
"Listen: Caravan guard—no magic, bow, sword from horse. You're newbie. Fall, trouble all."
"Got it. Sorry." Spot on.
"Hm. Apologizing quick—good."
Cecily struck teacher pose, grinned.
"Migurutto's big school. I'll be older, but general class."
Ah, that kinda place. Scout lewd mages.
Thanks for reading.
Bookmarks and ratings—truly grateful.
Motivates me. I'll keep going.
Typos pointed out—helping tons. Appreciate it.