Chapter 63
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Toward the Ruins
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Obtained Black Wolf's Tail Fur.
Getting a gift I hadn't even hoped for made my wings flutter on their own.
"Caw caw."
Hey, Shwoongie.
Hold onto this for me.
It wasn't a companion coming along on the journey, but knowing I could get help from it when absolutely necessary was good news.
"Shwoong..."
Shwoongie poked its head out and glared at the Black Wolf's tail fur, as if it didn't like it one bit.
"Caw?"
"Shwoong."
Only then did Shwoongie start packing the item away.
I thought they'd get along since they were both some kind of shadow something-or-other, but Shwoongie didn't seem to like the Black Wolf.
Still, it was a relief that it took the item. But it wouldn't secretly toss the tail fur later, right?
"Shwoong?"
Look at that innocent face.
Our Shwoongie wouldn't do that.
"Crow, sir, are your feathers all dry now? Shall I help you a bit?"
Gretel approached with a sweet, coaxing voice.
I shook my head vigorously.
Her gaze was fixed on the fireplace.
"Eek, hold still. If I apply this, your feathers will grow back in no time..."
"Caw..."
Can't be helped with the hair growth tonic.
And so, we spent time in Gretel's cabin.
Until my feathers grew back.
"Whoa, they've grown back quite a lot, huh? Without them, you looked a bit like a chick, but now you seem more like a bird of prey..."
"Caw-kak!"
Even though she applied the tonic, my feathers had grown back faster than I expected.
It wasn't just plucked feathers; they were used up by the power of Twilight Feather, so that must be why.
Bertolt.
I wonder how that scary woman is doing.
I hope the recovery of my feathers doesn't mean her hair falls out again or something.
Not that I'm pitying her particularly—it was just that I could picture her tracking me down again to demand more hair.
"Yeah, looking pretty sharp now. Awooo..."
The Black Wolf, who still hadn't gone home, wagged its tail.
It seemed to prefer the warm cabin over its cold cave.
Gretel, now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, seemed to view the Black Wolf favorably too.
Hansel muttered something about how a hunting dog would be nice, but the Black Wolf wouldn't help him.
It'd probably just catch game on its own.
"The time has come, little wind."
Having eaten so well here, the already plump-bottomed Sage waddled over, his rear even plumper.
Peck peck.
Don't I need to trim this or something?
"Mm, I'd prefer if you didn't peck me with your beak."
Muna naturally climbed onto my back.
"Caw..."
It definitely felt heavier than before.
I didn't want to torment the guy, but for his health, I should make him move around more.
Rolling him this way and that might melt away some of that fat concentrated on his butt.
"Yes, I wish we could stay together longer, but I can't hold back your journey. And I have to guard this place, so I can't come along."
If Gretel joined us, she'd be a sturdy ally.
But she was reluctant to leave this forest—or even this cabin—so I shouldn't expect her to join.
Of course, not joining didn't mean she couldn't help.
BAM!
"Shwoong! Shwooooong!"
An enormous pile of items tumbled out, startling even Shwoongie.
"I'll cheer you on from afar. Here, take all these—they're all useful!"
"Shwoooong..."
"This is bug-repellent incense... and this is rope for escaping caves..."
Huh?
I don't need stuff like that?
There were some miscellaneous things mixed in, so I selectively stuffed them into Shwoongie's arms.
Shwoongie had steadily leveled up while traveling with me.
Thanks to that, its size had grown even more than after its evolution.
But even so, the stuff Gretel packed was too much for the enlarged Shwoongie to handle.
Shwoongie, now stuffed full, rolled around on the floor.
"Shwooooong..."
Shwoongie let out a sound like it couldn't take any more items.
"Ah, wait! This is the most important one!"
The most important item?
Guess I have to take this one.
Sorry, Shwoongie, just a bit more.
"Here, you must take this. Shall I hang a few on you too, Crow sir?"
Gretel held out the important item toward me.
"Caw!"
I immediately kicked it away with a chicken-foot strike.
"Why?!"
No, why what?
"Killer hornet honey-pickled mandrake!"
We don't like ginseng either!
"Why reject something this delicious...?"
Gretel looked puzzled, but no means no.
"Caw-kak."
Still, we'd packed everything worth taking.
No holy silver coins unfortunately, but we snagged a few shiny things.
"Gretel, by any chance, my arrows..."
"Did you lose them again? No, silver's hard to come by these days—why don't you retrieve them?"
"It's not that I didn't try... I think someone stole them."
"Stole them? Who here would steal your arrows, big brother?"
Exactly.
I've got a live crow right here.
"You're heading to the ruins, right? I only know from stories, so details are scarce, but I do know it's called the Tin Ruins."
Gretel freely shared the info.
"A vast ruin made of metal. And the many underground structures hidden there. Whatever you, Muna, Rebecca, and Crow sir are looking for is probably inside those structures."
If only her taste in food were normal, she'd be perfect. But everyone has a flaw or two.
"Rumors of enormous treasures draw adventurers eyeing chances, but hardly anyone's there now. There were a few incidents, and they're enforcing strict control."
Hardly anyone there is good news.
I like to think of myself as a normal crow, but my size alone isn't normal.
Others would see me the same way.
Running into people might cause misunderstandings, so better to avoid them.
While listening to Gretel's explanation, laughter came from somewhere.
"Heh... hehehe..."
It was the Red Cloak.
Bound head to toe with shellac bindings.
"Heading to the ruins, huh?"
The mild-mannered witch Gretel hadn't done anything to the Red Cloak yet.
Maybe because we were watching, or perhaps because she hadn't gone into the fireplace.
That's why she could speak like this.
"Nice, I get to see it."
The Red Cloak laughed suspiciously.
But to my eyes, it looked like she was begging for attention.
"Caw."
Then don't act like that.
I casually turned my head away and finished preparing to head out the door.
"Wait, what about me? The Witch of the Night. I'm the Red Witch, you know?"
Obviously trying to trade info for something.
Don't need that.
"Ch-chains! Be careful of the chains!"
Yeah.
That's why you go first.
"Caw."
Only then did I pretend to take interest and turn my head.
Twirl twirl.
"Gasp! D-did you see that, Gretel?"
"See what?"
"That crow! The crow's neck!"
"Huh? I didn't see anything."
"Heh... hehehe... Right? I have top-class info like this. So how about negotiating with me, comrade?"
Why would I be your comrade?
Still, let's hear it.
"First... change my rations. Please, no more of that weird mandrake...!"
Oho?
Finally, someone with normal taste.
"As expected of the peculiar Witch of the Night. Even something this precious..."
Huh?
Then what does that make me and Shwoongie?
I can't decide, but I can pretend to mediate.
"Caw caw."
I nodded lightly.
"Phew... You're a true comrade. Safe travels then."
I tilted my head.
"Caw?"
"Yes?"
Wait, that's it?
"I gave you the info, right? Be careful of the chains?"
Peck peck.
"Kyaa!"
Who does she think she's fooling?
"R-really, that's all! That's what I heard! If you go to the ruins, watch out for chains! From the Witches of the Night!"
Well, you're the Red Witch, so yeah, watch the chains.
"Anyway, deal's a deal! I need redistribution for someone without means of production!"
The Red Cloak declared shamelessly.
Fine, suit yourself.
"Caw caw."
I gave a slight bow to the Black Wolf, Gretel, and Hansel, preparing to depart.
"...C-Crow, sir?"
If that's all the info, no reason for me to help, right?
"No! This is a fair trade...!"
She hasn't tasted society's bitterness yet.
Be careful from now on.
Watch out for society, Red Cloak.
With my feathers grown back, our travel speed skyrocketed.
No need to move only at night, and we were even faster than when relying on Shwoongie's help.
In just a few days, we reached the vicinity of our destination.
"Mm, if memory serves, this is the boundary. Best to land and proceed slowly on foot. Sometimes info from low ground beats high ground."
Following Muna's words, I folded my wings and landed.
"Shwoong."
Not night yet, so Shwoongie only peeked out slightly.
Even at night, it was reluctant to move much with all the stuff loaded.
We'd arrived at the ruins.
Many things happened along the way, but we handled them somehow.
My trait-stealing ability had advanced a step, and I got other rewards too, so it was a profitable trip.
Sub-quest done—now for the main quest.
Just investigate these Tin Ruins and find that Tin Lord guy.
The moment I poked my head toward the ruins...
"We're conquering the ruins this time!"
"Wooooaaah!"
Voices of countless people rang out.
"Caw?"
No, didn't they say there'd be no one?
"Hmph, riffraff like this."
"Heh heh heh. Looks like the treasure's ours, Black Spider Guild."
What the heck.
Some festival going on?
"The Blue Mage Tower claims this! Scram if you don't wanna get fried!"
"Hey, you can't just claim it 'cause you're a tower! I got the permit first!"
...
Something's gone wrong.
I figured there might be a few people.
But this is way too many, isn't it?
"Caaaaw..."
No choice.
To investigate smoothly, gotta chase those guys off.
"...Familiars. Seize your master's foes. Their eyes are a bit... no, their necks are turned."
"Shwoong! Shwooooong!"
Time to revert to Skarnas' Great Crow.
...And maybe steal some shiny things while at it.