The Phoenix Kneels Before Fried Chicken
I was at a loss for words as I watched the phoenix devour a whole fried chicken right in front of me. I already knew it mainly ate chicken. After all, I had prepared some specifically for that reason. Yet I had never once imagined that the moment I summoned it, it would immediately start chowing down on fried chicken.
What on earth was the author thinking when they designed this character?
I spent a brief moment feeling utterly dumbfounded inside.
“Disciple! The phoenix is eating its own kind!”
Miroel, standing beside me, shook my shoulder violently while exclaiming in horror. Since I already knew the setting, even I was this shocked. I could only imagine how completely baffling it must be for Miroel, who knew nothing about it.
Then, at that exact moment—
“Who are you calling my kin!”
Peep!
The phoenix shrieked and immediately refuted the claim. Huh? What was that? Could it actually see Miroel?
Just to check, I turned my head to the side. As if startled as well, Miroel naturally slipped behind me.
No, Master. Why are you using me as a human shield?
“Master, can you see her?”
“Hmm. If the master you spoke of is that green-haired elf, then yes, I can see her.”
The phoenix slowly nodded at my question. I clicked my tongue inwardly. I truly hadn’t imagined it would be able to see Miroel. As expected of a first-tier familiar—it really was on another level.
“More importantly, are you the one who summoned me?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
The phoenix stroked the roots beneath it with its wing while staring straight through me. Its mannerisms somehow felt very human.
“Usually those who summon me are archers. So why would a blind man summon me?”
“Um, I am an archer, though?”
“You are an archer?”
The phoenix looked at me with an expression of pure disbelief. Well, it was understandable. A blind person claiming to be an archer would sound absurd to anyone.
“Yes.”
“Then show me.”
I nodded and channeled mana into the Bow of the Beginning.
The next instant—
“Hoo.”
The phoenix’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise as it saw the bow manifest. I manipulated the screen to select the difficulty level. Immediately, a monster appeared and charged straight at me.
“Kieeeeeek!”
It was a monster composed entirely of dogs. I absorbed the mana floating in the air and created a bow. At the same time—
Swaaaaak!
I scored a perfect headshot on the monster rushing toward me. The illusionary creature scattered completely.
Having witnessed it, the phoenix spoke.
“Your sniping is excellent despite being unable to see. That elf is your master, then?”
“Yes. She is a truly wonderful master.”
When I praised her like that, Miroel puffed out her majestic chest and placed both hands on her hips. It was a little embarrassing for me, but because her face was so beautiful, it only came across as cute.
“Certainly impressive. Among all I have seen, your talent stands above the rest. However, that is all there is to it.”
“Huh?”
Miroel tilted her head at the remark. The phoenix continued.
“It is not interesting. You are simply talented—nothing more, nothing less. Besides, there does not seem to be any delicious food involved.”
The moment Miroel heard those words, her face filled with utter disbelief. It was probably because a mythical phoenix had just uttered something so ridiculous.
“Hmm. Then how about I offer you food that might pique your interest?”
“Food that might interest me? There is no such thing. I have tasted every food this world has to offer.”
Well, it wasn’t wrong. Given how long it had lived, it probably had tried nearly everything. However, that was only by this world’s standards.
I pulled out my secret weapon from the subspace pouch.
The next moment—
“What is that…?!”
“Is that not what you were preparing yesterday, disciple?”
Both of them jumped in surprise at the sight of the chicken I produced. Especially the phoenix—it swallowed dryly while staring at the steaming fried chicken.
That’s right. It loves chicken. There’s no way it wouldn’t like fried chicken.
Chicken was something no one could escape once they tasted it. Paired with a cold beer, I genuinely believed it was on the same level as a drug.
Thank goodness oil is treated like trash in this world.
If not, making fried chicken would have been incredibly difficult.
“Does this interest you now?”
“Slurp… It certainly does not look bad. I will need to try a bite to be sure.”
I lifted the corner of my mouth and handed over a drumstick. The phoenix promptly shoved the entire thing—bones included—into its mouth.
“Mmm?!”
In an instant, its eyes widened in disbelief. It stared at me with the face of someone who had just realized a profound truth. Then it flapped its wings urgently.
“G-give me another one!”
“Hmm. Why should I?”
“Eh?”
“If you are not going to form a contract with me, why should I give you more?”
The power dynamic had completely flipped. Before the chicken appeared, I had been the one in the weaker position. Now I held the upper hand. At my provocation, the phoenix flapped its wings even harder.
It wasn’t for nothing that people in Korea called it the Chicken God.
For a phoenix that had lived a boring, drawn-out existence, fried chicken would be an entirely new kind of stimulus.
“Do you think this body would fall for a single piece of such food?”
“Really? Then there is no helping it. Master, would you like to try one?”
“It certainly looks delicious.”
Saying so, I placed the chicken drumstick into the Bow of the Beginning. Miroel naturally retrieved it and put it in her mouth. Soon afterward, she stared at me with an incredulous expression.
“You have been keeping something like this to yourself all this time, disciple?”
Wait, why is even Master making that face?
I had only done it to make the phoenix more anxious, yet Miroel ended up being the one more surprised. Still, it seemed to have the desired effect.
“Kuh!”
The phoenix flapped its wings frantically while staring at the chicken. Then it spoke urgently.
“I-I admit defeat! I will form the contract, so hand it over quickly!”
It was the moment a first-tier familiar finally knelt before fried chicken.
The Chicken God is great!
Clear the Student Council Request with Luden
📍 Objective: Defeat the Virgin Lich inside the artificial dungeon together with protagonist Luden.
🎁 Reward: Mana Recovery Bracelet
The phoenix, now kneeling before chicken, flapped its wings and spoke.
“Then before we form the contract, give me a name.”
“Hmm. Actually, I already have one in mind.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It came to me the instant I saw you.”
At my words, the phoenix’s eyes sparkled. It seemed quite expectant.
“How about Ppiyak-i?”
“What?”
“Huh?”
In an instant, both Miroel and the phoenix stared at me as if I had lost my mind. Ignoring their reactions, I declared firmly.
“Let’s go with Ppiyak-i.”
“······.”
At my declaration, Ppiyak-i made a face that showed genuine disgust. But it was already too late. Because—
Whoooosh!
The summoning ritual had already activated.
“Haa… How did I end up contracted to someone like this?”
I could hear Ppiyak-i’s grumbling near my ear, but I pretended not to notice. And so, my contract with Ppiyak-i was fully established.
Drip!
Red blood flowed from the corner of my mouth. It seemed contracting with Ppiyak-i had consumed far too much mana.
“Since my contractor’s mana still seems weak, I shall return to my original realm for now.”
“Yes, I understand.”
With those words, Ppiyak-i vanished leisurely. Soon afterward, Miroel gave a dumbfounded smile.
“I never expected contracting with a legendary familiar to be this lacking in grandeur.”
“Ahahaha.”
I laughed awkwardly at her comment. Just then—
“Baran. Where are you?”
Luden appeared at the training ground and began searching for me. It seemed it was time to head to the student council room.
“I am here.”
I stepped out of the private training room and walked over to her. With her usual expressionless face, she spoke.
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes, understood.”
With that, we made our way to the student council room. A short while later—
“It’s quiet.”
“It really is.”
We soon arrived at our destination. I had assumed the student council would be extremely busy, but it was surprisingly calm. I briefly scanned the student council room using Mind’s Eye.
Hmm, what is this? Why does it feel like we shouldn’t go in right now?
Inside, Elza was reading a romance novel. To outsiders, she would appear completely uninterested in romance. She always maintained such a noble image in front of others. In truth, however, no one was more obsessed with romance than she was. Her secret hobby was romance novels.
Well, she’ll probably hide it if I knock.
Thinking that, I quietly knocked on the door. I heard her hurriedly stuffing the novel into a drawer. I sighed inwardly and spoke.
“First-year Baran. May I enter?”
“Yes, come in.”
Elza answered in a confident voice, as if nothing had happened. When I opened the door, she turned her gaze toward us while pretending to look at documents.
You were literally just reading a novel. Why are you acting like you’ve been working?
While I was inwardly dumbfounded, Luden immediately got to the point.
“Senior. So what request do you have for us?”
“I was planning to explain slowly, but you jump straight to the question?”
“There is no reason to drag it out.”
“That is true. Very well. I shall tell you directly. Could you subdue the mutant monster inside the artificial dungeon?”
“A mutant monster?”
Luden tilted her head in confusion. Elza nodded and continued.
“Yes. I heard there is a mutant monster in the artificial dungeon located in the royal capital. Because it is extremely dangerous, the adventurer guild has requested assistance from the academy. However, given the current state of affairs…”
It was true. With the war against the demon army, even academy students were busy. We first-years still had some breathing room, but from the second semester onward we would likely become just as busy as everyone else.
“Can the professors not handle it?”
Luden asked at that moment. Elza let out a small sigh and affirmed.
“Yes. Because of the previous practical evaluation incident, the professors will likely find it difficult to leave the academy grounds.”
“Hmm.”
“Is that not possible?”
“I do not mind, but…”
Luden trailed off and glanced at me. She seemed worried I might refuse. In the past, I definitely would have. However, I needed to see how the original story would unfold. Besides, the timing was perfect.
I looked at the quest before my eyes and spoke in a confident voice.
“Dungeon exploration is what I am best at. Please trust me and leave it to us, President.”
At my words, both of them along with Miroel stared at me with icy expressions.
Why? A blind person can be good at exploration too, can’t they?