Chapter 72
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Merchant Crow
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Erica and Agwen had fallen into underground ruins while investigating the site.
She and the mage and archer who had first investigated Skarnas were hired at great expense by the guild, which was why they had come all this way.
An adventurer from the Magic Tower and an elf archer were quite rare talents, so the branch chief had personally selected them.
They did have their own philosophy of prioritizing thrilling adventures over money, but the amount spent in Skarnas was no small sum, leaving them no choice.
Especially since they had lost every last silver coin from Ethan's pouch.
They had come here to earn funds, only to end up falling underground themselves.
"A-Are we really going further?"
"We can't just turn back and leave this delicious smell behind, can we? It's not like there's another path back there."
As Agwen said, a mouthwatering aroma wafted through the air.
It hadn't been long since they fell into the labyrinth, but it wasn't short either.
At least air was circulating and there were light sources nearby, but that was the extent of their luck.
They were isolated, with scant resources—that much hadn't changed.
So it was only natural to feel anxious and hunger gnawing at them.
Erica had a vaguely ominous feeling, but as Agwen pointed out, they couldn't just sit around doing nothing.
For now, making contact with whatever it was seemed best.
The smell of roasted meat meant it was likely some intelligent being using fire.
The most probable culprit was one of the other exploration teams that had fallen with them.
No matter their temperament, they might be able to scrounge some spare rations.
"O-Over there...!"
That was the moment Erica called out and approached.
"Caw?"
What appeared before their eyes was a single crow.
The crow, of all things, was wearing a necktie-like thing made of black cloth, and perched on its shoulder was a kiwi bird sporting a pointed wizard's hat.
"C-C-Crow?"
Erica blurted out in a bewildered voice.
It was bewildering, no doubt about it.
No one could have imagined a crow popping up in a situation like this.
And this crow looked awfully familiar, to boot.
"Caw? Caw caw caw!"
The crow flapped its wings as if it had been waiting for them.
And it was pointing its beak at the items laid out in front like a display—items shocking enough to stun both Erica and Agwen.
Not just basic rations and drinking water.
There were mystery meats from recent hunts and various convenience goods besides.
"Huh? Isn't that my hat...?"
"Caw?"
Some familiar-looking clothes were there too.
Erica and Agwen exchanged glances.
The items laid out before this crow were exactly what they needed right now.
"Erica. Looks like the crow gathered all this stuff, right?"
"Yeah, seems that way. Could it be a gift for us?"
"Caw! Caw!"
The crow let out a sharp cry.
They couldn't understand the words, but the meaning—no nonsense—was clear enough.
"I-It was a joke!"
Erica barely calmed the crow down and surveyed the situation.
"...Agwen, what do you think the crow wants? It's laid out all these items underground, waiting for someone. And it's even roasting meat with that tantalizing smell wafting everywhere. Doesn't it feel just like... a merchant?"
"The sharp getup does make it seem spot on."
As they spoke, the crow tapped a canister in front of it with its beak.
"Caw."
It was telling them to put coins in here.
"Is it saying we should put coins in? No, what would a crow even do with coins?"
"If memory serves, crows like shiny things. It doesn't flee at the sight of humans, so it must have experience dealing with them. Probably trades like this sometimes—coins for goods."
Erica's mouth fell open at Agwen's explanation.
She'd heard crows were clever.
But trading with humans?
Was that even possible?
Yet the necktie, the cloth spread on the ground.
And the way it fanned the aroma of roasted meat with its wings—it was no ordinary crow.
A natural-born merchant? That wouldn't be a stretch.
"But Erica. Doesn't this crow look familiar somehow?"
"Huh? This crow?"
"You know, back in Skarnas..."
"W-What are you talking about? Doesn't ring a bell!"
Erica knew this was the giant crow from Skarnas.
After all, it had crashed their fight with Bertolt.
But she wanted to keep that under wraps.
"Look, that crow was seriously ominous, right? This one doesn't feel like that."
"Hmm... True... And it looks bigger too."
The crow's ominous aura was heavily veiled.
Because its ominous energy clashed with the divine energy.
"Bah. A crow's a crow. What's to worry about? The important thing is we've got what we need right there."
"Right. Now we just need a plan to get it."
"I'll take the lead!"
Erica felt an inexplicable closeness to the crow.
"Um, Mr. Crow. We really need those items—how can we get them?"
"Caw."
The crow seemed to ponder, then pecked at the kiwi dangling from its shoulder.
"White bread is one silver each, one waterskin likewise one silver. Other clothes at market price."
"Kyaaaaak!"
They couldn't help screaming at the sudden voice.
How could they not be startled?
A kiwi bird in clothes staring at them with beady black eyes, speaking in a deep, resonant voice.
"Y-You can talk?"
"Only about trades right now, per policy."
The kiwi bird haughtily turned its head.
It meant cash transactions only—no other info.
"Bread for one silver? What kind of nonsense is that? Even bandits wouldn't charge so much!"
Agwen shouted furiously from behind.
Not at the fluent speech, but the outrageous bread price.
"Caw caw caw."
The crow flapped its wings, staring them down.
It even felt murderous, like it was saying, Buy or get lost?
Of course, just caws, so maybe Erica's imagination.
"...No helping it, Agwen. We can't haggle in our situation."
"Ugh... Losing blood-earned silver like this..."
"Wait, you don't even carry silver, do you? All nature-loving elf and such."
Erica pulled out her precious wallet from her bosom.
She carefully placed the six silver coins before the crow's canister.
"Here, check. Six, right?"
"Caw."
The crow meticulously inspected the silver coins Erica offered.
"Caw caw."
A satisfied sound from the crow.
"Three loaves of bread, three waterskins. We'll take these."
She cautiously reached for the water and bread.
"C-C-Can't touch water...?"
The crow licking its beak looked suspicious, but thankfully, nothing happened.
The loaves it had procured were huge, enough for the two of them to last over three days.
And she believed they could escape within those three days.
With elf Agwen and mage herself, at least.
Erica glanced at the other items.
Tempting stuff.
Perfect for their stranded situation.
But the prices were devilish.
"Market price" especially meant whatever the crow felt like.
She swallowed hard.
More food, water, supplies—the more the better, especially hard to get now.
But she couldn't stomach paying those prices.
Gulp.
A loud swallow echoed—not a subtle one.
Looking over, Agwen was drooling, staring somewhere.
Right at the barbecue the crow had diligently roasted.
They'd followed the smell here at first, but hadn't even thought of it till now.
One silver per bread? The meat would cost a fortune.
"Caw?"
"Ah, n-nothing. Thanks for the trade. We'll be..."
Grrrowl.
Erica's face flushed red.
Her stomach had let out an embarrassing rumble.
She wasn't that hungry, but the situation and aroma made it inevitable.
"Caw caw."
The crow eyed them briefly, then turned and waddled off somewhere.
"It says wait a moment."
A deep voice rang out.
"Wait?"
Wondering what for, Agwen and Erica waited—and their eyes went wide.
"Caw."
The crow dragged over a plate with a bit of meat and pushed it toward them.
"Huh? Meat... Sniff... N-No! We don't need this...!"
Thinking of her wallet, Erica squeezed her eyes shut and resisted.
No more spending.
Even if spending, not on meat.
More water and bread would be far more efficient.
"Caw caw caw."
The crow kept pushing the plate, as if to say it was fine.
"Is this... free?"
She blurted it out hopefully.
Bracing for a peck.
"Caw caw!"
The crow nodded.
Her hopeful guess was spot on.
This handsome black-feathered crow was giving them free roasted meat.
"You... such a good crow?"
Erica looked deeply moved.
Agwen creeping up from behind felt the same.
But they didn't know.
That this crow had lived through the age of capitalism.
Every action was calculated, this no exception.
The small plate it offered was pure bait.
The wicked crow, having sized up Erica's wallet, planned to extract every last coin.