[46] Do the Cowboys belong in fantasy?

Without hesitation, Ash spurred his horse into action, following the trail of the terrifying four-legged monsters. His steed galloped swiftly, its powerful legs pounding the ground, cutting through the wet grass and foliage covering the path.

With sharp eyes and full focus, Ash pursued from behind, maintaining a safe yet close distance to seize every opportunity. The cool morning breeze brushed against his face, making his hair flutter as he kept a close watch on the monsters, which seemed to be closing in on the unfortunate boy.

Occasionally, Ash cast a quick glance at the boy, who appeared increasingly desperate in his flight. His wounded legs were gaping, fresh blood trickling and leaving a red trail on the dusty ground. Every scream of fear from the boy's lips spurred Ash's determination to rescue him, as if each second was a life-or-death wager.

As the distance between Ash and the monsters narrowed, the tension within him escalated. In his mind, he began to doubt his choice of wearing cowboy attire for this situation. However, his decision to dress in this manner seemed to be starting to pay off.

Swiftly, Ash manipulated the alchemical energy in the air to create a sturdy lasso. The energy flowing through the rope made it incredibly resilient, ready to confront the fierce beasts that were hunting. With impressive skill, he swung the lasso with confidence, as if he were an action hero performing on the big screen.

Ash's hand movements were deft. The lasso spun with impressive speed, gliding with precision to ensnare one of the four-legged monsters. The creature roared in anger, trapped in the strong binding of the rope and forced to halt. With the enhanced strength from Uriel's magic, Ash pulled the monster's leg as if it were no more than a light load. The beast toppled, crashing to the ground with a roar that shook the air.

Ash observed the fallen monster for a moment before turning his attention to the remaining two monsters still posing a threat. Quickly, he focused on the next enemy. "One down," he muttered confidently, preparing for the next attack.

Without wasting time, Ash spun the second lasso, channeling magical energy into it. The rope flew with the same impressive speed, deadly and accurate. The second monster, already approaching the boy, was immediately ensnared and fell with an angry cry. "Two," Ash said with determined resolve, readying the lasso for the final monster.

As the last monster approached with an increasingly evident threat, Ash felt every second stretch out. The pressure of the situation intensified, and the decisions he made in the next few moments could be life or death. With full concentration, Ash launched the third lasso, binding the final monster and causing it to collapse in defeat.

When all three monsters finally lay defeated on the ground, Ash carefully dismounted his horse and approached the gasping boy. The boy appeared utterly exhausted, his body trembling and his legs bloodied.

"Hey, kid, you can breathe easy now!" Ash said in a relaxed tone, trying to calm the situation.

The boy looked up with difficulty, Ash's face appearing blurred in his increasingly foggy vision. His breathing was irregular, quivering with every breath he took, his body still trembling from the relentless run.

Fatigue overtook him, and without further warning, the boy fell into unconsciousness.

"Oh dear," Ash muttered, shaking his head with a concerned gaze as he saw the child faint on the ground. "Seems like I have another troublesome kid to take care of," he continued, pinching the brim of his cowboy hat dramatically.

Ash dismounted his horse carefully and approached the boy. Examining his wounds while trying to calm himself, Ash began to contemplate his next steps.

---

After tending to the boy's injuries, Ash set up a tent at the site. He quickly dealt with the monsters that had previously attacked, using his Gungnir spear with deadly precision.

As night fell and the sky was filled with twinkling stars, the boy gradually awoke inside the tent. With a dazed look, he surveyed his surroundings, still confused by the strange situation.

"Ugh..." he groaned softly, feeling the strain and pain in his muscles from overexertion, similar to the ache after an intense workout, like pushing muscles without giving them enough rest.

Despite this, the boy tried hard to stand, his wounded legs paining but not as severely as during his earlier escape. With cautious steps, he made his way out of the tent.

Upon exiting, his eyes were drawn to the figure of the strangely dressed man sitting around a gently flickering campfire. Ash, in his cowboy attire and hat adding a dramatic touch, appeared calm and relaxed by the fire. The glowing flames cast moving shadows on his face, creating a warm and safe atmosphere in the dark night.

"Feeling awake?" Ash asked softly, his voice a gentle whisper in the quiet night.

The boy jolted at the sudden address, looking at the oddly dressed man with a mix of fear and gratitude. Although the fear was evident in his eyes, the boy tried to maintain his composure, unwilling to show weakness in front of his rescuer. Ash, with a gentle gesture, seemed to invite him to sit by the fire.

As the boy sat by the fire, Ash's face became clearer. Though his cowboy attire might have seemed unusual, the impression of an experienced traveller remained.

"T-thank you so much for saving me, Mr Traveller!" the boy expressed his thanks respectfully, bowing his head in appreciation.

Ash chuckled lightly, his voice warm. "Ahaha~ It's no trouble. Besides, I happened to be passing by and stumbled upon you in misfortune."

Ash's relaxed demeanor slightly embarrassed the boy, but his gratitude remained deep.

"I won't ask why you were being chased by monsters, but one thing I'd like to know is, how did you end up in this meadow?" Ash asked curiously.

The boy appeared hesitant but eventually began to speak. "My name is Billy. I don't know why I ended up here either. I was herding sheep in my village. Suddenly, a strange light engulfed me entirely, and suddenly I found myself here, in this meadow!"

Ash listened attentively to Billy's story, and as suspected, the boy was a victim of the recent teleportation incident. This further piqued Ash's curiosity about this unusual event.

"So, you're one of the victims of the teleportation incident from a week ago."

"What? Teleportation incident?" Billy was shocked by Ash's explanation, his expression showing a mix of worry and curiosity.

Ash nodded slowly. "Yes, let me explain what happened in the Fittoa region." With a calm voice, Ash began to recount the chronology of the teleportation catastrophe that had struck the region.

Billy's face, appearing to be around nine years old, flushed with emotion as he heard the bad news. The profound sadness was evident in his eyes, and the uncertainty about his hometown and his parents weighed heavily on him. Tears began to flow, unable to be held back under the innocent stars of the night.

Ash did not try to comfort him directly, as sometimes crying is the best way to release deep sadness. Gently, he tipped his cowboy hat, trying to shield his eyes from the sight of the boy's overwhelming grief on that tranquil night.

[Master, you are slightly—]

Ciel's soft voice sounded in Ash's mind, like a gentle yet clear whisper.

"What?" Ash replied inwardly, attentively seeking the meaning of the message.

[There is nothing to worry about. Just be aware of your surroundings.]

Ash nodded silently, understanding that Ciel was warning him about something he might have missed. Taking this message to heart, Ash refocused on the boy beside him, giving him space to process his emotions.