Seiun wo Kakeru Chapter 66

Chapter 66 – The Feral Child

Continuing their ride on the horses, had it already been around 30 minutes?

It was different from the boat’s swaying and the instability on a bicycle, as these two responded directly to a person’s control and will.

In other words, the most crucial thing is for the horse and the human to become one entity. Eiji slowly began to understand this.

Did she notice Eiji and his comrade becoming used to their horses? Chiara looked at both Eiji and Fernando while showing them a smile.
Ain’t you two quick in accustoming with a horse? – Is how she praised them.

They both felt a little bit happy; nevertheless, in the next moment, Eiji and Fernando realized that these words were just a flattery.

– Darling, how about we speed up a bit?

– Got it.
– Eiji, speed up a little.

Saying so, once Dylan and Chiara were thought by Eiji to suddenly operate with the reins, their horses quickened their walking pace.

As if being attracted, Eiji’s horse also matched others’ speed.

– *sound of trying to maintain the balance*

Right after that, the instability increased.

Trying to match his motion with that of the horse, Eiji’s body swung up and down while trembling.

Still, there was one exception.
The watching height was much different. Assuming a person is shaken off from the horse, he may sustain serious injuries, just like a jockey on a racing horse.

While holding the body of the horse between his thighs, Eiji tried to  balance his body, however, because his muscles, which weren’t regularly? used, reached their limit, Eiji began to slightly tremble.

Eiji couldn’t believe that the villagers of Auman were able to effortlessly ride on the horses.

– Please wait a moment,

In the end, Eiji was able to have them stop for once.

At the time he decided to buy a draft horse and go back upstream, Eiji thought that perhaps a stirrup would be needed.

It was an unusually simplistic item; nevertheless, by adjusting it in some way, it’s possible to place one’s foot on it.
As soon as he checked the condition of the stirrup, Dylan asked Eiji, with an expression that looked like he was seeing a strange thing.

– Oi oi, what’s that?

– Hm. Well, I wonder whether or not it’s necessary for our village.
– Is that so?

Originally, people who are used to horse riding have the tendency to make light of stirrups at first.

However, the true value of the stirrup lays in the easiness of operating with one’s weapon when riding.

Because the stirrup is part of military technology, he had no intention of popularizing it freely, just like the weapons.

Since the population of islanders is scarce, it’s fine for a technology, which brings happiness to people, to spread.

– Fernando, what’s your impression?

– Me too. With this, we may at least endure without having our thighs and buttocks tremble.
– Good grief.

Laughing at each other, they grabbed their reins and made their horses run once more.

– Still, you wouldn’t say it’s the same as normal walking, right?

– Yes, you’re welcome.

– You’re right.

– That’s a secret.
– Well, if you say so, I guess it’s all right.

Dylan didn’t seem to be convinced, but, there was no way for Eiji to answer him honestly.
Being evasive, Eiji made his horse gallop.

————

Dylan’s house was a long house style one.

The ground consisted of soil that was covered with cloth.
As soon as Dylan entrusted Fran with an errand, she immediately went outside.

Chiara[1] poured a white liquid from a barrel into bronze cups and presented them to both Eiji and Fernando.

For some reason, it was a bittersweet-like smell.

– This is?

-……Bon appétit.

Eiji tried to drink it timidly.

This is, surprisingly tasty. – he thought.

Despite that, the level of alcohol in the drink wasn’t high, and it was astonishingly easy to drink.

– Hey, you too, come and stir this.

– Yes, it’s a customary practice for guests to churn the insides of a barrel.

Unlike the barrels that already contained fermented mare’s milk, Eiji churned the one which still had the milk inside.

Since his departure from Siena, it was the first time for Eiji to be on the producing side. Til now, he would simply be offered alcohol.
It was a simple, repetitive process, nonetheless, being told that the mare’s milk would turn into alcohol once it’s mixed, Eiji felt a strange sensation of enjoying this.

As soon as everyone received their alcohol, Dylan and Chiara, who were sitting, tightened their expression a bit .
Fran was still not back.

– Well, it looks like you want to hear more about Fran’s mysterious power?

– In order to understand it, I need to tell you about that girl’s past. It’s lengthy, still, do you want to listen?
– Let’s hear it.

It seemed that that there was some particular reason.

Eiji adjusted his seated posture.

– That girl, you see, even though she calls me pretty much her father, she’s not my actual daughter.

– Adoring someone doesn’t make a person blood related.

– That girl’s real parent is, do you recall that horse named Gyusu which arrived to welcome us?

– Only that he is of abnormal size. That guy, you see, he raised Fran up.
– A horse, did?

Sometimes, there tend to be years when a hardship, caused by a shortage of provisions, doesn’t allow some to eat.

At such a time, would it be elderly, or perhaps babies, to become the first sacrifices?
Fran was probably one of those who were given up as a result of poverty.

– One day, we were outside to catch horses as usual. We would tie wild horses with ropes and train them. When we spotted a place with a herd, we galloped over there, however, the situation was strange. The herd of horses, which would usually be precautious and ready to run away, didn’t move even an inch. And then, we noticed Gyusu and Fran there. Well, if we were to consider it under normal circumstances, then Fran would become a hindrance. Despite that, there was no way for us to abandon her. I remember that horse Gyusu looking at us directly, it was indeed an amazing force coming from him. As the tribal chief, I was in charge of leading whenever we would catch horses, but that that was the first time I had encountered such a fearsome look.

Dylan vividly explained the situation at that time while exchanging gestures.

So was Fran perhaps brought up by a horse?

– How old was she at that time?

– That was… raising her must have been troublesome.

– You mean with horses? It’s somehow hard to place my trust in that.

– For such a strange thing to happen, that’s…

Eiji couldn’t quite believe what he had heard.

But on the other hand, for people who were brought up among superstitions and legends, it was probably easy to place their trust in it.
Apparently, Fernando believed.

– Father, the preparations are done.
– Oh, is that so?! Excellent. Then, shall we move?

At Fran, who entered through the door vigorously, Dylan too, replied with an energetic voice and stood up.

– Where are we heading to?

– I just wonder what it could be.
– Fufun, you will understand it soon. It’s something you can only do in this village.

Being taken along, Eiji and Fernando went outside.

And then, a number of people appearing from out of nowhere have gathered. It looked like every single person was hot-blooded and excited.
A man in charge of management was trying to sooth them down. Eiji understood that he was holding a large flag in his hand.

– When you talk about horses, obviously, it must be a competition. What about you, dear visitors? Won’t you place a bet?

– As if I would do such a thing.

– Fernando-san, have you forgotten what happened before?
– It only happens inside this village. What’s more, I’m confident in gambling.

At the horse racing, Fernando turned a bit lively.

Translatior and reference notes:

[1]: Pretty sure it should be Chiara; however, the author used Fran instead which doesn’t make quite a sense. Just bear it in mind.

[2]: Also known as Kumis.

[3]: There’s a Chinese legend about an illegitimate child being abandoned by his father and raised by a female tiger. Apparently, the child would later become someone important (i.e the minister of Chu state: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chu_%28state%29). Although not translated(Japanese), you can read the story here:

Chapter end