Excerpt from “How to Tame a Unicorn”
“Taming a unicorn? It’s not exactly easy. You see, unicorns tend to grieve deeply when one of their own dies. If it’s a parent or child, the sorrow is even more profound. Left alone, they might even take their own lives. That’s the moment you seize. Especially the young ones—they need something to fill the void. Of course, it helps if you’re a maiden and the unicorn is alone.”
Excerpt from “How to Tame a Unicorn,” Central Library, Babara, Northern Continent.
The eastern sky was beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. Like a bashful bride peeking out, the sun slowly emerged, casting its glow over the plains. The dark green fields, once shrouded in shadow, were gradually being painted in a soft, white light.
The morning on the plains arrived quietly, yet beautifully. The fields, which had been cloaked in darkness throughout the night, suddenly sparkled with vibrant light.
As the white light reached every corner of the remote plains, it illuminated a lone figure dozing on the grass. The person was wrapped in a robe, obscuring their face and form. However, the strands of hair peeking out from beneath the hood suggested the figure might be a woman.
Feeling the sunlight on her face, the figure stirred, her head jerking slightly. She slowly looked up at the sky, then pulled back her hood with slender fingers.
The revealed face was indeed that of a woman. She had striking features: a sharp nose, thin lips tightly pressed together, and eyebrows that arched slightly, giving her a look of defiance.
Despite waking up in such a picturesque setting, her eyes were filled with irritation rather than refreshment. She sniffed loudly, drawing back the snot running down her philtrum, and shivered as she spoke.
“Ugh, it’s cold.”
“Are you kidding me? After sleeping like a log, the first thing you say is that it’s cold?”
Startled by the response, the woman turned her head to see another figure, also wrapped in a robe, looking at her with disdain.
The woman squinted at her companion, sighed, and turned away.
“You’re one to talk. You look like you just woke up too.”
“Hey, Minhee. Why don’t you wipe the sleep from your eyes before you speak? And for the record, I woke up before you.”
“I went to bed later than you did. So we’re even.”
“Ugh, whatever. Let’s just drop it. Neither of us has done anything worth bragging about.”
Minhee seemed to agree with the woman she called “sister,” nodding as she yawned.
With that, the two women fell silent, staring ahead. Though the morning sun had risen, the chill of the plains lingered. Minhee’s face was expressionless, but her body language betrayed her fatigue.
“Haah, haah.”
Trying to warm her frozen body, Minhee rubbed her hands together and blew into them. She then lit a cigarette, muttering in a weary voice.
“Sora, I’m cold.”
“It’s because you just woke up. And don’t smoke. I don’t want to smell it first thing in the morning.”
Ignoring Sora’s protest, Minhee lit the cigarette. “Unlike someone who only smokes after eating, I need one as soon as I wake up. If you don’t like it, look away.” She took a deep drag.
“Huff, huff. Cough, cough!”
She coughed violently, having inhaled too deeply. Sora smirked at her misfortune. Minhee wiped the tears from her eyes and spat on the ground, then took another, gentler drag, exhaling a cloud of smoke.
“Sora.”
“If you say you’re cold one more time, I’ll rip your lips off. I mean it.”
“When are we going to stop doing this?”
”…”
Sora, the woman addressed, clamped her mouth shut, seemingly at a loss for words. But Minhee’s gaze was unrelenting, demanding an answer.
Sora hesitated, then extended her hand. Minhee, surprised by the gesture, handed her the cigarette. Sora took a slow drag, mirroring Minhee’s earlier actions.
“Sigh. I don’t know. We’ll have to wait for further instructions.”
“We got a message yesterday, didn’t we? Through the crystal ball.”
“Yesterday…? Oh, that? Do you actually believe that nonsense?”
“The scout said they saw it for sure. They found traces.”
“Sweet, naive Minhee. Those were just tracks from a herd of four-legged animals. Dozens of white horses carrying people? Unicorns, really?”
Sora shook her head in disbelief and took another drag.
“Tell them to stop talking nonsense. They probably just dozed off and imagined it.”
”…”
Minhee tilted her head, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.
“So we’re just going to keep waiting? We’re supposed to be the hunting party. Our job in the forest is done. Waiting and ambushing is the scout’s job, so why are we still here?”
“We have our orders. Besides, they said the Shadow Queen is among the users this time. The Shadow Queen, of all people. Don’t you know? We’re short on manpower as it is, so what’s your problem?”
Minhee fell silent, but the mention of the Shadow Queen made her swallow hard. Though she seemed to understand, her cheeks remained puffed in dissatisfaction.
Noticing her expression, Sora softened her tone.
“I’m annoyed too. I suggested we ambush them before they enter, but no one listened.”
“Then tell them again.”
“What do you want me to do? March into the Plateau of Delusion? Are you crazy?”
“If you don’t like it, let’s just call it quits. But Seung-gu listens to you, doesn’t he?”
“Ugh, I hate pillow talk. Anyway, when the next communication comes in, keep your mouth shut. Don’t throw a fit like yesterday.”
Sora ended the conversation abruptly, flicking the cigarette away. The still-glowing ember scattered into the grass.
”…”
”…”
The two women sighed in unison, as if on cue.
The scenery of the Plains of Lament is always a sight to behold. The natural beauty of the morning, something unseen in modern times, held a certain mystique.
I peeked out from my sleeping bag, taking in the vast expanse of the plains. Dew clung to the grass, and a faint mist hovered over the landscape, giving it an ethereal glow.
“Kyuu…”
A soft sound came from my arms as something stirred awake. Looking down, I saw a baby unicorn nestled against me, its back rising and falling with each breath. It had snuck into my sleeping bag after my night watch.
I gently stroked its back, and it wagged its short tail in delight. But when I stopped, it went limp. This cycle repeated: wagging when petted, drooping when not.
“Kyuu.”
When I didn’t resume petting, it lifted its head to look at me, prompting a smile. As I continued to stroke its back, I reflected on the journey to the Plains of Lament.
Honestly, I would have been satisfied if the unicorns had just led me out of the Plateau of Delusion. At most, I expected to reach the base of the Mountain of Reverie. But my expectations were completely overturned.
The unicorns not only descended the Mountain of Reverie but also guided me through the dense forest to the Plains of Lament. This drastically shortened my return journey, a fact I couldn’t help but appreciate.
Riding a unicorn was an extraordinary experience. Beyond their wind-like speed, their ability to traverse rough terrain as if it were flat was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Some of the kids were a bit uneasy about riding at first, but by the end of the day, all their worries had vanished. Once we descended the mountain, the terrain was so smooth it felt like we were driving a car.
Unicorns were truly the best ride one could imagine, so much so that I found myself wishing I could take one home. They had this incredible ability to balance themselves and make the rider feel at ease.
“Should I just kidnap one?”
I chuckled at the absurdity of the thought, knowing full well how ridiculous it was. Yet, unicorns were such enchanting creatures. I glanced at the baby unicorn sleeping peacefully beside me.
It had come a long way from the first day when it wouldn’t stop crying. Despite the attention from the other kids and unicorns, it still seemed unable to shake off its sadness, often shedding tears.
But when it was with me, it occasionally managed a smile. I couldn’t quite understand it myself. Unicorns were known to be picky, only following pure maidens, yet here it was, attached to me—a far cry from a maiden.
“Could it be related to Hwa-jung somehow…?”
Given the friendly demeanor of the leader and the other unicorns, it wasn’t an entirely baseless thought. But for now, it was a mystery. I decided to look into it later and gently picked up the sleeping baby unicorn. I stepped out of my sleeping bag and made my way across the campsite.
“Kyuu, kyuu.”
The baby unicorn snuggled closer, shivering from the cold after leaving the warmth of the sleeping bag. I cradled it gently, watching the harmonious scene of users and unicorns coexisting.
The sun had fully risen, casting its light over the entire plain. Sleeping bags were neatly arranged, and unicorns lay in groups. An-sol and Lee Yoo-jung were sleeping soundly, heads resting against each other.
I sighed and moved closer to them. They were snoring softly, completely at ease.
“This is far enough. Thank you for bringing us here.”
The leader unicorn shook its head slowly, as if to say it was us who should be grateful.
In the end, the unicorns had escorted us to the edge of the Wailing Plains. From here, it would take us about two days to reach Monica.
The kids seemed reluctant to part with the unicorns, but it was becoming difficult to stay. We had already encountered a few users since entering the plains, and it was risky for the unicorns to remain. Even with twenty of them, they could fall prey to those with ill intentions.
“Neigh…”
“Goodbye…”
We had already said our farewells, but the kids’ regret was palpable. An-hyun, in particular, clung to a unicorn’s neck, only to be playfully swatted by its tail. The unicorn behind the leader looked visibly annoyed.
I chuckled at the sight and turned to the baby unicorn, which had been watching me intently.
“It’s time to say goodbye. Be strong and let go of your sadness.”
“Kyuu…”
The baby unicorn’s eyes welled up with tears, sensing the finality of our parting. I felt my resolve weakening, so I decided to make it quick. I waved to the leader unicorn, offering a final farewell.
“It’s best if we part ways now. Be careful on your way back.”
I turned away quickly. My clan members wore expressions of longing, but there was nothing I could do.
I glanced at the users being carried by my clan members and spoke in a low voice.
“Let’s head back to the city. Thankfully, three of them are still alive. We might just save them.”
The users nodded, finally snapping out of their daze.
Just as I was about to signal our departure, I felt a tug on my coat.
I turned to see not the baby unicorn, but the leader holding my coat in its mouth. It was the first time it had done so. Surprised, I stood still, and it released my coat with a soft whinny.
“Why?”
The leader’s face was full of regret. It shrugged its shoulders, turned its head, and nodded heavily. Then, it happened.
The baby unicorn stood there, teary-eyed. At the leader’s signal, an adult unicorn nudged the baby gently in my direction.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yoo-jin.
I’m sorry for the late update and the pacing issues today. I had planned to reach the city and introduce a new character, but the plot twist took more space than expected. Please forgive me. T_T
『 Reader Comments 』
Miwolya: Congrats on being first! Sorry for the delay. I was writing the city scene but decided it wasn’t ready to show, so I cut it and started editing. Finished at 11:55… I tried to be quick, but it was late. T_T
HammerofWar: Thank you. I’m glad you found it funny. :)
-yS-: Oh! No, aside from the first comment, replies are random. I always read your comments! Thank you.
SalguSalgu: Well, it’s possible. But if a large adult male rides, it might hurt their back. ;ㅅ;
CheonyeonCheonyeon: Unicorn Knight sounds good! A knight of the unicorn. LOL. It just came to me.
CursedMoon: I once lost three ranked games in a row and was mentally shattered. T_T
Cheonnyeongboeun: Thank you. Um. Um… Sorry. Seeing your name makes me want to throw a tantrum for some reason. Why, why is this happening? (shiver)
FallenWing: A, a continuous update? Hahaha. I’ll take a beating from your beautiful wings. Go ahead! Hit me! (whack whack! slap!)
Grieg: Thank you for the coupon. Once my schedule stabilizes, I’ll try to do a continuous update. (__)
Morph: Pegasus Fry, Fairy Baby Fry. Which do you prefer? Choose one!
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