We managed to form a contract with the young Hippogriffs, but we couldn’t stay here forever.
“Now that things are as they are, we should return to Feel as soon as possible. But the problem is what to do with Jade and Fluorite,” I said.
“We can’t just leave them here. Feel has a ranch, so let’s have them looked after there,” Prim replied.
“Is that the only option?”
Jade and Fluorite chirped energetically.
“By the way, I want to ask, why did the Hippogriffs entrust their children to us?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but perhaps they trusted us after we defeated the Evil Drake? I seem to recall hearing something along those lines. I believe it was a story about monsters whose young were killed forming a contract with humans who defeated their enemies. Linus would know more, so let’s ask him when we get back.”
“Shall we do that?”
“Yes. Fluorite, Jade, we’re heading down the mountain, so follow us closely.”
Deciding it was best to return to Feel as quickly as possible, Prim and I called out to the two Hippogriffs and started walking.
“Kwaa!”
“Kwa, kwaa!”
But we were stopped.
Turning around, Jade and Fluorite seemed to be urging us to ride on their backs.
“You want us to ride you?”
“Is that okay?”
“Kwaa!”
It seemed so.
When Hippogriffs grow up, they become about one size larger than horses.
Jade and Fluorite were still the size of foals, but their size was sufficient to ride on their backs without issue.
“Could it be that you’ll fly us all the way to Feel?”
“Kwaa!”
It seemed that was their intention.
I could somehow understand the words, or rather, the cries, of Jade and Fluorite. Was this one of the effects of our familiar contract? It was convenient.
However, while I appreciated them offering a ride, I didn’t want to make the young ones do something so strenuous.
“Kwaa!”
I was scolded.
I was trying to be considerate, so why?
“Hippogriffs are G-rank monsters. Even as children, they likely possess more strength and stamina than an average monster. It is said that they hunt prey larger than themselves and carry it back to their nests.”
I see, I had hurt their pride.
In that case, it wouldn’t be good to be overly hesitant just because they are children.
“Understood. Then, please take us to Feel. I’ll give you directions.”
“Kwaa!”
With energetic cries, Jade took me onto his back, and Fluorite took Prim, and they took flight.
Wow, it’s more comfortable than I expected.
“This is my first time riding a Hippogriff, but it’s exhilarating,” Prim said, seeming pleased.
Even though we were flying with the Hippogriffs’ wings and not our own, since contracting with such a rare monster was unusual, it was probably a different matter altogether.
“Still, I never thought we’d be able to contract with Hippogriffs,” Prim added.
“Me neither. In my world, Hippogriffs are just mythical creatures.”
If you say that, most of the monsters in this world are, aren’t they?
“Now that this has happened, I want to buy a house as soon as possible. We’ll be able to let these two roam in the yard too.”
“Indeed. They wouldn’t have much freedom in a stable. On the other hand, a ranch would be too conspicuous and not very relaxing.”
Ranches are breeding facilities for Battle Horses and Grantpuses, and they have vast grounds to allow for grazing during the day to prevent lack of exercise.
They also offer rentals for use as beast carriages and riding mounts, so we would likely utilize them for long journeys.
At the same time, they accept temporary boarding for one’s own familiars and summoned beasts, so Jade and Fluorite should be able to be boarded there.
However, Hippogriffs are quite rare, so there’s a high possibility of causing a stir, and since both are still young, they might be frightened of other monsters.
If we procure our own house, we can keep them there, or rather, take care of them, and it would also be convenient for summoning.
In fact, nobles often set aside a space within their mansion grounds, not necessarily large, for their familiars and summoned beasts to relax.
The only issue, it seems, is that Hippogriffs can fly.
“We’ll worry about that later, but we should also reconsider the beast carriage we commissioned from the Crafter’s Guild.”
“Ah, it’s difficult to make them larger, but we’ll need to create sleeping quarters at least.”
“Yes. We need to ensure that both we and these two can travel without stress.”
This is all thanks to Mirroring.
Mirroring is a type of Supplication Magic that allows for spatial expansion using a mirror image. Due to its properties, it is often used for enchantment.
By digging a small hole, covering it, and using Mirroring, one can create a makeshift campsite of considerable size, making it acceptably practical, albeit with limitations.
It can also multiply the capacity of a small bag by expanding the space within, making it incredibly useful for those who cannot use Stroraging.
It is said that objects placed in the expanded space feel no weight, apparently because the expanded space is a pseudo-space.
Unlike Stroraging, time does not stop, but the ability to carry a large amount of luggage remains, which in itself is extremely convenient.
Furthermore, it is not prohibitively expensive, so many people, not just Hunters and Traders, possess it.
Using Mirroring, the interior space of a beast carriage can be expanded to include living quarters and bedrooms, and even sleeping areas for the monsters pulling the carriage.
When camping on roads, it is rare for Grantpuses or Battle Horses to be harmed, but it is not uncommon for them to be killed by thieves or eaten by monsters in the dead of night.
However, by creating sleeping quarters inside the beast carriage, the risk of attack can be reduced.
It also provides shelter from wind and rain, which might not be bad for familiars and summoned beasts.
Of course, creating such a large space requires time and magic power, and therefore, money.
The beast carriage belonging to Duke Hydransia’s family cost 800,000 El, if I recall correctly?
That’s too expensive!
“We’ll have to ask the Crafter’s Guild what’s possible,” I said.
“Indeed. Still, these two are quite fast, aren’t they?”
“Yeah. We can already see it.”
We flew over the lake, so it didn’t even take 30 minutes.
On the way there, we had to detour around Veil Lake, which took us four hours to reach the foot of the mountain.
“We can’t just enter Feel like this, so let’s descend a little distance from the gate.”
“That’s right. Fortunately, it seems there aren’t many people around.”
If Hippogriffs landed, it would certainly cause a stir, but with us present, it probably wouldn’t lead to complete chaos.
…It wouldn’t, would it?
“Alright, Jade, Fluorite, let’s land. We have to explain things to the Order’s Guild.”
We arrived at Feel.
We had the two Hippogriffs land about several dozen meters from the gate and had them walk slowly.
Naturally, a large number of Orders emerged from the gate, in a fully prepared defensive posture.
The Order’s Guild is quite well-trained.
They are truly the elite of Amister.
“Order’s Master! Someone is riding that Hippogriff!”
“What? Then, is it perhaps a familiar?”
“No way… they contracted with a Hippogriff…?”
“Who could it be…?”
I heard later that the appearance of the Hippogriffs had indeed thrown them into a panic.
The Orders maintained their formation, so the townspeople weren’t too flustered, but the Hunters were the biggest problem, trying to escape as quickly as possible.
They should have their Licenses revoked, truly…
“Order’s Master! Those are Yamato and Prim!”
Oh, Mina was here too.
Calling him the Order’s Master suggests he maintains professional boundaries.
“What? No, it’s those two. Why do I feel a sense of understanding?”
“I feel the same.”
“Actually, I do too.”
Once they realized it was us on the Hippogriffs, the Orders quickly withdrew from their positions and returned to their posts.
That, too, doesn’t quite sit right with me.
“Yamato, Primrose, you startled us,” Rex said.
“We didn’t mean to. Contracting with them was also by chance,” I replied.
“Contracting with Hippogriffs? It wouldn’t be strange for you two, though. By the way, where did you contract with them?”
“At Mylight.”
Rex, Rosemary, and Mina approached us with surprise on their faces.
Hippogriffs are quite rare in this area, or rather, in the Amister Kingdom.
While their habitat is on high mountains, and Amister has many mountains, they seem to prefer fish over meat or fruits, so they are rarely found inland.
They are often found in mountains near the sea or lakes, but the coastal areas of Amister have few high mountains. Thus, there seem to be a considerable number in Torencia and Retisencia.
“They’re so cute, these two,” Marie said.
It feels like Jade and Fluorite are warming up to Mina.
They’re purring and acting affectionate.
“They’re probably only one or two months old. They probably only recently learned to fly?”
Hippogriffs cannot fly for about a month after birth, but since Jade and Fluorite can fly, Prim inferred that they must have only recently gained the ability.
I think so too.
“So they were children. With that size, I thought they were already adults.”
The ecology of monsters, not just Hippogriffs, is full of mysteries.
Well, Hippogriffs apparently don’t attack unless provoked or if their territory is encroached upon.
“Still, Mylight, hmm? I never knew there were Hippogriffs there. But Veil Lake has plenty of fish, so perhaps it’s not surprising when you think about it.”
Rosemary said this with a look of surprise that turned into understanding.
Veil Lake is quite large and teeming with fish.
Presumably, as Rosemary guessed, the Hippogriffs chose Mylight as their habitat after discovering the abundance of fish in Veil Lake.
“Count Bismarck, the Provincial Governor, and the Crafter’s Guild have also completed their requests, so I’ll report them together,” I said.
“I-it’s already settled!?”
Considering we only left for Mylight yesterday and it’s been roughly two days, killing both the Evil Drake and the Feather Drake and returning is usually met with shock.
Without Jade and Fluorite, it probably would have taken another day or two.
Familiars that can fly are truly convenient.
“Yes. Since this is also related to these two, please let me report everything together.”
“That’s remarkably fast… Understood. In that case, I’ll head to the Hunter’s Guild as well.”
“Excuse us, but we’d like to take these two to the ranch first.”
“That’s fine. The townspeople will likely feel reassured once they know you’ve contracted with them.”
There was no news of Hippogriffs inhabiting Mylight, so from the perspective of the people of Feel, Hippogriffs are simply G-rank monsters.
Considering their rank is the same as Evil Drakes and Black Fenrirs, it’s natural for them to be surprised if they don’t know the ecology of Hippogriffs.
“I apologize, but I’ll go to the Hunter’s Guild as quickly as possible.”
“Understood. Mina, I’ll leave the guidance to you.”
“Understood.”
Once again, we were assigned Mina as a guide, and we headed to the ranch.
We were met with surprise there as well, but it seems we are well-known at the ranch, and they readily accepted Jade and Fluorite.
Moreover, there was someone who had experience caring for Hippogriffs, which was a great help.
They seemed very happy to be able to care for Hippogriffs again.
As we parted, Jade and Fluorite cried mournfully, but after reassuring them that we would visit after our tasks were done, we left the ranch with heavy hearts.
