Chapter 380 - 326: Mysterious Legend

Chapter 380: Chapter 326: Mysterious Legend

A log fence enclosed a large plot of land.

Inside, at least a dozen Land Birds were leisurely strolling about or pecking at their feed.

It was Zelir’s first time observing such fantastical creatures up close.

’If I had to describe them... Land Birds are actually quite similar to ostriches.’

They were enormous, generally standing over two meters tall. They possessed two powerful, massive bird legs and broad backs capable of carrying a person.

However, Land Birds were a bit better-looking than ostriches.

An ostrich’s head is bald, with hardly any feathers.

The Land Birds had a tuft of feathers sticking up high on their heads, somewhat like a rooster’s comb, which added a certain flair to their appearance.

What surprised Zelir the most was their expression.

Their black eyes darted about, shining with curiosity, far more intelligent than those of ordinary birds.

They also seemed quite friendly toward humans and showed no aggression.

"Hey! Step right up, step right up, don’t miss out!"

"Come take a look! A brand-new batch of top-quality Land Birds just in!"

The owner was standing on a large wooden crate, bellowing his sales pitch to the passing customers.

"Brave Adventurers! Are you still worried about crossing mountains and ridges? Still struggling with carrying heavy loads?"

"Look at these Land Birds! Pure-blooded, with outstanding stamina!"

"Whether you’re crossing dense forests or galloping across the wilderness, they will be your most loyal and reliable companions!"

"Easy to feed and not picky eaters! They can run all day without getting winded!"

Seeing that Zelir and his group seemed interested in the Land Birds, the owner’s eyes lit up, and he immediately hopped down from the crate.

"Come, come! I can tell at a glance you fine sirs and lady are a cut above the rest among Adventurers!"

"You must be looking for the perfect mounts, yes? Take a look at these Land Birds! Absolutely the best companions for your journey!"

"We’re not buying, just renting," Marcus said succinctly.

"That’s fine too! The shop offers rental services."

The owner was extremely enthusiastic.

"Fair prices, and we’re honest with all our customers!"

He pointed to the large creatures in the enclosure.

"I guarantee it. Every single Land Bird here has strong stamina and a gentle temperament, and they can adapt to all kinds of terrain. Please, feel free to pick whichever one you like."

Looking around, about half the Land Birds in the enclosure had golden-yellow feathers, while the other half were fiery red.

They all looked very healthy, their feathers smooth and radiant. They were full of Spirit and brimming with energy.

Moreover, these intelligent creatures seemed to understand human intent to some degree.

The Land Birds knew that people were here to choose mounts, and they were all eager to escape the confines of the enclosure and run free.

As a result, many of the big creatures actively approached them, blinking their eyes and letting out "GAK GAK" sounds.

"This one," Zelir decided quickly, choosing a Land Bird with golden-yellow feathers.

"Right you are!"

Beaming with joy, the owner led Zelir’s lucky choice out of the enclosure.

Then he had an assistant fit it with a sturdy leather saddle and reins.

Thanks to the riding skills Bev had taught him, Zelir was a competent rider.

He placed his left foot in the stirrup and, using his core strength, vaulted lightly onto the Land Bird’s back, landing securely in the seat.

While the space on a Land Bird’s back wasn’t as wide as that of a tall horse, its advantage was its ability to better understand its rider’s intentions.

Without needing much of a break-in period, Zelir could already control it with ease by lightly squeezing its sides with his legs and gently pulling the reins.

Forward, stop, turn, walk, trot, run—the Land Bird could flawlessly execute the whole series of commands.

"Wuhu!"

On the other side, Gray was already galloping around on his bird.

He had chosen a fiery-red Land Bird with the most vibrant feathers and was now joyriding in circles around the fence, looking utterly pleased with himself.

Gray tugged lightly on the reins, and the Land Bird dug its broad feet in, coming to an immediate and steady halt.

However, the kicked-up yellow sand sprayed all over Valles, who was standing nearby, earning Gray an angry glare.

"Hey, boss! I heard there’s a black breed of Land Bird, too."

Gray asked with a laugh, "Can they fly?"

"Sir, you are truly well-informed! Black Land Birds do exist, but they are extremely rare. A small shop like ours could never get one."

The owner laughed along with him. "Flying mounts are in a whole different price range—two tiers higher, at least."

While Gray was chatting happily with the owner, Hill, on the other hand, was looking rather clumsy.

She had to try the stirrup twice before she managed to get onto the Land Bird’s back.

Zelir rode his Land Bird over to her, a surprised look on his face.

"Hill, you don’t know how to ride?"

"I guess I do... I just don’t really like mounts."

Hill’s tone was unnatural as she tried to tighten the reins.

But she used a bit too much force, causing the bird’s head to jerk up with a protesting "COO COO."

Fortunately, the Land Bird was docile and didn’t have any extreme reactions.

It wasn’t like some sly old warhorses that would deliberately act up to bully an unskilled rider.

’An Assassin as agile as Hill is actually bad at riding...?’

Seeing Zelir’s slightly puzzled gaze, Hill added another sentence.

"Because sitting on a mount makes you very conspicuous."

Oh...

Zelir nodded slightly.

’Having a mount is indeed a bit ostentatious and doesn’t quite fit the style of an Assassin.’

Marcus spent a long time searching inside the enclosure before finally finding the most robust-looking Land Bird.

Before swinging himself up, he even tested its back with both hands.