Chapter 30
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Sage
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【Skull Hound】
A type of skeleton that has evolved into the form of a hunting dog.
Lacking hearing and sight, it tracks enemies with its hyper-developed sense of smell.
It possesses the ability to generate bones, which Curs Hounds covet and follow in pursuit of.
「Horrific Time LV2」
「Cursed Fangs LV3」
「Tug Play LV2」
「Bone Master」
「Sturdy Skull」
「Sensitive Sense of Smell」
An enemy without hearing or sight.
That's why Kiwi's secret technique, the "Kiwi Kiwi" sound attack, hadn't worked.
So that's how it got caught.
Now here's one question.
Once you've caught it, why carry it around like a trophy?
Wouldn't just a slight squeeze of the hand make it go through horrific times?
Maybe Kiwi's body is tougher than I thought?
That would explain why it's still alive and maintaining such a composed attitude even while dangling like that.
So why is that thing carrying it around?
Does it like the plump, squishy feel?
Is it like a security blanket or something?
Whatever the case, I have one thing to do.
Rescue the Sage.
Having fought both Skull Skeletons and Curs Hounds before, I could roughly guess what weapons this fusion of the two possessed.
First things first, it needs to drop the Kiwi it's holding.
I swiftly swapped out my feathers.
Flashing light is meaningless against something without eyes.
In its place, I selected Pheromone Manipulation.
Its only remaining sense is smell, and it's hyper-developed, so it has to have an effect.
Psssh.
I immediately sprayed out Allure Scent.
"Chick... kreeeong!"
The effect was tremendous.
"Ooh, this shaking. It feels just like a kiwi fruit in a typhoon."
Excited, it wildly shook the kiwi in its grasp, naturally dropping it in the process.
Thud.
"To feel such sensations is proof of being alive, I suppose."
Stop admiring it and get out of there already.
"Caw!"
Even so, it didn't frustratingly stick its butt to the ground; with nimble movements, Kiwi escaped the Skull Hound's vicinity.
In other words, it rolled away, withdrawing from the battlefield.
Now I no longer had to worry about the hostage and could focus solely on the enemy.
"Crunch! Kyang! Kyang!"
The Skull Hound was still dazed from the pheromones, unable to regain its senses.
Shweeeee!
A chicken-foot kick launched like an arrow.
Splat!
Unlike a Curs Hound, this one was nothing but bones, so it didn't feel satisfying to hit.
Crack.
Still, the impact was enough to snap a rib or two, so it couldn't be dismissed as no damage.
"Clack clack clack clack!"
Snapped back to reality by the talon strike, it gnashed its teeth in rage.
Shhh...
I knew immediately what this heralded.
Swish!
I flapped my wings and dodged the sharp bone shards it fired.
Shwick!
The enemy's sharp claws came slashing right after.
I spun once in midair, then blocked its attack with my talons.
Clang!
One of its hands locked against both my feet—we were in a test of strength.
Grind.
Of course, it was stronger.
I'd grown a bit in size, but as a flying bird, I was still light.
It was natural for the heavier one to have the advantage.
Plus, I was airborne while it had its feet planted on the ground.
This was a situation I couldn't win even if I wanted to.
But I had no intention of arm-wrestling it.
"Shwoooong!"
This wasn't a fair one-on-one from the start.
It played out the same as before.
The Whirly—who'd emerged from my body—haphazardly hurled bundles of silver coins.
Thud thud thud.
Jingle.
"Clack! Clack clack clack!"
Crackle!
Nothing is as effective against these things as silver coins.
Still, it didn't seem enough to finish it in one go.
I had no way of knowing if silver's potency diminished with use or if this guy's durability exceeded my expectations.
But that was fine.
I could follow up with an attack stronger than any other.
I stared straight at the writhing creature in pain, then shot toward it at high speed.
Shweeeee!
Instead of my feet, I smashed its crown with my wing.
Whack!
Of course, a mere wing strike wouldn't deal much damage.
Stomping with talons or pecking with the beak would be several times stronger.
「Shadow Flame LV1」
As I struck it with my wing, I attached a shadow feather.
Whoosh!
Flames like shadows began corroding its white bones.
"Kyaack! Clack clack clack!"
Pheromones, physical force, silver, flames.
This should be enough to bring it down without issue.
"Caaaack..."
Without relief at defeating the enemy, I immediately took further action.
That was gathering the scattered silver coins near the entrance.
With a guest arriving, it was time to end the fighting.
"Whirr."
Whirly tapped me with its short arm.
Turning my head, it was holding out a shiny white feather.
"Caw."
Good job, Whirly.
A feather imbued with some of the Skull Hound's traits.
Acquire 「Sturdy Skull」 while equipped.
Hmm...
I probably won't use Sturdy Skull, but no harm in having it.
And so I set up silver coin barricades everywhere.
"Fine silver indeed. Blessed to a considerable degree as well. To think such silver remained in Skarnas—truly astonishing."
The plump-bottomed kiwi bird waddled toward me.
Its appearance was slightly different from usual.
Clothes made of reeds, perhaps?
Anyway, it was wearing something.
As I stared, the Sage answered.
"Ah, this? Outing attire. I planned to walk quite a distance, so I prepared."
You wear clothes when going out?
Then what about when we met before?
"At home, you can wear whatever."
"Cackle..."
I'd learned a truth I hadn't wanted to know.
"You've changed so much, though. Has time surpassed me? I never dreamed you'd grow this much."
The kiwi bird bobbed its beak up and down near me.
Its tiny dot-like eyes pierced right through me.
"Shrrruuu..."
Whirly bristled its fur like a spooked cat, crumpling the fabric.
"Oh ho. And you already have a familiar, no less."
Not a familiar, more like a subordinate.
"Shwawang..."
Whirly, disliking the kiwi, hid between my wings.
Is it because they share the same fateful encounter?
The kiwi seemed indifferent.
Maybe it's just unfamiliar with kiwi birds?
"Ohhh... I see, so that's how it is..."
"Cawk?"
Did it figure something out?
"You don't know... Well, it's not time yet..."
I was tempted to poke that plump butt with my beak but barely held back.
Better focus on communication.
I was curious where it was headed, dressed up like that.
"Cackle."
After a few trial and error, I succeeded in conveying my intent through gestures.
"Where else? I sensed the evil spirit of Skarnas achieving Buddhahood and came to find you."
You can sense that?
And you came looking for me?
Not just caught in passing?
"You're the only variable, so you must have handled it. I figured you'd be where the monsters gather, so I let myself get caught on purpose. To reach you quickly."
No way. So it wasn't a pointless capture—it was all planned?
Hard to believe looking at that chubby body, but with the title of Sage, it rang true.
"My purpose here is to give you information. Yes, you defeated a powerful grudge spirit, but it wasn't the host of Eternal Night. ...Though it seems you already knew that."
If I'd taken down the ghost bride the orthodox way, no linked quest would have appeared.
I'd have assumed destroying that grudge spirit meant eliminating the Eternal Night host and wasted time in vain.
The kiwi came to prevent that.
To inform me the grudge spirit was gone but the host lived.
Like a final lifeline to get the linked quest even without the hidden route.
Of course, this info required a bond with the Sage, reminding me once more how vital that golden fateful encounter was.
Even if I'd beaten the ghost bride differently, I'd still get the related info thanks to the Sage.
"The harbingers of Eternal Night will grow stronger over time. Had you not pacified that grudge spirit, you'd have faced it in an even mightier state."
The longer time passes, the closer Eternal Night draws.
The evil spirits, including the ghost bride, naturally grow stronger too.
"Still, thanks to you stopping the grudge spirit... we've bought some time, at least."
The Sage indeed.
Looks like it'll deliver more useful info again.
I needed to know how much time I had left.
Time to build strength against Scarecrow and devise strategies.
I had to secure and make the most of that time.
"Until the moon's phase changes again. That's the leeway you have."
About a month left.
Not too long, not too short.
"Seeing your winds grown so fierce, you might truly thwart the Eternal Night host."
It took me less than a week to evolve from Little Crow to Shadow Crow.
A month for me? More than enough to gain power to check Scarecrow.
"But it can change anytime based on circumstances, so don't get too complacent. You might encounter the host even before Eternal Night arrives."
It doesn't stay put.
We could cross paths while it's wandering.
Better to think of the one-month limit rather than assuming full time.
"Mind that, and you might really avert Eternal Night."
The Sage, in good spirits, wagged its beak.
The kiwi is a fateful encounter for me, but I'm one for it too.
Who could've guessed a newborn crow fledgling would achieve such feats?
"Well, if the host drinks human blood, Eternal Night accelerates, but that's unlikely."
Yeah, right.
How would it get human blood in this ruined village?
....
"Caaack?"
Humans are still in this village.
Five of them, no less.
And those adventurers who seem to be rummaging through the village right now.
What if they meet Scarecrow?
What if Scarecrow catches and eats them?
I flapped my wings hard.
"Cack cackle."
Catching up with the kiwi after so long would have to wait.
Kiwi, you stay here and guard the house.
It should be safe.
You'll sleep well too.
"Where are you rushing off to?"
"Caw!"
I have things to do.
Prevent the adventurers from meeting Scarecrow.
The chance is low, but not zero.
The best way is to make it zero.
In other words, chase them out of the village.
Of course, it won't be easy.
Hard to threaten with this clever, cute bird look of mine.
But I have no choice.
Block Eternal Night, and as a bonus, repay them for the silver coins they sponsored me with.