Adventurer's Guild Café: I Was Wrongfully Exiled by the Saint, So I Will Enjoy My Second Life with My Fluffy Friends - V 2.2 Chapter 4.6

In the end, we just sat there snacking on sweets and chatting about nothing in particular until around noon.

I still clearly remember the first time I met Gier at that café. He seemed so unapproachable back then, and I was so nervous I could barely talk to him. But now that we’ve gotten to know each other better, I realize he’s just earnest and serious, not scary at all. If anything, he’s the type who worries too much… and he’s kind.

“Shall we head back soon?”

Before I knew it, it had already become noon. I nodded, waking up Lulu and the others who had been napping on the grass. We were just about to start walking back to the guild when Gier suddenly called out to me.

“Kuna, want to ride?”

“Eh? Ride… what exactly?”

“On Shooting Star.”

“Ehh!?”

Come to think of it, I’ve never actually ridden a horse before. Am I too heavy, though? I have all my gear, too… wouldn’t Shooting Star get tired?

“Here, put your foot here.”

“F-fuwa!?”

Suddenly, Gier grabbed me by the waist, and my field of vision shot upward in one swift motion.

Panicking, I did as Gier told me and hooked my foot into the stirrup, climbing up onto Shooting Star’s back.

Once I plopped down into the saddle, I found myself looking down at Gier from a much higher vantage point than usual.

“Th-this is amazing!”

I couldn’t help but be a little impressed. While I was wagging my fluffy tail in excitement, Gier swung himself up behind me.

“G-Gier!? You’ll crush Shooting Star!”

“Kuna, you’re light, so it’s fine.”

I had been worried that with both of us, Shooting Star might collapse under the weight, but Gier just laughed as he said that. Ugh, he’s so close…

“You guys come up too.”

Gier called to Lulu and the others. Lulu leapt straight into Gier’s outstretched hand, while the Mokomotts hopped up one by one and perched on Shooting Star’s head. It was such a peaceful scene.

As Gier took the reins, Shooting Star began to walk slowly toward the city.

When I relaxed my body a little, my back brushed against Gier’s chest. “Hyaa—!” I quickly straightened my posture.

…W-what is this? My heart’s starting to race again. Why…?

And today, of all days, I came in some totally plain outfit! My tail must be all poofy, and I probably even have leaves stuck in my fur…

Suddenly, I started getting self-conscious about how I looked. But since we were riding, I couldn’t exactly groom my tail now…

“Are you scared?”

“N-no! That’s not it at all, it’s just… um, this is my first time riding a horse.”

I hurriedly tried to cover it up, and Gier simply nodded with an “I see.” He didn’t seem to notice how flustered I was.

“Right now we can’t, but when he really runs, you can feel the wind rushing by. It feels amazing.”

“…Even just walking like this, being able to see the scenery from a higher vantage point than usual… it’s really fun.”

“Yeah. Horses aren’t so bad, huh?”

“They’re the best!”

When I answered, I could feel Gier’s faint smile behind me. He really does love horses, huh…

As I sat there fidgeting restlessly, we entered the city just like that. Seeing the town from such a high vantage point was refreshing and fun. But for some reason… today, I could really feel all the stares on me.

“Hey, look. Gier’s got a girl on the horse with him…”

“Has he ever done something like that before?”

“I’ve never once seen Gier-san bringing a woman with him…”

“Could that girl be…?”

My ears picked up their hushed whispers.

I turned red in an instant. W-wait, what are they even saying!?

“G-Gier…”

“Hmm?”

“I-I’m fine now. I’ll get down.”

As I squirmed and tried to get off, he looked at me with a puzzled expression and said,

“What are you talking about? We’re practically at the guild already.”

Hiii—! So embarrassing! Everyone in town was staring at us!

But Gier didn’t seem to care one bit, and no matter how many times I told him I wanted to get down, he never let me off the horse.

“Well then, I’ll be heading back to the knight order now.”

“Y-yes, thank you so much!”

“…And whatever you do, be careful around any shady people.”

Gier reached out and gave my head a gentle, messy rub. My face flared up even redder, and I quickly bowed my head as if to hide it, watching him leave.

The fluffballs also pressed their heads against Shooting Star’s neck, as if saying their goodbyes.

Uu… what is this feeling, this warmth spreading through my body…?

But… it doesn’t feel like something bad. If anything, it feels fun… maybe even happy.

In the end, I just stood there absentmindedly, staring off in the direction Gier had gone, all the way until it was time for the shopping trip I’d promised to go on that afternoon.