Chapter 63 : A Brief Lull (3)

Chapter 63: A Brief Lull (3)

The next morning.

In the small chapel tucked into a corner of the lord’s manor, the ceremony to appoint an honorary knight was held.

‘This could not even be compared to the one back in Loren.’

As expected of a ceremony hosted by Count Bellua, a high noble, the scale was on another level. Most of the nobles who had attended the banquet were present, and Count Franz, eager to make up for his past mistakes, did everything he could to support the ceremony. Thanks to that, Shatien was able to receive his knighthood under everyone’s blessing.

First, he bathed in cold water to purify himself, then, as before, he rinsed his mouth with salt. After that, two priests dressed in clean vestments walked around Shatien, carrying a relic that gave off fragrant smoke, and recited in an ancient tongue. From what he could catch, it sounded like a blessing for Shatien’s future.

Once everything was prepared, Count Bellua, who had been quietly watching, stepped forward and spoke from the center.

“Shatien, kneel.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Count Bellua cleared his throat briefly, then continued in a low voice.

“A knight’s conviction is steel. The more it is hammered, the stronger it becomes. You, Shatien, are my honorable knight and my sword. Stand without fear before strong enemies, and at every fork in the road, protect the weak. Even if that choice leads you to your death, you must always keep your honor. This is the oath between me, Bellua, rightful ruler, and you.”

-Slap!

A sharp smack echoed as soon as he finished speaking. Count Bellua struck him across the cheek.

“This is to mark our oath. Will you swear to it?”

“…I swear.”

When he nodded, Count Bellua drew his sword and tapped Shatien’s shoulders three times.

“I, Count Bellua, name you Sir Shatien. Rise, my knight.”

Shatien slowly rose to his feet. With that, he had become Count Bellua’s knight. Even if no vassalage duties were attached.

To conclude the ceremony, Shatien received a very tough looking bridle from Count Bellua.

“There will be a horse prepared for you in the stables. I had intended to grant you a sword, but it seems you already possess a very good one.”

He must have decided that after seeing the hilt.

“Thank you very much, my lord.”

“Shatien. You are now the knight who protects my honor. I will grant you a family name. Speak if there is one you desire.”

After a brief moment of thought, Shatien answered.

“…Aizen. Aizenfaust.”

A name the world had already forgotten.

This was the moment the Aizenfaust family name spread its wings once more.

* * *

After the splendid knighting ceremony ended, Shatien was led to the stables. The stablemaster of Count Bellua’s estate spotted him and came running from afar. It seemed he had been warned in advance.

“This way, Sir Shatien. It is an honor to guide you.”

“…?”

“I-Is there something that displeases you?”

“No. It’s nothing.”

Shatien was a little taken aback by the way the stablemaster spoke. People always said that if you were frustrated, you should climb, and even if the title was only in name, once you were a certified noble, people’s attitudes changed completely.

‘I’ll have to get used to it now.’

He followed the stablemaster into the cramped stables. Inside, dozens of horses brought by the nobles were tied up. There were so many that they were even lined up outside. Of course, all of the count’s horses were kept in the coziest spots at the far back.

-Neighhh.

Snorts and low huffs rang out as about ten warhorses shook their manes and stamped their hooves. Each one was large, its coat shining with a silky gloss, clearly well cared for.

Shatien was impressed.

‘These are on a completely different level from the horses I usually see.’

They must have been the mounts Count Bellua cherished the most.

“Sir. You may choose any horse from this side. His Lordship said he would like to see your eye for horseflesh.”

“Haha…”

The man really had some troublesome hobbies. That said, all the horses here were in good condition. Whatever he picked would be a fine mount. Shatien chose a brown horse whose thighs were firm and whose mane was neatly brushed.

-Neighhhh!

He let out a bright, energetic whinny.

“I will take this one.”

“You have an excellent eye! This is a horse from the Zaribia mountains. A superb warhorse.”

He had picked the one that drew him, and it seemed he had chosen well. Pleased with the stablemaster’s explanation, Shatien was about to head out, but—

-Crack!

-Neighhh!

A sharp crack and startled whinny came from one corner of the stable. The stablemaster snapped in annoyance.

“That damned bastard again! Sir, my apologies. Please forgive my loose tongue. It slipped out of habit…”

“It is fine. More importantly, why is that horse alone, acting like that?”

“Well… that one is a horse I bought myself, and it seems he has gone into heat. There are some mares in here, so, you know, ahem.”

“Is that so?”

Shatien’s interest was piqued, and he went to take a look. He only meant to see what it looked like.

-Neighhh!

-Crack!

A black horse with a white stripe down the center of its forehead was kicking the back of its stall with its hind legs.

‘Is it a packhorse? And it’s pretty big too.’

Studying the black horse more closely, Shatien’s eyes lit up.

‘Could this be?’

This horse was not a famed warhorse, but it meant more than that to him.

“Is this horse a Shire breed?”

“Yes. Yes, it is. I am amazed you recognized a packhorse so quickly.”

“How old is this fellow?”

“He has just come of age. Still young.”

Horses lived around twenty to thirty years, so this one had plenty of life ahead of it.

“How fascinating. I have never seen a Shire this big. If he grows a bit more, you could almost use him as a warhorse, no?”

“Oh, do not get me started. I bought him to plow the fields, but he grew so big that none of the harnesses fit. And he eats so damn— er, I mean he eats so well. To be honest, I was planning to butcher him next month and turn him into salami.”

“Is that so? Then this works out perfectly. Would you sell him to me?”

“Yes yes of co… pardon?”

The stablemaster looked flustered.

“You want my horse, Sir?”

“Yes. I cannot load all my baggage onto my warhorse. I will need a pack horse as well. What do you say?”

“I see… when you put it that way, that does make sense.”

The stablemaster wore a hesitant expression.

“But this one has a terrible temper and is very stubborn. I fear he might cause trouble on your journey, Sir.”

“That does not matter. With that strength, he can carry more load.”

Even as Shatien spoke with confidence, the stablemaster hesitated. It was not greed. He simply worried that he would later be blamed for selling a horse with such a foul temper.

Shatien noticed his concern.

“Do not worry. If anyone complains, tell them I pressured you into selling. Even if something happens, no one will hold you responsible after the sale.”

“Oh no, I could never…”

“Then there is no problem, is there?”

In the end, the stablemaster agreed.

“If you insist, I will just give him to you. It feels wrong to take money for this sort of pack horse from an honorable knight.”

“Really?”

“Yes, yes. It may even be better for him this way. More than that, could you wait just a moment? I cannot hand him over as he is… It will only take a short while.”

“Very well.”

After a little time, the stablemaster led the horse outside.

The black horse hung its head meekly.

It looked like an animal that had just lost its country.

Shatien let out a small chuckle and took a half gold coin from his breast.

“You worked hard. I am sure you had to put up with a lot.”

“Oh! You shouldn’t have. I meant to give him to you for free.”

“A pack horse is still a horse. If it feels like too much, consider it payment for your trouble.”

“Yes. Payment for my trouble. Thank you very much.”

It was not that he took money lightly, but this was not the sort of thing you just squeezed out of people. That was what filthy nobles did. He certainly had enough to afford a token like this.

“Thank you, Sir Shatien. May the grace of the gods be with your future.”

“Thank you.”

Taking the reins, Shatien was full of anticipation. He alone knew a breeding method that had not yet spread to the world, which made it all the better.

‘This one will make a magnificent stud.’

About a year before his death.

A secret with the power to shake the balance of the continent had spread widely by chance. Far beyond the Empire, across the sea, lay the desert and sand empire, the Eastern Empire.

That empire had a royal warhorse, specially managed by the imperial family, called Asla. It turned out Asla was a hybrid, a cross between a Shire and an eastern warhorse.

‘Asla combined the Shire’s strength with the endurance of eastern warhorses. It was an outstanding mount.’

On top of that, Asla could breed with other Asla. They did not produce many foals, but whenever one was born, there was no warhorse in the world stronger than it.

The story of the emperor hitching his three personal horses against two Asla and whipping them, only for the warhorses to be dragged without resistance, was famous everywhere.

Every noble and knight dreamed of riding an Asla. You could talk about it all day and still not be done.

‘If I could someday import eastern warhorses by sea, this fellow would be perfect for it…’

It would be hard for now, but if he ever acquired territory with a seaport that opened into the inner sea, it might be possible. Even if not, working through a trading company would be easier, though more expensive.

“Easy, easy.”

-Neighh!

The black Shire snorted.

Shatien gripped the reins. Even holding tight, his arm was pulled by the horse’s strength.

“Haha. Your descendants will one day thunder across the continent!”

He could not help but laugh out loud.

* * *

After a week of banquets, Shatien returned to the supply depot. As soon as he arrived, he told Miles everything that had happened.

“Honorary knight? I have never heard of that before.”

“Kiik kiik kiik!”

“Well, nobles with blue blood can call things whatever they want, I suppose.”

“That is true enough. Hahaha.”

Miles laughed heartily.

“Anyway, our rookie, no, our knightly Centurion Shatien is a noble now huh?”

“There is no need to dwell on it. Not that you ever cared about that sort of thing before…”

“Hey! What do you take me for? Ahem. Sir Shatien?”

“Ew! Please stop!”

It made his whole skin crawl. Shatien shook his head vigorously.

“By the way, a trading company from Loren Free City came looking for us.”

“A trading company? Who is in charge?”

“That… some strange cat beastkin we met before I think?”

“Ah, Marhen?”

“Yes, her! How do you even remember her name?”

“...After running into her that many times, it would be weirder not to remember.”

“R-Really?”

Leaving behind Miles, who scratched his head with a foolish look, Shatien hurried to the trading company’s caravan. There was something he wanted to ask.

Fortunately, he found Branch Manager Marhen easily. She was resting between wagons with their doors open.

“Nya!”

Recognizing Shatien, Marhen sprang to her feet. The bored expression she had worn as she stared at the scenery brightened into a smile.

“Hnng. Long time no see, Shatien. Or should I be calling you Sir now?”

“The rumors have already spread this far?”

“They say words travel the fastest, you know? Hehe. Congratulations.”

He had to admit it was true.

Whether good or bad, rumors always spread fast.

“Anyway, what brings you here?”

Branch Manager Marhen’s tail swayed as she asked. Only then did Shatien recall the reason he had come to find her.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor? Do you want plate armor perhaps?”

“Oh?”

Now that she mentioned it, he did need to buy plate armor eventually. A knight’s symbol was plate armor, after all. But that was not for right now. There was something more important.

“Ahem. No, it’s something more important than that.”

“More important? Surely there can’t be anything more important to a knight than his armor. Hehe.”

“No, there is actually.”

That was right. There was.

Before he was a knight, he was the senior Centurion commanding three hundred men.

“?”

“I need chain mail to arm my subordinates. For about three hundred men.”

“????”

That was why their equipment came first.

Of course, when she heard that, Branch Manager Marhen fell into complete confusion.