Chapter 64
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Vicious Saboteur Crow
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“Hmm... There are too many humans.”
Muna, perched on my shoulder, said that.
Just as he said, it was odd to see so many humans gathered like this.
There was no reason for Gretel to lie, and even if this was a ruin, the number of people here was anything but ordinary.
It wouldn't be strange at all to think someone had deliberately assembled them.
...Maybe spread rumors about this place.
“Caw...”
Could they have anticipated I'd come here and made the first move?
No, that was probably jumping to conclusions.
I had to assume it was just a coincidence in timing.
Maybe rumors had spread about black water gushing out or something?
Either way, it rubbed me the wrong way.
With this many people around, it was trouble in all sorts of ways.
I wouldn't be able to spin my head around freely and investigate in peace.
Blending naturally into that crowd might make things flow smoothly, but that was impossible.
It'd be nice if everyone had Gretel's prejudice-free mindset, but I couldn't count on that.
Scaring them off like before wouldn't work either.
The numbers were no joke.
Even twisting my neck with RGB lights, one arrow and I'd be done for.
Plus, there were several presumed mages, so I had to be extra careful.
I quietly spied on them without drawing attention.
“Huh? Cute little crow... Gah!”
I dragged one poor human—who fainted for no reason in front of me—into the bushes.
“Hmm, you seem to be getting bolder by the day.”
Where else would you find a crow this helpful?
I was laying him down so he could rest easy—he looked overworked.
“Caw.”
Still, I had to take what I could.
Rummaging through his pockets yielded a few worthwhile items.
I naturally handed them to Shungshungi's short arms, then made a blanket of grass in case the fallen human got cold.
“Uh... Uuugh...?”
Not a deep sleeper, huh?
Guess I had to help.
“Gack!”
Now he was drooling and out cold.
“Krrrk...”
Even snoring now.
Anyway, I successfully scouted without getting caught.
Observing the humans here, I realized they could be divided into three groups.
An adventurer group mixed with various classes.
A mage group using magic.
And a thief group dressed in black, looking shady enough to wonder why they hadn't been arrested yet.
...Can thieves just operate so openly?
Whatever the case, adventurers, mages, and thieves were the core.
There were individuals too, and a few rough-looking mercenaries or white-robed priests, but they were a minority, so I could focus on those three.
“Hey, why'd those tower shut-ins show up here?”
“They act all high and mighty but sniff out money like pros.”
And the best intel.
I figured out their relationships weren't great.
“The consensus is the tower folk are bad luck. Field adventurers don't think much of tower mages. Though there are some tower grads among adventurers.”
As the sage Muna said, the tower and adventurers didn't seem on good terms.
And a thief group wouldn't get along with anyone they liked anyway.
Groups with clashing natures.
And their goal seemed to be finding something in the ruins.
What would happen next?
They'd check and compete with each other.
Friendly competition would motivate them all, and that's what it looked like so far.
But that wouldn't last forever.
“Cackle cackle...”
I let out a sinister crow laugh.
Investigating this place could wait.
What I needed was to create an environment where I could operate freely.
One where slipping in naturally wouldn't raise eyebrows.
Even better if they tired themselves out and left on their own.
So, how?
Just give them a little push.
Then I could resolve things without lifting a finger.
...Not that I had fingers now.
“Shwoop, swoosh?”
Night fell.
I looped the bloated Shungshungi around my eyes, returning to thief crow mode after a while.
“Hmm... You've always seemed like a thief to me.”
“Caw.”
Quiet, Muna.
“Well, the wind carrying off items is just natural.”
Exactly.
This wasn't theft.
It was public service to avert the Eternal Night disaster.
If they knew my cause, they'd offer their stuff willingly.
I was just sparing them the effort.
Once I took their items, they wouldn't need to offer anything.
“Caw, caw, cackle...”
Very quietly.
And stealthily.
I charged at backpacks full of shinies.
“Branch chief, you'll prepay today's wages, right?”
The guild branch chief himself was on site.
Unusual, but he had no choice this time.
He'd obtained info on these ruins.
Not just any treasure—something immense was said to sleep here. That alone was enough.
Info from the intelligence group, Striped Cat.
Unlike random rabble, Striped Cat's intel had astonishing accuracy.
A group whose true nature was unknown.
Or even if it was a group or individuals.
Those who got Striped Cat intel always scored massive riches.
Legendary weapons to win wars, supreme elixirs rivaling dragon hearts, ancient divine beasts tameable as familiars.
Striped Cat intel caused such waves, so the branch chief moving personally wasn't odd.
The problem? He wasn't the only one who found out.
Thief guild Black Spider and Blue Tower sniffed it out too and swarmed here.
Iron ruins infamous for claiming lives without rewards.
Despite that rep, so many gathered—it meant his info leaked to others.
So he was antsy like this.
Had to snag the treasure before those groups.
“Tch, no progress and you're already on wages? Fine. Finding it before those tower jerks is priority.”
Horwen branch chief Reynold rummaged his pack.
Best way to motivate adventurers? Money.
Some chased fame or loved adventuring, but nothing beat cash.
And with pure mercenaries here, his payout would motivate best.
Reynold deliberately flashed extra silver and coppers to hype them.
But his hopes dashed.
“...Huh?”
No silver left in his pack.
Way too light.
And shredded like something sharp ravaged it—holes everywhere.
“W-what the...! Who took my wallet! No, my pack!”
Reynold paled and rampaged.
“Heh heh heh. Competing with idiots who can't even secure their bags.”
The tower mage sneered at the panicking adventurers from morning.
“Hainel. Time we start.”
“Yes. Crystal ball first?”
“Yeah. Scout while they're distracted.”
“Got it. ...Huh?”
Young mage Hainel's face went ashen.
“M-master... The c-crystal balls...”
His master had a bad feeling.
“What?”
He rushed to check the storage.
“You bastaaards!”
His dread was spot on.
Magic catalysts stolen.
And ungrabbed items deliberately dropped and smashed.
Adventurers' cash gone, mages' crystal balls gone.
All overnight.
Victims' glares turned obvious.
“Why stare at us?”
Black Spider gang.
Unlike the others, untouched by theft.
“You vile thieves!”
They were thieves to begin with.
“Hey, we got legit licenses!”
Surprisingly, thief guild Black Spider had licenses.
Didn't make highway robbery legal though.
Officially, they handled info or trained scouts.
Back-alley Black Spiders were another story.
“Lies! Thieves what! They stole it!”
“Misunderstanding! We're innocent!”
“Priest! Get a priest! Need to check if they're lying!”
Chaos erupted.
“See? We didn't steal!”
“You scum! Lying before a priest too?”
“No, we just saw it! Not lyingggg!”
No hard proof, so no immediate action, but they spewed insults and bruised feelings plenty.
Stayed short of bloodshed.
Though seeds of distrust grew.
One crow watched fondly.
“Caw, caw.”
The one wearing shiny spoils like a crown atop his head prepared the next move.