Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Main Quest
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Flap, flap.
Thump, thump, thump.
I threw everything I had into performing the courtship dance.
As a former human, I wondered how the hell I could pull off such a bird's ridiculous routine, but the video I'd seen in my past life was so vivid I couldn't forget it.
A bird putting on such a comical display that you'd swear it couldn't be real.
The shoulder bird-of-paradise.
I remember lamenting why something like a unicorn didn't exist when this guy did.
And bursting out laughing at its absurd antics.
But this wasn't a laughing matter.
I couldn't belittle its efforts to woo a mate.
Just like a mantis mounting a female knowing it'll die, this dance was the fruit of practicing until its blood vessels burst for one shot at love.
Sweat didn't pour like rain...
Birds don't have sweat glands, so maybe that was only natural.
Thump.
Flaaap!
"Ooo..."
Baby Lace seemed intrigued by my dance, swaying as she watched.
Yeah, just stay put like that.
As long as you don't rat me out to those hunting dogs.
While dancing the courtship routine, I snuck a glance at Baby Lace.
【Skills】
「Ooo LV2」
「Uuu LV1」
【Traits】
「Fluidization」
「Levitation」
Huh?
I rubbed my eyes with a wing.
No, what the hell are those skill names?
What's Ooo supposed to be, and Uuu?
And why was Ooo a whole level higher than Uuu?
"Ouu..."
As I froze for a moment, Baby Lace started acting up.
"Chirp."
I hurriedly resumed the courtship dance.
Thump, thump, thump.
Flap, flap.
"Oou..."
She seemed pleased.
...But how long was I supposed to keep this up?
It felt like entertaining a toddler.
The moment I paused even briefly, it seemed like she'd throw a fit.
So this was the hardship of parenting.
After flapping my wings like that for what felt like ages, the hunting dogs finally gave up the chase and started heading back.
"Chirp... whew..."
The instant they vanished, I stopped dancing and flopped over flat.
"Shooo?"
I stuck out a long tongue from my beak and panted heavily.
I couldn't do more.
No reason to, either.
Baby Lace paced around me.
"Caw."
Now I'm gonna rest here, so why don't you head out?
"Shuuu...?"
She tilted her head.
Of course she couldn't understand me.
"Shuung... uuu..."
Hovering around my eyes like that, she clearly wanted an encore of whatever I'd done before.
"Caw."
Time for us to part ways.
Stay quiet and I won't complain—you can hang here if you want.
Truth be told, even if she wasn't quiet, there wasn't much I could do about it.
How was a crow supposed to deal with a ghost?
"Shoong."
As if understanding my intent, she fluttered lightly and perched gently beside me.
Up close like this, she actually looked kinda cute.
Wait, could I really do nothing to this ghost?
I lifted my head slightly and examined her intently.
Maybe a quick peck with my beak would connect?
She even had what looked like a little handkerchief draped over her.
Not that I wanted to attack her—I just wanted to test it out.
Baby Lace wouldn't attack me, but regular Laces probably would.
So preparing ahead wasn't a bad idea.
"Chirp."
One little poke wouldn't hurt, right?
As I asked for permission she couldn't grant and moved to jab her handkerchief with my beak...
Baby Lace, who'd been staring blankly at me, suddenly chomped down.
She likes me that mu—
Sluuurp.
"Chirp!"
Kraaak!
What the—?
Sluuuuuurp.
It felt like something of mine was being sucked away.
"Shoooong..."
Baby Lace gleamed with golden light.
So this was what it felt like to have your soul drained!
Lulling me with that cute act, then striking from behind.
Never trust anyone.
Er, any ghosts in this place.
The moment I tried to pull away from her slurp...
[Condition fulfilled.]
"Cawk?"
Condition?
What did that mean?
[Hidden trait confirmed.]
[Improved Insight, Extraordinary Potential, Genius.]
[Hidden info unlocked.]
Something exciting was happening.
[Main quest to statu...]
The message blurred out in an instant.
Looking back, the slurping had stopped.
"Caw caw!"
I quickly shoved the crown of my head into her mouth.
"Shooong?"
As if getting the message, Baby Lace resumed what she'd been doing.
[Main quest entered in status window.]
Main quest!
[First main quest opened.]
【Tragedy of Skarnas Village】
1.
You resolved to set out on an adventure and pressed forward through countless trials.
You nearly lost your life to a vicious witch and happened upon a Sage from whom you received precious teachings.
Your destination: Skarnas, a quaint village famed for its delicious grapes.
2.
But what in the world happened here?
The light of beautiful Skarnas was extinguished long ago, with not a trace of humanity to be found.
After battling hordes of monstrosities, you ended up being hounded by hunting dogs.
3.
A survivor remained.
With the aid of a girl hiding in a stone structure, you barely shook off the hunting dogs.
From her, you learned the full story of the incident.
4.
Your resolve hardens.
To unravel the secrets binding this village and avert the looming catastrophe, you prepare to take a small yet monumental step.
Quest Clear Condition: Defeat ????
A massive wall of text unfurled in an instant.
I widened my eyes and devoured every line, wondering what the hell was going on.
It felt just like reading a quest log in a game.
A format I'd seen a million times before.
Essentially, a quest log detailing what the character had done so far and what lay ahead.
And it was easy to tell that character was me.
It was a bit twisted here and there, but overall, it matched the path I'd walked.
Nearly died to who I assumed was the witch, met the kiwi bird called a Sage.
Arrived in Skarnas, fought monsters, shook off the dogs thanks to Baby Lace's help.
Nothing completely off-base—each part had a clear counterpart.
"Shoooong?"
Which meant the "girl" in the quest was this ghost...
It mentioned hearing the full story from her, so I figured her slurping translated to the girl spilling the details.
That act of sharing info had triggered it, letting me notice the quest progressing without realizing.
More precisely, entering Skarnas and meeting the ghost girl.
Those two conditions fulfilled, the quest advanced.
Plus, my chosen traits wove in cleverly, unlocking a quest log I shouldn't have seen otherwise.
"Uuuu?"
A faint golden glow seeped from Baby Lace's form.
The same gold Mu had shown.
This little ghost was what you'd call a serendipitous encounter.
Without her, I wouldn't have even known quests existed.
"Shooong!"
Flip it around: if even one piece was missing, I'd still be clueless.
This game was brutally tough.
That was high praise, but "this game is brutally made" sure as hell wasn't.
Especially coming from me, stuck inside trying to survive it!
What kind of game pulls this crap?
Shouldn't the quest window pop up right away at least?
...Think positive.
Better late than never.
And this gave me a ton of useful info.
I'd made it here without knowing about quests, thanks to Mu's words.
That was the Sage, that was serendipity.
And right before me sat a little lady glowing with the same fateful light.
"Sh, shoooong?"
I realized then: any being that emitted this golden light had to be mine.
So...
"Caw caw caw!"
I'll take it!
I flapped my wings and charged at the little ghost.
"Hooeeng... hooeeng...!"
I won't ask for much.
Just tell me the name of that ???? in the clear condition.
...If possible, appearance, weakness, likes, ideal type too!
"Extra! Extra!"
The newsboy's hawking fell on deaf ears.
Everyone knew "extra" just meant more grim, predictable drivel like the baron's son flying into a rage and killing someone again.
"That neighboring village! Skarnas! Skarnas got wiped out overnight!"
Like villages didn't drop like flies all the time?
Sure, no refugee wave was a bit odd, but total massacres weren't rare enough to dismiss outright.
"W-Witch sightings too!"
The boy pulled every trick to sell, but struck out.
People wanted info on gold or silver veins—stuff that made money. Not this.
When had people grown so dour?
Dead eyes like they'd lost all hope, spouting cynicism and pessimism everywhere.
The boy, peddling papers far and wide, sensed the shifting mood faster than anyone.
Another bust today? He was about to quit when...
"Wiped out? This fake news?"
"Hey, gimme a copy!"
A group a bit older than him—more kids than youths—approached.
"Thanks!"
The boy's face lit up.
First sale of the day set the tone, and this girl knew exactly what he wanted.
"Whoa, this actually happened?"
As they spoke, passersby started buying papers one by one.
Skarnas's fall.
Those snagged by the sensational headline split into three camps.
"Tch, grape prices'll spike for a while."
The type who shrugged it off lightly.
"Erica, smell that adventure vibe? Paper's details are super thin too."
"True. If we investigate ourselves..."
"Yeah! Adventure and cash! Win-win!"
The dreamers taking a bold leap.
"Boss, see this? Big score, right?"
"Forget it. Obvious monster nest—too bloody."
"Nah, check those runts. They're heading to Skarnas too. We arrive late, scraps are ours. Heh, and those faces ain't bad..."
The opportunists tailing the dreamers' heels for their own desires.
"Prep solid, got it?"
"I know, jeez? Not my first rodeo."
"Third for you, isn't it?"
Those with dreams always moved first.
They set off for Skarnas.
Like that one crow, they'd be chased multiple times by a furious squirrel pack after losing a massive inchworm and their dearest acorn.