Chapter 139
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Frozen Heart
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"Something's fishy."
"Eek! What nya! Talk like you normally do nya!"
"Caw."
This one seems to be struggling to get used to my voice just like me.
Cheshire crept up to me stealthily in her full cat form.
"Nya nya nya..."
No matter how I looked at it, she had some ulterior motive.
"Caw."
"Don't look at me like that nya. I've got what I wanted, so this is me giving back in return nya. Honestly, if I kept my mouth shut and stuck to the original deal, the crow wouldn't even know nya, right? It's my conscientious consideration nya."
She had a point.
If she didn't let it slip, it would have been hard for me to notice.
Of course, someone sharp like Moona might pick up on it, but not me.
"Is this because you met that witch?"
"Eek! Your voice got weird again nya!"
"Caw caw."
I couldn't speak at length.
I could manage it, but my voice wouldn't come out like before.
So breaking it into short bursts was the best way, though they could still understand if I spoke longer.
"Ahem, that's right nya. The witch you met is the Snow White Witch. Even the striped cat's info network struggles to get intel on her nya."
Cheshire readily admitted it.
She probably wasn't plotting anything harmful against me.
Still, I needed to hear more.
"Heh heh... Truth is, I secretly followed you out nya. Got to see the show up close nya."
So she really had been tailing me?
"Don't get the wrong idea nya. I took the commission and followed because I was worried you'd die nya."
It sounded praiseworthy, but I didn't buy it.
I doubted she'd actually save me.
"Ahem, to be more honest... I followed to prevent the disaster of you coming back empty-handed!"
Hmm, honest. Nice.
If I died, the mission failed.
She'd stuck to my tail to avoid that.
She probably planned to pull me out if I lost.
I didn't know her exact abilities, but since neither the Snow White Witch nor I detected her, it was plausible.
I turned to look at Moona, who was wiggling his butt wordlessly.
He nodded, so it seemed Cheshire wasn't lying.
I might miss it, but Moona's instincts were always reliable.
"First things first, the reward we agreed on nya? It'll take time for those birds to bring the payment, so I'll tell you now nya. Some heavy makeup... uh, pretend you didn't hear that nya."
I heard that crystal clear.
Why bring up makeup out of nowhere?
"The first thing I'll tell you... is the Lion Heart King's true identity nya."
The Lion Heart King's identity!
Vital information.
I shut my beak and waited quietly.
"The ring on the crow's foot carries the Scarecrow's aura, and the little miss has the Tin Woodman's aura nya. You'll probably sense the same from the Lion Heart King nya. You already know this, right? That's why you're chasing him nya?"
"Caw."
I nodded slightly.
"They were comrades nya. Not widely known, but famous adventurers among those in the know nya."
I knew they were comrades.
Twisted versions based on the Wizard of Oz.
Adventurers, though.
Like Ethan or Erika?
"The Scarecrow vanished, and the Tin Woodman sealed himself in his own ruins nya. Powerful beings, but they controlled their power themselves nya. If they'd rampaged freely, the crow wouldn't have made it this far nya."
Frustrating, but true to an extent.
The Tin Woodman I fought didn't use his full power.
He hadn't even used that crown Swungswung was wearing now.
And the Scarecrow hadn't either, apparently.
In his case, it was less "didn't use" and more "didn't have the wits left to use it."
"The Lion Heart King chose the same path nya. The difference is, unlike the two who declined, he still retains his full power. With tyrant or conqueror king-level exploits, he's probably far stronger than in his adventuring days nya."
Weakened from their prime for Scarecrow and Tin Woodman.
But the Lion Heart King got stronger?
The mindless one, the self-sealed one.
And the rampaging conqueror king.
Of course there'd be a difference.
"Details are better for the kiwi bird over there than the crow, so I'll give info the crow can understand too nya."
Sounded dismissive, but I nodded.
Cheshire's intel was vast; even Moona-level folks preferred filtered bits.
Though decoding her speech would be a hassle.
"The Lion Heart King's identity. His current race is... Death Knight nya."
...Death Knight!
A proper name at last.
Suited for chanting Frozen Heart or Blood Banner.
"A powerful undead nya. Iron-blooded knight with a lion's head. That's the Lion Heart King's true form nya...!"
A Death Knight with a lion's head.
Fitting foe right before Dorothy.
First enemy: scarecrow monster.
Second: tin golem.
Third: lion-headed Death Knight.
And the Lion Heart King stronger than any I'd faced.
"Caw."
But there was some comfort.
He was a Death Knight.
Undead, no matter what.
We had anti-undead countermeasures worthy of calling us ultimate weapons.
Swungswung treated like a queen, Shadow Flame, and beak of evil annihilation—devastating to undead.
We had the matchup advantage.
Of course, if the power gap was too wide, it wouldn't matter, but as a Nightfall Crow of the White Night, I wouldn't just roll over.
"And he's not alone nya. His troops, and the path there..."
Cheshire shared various intel on the Lion Heart King.
Her info network was legendary.
Even stuff I wondered if she should know—made things smoother.
Too much to remember, so Moona listened for me.
"Ahem, and I said I'd help directly, right nya?"
"Caw caw."
"There's a way to reach Lion Heart King's Castle in record time... wanna hear it nya?"
Cheshire's eyes sparkled.
Up to now was reward for my feats; this felt different.
Like she'd demand something for providing the path.
Her help would make it easier.
But it felt unnecessary.
"Do we need to?"
"Wh-what...! No. Why nya?"
She sounded completely caught off guard.
Somehow evoked a drenched cat. Imagination?
I flapped my wings silently.
Shortening time was good.
But now that I knew the location, I could get there fast without help.
I could fly.
Much faster post-evolution.
A few days of flying, and we'd arrive. No need.
"Hmm... think about it nya! You think you'll reach Lion Heart King's Castle unscathed nya? The witches are definitely watching nya!"
"Hm..."
True. After tricking Snow White Witch, they'd target me.
Beating Scarecrow and Tin Woodman? Easy to guess Lion Heart King next.
"Caw... caw caw?"
"So you're asking if your method lets us bypass them,"
Moona kindly translated.
"Heh heh, of course nya! Ever heard of the Rabbit Hole nya?"
"Rabbit Hole... So your ability is based on that."
"Slightly different nya. Point is, I can guide you through the Rabbit Hole for relatively safe travel nya!"
Rabbit Hole?
Sounded like a transport method...
Ringing a bell.
"I'll ask the rabbit guy, so no issues nya!"
Rabbit Hole and rabbit.
Now I got it.
Striped cat Cheshire was from Alice in Wonderland.
Her Rabbit Hole linked to the White Rabbit's space.
"Oh, and the crow will love it nya."
"Love what?"
I shrugged my wings; Cheshire stared at her lower half.
"That rabbit guy's right up the crow's alley nya."
What?
"Shoooooo..."
Black smoke bubbled up.
Do you know my tastes?
And trying to convince me or not, why bring that up out of nowhere?
"Crows like this, right nya?"
Cheshire patted her thigh.
Stripes on her stockings rippled briefly, then smoothed.
Optical illusion vibe; I stared entranced until Swungswung yanked my feathers hard.
"Shaaaak!"
"Caw, caw..."
No, that's not—
"The rabbit guy's... well, impressive in many ways nya. Especially the crow-taste outfit... that's all I'll say nya."
Cheshire smirked triumphantly.
Grinning smugly.
What did she think I was?
She must've misunderstood me liking stockings.
Thinking about it, she was the continent's top info broker.
Was she spreading that false rumor?
That I liked stockings?
Normally, I'd ignore such gossip.
Perverted crow? Whatever, they weren't helping me anyway.
But now, reputation mattered.
Infamy and fame.
Tied to my next evolution.
All my hard work collecting them could vanish with one dumb rumor.
Don't tarnish my image, cat!
I wanted to scream and chicken-kick her, but held back.
Curious about her offer.
Absolutely not the "amazing bunny girl outfit" she mentioned.