CH 87

[The Origin of Animals]

This was abrupt, but animals in this game world were, in a sense, different from those of the real world.

For, in this world, animals were all harmless-ified monsters born from repeated selective breeding by monster tamers over a long period of time.

A long, long time ago, at the age where people didn’t have the giant walls, where they lived under the patronage of a mighty monster by offering sacrifices as a compensation.

The warriors called monster tamers snatched away the power of the monsters they themselves had tamed, robbing them of their intellect.

Thus, they gradually transformed from monsters that attacked and ate people to animals that helped people, abiding their orders.

Dogs that became companions for hunting, and the others like cows and pigs that were used as livestock were the best examples; horses, too, were also a kind of animals created to support people for various purposes such as for riding or for transporting things.

However, on rare cases, some animals might get ‘avatism’.

They regained a part of the ability of the monsters that were their ancestors, [Z1] and were swayed by it.

Horsie rode by Sakurai was also an animal that got ‘avatism’; he regained high intelligence enough to understand human speech, but because of that, he captured the outline of the doubt that his instinct shouted.

Something was different, something was wrong. Something was missing from the current him.

But he didn’t know what that something was.

Even while being distressed by the doubt that grew larger day by day as he grew up from foal, Horsie suppressed it as best as he could and continued to being an ‘animal’.

Then, one day, the moment he saw a ‘Pegasus’ walked by a monster tamer, the doubt cleared up.

So that’s the kind of monster his ancestor was, so that’s the sense of incongruity that afflicted him came from… the something that the current him lacked.

At the same time as the joy from understanding that hit him, Horsie realized that it was something that he could never regain. He resigned to his fate.

His intelligence told him that regaining his wings was a wish that could never be fulfilled, and so Horsie put a lid on the flame of passion that lit up in his heart.

“Alright, Horsie. I’m gonna make sure whether my idea is correct, so you better stay quiet, alright~.” (Sakurai)

“Can items really be used on animals, Sakurai-san?” (Iris)

“I’ve confirmed that potions worked on animals. So, the items from the Three Sky Series should work on one, too.” (Sakurai)

He kept telling himself that it couldn’t be helped, there was nothing that could be done, containing his wish in a philosophical view.

“Awright! It’s a success! The Sky Soaring Bridge works properly. I knew it, my idea wasn’t wrong!” (Sakurai)

Or so he thought.

The boy before him oh so easily fulfilled that wish of his.

“From today, you’re a winged horse! Horsie the Pegasus! Let’s teach those guys the importance of air superiority hyahahahaa!!” (Sakurai)

He gave him wings. He regained his wings.

His instinct that had been trapped for a long time flared up, Horsie went wild.

Then, he vowed to challenge the chariot race that the boy talked about with all his best.

He knew it was the only way for him to pay back his benefactor who gave him his wings back.

“Now, run into the sky, Horsie the Pegasus! Higher, higher!” (Sakurai)

At this moment, Horsie understood exactly the words of the boy holding his reins; seeking to prove the meaning of his existence, he put strength into his four legs.

Because he was a Pegasus that ran in the sky, he was going to go higher and farther than any horses in this venue, which had forgotten their roots!

“…Eh, hey, hold on, Horsie. D-don’t you think you’re getting too high? Hey, you listening?” (Sakurai)

Certainly, in the end, the wings were fake, and he didn’t fly, but just running on the cloud road that was floating in the air.

From a real Pegasus’s point of view, his sad appearance might invite a laugh, but it was one that the boy had prepared for his sake.

He was proud, he had nothing to be ashamed of.

With that in mind, his energy overflowed endlessly.

“Neigh!!”

“Wah, aw, ow, ah. Ah—!?” (Iris)

“Iriiiiiiiss!?” (Sakurai)

Horsie neighed! The chariot was jolting! Iris fell!

Nevertheless, Horsie kept running lively, showing off to the surroundings! As if saying: this is the true appearance of mine, of us animals called ‘horse’!

“Wai-, you, Horsie, why’re you heading off the venue? Where the heck ‘re you going!?” (Sakurai)

[A-all of a sudden, participant Sakurai’s horse started running in the sky, and his chariot, passed through the course, and over the audience seats——this is my first seeing this spectacle!]

[Brown fell, but… looks like she’s okay. But like, seriously that Tōru, he totally can’t control his horse, can he? To show such a miserable sight, pfft.]

“What’re you laughin’ at, you damned Diva!!” (Sakurai)

Things such as hustle and bustle seemingly unable to reach his ears, Horsie gave his all on running higher and father as the boy wanted!

Beyond the course, beyond the audience seats, beyond the venue, Horsie ran toward the sky!

For he was a Pegasus*! (*lit. sky horse in kanji)

“Horsieeeeee!! Get back to the venueeeeeeeee!! Otherwise, Imma turn you into a horshimi!!” (Sakurai)

“Neiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh!!”

———

The academy festival, chariot race, 4th race.

Sakurai Tōru——disqualified for going off course.