Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: And Tell It to Anyone!
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Underground Ruins, 1st Floor.
While activating my skill, I'd gained some unexpected information.
If this was the 1st Floor, that meant there were more floors below, right?
Not the labyrinth prepared by the Plague Witch, but the real underground ruins where the Lord of Tin awaited.
It wasn't the time to go circling around this maze.
For my goal, heading down to the next floor would be the right move.
But first, I had to deal with what needed handling.
Twilight gathered on my feathers.
This place being underground might actually be a stroke of luck.
Night Summoning was, as the name implied, a technique that adjusted time in a specific area.
Most would probably dismiss it as mere sleight of hand.
After all, there was no way someone like me could possess the absurd power to alter time.
But anyone watching would think differently.
A crow caws, the sun suddenly sets, twilight descends, and it gathers on its feathers.
No one would chalk that up to coincidence.
They'd see me as an incredibly powerful and mysterious crow.
Maybe even a highly dangerous one, ramping up their guard.
But right now, with no view of the outside, I could relax.
Even though twilight gathered on my feathers, they wouldn't know the time had actually shifted.
"Caw, caw!"
In this state, I temporarily grew strong enough to match Bertolt toe-to-toe.
Of course, the quality and quantity of the tribute were less than before, so I wouldn't be quite as powerful, but my increased proficiency should cover it.
I wouldn't go firing off all my feathers like last time, though.
I'd learned the hard way how miserable it felt to be without them.
Swungswung seemed to prefer my fluffy, downy look, but I wasn't about to turn into a plucked chicken for that.
My goal wasn't just taking down the Plague Witch—it was dealing with the Tin Woodman too.
"Crow, if you use your wondrous abilities to aid these humans, I won't forget your contributions."
Clink, rattle.
Chains danced in every direction.
"Crow!"
The chains that moved belonged to those binding Cherry and Kiki.
Clink.
As the chains shifted, Cherry and Kiki were casually dragged along.
"Uwaaaah..."
Still, I knew full well this wasn't a threat—it was evacuating them to safety.
"Those girls smell more like you than the witch. ...I suppose I can tolerate girls like them."
She flashed a glimpse of that sweet, coaxing tone from our first encounter.
Could an Executioner figure out who I'd contracted with?
It probably wasn't just high level—likely due to some trait she possessed.
Probably the Executioner trait itself.
"Getting all chummy now? Crow, crow. You shouldn't do that to me."
The Plague Witch flew into a rage again for some inexplicable reason.
No, seriously, why was she so obsessed with me?
If she just wanted an experimental subject, there were plenty of better birds.
This plump-arsed kiwi here would do nicely.
...Not that I'd hand him over, of course.
Whirrr.
The Plague Witch played her flute once more.
Grey beasts swarmed from all sides.
She'd decided to take out both me and the Executioner at once.
I couldn't just sit idle.
Screeeee!
I sprang into action immediately.
The reason I'd summoned twilight was to empower my feathers.
For what?
To pierce through enemies blocking my path more efficiently.
"Squeak! Squeak!"
Rats came swarming in droves.
Already large rats in such numbers looked like a grey tidal wave crashing toward me.
A normal crow would be reduced to bones the moment it touched that wave.
A single rat's combat power was negligible, but in a pack, it was a different story.
Of course, their teeth couldn't pierce my feathers.
"Squeee!"
The ones clinging to my body and trying to bite could only scream.
Crunch!
My feathers were as hard as steel right now.
The beasts' attacks didn't faze me.
"Grrrk!"
"Chitter!"
Larger beasts tried to block me with brute force, but that didn't work either.
Clink, rattle!
The Executioner's chains handled them.
So, all that was left for me were the humans with glowing red eyes.
Screeeee!
Thud!
I dove at the humans with precise angle and timing, then yanked out the feathers embedded in their bodies with a simple motion.
Crunch!
A crow cures the plague.
It was an unbelievable sight at first glance.
Clink, rattle!
The Plague Witch couldn't actively interfere with me either.
The more human plagues I removed, the freer the Executioner could move, restricting the witch even more.
"Our chemistry is better than expected. Hm, once this is over, mind if we team up more often?"
Grooooan!
The Executioner's chains tore into walls and floors as they surged toward the Plague Witch.
Boom!
She bound nearby rocks with her chains, using the recoil to keep up ranged attacks.
Shing.
Pulling back chains to fend off incoming beasts, her movements were truly worthy of the Executioner title.
"Good chemistry? Crow. How can you say that to me, how can you!"
The witch's flute sounded again.
Grrrrr...
"This won't do. Let's put that woman aside and talk just between us."
As if I'd converse with her.
Though other forms of "conversation" were welcome.
Didn't she mention some connection to Dorothy?
Time to use that excellent interrogation technique Gretel taught me to extract info.
Whirrr.
The witch blew her flute again.
The beasts scattered everywhere began moving in a new pattern.
Whoosh!
Those trying to break through to the Executioner turned on each other instead.
"This is...!"
The Executioner threw her chains with a startled voice.
Slash!
They carved through beast flesh and bone, but couldn't stop the anomaly.
"Groooar..."
What emerged was a single massive monster.
Hamelin's Beast LV50
A type of chimera hastily created by the Plague Witch.
Short-lived and low-intelligence, but made from countless beasts infused with the witch's plague, its strength and durability rival a golem's—making it a highly dangerous monster.
A massive beast blending features of bears, rats, and boars.
"Kill the Executioner."
"Roooaaar!"
Thud, thud, thud.
The monster bellowed as it charged the Executioner.
"Tch, crow! Hold on just a bit!"
Clink, rattle!
The Executioner readied herself to meet the incoming chain sickle-wielding charge.
I kept flying around the battlefield, purging every human plague in sight.
All the beasts had merged into one monster, now locked in combat with the Executioner.
Now, the only ones left on the battlefield were the Plague Witch.
And me.
"Finally, the interlopers are gone."
The Plague Witch addressed me in a calm voice.
Clink, rattle!
Boom!
The sounds of their fierce battle rang out right beside us.
She continued leisurely, as if it were beneath her notice.
"From the first time I heard about you, I've imagined this moment so many times."
Her emotions flipped in an instant—you'd never guess she'd been furious moments ago.
She fidgeted, twisting her thighs together excitedly.
"Haa, crow. I like crows like you."
The Plague Witch, clad in black robes and wearing a crow-beak mask.
Her visible red eyes gleamed with the same mad glee as always.
"Will you hear my story?"
"Caw..."
There were no more humans for me to handle.
Our deal was done.
But I couldn't just bail now.
She wouldn't let me go easily, and even the Executioner couldn't handle both at once.
Plus, that witch could take the downed humans hostage.
In short, I had to buy time until the Executioner took down that monster.
So, I'd pretend to listen.
"You know, you and I have a lot in common."
Common points, huh.
If being black with a beak-like feature counted, sure.
"...You've been discriminated against just for being black, haven't you?"
"Caaaaw!"
The Plague Witch was spouting some dangerously loaded words.
"Sh... shwoong..."
Even Swungswung in my arms flinched.
"Possessed by demons. Cursed. Source of plague. People pointed fingers at you when you were innocent. Right?"
The Plague Witch continued.
I knew she wasn't just talking about skin color.
Crows were literally black birds.
They starred in ominous tales.
Black symbolized ill fortune, and they were seen as carrion-eaters.
But real crows were different.
Contrary to the image of plague-spreaders and harbingers of doom, they were clever birds that loved cleanliness more than any other.
Doves—supposed symbols of peace—were way filthier.
"Come to me. You and I are the same. It's all because of 'them'..."
Plague Witch.
She manipulated others with her flute's melody.
Hansel and Gretel.
The big bad wolf.
Little Red Riding Hood.
I knew my foes were tied to fairy tales.
So what about the Plague Witch?
The Pied Piper.
Yeah, she had to be linked to the Pied Piper of Hamelin.
Twisted, as always, but still.
"Join me. With you, I could even put off my research for a bit."
She spread her arms wide and approached me.
She might be similar to a crow too.
Black robes, crow-beak mask, red eyes.
Red eyes probably weren't a good sign in this world.
Bertolt with his red eyes wore a helmet to hide his face, didn't he?
...Though there were other reasons.
Ominous red eyes made great story fodder.
Perfect for slapping on witch labels or pinning crimes.
"Talk to me. Then you'll join me too."
"Caw..."
No villain lacks a backstory.
A righteous protagonist could afford to hear it out.
I slowly approached the Plague Witch too.
"Yes, come here..."
As I drew near, I suddenly shifted stance.
Ripping off the face covering that slightly obscured my vision, I charged at her like a bullet.
Screeeee.
"Caaaaaw!"
And in that moment, I unleashed a talon kick.
Crack!
"Guh! Wh-why...!"
Because I'm no righteous protagonist.
Ultimate Technique: Backstory-Severing Kick.