Chapter 113
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Guide
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"How can you be so merciful..."
A magpie covering its beak with its wings, putting on a show of being moved.
There's no way I could put such a tiny thing on the front lines.
"Kyaaak! So cool!"
"Kyak! Kyak!"
The parrots chirping excitedly shook their heads wildly.
"Kawk kawk."
I shook my head like a parrot in response.
Twirl twirl.
"Kyaaaak!"
"It's spinning! The Night Predator! Kyak!"
The parrots jumped in surprise.
They were probably thinking of owls or nightjars that are active at night.
Birds that can twist their necks like this are only from that group, after all.
I considered firing off some RGB laser light show too, but held back, figuring they'd actually faint if I did.
[Sub-quest has been updated.]
A welcome message popped up right on time.
You've entered the Queen's Forest and uncovered the secret of Dabih and Vega.
Their power poses a serious threat to you. Your instincts tell you that if you don't deal with them now, you'll face them again as powerful enemies later.
You devise a plan to take down Dabih and Vega.
To counter their abilities, you'll need parts from a cockatrice.
Cockatrices are dangerous foes too, but with proper preparation, you can defeat one.
You prepare to hunt a cockatrice to defeat Dabih and Vega.
Quest Clear Reward: Cockatrice Feather
Any quest is good news.
It confirms that the path we're on is the right one.
Hunting the cockatrice seems to be the correct answer.
And as inferred from the quest description, taking on Dabih and Vega afterward feels like the right move too.
"Cockatrice, huh. They say the meat has a refreshing, exquisite flavor."
Moona drooling a little.
Judging by this guy's reaction, cockatrice meat must be pretty tasty.
"There are tons of stories involving cockatrices. Like the one where a mere lizard hunts a cockatrice."
"Kawk?"
An old tale from Moona.
He often tells nutritionally deficient stories, but he thinks I'm just not seeing their value.
A sage's words must have hidden meaning.
That's why I listen intently even to seemingly pointless tales.
Except for his stories about tastes.
This one's about cockatrices, so it's definitely worth hearing.
"There are many folk tales about cockatrices. The most famous one is... that petrification doesn't work on lizards."
"Kawk!"
What? I was a bit surprised that a lizard caught a cockatrice, but it used a cheat like that?
"Kawk kawk."
If I had a power like that, I'd just swoop in and grab it.
Cowardly lizard.
....
Why am I getting so worked up about this?
"Kawk."
Eh, whatever. Let's not dwell on it.
What does it matter what that lizard that caught the cockatrice did?
"And the reason this story is famous is... the lizard that hunted the cockatrice that way embarked on the true path to becoming a divine beast."
"Kawk?"
So, it cheesed the cockatrice and even evolved?
Tsk. Makes me jealous for no reason.
If only I'd been born a lizard instead of a bird...
No, birds are still better than lizards.
Lizards can't fly no matter how hard they try a hundred times.
"Right. At some point, hunting cockatrices became a ritual of sorts. Of course, defeating one doesn't guarantee you'll become a divine beast, but since there are a few who saw results and passed it down, it's not a useless tale."
Hunting a cockatrice doesn't guarantee becoming a divine beast.
But some divine beasts have a history of defeating one.
Since we have to hunt it anyway, nothing to lose.
[Sub-quest has been updated.]
"Kawk?"
I tilted my head.
Sub-quest updated?
What was the one I just saw?
Did another one pop up?
Sub-quests generate based on my actions.
And the only action just now was listening to Moona's story.
"Kaaaawk!"
Moona it is.
There's a reason I treasure my opportunities.
Just listening to Swungswung and Moona gets me rewards popping out left and right.
Intelligent beasts hunting cockatrices is one of the long-standing traditions for ascending to spirit rank.
Overcoming trials and adversities to defeat a powerful foe will allow you to achieve a great feat.
Achieving the feat will enrich your legend.
Reward: Increased evolution options
"Kakakak!"
I didn't even need to check the details or reward to know it was hugely positive.
Same task, double the rewards.
I could caw in joy over this.
And the description was no joke either.
Path of the Divine Beast?
The name alone screams major event.
Plus, more evolution choices next time.
It's practically nudging me toward divine beast territory.
The quest content strongly backed up Moona's words.
Hunting cockatrices must be that important.
I probably would've done it at least once even without Dabih and Vega.
Alright, time for me to soar as a divine beast too.
It won't happen right away, but steadily building up like this, I'll become one known as a divine beast someday.
"Still, we can't just send you off alone. The proper thing would be to at least send a guide."
Saroka's right.
I wouldn't put it on the front lines, but having a guide for the way isn't bad.
Verbal explanations have limits, and we can't comb the entire forest.
"Kyak kyak! I'll go!"
"Kyaaak! Me! Me!"
The parrots flapped their wings, promoting themselves.
Do they think something good will come from going with me?
Or is it loyalty to the magpie?
I don't care who it is.
Just show me the path.
"I respect your opinions, but it seems there's someone more suited for this."
"Kyak?"
"Suited?"
"Yes, we should leave this to her."
The parrots calmed their excitement at Saroka's composed tone.
"Kyak... If it's her... no choice!"
"Kyak kyak! Agreed!"
Oh, she must have quite the reputation.
For these parrots to accept it immediately.
Well, they wouldn't assign just anyone to guide the cockatrice expedition team.
"She's a precious child we've been raising to gain strength against Dabih and Vega."
Like a secret weapon of the bird faction?
That would make her perfect as a guide.
Wonder what she'll be like.
Since it's the bird faction's secret weapon, probably a raptor.
Small birds are cute, but raptors are even cuter.
Cool and cute at the same time, you know?
"Raptor... Strong, kyak!"
"Scary! Kyaaak!"
The parrots are scared, so it must be a raptor!
I'm hyped.
"Is that alright with you?"
The magpie's gaze was odd.
It wasn't looking at me, but somewhere else.
Not talking to me, then.
Is it talking to that raptor?
No way.
I didn't even know where it was, but it heard the whole conversation.
My expectations soared even higher.
This cockatrice hunt might end anticlimactically.
That's when it happened.
"Chirp."
An adorable little bird voice came from somewhere.
I thought it was a passing sparrow, but the parrots' reactions were weird.
"Kyaaak! There it is!"
"Kyak! Since when!"
They flapped their wings in terror.
I wondered why, but then I saw the reason.
A yellow beak peeking out from behind the magpie.
That was Saroka's secret weapon.
The trump card against Dabih and Vega.
And the guide who knows the cockatrice's location.
"Chirp."
....
Well, it is a raptor, but...
【Sparrowhawk】
A small raptor species about 30cm in length.
With round eyes and a tiny body, it is still a true raptor—a sky hunter that preys on small field mice and insects.
It competes with magpies and often quarrels due to its belligerent nature.
Small.
Way too small!
How small? Smaller than even Moona.
"Chirp chirp."
And its cry is chirp chirp!
Can you even call that cute thing a raptor?
Its adorable eyes stared right at me.
I stared back.
Sparrowhawk, huh. First time seeing one for real.
Super cute.
"Hey, what're you staring at?"
...Huh?
I doubted my ears and eyes.
The sparrowhawk's beak moved slightly, and that voice came out.
A rough, tomboyish female voice.
Did the sparrowhawk say that?
Forget talking or the voice— the content is way too aggressive!
"What. Want me to gouge your eyeballs out with my talons?"
The sparrowhawk clenched and unclenched its talons.
No wonder the parrots are trembling.
"You might be pretty-faced, but mess around and you'll get buried without a trace, got it?"
When did I mess around?
And pretty-faced, huh.
"Kawk..."
Thanks, I guess...
"Shwaaaang!"
Swungswung let out a sharp hiss, like snap out of it.