Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Red Riding Hood
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For a perfect strategy, getting plenty of rest is key.
Even though it might be a life-or-death matter for Hansel and I was tempted to rush off right away, Gretel said there was no need.
She knows her big brother better than anyone, after all.
Whatever the case, she said he's not the type to die easily.
If his own sister says so, no need for me to question it.
That's when I was finishing up a somewhat unsatisfying meal while listening to Gretel's praises of the Sage.
"Oh, has it gotten this late already?"
With that, Gretel lifted a large kettle.
I wondered if I was about to end up as obedient chicken soup, but it didn't seem like she planned to eat me.
"Looking closer, you've lost a lot of feathers. In cases like this, bathing in herbal-infused water is the most effective treatment."
A bath!
In warm water, no less!
"I'd love to wash you myself, but since we're different genders, it might make you uncomfortable..."
I'm not uncomfortable at all?
"Shuuaang!"
Sounds like you're the uncomfortable one.
"Instead, I'll wash Moona for you!"
"Hm? I'm fine... Actually, no. Washing this body of mine isn't easy, so I'll accept your help."
Moona gazed at me with those soulful eyes.
What was that about?
Was she hoping I'd ask her to wash me?
No, she's always had that look, so she was probably just staring.
"Raven, you're bigger than I expected. Even without your feathers, at this size... Hm, you might need to be careful."
Did she just lick her lips?
Is she seeing me as a big fat chicken or something?
"Kak?"
"Oh, no, it's just that crows are one of our witches' favorite animals."
Huh?
Come to think of it, yeah.
When you think witch, don't crows come to mind?
Right up there with black cats as the witch's perfect partner.
"Someone like you would be in high demand. I've been thinking of getting a crow myself..."
Exactly.
I'd been chosen by a witch.
...Is that a good thing?
A witch like Gretel would be welcoming, but Dorothy? Disaster.
"Shuuaang!"
Squishy suddenly turned sharp and pointy like a thorn.
"Ghosts are pretty popular too."
"Shu, shu-ong?"
Squishy rounded out again.
"Any passing witch who sees Rebecca and you would try to take you both. Especially a crow this big—they're rare."
Watch out for other witches, that's the warning.
Or I'd get kidnapped as a pet!
...Not sounding half bad?
"If it's just to make you a familiar, no problem. But sometimes it's not. Like, turning you into a chimera?"
Bad.
Very bad.
Good lesson learned, though.
Witches might try to kidnap me.
I'll keep that in mind.
"As long as you're with Moona, you should be safe, but just in case."
Being with her doubles the worry.
"If some unknown witch tries to take you later, just drop my name and it'll be fine. The hearth has space too..."
Hm, reassuring, but I'm still a crow who can't speak.
Her innocent gaze toward the hearth felt oddly creepy somehow, so I quickly made myself scarce.
I took Squishy and hopped into the wooden tub filled with warm water.
"Piyak..."
A relaxing chirp slipped out unbidden.
I'd cleaned myself pretty often.
Crows are clean creatures by nature anyway.
But a warm bath? Never once.
So I couldn't help melting into chick-like bliss.
The herbal water soaked in, making me feel great.
My feathers really seemed like they'd grow back fast.
Of course, it was just a feeling—no instant magic regrowth happened.
"Shung..."
Squishy squishing above my head.
I craned my neck and stared up at him.
"Shung?"
Wanna wash you too?
"Shu, shuwoong?"
Yeah, it's about time I gave you a bath.
"Shuuwoong! Shuuwoong!"
He tried to flee, but my beak had him already.
"Shuoooong! Shuwoong! Woong?"
Struggling like a cat at first, but once in the water, his face lit up with pleasure.
"Wooong..."
And so I bathed with Squishy.
Using him as a loofah while soaking in warm water—luxury of luxuries.
Thus ended our rest.
Gretel took the used bathwater somewhere instead of dumping it, but that's not my concern.
Witches probably need weird ingredients like that.
Crow-infused broth or whatever.
I stretched my refreshed body and reviewed the tasks ahead.
This place really is great.
Once everything's done, I could stick around here for good.
Other humans treating me this well would be nice, but without a witch, unlikely.
Maybe I should pick an attachment human?
Moona's freshly washed butt looks tempting...
"Shushushu-shung!"
Alright, alright.
I followed Squishy outside as he led the way.
Meal done, rest taken—time to earn our keep.
*
We walked along the forest path.
It was nighttime now.
Why move at night? Because that's when Squishy can move.
I could carry him inside me and ignore day or night, but with no feathers yet...
In emergencies, I'd need his help, so daytime activity is tough.
And I suffer no night penalties, so this is the optimal time.
Tracking Hansel based on Gretel's info.
She said he'd be near wolf tracks, so check for shed fur around.
Glowing fur would be ideal.
That's when Squishy and I were pattering along...
"Shung!"
Squishy poked me, signaling a find.
My subordinate's skills never fail.
Heading where he pointed, I spotted a chunk of bread on the ground.
"Kak."
I naturally pecked it up and ate it.
Eating food off the ground feels iffy, but I'm a bird now.
Birds have instincts to peck at crumbs humans drop.
Seabirds instinctively go for shrimp-flavored cookies, probably.
Anyway, this is tasty.
After ginseng jelly, bread tastes exponentially better.
"Shuwoong?"
Squishy tugged at my nonexistent feathers.
Can't understand him exactly, but it was something like, "Why eat that, you crow?"
Why? It was there.
Crows do this all the time.
"Shung! Shungshung!"
Huh?
Squishy desperately tried turning my head.
No need to look back, but curious, I did.
"Ka-gak!"
The bread crumb wasn't alone.
They were scattered at regular intervals, like trail markers.
Just like in Hansel and Gretel.
They marked the path with bread, but birds ate it all, and they got lost.
The witch's house? Maybe the birds' fault.
Did Hansel drop bread crumbs to mark his path again?
Good thing I didn't eat them all—I'd have screwed him over.
Fortunate.
Just one piece down, so follow the rest for the trail.
But does this even work?
Other beasts would've gobbled them up by now.
No other animals around?
Or dropped recently?
Musing cautiously, I pressed on.
Might be a trap, after all.
"Hic... Sniff..."
I halted.
A girl's sobbing.
A girl in a red cape, hood up, had dropped her basket and was crying.
The bread crumb I ate must've come from there.
Not Hansel's trail, after all.
Still, might be a clue.
That cape color's suspicious for starters.
"A crow? Hic... Huh, that emblem...?"
She started crying again upon seeing me, then spotted the necklace around my neck.
A friend of Gretel's?
That changes things.
"H-Help me! A big bad wolf appeared!"
Yes!
Connected to Hansel after all.
Big bad wolf.
Red cape.
Right, right.
I know this story.
Red Riding Hood showing up to hunt the wolf isn't weird.
Shepherd boy or three little pigs next, probably.
"Kagak."
Missed Hansel, but met Red Riding Hood.
Like Wizard of Oz or Hansel and Gretel, this is a famous fairy tale.
As a protagonist, she's likely important in this world.
Like Gretel asked, she might want me to take down the wolf.
A request like that while I'm already rescuing Hansel?
Perfect extra reward.
Quests on the same route? Always a mood booster.
"Big crow! Please hear my story!"
She's not scared now—might as well get closer.
Even with the emblem, talking to me is surprising.
No Sage around—how'd she think I'd understand?
No prejudice? Or crows here are smart enough to get speech by default?
Didn't matter.
"Kak?"
Up close, I couldn't help tilting my head.
Red Riding Hood, collapsed and sobbing.
Her spilled basket was full of metal objects.
Scythes, hammers—sinister stuff.
Could be self-defense gear.
Not that unusual.
A normal crow might ignore it.
"Crow?"
But my eyes see what others can't.
【Red Riding Hood LV44】
...Why's your level like that?
You could take on the big bad wolf solo, no problem.