Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Midnight Raid
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Eternal Night.
One of the penalties I added when creating this character, and if you look purely at the point cost, it's arguably the most dangerous one.
Even just thinking about it simply, this alone rivals top-tier traits like Sword Saint Talent or Archmage Talent.
And since this isn't a game but reality, the burden weighing on me can only grow heavier.
At least among the penalties, Material Desire costs the fewest bonus points, but even that's a real headache.
Literal material desire.
The terrifying penalty that clouds your reason at the sight of anything shiny.
Even if it's an enemy that looks impossible to beat at a glance, if it's got shiny feathers?
Your eyes will roll back in an instant.
On the line between life and death, you'd just charge right in.
But up until now, it hadn't been a big problem.
Is Material Desire manageable enough on its own?
No, more than that, it was thanks to the trait I picked alongside it.
When creating the character, I definitely slotted in Cold Mind.
That trait, now downgraded to something like bird-brain level skill, feels like it's barely holding onto my sanity.
Without Cold Mind, I'd have rushed headlong at anything shiny without a second thought.
Now, seeing something shiny just makes me ponder how to get it—that's the difference.
If negative traits can be offset like this, that's a relief.
But Eternal Night is a trait that can't be offset.
It doesn't feel like a trait assigned to me at all; it's more like an extra element cranking up the game's difficulty.
That's why it's so dangerous.
Just imagining Material Desire without Cold Mind is dizzying, and this is several times more treacherous, right?
"From your expression, it seems you're more interested in this."
"Caw."
Of course I am.
I don't even know what Eternal Night is in the first place.
And figuring it out on my own is next to impossible.
This info is directly tied to my survival, so I have to hear it.
"Once you hear this tale, you won't be able to take back your choice. You'll no longer be able to live out a peaceful life in the hideout I introduce you to. Even so, do you still wish to know about this world?"
I nodded.
"Caw."
What's the point of a comfortable life?
I've turned from human to crow, so naturally I have to find a way back to human.
It might be impossible, but I can't give up without trying.
"I've heard black birds are quite curious, but you are exceptional."
The kiwi bird nodded its beak slightly.
It seems pleased with my answer.
Not that it changes the fact that I'm just cawing.
"This place was originally home to humans."
"Caw?"
Home to humans?
I did see humans right after I was born, so it's not that strange.
"To be precise, there was a village not far from here. Its name was Skarnas. Small in scale, but I remember it being quite prosperous. I even sourced materials for my research from there."
I could picture this kiwi bird waddling to the village on its short legs, demanding materials in that deep voice.
Huh, somehow it never got caught.
A talking kiwi? No one would think twice about snatching it up.
"Now it's a ruin with not a soul in sight. You can guess why. Yes, because of Eternal Night. A horrific curse that turns an entire region into eternal night, literally."
I nearly had a disaster on my hands.
Crow's Eye LV2
The crow's eye that loves shiny things.
Can see more information and distinguish shiny objects.
+ Achieved LV2: Added effect to overcome night blindness.
Now I can make out objects at night without much trouble.
And that's because I evolved into a Little Night Crow.
If I'd chosen differently?
Birds' night vision is notoriously poor as common knowledge, so I'd have died alone in the dark, blind and clueless about the cause.
"The sun surely rises again. Yet night persists eternally—that's why it's truly a curse."
It's not that the sun itself fails to rise.
But the fact that sunlight can't be seen remains unchanged.
"Moreover, those twisted monsters pour out endlessly. Even before Eternal Night fully arrives, it's this bad, so of course the humans abandoned the village."
Squirrels, caterpillars, snakes, mantises.
The foes I'd encountered here defied common sense but were still somewhat understandable.
Just creatures with unusual evolutions, that's all.
But the monsters visible now?
Hideous and grotesque.
Rotting flesh from those refusing death falls away, and things whose very nature is unknowable fly through the skies.
Beings that shouldn't exist in any ecosystem roam freely.
"Of course, omens don't guarantee Eternal Night will come."
Monsters flood out and sunlight dims, but Eternal Night hasn't fully arrived yet.
I'm curious what true Eternal Night is like, but it'd be best never to find out in my lifetime.
"There will be a being that has inherited the power of night most strongly. I call it the host. Whether the host brings Eternal Night to the region, or Eternal Night births the host—it's still unclear. But one thing is certain."
The kiwi slowly raised its head.
Its gaze turned to the still-visible bright moon.
"Removing the host ends Eternal Night."
Simple words, yet profoundly difficult.
Easy to say, but that host looks insanely strong at a glance.
"The night energy is growing stronger. Meaning the host is likely lingering in the ruined village."
The host dwells in the ruins, its power intensifying.
Leave it be, and Eternal Night descends.
Those monsters will rampage, and sunlight will never return here.
My choices boil down to two.
First: Leave before Eternal Night arrives.
It spreads like a plague, so other regions might still be free of it.
Flee there first, avoiding monster fights.
Second: Kill the host myself.
Absurd.
Inheriting the most night energy means it's stronger than the rampant monsters now, right?
One of those is already too much for me—how could I take down the host?
"Do you regret it? Hearing this tale."
Eternal Night and info on this place.
Or the safe hideout location.
Choose one, and I chose knowledge.
But no regrets.
Even picking the safe hideout, the end was obvious.
I'd have died peacefully, like falling asleep.
Devoured by Eternal Night's monsters.
"Caw."
I shook my head.
"Then, will you head somewhere else entirely now? Unlike me, you have wings—you could fly quite far."
I shook my head again.
I couldn't fly with these wings anyway.
"...You intend to visit the ruined village."
"Caw."
I nodded.
That's the only choice left to me.
Even if I can't beat it now, I just need to grow strong enough.
Might find a way to defeat it without direct force.
I have the Genius trait, after all.
...Though that Genius might be why I was born as the smartest crow.
I built this character for extreme versatility, so it suits situations like this.
"Is this fate as well? Very well."
And most importantly.
This fateful encounter with a sage—what you'd call a karmic tie.
I have to milk it for all it's worth.
He mutters cryptic words in that deep voice, but it's obvious what choice he'd like.
With a resolute expression like now, answering as he wants, he'll probably hand over more goodies.
Ending with just some info? Too stingy for a true karmic opportunity.
"Come down for now. It's late—time for bed. I stay awake at night, but you're in your growth phase; rest well."
Deep voice, but somehow excited.
"Close your eyes in the nest. I'll prepare for your journey."
Jackpot.
I knew exactly what that meant.
Looks like he's handing over something good.
"Caw caw!"
Before flapping my wings to descend the stairs, I turned my beak slightly.
"Caw..."
But is this place really safe?
Ghosts are wandering around even now?
"Worry not. This sage's nest is no flimsy shelter. Beings born of Eternal Night can't even perceive it."
Sage indeed.
Not only understands my body language but gives a satisfying answer!
No more worries.
Rest easy in this safe nest, prepare for tomorrow.
I munched the small kiwi fruit gifted by the pleased kiwi bird, then tapped my plump belly with my beak.
Curling up, I lay in the pile of leaves.
A bit of noise, but decent atmosphere overall.
The second night since becoming a crow passed quietly enough.
*
How much time had passed?
Flutter flap.
I witnessed a kiwi flying through the sky.
"Oh dear, I've been caught."
To be precise, I saw the kiwi bird clutched in a massive owl's talon.
Hey, you said it was safe!
"Oh, this is death. This chilling sensation—fascinating."
Aren't you giving up too easily?
"If this is fate, then so be it."
Don't pull a weasel on me!
Damn it, I thought I could finally rest tonight.
"Screeeeeeeeech!"
Leave the kiwi behind, you owl bastard!
That bird was my karmic avian connection!