Sweetcrasy

***

“Hyung, it’s time to get up.”

When I opened my eyes to the gentle sensation of someone shaking my shoulder, I saw Cedar standing there, dressed neatly in an Imperial military uniform.

“…Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Are you alright, hyung?”

“Uhh…”

After taking a cold shower to shake off the grogginess from too little sleep, my mind began to clear a bit. After drying my hair and finishing breakfast, we left the main building and headed to the training grounds.

I asked the question that had been bothering me the most.

“Have you ever ridden a wyvern before?”

“According to Cedar’s memories… a few times. About three times since the year before last.”

“Uh, how was it?”

“It wasn’t as scary as I thought.”

“That’s your  impression, isn’t it?”

“Sorry?”

“I mean, is it something a regular guy like me can handle?”

I looked at him with skepticism, and Cedar let out an awkward laugh and scratched his cheek. Then, noticing the approaching knights coming to assist me, he leaned in and whispered quietly.

“Even if you fall, with Cedar’s physical specs, I can catch you instantly, so don’t worry too much.”

‘…That’s actually more terrifying!’

But I didn’t have time to argue. Emmanuel was now close enough to read our facial expressions. I began my performance as Louis.

“Your Excellency.”

At my brief bow, Cedar returned a small gesture of acknowledgment. Without any formalities, Emmanuel immediately began explaining the operation.

“Sir Iolde arrived last night, inspected the wyverns, and completed preparations. How is your condition?”

“I’m always at my best.”

“Sir Iolde also reported that the wyverns are in excellent condition. However, due to a shortage of volunteers for this operation, we had no choice but to conscript Sir Yulis.”

“Really?”

‘Shit… even the knights are scared of riding wyverns!’

From Emmanuel’s words, I got a faint sense of just how dangerous riding a wyvern was… but since I couldn’t refuse, I just wept internally.

Then, upon reaching the training grounds… There were dozens of massive monsters sitting calmly with folded wings in their designated spots.

Among them, a black mage named Iolde caught my eye right away, even though I’d never seen him before. He was the only person standing that close to the wyverns among all the knights.

“Sir Iolde.”

Emmanuel called out to him. The small-framed figure who had been addressed as “Iolde” flinched and turned around in surprise.

And I was shocked by the unexpectedly delicate appearance of this terrifying black mage who supposedly tamed magical beasts.

Silver hair… It looks more like dull, dry white hair with no luster and rabbit-like red eyes. He looked like a wildflower soaked in the rain, holding a sorrowful kind of beauty.

‘Wait… is he a woman?’

Cedar was rather pretty too, but not enough to make you question his gender. Iolde, however, had such delicate and neat features that, had he not spoken, anyone could’ve mistaken him for a woman.

“It’s been a while, Iolde.”

“Y-Your Excellency…”

When he finally spoke, a deep, rumbling voice came out. The disconnect was jarring, but Emmanuel and Cedar, already familiar with him, showed no particular reaction.

“Ah… i-it is… an honor… n-no, a great honor… to be in your exalted… p-presence again…!”

Then, Iolde suddenly tried to prostrate himself on the ground as if reciting a memorized greeting. The kind of etiquette only slaves would use. Emmanuel’s brow visibly furrowed.

“Stand up. As I’ve told you before, a handshake is sufficient among knights, Sir Iolde.”

“A-Ah… I-I’m sorry…”

Iolde looked downcast, seemingly convinced he had made another mistake. Emmanuel, keeping a cold expression, ignored him and returned to the briefing.

“The plan is to take the shortest route to Gillia, surround Johan’s group in the forest where the magic circle has been drawn. Sir Iolde, you’ll guide us to Gillia on your wyvern and monitor Johan’s group from the air. If you spot them, report immediately to His Excellency.”

“Y-Yes, sir……”

“Is there anything unclear in what I just said, or any suggestions you’d like to make?”

“N-No, sir… I, I wouldn’t dare…”

“…I believe I’ve told you several times that your status is now that of a knight, Sir Iolde.”

Emmanuel’s frustration was evident. But the more he pressed, the more Iolde shrank back.

‘Their personalities are polar opposites… But seriously, was Iolde really a slave or something? His behavior’s way too submissive.’

Cedar had mentioned some details about him yesterday, but nothing about his past. I was starting to get curious.

Suddenly, Cedar cracked a joke.

“Don’t be so nervous, Iolde. Emmanuel always talks like that. The others in the operation will be polite to you. If you don’t like us, we’ll just have to hope we land safely from the sky… So please be gentle with us.”

“A-Ah… T-That will never… I, I’ve never… f-failed at wyvern control… not once..! Y-Your Excellency…”

Of course, the joke had absolutely no effect on Iolde. It was exactly the kind of joke only Cedar would think of making…

Emmanuel must’ve thought the same, because he gave Cedar a sharp look, sighed, and then tried to calm the now-pale Iolde.

“His Excellency was joking, Sir Iolde. We fully trust your magical beast-handling skills. Please, try to relax.”

“Y-Yes… sir…”

Only then did Iolde calm down, and the frosty atmosphere between him and Emmanuel eased a bit. It seemed like Cedar’s joke had actually helped a little, so I glanced sideways at him. I thought it was just a failed joke, but now I wonder if he said it on purpose.

Still, his face was unreadable as he continued acting as Cedar.

After that, he gestured to the knights standing behind him. Of the twelve participating in this operation, I only recognized two: Gerard and Yulis. Both were people I had a bad history with, but they also looked nervous in front of the wyverns, which made me feel a slight sense of camaraderie.

“From now on, we’ll be flying to Gillia on wyverns. It will be more thrilling than riding a horse… Now then, is there any coward who wants to back out now?”

Surprisingly, not a single hand raised. Though it looked like many of them wanted to run away.

Meanwhile, Gerard, for some reason, glanced at Iolde with a strange glint in his eyes but didn’t cause trouble. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter.

“Khahaha! I’m not some Milosian! No way I’m backing out here!”

Yulis raised an eyebrow, but didn’t show any fear.

The other knights stared at Cedar with a mix of tension and stubborn bravado.

“Sir Iolde, everyone’s eager to ride your wyvern. For the sake of first-timers, could you explain what we should be careful of during takeoff?”

“Ah, w-when y-you get on… p-please be quiet… If n-not… sometimes… they bite…”

“…”

“O-Of course, it’s not too serious… j-just playful…”

Even Gerard showed a flicker of regret at those words, but Iolde didn’t seem to catch the mood and blushed faintly.

“A-Actually… wyverns are said to be d-dangerous… b-but if you get to know them… they’re very… c-cute monsters…”

“I see.”

Cedar, as if uninterested in hearing more, brushed off Iolde’s words and began directing the knights. Everyone climbed onto their wyverns in complete silence, taking their places in the saddles. I also clamped my mouth shut and climbed onto the largest wyvern with Cedar.

‘This is way more uncomfortable than I expected.’

Since we were squeezing into a saddle meant for one, it naturally felt cramped. I couldn’t even shift position easily.

‘Feels like I could fall off at any moment.’

Even though we were just sitting on the wyvern’s back, the height was enough to trigger my fear of heights. Cedar’s arm was securely holding me in place so I wouldn’t fall, but… having someone so close behind me like this wasn’t exactly pleasant either.

Cedar adjusted his hold around me a few times, then grabbed the reins connected to the wyvern’s muzzle with one hand, waiting for Iolde’s signal.

And Iolde raised his head.

“We’re about to take off, hyung.”

Cedar whispered quietly. I gave a small nod and tensed up, bracing my entire body for the impact to come.