Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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“Wow…”

I gazed around in awe, my small height of 140cm now towering to see the world from over 2m.

It was all thanks to Hairan that I suddenly gained this broader perspective.

The massive horse approached and offered its back, and as I climbed on, it carefully rose to its feet.

The wind blowing in from behind the desolate rocky mountains ruffled Hairan’s stiff mane.

“Have you seen a giant bird?”

Poo-rook—

Hairan simply snorted hot air in response to my question without any further reaction.

I stroked Hairan’s mane and looked up at the sky.

The once blackened sky transformed into a shimmering blue, and the thunder that had been numbing my skin had completely vanished.

There was no way I had imagined it. The slight dampness on my clothes from wandering among the clouds was proof enough.

Yet, despite this vivid evidence, I couldn’t believe I had actually encountered a gigantic bird.

“Thunderbird…”

It seemed I needed to learn more about the legend of the Thunderbird.

I patted Hairan’s back.

“Hey…”

Poo-rook—

It tossed its head and wagged its tail as if responding to my call.

I chuckled lightly and asked, “Do you perhaps know where Mr. Rosen or the other adventurers are?”

Hairan wagged its tail in response and started descending towards the mountain base.

With each heavy hoofbeat, the ride on Hairan was remarkably comfortable.

The massive muscles over my entire body seemed to absorb all the shocks transmitted from below.

Hairan not only provided a comfortable ride but also moved very swiftly.

As those long legs stretched out forward, we quickly approached the bottom of the mountain.

At the base awaited the coachman who had brought us there, surrounded by the adventurers and Rosen who had vanished beyond the mountain.

When exactly did they come back down here?

I tilted my head in confusion.

“W-what is that…”

The coachman stared at me with his mouth agape.

The cigarette he had been holding fell to the ground, and a small ember sparked up.

“Hairan…?”

The adventurers and Rosen jumped up from their seats and began approaching me.

They looked at Hairan in wonder, their gazes mingled with a hint of greed.

In that moment, Hairan lowered its posture and heaved a rough breath.

Poo-rook-!

The glare it cast seemed sharp, indicating its discomfort.

Due to that threatening demeanor, the adventurers and Rosen had no choice but to halt in their tracks.

“It’s Hairan…”

“Uh, how… how did you catch it?”

“Hey, would you consider selling me that horse?”

Sell this beast? I shook my head.

Where on earth could I find another intelligent horse that understood human speech?

Of course, with Hairan’s strong personality, it wouldn’t readily acknowledge a new master either.

“Looks like you’ve been chosen by Hairan…”

That came from the coachman sitting on the coach.

With an awkward smile, he spoke to the adventurers.

“Don’t provoke Hairan unnecessarily. The one it chooses as master won’t change easily.”

Yet, despite the coachman’s words, the adventurers persisted.

They pressed me with numerous offers of gold, adamantly begging me to sell Hairan.

Just as I was about to let out a sigh and refuse, Hairan, exhaling a rough breath, suddenly stepped forward and stomped its front hoof.

Boom-!

The power emanating from that massive hoof smashed against solid rock, causing it to crumble and leaving a clear footprint.

With Hairan showcasing its strength, the adventurers were left speechless.

They exchanged glances with Hairan and me, sighed heavily, and made their way back to the carriage, their shoulders drooping in defeat.

“Congratulations. It seems Hairan has taken a liking to you.”

That was Rosen’s voice.

She approached me cautiously but couldn’t draw closer than that.

Hairan exhaled roughly towards Rosen, as if warning her not to come any nearer.

I patted Hairan’s back. The beast barely reacted, merely flicking its tail.

“I’m sorry. I guess he has a bit of a temper…”

“Um, no. Most Hairans are like that.”

Rosen sighed and turned away.

It seemed she had given up on the notion of catching Hairan, just like the other adventurers.

“Hey, Rosen.”

“Yeah?”

“You jumped up the mountain earlier, right?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Did you happen to see a giant black bird up there?”

“A black bird…?”

“Yes, it brought clouds and lightning with it…”

Rosen shrugged her shoulders and shook her head, seeming ignorant.

The carriage was all set to run again. No one here had business left, so it was going back just like that.

The coachman glanced at Hairan and me and said, “When we reach the city, it will cause a stir.”

Leaving that remark, the coachman flicked the reins in his hand like a whip.

And just like that, the gigantic horses surged forward.

The horses resembling Hairan’s 3rd and 4th generations dashed alongside the carriage.

I stared blankly at that scene with Hairan.

“Can you run?”

Hairan began stomping its feet in response to my question.

As if to say it was ready to run anytime.

I gripped its mane and said, “Let’s go.”

Pat-tak-!

The first sound of hoofbeats was lively.

My body seemed to leap into the air, and soon a rough wind engulfed us.

Was this how it felt to gallop in the wind? Hairan took off like a gust, racing across the vast highland.

The scenery around us began to stretch endlessly.

Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!

Every time Hairan’s hooves struck the ground, a heavy sound echoed behind us.

Even without a saddle, the riding comfort on Hairan was impressively stable, if not comfortable.

I began to understand why so many people had their eyes lit up, wishing to ride Hairan.

Hairan was a tranquil breeze. Its breath was still calm, and despite having overtaken the carriage that set off before us, it showed no signs of slowing down.

Thud-! Thud-! Thud-!

As expected, it was me riding Hairan who arrived first in the city.

The carriage that departed before me was now only just emerging as a distant shape over the ridge.

I stroked Hairan’s neck as we headed towards the city entrance.

“Ha, Hairan…?”

Those words slipped from the guard standing at the city’s entrance.

He blinked in surprise at the sight of me atop Hairan.

“Is it okay to enter?”

“Uh, uh…”

At the guard’s response, I chuckled lightly and pulled at Hairan’s mane.

With that simple motion, it seemed to understand my intent, cautiously stepping into the city.

Hairan’s size was overwhelming. A horse so massive that it hardly resembled one drew attention naturally wherever it walked.

– Is that… the one?
– Hairan…?
– Is that truly Hairan…

As the whispers and gazes began amplifying, Hairan showed signs of discomfort.

It stomped its front hoof on the ground, exhaling roughly.

The power within its legs cracked the stones below.

People’s reactions split into two ways. Some stared at Hairan and me in fascination but kept their distance, while others, rude and reckless, approached without care.

The ones getting closer were mostly knights and adventurers from outside.

They all had a similar line, “I want to buy that horse.”

While the knights were polite in their request, they quickly revealed a domineering attitude as soon as I refused.

Fortunately, due to Hairan’s warning and the sharp glares from the townsfolk, those assertive knights soon retreated.

However, the greedy gazes tracking us persisted.

I headed straight for the horse market. Not because I intended to sell Hairan, but to find a saddle and bridle for it.

“Hello?”

“Uh… You are…”

I approached the first merchant I met since arriving here.

He was the same merchant who had informed me about Hairan’s habitat.

He was still peddling horses.

“Do you happen to have a saddle for this one?”

“Oof…”

The merchant, initially taken aback by my question, seemed to regain his senses, shaking his head as he stepped closer.

Then he hesitated, glancing at Hairan before asking, “Can I come a bit closer?”

I looked down at Hairan in response to that question.

It nodded arrogantly, as if to show it was magnanimous.

“Seems fine to me.”

The merchant, having stepped closer, began inspecting Hairan.

Then he mumbled in a small voice, sounding a bit disappointed, “It’s a female…”

“Is that an issue?”

“It’s not like there’s a huge problem. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“Just that I’m disappointed it can’t breed.”

After saying that, the merchant entered the stable and returned with a large saddle and long leather straps.

“Can you hop down for a sec?”

That was no problem.

I hopped off Hairan’s back.

The merchant began cautiously placing the saddle on Hairan’s back, threading the long leather straps through, and finally putting the bridle over its head.

Hairan seemed displeased with the leather strap slipping over its face, shaking its head vigorously.

“All… done…”

Finishing his careful work, the merchant wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stepped back.

“How much?”

“Total, it’s 1 gold.”

I pulled out a gleaming gold coin and handed it to the merchant.

Upon receiving the coin, he rubbed his forehead and glanced around.

Then, frowning, he said, “Looks like quite a crowd gathered…”

“Seems Hairan has captured their interest.”

“My friend, are you planning to stay in this city for long?”

“Probably, yes.”

“I recommend leaving as quickly as you can.”

“Why is that?”

“Greed tends to cloud people’s judgment, especially for a young girl like you…”

The merchant’s words were not wrong. The gazes directed at me and Hairan blazed with desire.

Not just one or two, but dozens of people were fixated like that.

“Thanks for the advice.”

I followed the merchant’s counsel. I led Hairan around buying supplies like food and water for our journey, as well as a book about the tales of the Thunderbird and a map of the area.

Even amidst that, the number of people trailing behind me and Hairan continued to increase.

“Let’s go!”

I urged Hairan onward, and he dashed forward like the calm wind, while the city that bore the name Hairan swiftly shrank behind us.

Our next destination was the desert known as the Shelter of the Stars.