CHAPTER 23……………………….
“Yup! Morning sun is good for your health. Good morning, everyone!”
Brightly greeting the energetic knights from early morning, Lin naturally stepped into the training grounds she was now fully used to.
After stretching with everyone through the familiar warm-up routine, Lin spotted a welcome face—someone with the solid build of a gray wolf beastman who was trying to slip away like a stray cat.
“Kay!”
“……Y-yes, Miss Lin.”
“You actually came out in the morning! Good. You won’t get scolded by the vice-captain today.”
“It’s not like I get scolded every day.”
“Hmm? But yesterday, and the day before that, and last week—”
“Ehh—alright, let’s forget about that. Anyway, shall we start the exercise you like so much?”
“It’s not that I like it, it’s because I need to do it.”
“Yes, yes. Wonderful.”
Hehe.
Even though Kay’s voice was weak, Lin proudly lifted her chin.
“You’re really fun, Kay!”
“Me……?”
Seeing him look at her like she was strange made Lin even happier.
Kay himself didn’t seem to know, but Lin thought he was genuinely funny.
Lin had grown close to many members of the knights now, but the one she was most comfortable with—her closest friend—was Kay.
Even though Kay intended to treat the young lady only casually unlike the loyal, diligent knights… the result was the opposite.
Other knights are nice too… but my best friend in the knight order is definitely Kay!
Unlike other adults who treated her awkwardly or stiffly, Kay was seen as someone she could talk comfortably with—a friend. So Lin had already branded him as her best buddy in the order.
The gray-haired wolf beastman, who always disappeared and reappeared like a stray cat, spoke lightly.
“You’re going to keep going?”
“Hm?”
“Your face is boiling.”
“Boiling? Is my face red?”
Now that he said it, she realized the heat rising from her body was no joke.
Following Kay toward the shade, Lin felt an all-too-familiar sensation wash over her and opened her mouth.
“Ah.”
Poof—when the magic smoke cleared, a tiny baby-pegasus beast form stood trembling on four legs.
Her body had transformed on its own, sensing danger from her drained stamina.
Tsk.
Kay clicked his tongue and lifted the small figure, carrying her into the cool shade.
“See? This is what happens when you push yourself.”
Feeling the cool breeze from a fan he had prepared beforehand, Lin rolled her big, deer-like eyes.
“You’re pretending not to know.”
“I’m not pushing myself. I just did a little more.”
If she wanted to grow healthy faster, shouldn’t she exercise more?
Even her memories from Earth said exercise should be just a bit tough.
Maybe Kay sensed her unrepentant thoughts.
He poked her pink nose with a finger as if scolding her.
“Beginners always say that and then hurt themselves. You just don’t know your limits yet.”
His voice held worry as he gently petted her head without thinking.
Lin unconsciously closed her eyes and flicked her ears.
Who knows how long she rested under Kay’s fanning.
Her stamina had recovered enough for her to return to human form, but…
She just liked the breeze brushing her mane, so she lazily thumped her tail on the ground.
“……Why are you trying so hard? With such a weak body.”
A question suddenly dropped from above.
When she looked up, Kay looked startled and quickly covered his mouth with his big hand.
He looked like someone who had made a huge mistake. Lin tilted her head.
Tap.
Standing properly on all four legs again, Lin touched Kay’s hand with her pink nose.
“I try hard because I’m weak.”
“Because you’re weak?”
“Yup! I want to live a long, long time, but I’m weak right now, right? Then what else can I do? I just have to work harder.”
Kay’s eyes trembled, and he wet his lips nervously.
“Doesn’t… doesn’t trying exhaust you?”
“Oh… well, I get tired quickly. But every day I can do a little more than before!”
“No, I mean—”
He bit his lip, unable to say the next words. After taking a deep breath, he finally spoke, voice slightly trembling.
“It’s just that… even though I’m an adult… sometimes I get tired. When I keep doing something that feels hopeless, I wonder what the point even is……”
Kay looked truly exhausted, just like he said.
Kay… is he worn out?
Honestly, Lin thought Kay wasn’t that grown-up compared to the other knights, but…
She respected her friend’s feelings.
“What’s making you tired? Did the vice-captain punish you again?”
“I told you, I don’t get punished every day.”
He let out a limp laugh at her serious question.
“It’s just… there’s something I’ve been waiting for alone. But I don’t know how long I’m supposed to wait… so it’s exhausting.”
His voice sank as he lowered his head like a wilted plant.
“The time you threw up before—is that because you were having a hard time?”
“Oh, that was— well, you could say that. I was trying to forget the hard stuff, and… it turned out like that.”
“Hmm.”
Looking at her gloomed-out friend, Lin released her beast form.
She patted whatever parts she could reach with her short arms, then furrowed her brow thoughtfully.
“Are you talking about my mom?”
“!”
Kay’s eyes widened as if she’d hit the bullseye.
Who else could Kay be waiting for?
There was a conversation Lin remembered clearly.
“Even the youngest wasn’t a drunkard before.”
“It started then, right? When the Lady Commander……”
“Kay ran away from his family just to follow the Lady Commander.”
They had quickly changed the subject when they realized Lin was nearby, but she had already heard everything.
Kay joined because he followed my mom.
Lin also knew the unique nature of the Pegasus Knights.
Most noble families had knight orders made up of their own beastman clans.
But the Pegasus Knights were different.
They were formed from the mercenary group her grandfather once led—so many types of beastmen were mixed together.
Not because they were the same species, but because they liked her grandfather and mother.
So when both pillars disappeared, of course they were grieving deeply.
I know that feeling too.
Lin understood better than anyone.
She also missed her mother and grandfather terribly.
So she was glad she could finally say this.
“Kay, it’s okay. You miss my mom, right?”
She patted Kay’s hand, seeing his anxious expression—like he feared he’d said something he shouldn’t.
Then Lin spoke brightly and confidently.
“Mom’s going to wake up again. I’m training so I can see her again when she does!”
“!”
“And it’s not just Mom. Grandpa too—everyone’s waiting for him! He’ll come back healthy! So don’t worry.”
Now that she thought about it, this wasn’t something she should tell only Kay.
I should tell everyone this good news.
Many knights around them had already gathered and heard her, but there were still others who hadn’t.
Even though using her “prophecy ability” drained her terribly…
They want to see Mom and Grandpa as much as I do. I can at least do this much.
Puh-huff!
Snorting confidently, Lin—who grew tired and reverted back into beast form—ran all over the training grounds, shouting:
“Everyone cheer up! The mom and grandpa we’re all missing—you’ll definitely meet them again!”
