Chapter 3

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 3

Chapter Title: Trait-Stealing Crow

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How the hell does a bug eat a mountain?

I had to believe it was exaggerated.

Sure, it was bigger than me, but not that big.

Maybe a Little Crow Eater, at best.

Even while fleeing, I'd checked its info.

This must be the effect of the Crow's Eye skill.

Pretty decent skill.

Not just the name and level—it lets me see exactly what skills and traits it has.

The only downside? No detailed explanations.

I have to infer from the names alone... but honestly, aside from Thorn Barrage, they're straightforward enough. No big issue.

It crawls up, crushes with that sturdy jaw, and devours. That's its fighting style.

Still, this isn't a hopeless situation.

Thanks to that worm showing up, I got some info.

For starters, one thing's crystal clear.

This isn't the Earth I lived on.

What world has caterpillars that huge?

Sure, maybe one down in Australia, but even those don't eat mountains.

And they sure as hell don't roar like this!

"Grroooaaargh!"

I scrambled with my stubby little legs.

Patapatapata!

For a fleeting moment, I dared to hope.

Even in this body, if I adapted, maybe I could make it work.

The body changed, but my mind was the same.

Hunting bugs for a living wouldn't be easy, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

But that was just delusion.

"Grrooohk!"

Me, trying to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eat you, Lord Mountain Eater?

The bottom of the food chain doesn't dream that big.

I should've been worrying about finding edible seeds.

Of course, right now, escaping took priority over regrets.

Patapata!

My max speed, but it wouldn't last. I'd be caught soon enough.

I needed a wildcard.

A variable to turn the tables.

With what I had, no chance.

But something had been bugging me for a while.

That caterpillar chasing me.

Lots of fuzz, but one hair stood out, sparkling like crazy.

That's how I'd spotted it first—that shiny organ.

And now, something else gleaming in the bushes.

What the heck was it?

The old me would've analyzed before approaching, but circumstances had changed.

Sitting still meant death anyway. Time to make my own wildcard.

"Caw!"

I screeched at the top of my lungs and bolted for the bushes.

More precisely, toward whatever was sparkling there.

"Caaaaw!"

Please.

Please give me something.

A hiding spot. A trap to shake pursuit.

Or...

"Queeek!"

A creature to draw its attention!

What appeared before me was a massive squirrel.

Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like any I knew, though.

Look at that grotesquely gaping maw.

Tentacles about to burst out, multiple eyes—total horror show.

No time to gawk at its status. I snapped it shut.

The squirrel showing up didn't make it my ally.

Caterpillar behind, squirrel ahead.

Could even call it surrounded.

But things were way better than before.

"Queesisik!"

"Grrooohk!"

They weren't glaring at me in the middle—they were facing off against each other.

Compared to them, I was tiny. Barely a snack.

Yet that worm was hell-bent on eating me.

Mountain Eater must be starving.

Status said it's docile when full.

And that squirrel? Scar around its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eye.

Fierce whether hungry or not.

Two predators meet over prey.

Both in foul moods, too.

Which means...?

"Queesik!"

I just veer off to the side, and they'll tear into each other.

"Grrooowk!"

Kududuk!

A sound unbelievable for squirrel vs. caterpillar.

Squirrel charged first; worm bristled with spines.

Thuk!

But those spines didn't pierce squirrel hide.

Kwajik.

Grabs the worm with one hand, smashes with a shiny acorn in the other.

Kwaaang!

Squirrel's got the edge.

In this worldline, squirrels take down Alaska bullworms? Classic.

...Not the time for admiration.

Legs screaming like they're about to snap, but push on.

They're fighting now, but it won't last forever.

Winner will claim the spoils—me.

Escape first.

Widen the gap, whatever it takes.

But would running even help?

I'd burned too much energy already.

Hunger turned to starvation; now fatigue debuff too.

This frail body—what could it do now?

...Doesn't matter. No reason to stay and die.

Survive first.

Run, then scavenge seeds.

Yeah.

Just keep running.

"Queesik?"

Eye contact with the squirrel.

And my cute little beak was clamped on the lid of its shiny acorn.

Eh?

Why am I holding this?

Squirrel stared at me like I was insane.

"Grrooowk!"

The worm rolling with it looked baffled too.

"Caw?"

Looking closer, that sparkling hair I'd eyed earlier was stuck in my beak.

So, in that split second, I'd crashed the scene, yanked the worm's hair, and swiped the squirrel's acorn?

Damn, how'd I pull that off?

"Queesisik!"

And why?

"Grrooohk!"

I must be nuts.

"Piyaaaak!"

Just let me live!

"Chirp..."

They'd battered each other good, so I slipped away unscathed.

Squirrel lost its weapon; worm went aggressive seeing that.

Thank heavens.

What possessed me? My body just moved.

Result-wise, though, I scored food.

This faintly glowing acorn.

And huge too.

One should fill me right up.

Confirmed the chase was off—time to stuff this tasty acorn.

Pecked at the ominous-looking nut.

Tung!

Barely a dent.

"Caw...?"

Twisted my head every which way—no scratches.

Squirrel's weapon; had to be tough.

But this tough?

Food I can't eat...

"Caw..."

Too big to swallow whole.

Pelican maybe, but no crow's gulping that.

Should've nabbed something softer.

Instead of worm hair...

"Kak."

Right, grabbed this too?

Odd-looking hair.

Kinda like my feathers.

Edible maybe?

Better than starving.

Staring at the plucked hair intently—

No clue why, but no time to ponder.

Equip it, obviously!

Instinct told me how.

Grabbed the feather with my beak and jabbed it into my body.

A few tries, and it slotted in like it belonged.

"Caw!"

Dunno what it is, but feels good already.

Finally, a trait of my own.

And its effect...?

Lame!

Super lame.

That's the trait I get?

But to me right now, it was a godsend in drought.

Harder beak?

Meaning...

Paat!

Straight for the acorn.

Toktuk!

Pecked like a woodpecker—cracked that tough shell wide open.

Shoved chunks between beak halves.

Odok.

So this is acorn flavor.

Thought it'd be like acorn jelly, but subtly different.

Nuttiness mixed with astringency, maybe.

Not bad, though.

Being a crow helps—kinda tasty even.

Devouring it greedily, another welcome message popped up.

Whoa, level up.

Why're you here!?

I just ate an acorn?

"Caaaaw...?"

I'm thrilled, sure... but is this allowed?