Of All Things, I Became a
Crow: Chapter #09
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Karmeut’s POV
"Elder brother! You're safe!"
A familiar figure was coming from a distance. Of course,
being familiar never meant being on good terms. He had murky gold hair and yellowish-brown
eyes that gave off a slacker look.
Although he could see the man running in a flustered
manner while raising his sharp and crafty eyes, Karmeut's expression didn't
change.
No, it would be more accurate to say that he momentarily
frowned and then changed to an expressionless expression.
"-It's been a while, Luwellin."
"Haah- Don't you know that I'm worried, brother? Do
you know how surprised I was to hear that you went missing while hunting? It
would be dangerous for someone who didn't awaken."
Hearing those words, the first prince smiled.
If
it was before, I would have been furious at the words that scratched my nerves,
saying openly that I couldn't wake up. But now, it's different.
Now
that I've gained the power, such provocations are only cute.
"I'm sorry about this, Luwellin. I've made you
worry. As an older brother, I have to accept my younger brother's jokes, but I
made you worry with your own 'little' joke. You've shown an unsightly side to
your older brother."
Looking at Luwellin's face, Karmeut laughed inwardly.
-I
can't believe you're shaken just by such words. One
who reigned over others shouldn't be shaken so easily. Also,
This
guy's not gonna make it.
Even Karmeut, who just recently woke up, tried hard to
hide his 'spirit' until he reach the port.
Of course, for him, it was not the time to reveal that he
had awakened, so it was natural for him to try to hide it, however, thinking
about it for a bit, trying to hide his 'spirit' was not an option, but a
necessity.
Isn't
it a situation where we don't know when and how an awakened person will come
out of the royal family?
And
even if I didn't awaken... If there is no awakened person in this generation,
even a non-awakened person can become the next emperor.
Karmeut did not assassinate Luwellin for one reason. He
judged that he didn't have enough influence and nobles’ support that were enough
to make up for the situation after the assassination.
-You've
done this without knowing the situation, and you've got such an immature
attitude.
On top of that, no matter how much he hid his 'spirit',
this guy who had awakened a long time ago didn't feel the signs of a man who
had just awakened.
That's
why he couldn't completely take over the right of succession from me who haven't
awakened before.
His golden eyes curved, skillfully hiding the words that
he would spit out to this face in front of him one day.
"I'll try my best to accept my brother's mischief
from now on. I appreciate your effort to set up the search party, and I'm sorry
to have wasted your time on that. -I have to see Father now, so I'll talk to
you again next time I get a chance."
Karmeut walked past Luwellin while saying that. Karmeut
saw him tremble with his fist clenched. After laughing inside, the first prince
turned his thoughts from the troublesome 3rd prince to the emperor.
This meeting with him was not worth remembering.
The Imperial Palace was very wide, perhaps to preserve
the dignity of the empire.
Karmeut, who was walking along the wide hallway with servants
and attendants, opened his mouth to talk to the door guards when he arrived at
his destination.
"Could you tell the Emperor that the First Prince
has arrived?"
After one of the guards nodded his head, he announced in
a loud voice that the First Prince had come. When a quiet but certain
permission to come in was given, the guards opened the door.
"It is an honor to see your Majesty the
Emperor."
"Cough, cough…, yes, I heard you were missing. It's
good to see you're safe."
The emperor sighed in relief and responded to Karmeut's
greeting. He had a pale complexion that seemed to be sick, but his eyes were
sharp.
Even lying in bed like this, he skillfully took over the
atmosphere like he was the most honorable and dignified person in the empire.
"How are you feeling?"
"It's neither good nor bad. There's no change. At
least the prince's worries won't happen, so why don't you cease your unorthodox
greetings?"
Despite being in the position to see polite human beings
the most, the emperor dismissed the greeting, but he had eyes that were sharp
and dignified.
"Are you finally breaking your eggshell? You're so
incompetent, that's how you get stabbed in the back by your younger
brother."
Despite the emperor's attitude that seemed like he knew
everything, Karmeutt's expression did not change. No, rather, he smiled a
little. The emperor's eyebrows twitched, perhaps not expecting that expression.
Then, the prince opened his mouth.
"Thanks to being hit in the back of the head, I
broke the eggshell and came out."
"Silly thing."
"I can just try not to be foolish now, right?"
Their eyes met. It looked like there was a spark.
They were staring at each other with fierce gazes, and
the son opened his mouth first.
"Put your mind at ease. I will firmly grab the right
of succession that has been dragged on so far."
"Hoo-----. You will push the brainless Luwellin?"
"Yes, Isn't that what children do?"
The emperor's eyes narrowed at the prince's attitude,
referring to his childish morality.
The feeling of intimidation grew stronger, but Karmeut
showed a smile on his lips.
"Once the right of succession is decided, Your
Majesty will go to see Queen Mother, whom you miss so much."
"...!"
The emperor's expression hardened terribly. No matter how
much he was a prince, he would know that he could die if he offended the
emperor, but he kept smiling. No, rather, he concluded their conversation with
a deeper smile.
"So please stay as you have been. Until one of us
survives."
"-Braggart."
"When was there ever a time when I wasn't?"
Karmeut rose from his seat. His golden eyes, which did
not avoid the emperor's glare, were slightly subdued.
"-If, Queen Mother... if Mom hadn't died of illness,
you might have dealt with the right of succession in a slightly more moderate
way."
"Now, please excuse me."
The emperor didn't say anything much about the prince's plan
of action. He knew because he was the emperor who ruled the great empire and
because he had been through that too. Those who contend for the right to
succession bite each other and see blood until just one of them was left, and
because of that, of course, they didn't shower much affection on their
children, who they didn't know who was going to die.
However------
"…Yes, you should have that kind of ambition. You
impertinent thing."
His mouth unintentionally formed a smile, and the emperor
leaned his back on the bed.
A wolf spends its entire life with only one companion.
And if one loses their partner due to an unexpected event, that individual will
die after suffering as if following their partner.
The emperor half-closed his eyes, thinking that he would
soon be able to see her longing smile after living meaninglessly with just a
sense of duty.
This thought came to the emperor's mind,
'I wonder what kind of expression you would make if you
heard that---'
***
*Rainelle's POV
Perhaps because Karmeut said something close to a threat,
the servant was carefully moving the cage. But I could see it clearly. Apart
from moving it carefully, there was the gaze that was close to fear and
disgust.
--Uh-huh,
yes. I am an ominous, unlucky bird that symbolizes death and disease. Yeah, this reaction is normal. But why
do I feel like crying...?
Woo,
I'm cleaner than you think! I tidy my feathers and take a bath every day! I don't
eat bugs! I don't even eat corpses' eyeballs!
It felt like my heart was going to explode from the
injustice, but I shut my beaks because I knew very well that only caws would
come out when I shouted like that.
Sob,
Karmeut said that I could get hurt if I make a lot of noise here! Why? That's
right. There are many rare animals and plants in the Imperial Palace!
As
an unlucky bird, if I make a mistake and injure an animal or plant dear to the
family, I'll be beaten to death on the spot! I'm going to die!
Even
if I'm Karmeut's favorite crow, -no one knows this yet. Of course, right?
Because Karmeut had just arrived at the Imperial Palace!
So
if I don't behave, I might really die! I looked around while balancing my body
by folding my wings tightly and grasped the perch with all my strength.
It was really hard to hold back in this place full of
golden lights because the crow's instinct to love glittering things kept coming
up.
Want...
I want it! I want to play with that! The shiny one! The pretty one!
...Hah!
No, my soul is that of a human! An intelligent(?) person! Get a hold of
yourself, me! You have to wait patiently until Karmeut comes, and then you'll
be comforted in his arms!
I waited eagerly for Karmeut to arrive, while the servant
moved quietly. When we passed through the large hallway and entered the
seemingly uselessly large door, I saw a room that was so gorgeous that my eyes
widened.
Is,
is this.. Karmeut's room?
There were so many luxurious and precious things that I
had a feeling that was difficult to describe.
I
feel full just by looking at it with my eyes. When you go on a foreign trip and
enter the splendidly decorated palace as a tourist course, nothing comes to
mind except for the 'wow' exclamation. I think it felt like that?
I suddenly heard a clattering sound, so I turned my head
and looked at where the sound came from. And I froze.
--I
thought the servant would feed me to 'not treat me recklessly'. But, but, but
this, this!
White and plump things were dilly-dallying in the bowl.
These things were very, very, very tangling each other! My eyes were destroyed
by the lethal visuals!
Argh!!
My eyes!
"--Birds like worms, so it should be this."
It was a miracle that I still had a consciousness to hear
the servant's mutter, but I wanted to grab her by the collar and shook her
hard.
Yeah!
I can’t deny it! Birds eat bugs and worms and even steal eggs from other birds'
nests if given the chance!! I know that there are a lot of kids who like to
give mealworms to parrots they keep at home, too!
But,
No! I don't!
I! I
don't like worms and bugs!
I wanted to run wild, but my body was frozen and I
couldn't move. If I move a little bit, I think that the bugs in the bowl will
charge me.
I
can't do this. Ugh. Ugh----!
Uh,
uh...! I'm scared!
I'm
not hungry, but I'm scared! I'm scared before my instincts! Someone, please
know that it's visual and mental terrorism when the long, unpleasant things are
crawling!!
Although
I am known as a corpse and eye-eating bird, I'm very delicate at heart! My mind
is that of a person! I was also a woman who fainted when someone dropped a worm
on my desk to tease me when I was in elementary school!!
As I feel tears coming out a little, I prayed that
Karmeut would come quickly.
Hurry
up and come! Hurry up and take the worm bowl! Whaaaaaaaaaaaah! Karmeut didn't
come!
The feeling of betrayal has risen! And there was a bigger
problem, which was...
She
took away the cookies! Ahhhh! I'm hungry!!
Birds
digested their food right away! If I don't eat often, I will be hungry!
Starving for a day is the same as starving for three days for humans. How
cruel! How could you treat me like this?! You're being so thoughtless!
While sniffling, I prayed earnestly for Karmeut to come
quickly, but my wings dropped as I looked at the door which had no sign of
being opened. Maybe he was late.
My stomach was rumbling
I'm
hungry......
I glanced at the bowl that contained worms. The wriggling
things gave me a lot of eye terror and psychological shock, but......uh...ummm
what...
They,
they look delicious...
--Hah!
No!! That's not delicious, you ass!
Let's
bury that instinct inside! No matter how much crows like bugs and worms, you're
not! Look at those things crawling! If you eat it, they'll wriggle in your
stomach!
Hiih!
I got goosebumps all over my body just by imagining it! I hate it, I hate it!
It won't taste any good! If you eat it, you'll get a stomachache!
So
that never looks delicious!
That's
not tasty. You can't eat that.
I closed my eyes tightly as I repeated them to myself.
I wanted to go to the very corner of the cage, but I
thought the worms that escaped from the bowl would crawl to me, so I held my
tears and never come down from the perch!
*Grumble*
My
stomach kept making sounds. Ugh------, I'm thirsty----, I'm hungry--
Even if I wanted to drink water, the worm bowl was next
to the water bowl, so I didn't dare to go. Sobs...
...Should
I just close my eyes, pick up a worm, and eat it?
I was startled at the sudden thought, but when I thought
about it again, it didn't seem like a bad idea.
Isn't,
isn't that right? My mind is of a human, but my body is a crow's, right?
When
you were in the woods and helped Karmeut, you relied on the crow's instinct the
most, you know?
I,
I've seen on the news that bugs and even worms are future food, and they're
trying various things, and I've heard that they're high in protein, and, uh,
they're... I mean...
Just
one bite?
Ahh!!
If I ate that, I'd be wriggling in my stomach! If I had teeth... if I had
teeth, they would burst in my mouth, and their body fluids would be all over my
mouth... Hiiiii! No! I absolutely hate it!!!
***
Translators Note:
Nyx: Hello folks! We have good news! Because we think
that we’ve gotten quite used to Korean, we will update more from now on! 5 TIMES A WEEK (from Monday to Friday)!!
Ririi Rain: We will do this fast release at least until
we can catch up to the manhwa! Oh, and if you wanna help us keep our spirit up, now you can buy us coffee here. Your support means a
lot to us <3
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