Setting Off Again

"Well then, we're heading out."

"Mm! When you get to the guild over there, remember to write me a letter and let me know you're safe."

"Got it."

Early in the morning, Paul and I said our goodbyes.

As for why Aisha and Eris weren't there, I wasn't too sure of the reason either.

After Aisha woke up, she dragged Eris off to retrieve the carriage we'd used before. The public order in this country really was good.

Maybe settling down here after finding Mother wouldn't be bad either?

When I arrived outside the city, Aisha and Eris were already waiting for me in the carriage.

"Big brother! Over here~"

Aisha waved at me.

When I reached the carriage, Eris seemed to have fallen asleep inside because she'd gotten up too early.

"Aisha, why don't you sleep too?"

"Mm~ I'm not sleepy. I want to keep you company for a while, big brother."

Aisha spoke softly, then lay directly in my arms.

"Hm? Won't this make it hard for me to control the carriage?"

"It won't! It's really obedient! Even if you don't deliberately control it, big brother, it'll behave. When I went to find it this morning, it recognized me right away."

"Is that so? It's pretty smart, then."

"Right! So I gave it a name. Want to hear it?"

"Not really."

"Big brother, you're really good at ruining the mood! Its name is Domi!"

Domi? That really sounded like the kind of pet name you'd hear in my previous life.

"Mm... why call it that? Shouldn't a horse's name be a little more imposing?"

"Domi's not going to war~ And it's pretty small, too."

I took a closer look at the horse. It really wasn't that big.

Come to think of it, was this considered a pony? They actually used a pony to pull a carriage? I'd been in a bit of a rush when I bought it, so I hadn't noticed...

"So, is there some story behind the name Domi?"

"I just thought it was working really hard... And once we reach our destination, you'll sell it, right? I hope it can eat lots at its next owner's place and stay healthy like it is now."

That was such an adorable reason.

I thought for a while. Domi would indeed be sold before we headed to the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw... because it was too cold there, and red dragons flew overhead from time to time. If we brought along a creature like a horse, we'd definitely be targeted. Too much trouble.

But saying we'd sell it... Mm, that was a bit too heartbreaking.

Come to think of it, didn't some places have services that delivered horses to your doorstep? I remembered you only needed to pay the round-trip costs.

Though we couldn't bring Domi to the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw, it could come by another route. It would just have to take a very, very long detour.

I reached out and patted Aisha on the head.

"We won't sell it. When the time comes, I'll find a suitable horse market and board Domi there. Once we've settled down, we'll bring Domi over."

"Really!?"

"When have I ever lied to you, Aisha?"

"You clearly weren't planning to bring me along yesterday, big brother!"

Aisha puffed up her cheeks angrily and threw a straight punch at the sky from within my arms.

"But I still brought you along, didn't I? So it doesn't count as lying."

"Ehh~ You've got so many twisted excuses, big brother."

"How is that a twisted excuse? It's the truth."

Just as my hands were about to curl into fists and grind against Aisha's temples, she sat up from my arms.

"Domi, did you hear that? Big brother said he'll come get you later and bring you to the place where we settle down."

Domi's two ears perked up, and then it neighed twice.

Watching this scene, I started wondering whether horses in this world were a little different. They seemed... very smart.

No, wait. I hadn't exactly known much about horses in my previous life either. Since they were such an important companion in human history, their intelligence probably wouldn't be all that low.

"Big brother, look at this!"

I turned my head and saw Aisha holding a bag of carrots.

"These don't taste very good raw, you know."

"How would I be the one eating them?! They're for Domi. I found out it seems to like carrots more than grass."

"Wouldn't that be unhealthy?"

"You're so fussy, Brother."

Huh? Did that count as being fussy?

After my little sister said that to me, I shut my mouth.

I watched as Aisha rode on Domi's back and fed it carrots.

After that whole bag of carrots was gone, Aisha jumped down from the horse's back and came back to my side.

Aisha leaned against me like that for an hour. The state she was in now was exactly like me in class in my previous life—clearly so sleepy her head could droop at any moment, yet stubbornly holding on and refusing to fall asleep.

I watched her with some amusement, wanting to see how long she could last.

Another five minutes passed, and Aisha mumbled drowsily, "Brother... I'm sleepy~"

"Then sleep. You did get up a little early."

"Mm~ Then I'm sleeping."

After saying that, Aisha lay down in my arms.

Helpless, I smiled.

Lively, cute, smart, and full of compassion. She really was the perfect little sister.

Full of compassion, huh...