Chapter 142

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 142

Chapter Title: Black and White Crow

"Hmm, why are you looking at me like that?"

Moona said it with the most brazen expression.

Why am I looking at you like that?

Because you were the one who tricked me first.

...Hold on.

Thinking about it, has Moona ever actually tricked me?

The one who called her a sexy big sis was Cheshire Cat.

Come to think of it, she does look a bit different now.

For starters, she's bigger.

By about half the size of Swungswung right now?

Still small, but for a kiwi bird, this might be a revolution.

Like an agricultural revolution or something.

"So this is the Rabbit Hole."

Not just the size—her appearance has changed a bit too.

Unlike her previously sleek look, now she looks kinda fluffy?

If you think of Moona as a normal animal, it's an incredibly cute transformation.

Though it's a little weird hearing that baritone voice from such a form.

Moona hopped naturally onto my shoulder.

Even bigger, it seems my shoulder is still the comfiest spot for her.

"Moona, hi."

Swungswung, who was riding on me as well, greeted her.

"Hm, Rebecca. You've changed your appearance."

Moona glanced at her once, then spoke as if it was no big deal.

No way. I'm flipping somersaults in midair with my wings, and this isn't surprising?

Moona's always been a bit dense about this stuff, but...

"Little Wind... Hm, you're basically the same."

"Caw."

You too, huh.

After reuniting with Moona, we sorted out the current situation.

For now, Cheshire Cat had sent us into the Rabbit Hole.

We knew she'd fallen in with us too, but she wasn't anywhere to be seen.

Just like how Moona and I got separated, she was probably dropped somewhere else.

The fact that Swungswung and I landed together is the odd one out—maybe everyone's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠supposed to scatter separately by default.

We'd arrived in the Rabbit Hole, but we knew next to nothing about the place.

Moona must've heard something from Cheshire Cat, but for me, it was safe to assume I knew zilch.

Which means our top priority here is linking up with Cheshire Cat.

Chicken-foot kick her the second we meet, then use her as a guide.

Snagging any fortuitous encounters along the way wouldn't hurt either.

"Excellent. Exploring a place like this is a fine way to broaden one's horizons."

Moona seemed to like the Rabbit Hole itself.

With her title of Sage, she clearly valued this space highly as a chance to pursue new knowledge.

"I've been scouting the area myself. Knowing you'd come looking, I didn't stray too far, but I still found something pretty significant."

Weren't you just dangling from a tree branch?

No matter how I look at it, you seemed like you were napping as usual.

"That lakeside over there. Something intriguing nearby. Couldn't make contact, so I don't know its use, but it looked handy or valuable for trading. Seemed like top-quality stuff."

Moona brought some pretty good news.

Treasure-like item by the lakeshore, right?

"And the reason I couldn't approach? Guessing from what I saw, there are guardians posted there."

Plus, someone's guarding it.

Means the treasure Moona found isn't ordinary.

"Caw."

Chicken-foot kick 'em and snatch the treasure?

"...Caw."

Even so, is ambushing folks okay when we're freeloading in the Rabbit Hole?

Not outright theft, but attacking outright...

"From what the striped cat told me, they're the enemy. In a way, they're another set of intruders in the Rabbit Hole."

"Caw caw."

Then let's do it right now.

This isn't an ambush—it's helping the Rabbit Hole's true owners, the rabbits.

And the treasure I take is just my reward.

No, not stealing.

Think of it as claiming the reward in advance.

"Ho, already raring to go... Well, you'd want to test your new power. Seems like a fitting opponent."

Smart Moona read my mind and said it.

We headed to the spot Moona pointed out.

She said there were three guardians total.

Couldn't get closer without risking detection, so no details on looks or features, but confirming the numbers was a big win already.

And the aura they gave off was clearly below mine, so no worries there.

I glanced at Moona and Swungswung.

Normally I'd carry them on my back into battle, but Swungswung taking Rebecca's form was an issue.

The race traits weren't fully gone, but free switching seemed impossible now.

"Don't worry. My looks ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠haven't changed, but I've got some upgrades. Protecting myself and Rebecca's body is no problem."

Moona doesn't say things she can't back up.

Dunno what changed, but she's confident, so it must be solid.

Probably that horrific screech ability evolved or something.

In that case, better to leave these two somewhere safe and handle it solo.

"Here, take these. Not too far, so if you need me, I'll dash right over."

Swungswung handed me a few gems from her pouch.

This many should be plenty to drop three foes.

"Caw caw."

I nodded and headed for the lake.

As Moona said, three magic beasts were guarding a treasure chest.

"Spepepepe..."

The identities of the guardians were none other than card soldiers.

Arms and legs sprouted from a card body marked with a spade symbol.

They wielded spears with sharp, spade-like tips.

Rabbit Hole, Alice in Wonderland, card soldiers.

I could roughly guess what these guys were.

But right now, who they are matters less than fighting them.

I've been battling boss-level foes lately, but LV20 is still no pushover.

Of course, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if levels reset on evolution like mine, judging strength by level gets tricky—but evolution isn't common.

Plus, not one, but three.

A combined total of LV60 powerhouses!

...Not really, but still, a tricky matchup in any case.

"Caw."

Best to ambush before they notice me, but I didn't.

"Spepepe?"

"Spepepepe!"

I deliberately made noise to let them react.

Before hunting, I wanted to test my new power.

"Caaaaw!"

I used Night Summoning.

Consuming a gem from Swungswung, I called a new time into this space.

My feathers turned green.

I took to the air and flapped once.

Early Dusk Feather grants me the power of storms.

First time using it, but the power itself felt familiar.

I'd used something similar fighting Scarecrow.

Kwahgagagagak!

The storm blew in.

The fierce gale, capable of scouring the ground, neutralized the card soldiers' responses.

Kagagak!

"Speeeeek!"

Card bodies, but heavier than expected—they weren't blown away.

But the blade-like winds were tearing their forms bit by bit.

Maintain the storm like this, and victory's easy.

"Spepepepe!"

"Speee!"

"Spadeeeee!"

Grabbing each other to resist the wind? Nope.

The large spade-marked cards overlapped, unleashing an aura incomparable to before.

"Spaaaaideeeee!"

The spade soldiers fused into a massive card golem over five times their original size.

They had a combine ability, huh.

The spade soldiers now resisted my storm and began slowly moving that huge body.

Storm broken, now for a counterattack on me.

Seeing that, I smirked faintly.

Would've been a shame if it ended too quick—they held out nicely.

"Caaaaw!"

I burned another gem to activate White Night.

The sky shifted once more.

The early dusk sky turned pure white, like daytime.

And with it, my feathers' color changed too.

Black and white.

Frost poured from the feathers, exquisitely blended in those hues.

That frost merged with the storm I'd summoned.

Jeojeojeojeok!

"Spek... Kruaaagh!"

Not just any storm—an ice storm.

Might resist wind now, but not frost.

The spade soldier tried blocking somehow, but it was futile.

"Kruuugh..."

Its massive body collapsed.

"Caaaaaaaaw!"

I flapped my wings and screeched.

No, am I too strong now?

Is this level of power even allowed?

White Night's power exceeded my expectations.

And it works on twilight or afterglow too, right? Not just early dusk?

Huge boost for numbers fights and raw power clashes alike.

This is like two evolutions at once, not just one.

Makes me proud of my choice.

"Hm, Little Wind. Ended faster than expected."

As I marveled at my power, Moona's voice came.

She'd sensed the battle's end and approached.

"...It's gone white."

Swungswung stared at my feathers.

From using White Night, the tips were dyed white.

Should revert to black on its own with time—no biggie.

"Raven."

Swungswung calling my name.

For some reason, her face looked a bit pointy.

Like she's mad or something?

That expression right before a pout?

"Don't like black?"

What're you saying, Swungswung?

"Like white better than black?"

"Caaaaw!"

What do you even mean by that?!