CHAPTER 393: A WOMAN AND HER HORSE (1/2)

“Hahaha… what are you talking about?”

Before that Cerberus could even answer my question, the Overlord Cat butted in, all the while winking at me in a fashion that somehow made his already punchable cat face even more punchable. Assuming I could punch him, of course.

‘What do you mean what am I talking about? What else could I be talking about?!’

“Ahem. From now on, you have to make sure to provide her a good life.”

The Hellhounds’ clan head finally spoke up, but his words just seemed so foreign to me… what the potato did he mean when he said I had to provide her a good life? Wasn’t it just a simple pact about being my mount? It wasn’t like we just got engaged, let alone married. So why did I have to provide for her…

‘Shi– did I just fall into another trap?’

“Judging by that look on your face, I think you’ve guessed the reason as well.” The Overlord Cat gleefully reminded me. “What you just signed was an engagement pact, don’t cha know~~”

“…”

‘I… I… I just wanted a mount… why the potato did you guys do this to me?!’

“Hahahaha…I can’t take it anymore… I’m dying over here… hahahaha…” Having been silent for a good long while now, Ferti’nier finally couldn’t contain herself from laughing uncontrollably in my head. I could even picture her shapely body jiggling right now as she laughed…

‘You knew about this. You definitely knew about this, didn’t you?!’

“What… that’s just common knowledge.” Ferti’nier giggled as she said that. “ Under normal circumstances, it is forbidden to ride on the backs of the warriors of the Purgatory Warhorse, unless they have the approval of that horse. However, it is only the males of this clan that can become another’s mount. Females are normally barred from this role.”

‘I know she’s a female. That shadowy Nightmare Steed and that corporeal Nightmare Steed also mentioned something about this arrangement violating their ancestral rules, but didn’t Mo Ning still go through with the signing anyway?’

“And that’s where the problem starts.” Ferti’nier knowingly cleared her throat at that point, most likely to frustrate me even further. Upon confirming that I was in fact at my limits, she then proceeded to solve this mystery for me. “Female Purgatory Warhorses can only be mounts for their partners, and when I say partner, I mean the kind you can ride in the day and in the night.”

‘The kind you can ride at night… fishcakes… I’ll admit, I’m about to blow my top right now… that answer was just… I knew I was being played!’

“Oh, you can if you want to. But once you do, my dear little brother, you will have to face the undying wrath of the Purgatory Warhorses.” Having said that, her tone changed from her usual mischievous teasing to a darker, more ominous tone. “After all, who likes to be played like that, am I right?”

‘So what you’re saying is that no one likes to be played. So they decided to gang up on me instead? Why must living be so difficult?’

“Nyaa~ Looks like Mo Ning has finally found herself a partner. What a joyous day this is.”

The Overlord Cat’s happy meowing brought me to reality. At this point, there really was nothing left to say. I had suddenly gained a fiancee…rest in pieces me…

“I’ve long heard rumors that the most talented of the young horses actually neighs for the same side… to think it was true.” The Overlord Cerberus clicked his tongue at that point then continued, “I guess anything is possible in this wide world.”

‘That’s right, anything is possible in this wide world, so why are you looking at me when you say that? I’m a normal person, thank you very much. I have no interest in horses!’

“Even though this goes against our ancestral rules, if Mo Ning likes it that way, it can’t be helped.” The shadowy Nightmare Steed tossed her a fatherly look at that point then swept his eyes over to me. He then quietly whispered in the ears of the corporeal Nightmare Steed. “They look quite fitting together.”

‘Fitting, my foot! How do I look fitting with a horse?! Don’t think I can’t hear you just because you’re whispering!’

The corporeal Nightmare Steed unmistakably harrumphed at that point. While he didn’t express his stance on this subject, it was most likely approval for our relationship… hold on, what relationship?

“If both parties are females, they should get on well with each other.”

The shadowy Nightmare Steed seemed to be comforting that corporeal Nightmare Steed, but he still seemed displeased. “All that talk about neighing for the same side… I still think it goes against our ancestors’ wishes…”

‘So when you say it goes against your ancestral rules, it’s not about females not being able to become a mount for another, it’s that you see me in that light?!’

The shadowy Nightmare Steed continued comforting him, “our children have their own lives, just let nature take its course.”

The corporeal Nightmare Steed said no more, neither objecting or approving, clearly his anger was stuck fast in his chest right now.

Now that my battle with Mo Ning was over, it also meant that this entire war was at its end as well, although its end was a lot more different that I had originally envisioned.

I had gained a Nightmare Steed Horn so I had no reason to stay behind either. This outcome wasn’t exactly perfect, but it was passable.