Chapter 62
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Wolf's Gift
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Red Cape was undergoing treatment.
Harsh torture. Well, honestly, it didn't look that brutal.
At least they hadn't used the fireplace, so I had to be grateful for small mercies.
She'd chanted spells and drawn symbols using my broth or feathers as ritual ingredients, but at least she hadn't burned anything.
Especially effective were showing her the iron chains or Swingy.
She'd faint dead away at the mere sight.
Gretel said Red Cape had lost the source of her power, so there was no longer any real cause for worry.
Even in raw physical strength, she'd be overpowered by someone like Hansel.
Using her own big brother as a benchmark for combat prowess felt a bit off, but hey, siblings have their own dynamics.
And Red Cape had lost her power source because of me.
Since I'd stolen her trait, she could no longer turn red.
I wasn't sure if it was specific to Red Cape or if stealing traits from others would have the same effect, but for now, that was the case.
Just to check, I peeked at Gretel's status window.
Her level was definitely lower than Red Cape's, but she seemed stronger.
If Red Cape was a martial fighter relying mainly on superhuman physical abilities, Gretel was a textbook witch.
With her free command of magic, she'd be even trickier for me to deal with.
Red Cape had countered my shadow form with inhuman reflexes, but Gretel somehow seemed like she could attack me even as a shadow.
Since we weren't enemies, no need to worry about that, but it wouldn't hurt to prepare for other witches with similar abilities.
"Hmm, I see. So now I can interpret it."
Thanks to Red Cape's voluntary cooperation, things had gone smoothly.
Voluntary or not, I had to trust Gretel's word on it.
"Everyone, have a seat. Sir Muna, I'll explain what I've interpreted."
Gretel spoke in a calm tone.
As she requested, we all sat down.
"Awoo... Can I sit too?"
Black Wolf curled up beside me as she said that.
Couldn't pass up free intel, I suppose.
"As I mentioned before, witches are divided into Day Witches and Night Witches."
Simple refreshments and tea were laid out before us, and Gretel's explanation began.
"Night Witches, as the name implies, are a group that reveres the night. Specifically, the Eternal Night."
...Eternal Night!
I perked up my ears at the intriguing topic.
Black Wolf was just munching on the snacks in front of her.
"Dorothy, whom Sir Muna and Crow are pursuing, is also a Night Witch. Combining the journal entries with what you've told me, Sir Muna... she's been awaiting the arrival of the Eternal Night more than anyone."
Dorothy and Eternal Night.
From the Scarecrow's words and quest info, I'd already suspected some connection.
"The Eternal Night isn't just about endless darkness."
I nodded at her words.
"It's when that profane power engulfs the world. Humans turn into ghouls, Day Witches become Night Witches, and all other creatures follow suit. Even you, Crow, would become an ominous night crow. Say, one with a spinning head emitting eerie light."
I discreetly rotated my head, startling Hansel beside me.
"H-Huh! Definitely just—!"
"Brother, what's wrong?"
"No, the crow just..."
"What about Crow?"
"...Must've been my imagination."
Spin spin.
"Gasp!"
Eh, a crow's neck turning? That's just how we roll.
I'd experienced the Eternal Night firsthand, so I knew.
It wasn't an ordinary night.
Profane horrors spawned, killing all life.
But for me personally, Eternal Night might not be such a huge penalty.
I'd get stronger under it.
Thanks to the Feather of Night skill.
It was powerful enough to take down a vastly superior monster like Scarecrow.
If I could spam it freely, survival might even be easier than now.
I entertained the thought briefly but shook my head.
My enemies would grow stronger too.
And allies like Muna and Swingy might suffer.
No way I'd let my lucky breaks vanish for some Eternal Night.
Either way, stopping Eternal Night and Dorothy remained the goal.
"They're all out of their minds. It's obvious they'll die too, yet they hide what Eternal Night even is and try to recruit me?"
Gretel spoke with a hint of anger.
They tried enlisting her without even explaining what it entailed.
"Little Wind, don't be disappointed. We all knew the basics, but it had to be covered."
Muna gazed at me with warm eyes.
For something "everyone knew," it was pretty insightful and cleared up ambiguities.
"And the core of the story is still to come."
"Right, thanks to her... voluntary cooperation, I've learned something key. Connections to Dorothy, who has almost no ties to other witches."
Voluntary cooperation is the best.
"The Witch of the Deep Sea, and the Witch of Plague."
"Caw..."
The names alone spelled trouble.
Deep Sea and Plague?
Isn't that overkill?
"I'll compile info on these two separately... or should I just tell you now?"
Sorry, illiterate crow here.
Gretel shared nearly everything she knew.
Not much on Night Witches overall, but enough to know what to watch for.
Handy if we ever crossed paths.
"Heh, little wind. This broadens our options. We can't assault their lairs, but we can counter their attacks. No guarantee Night Witches won't target us either."
True enough.
Especially since I'm a prime crow specimen witches covet. One might try snatching me mid-flight.
Gretel and Red Cape both had.
Witch of the Deep Sea and Witch of Plague.
Names I wasn't eager to meet yet—maybe after a couple more evolutions.
Wonder what kind of witch Dorothy is.
Friends with Deep Sea and Plague? Probably has a drought-level moniker herself.
Red Cape's probably Red Witch.
Gretel? Fire Witch? She has cold magic too, so maybe Ice Spike Witch.
Or Fireplace Witch.
I bathed in the water Gretel prepared.
Intel came first since it was crucial, but after intense combat, we needed rest.
After cleaning up and drying my feathers by the fireplace, a similarly soaked Black Wolf approached.
Thud thud patter.
"Caw!"
Why shake off right in front of me?
"...Hey, crow."
She curled up naturally beside me.
I was just about to pluck some fur in petty revenge.
"Wanna live with me?"
Huh?
"Shwoooooong!"
Swingy, now rhombus-shaped, menaced Black Wolf.
"No, crows like you are rare. Similar shadow tricks too. Hunting together could be pretty good, right?"
Oh, so that's why the sudden live-together pitch.
"You're big and sturdy—could make for cozy companionship..."
"Shwaaang! Shwaaaaaang!"
Enraged Swingy turned into a sharp triangle.
Isn't that too pointy?
I'd thought it was a random love confession, but it was just wolf-crow symbiosis.
Wolves and crows are symbiotic in folklore.
She figured teaming with a crow like me would make life easier.
Grateful for the offer, but my answer was set.
"Caw."
I shook my head side to side.
Duties called; couldn't settle here.
"Shung."
Swingy reverted to round cloth.
"Tch. Don't know the details, but I heard enough. Heading elsewhere, huh?"
Black Wolf sounded disappointed.
She knew but tried anyway, just in case.
"Birds, am I right? Wings and everyone gets attached. No idea why."
"Caw caw."
Still, it was a good connection.
Meeting Black Wolf had broadened my horizons.
This world borrowed heavily from fairy tales I knew.
But it didn't follow the originals.
The Big Bad Wolf was my ally now, after all.
Black Wolf taught me that lesson.
She stared at me intently.
"Awoo, seriously..."
Frustrated, she pawed the ground, then dropped something right before my beak.
"Take it already!"
"Caw?"
Looking closely, it was her fur.
Tail fur, specifically.
"Caw!"
I like collecting feathers, but dog fur? Pass.
Return to sender. Swingy's bag isn't a trash bin.
"Keep it! With this, I can help you out once."
「Black Wolf's Tail Fur」
Tail fur infused with the Big Bad Wolf's affection.
A few Shadow Wolves who have honed their abilities to the limit can teleport using their tail fur as a medium.
As long as she permits it, you can summon her.
"...Caw-kak-kak!"
An utterly unexpected reward.
I'd aimed to squeeze something out of Gretel at best, but Black Wolf handed over something this precious.
With our abilities synergizing so well, summoning her as backup would be invaluable.
I flapped my wings gratefully.
"Hmph, like it? Might add more depending on you... but for now, just once. Got it?"
To my eyes, that tail fur had no usage limit.
Meaning the limit was up to Black Wolf's whim.
"Kak, ka-kaka-kak..."
Play my cards right, and it could become permanent Black Wolf summons?
I cackled my wicked crow laugh, pondering how to charm this wolf.