The Lord Who Rode a Ram

I had been tracking the approaching presence when it suddenly flared with murderous intent. Startled by the shift, I realized I had to get to the scene immediately.

However, there was no way I could make it in time on my own two feet.

I could have used magic to fly, but while that would allow me to bypass obstacles, the actual speed was only marginally faster than a full sprint.

If I want to get there fast, there’s only one candidate for the job...

"Hey, wake up!"

"Wh-what mehh?! Is it morning already, mehh!?"

"It’s been morning for hours! It’s practically noon!"

"In that case, I can’t go anywhere until I’ve had breakfast, mehh."

"That can wait!"

"N-no... I’ll die if I don’t eat breakfast, mehh."

"Don't worry," I said, my voice flat. "If you die, I’ll just use you for the party tonight."

"Yay! ...Wait, no matter how you look at it, that’s a yakiniku party, mehh!?"

"Enough talk, we’re out of time. We're going. Now!"

I forcibly mounted Ram while he continued his comedy routine.

"Going where, mehh!?"

"Don't worry about the destination. Just run in the direction I point with everything you’ve got."

"Got it, mehh. In exchange, I get Meat (food) later, mehh."

"Leave it to me. I’ve got plenty of scrap paper (food) for you."

"Now you’re talking! Time to get serious, mehh!"

With that, Ram charged toward the attackers at full tilt.

I had expected the Royal Family’s arrival to be a simple affair—a formal declaration of Independence for our house. I was not prepared for the sight of escort knights attacking their own charge. Seeing a Princess under siege by her own men was a complication I hadn't anticipated.

Is this another of my father’s conspiracies? It seemed too crude, even for him. I couldn't imagine a plan like this succeeding. Does that mean he’s already accounted for the fact that I would intervene?

It rankled me to play right into my father’s hands, but the alternative—letting a member of the Royal Family die—was a one-way ticket to Ruin.

I had only one move to make.

"Wh-who are you, yo—gh!?"

I didn't give the knight time to finish. I slammed a magically conjured rock into the man who turned to face me, hitting him with everything I had.

"You didn't think I’d be leisurely enough to give my name to a bunch of Thieves, did you?"

Attacking them while acknowledging they were knights could cause a diplomatic nightmare later. I decided right then to treat them as nothing more than common criminals.

"H-he's alone! Surround him and he’s dead!"

"Alone?" I glanced down. "Ah, I guess you're right. Since Ram here is just Emergency Food."

"Puh-puh-puh! Treating the Princess like Emergency Food is just cruel, mehh!"

"Who's talking about the girl!? I'm talking about you!"

"R-Ram is not food, mehh!"

"Why you... stop mocking us!" the lead knight roared. "Turn that Giant Sheep into edible Meat!"

"Shut up, mehh! We’re having an important conversation here! Stop bothering us, mehh!!"

Ram didn't wait for a command. He charged, body-slamming the knights. When an ultra-massive object hits a human at high speed, the results are never pretty. The knights were sent flying, disappearing like shooting stars in the blink of an eye.

"Th-thank you for saving me. Um... are you a Prince?"

"No, I am merely a Noble Son, Lady Florentia."

"Eh? Who is this, mehh!?"

Ram bleated in shock at my sudden shift in tone. As if I’d treat a member of the Royal Family with my usual lack of decorum. Keeping a polite smile plastered on my face, I reached down and pinched Ram’s flank.

"O-ouch, mehh!?"

"Ahaha, pay him no mind. It seems Sir White Horse doesn’t quite understand human affairs, does he? I am Florentia Inraku, the Third Princess of the Kingdom of Inraku."

She was disheveled and stained from the struggle, yet she still possessed an undeniable air of elegance.

"You are too kind. I am Yuri Lousouth. I have been entrusted as the Lord of this region. Ah, pray excuse me for a moment."

I wove Water Magic and Fire magic together to create a localized warm shower, rinsing the dirt from the Princess’s gown. I followed it immediately with a Composite Magic of Wind and Fire to flash-dry the fabric.

"Oh...!"

"Your clothes were a bit soiled," I explained.

"Yuri-sama... you are a Mage on par with a Sage, aren't you?"

The mention of a Sage brought Melty Belmolt to mind—the eccentric woman currently residing in the Swaying Tower within my lands. No matter what kind of proper housing I tried to provide, she immediately transformed it back into a Swaying Tower. I’d eventually given up and stopped complaining, especially since the tower had become something of a local tourist attraction.

Still, being compared to her didn't exactly feel like a compliment. Then again, maybe there’s a double meaning behind her words.

"No, I still have a long way to go. Even within the Lousouth House, my abilities were considered so low that I was nearly disowned."

"N-no, that can't be true! The Yuri-sama I just saw was so cool... he was... just like a Prince."

Florentia’s face turned bright red, and she hid it behind her hands. Her expressions changed so rapidly it was hard to believe she was capable of any political maneuvering.

But what if this expression is also a facade? If I was truly declaring Independence, my father’s interference was a certainty. I felt my expression softening and quickly tightened it back into a pragmatic mask.

"Thank you. It makes the desperate fight to protect you all the more worthwhile."

"U-um, please call me Tia. That’s what my father calls me."

"I couldn't possibly address a Princess so familiarly..."

"It’s Tia," she insisted.

"I... understood, Lady Tia."

"Yes! And eventually, I’ll have you drop the 'Lady' as well."

For some reason, Tia’s mood soared.

"In any case, we shouldn't stand around talking in a place like this. We should head to the manor. Please, get on."

"Um... how exactly do I get up there?"

I’d been riding Ram so naturally that I’d forgotten how massive he actually was. There was no easy way for a noblewoman to mount him.

"Pardon me, then."

I swept Tia up into my arms and leaped, settling her onto Ram’s woolly back before taking my place behind her.