Episode 34
Antonio and the magic swordsmen attacked the hippogriff to protect me.
But they were gravely mistaken. The hippogriff hadn’t intended to attack me…
Just as despair began to sap the strength from my legs, a massive shadow stepped in front of me.
It was Antonio.
“What are you doing, standing there so dangerously? I’ll handle it soon. Get inside.”
I looked at the sword in his hand. The blade, as large as a person, shimmered with a crimson aura that swirled like flames.
It seemed the magical energy flowing from Antonio’s body was being transmitted into the sword, giving it that red glow.
The flame-like aura was truly menacing. It looked like anything it touched would be scorched instantly. If the hippogriff were to get hit by that, it surely wouldn’t survive.
“You can’t kill it, Antonio!”
“If it’s attacking civilians, there’s no choice.”
“It’s not attacking. It’s trying to find its eggs!”
I showed him the eggs I had been holding. Antonio’s eyes widened in shock.
“What… Why do you have their eggs?”
“I took them from two merchants. And… I can see light from the hippogriff. I can hear its voice. As long as it achieves its goal, it won’t harm anyone.”
I was certain of it. So I continued.
“I heard from Kallen. Hippogriffs rarely harm humans. The reason they appeared in the commercial district and attacked is because their eggs were stolen.”
I tried to explain as clearly as possible. Antonio, having faced many monsters, would surely know the nature of hippogriffs.
After a few seconds of thought, Antonio gave an order to the magic swordsmen.
“Stop releasing aura! Switch to defensive formation!”
Though confused, Nathan and the other swordsmen followed his lead, forming a defensive line and drawing the shields from their backs.
I staggered once more toward the hippogriff.
“It was a misunderstanding! I wasn’t trying to trick you!”
I cradled the eggs in my arms, gently stroking them, and shouted again. Please, let my words reach you.
[If you want to talk, disarm yourselves!]
The hippogriff growled its demand.
They must have felt tricked with the eggs used as bait, so their request made sense.
The real issue was whether Antonio would comply. I swallowed hard and opened my mouth.
“Antonio, can you and the others lay down your weapons?”
“And trust it when we don’t know what it might do?”
He gripped his sword hilt tighter.
“Please. I’m begging you.”
Tears welled up in my eyes without my realizing it. This was clearly humanity’s fault, and I couldn’t allow our knights to kill the hippogriffs.
Antonio sighed deeply and gestured to the others.
Reluctantly, they laid their swords on the ground.
Two hippogriffs, after confirming that all weapons were lowered, landed once again.
I gently placed the eggs at their feet.
The larger one spread its wings protectively over the eggs, shielding them from any approach.
A heavy silence fell. The swordsmen stayed wary, their eyes locked on the hippogriffs.
“So you attacked the civilian area just to retrieve your eggs?”
I clenched my fists and asked the hippogriffs.
[Yes. While we were out hunting, humans stole our eggs.]
“I thought so. The eggs seemed to be desperately calling for their parents… I’m sorry this happened. I know it’s not my place to say so.”
I hadn’t been the one to steal them, but guilt weighed heavily on me.
“If we return your eggs… will you stop attacking humans?”
Hippogriffs were said to be intelligent, so I wanted to believe they wouldn’t hurt humans intentionally.
[Only if you offer the humans who stole them as a sacrifice.]
“What?”
[Tear them limb from limb as a warning. Then, no human will dare approach our nest again.]
They were demanding the two merchants be handed over to them.
“They did wrong, yes. But offering them as sacrifices…”
I couldn’t finish my sentence. I understood the hippogriff’s rage, but I couldn’t accept offering lives in retribution.
Then Antonio slowly stepped beside me.
“A sacrifice? Humans must be judged by human law. We’ll see that they are severely punished.”
The hippogriff shook its head.
[Can human law be trusted? You’ve already stolen our eggs. If even one human understands their value, they will come again.]
I translated this for Antonio, who took a step closer to the beast. Despite holding no weapon, he showed no fear.
“We promise it will never happen again. We’ll erect a powerful barrier around your nesting grounds. It will keep everyone out. That’s our promise to you.”
Antonio was offering a negotiation — a way to prevent this from happening again.
The hippogriffs were silent. Their gaze still sharp, but filled now with contemplation and internal conflict.
The glowing light surrounding their massive bodies shifted from orange to gold. The hostility in the air lightened, and I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Can we really put a magical barrier around their nest?”
“…It’s possible. The effect won’t be permanent, though — we’ll have to reinforce it yearly.”
I turned again to the hippogriff.
“We can place a magic barrier around your home. If we do that, can you promise not to harm humans?”
[You’re telling me the same people who blasted me with aura will put up a barrier for us?]
The hippogriff looked at the magic swordsmen once more, eyes pausing on Antonio.
[Especially that one — his aura was powerful enough to kill on impact.]
It raised a claw and pointed toward Antonio.
“What’s it saying?”
Antonio frowned, rotating his wrist. A small orb of light formed in his palm.
He was showing that he could match the hippogriff even without his sword.
I didn’t want another fight. I stepped in front of Antonio and held my hands out.
“He didn’t know you were looking for your eggs. I can vouch for him. He won’t attack you again.”
[There must never again be an intrusion on our nest. If this happens a second time, we will kill any human we see.]
A second hippogriff warned. Its bright yellow eyes swept over the magic swordsmen. The killing intent in its gaze was enough to chill the air around us.
[Bring only one more person with the power to create the barrier. We don’t want our nest exposed to too many.]
“…Ride? On what?”
The hippogriff rolled the eggs gently toward me with its claws.
[I feel I can trust you. You will ride with my eggs.]
It approached and lowered itself onto its front legs, clearly inviting me to climb on.
I hesitated. The hippogriff wanted me to ride on its back.
The larger one prowled around the magic swordsmen.
[Who among you will cast the barrier? That one shall ride me.]
“Bartol, can you come with us and put up the barrier around their home?”
I had seen Bartol create a magical ward earlier at the warehouse, so I thought he was the best choice.
“No, I will cast the barrier.”
Antonio stepped forward.
Bartol raised his hands and stepped back — silently acknowledging the commander’s decision.
“Antonio, you can cast a barrier?”
“…Of course. The more mana one holds, the stronger the barrier.”
He replied curtly, his pride slightly wounded by my ignorance.
“Ah, right. Then our commander will set the barrier.”
Hearing this, the larger hippogriff knelt before Antonio.
[I don’t like it, but… fine. Get on.]
“Never thought I’d ride a hippogriff in my lifetime.”
Antonio grinned and mounted as if it were just another steed.
I carefully cradled the two eggs and climbed onto the hippogriff’s back. Though I thought its body would be hard and tough enough to deflect arrows, its fur was surprisingly soft and warm.
FWOOSH!
The hippogriff leapt into the air. My body lifted off the ground as if riding a cloud.
