Chapter 84
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Fourth Evolution
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After descending, I surveyed the surroundings.
"Shuwaaang-shuwaaang… Swung?"
The endlessly suckling Swungswung on my shoulder finally snapped out of it.
I had no intention of scolding him. It was unavoidable due to my pheromones.
"Swung… Chwup…."
Huh?
You're back to your senses, so why are you still doing that?
Poke.
"Shu-oong!"
When I poked the black cloth covering Swungswung, he flipped over like a puppy exposing its belly.
In truth, he might not have been affected by the pheromones from the start.
He probably just seized the opportunity to lick me all over.
"Shuoooong."
Watching his short arms flail around, it seemed my guess was spot on.
"Kak."
I rolled Swungswung around this way and that, checking how many resources remained in his pouch.
The silver coins used just now amounted to about six.
The duration, generously estimated, was around three minutes.
Thirty seconds per silver coin.
Not precise, but that seemed about right.
Night Summoning was definitely a skill with exorbitant resource consumption.
But its effects were so potent that I'd have no choice but to use it while grumbling.
I'd also need to stockpile shiny objects whenever the chance arose.
Not only the duration, but the power itself seemed proportional to the value of the offerings.
It felt a bit weaker compared to when facing Bertolt.
In other words, using something more valuable than that golden helmet back then would yield an even stronger manifestation.
"Kak."
"Shu-oong?"
I stuffed the items back into Swungswung's pouch.
Including the cumbersome clothing.
"Shuaang! Shuaaang!"
He let out sounds like he disliked it, but what could be done?
I couldn't keep carrying them around myself.
Actually, should I just keep wearing them?
"Swung."
Swungswung obediently tucked the clothing into his pouch.
"Still, it's fortunate. The Deep Sea didn't target you with mere breezes. Had it unleashed a tsunami, escaping unscathed would be as likely as trees growing downward."
Moona's words were still unfamiliar, but I could roughly interpret them.
It was fortunate the Deep Sea Witch wasn't targeting me. If it had been tentacles instead of her main body, escaping intact would have been nearly impossible.
Something along those lines.
"Kakak."
I agreed to an extent.
The Deep Sea Witch.
She was a superior foe I hadn't encountered in ages.
I had faced strong enemies like Bertolt and the Red Cloak in succession.
But against them, I felt I could somehow find a way to counter.
The Deep Sea Witch was different.
She displayed overwhelming power with mere tentacles.
She effortlessly blocked the Executioner, who outclassed the Red Cloak.
Had she truly intended to capture me, I wouldn't have escaped unscathed like this.
That raised a question.
Why, exactly?
"Hm, indeed peculiar. Even the Plague Witch harbored no killing intent toward you."
The Plague Witch was the same.
Rather than eliminating me for thwarting the witches' plans, it felt more like personal curiosity drove her to seize me.
From their conversation, the Plague Witch wasn't even a Night Witch but a separate entity.
I wasn't sure about the Deep Sea Witch's affiliation.
"Plague and Deep Sea, along with Dorothy. And the Tin Woodman's ruins. There's undoubtedly some connection."
Something was definitely afoot.
Listening to the Deep Sea Witch, it seemed she was deliberately nudging me toward meeting the Tin Woodman.
Of course, I would have arrived here regardless, even without her.
The Sage was perched on my shoulder, after all.
But the Deep Sea Witch wouldn't know Moona was the Sage, so she must have intentionally leaked the info to lure me down.
And that was likely at Dorothy's behest.
In short, Dorothy was orchestrating a meeting between me and the Tin Woodman.
Scarecrow.
The Scarecrow intended to kill Dorothy.
The Tin Woodman was probably in a similar position.
As the Host of the Eternal Night, he likely harbored grudges against her.
Which meant Dorothy might be using me to eliminate her former comrades.
That thought crossed my mind.
Of course, if I took them out, it would delay the Night Witches' desired Eternal Night, so she was hiding something more.
Uncovering it now was nearly impossible.
I needed more information.
Encountering the Tin Woodman should yield some answers, regardless.
"Kakak."
I scanned the surroundings.
Unlike the upper level, this was a vast interior like a temple forged entirely of tin.
The jarring contrast between rusted iron and still-glistening tin grated on my nerves.
The most eye-catching feature was the massive door ahead.
A single door, towering at least five meters.
Instinct told me.
Beyond that door lay the Tin Woodman.
"According to my journal, this place is safe. There should be a fountain nearby for replenishing drinking water. It has a slight metallic tang, but nothing seriously wrong."
Plus, the Sage vouched for its safety.
It was exactly like the safe room right before a boss in a game.
Well, encountering the boss would trigger some Latin choral music, but no need to be surprised at this point.
No other lifeforms were visible besides us three.
The door remained firmly shut.
Which meant my task was clear.
[Sub Quest: Save the Contractor has been completed.]
[Reward: Special evolution options have been unlocked.]
"Kak!"
Special evolution.
This was why I'd endured all that hardship earlier.
Before facing the Tin Woodman, I had to give it my all.
[Dusk Wing Crow LV25(+) has reached max level.]
[Max level reached. Dusk Wing Crow LV25(+) can now evolve!]
Now was the time to evolve.
A special evolution, no less, with its dazzling name.
[You have saved the lives of your contractors.]
The status window was suddenly spouting honeyed words.
[Your fame increases.]
"Kak!"
Exactly.
Such messages at this timing were most welcome.
From past experience, verbose status windows right before evolution usually meant good things for me.
[Your tales begin to spread slowly.]
I patiently awaited the status window's messages.
Messages like these were always welcome.
[Your myth expands.]
Myth expands.
…Does that mean the people here are already spreading my stories the moment they get out?
No need to go that far.
I told them not to tell anyone.
[Tales of your sightings spread.]
[Information on items you prefer spreads.]
"Kak?"
Items I prefer?
Shiny things, obviously.
Does this mean people seeking me out will bring shinies in the future?
Cherry and Kiki too?
Excellent.
No matter what, stockpiling shinies is always good.
[Your infamy greatly increases.]
"Kaaaak?"
Infamy?
Why is infamy increasing?
Because my preferred items are known?
"Kak."
Swungswung diligently stuffing clothing caught my eye.
Items I like.
…Is it because of that?
"Kaaaak! Kakak!"
This is unfair.
Anyone would think I actually like that stuff.
I'm just collecting it for its utility, not because I fancy it.
Like, if they saw me drinking water, they'd call me a water-loving crow.
And even if I did like it, so what?
Infamy for that?
Did I forcibly strip stockings or something?
"Swung?"
Or impose unfair contracts to confiscate them?
"Euum…."
I desperately wanted to explain to the humans right now.
Next thing you know, people will be offering me stockings outright.
[Your infamy has greatly surpassed your fame.]
This message wasn't particularly welcome.
Fame increased, infamy greatly increased.
Naturally, infamy outpaced fame.
I didn't know exactly what infamy entailed, but the term sounded ominous.
[Your night deepens.]
[New options are presented.]
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【Dusk Wing Crow】 can evolve into:
1. 【Black Wing Crow】
2. 【White Twin Head Crow】
3. 【Giant Gold Kiwi】
4. 【Tesla Bird】
5. 【Afterglow Crow】
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The moment I saw the evolution options, the meaning behind the status window's messages became clear.
Afterglow Crow.
Afterglow—another term for the lingering light after twilight.
A time following dusk.
And with infamy accumulated, my night deepened.
Not absolute, but one inference was possible.
When infamy surpasses fame, such options increase.
In other words, species closer to night emerge.
And vice versa?
Evolution toward day-aligned species.
The choices would split into two paths.
Accumulate infamy for a night crow, or fame for a day crow.
Of course, only one choice mattered now.
Afterglow Crow.
Its name alone evoked the crow of lingering light.
With nomenclature akin to Twilight Wings, I selected it gladly.
"Kak!"
Dusk Wing Crow was no more.
Now, it was time to be reborn as Afterglow Crow.