Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Ultimate Black-Eyed Crow
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A week or so had passed.
During that time, I'd leveled up steadily through hunting and reached level 11.
I'd raised the level of Twilight Feather by one, but Night Calling still hadn't budged.
In fact, I hadn't even tried using it once yet.
To activate Night Calling, I needed to offer a tribute, but all the silver coins that Swing Swing had scattered everywhere last time had been lost, leaving me with nothing suitable to offer.
I'd scrounged around the village for anything shiny, but none of it qualified as a proper tribute.
If it had glittered as wildly as those silver coins from before, I could've used it right away. What a shame.
I really needed to test it out at least once for practice so I could make use of it in a real fight.
Still, aside from Night Calling, my growth seemed steady and proficient enough.
After all the battles I'd fought here.
I'd thought ending Eternal Night would turn this place into a peaceful village, but that was wishful thinking.
With the previous occupants gone, other creatures that had been held back started emerging one by one.
Those things were weaker than the Laces, but the Laces had that cheat trait where they took no damage unless you used a special method.
In other words, the best you could hope for against them was a draw at minimum, so the others had spat in frustration and left.
But now that the Laces were gone?
Word must've spread or something, because monsters from the forest kept trickling into the village steadily.
They probably thought it was their world now.
But they had no way of knowing a crow more vicious than the Laces lived here.
"Caw, caw."
I used my beak to deeply etch the change in ownership of this place.
They were pretty strong, but nowhere near enough to beat me now.
Fleeing from the Laces meant they had no way to hit me when I hid in the shadows.
And there weren't any situations dangerous enough to force me into hiding in the shadows anyway.
But that didn't make me the unchallenged top dog here.
I knew there was something enormous wandering beyond the forest path, even if it never came into the village.
There were eight massive footprints that looked like they belonged to a giant spider.
Just their size suggested something approaching a rhinoceros in bulk, which was clue enough to its power.
I didn't need to see it up close to know how horrifying a spider that big would be.
Just looking at it would probably tank my morale stats.
At least it wasn't eyeing Skarnas, which was a relief.
The ghost bride's actions in life must've helped me out here.
They probably knew each other well enough to avoid clashing unnecessarily.
Not that "in life" fits her perfectly, but thanks anyway, ghost bride.
As long as I didn't stray outside the village, I wouldn't run into the giant spider.
...Not that I planned to stick around here forever.
I was getting ready to leave soon.
A new quest had arrived, and I'd grown about as much as I could here.
Plus, the time was just about right.
Last time I ran into that group of adventurers, I'd scared them off to save their lives.
No backlash yet, thankfully, but it was about time for them to bite.
Troops would gather to hunt the giant crow of Skarnas.
I'd love to tell them I had no choice, that I did it to save them, but they'd never buy it.
So what now?
Fight the humans there?
No need for that.
I'm a crow.
I could just grab Muna and Swing Swing and fly off into the sky. Problem solved.
I needed to head toward the Iron Lord's territory anyway.
This was the overwhelming advantage of being a flying beast.
You could eat your cake and have it too.
Outnumbered?
Fly away.
Who could chase me up there, and even if they did?
Hide in the shadows.
The epitome of unfairness.
If it'd happened to me, I'd curse up a storm about how cheap it was, but from my perspective? Strategic genius.
Anyway, that's why I felt safe holing up here.
More precisely, there was one thing nagging at me.
Skarnas' Giant Crow
Your tale has been added to an adventurer party's adventure log.
People in nearby areas will learn of the giant crow inhabiting Skarnas.
Your actions may raise your infamy... or your fame.
Clear Condition: Increase Influence
This subquest thing.
Skarnas' Giant Crow.
Even when I played games, I was the type who couldn't leave side quests undone.
Clearing it gives rewards and story bits, so no reason to skip.
If I interact with humans and boost my infamy or fame, it'll clear, and I'll naturally get a shot at rewards like always.
"Hmm, probably today. Or tomorrow. Latest by next year."
The sage spouted nonsense in a grave tone.
His voice had regained some of its former depth.
Not quite back to full, but he'd leveled up tagging along with me—Muna.
"The scent of iron rides the wind, o wind."
"Caw?"
He said that while clinging tightly to my wing.
Too much nonsense to dismiss outright, especially after benefiting from his wisdom so much. Let's interpret.
"...Humans will approach soon."
Now he's even adding explanations.
Thanks, Mr. Sage.
"Caw, caw."
A metallic scent didn't guarantee humans, but it might be.
"Tch... This is supposed to be the place."
I muffled a screech with my wing over my beak.
No way, actual humans?
"Hm, not next year after all. Today it is."
Impressive nose, but why the huge margin of error?
Not important.
"Caw."
I shook my wings lightly, voice low.
Wake up, Swing Swing.
"Swoooo...?"
Time to work!
"Swoong!"
Swing Swing peeked out, instantly alert.
I'd once said humans were all take and no give for me.
Not anymore.
Scare them good, clear the quest, and while they're spooked, pilfer their pockets?
I could snag silver coins for tributes.
The human-hating Little Night Crow was dead.
Now was the time for the human-loving Dusk Wing Crow.
With Muna and Swing Swing aboard, I slowly flew toward my favorite humans.
Shall we get along nicely?
"Ahem, what do you think?"
"Huh?"
"Come on, what have you been listening to? Do you buy what that Ethan guy said?"
The adventurer guild had sent a scout team.
Couldn't fully trust Ethan's party's intel, so they'd dispatched experts to cross-verify.
"Watch out for one crow? You believe that?"
"Kehah! Exactly. I figure he was just making excuses 'cause he chickened out from the Laces."
"Right? A crow's a crow. What's this 'ominous thing disguised as a crow' crap?"
Crackle.
The campfire burned slowly.
A peaceful village with no Laces, not even an ant in sight.
Of course, no villagers either, but their disappearance was confirmed.
"And that mage was a riot. Saying the crow might not be so bad? What're we supposed to do when our own party's split like that?"
"Tell me about it. Anyway, we hit the jackpot this time. Guild said to come back quick, but dragging it out means bigger hazard pay, right? Lounge a bit and cash in."
"Heh, no wife nagging me. There's a lake nearby—fishing at dawn?"
The two adventurers figured there were no variables here.
No threats to them, so they'd stall, claim danger pay, and squeeze extra from the request fee.
"Fishing's good, but... tsk, this the spot?"
"What're you doing?"
"Hold on. Skarnas wine's famous, yeah? Usually stashed in places like... "
"Skarnas wine! Yes! Man, why're you slumming as an adventurer with brains like that?"
They were even setting up a booze session.
"Found it!"
The moment the adventurer rummaging a crate lifted the wine.
Splat.
Something that shouldn't be there hit the ground.
"Huh?"
A fishy stench spread instantly.
A smell they'd sniffed plenty as adventurers.
Human blood.
More precisely, traces of what used to be human.
"What the fu... "
And then.
Whoosh.
The campfire went out.
"Shit, what the hell!"
They fumbled to relight it in panic, but failed.
"Caw, caw."
An utterly ominous sound reached their ears.
Their eyes shot upward.
A black silhouette turned its head to stare down at them.
"Hup... "
These were elite scouts sent this time.
Even they held their breath, desperate not to be spotted.
Human gore bursting from the crate.
The campfire snuffed in an instant.
And the black bird radiating ill omen.
Their will to resist vanished.
They could only pray this moment passed.
Pray the nightmare ended.
But their nightmare didn't end.
Crack, crunch.
With grotesque sounds, another head sprouted from the black bird's wing.
"Uwoooooh... "
They finally understood Ethan's words.
Why it was no mere crow.
A two-headed crow.
One head even resembled a Lace's more than a crow's.
That thing couldn't be called a crow.
An indescribable ominous entity.
Their bodies trembled; the urge to flee surged.
But they couldn't shake the sense reckless movement meant instant death.
Crack, crunch.
Something cleared their minds utterly.
"QuieeeEEEEEEK!"
A third head sprouted from the opposite side.
Another bird head with black-glinting eyes wailed like a dragon.
"Hiyaaaaah!"
They ran.
Ditching everything they had, they bolted.
They had to get this intel back somehow.
Ethan hadn't exaggerated.
No, his words fell short of describing it.
A massive black bird with three heads.
They had to warn everyone about this predator that hunted humans.
One thought filled their minds.
The savior to fix this.
The holy knight from Emerald.
Go to Berthold.