CH 111

Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #111

*Rainelle’s POV

"Caaw. (That might be the case.)"

Yes, it may be so. Which animal changes their habits after being evaluated by a human? Birds fly, snakes crawl, and hyenas act as scavengers.

If I wanted to live as a crow, that thought would be really useless. What's the point of caring about what others think? I'm busy surviving.

But, I'm not living as a crow only, am I?

"Caaw. (But It’s not that simple for me.)"

"What do you mean?"

"Caaw. Caaw. Caaw. (I have a human mate. So I need intelligence. And I wish I have the power to protect him.)"

The Black Bird blinked. Then it tilted its head and said,

"Did you mate with a human who couldn’t fly? Why did you do that?"

"Caaw. Caaw. (I fell in love with him. I don't know why.)"

Yeah, I don't know why. But I fell in love with him. Enough for me to want power for him.

"Caaw, caaw. (To be with him, I have to think like a human.)

Now, Karmeut is blocking the troubles, but the nobles are not easy to deal with. If I ever get to marry him, there would be a mountain of things to come.

"Caaw. Caaw, caaw. (I must have power. The power to protect myself, and to protect him.)"

I have no power right now. I don't even have the strength to protect myself. Although Miel is loyal to me, I’m uneasy since I have no power of my own.

Karmeut is the emperor. The place where we live is the Imperial Palace. If I don't have my own power, then... things will only get harder for Karmeut in many ways.

"Caaw. (Please help me.)"

I said it with all my heart.

Help. Help me. It's impossible for me right now. If Namuel goes berserk in the future, then I can only stand still and watch him die. I hate that. I don’t want that! No!

"Did you fly this high for that? Because you need help? Because you want to protect him?"

I nodded at that.

"Caaw. (Help me.)"

The Black Bird did not open its mouth for a while. After a heavy silence, the Black Bird opened its beak,

"You are next to a man with Wolf's blood."

I flinched at those words.

Were you watching?

"A human being who is kind and gentle to you. He loves you."

I was silent, not knowing what to say. Even if I know, I couldn't say anything because I was afraid that the Black Bird won't help me.

"Are you afraid?"

I hesitated, not knowing the meaning of those words. Then the Black Bird kindly spoke out,

"Are you afraid of being a burden to him because he lacks power? What if I don't help you?"

Its eyes which resembled the sun twinkled.

"You’re thinking “What if he dies?” "

I could not say anything or take action against the Black Bird who spoke as if it was looking into my mind. Then the Black Bird lowered its head, carefully rubbed the tip of my beak, and said,

"Don't be afraid, I didn't mean to criticize you."

The feeling of the touching beak was firm yet warm. It felt warm like coffee brewed from a vending machine in winter. It was as if I would melt from the touched part.

"It's just... it's amazing. The fact that a crow with a human soul flew the highest and met me for the first time."

"---Caaw? (---Don't you think I'm selfish?)"

"Selfish? What do you mean?"

On the contrary, the reaction of the Black Bird, who tilted its head as if it did not understand, was surprising.

Uh? Since I wanted to meet this deity because I wanted power, I thought it would be like: “You want power, you insolent?! Take heaven’s punishment!”. And I was prepared for lightning to fall on me…?

"You want power? You want to protect your precious one? Isn't that normal? Your wish is only natural, because one needs strength to protect one’s partner and one’s young. Of course, it was unexpected that you came to me for that."

Saying that, the Black Bird laughed a little.

"It's ironic, there have been many crows that ate my eggshell pieces, but the one who reached me is you, who has a human soul."

The Black Bird, who shook off its feathers once with a sigh of joy or regret, continued,

"No. Rather, could it have been why you could reach this place? A crow that loves a wolf. It’s my child. My dear child who is the first to meet me, tell me your wish."

"---Caaw? (---You will listen to me?)"

"Didn't you try to come this far? Although you borrowed the power of a spirit, you wouldn't have borrowed it if you hadn't thought of coming here."

The Black Bird lowered its head and made eye contact with me.

"Isn't that how desperate you are? He's so precious to you and you don't want to lose him, so you came to see me."

Yes. So I searched for the Black Bird. I flew so high, thinking that I had nothing to lose.

To meet you.

There was no guarantee that I would meet the Black Bird and my wish would come true. But I had to grab at the straw, and I came here because I wanted power.

And the Black Bird was willing to listen.

I wasn't stupid enough to miss the opportunity that was right before my eyes.

"Caaw. Caaw caaw. Caaw. (I want power. The power to protect my precious mate. I don’t want to be only protected by him.)"

Hearing that, the Black Bird's eyes softened.

"Yes, mates are partners who protect each other. The first child to reach me. A child with a human soul. That wisdom and earnestness have been conveyed to me."

The Black Bird spread all its wings. Six huge black wings covered the sun and shone black.

"My child who loves a wolf. Lovely child who wants to be his companion. Your wish will come true. Because you are like us."

***

*3rd person POV

Suddenly feeling like something was cut off, Miel's eyes widened.

"---!!"

Putting his hand on his chest where his heart was pounding, he tightened his grasp.

It was not a familiar feeling. However, he instinctively knew what had happened.

‘The Spirit returned to the spirit realm. If it had been a reverse summoning, I would have felt it physically with my body, so it’s not that.’

‘But, the problem is that the Spirit that returned to the spirit realm was the high-level wind spirit. I sent it to Rainelle-nim to help her, but why did the Spirit return to the spirit realm?’

Miel hastily summoned the spirit. Then the spirit appeared with the wind.

"What's going on? Why did you go back to the spirit realm? What about Rainelle-nim?"

The Spirit narrowed its eyes. Then it responded while waving its wings slightly.

"The crow is safe. And it is a place I shouldn't be, so I have returned to the spirit realm."

"Where you shouldn't be...? What---!!"

"I have no authority to speak. If you are curious, ask the crow directly."

"You---!!"

"Above all, the crow is safe. She will be here soon."

Then, as if not wanting to say anything anymore, the spirit returned to the spirit realm. Seeing that, Miel clenched his fists and trembled.

"---! This is not the time. I have to tell the Emperor---!!"

Miel walked briskly with an urgent feeling. If it wasn't for Imperial Palace, he would have already run.

"---!!"

However, Miel could not continue what he had intended. Because he found an object that was growing bigger and bigger on one side of the blue sky.

Miel wasn't the only one who discovered it.

People in the Imperial Palace and the Capital who happened to look at the sky began to stir when they saw it. And those who looked up at the sky because of that ended up opening their eyes wide in surprise while looking at the growing black bird.

For a moment, the bird with black feathers was large enough to be mistaken for a Wyvern. Glossy black feathers glistened every time it flapped its wings.

The inside of the wings was full of golden patterns as if embroidered. And the long tail was blowing in the wind.

The black bird, with its purple eyes twinkling, circled the Capital and flew to the Imperial Palace. Then, as if contemplating where to sit, it began to slowly circle the top of the Imperial Palace.

People inside the Imperial Palace were in an uproar. There was no choice but to be anxious as a large bird, which had never been seen before, circled over the Imperial Palace.

"Your Majesty the Emperor!!"

"Your Majesty! It's dangerous! Hurry and take refuge!!"

The call barely brought Miel to his senses. Seeing the Emperor walking from afar, he hurriedly approached Karmeut.

"Your Majesty the Emperor."

"Marquis Albion. What could it be?"

The Emperor's voice was not relaxed, as if his nerves were on edge. Tasting the sensation that his sharp, gleaming golden eyes seemed about to devour him, Miel gulped.

"No. There's only one time you show that attitude. -Where's Rainelle? Marquis Albion."

Miel hesitated at that question. Seeing him like that, the Emperor got impatient.

"Answer me, Marquis Albion. When my patience remains."

"That---"

It was the moment when Miel was trying to answer, thinking about whether to tell about the Spirit's unexpected behavior first or about Rainelle’s request to borrow his spirit.

The air trembled, and a sound was heard.

It was both a high and low sound. Everyone's heads turned to the sky at the sound of the melody.

The black bird's beak was slightly open. The bird was slowly hovering over the Imperial Palace, making a crying sound like a song. -On the long graceful neck of the bird, there was something shiny.

The Emperor's eyes widened when he saw it. Then he mumbled without realizing it,

"Rai, nelle?"

The purple eyes of the black bird turned to him. It was very familiar to Karmeut.

The bird stopped hovering around the Imperial Palace and started flapping her wings in place. She let out a brief cry of joy and then landed on the wall of the palace.

Maybe considering it an opportunity, the knights, wizards, and spirits tried to attack.

"Stop!!"

At the Emperor's command, the people stopped. However, although they could stop their attack, they could not do anything about the magic that had already been launched.

The black bird blinked. Then she caught the fireball that flew at her with her beak. As the people least expected it, the bird swallowed the fireball as if she was eating delicious fruit.

The people were very nervous at that sight. Even if it was a wyvern, unless it was a type that lives in the lava zone, it would take damage if attacked with that.

It was the first time a monster had swallowed a fireball as if it was eating fruit. Even if they had superior physical conditions than humans, there weren't many monsters that were tough inside. It was even more so for the kind that can swallow fireballs. Even if there were, there was no black bird among them.

Whether or not he knew the mind of the people, the Emperor slowly approached the bird.

Ignoring everyone around him who shouted that it was dangerous and telling me to avoid it, Karmeut continued to slowly approach her, and he spoke softly.

"...Rainelle?"

At that, the black bird's eyes bent gently. The straight and smooth beak opened slightly, and a playful voice answered,

"What is it, Karmeut?"

Miel was astounded. No, everyone except Karmeut was astounded.

‘Rainelle?! The Next Empress?! I’m sure she was a crow...?!’

Karmeut laughed a little. Then he stretched out one of his hands to the black bird and said,

"You scared me, Rainelle. ---Come here."

At those words, the black bird spread her wings. It flew up as if floating and approached him.

The size of the black bird gradually decreased as black feathers fluttered. Through the fluttering black feathers, a woman in a black dress, with large black wings on her back, literally flew to him and hugged him.

"Surprise! I was surprised too."

The Emperor smiled softly at Rainelle's act of bending her eyes while grinning innocently. Then he opened his mouth while gently pulling themselves apart,

"Can you explain in detail what happened?"

"Yeah, of course."

Rainelle nodded her head as she lightly flapped the wings on her back. Due to that, her black hair fluttered lightly in the air.

"Rainelle-nim!!"

"Ah, Marquis Albion."

Looking at the Elementalist who approached with a slightly tired face, Rainelle nodded her head. Then she said with an apologetic expression,

"I'm sorry. I made you worry."

"I'm glad you're safe---! This, what is..."

Rainelle scratched her cheek with her index finger at the sight of Miel stuttering as if he was really confused. She looked at Karmeut and Miel alternately, then she said,

"---I think I need to explain what had happened. Can we change location, Your Majesty?"

"---With Marquis Albion too?"

"He helped me, so I think he deserves to hear too."

At that, Karmeut nodded with a sigh.