Within that tense atmosphere, its figure appeared.

[——-Panppyyiiii———]

“Kyurruuuu”, it cried out.

“That thing” that came out of the egg—-

[…………A- A horse?]

It looks like a horse.

Aren’t small horses generally called ponies?

No…

This one is even smaller than the ponies I’ve seen on the internet.

It has a white coat.

Its eyes weren’t golden.

It would be the first thing we need to check and an important factor for us to diminish our vigilance towards it.

Its eyes were dark brown.

Those eyes look like the eyes those mascots have.

Or rather, it kind of looks like the eyes of a stuffed toy…

But except for its eyes, the rest of its body resembles a “horse”.

Even so, I inadvertently placed my hand over my mouth.

Did it really fit inside that egg with the size of its body?

It’s kind of hard to imagine that it was able to fit inside it with its size.

I think that would also be the case even if it were to bend its body.

I mean…

[Eve.]

[Umu.]

[I don’t know how to explain this, but I feel like the size of this one looked larger after its egg hatched.]

[Fumu, so you also thought the same thing huh. Yeah… I also felt like it got a bit larger after it was hatched.]

Eve also held the same thoughts huh.

If that’s so, I’m not just seeing things.

With its trembling legs, this horse-like “being” started trying to maintain its balance.

After a moment, it looks like its balance is gradually becoming steadier.

[In the first place, horses weren’t creatures that hatches from eggs, right?]

[That’s indeed as far as I know.]

Eve is in the same opinion as me.

The way the horses were given birth were the same in this world.

However, this foal was born from an egg.

I enquired Seras.

[Does this mean this is some kind of monster?]

[In terms of categorizing it, that should be the case.]

[Do you have some knowledge about the details of this monster?]

[I indeed know some monsters that were within the lineage of horses but…]

[Based on your reaction, a monster within your knowledge that matches this foal—]

[Yes, it’s not anywhere within my knowledge. No, it’s possible that it may evolve when it grows up into a horse-like monster that I know of but…]

A dark reddish ominous egg.

Based on its color, I can’t imagine anything adorable coming out of it.

How should I say this?

It kind of mismatched with my initial impression of it.

The foal stared at me.

Pure round eyes.

I checked on Pigimaru who is inside my robe.

[Punyuu~]

He doesn’t show any hostility towards it.

It looks like he’s leaving the judgement to me.

Certainly, the foal is not showing any hostility.

Obviously, it also wasn’t emitting any killing intent.

I could say that with certainty.

No, rather than that—

[Panpyyiii? Kyyyuuuunnn…]

The foal stepped towards me.

Looking like it’s trying to convey its intention, Seras raises her guard.

[Touka-dono…]

[It’s alright, this guy isn’t hostile at all… and also, I’d like to observe it a bit more. Only take action when you’re sure that it’s dangerous.]

After stepping closer towards me, the foal stopped.

Extending out its neck, the foal sniffed at me.

Sniff sniff, sniff

[………………..]

Is it checking my scent?

The foal looked up towards me.

[Pakkyyuuurrruuunnnn~♪]

Its eyes sparkled brightly.

And for some reason, the eyes of Liz who was watching from the side also sparkled.

[Horsey-chan…]

Did she finally understand the feeling of moeness?

After that, the foal got close to my feet.

It then rubbed itself on my leg.

[Kyyuuuiiinnn… Kyuuuuiiii~♪]

Did a horse’s neigh sound like this?

I’m not really familiar with how the neigh of a foal sounds…

Eve began pondering.

[If we had that horse with us along inside the Demon Zone, we may get distracted because it may get agitated from nervousness. Therefore, I would suggest leaving behind the horse but—]

Eve looked at me like she’s waiting for my reply.

[What are we going to do with it, Touka?]

[…..I’m kind of bothered.]

[Mhmm? What do you mean?]

[At that time that we discovered the egg, it was completely wrapped by a mysterious cloth. It would be difficult for us to say that egg is ordinary based on the color and hardness of the egg. That also includes the way it was born.]

There must be something special about it.

It’s not just a horse.

I gently stroked the foal’s cheek.

[Pakkyyyuuu~♪]

Afterward, Eve also extended her hand towards the foal.

[Well then, I will also be examining how it feels—]

[Pakyyuunnn… Brrrrrrr….]

The foal pulled away from her.

Its buttocks were raised while its head was lowered to the ground.

It looks like it’s on guard towards Eve.

However, it hasn’t shown any hostility towards her.

If anything, it would be more appropriate to say that it was scared.

Or perhaps, it’s a shy horse.

However, even I haven’t spent a long time with this foal after it was born.

Is it that thing called imprinting?

That stuff where an animal or person recognizes the first one it sees as its parent…

I have only heard that this only occurs with chicks though.

[Mu…. Mhmm? It seems that it’s more alert towards others compared towards you. Did it find my leopard face intimidating?]

[I don’t really know why, however it should be able to get used to it over time.]

I walk behind the foal.

While still petting the foal, I move my hands to its back and sides.

My hand slides along its coat.

A comfortable feeling filled on the palm of my hand.

It feels fluffy and smooth.

[Hmm?]

There’s something behind the foal’s neck…

It’s a transparent semi-circular orb.

It seems like the other half is buried in its neck.

……………….

I feel like I have an idea what it really is but…

I should first confirm it with the well-informed elf.

[Seras, do you have some knowledge about this transparent half-orb?]

Seras sneaked closer and looked like she’s trying to probe something.

I suppose she’s trying to make sure that she wouldn’t surprise the foal.

[Pakkyyuuunn?]

Hmm?

It isn’t as cautious towards Seras compared with Eve?

Seras has always been near the egg ever since we’ve discovered it.

Is it related to the length of time that you’re around when it was still in the egg?

[……..Excuse me.]

With her hands behind her waist, Seras tilted her upper body forward.

Looking a bit closer, she began observing the hemisphere.

[This could possibly be an organ that absorbs magic energy…]

[An organ that absorbs magic energy?]

[There were some monsters that had an organ that functions like that. You could often see this feature in magical beasts and familiars but… monsters with these organs could easily take in large amounts of magic energy into their body instantly.]

So, it’s like a server that won’t crash down even when a large amount of data was sent into it instantly?

[As expected of you. I could really depend on your vast amount of knowledge.]

Putting her hands over her chest, Seras long eyelashes lowered.

[I’m very honored that you’re counting on me.]

[I will keep on counting on you.]

[Yes.]

Now then… An organ that absorbs magic energy huh.

Immediately after hatching, the size of the foal increased.

Did the foal absorb the magic energy around the area and became bigger?

Before its egg hatched, it was at a size that would fit in that egg.

And after it hatched, it absorbed the surrounding magic energy and grew larger.

[………………]

Based on the above information, there’s one thing I want to try out.

[Aside from Pigimaru, could all of you step away from me and this guy? And Eve, please watch out for the surroundings.]

Upon hearing my instructions, Eve asked a question.

[What are you going to do, Touka?]

[I’m going to pour magic energy into this guy.]

Eve looks confused.

[Your magic energy?]

I told them about my hypothesis.

[Fumu… A monster that changed after absorbing magic element huh. Certainly, that could explain why its body suddenly grew right after it was born.]

I placed my hands on the half-orb.

Turning around, the foal looked up towards me.

[Pakyunn?]

[Do you dislike it?]

[Pakkyyyuuunnn♪]

It doesn’t look like a reaction of denial or hate.

On the contrary, it looks like an affirmation.

I wonder if it’s because I have always liked animals…

Or because of my experience back in the Disposal Ruins…

Perhaps, both of them were the reason…

I feel like I somehow understood the intentions of this monster.

[Status Open.]

I displayed my remaining MP.

This status display is useful to grasp the amount of MP I’ve injected.

[Now then.]

Within a certain amount of MP, I wonder what would happen.

Injecting magic energy— start.

The orb began steadily absorbing my magic energy.

The color of the orb then started changing to black.

The gem in my leather bag.

The gem on the door in the Disposal Ruins.

It seems to be almost the same principle as those two.

The color began filling up the orb just like a gauge.

And then, the orb completely turned black.

[Pakkyyyyuuuuuuu!]

Is it better to call it a dark light?

Darkness gushed out and wrapped around the foal.

The silhouette of its body began changing.

I could hear Eve mutter.

[That is—]

[Bururururururu…….]

A black horse.

Its appearance had turned into a typical “horse” that I had imagined.

The mascot-like loveliness it had before has diminished.

I think its physique is about the same as the horse we used to arrive in front of the Demon Zone.

For some reason, its neigh sounds imposing.

Well, it still had its cute round eyes though.

[Pinyyuuu~]

Pigimaru looked astonished and interested at the changes of its body.

[Horsey-chan, amazing…]

Liz also had the same reaction.

Seras has her hand on her small chin and is looking at the foal with interest.

[I see, so that’s what it turned to…]

A horse huh…

With the way it looks now, I may be able to leave my luggage to it.

However, as expected, I still had some concerns.

Would it be frightened after we encountered a monster in the Demon Zone?

We need to make this clear first.

I took a glance at my status display.

[It needs 1000 MP to transform huh.]

I held out my hand towards the cheek of the black horse.

[Pakkyyyuuuu~♪]

The black horse rubbed its cheek on my hand.

Good.

It seems that it still properly recognizes “me”.

It still had its consciousness even when it transformed.

It hasn’t lost its sanity.

It also doesn’t seem to be bewildered with its transformation.

[Bururururururu~]

[Hmm?]

Is it trying to appeal towards me?

…Its back?

Ah— Is it appealing for its orb?

However, it’s already fully dyed black.

[….Wait. Perhaps, you mean—]

[Paakkyyyuuunnn~]

The black horse pose looks like it’s bending down.

Perhaps, this is—

It lowered its height to make it easier.

[In short—-]

I ask the black horse for confirmation.

[You want me to pour some more magic energy to you?]

[Pakyurrriii.]

The black horse deeply nodded— or so how it looks to me.

Did it understand my words just now?

[….Alright.]

For the time being…

If this guy still has some kind of hidden power, I want to check it while we still could afford to do it.

Depending on the result, the strength of our group may increase.

Well, I can’t disregard the possibility that it just liked the feeling of being injected with magic energy and that’s why it appealed to me…

I placed my hand over the orb again.

[I’m starting.]

I began injecting my magic energy.

I feel like the color of the orb began changing again.

A faint red spider web began to appear on the surface of the orb.

The pattern of the red light kind of resembles the artery.

[….It still needs some more huh.]

I checked my status.

My MP is steadily decreasing.

The MP consumption of the transformation earlier was 1000.

However, I’ve already poured around 5000 MP this time.

I still haven’t seen any changes on the black horse.

As expected, I would like to avoid the situation where I would need to use half of my MP…

[——————-]

Just when I’ve poured 10000 MP, a change finally appeared.

Just like a deep crimson lightning…

The black horse suddenly raises its body and a red lightning struck and the surroundings burst out.

In the next moment—

The body of the black horse was wrapped around by a red and black light.

The two different colors of lights began converging…

[Barururururururu…. Bururururururururu…]

The light began dispersing and its appearance finally appeared.

Its loveliness has completely disappeared.

A red-eyed black horse with a large body appeared in front of me.

Its body had become larger than its previous size.

It had two demonic horns on its head now that wouldn’t normally exist on a horse.

Its blood vessels were vigorously popping out of its tough body.

I couldn’t see the appearance of a foal that had just been born.

Its jet-black mane swayed with the wind.

The thing that caught my eyes the most is certainly its legs that were treading on the ground.

It has 8 strong legs.

It’s an eight-legged black horse.

The black horse has sharp, piercing eyes.

However, I could certainly see reason within them.

It hasn’t turned mad.

Rather, it could be said that there’s a light dwelling in its eyes as it stared at me as his “lord”.

There was loyalty shrouded on those eyes.

Magical Beast.

A divine majesty.

An ominous majesty.

[Ah, I see.]

I understood now why I strangely find it quite fitting for us.

Its color kind of resembles a fly.

[So that’s why…]

My mouth—-

[So, this is your true form huh. This guy is—]

—couldn’t help but distort from the joy I’m feeling.

[I never expected that an amusing comrade would join us somewhere I never expected.]