Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Talking Crow
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Chapter 7
Chapter 7 The Talking Crow
Palcherato's face turned purple as he trembled with rage.
My name is already that of a dead man.
There was no way he could believe it.
"You're insulting me!"
"That was the plan, but not with this part."
I shook my head regretfully.
Even when I spoke the truth, he took it as an insult. How pitiful.
And I still had mountains of insults left to give.
"Shut your mouth!"
Palcherato, not grasping the situation, was still shouting loudly.
I approached him with my sword hanging loosely.
"You bit and answered, and now shut up? What a lunatic."
"W-Wait a moment!"
He frantically reached out with both hands to stop me.
Seeing the cold sweat pouring down, he must have finally realized.
"Hear me out. Are you from the Independence Army?"
"For now, let's say yes. Any last words?"
I spoke to him kindly, intending to listen to his nonsense.
To make his final path as miserable as possible.
It was consideration born from letting him struggle all he wanted.
"I am Palcherato Ias."
"So?"
Seeing my indifferent reaction, he paled and quickly added.
"Spare me. I'll give you so much money you'll never spend it all in a lifetime."
He dangled the bait like tempting a child with candy.
My purpose in seeking him was money, but not anymore.
"I don't particularly need money."
"Then name your desire."
He swallowed once and continued.
"I can give you much. Follow me, and wealth and power will overflow in your hands. Women will be yours for the taking, and life will bend to your will. I'll make it so."
Palcherato babbled to win me over, but nothing I wanted was there.
So I kindly gave him the correct answer.
"There's one way for you to live."
"What is it?"
Hope of survival lit his face as he asked.
I said it.
"Bring back to life all the people I killed last night."
Palcherato's expression chilled.
Feeling insulted, he rolled his eyes back and drew his sword.
"You dare mock me!"
With a shout, he aimed his sword at me.
But there was no sword in his hand.
Precisely, no arm.
His arm was still dangling from the sword at his waist.
The moment he tried to draw, a sword beam sliced his forearm.
What followed his will was not a sword, but red blood.
"Arghhh!"
Realizing his arm was severed, he screamed belatedly.
I slowly approached him.
Clutching his remaining half-arm, he turned and ran toward the pile of collapsed rocks behind.
I lightly stomped, blocking his path.
Seeing me, he startled, fell on his butt, and screamed like a madman.
"Uwaaah! Get away, you bastard!"
He desperately tried to distance himself from me.
His pale blue face was overcome with terror.
I followed him slowly and said.
"What are you afraid of? Revive them, and you live too."
"How do you revive already dead bastards!"
He shrieked in frenzy.
I said.
"You know well. That's your sin. Irreversible. Unforgivable. So die pathetically."
"You damn son of a—!"
A soft trajectory sliced through his shouting throat.
Palcherato clutched his gaping neck and slowly collapsed.
Caw, caw!
Just then, a crow flew in, flapping, perched on the dead Palcherato's chest with bulging eyes.
Had it smelled the blood?
I thought nothing of it.
Until it spoke human words.
"What happened to the Imperial Seal?"
I stared at the crow blankly.
A crow speaking...
Either the crow speaking human words, or me believing it, at least one of us was mad.
"What are you?"
Just in case, I spoke to the crow.
I couldn't be senile already.
Fortunately, it replied.
"No time for long talk. Whoever you are, if you want to live, bring the Imperial Seal to Byte City."
As expected, the crow was the mad one.
Ignoring my reaction, it continued.
"Chance to live is once."
"Interesting crow."
"I warned you. If you want to live, head to Byte City right—."
A flash of light split the crow in an instant.
The crow turned to black smoke and vanished without trace.
How dare it warn me so arrogantly.
Seemed like some kind of magic, and more pursuers might come.
For someone who found the Imperial Seal, it was stupid—must have a backer.
I climbed over the collapsed rock pile to the other side.
As I stepped down, dark shapes slithered out from the grass.
The masked figures who had been hiding.
They had lain so flat that their fronts were caked in dirt, with leaves stuck on like decorations here and there.
"Why didn't you just dig a tunnel?"
At my question, they embarrassedly straightened their clothes and spoke.
"......Is it over now?"
"Yeah."
"You've worked hard."
I waved it off.
"Whatever. Let's eat first."
* * *
Hand-dressed rabbit meat roasted over the campfire, wafting a savory aroma.
Rabbits on the Valencia continent were incomparably larger than those in the Central Plains.
Big enough to scare off a mutt.
And their appearance was fierce too.
Taste should be good, right?
Curious about the flavor, I politely waited for it to fully cook.
First meal since arriving here.
Once a beggar, I never skipped meals unless unavoidable.
"What will you do with the Imperial Seal?"
Freddy, one of the masked men, asked.
A man with sharp eyes.
From brief talks, he seemed the smartest among them.
"Good question. What to do."
I replied, watching the roasting meat.
The flickering flames below made my mind go blank.
Truth be told, no real plans yet.
"Will you come with us to headquarters?"
Freddy cautiously probed, gauging my mood.
I shifted my gaze from the fire to him.
He continued.
"Hand the Imperial Seal to us, and you'll get proper reward."
Meaning, give the Imperial Seal to the Independence Army.
Useless to an individual anyway. Not like a personal seal.
"Right. If you have nowhere to go, come with us."
Allen, roasting meat beside, chimed in.
The mountain of a man looked innocently like a country boy.
I stared at the bear-like giant.
Mind-boggling that he thought of assassinating with this body.
I asked.
"Where's headquarters?"
"In the Kingdom of Juraden. With horses, about two weeks."
Freddy answered.
We were currently in northern Francia, near the border. So not too far to Juraden.
Without much thought, I accepted their offer.
No intent to join the Independence Army yet, but curious about fools fighting for a fallen nation. Might help decide my next moves.
I bit into the golden-roasted meat.
Surprisingly tender texture made me nod.
"Not bad at grilling."
I gave Allen, the griller, an unexpected look.
He shyly wiped under his nose.
Impressive skill with uneven campfire flames.
Journey won't be too bad.
"May I ask your name?"
Ches, who had been quiet, spoke up.
He had freckles and a pug nose.
The others paused eating and focused on me.
I'd asked their names, but hadn't given mine.
After a moment's thought, I said.
"Jeneth."
No family name.
No plans to tell anyone.
They'd just call me crazy.
With Ches breaking the ice, they bombarded me with questions.
Annoyed by the fuss, I cut it short.
"I'll take three questions total from now on. One each."
Generous, and Ches raised his hand first.
"Your clothes and sword are so unique. Where are you from?"
Not looking Francia from head to toe, yet claiming to be—curiosity natural.
Short answer.
"None of your business. Buy me some in the city."
"Me?"
"Don't want to?"
"......No."
Seeing his flustered face, I vowed he'd pick the most expensive.
"Next."
"Where have you been that you appeared so suddenly?"
Allen's question sparkled curious eyes.
No tall trees around, so not exaggeration to say I dropped from the sky.
Natural to sense oddity.
Brief reply.
"Don't know."
He gave me a baffled look.
But it's the truth. What can I do.
I'm curious too.
I picked up a stick from the ground, tossed it into the fire, and said.
"One question left."
"Huh? You haven't answered properly yet."
Allen widened his eyes indignantly.
I stared silently in reply.
He quickly backed down, poking the fire needlessly.
"That old man—who was he to have the Imperial Seal?"
Freddy, thinking hard, asked carefully.
Sharp question.
I'd recognized the old man instantly, and known he had the seal.
Knowing his identity might hint at mine.
"He was once the steward of Weylun Palace."
"Weylun Palace—where His Highness the Crown Prince resided?"
I nodded.
"I've answered all questions. Now my turn. Nothing big. Do you know of a crow that speaks human words?"
Seeing their bewildered looks gather, I thought it a foolish question unlike me.
Asked because unusual, but obviously magic.
No way these guys know.
"Of course we do."
But they did.