Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

He had been exposed to the witch factor for a much shorter time than I had, yet his tolerance was stronger.

However, she didn't ask; she didn't want to spoil this warm moment.

This allows one to let go of all anxieties and simply enjoy being loved.

The feeling of being enveloped...

"Natsuki Subaru..." she murmured.

Unfortunately, while she was enjoying herself, Subaru Natsuki's brain was also working at full speed.

Capela has regained her shapeshifting ability without anyone noticing.

And she did not choose to run away.

Does this mean... our horse training was successful?

A glint flashed in Natsuki Subaru's eyes!

Great! Even better than the fire at Yiling!

He could almost see himself flying back to the capital on Capela with the method to cure Mycroft, and the scene of all the officials kneeling to welcome him!

Natsuki Subaru immediately and tentatively spoke to Capella:

"Capella."

"Ok?"

"Now that you have regained your shapeshifting ability..."

He raised his hand to gesture the size of the dragon.

"How about you turn into a dragon now and let me ride it?"

Capela froze, her cheeks flushing as she buried her face in Subaru's chest...

She didn't answer immediately, but paused for a moment before asking:

"Could it be that you wanted to ride me the first time you saw me?"

“Of course.” Natsuki Subaru nodded immediately.

"Hmph! That's easy for you to say." Capela hugged her even tighter.

"If you let me ride you, then I might as well let you ride me..."

Capela muttered something under his breath.

"Huh? What did you say?" Subaru Natsuki was taken aback.

"He didn't say anything!" Capela hurriedly changed the subject.

Don't be fooled by her usual lewd jokes and flirtatious manner.

But in reality, she...

I can't do what Rem did...

"Just let me ride it for a bit, we're about to suffocate at home~" Natsuki Subaru continued to plead.

Capella's face grew redder and redder as she listened, if she hadn't known that the rider Subaru was talking about was not the same rider she was thinking of.

She might have already agreed.

No! Even if it really is just a man riding her, she can't agree to it!

Capela shook his head.

She was, after all, a member of royalty...

How could I possibly lose my virginity in this dimly lit cave...?

Natsuki Subaru kept pleading, and Capella began to regret why he had learned so many dirty jokes just to provoke others.

She felt she couldn't hold back any longer and quickly changed the subject:

Why weren't you affected by the miasma just now?

Natsuki Subaru was taken aback.

"What miasma? What air? Never heard of it."

Capela frowned upon hearing this.

"Didn't you feel your head throbbing? Didn't you suddenly become angry? Didn't you feel something urging you to tear me to pieces?"

Subaru thought for a moment, then casually uttered something that would leave everyone who heard it speechless:

"You mean this? You call it miasma?"

"People where I'm from call this..."

"Anyway, I've been listening to this stuff for who knows how many years."

"Huh?" Capella looked up at Subaru Natsuki.

Natsuki Subaru also looked at her, a smile appearing on his face, and said out of the blue:

"That's why alcohol is like an old hero; the more you drink, the more vigorous you become!"

...

The two lingered tenderly for a while longer.

Urged on by Subaru Natsuki, Capella reluctantly let go of Subaru's embrace.

“Let’s go check out the other fork in the road,” Natsuki Subaru said, and headed back the way they came.

But he didn't hear any footsteps following behind him.

Looking back, I found Capela standing there motionless.

Meeting Subaru's gaze, Capela guiltily turned her head away.

"Why did you stop?" Natsuki Subaru asked in confusion. "You've already given up again so quickly?"

If that's true, then this little mare definitely needs to be taught a lesson!

Capela didn't say anything, but simply stretched her foot out in front of Subaru Natsuki.

Suddenly, a pair of shoes appeared on her feet, which had always been bare.

The shoelaces are undone.

"help me..."

Capela gently stretched out one foot and whispered.

Subaru Natsuki frowned. "You're really taking advantage of my kindness!"

Tying shoelaces is a sign of courtesy and respect!

Who would show such respect to a worthy person as to their own mount?

It was one thing if I hadn't tamed you before, but now that I've almost tamed you, why do you still want me to tie your shoelaces?

"No way! You're our mount, I'd rather tie your shoelaces than anyone else's!" Natsuki Subaru said firmly.

Capela was taken aback, and the shoes that had appeared on her feet quickly retracted back into her flesh.

Didn't Subaru Natsuki say before that he needed to control himself?

Why isn't he tying the shoelaces now that they're in front of him?

He even resolutely said he would never tie my shoelaces...

Could it be...

He wouldn't bear to control me either?

Capela's eyes, now a deep purple-red, flickered with an inexplicable emotion.

To judge others by one's own standards.

Capella knew she absolutely could not bring herself to use the same torture methods she had used to control her son on Subaru Natsuki...

Because what she wants is a lover's true heart; only genuine love can fill her heart...

And Subaru Natsuki might be the same...

Capella suddenly realized that Subaru Natsuki probably didn't just see her as a mount.

His love for himself was definitely not just about his love for his mount...

Instead of getting angry at the refusal, Capela smiled.

He jogged after Natsuki Subaru.

She wrapped her arms around Subaru's neck and pounced on his back.

Natsuki Subaru:...?

Oh well.

In order to get closer to the dragon and ride it as soon as possible.

Now, if she wants me to carry her, then I'll carry her.

I'll carry you when you're young, you can carry me when I'm old.

Natsuki Subaru reached behind him and gently supported Capella's buttocks.

Capela showed no discomfort whatsoever; instead, she wrapped her legs around Subaru Natsuki's waist.

She continued to enjoy the warmth emanating from Subaru Natsuki.

The two soon arrived at another fork in the road.

This passage is wider than the previous one, and there are no iron walls blocking the way.

After walking for a short while, the two arrived at a huge circular space.

A torch was lit in the center of the space, and the ground around it was covered with fine sand. From beneath the sand, the sounds of crawling and digging could be heard from time to time.

On the fine sand were the skeletons of all sorts of wild animals.

Subaru glanced around, a slight sense of unease rising in his heart.

This place feels...

Could there be neutral ambush troops?

Sure enough, just as Natsuki Subaru thought of this, he heard the sound of galloping hooves beside him.

I turned to look at it from the side.

A pitch-black centaur-like monster, with flames burning on its back and a gaping maw on its chest, charged toward him while letting out a piercing roar.

As Natsuki Subaru dodged to the side with Capella, he drew his sword and, using the momentum of the charging beast, severed its hooves.

"The creatures in this world are truly diverse; there are even magical beasts like this!"

"This is the Hungry Horse King, and its combat power is among the best of the magical beasts in this region."

Capela offered a casual explanation.

Natsuki Subaru nodded:

"This one looks pretty good to ride. It's tall and imposing, and it's even burning with flames!"

Upon hearing this, Capella, who was hanging behind Natsuki Subaru, immediately changed his expression.

She jumped off Natsuki Subaru's back and kicked him hard in the ankle.

Subaru was kicked and his body swayed to the side.

Before he could even regain his footing, Capela jumped onto his back again, clamping his legs around his waist and pounding Subaru's back with both fists.

"What did you say!"

Subaru quickly raised his hands.

"Just kidding, just kidding."

"Now that we have Capella, we naturally won't like any other mounts."

"That's more like it..."