Chapter 27

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: Hidden Quest

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Whisp had gone and evolved.

Maybe because it had been clinging to my side, it had turned pitch black, matching me perfectly.

These days, even mermaids were changing to that color, so it didn't seem all that strange...

But the timing of this change was the problem.

It was blatantly obvious that it was time for farewell greetings.

"The other children will pass on with me, but this one seems to want to stay here longer."

"Shwoong shwoong."

I turned my head to look at Whisp.

It was rubbing its face wildly against my feathers.

The fateful encounter that had once shimmered gold.

That encounter wasn't over after all.

I extended my wing slightly to stroke Whisp's head.

Unlike the other ghosts, it could pass on now but chose to stay. Should I be grateful, or call it foolish?

"Kaw..."

Gratitude comes first, I suppose.

"Shwoong!"

Now that thanks were exchanged, time to give it a peck with my beak.

Peck.

"Shwaa-wang?"

Whisp made a face like it had no idea why I was doing this.

No, its evolution was thanks to the Ghost Bride's power, right?

"Kak kak."

So what about me?

Of course, Whisp getting stronger was good news, and its choice to stick with me was commendable.

But that didn't change the lingering sense of something missing.

As I mulled over these very crow-like thoughts, the Ghost Bride gave a faint smile.

"Rest assured. You've not only soothed me but also the lingering spirits of these children."

"Woo-woong!"

The little ghosts nodded vigorously at me.

At the Ghost Bride's level, could she read my mind without words?

Or maybe it was just written all over my face.

"May I touch your body once more, benefactor?"

"Kagak!"

Who would refuse that offer?

I'd politely decline her ghastly touch before, but things were different now.

She'd promised special rewards, so I had to accept.

The Ghost Bride embraced me again with both hands.

Swish.

My body grew even more translucent, and I felt her power flowing into me.

Skill levels up!

I couldn't tell exactly what had changed, but it was bound to be an absolute win.

"Kagagak!"

I let out a startled cry.

Goblin Fire?

It felt like I'd acquired some seriously impressive technique.

Pheromone Manipulation already had me questioning if crows should have that, and Shadow Form was practically revolutionary.

But this Goblin Fire blew them both away.

Wait, since when could crows even use fire?

"Kagagagak!"

And it even evolved a step further?

"This is the flame I wielded. I hope you'll make good use of it, benefactor."

It seemed a bit different from the one she used, but I wouldn't mention that.

Either way, this was an incredible reward.

Unlike traits with fixed slots, skills had no limits—the more, the better.

And a skill named Shadow Fire, no less.

"Kagak!"

I couldn't help but want to wag my tail.

"Woo-oong-oong!"

"Woong-woong-oo-oong!"

The little ghosts celebrated like it was their own achievement.

I'd gotten my rewards, and Whisp and I could stay together.

Now all that was left was to see off the Ghost Bride and the children.

Woo-woong.

Light poured from the silver ring on her ring finger.

"One last request, may I?"

"Kak."

Of course.

I'll raise Whisp right.

"Kallida. If you meet him, be very careful."

A name I'd never heard before.

"He's the mastermind behind what happened to Skarnas."

...The Ghost Bride's former fiancé, a noble somewhere.

The culprit who committed this atrocity to bring about Eternal Night.

"He pretends to be human, but he's not. He's an evil being working with filthy witches to spread Eternal Night."

Since it involved Eternal Night, we'd cross paths eventually.

I'll handle her revenge then.

"No need. My grudge is gone, and I'm about to pass on."

"Kak."

"...But if it's for this child, or for you, benefactor, I couldn't stop you."

Goblin Fire.

Now evolved into Shadow Fire—she'd even passed that skill to me, so I owed her that much.

"If I had my way, I'd ask you to stay in this mansion, but this village doesn't have much time left."

"Kaak?"

What did that mean?

The ghosts were gone, I'd gotten plenty of decorations, and I was pondering how to fancy up my nest?

"As I said earlier, Kallida sacrificed the entire village in a ritual. That ritual was to hasten Eternal Night."

Right, info from the quest log.

He'd tricked the Ghost Bride, using her, the children, and the whole village as sacrifices for Eternal Night.

But I took out the Eternal Night host, didn't I?

The Ghost Bride I was talking to would pass on soon.

Then the Eternal Night the Sage feared wouldn't come, and I could live comfortably here.

"I don't know exactly what Eternal Night is, but right before I died, I saw the entity Kallida summoned."

The story was taking a weird turn.

The crow joined hands with little ghosts, resolved the Ghost Bride's grudge.

And they all lived happily ever after... but no.

There was more.

Yeah, think back to the scene after my first night here.

That massive tree cleanly sliced down.

And I still hadn't figured out who did it.

The Ghost Bride could've, but as an earthbound spirit, she couldn't leave the village.

She wasn't the Eternal Night host.

"Scarecrow. That grotesque thing in the form of a mad scarecrow haunts this village."

Mad scarecrow.

That was the true Eternal Night host—the enemy I needed to defeat.

The main quest was complete.

How?

Not through the standard route, but a hidden one.

And completing a quest like that meant linked quests would follow.

*

"Brother, what'd I tell ya? This is a goldmine. Heh, check out this wine."

"Take it easy. That's not our goal here."

"True enough. But hauling all this'd need a wagon."

Not all the humans in Skarnas Village were adventurers like Ethan's group.

"The wine alone's a jackpot, and if we strip those adventurers' gear too? We can quit this beggar thief life, right? Head to Emerald Land or whatever and live easy."

"It's Emerald, you illiterate bastard."

"Heh heh, same difference, brother."

They were an unofficial band calling themselves the Red Scorpion Brotherhood.

They'd heard about the village in the papers and spotted a group of adventurers heading to Skarnas.

Didn't look too seasoned, but their gear was high quality.

They figured stripping it would net a nice profit, so off to Skarnas they ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠went.

Ghosts popping out at sunset gave them a scare, but that was it.

Conveniently, the ghosts went after the adventurers, not them. The adventurers would be worn out fighting the Laces.

So they could just wait and profit.

But the Red Scorpion Brotherhood weren't the lazy type.

The early-rising thief gets the extra coin—that was their motto.

They had principles in thievery.

Hence, they were ransacking Skarnas's storerooms as a solid side hustle, given the village's famous grapes.

"Whoa, brooch here too? Hey, runt! Grab this!"

The Red Scorpion Brotherhood scooped up unclaimed goods with greedy eyes.

Wine, abandoned items, and soon the adventurers' gear—if they got it all, they could really quit this life.

No pangs of conscience.

Theirs were worn thin, and who'd testify anyway?

Skarnas was empty, and the adventurers would die to the Laces.

Any survivors, they'd handle.

The only witness to their deeds was the scarecrow standing in the middle of the field.

Crash!

"Ow! B-brother!"

A clatter from behind—the runt tripping.

Normally he'd gripe about such a pathetic guy, but now was different.

"Damn it! H-hey! The wine! Do you know how much that's worth?!"

He heard bottles hitting the ground.

These individually bottled wines were the priciest from Skarnas's grapes—not oaken casks.

"Forget it. We've got plenty more wine."

"Didn't know you were so merciful, brother. Tch, you, come help move stuff!"

One bottle lost was fine, per the boss.

But losing face wasn't.

He'd granted forgiveness, yet no reply?

"Runt, what're you doing? Answer me!"

The man snapped irritably.

Still no answer.

"Hoo, brother, don't stop me. I'll drill some discipline into the runt."

The boss side-eyed his subordinate.

They called themselves a brotherhood, but hierarchy mattered.

He sighed lightly and focused on sorting valuables.

"Brotherhood life's too cushy for you? Get over here. No, I'll go."

Assuming he'd handle it.

The boss, sweating as he piled goods, grew annoyed.

Should've been back by now after the scolding.

"Tch, these bastards slacking off."

Were they dumping work on him to slack?

Wondering if he'd babied them like real brothers, he reflected on his past.

"You lot not coming?"

No reply again.

The boss straightened his aching back, torch in hand, and headed to the alley where his men had vanished.

"You bastards, what the...?"

And there was no one.

Something was off.

No traces at all.

Grabbed by Laces? Spotted by adventurers?

As wild thoughts raced, a familiar voice reached him.

"Ow! B-brother!"

It came not from here, but a building behind.

That explained no voices from the second and runt.

Relieved, the boss headed there.

"Hey, hey, cut it out. Rules this, rules that—move the damn cargo first. Even I'm breaking a sweat here..."

Tension eased by the runt's voice, the Red Scorpion boss overlooked a key fact.

The scarecrow that should've been in the field center had vanished at some point.

The pitch-black night without sunrise helped.

The boss hadn't noticed yet.

He realized the truth right after seeing what was the "runt."

"M-m-mak..."

Limbs twisted at grotesque angles.

Face smashed beyond recognition, and beside it, the second sat awkwardly.

Run.

Something unnatural was happening.

Far worse than any Lace.

"Hoo... b-brother..."

The second's voice snapped him back.

Runt was done for, but second lived.

"Second!"

Couldn't move—probably twisted leg.

The boss rushed over.

Fwoosh.

Divine prank? His torch went out.

Instant total darkness.

"Second! Where are you?!"

Still, he yelled to save his brother.

"Ow... h-hek... guk... bro...ther..."

Found the direction.

Just hoist him and flee.

To somewhere with light, at least.

His hand reached out—and touched not warm flesh.

Cold. Sharp.

Not natural—man-made.

Rough straw texture mixed with iron chill.

That touch told him: not human.

"Guk... kak... you... illiterate... em... guk... erald..."

Bigger than a man.

Twisted claws, massive scythe in the other hand.

Artificial lifeform made to chase crows.

Scarecrow.

The voices of his men? This cursed scarecrow mimicking them.

Splurt!

He realized too late—after the scarecrow's jagged teeth pierced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his throat.

Crunch.

Chomp.

The scarecrow devoured its victim in one gulp and looked skyward.

The sky, now even darker.

"Drooo... gek... rooo... krrrk, shiii..."

The scarecrow twisted with a grotesque grin.

The day its destiny would be fulfilled was near.