“C-Could it be… the reason is…?”
“It’s not difficult to lend you a horse. However, these ones are more suited for hauling cargo, so they aren’t appropriate for riding.”
“Really?”
“Yes. If you want to learn properly, I think it would be best to get a horse that’s actually meant for riding.”
Come to think of it, the horse I’d bought from the cash shop had been called a “pack horse.”
So there really were riding horses sold separately…
I wonder if they’re expensive.
A pack horse cost about the same as a cow.
But would riding horses be the same?
Horseback riding was considered a very expensive sport back in Korea.
Would it be the same here?
Feeling nervous, I opened the cash shop and searched for horse.
Tempting Unicorn — 100,000 Diamonds
A dazzling white mane and enchanting violet eyes. During the day it is a unicorn, but at night it occasionally transforms into a handsome man to speak with its owner.
Legendary Horse of Troy — 80,000 Diamonds
The immortal warhorse that became a legend on ancient battlefields. Possesses exceptional intelligence and endurance.
Flower Deer — 75,000 Diamonds
Its antlers glow with a soft green hue, and cherry blossom petals scatter from its hooves. Be careful not to become so captivated by its cuteness that you pass your destination.
Good grief.
They’re this expensive?
I’d already sorted them from lowest to highest price just in case, but even the cheaper mounts still cost well over fifty thousand diamonds.
Honestly, the unicorn’s description was incredibly tempting…
But there was no way someone like me could casually spend a hundred thousand diamonds.
With tears in my eyes, I desperately scrolled all the way to the bottom in search of the cheapest mount.
Then…
??? — 10,000 Diamonds (-90%)
※ The product description will be revealed after purchase.
At the very bottom sat a suspicious item with no name.
But…
Was this even a riding mount?
Since it was just listed as “???”, I suddenly became terrified that I’d buy it only to discover it was something ridiculous like reins or a saddle instead of an actual animal.
Almost as if it had read my thoughts, another line appeared beneath the description.
※ This lifeform is classified as a “mount.”
Hmm…
It was definitely alive.
And it was definitely categorized as a mount.
So… buying it should be okay, right?
Besides, if ten thousand diamonds was after a ninety-percent discount, then the original price must have been one hundred thousand.
Exactly the same as the Tempting Unicorn.
“Hmmm… but why is it so cheap?
This feels really suspicious.”
The moment I muttered to myself again, another message appeared.
※ Warning: Second-hand item!
Oh…
It was used?
That finally explained the ninety-percent discount.
Well, as long as it still worked properly, what did it matter if it was second-hand?
Besides…
The system had never tricked me before.
“…Right?”
At that exact moment, a system window suddenly appeared.
[…….]
H-Huh?
Was that a bug?
I hadn’t actually expected the system to answer me.
Its strange response left me more startled than anything else.
“Huh?
Are you trying to give me a hint?”
But as if nothing had happened, the system remained silent.
This feels kind of ominous…
Still…
Ninety percent off.
Faced with that overwhelming discount, my reason quickly surrendered.
After all, something originally worth one hundred thousand diamonds couldn’t possibly be a total dud.
Right?
The moment I pressed Purchase, a cheerful Poof! sound echoed, and a horse appeared before me.
Standing there was an elegant pegasus with beige fur and a brilliant golden mane.
“Ah…!
Whoa!”
Large white wings, like those of an angel, spread proudly from its back.
Golden sparkles drifted around it.
I hit the jackpot!
A mythical creature on the same level as a unicorn!
And with wings, no less!
As transportation, this was practically perfect.
“H-Hello…?”
Careful not to frighten it, I slowly reached out toward its soft mane.
At that moment…
Deep black eyes beneath long eyelashes stared directly into mine.
For an instant, it felt almost magical.
Unfortunately, the illusion lasted less than three seconds.
“Snort!”
SWISH!
The previously calm pegasus suddenly spun around and kicked a shower of dirt straight at me.
“Gah!
What the heck?!”
Dressed in my expensive riding outfit, I stumbled backward in horror as dirt rained all over me.
Despite looking gentle as an angel, the pegasus was still glaring at me with obvious hostility.
And judging by the way it kept snorting furiously…
Its personality seemed absolutely terrible.
N-No…
Maybe it isn’t just its personality.
Maybe I’d simply approached it too quickly.
Just as I was trying to comfort myself…
Another system window appeared.
[Hidden information has been unlocked.]
Savage Pegasus — 10,000 Diamonds (-90%)
A pegasus personally gifted by the Moon Goddess from birth. However, due to its naturally violent temperament and foul mouth, even the Moon Goddess eventually gave up and abandoned it.
W-What?
Violent temperament?
A foul mouth…?
Reading the newly revealed description, I could only stare in disbelief.
The pegasus I’d spent ten thousand diamonds on was actually a problem child…
No…
A problem horse that even a goddess had abandoned?
“H-Haha…
Still…
Maybe if I raise it with enough love and affection…”
Clinging to a tiny shred of hope, I looked at it.
The pegasus immediately crushed even that.
It kicked up another cloud of dirt directly into my face.
“Hey!
You little…!”
“NEIGH!”
As if that wasn’t enough, it deliberately turned its head away and snorted at me.
The snort was so violent that I barely dodged some mysterious liquid flying my way.
Pointing at it in outrage, I shouted,
“Aren’t you basically a total menace?!”
“Hmph!”
It turned its head away again, blatantly ignoring me.
W-Was I really going to become its second owner to abandon it?
Just as I was seriously considering that…
The system kindly displayed another message.
**[To build a genuine bond with your companion, giving it a name is required.
Please choose a name.]**
Come to think of it…
It didn’t even have a name.
Considering that personality, I supposed that wasn’t surprising.
“Goldie.”
“NEEEEEIGH!!”
The instant I finished speaking, it let out an enormous scream.
That was definitely swearing.
I had no idea what it actually meant…
But I was absolutely certain it was swearing.
Soon another system window blinked into view.
[Pegasus (Name: Goldie / Male) strongly conveys his feelings to you.
“That name is seriously f*ing awful. Damn it!”]**
“You just…
You just said ‘f***’ to me?”
**[You can now view your Bond Level.
Would you like to check it?]**
Honestly…
I already knew what I’d find.
I wasn’t expecting anything good.
Still, just in case, I opened it.
The number was even worse than I’d imagined.
Bond Level: -99
Warning! If your bond is too low, your companion will refuse to obey commands. A negative bond means your companion considers your place in the hierarchy to be beneath its own.
Well.
Look at this little brat.
“You think you’re above me?”
“Hmph!”
In the end, I found myself locked in a completely unexpected dominance battle with Goldie.
To establish dominance, I first had to pin him down.
Determined to show him who was boss, I lunged at him over and over.
“Just let me get on your back already!”
But every attempt to climb onto him was thrown off before I could even touch him.
I spent more time rolling across the ground than anything else.
As a result…
My elegant brand-new riding outfit quickly became filthy with dirt.
“NEIGH!”
WHOOSH!
After getting blasted with another shower of dust, I finally snapped.
“Refund!
I want a refund!”
This was a scam!
[Items purchased from the Cash Shop cannot be refunded.]
“What about reselling it?”
[Refunds and resale are both unavailable.]
My fist trembled as I slowly clenched it.
There was no denying it anymore.
No matter how generously I tried to look at it…
This had been a deliberate trap.
“AAAAAAAH!”
I screamed my frustration at the sky.
But after my voice faded away, the only answer was Goldie’s thoroughly unimpressed snort.
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