EP.3 Three-Legged Crow -3
EP.3 Three-Legged Crow -3
(An illustration prepared to help readers' understanding.)
***
The string of disturbances had ended, and everything had returned to normal.
I sat at the dining table with my three Companion Animals for a calm discussion.
"Before we start talking... no fighting, got it? And no subtly putting each other down either! Understood?"
One bout of post-nut clarity had been enough.
I did not want to experience it a second time.
"Understood."
"Got it~!"
Their words did not sound particularly sincere, but as long as they stopped fighting, I did not care.
"First off, Yata. Why did you form a contract with me? Isn't that an act that goes against the Divine Beast Rules?"
"The rules, huh... The other two sitting here broke the rules too, so is there any reason I can't?"
"Those two contracted with me when I didn't know anything. But you? You knew everything. There's no reason for you to break the Divine Beast Rules just to contract with me."
"There is a reason. I repeated it until my mouth went dry just a moment ago."
"Sorry, but could you tell me one more time what that is?"
"Because you're my dear husband. Is there really any other reason besides that?"
"Right. That is exactly what I do not understand. Why do you call me your husband and follow me when we have only just met?"
"That's right! Shamelessly calling him your dear husband like that...!"
"Miho, stay quiet for a moment, please."
"Okay..."
I calmed Miho as she tried to interject and continued the conversation.
"I will not deny that we have only just met, but we are not complete strangers. I have watched you for a very long time, husband."
"What do you mean?"
"You understand that my ability lets me see the future, right? Who do you think I used it on first?"
"Who you used it on?"
"To put it simply, whose future do you think I saw first?"
"...Hm, maybe yourself?"
"Right. I used my ability on myself first and saw countless possible futures. From among them, I chose the one in which I was happiest."
"And that's the future where you contracted with me?"
"Yes, the future in which being joined with you made me happy. I wanted to experience that future myself, so of course I contracted with you."
For a Three-Legged Crow who could see and choose among futures, her decision made sense.
There was, however, one major problem with this.
"If you see the future and pick one, doesn't that cause the future to change?"
"Of course it does. Even just telling someone else about the future can change it."
Foreseeing the future changed it.
Wouldn't that make it all meaningless?
"Don't worry. I made my choice after seeing the futures that would change too. Even if things change, there won't be any major issues."
"Just how many moves ahead are you looking?"
"Who knows? I can't say for sure either."
Yata's mischievous smile brought several thoughts to mind, most of them about how irritating she was.
"I cannot reveal every future, but I can guarantee two things: I will never do anything I regret, and my love for you will never change."
"Guh...!"
Yata spoke with absolute conviction and not the slightest hint of deceit. Heat rushed to my face.
"Husband? Did what I just said make you fall for me a little? Did it?"
A little bit...
"Dear husband...?"
I needed to get a grip. If I became flustered, the conversation would end and the room would return to carnage.
Miho's veins were already bulging as though they might burst.
"Ahem...! I've heard enough to understand why you contracted with me, so I'll move on to the next question."
"Good~!"
"Why did you establish a religion in a city like this?"
"The simple answer is that it is my hobby. I love shiny things, so I collect them."
Yata walked over to a bookshelf set in one corner of the room.
She grabbed both ends of the bookshelf and slid it sideways, revealing a dazzling space.
Various gems, gold nuggets, and even glasswork—every last thing glittered brilliantly.
Into that space, Yata dumped all the new gold and treasures she'd collected during the assembly earlier.
"There is no better place than a mining city to collect glittering treasures like these."
"So you did not found the religion as a cover for something."
"Hiding away does not suit me. Besides, I had another reason for founding the religion here."
"There's another reason?"
"Want me to tell you? Though, are you sure it's okay? If I tell you, you might actually fall for me for real?"
"It's fine, so stop dragging it out and tell me quickly."
I needed her to answer before Miho's growing killing intent became unbearable.
The best course was to ask what I needed and end the conversation quickly.
I had no idea when or how a second war might erupt.
"It is simple. I founded the religion in this nearby city so I could help you."
"To help me?"
"Because if things ever get dicey, I'd need to go help you, husband, in the capital."
The city was only an hour and a half from the capital by car.
Compared with other cities, it allowed her to reach me quickly.
"So you founded the religion from the beginning on the assumption that you would become my Companion Animal?"
"Of course. You have so many worries, my husband, so don't you want a shield to protect you?"
"Well, that's true, but..."
"A capable woman who can support you with both wealth and manpower is far more desirable than one who merely takes up space at your side!"
-Crrrrack!!
Ah. War was about to erupt.
"Yata, no matter what, stop saying things like that. Miho is doing her best for me in her own way too."
"Dear husband...!!"
Miho stopped being angry at the compliment and grew bashful instead.
It seemed I had handled that reasonably well.
"Just as expected from the fox wench. How simple."
"Sometimes living simply is a good thing too."
"Anyway, husband, do you have any more questions?"
"You have answered what I was most curious about, so that will do for now. I will ask if anything else comes to mind. Is that all right?"
"Of course. Anytime is fine."
With that, my first mission had come to a successful end.
All that remained was to return to the capital and report in.
"Husband, were you thinking of returning straight away today?"
"Huh? Yeah, I was."
"In that case, you'd be better off going back tomorrow. There's still plenty of the city you haven't seen yet, right?"
"Well, yes, but..."
I glanced discreetly toward Miho. She was radiating an aura that screamed, 'Let's go back! Absolutely, let's go back!'
"It looks like your companions want to go back, though?"
"There's no need for you to humor the fox wench every time, is there, husband? Just do whatever you want. That's the best future."
"If you say do whatever I want..."
This time I looked toward Tia.
Unlike Miho, Tia was looking at me with eyes full of anticipation, as if thinking, 'We get to see more fun stuff?'
"In that case, I'll stay in the city for today, then we'll head back early tomorrow morning."
The one who'd helped me earlier today was Tia.
So for today at least, I wanted to side with Tia.
"Wise. Then I hope you have an enjoyable trip~!"
"Huh? You're not coming with us?"
"I would love to come, but I still have a great deal of work to finish. I will join you as soon as I am done, so go on without me."
"Yeah, got it."
"Just a moment before you go..."
Yata spread her black wings wide and closed the distance to me in a single step.
Wrapping her wings around my body, she brought her lips to my ear.
"Tonight, before twelve o'clock... could you come back here alone?"
"...Uh, why?"
"It is a secret♡ It will not harm you. I simply will not see your face for a while, so think of it as engraving my face into your memory beforehand."
Her mischievous smile made it clear that she was plotting something, though I had no idea what.
"With Miho here, it'll be impossible for me to slip away alone."
"That simple fox wench will be no problem. Hold her and sing a short lullaby before you leave, and she will fall asleep peacefully."
Was Miho really that simple, though?
"Anyway, I truly hope you'll come. There's something I absolutely want to show you, husband."
"Hmm... If you insist that much. All right, I'll try my best to make it."
"Then good!"
Yata folded her wings behind her again and smiled in satisfaction.
"Just what did you do to my dear husband with those filthy wings of yours, you birdbrain?"
"Nothing much. I just gave him a little advice. Told him to be careful since the bitch has such a terrible case of hysterics."
"That's needless worry! I'm only irritable toward you, because you make me sick to my stomach."
"What a coincidence. I am about to vomit because this room reeks of a filthy beast."
Did those two fight at every possible opportunity...?
It seemed like just keeping them physically separated was the best solution.
"Miho, that's enough. Let's head back."
"Ah, okay, I'll go now...!"
Even as she clung tightly to my arm and walked away, Miho never stopped glaring at Yata. Her jealousy left me speechless.
Couldn't fellow Companion Animals just get along?
Based on how the two of them had acted so far, it probably wasn't possible.
If Miho discovered that I planned to meet Yata alone that night...
I would probably endure something terrible.
***
Fortunately, thanks to Yata's prophecy, that terrible time never came.
The appointed hour drew near.
Just as Yata had said, I held Miho in my arms on the bed and sang her a lullaby, and she promptly fell into a deep sleep.
It actually worked...
I was surprised, but accepted that the day's events must have exhausted her.
Anyway, having succeeded in putting Miho and even Tia to sleep, I slipped out of the lodging and headed for the assembly hall I'd visited in the morning.
I soon found myself back before the assembly hall.
The Yata Church gatekeepers standing before it were at their posts even at this hour.
"Ah, shoot! I didn't bring the badge..."
I belatedly realized I hadn't brought the Crow Badge from the lodging.
I hesitated, wondering whether to turn back.
"Excuse me, are you Yoo Seon-ju?"
The gatekeepers stopped me before I could decide.
"Y-Yes, that's me?"
"Lady Yata has instructed us to let you in through this entrance. Right this way, please!"
This was not the entrance I had used that morning, but the passage reserved for followers with prophecy appointments. It led to the front of the auditorium.
"Yata left instructions, huh..."
Why had Yata told me to come at this hour, and why had she insisted I come alone?
I still did not understand her intention.
Curious about what her intention might be, I opened the auditorium door and stepped inside. A scorching wave of heat welcomed me.
Nearly a thousand followers were present as they had been that morning, but now they stood in complete silence at the rear of the auditorium.
That left only me at the front of the hall with...
"It looks like everyone's finally gathered. Shall we begin now?"
Yata, seated arrogantly upon her throne, and...
"...Mmmph!!"
twenty humans and twenty Companion Animals bound tightly with ropes.
"The twenty humans and animals before you right now have committed a grave sin."
Yata began speaking in a voice lower than usual.
"Their crime was simple, yet utterly heinous."
Her words were cold enough to sting my skin.
"The sin of attempting to murder the one I adore. They tried to commit a sin that can never be forgiven."
...Murder? What did that mean?
If I was the one Yata adored, had these bound people tried to kill me?
"These wretches, knowing no fear, infiltrated our city and were scheming a devious and wicked plan."
Looking closer, I spotted one face that seemed a little familiar.
The second man from the right.
My memory was not exceptional, but I recognized that man.
He was the man who had fled in panic when the gray bear appeared on the mountain...
"However, thanks to my foresight, all of their plans were thwarted, and as you can see, they've been captured just like this."
In other words, every one of them was a terrorist. Had they tracked me from my very first mission?!
The traitor inside the government agency had probably exposed me. We needed to resolve that problem as soon as possible.
"In the end, I protected the one I love."
She looked beautiful as she grinned down at me from the throne.
"However, that does not erase this wretch's sins. So, my children, let me ask you. How do you think we should handle this wretch's sins?"
The formerly silent Yata Church fanatics erupted, chanting one word in perfect unison.
"""Execution!! Execution!! Execution!! Execution!! Execution!!"""
"I see. If that is everyone's will, then it is only right to follow it, yes?"
And then Yata raised her thumb high...
"Kill them."
...and immediately reversed her hand, driving her thumb straight down.
At the same moment, the gatekeepers of the Yata Church emerged from the entrance I'd come in through, each bearing a weapon of their own. One by one, following Yata's command, they executed the terrorists.
Blood sprayed across the auditorium. It resembled a scene from a film, but witnessing it in person sent chills down my spine.
I did not sympathize with terrorists who had tried to harm me, yet watching fanatics slaughter them made it difficult to tell who the villains were.
From my perspective, of course, the fanatics were good and the terrorists were evil.
Even so, looking at this brutal execution ceremony, the thought even crossed my mind that maybe we were actually the worst ones here.
This was no good. If I watched any longer, it would be bad for my mental health.
I turned my attention to the woman seated on the throne.
The black-haired beauty seated there was watching the execution ceremony as if she felt absolutely nothing.
Yet, as if she'd noticed my gaze on her, she also turned her head toward me and smiled brightly.
"Husbaaand~!! This is the present I prepared for you!"
She was a female pope who possessed elegance, dignity, and cruelty rather than holiness.
"Well~? Did you fall for me?"
She was smiling as if even the execution was a mere game... my Companion Crow.