CH 124

*Rainelle’s POV

After a while, Aria was able to calm herself. Aria took a deep breath while wiping the tears from her eyes, then she said quietly,

"...thank you for your consolation, Rainelle."

I couldn't think of any words to respond to Aria's act of smiling and thanking me.

Like she did not expect an answer either, the next second, Aria patted hard her own cheeks a few times and stood up from her seat.

She said,

"I can't be this depressed!"

"Huh? Do you have any good way?"

"I can’t think of anything right now, but... acting like a tragic heroine won’t change anything, right?"

That's right.

When I thought so and nodded my head, Aria laughed,

"If I could, I'd like to chase him right away and slap him hard, but it's hard to find an excuse for going. What should I do? Is there any good way?"

"No, even if you ask me---"

When I said it up to that part, I stopped talking.

Ah? Wait. Maybe I can do something?

"---Rainelle?"

"Hey, I don't know if this is a good idea, but... I think we can figure out how Namuel's current situation is."

"Huh, really?! How?! Rainelle flying there yourself? Oh, but I don't think Karmeut will ever allow that."

“No, there is another way.”

The reason why I thought of this now was because I heard Eileen-nim's whispering voice:

"My child, don't forget that you are the Queen of crows and all flying beasts."

---I don't know what the concept of 'Queen' would be like for animals.

What is it? From my knowledge as a zookeeper… maybe it’s like the head of the pack?

"I can ask the crows."

"...Crows? No, the idea is understandable, but the place that Namuel was dispatched to was the west of the Empire, right? Adjacent to the mountain range that crosses the continent."

"Because it's a mountain range, it's a good place for crows to live in. Well, it's a common bird that can be found everywhere, right?"

Even though they were pushed by magpies in Korea, it was different here. And even if it was not as many as pigeons, crows can be seen a lot too.

In other words, there were enough eyes to see and enough ears to hear. They can’t speak well like a human, but they have the advantage of being able to fly.

However, Aria seemed skeptical.

"Rainelle, I appreciate your kindness, but... wouldn’t it be difficult? Even if Rainelle asks the crows to do it, the time it takes to reach Milburn territory is..."

"Why are you worrying about that?"

"...Eh?”

“You don't need to worry about that, you know?"

Aria looked at me with a puzzled expression and tilted her head.

"Rainelle, I'm sorry, but please explain a little more..."

"Do you remember that not long ago, I turned into a huge black bird and flew to the Capital?"

"Of course. How can I forget that?"

“At the same time, somehow, I became the queen of the crows.”

She didn't say a word, but at the gaze that seemed to say “---Huh? Hm? What?”, a smile formed on my lips. So I said with a mischievous laugh,

"I, am the queen of the crows and all flying beasts."

"Wait a minute? You haven't said that before!!"

"I haven’t?"

"You haven't!!"

"Oh, I seem to forget. I'm sorry?"

"...Now that's what you're going to say?! That you're sorry?!"

"Hey, hey. It’s all good, isn’t it?"

"Ahhhhhhh! What is this?! Ahhh!!"

Aria, who was unable to accept the sudden change, quickly composed herself as she also realized that it wasn't a bad thing at all.

"...The fact that you’ve forgotten to tell me makes me kinda sad, but I'll move on."

"---I said I'm sorry. And there’s no problem."

"Yes, yes, yes. Haa… so, since you’re the queen of crows, you can just give them orders or something like that?"

"Hmm... maybe?"

"Maybe?!"

"Because I've never actually done it. Of course I won’t know for sure, right?"

At that, Aria gaped her mouth, then she barely uttered her next words,

"No, it's true... but, well... aren’t you too calm and casual in this situation?!"

"Anything has a first time."

"Don't say things like that so calmly and casually!! I'm really feeling the difference between you from before!"

"But right now, this is the only solution. That's why I suggested it... If you don't like it, should I not do it?"

"Hey, I didn't say not to do it!!"

---This was an urgent situation for both me and Aria. She knew that better than anyone else, so Aria squatted down and sighed.

"Hey, this is the first time I've been treated like this..."

"Well, that was funny."

"Ah, really!! Give me back the cute Rainelle of the past!!"

"Then it would make it difficult to understand Namuel's current situation, wouldn't it?"

"Ugh damn it!! But Rainelle isn't even sure, are you?!"

"You don't know without trying it, okay? But I think the possibility is high?"

"Oh my---!!"

It wasn't intentional, but Aria was still not that calm anyway. In order to pacify Aria, who still seemed likely to spit fire from her mouth if she was to be left alone, I transformed into a crow once again and hugged her.

I thought it was quite nice when Aria started stroking my feathers.

"Anyway, shall I try now?"

"Huh? Is that okay?"

"Since I went out after I told Karmeut that I had something to do, it'll be all right ---probably."

I can't be sure.

Is it just me? I can picture Karmeut looking surprised and questioning about what's happening when I get back…

Trying to ignore that feeling, I looked at Aria. She had a frown on her face. I wonder if Aria had the same thoughts as me.

"---How are you going to appease Karmeut later?"

"...Well, it’ll work out somehow. Can't I just hug him and act cute?"

"Wow, what a simple yet effective solution."

"Right?"

She said yes while nodding her head. But then Aria let out a short sigh.

Huh? What is it?

Aria seemed unwilling to answer, therefore, I shrugged off the thought of getting an answer.

"Then shall I try to do it?"

"Okay, Rainelle."

Nodding her head, Aria removed her hands from my back. I spread my wings and soared into the sky. I then drew out the power which I received from Eileen-nim.

*3rd person POV

A huge bird suddenly appeared in the sky of the Capital. It was a very large black bird. It had happened once before, but that doesn’t mean it didn't surprise people.

Through the notice from the Emperor, the people of the Capital knew that the black bird was Rainelle, the descendant of the Black Bird that protects the Empire. However, it was only the second time when she had appeared like this, so the hubbub did not subside easily.

The black bird circled the sky. The beak of the black bird then opened.

She let out a strange sound. It wasn't a cawing sound like a crow's, nor was it a pleasant melody like a canary's.

The cry was like burning heat. It sounded like some call, announcing that she was here. It was too powerful to be called a melody, but there was a beauty for it not to be said as one.

As if responding to the cry of the black bird, cawing sounds were heard.

It was crows.

The crows, which did not leave their territory in winter as it was a difficult time, started cawing from here and there.

When the crows at one area stopped crying, the crows elsewhere began cawing in turn. It was like a medley. This behavior instilled fear in the people for no reason.

With the sound of flapping wings, the crows flew away. It was as if the crows inside the Capital flew up all at once. There was such a huge number of crows.

Countless crows flew towards the black bird, which made the sky half-obscured and looked gray. Then, as if escorting, they began to hover around the black bird.

*Rainelle’s POV

"Yes, you are the queen of the crows and the queen of all flying animals with wings and feathers."

Eileen-nim whispered in my ear in a smiling voice. Of course, I had heard these from Eileen-nim before. In fact, I've heard it a few times so far...

I-I didn’t expect that there would be this many?

It was said that seeing is believing. This was a perfect example.

I didn’t expect it will actually work… no, more than that...

Aren't all the crows in the Capital gathered here?

I haven’t seen every single crow in the Capital. However, it felt that way.

I felt that all the crows in the Capital were flying around me, with not a single one on the ground.

The crows hadn't made a sound since they took flight in response to my cry earlier. They were quietly hovering around me. It was as if they were waiting for me to speak.

Realizing that, I turned my head and looked at the crows. The crows who received my gaze fluttered their feathers as if they were thrilled.

Meanwhile, a single crow flew close to me. The dull, gray feathers were somehow familiar to my eyes.

"Ah, Hempel-nim."

When I called out to him with joy, the old crow nodded his head.

"Rainelle-nim, our Queen, do you have any wishes?"

...I still couldn't get used to Hempel-nim's polite tone. But since I’m running out of time, I decided to just talk straight to business.

"The west from here. If you fly in that direction, there is a place where humans live near the mountains which divide the land."

For some reason, I felt like I had to speak solemnly because I was the queen.

"There is a human male named Namuel, with silver hair and green eyes. I want to know what he's doing and how he's doing."

The crows started cawing a little. I thought they might misunderstand something, so I hurriedly added,

"You don't have to go there yourself. Tell the story. Spread the story. It's winter now, so there's no need to risk your lives. The most important thing is to survive."

After I say, “So tell others the story, listen and get the news, then let me know,” the crows began to cry loudly.

I understood the sound: “We will, our Queen!”

The crows then dispersed. It was a spectacle to see the enormous flock going to the west. While I was admiring the black waves rolling in the sky for a bit, Hempel-nim circled my head.

"What's the matter, Hempel-nim?"

"I'm telling you because I think the Queen should know."

Hempel-nim, who had carefully spoken up to that point, looked at me for a moment and then clenched his beak.

"Doing this in winter is too much for the crows in many ways."

"I know. That's why I asked to relay the message. If they go directly, it will be even more difficult. Maybe there will be dead crows."

At that, Hempel-nim nodded his head. Then he went on to say,

"So... why don't you reward them after the job is done?"

I was intrigued by that remark. There was only one reward for the crows. Since they did not need gold coins like people, food was the only thing to give.

Besides, it isn't too bad. This is the season when it is difficult to find food. As it was such a season, receiving food may be more important to the crows than gold coins.

"Thank you for letting me know, Hempel-nim. When the crows return, can you tell them to come to the Imperial Palace, to where I am? I will prepare food so that they can eat their fill."

“I would like to thank the benevolent Rainelle-nim.”

He politely lowered his head and smiled with his eyes bent.

Thank you. I’m the more grateful one. Because this is my first time, you give me some advice.

As a token of gratitude, I lightly rubbed his beak with mine. The old crow's eyes widened. Then the crow made a short cry as if it was in a good mood and flew away to the west.

For a w while, I looked in the direction where the crows left. I began pondering.

---Should I go to Aria's manor or go back to the Imperial Palace?

I had to tell Aria that it seemed to be okay, but Karmeut's reaction was also worrying.

...I should go back to the Imperial Palace, right?

Aria would have watched the crows fly west in droves from the manor. So even if I don't go back there, won't she notice what happened?

On the other hand, Karmeut's side... I left by saying that I had something to do, but when he saw a group of crows flying westward...

---Yeah, I have to go to Karmeut.

To deal with the aftermath, it would be better to go to Karmeut and make an explanation. I think it would be nice to make him not worry about it.

When I thought about it that far, I flew toward the Imperial Palace without hesitation.

---As if my prediction was correct, Karmeut was looking up at the sky from the largest garden in the Imperial Palace.

The gleaming golden eyes seemed to emit an unspoken pressure that told me to quickly transform into a human, so I gulped inwardly.

...Am, am I in trouble?