Chapter 131 (1/2)

Seras and the others who were standing in the back feel intimidated.

However, it’s only Pigimaru that extended his protrusion out from the back of my neck and…

[Punyyuuu~]

—retained his calmness.

Did it immediately sense that it doesn’t have any intention to harm us?

Seras inquires.

[Touka-dono… Is it okay now?]

The posture of the black horse is filled with majesty.

It’s quite difficult to describe its appearance as gentle.

Although it did have a large frame, the feeling that the sharpness in its red eyes gives off is different.

It’s not strange to feel the pressure just by standing before it and looking at its majesty.

It’s no wonder that Seras and the others were anxious.

I held my hand out towards the black horse.

Its eyes narrowed, the black horse earnestly rubbed its cheek on my hand.

Seras looked baffled.

[—-the horse’s acting like a kid huh…]

[It appears that its appearance was the only thing that changed. And, its possible this guy still thinks of me as its parent.]

I gently caressed the black horse’s face.

Closing its eyes, I could see the black horse’s tail were vigorously swaying.

It looks like it feels good.

[Touka-sama.]

Liz timidly called out.

It seems that she’s not wary of it anymore.

[Umm, what would be its name…?]

[Ah, a name huh. Let me think—]

It would obviously need a name.

I’m sure I’ll be calling it multiple times in the future.

[…………………]

A creature from fantasy that resembles a horse…

Some of them came into my mind.

Unicorn.

Bicorn.

Kelpie.

Sleipnir.

If we’re talking about the famous ones, it would be these.

These were the mythical beasts that appeared in the legends.

They also had some times where their names were mentioned in games and novels back in my previous world.

And, as expected, the first thing that comes into mind when you’re talking about a “eight-legged horse” would be—

Divine Beast Sleipnir.

A horse that appeared in the Norse Mythology.

It was famous as the horse that was ridden by the chief god Odin.

This would be the first thing that came into my mind.

Well, its double horned feature is closer to the bicorn though…

I looked towards the others.

[Do you have some good names we could choose from?]

[It looks like the black horse is emotionally attached to you. Shouldn’t you be the one to decide that?]

“I think so too”, or so Liz said as she agreed with her words.

Seras continues.

[I think this child would be more delighted if Touka-sama would be the one to decide its name.]

[I understand.]

I’m not really that good at naming though.

However, it can’t be helped if I’m the one who needs to do it huh.

Let’s see… I guess I’ll borrow parts of the name of that divine beast it has reminded me of—

[How about “Slei”?]

I just took the first four letters…

I looked towards its two red eyes and waited for its reaction.

[Hihhyyyiiinnn~♪]

The black horse neighed and its tail swayed.

Seras laxly crossed her arms and smiled.

[It seems that it likes it, huh?]

Seras then approached Slei and held out her hand.

Slei remained docile as it accepted her hand.

[Please take care of me from now on, Slei-dono—- Hmm?]

Slei approached the scruff of Seras’ neck and sniffed.

Its nose sniffed at her like it’s licking every part of Seras’ body.

[S- Slei-dono!? U- Umm… That place is a bit embarrassing—- Kyaah!?]

Sniff sniff sniff

[Like I said— I- It’s embarrassing…]

Looking like she isn’t too comfortable, Seras looked towards me.

[Touka-dono….!]

Her gaze tells me that she wants me to do something about it.

Horses have a particularly sharp sense of smell.

I’ve heard of that before.

However, why is it that it had only smelled Seras…

[Hmm?]

Perhaps…

[It had to be your smell, isn’t it?]

[S- Smell…]

Seras turned pale as she slightly pushed away Slei’s nose.

[D- Do I… smell that much?]

[No, I think it’s the opposite though?]

[The opposite? Ah, Slei-dono! T- Then, this means—?]

[I had been thinking about it back when we were riding a horse and I was clinging behind your back… How should I say this… It’s just that, Seras, your smell is quite faint, you know?]

[Faint, is it…? I don’t really notice it myself.]

Well, it’s unexpectedly difficult to be aware of your own smell.

[It’s just that you would certainly smell Seras’ scent in there. However, it would only be noticeable when someone gets close to you. That is to say, it’s because your scent is quite faint that Slei have to closely make sure of it.]

[If it’s really as you say, then I can’t really reproach Slei-dono about it…]

Eventually, Slei left Seras who had already given up pushing Slei away.

However…

Lick.

[U- Umm—!?]

Slei licked Seras’ face.

[I- I’m already smeared with your saliva… Hyyaahh—]

Slei continued licking the High Elf Princess Knight’s face.

[…It seems to really like you, huh?]

Well, it was quite evident based on its reaction before.

After me, Slei favors Seras the most.

It seems that licking is its way to show its affection.

[Well, by the way, Slei.]

[?]

Looking like it tilted its neck, Slei turned towards me.

I have something I want to check.

[Can you return back to your previous forms?]

Adding a gesture of my hand pushing down on the ground, I asked.

To put it simply…

“Can you turn back to your small form?”

That is what I want to say.

Thereupon…

[Hihyyiiinnnn!]

With a moderately loud neigh, Slei’s body began glowing.

The light got stronger and wrapped around the black horse.

Immediately after, the light subsided.

And in place of the black horse—

[Panpyyiiii.]

Slei turned back to its first form.

Its figure that looks like a white mascot.

Its neigh filled with loveliness returned back.

[And if I were to inject my magic energy again into the orb on its back, he could transform again huh…]

Standing on its two short hind legs, Slei raised both of its forelegs.