Chapter 46

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: Twilight

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No, how could there be such a combination?

Paladin, bald, and a beauty.

That astonishing trio had me unwittingly dropping my beak open.

I couldn't help but be shocked. Who could have even imagined something like that?

It was almost on par with a crow, a kiwi bird, and a ghost.

And there were three of us, but only one of her.

She was a cut above us, no doubt.

I thought our group was pretty unique, but losing like this left a bitter taste.

The most surprising thing was that woman's appearance.

Even without hair, her features were so captivating that beauty came to mind instantly.

It made me think she'd look better with a wig instead of a helmet that didn't even cover her face.

Of course, she wasn't wearing the helmet just to hide her hair.

There had to be some complex reason behind it.

I suspected it was related to those red eyes of hers.

I didn't know exactly what paladins were like in this world, but she felt worlds apart from the image I knew.

"Kaaak..."

If I could, I'd love to shove that helmet back on her head with my talons, but there was no time for that.

"Come here!"

And hey, I felt like it, but there was no real reason for me to give it back anyway.

"Return my helmet!"

Why is it yours anyway?

A ferocious killing intent.

She was dead set on killing me.

Someone at her level would surely have ways to counter even if I fled to the skies.

"Kaak!"

So, running away was off the table.

Even if I escaped alone, Moona and Swoongswoong would get caught.

Which meant we had to fight head-on.

I spun my wings in an instant, twirling my body around.

"Swoong swoong!"

Not to attack, but to hand off the cumbersome helmet to Swoongswoong.

The helmet briefly bounced into the air.

And Bertolt noticed it too.

Kududuk.

The ground where she stood cracked for a moment.

She charged toward the helmet at tremendous speed.

"Shwoong!"

At this rate, she'd snatch it before Swoongswoong could.

It was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bit risky, but no choice.

My feathers were dyed in twilight hues.

I spread wings hardened like steel and instantly cut into her path.

Bertolt, her red eyes flashing fiercely.

She'd do anything to reclaim that helmet.

So now she had to choose.

Ignore my attack and grab the helmet, or deal with me first.

"...Kuh!"

She spun her body immediately, swinging her sword at me.

Right, seeing my feathers change color, she must have figured blocking with her body was too dangerous.

And without her helmet, it could even be fatal.

I raised my wing to block Bertolt's sword.

Well, "blocked" is putting it nicely; I pretty much got launched away.

"Shwoooong!"

But Swoongswoong successfully grabbed the helmet.

Bertolt, having sent me flying, immediately lunged toward Swoongswoong.

Couldn't let that happen.

Shweeeeeeak!

My steel-hard feathers launched at my command.

Euduk.

I heard her grit her teeth.

She swung her sword again to block my attack.

"Shwoooong!"

Swoongswoong seized the opening and flew back to me.

"Hmph! So that's your aim! But if it comes back to you like this, it was all pointless anyway."

I'd tried to whisk away the golden helmet using Swoongswoong.

But now Swoongswoong was returning to me with it in tow.

Did that make it meaningless, as the bald woman said?

No way.

Swaaa...

"Wha... what?"

Bertolt's red eyes showed bewilderment.

Of course they did.

Swoongswoong had slipped into my wings with the helmet still in its grasp.

A collaboration between Shadow Lace and the former Shadow Crow.

Good, now I had Swoongswoong and the helmet secured.

Just need to grab Moona and...

"Hmm, another death?"

Aw, come on.

Why'd she grab that too?

Moona was somehow clutched in Bertolt's hand.

Moona peeked out its beak slightly, giving me a half-lidded stare.

"The goddess has spoken! If you wish to save your wicked omen companion, bring my helmet now!"

I'd figured she'd just charge in blindly without negotiation, but apparently not.

Calling me a wicked omen yet expecting me to negotiate?

If I really were one, I'd ditch a mere kiwi bird without a second thought.

...Not that I am, or that I could abandon Moona.

I looked at Moona.

It had grown quite a bit, so even if it died here, it'd probably sprout anew.

Still, regrowth would take time, and if we couldn't fully defeat her, reclaiming it would be impossible.

Moona or the helmet.

Time to choose one.

The answer was simple.

Moona first, obviously.

"Lady Bertolt! Reinforcements have arrived!"

"We're here to help!"

And now human voices from beyond the woods.

One Bertolt was already overwhelming; more joining in?

No way we'd walk away unscathed.

"...Decide quickly. Before you make an irreparable mistake."

Bertolt's face hardened.

She was in a hurry too.

She'd lowered her voice to sound male and hidden her face with the helmet.

Now that it was gone, exposing her baldness, and adventurers were coming.

She clearly dreaded this situation.

That's why, despite ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her superior power, she'd gone to such lengths for the helmet.

"Hmm, is this the Emerald Knight?"

"If you want to save this strange talking thing, hand over my helmet now!"

Bertolt gripped Moona tighter, as if ready to crush it.

Even if Moona revived, the pain wouldn't be nothing.

"Kak."

I signaled Swoongswoong.

Spit out the helmet you'd just swallowed.

"A reasonable foe, I see. Rest easy; if I get my helmet back, I'll fight you fair and square, one-on-one. Even a wicked omen deserves recompense for upholding honor."

Bertolt seemed relieved.

Since I'd chosen to trade the helmet for Moona's life.

Moona was released from her grasp, and she strode quickly toward me.

Adventurers would arrive soon, so she wanted her face covered.

Forced to choose between Moona and the golden helmet, I'd pick Moona every time.

But did I have to choose just one?

Zwaaang!

Tri-colored light filled the entire forest path.

"Kuh!"

The light bounced off her shiny bald head, scattering everywhere.

"You worm! Dishonoring my honor... how dare you!"

Even so, Bertolt reached for the helmet.

Her superhuman physical prowess was beyond me; I couldn't steal it and run.

Gold I couldn't take anyway.

I'll make good use of it.

The moment Bertolt reached out, the helmet vanished in a golden glow.

The entire village of Skarnas became my territory.

That offering wasn't just any trinket, apparently.

"My... my helmet?"

Bertolt's bewildered expression twisted into rage.

Then it sublimated into killing intent as she lunged at me.

"Kaak, kak, kak."

I let out a low crow's cry.

First time using this skill, but instinctively, I knew what to do.

And what would happen.

It wasn't wasting that precious gold for nothing.

Before leaving this village, I could show the humans here something memorable.

Whether infamy or fame.

Skarnas's time shifted.

To sunset, when night falls—twilight.

Twilight is also called the time of dog and wolf.

When you can't tell if the beast outside is dog or wolf.

So, what beast did I seem now?

At twilight, all my feathers dye in twilight colors.

Before, it lasted only an instant, but now it was different.

A tribute granting power to blanket the whole village.

Naturally, the duration had extended too.

"Kaak, kaak."

Countless twilight feathers floated above my wings.

A crow wielding thousands of feathers freely.

The wings of twilight.