514 Heavy Responsibility
It's been an hour since they asked me for my name before we took off.
Griffon is flying at considerable speed. A familiar-looking country has come into view.
It's somewhere around the federation. Trembling from the cold, I ask Griffon to land nearby.
"Ah, go down in that open space. Forgot to put on a mantle. It's gotten chilly."
Griffon slowly descended and lowered its posture to allow an easy dismount.
Already missing the ground, I jumped off its back. Even crouching, Griffon's back is quite a bit ways off down. Necessitating jumping every time I mount and dismount.
"Ah, that was nice and all but sure gets my body stiff. Alright! Thanks Griffon. Can you make your way back to your mountain turf from here?"
Since Bandoro is getting arrested tomorrow, the group attacking Griffon should find out about the news.
They're unlikely to camp out in Griffon's turf even now anyway.
Besides, Griffons are clever. I don't believe the same trick will work again. They're just that smart.
Next to me, Chimera mimicked me stretching.
It was riding on Griffon with me. Yep, on Griffon's back even though it could fly on its own.
It felt kinda surreal but since Griffon didn't seem to mind, I guess I shouldn't mind about trivial stuff either?
Griffon kept staring at me, showing no sign of leaving.
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"Hm? What's wrong? Don't you know the way back? What about your wild instincts or the likes? Hmm, doesn't seem like that's the reason."
Griffon approached me and licked my face.
Then it cried lonesomely, 'Kururururu...'. I realized this pattern and looked up into the sky, 'Ah man'.
"That's it huh. You wanna travel around together with me? But, people are gonna get heart attacks if they see a magic beast as big as you. Out of shock and fear. The solution is... that I guess..."
Griffon cried happily 'Kueee', at the 'together' part and dejectedly 'Kueeee' at the 'but'.
I'm no longer surprised at the fact that it can understand human speech.
As for the best way to ensure this griffon's safety, I took something out of my magic bag.
"Hmm, this and that, also this, think that suffices? Man this is some grade school-tier craft."
I fetched a thick rope and the most worn out sword I had.
First of all, I pulled a knife and entered Acceleration. Then I sliced and diced the worn-out sword.
I sanded out the edges and shaped it into a square. It's turned into a plate. Then I punched a hole on it.
I still have no clue how an ordinary knife could easily slice iron under Acceleration. But might as well make use of it.
Thus I attached the rope on the plate and put it on Griffon. It's a collar.
This is apparently a common knowledge in this world, which means everybody should get it at a glance.
(...Nope, it's full of holes. I mean, Griffons are supposedly impossible to tame. Crap, all sorts of troublesome types are gonna approach me...)
Then I realized that's not all that different from the usual.
"Oh yeah, trouble always finds me even if I do nothing... The only difference now is having a Griffon around. That's nothing."
'Kue?' Griffon looked askance about the object I put on it, to which I explained.
"Err, that thing is proof that you can stay with me from now on. Well, I'm sure there's an official one in this world, so it's just a temporary holdover..."
I whispered the last part since it's my problem alone. Griffon looked overjoyed at the 'can stay with me' part, 'Kuee!', anyway.
"Ah, that's right. It's my responsibility to take care of any problem coming our way..."
I'm the one who offered help. This Griffon getting attached is the result of my action.
Forcing griffon to separate here is too sad. Griffon has feelings.
As another being with feelings, sympathizing with Griffon is nothing weird.
I'll look after it until the end. Such is my responsibility. And by 'end' here comes down to either my or Griffon's death. No matter if it's due to lifespan, sickness or getting murdered.
Abandoning, deserting, or throwing it away before that point is shirking responsibility. I must not play around with its life.
"Can't be helped. Let's get along from now on."
No idea if a new traveling companion is a good idea, but Griffon is an excellent mode of transport.
Ignoring twisting paths by flying is a huge advantage in this world.
Might as well make good use of it. Gotta see it from another angle.
Then, it hit on me. I'll have griffon act as my legs. The mere fact of having Griffon around makes me stand out anyway. Might as well use it to the fullest.
"Griffon could act as a camouflage to my power. But, it's kinda putting the cart before the horse? Pointless? ...Ah, guess this is the real meaning behind 'can't be helped'..."
I remember reading 'can't be helped' being a positive word in a story.
Giving up and acceptance. Facing the truth head on, 'What's the next move?' mind set.
Giving up since what's done is done, and to accept and move forward. A constructive way to see things.
Griffon will act as my mount. Done by simply riding and telling it where to go.
I can't handle mounts like Grudos. But Griffon understand my word.
I can control it without a rein, an outstanding steed you can easily direct.
I jumped on Griffon's back.
"Griffon, we're heading for the federation. Can I count on you? Alright, then try to walk on the road ahead."
Thus, our trip resumed as I intensified communicating with Griffon to get it understand my instructions better.
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