Chapter 144
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Lu Karkol
"Queeeek!"
It wasn't Moona's scream. It was the mimic's cry.
The mimic had chomped down on Moona, but it couldn't chew him up.
Was it because the mimic's teeth weren't sharp enough?
No, that wasn't it.
True to its nature as a mimic, it was bristling with vicious, razor-sharp spines.
But even though it had successfully swallowed Moona halfway, it couldn't chew through him. The reason lay in Moona's skin.
He might look like that, but Moona's skin was incredibly tough.
His feathers were tough, you could say. Or whatever.
They'd always seemed sturdy, but ever since evolving into a Gold Kiwi, his body had become tougher than most rocks.
Moona the Gold Kiwi was no longer that pathetic little kiwi bird who got snatched up every day.
"Hm, try putting in a bit more effort. You should be able to wriggle free then."
Was he still a pathetic kiwi bird, though?
I gave his butt a little nip and tugged.
Pop!
With Swungswung joining in, unable to watch any longer, Moona shot out.
It felt just like pulling up a radish from the field.
I had this sense of having grown a massive kiwi with my own hands.
"Caw!"
Anyway, you okay?
I checked to make sure no juice had spilled out. Thankfully, he seemed fine.
"Hoo, are you worried about me?"
Of course I was. Especially since it was you, Moona.
He's a great guy, but his sudden impulses like this can be scary.
And his combat prowess wasn't exactly reliable—he might just flop over with a weak cheep at any moment.
Of course, I knew this kiwi wouldn't die even if he dropped dead, but he couldn't use that ability indefinitely.
"Hm, you've grown bigger, but you still have your cute side."
"Caw?"
This guy thought I was cute?
...Well, thinking back to our first meeting, that might actually fit.
I'd been little more than a chick when we met.
Even I had to admit I was pretty adorable back then.
Now...
"Caw caw."
As long as you've grown up healthy, that's what matters, right?
Moona, freshly freed from the mimic, spat out what he'd been holding in his beak.
Looking closer, it was a stone shaped like a swirling pattern.
More precisely, a stone engraved with a spade symbol.
All that in a treasure chest... just a single stone...
"Caw caw."
"It's a bit shiny, but not a gem. Useless."
Swungswung shook his head.
He'd judged it worthless too.
"The silver coins next to it look better."
He figured the few silver coins inside the mimic were worth more.
But it might not be a gem—still, this stone could have some function.
Moona had gone wild-eyed and charged in for it, after all.
"Doesn't look valuable to me either."
"Caw?"
Really?
So it really was just an ordinary stone?
"But I can tell it hides something. Those soldiers were guarding this chest, weren't they? No way they'd protect something worthless. Plus, they tried to backstab us with the mimic right up to the end. Interesting. There has to be something intriguing here."
Moona spoke in a low, fluent voice.
It even sounded a little excited.
A mysterious item even the Sage couldn't identify, in this strange space.
Put them together, and the plump little guy was fidgeting with curiosity.
The energy it gave off felt ordinary, but it definitely wasn't some normal object.
Especially with that artificially carved spade pattern.
Trump cards... and spades...
【Rabbit Hole】
You've entered the Rabbit Hole, led by someone.
With your scattered comrades reunited, a suspicious entity appeared before you.
Soldiers with card-like bodies surrounded you.
Through the Sage's knowledge, you realized they were your enemies.
Even without the Sage, opponents aiming spears at you are obviously foes.
You defeated them alongside the girl and the Sage, and discovered treasure.
Something with a spade symbol etched on its shell comes into view.
Trump cards. Spades.
Seeing this familiar shape, one thought crosses your mind.
This item might not be complete on its own—perhaps it's a piece of something larger.
Diamonds, Spades, Hearts, Clubs.
Gather all four symbols, and you'll obtain something truly worthy of being called a fateful encounter.
You, the girl, and the Sage set a simple goal in this mysterious and suspicious place.
Quest Clear Condition: Complete the mysterious item.
"Caw!"
Quests are divine, and I'm invincible.
For it to pop up like this, it has to be a handout.
Wander this place, collect items with the other symbols.
Once we have them all, the proper reward will come.
I explained it to Moona and Rebecca.
Of course, I didn't mention the quest itself—they wouldn't believe that—so I added that it was the clever crow's intuition.
"Yeah, if Raven says so, I'm in."
Swungswung burrowed into my wing, signaling he was good either way.
"Hm, your words carry credibility. Yes. If it's fragments of some object, that explains what even I couldn't identify. Hm, not just credible—when it comes to this, your words might be close to the truth."
Moona, ever the Sage, took my clumsy words and wove his own reasoning around them.
And so, our goal in the Rabbit Hole was set.
First, snag the other treasure chests surely lurking nearby, match all the symbols, and clear the quest.
At the same time, find this place's owner, the Rabbit.
Get his help to reach the Lion Heart King's castle.
Secure the fateful encounter and cut down on travel time.
A clear, solid plan.
"Caaaw..."
Wait, but... feels like I forgot something?
"What's wrong, Raven?"
Sigh...
It's right on the tip of my tongue.
Something important...? No, maybe not important?
Anyway, there was one more thing, but I can't recall.
"Caw caw."
If I forgot it that easily, it probably wasn't important.
Something crucial, and Moona would've pointed it out.
"...Wait, something's off."
"Caw?"
I thought he might explain the thing I'd forgotten, but no.
His gaze was fixed on the ground.
There was a trail like something slimy had slithered by.
"Traces of a slime-bodied creature. And quite large. ...No way."
Was some dangerous beast prowling around?
"Damn, I don't want to believe it, but... there's a snail here."
A snail!
What? Why say it like that with such a grim tone?
"Caw caw?"
"Little wind, a lifelong rival may be approaching. Stay alert."
What the heck was that supposed to mean?
Was he joking or something?
"Raven, I'll protect you."
Even Swungswung spoke in a resolute voice.
No, why are you guys acting like this?
"Caw, caw caw?"
It's just a snail?
"Just a snail? Oh dear... I forgot how young the little wind is."
No matter how young I am, I know snails.
"Listen well. To deal with a snail... you'd need to bring a whole knight order."
....
No, it's a snail?
Even if it looks tough, it's still a snail?
Knight order?
What on earth...?
*
"Nya! What if you forget about me, nya!"
The being the crow had completely overlooked.
Cheshire Cat yelled in disbelief.
Winged or not, how could he not come looking for her?
It was as good as saying he'd forgotten her.
"And you, Rabbit! I get not saying anything before bringing guests, but splitting us all up like this? How am I supposed to deal with that, nya!"
Cheshire Cat's complaints weren't limited to the crow.
She vented at her friend, the Rabbit, too.
Of course, the Rabbit wasn't there.
And Cheshire Cat didn't have a habit of talking to herself in empty spaces.
"Come out, nya! You Rabbit jerk!"
She desperately called for the Rabbit, but no reply.
"What, nya? Now you're answering?"
The Rabbit Hole's master was the Rabbit.
Which meant making this racket would force the Rabbit to notice.
Yes. It wasn't really talking to herself—it was calling out to the Rabbit.
And yet, still no answer.
"No way, you're that petty, nya? I said it now, so we're good, right? Forgive me, nya!"
Cheshire Cat figured her friend must be seriously pissed.
"Nyaaang..."
She made the face of a cat soaked to the skin.
"Everyone, don't fall back!"
"We're taking down the monster!"
Soldiers shaped like cards.
No, judging by their armor, they were more like knights gathered together.
Cheshire Cat peeked her head out.
As the Rabbit's friend, she knew where these things came from.
They were like a virus—harmful entities to the Rabbit Hole.
"Nya... their numbers have grown a lot, nya?"
She'd seen them around before, but this time there were way more.
And each one seemed stronger than before.
Cheshire Cat stared at them blankly before losing interest and turning away.
No matter how many card soldiers there were, it had nothing to do with her.
The buff rabbits roaming this place would clean them up.
All she wanted was to reunite with the crow quickly, meet the Rabbit, and be done.
Drip.
A sticky, cold liquid plopped onto Cheshire Cat's head.
"Nya? Crow's here, nya?"
Cheshire Cat looked up happily.
Something had fallen from above, so naturally she thought it was the winged crow.
But what awaited her uplifted gaze wasn't a handsome crow.
"Keeiiiik..."
A bald, slimy body drooling unidentifiable goo—saliva or slime?—and a massive shell on its back came into view.
The moment she saw it, Cheshire Cat nearly froze solid.
A being that shouldn't exist in the Rabbit Hole had appeared.
The knights' nightmare.
The demon embodying the great sin of sloth.
Also known by another name: the snail. It licked its lips.