Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #35
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
Karmeut seemed focused at the moment, but I had no
intention of going far at all. I slowly circled over the training ground. After
spending most of my time in the room, It
was refreshing to fly outside after a long time.
Was it because he was momentarily startled? With a tumbling
sound, Karmeut fell backward again.
Uh,
is it my fault...?
Feeling sorry for some reason, I hurriedly landed next to
Karmeut.
"---Your Highness."
"I, I'm sorry. I was distracted for a moment."
"Be calm. To protect something, it is most important
not to lose your composure."
Saying so, Galenos glanced at me.
Uh,
me? What are you talking about...? ---to begin with, Karmeut has done too many
things for me, right?
Feeling pricked for no reason, I walked behind Karmeut's
side, avoiding Galenos' gaze. I reflexively flinched when Karmeut reached out
and rubbed my back.
"Would you like to do one more round, Your Highness?"
I took off as Galenos, who had his wooden sword hanging
down, asked that question. Then I cawed as I hovered over Karmeut's head.
•...Yes, I'll ask you for one more round, I'll do it
right this time."
Instead of answering, Galenos nodded his head. Karmeut
brushed his clothes and stood up to take his stance.
I shook my head as I looked down at them who began to
move so quickly that my eyes could not follow, again.
Ugh,
I feel dizzy just looking at them. ...Luwellin... let’s not go looking for him alone.
I
might be scolded if I go, and I may have an accident.
Ah,
but… I think it would be fine to just spy on him though...
I was still struggling with my decision when I saw small
birds flying around in my vision.
...sparrows?
Maybe not? That's not the kind of sound sparrows made.
Is
it a kind of bird that’s only raised in the Imperial Palace? Or is it one that
only exists in this world?
"---!"
My eyes twinkled when there was a thought that flashed
through my mind like lightning.
Hah!
Wait a minute! Wouldn't I be able to figure out wasting-air-Luwellin's movement
even if I don’t go anywhere?!
Ok,
ok. Let's think about it. I'm a
crow right now. Even if I was a human in my previous life, I’m a crow
now, right? And are crows birds? Of course, the species are different, but if I
recall the contents of the animal references that I had read...
Even
if the species are different, they might be able to communicate. If so?
My heart started pounding.
If
that is so, there will be people, no, birds, who will gather information on
behalf of me who has already sold my face1(?). Oh, why didn't I think of this
before?!
Well, when I woke up in the forest, I panicked that I had
become a crow. And after meeting Karmeut, I’ve been busy making him think
favorably of me! I was so caught up in that. This thought didn’t even come to
my mind until now.
Oh,
you idiot!! It seems that my intelligence is really degenerating because I
become a bird!
I shook my head, thinking that I wanted to shake off my
stupidity and dullness.
Great.
Those birds are not far from the training ground. Alright, let’s do this! It's
good if we’re able to communicate, no loss!!
"Caaw! (You there, wait!)"
Oh,
please understand me!!
I shouted while flapping my wings vigorously to fly
closer. Then the little birds, who chirped amongst themselves, landed on a
nearby tree.
Fortunately, it was a tree right next to the training
ground area, so I quickly landed on a branch nearby.
I was afraid that they might be intimidated -because
crows also eat small birds- so I approached them with the utmost caution.
"Caw... (Excuse me...)"
The birds, who tilted
their heads with their small black eyes wide open, were so cute.
Oh,
so cute!!
The
lemon-colored feathers are so cute, and the olive-colored feathers are like a
scarf around their neck, ahh! And their tiny wings have dark blue feathers!
Aww, so cute!!
The appearances of these birds were so cute that I was
distracted for a moment. One of them chimed,
"Piip? (What is it?)"
Hagh!
I can understand! And they
understand me, don't they?! Since we are from different species, I was
terribly worried that they might run away, let alone understand!
There was no time to hide my surprised feelings and I
reflexively asked,
"Caaw? (Do you understand me?)"
"Piip, piip, piip. (the black bird that ate the
shiny fruit, the smart bird.)"
"Piip, piip, piip, piip! (Eat the fruit, all the
birds say!)".
"Piip! (Big Bird! Pretty Bird!)"
The chirping and squeaking birds were cute, but from the
way they spoke, they didn't seem very smart.
No,
if I think about it, there aren't that many animals that are as intelligent as
crows. Among the birds, I think another smart bird is parrot? So, this is
normal?
Uh?
But ‘the black bird that ate the shiny fruit’... Does that mean there are
others besides me? The shiny fruit seems to be referring to Crobanlock...
"Caaww? (Are there other birds that ate the shiny
fruit?)"
"Piip piip, piip, piip. (once in a while, Black Bird
That Eat Fruit.)"
"Piip! (Difficult saying!)"
“Piip-piip? (Why did you call?)”
I remembered my original purpose when I was being asked
why.
Uh,
but will they really do what I want? Hmm... I should ask first.
"Caw, caaw. (Help me, and I will give you something
delicious.)"
“Piip? (Delicious?)”
"Piip? (How much?)"
"Piip? (What is it?)"
It was so cute to see the
birds asking questions with their eyes wide open.
Haha...
they’re so cute that I want to bite them!
I answered their questions while barely suppressing the
urge to slam the floor with his fist (if I had been in a human form).
"Caaw! Caw, caaw! (Cookies! It's really good.)”
"Piip? (Cookies?)"
"Piip! Piip, piip, piip!
Piip! (I
know! I've tried it! It's so delicious!!)"
"Piip, piip! (A two-legged animal eats it!)"
"Caaw! (If you do me a favor, I'll give you a
lot!)"
"Piip!! (Okay!!)"
"Piip!! (I'll do it!!)"
"Piip, piip? (What should we do?)"
As the birds asked what to do, I gulped.
---What
I want is simple, but can I get these birds to understand?
Ugh!
No, I have to! It will help determine whether the original story can be
achieved or not! It is a matter of survival and safety of Karmeut as well as
me, so I need to make them understand it somehow!
*3rd person POV
Karmeut and Galenos were resting for a while after their
sparring. Karmeut, who was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, drunk water
from the water container that Galenos had offered. His gaze was fixed on a
tree.
The behavior of the birds cawing and ‘piip’-ing continuously
sounded like a nuisance, but there was a smile hanging on his lips. As if
explaining something diligently, the crow flapped one of her wings repeatedly while
folding the other. The attitude of the little birds was also serious. They
listened intently to the cawing of the crow.
The little birds looked like they were trying hard to understand
until they tilted their heads, but that explanation didn't seem to be delivered.
Laughter leaked out of Karmeut’s mouth as Rainelle sighed,
and jumped in place while flapping her wings hard.
Perhaps Galenos was also amused as there was also a smile
on his lips.
After that, the birds that had been chattering for a long
time flew away in different directions. Perhaps the purpose had been achieved.
The crow, who was eagerly explaining to the little birds
before, let out a long sigh and flew to Karmeut. Was she thirsty?
She sat on his lap and tapped the water container with her
beak. Karmeut held the container with his hand and held it out to the crow.
"Sorry, I don't have a bowl."
Rainelle did not care about Karmeut's brief apology and just
drank the water.
Her throat was so dry that she drank in haste, so Karmeut
deliberately poured the water slowly. It was because he thought that she was
going to get choked.
The crow, who had drank water to her fill, made a happy
cry. Seeing her like that, Karmeut spoke while gently stroking her black
feathers,
"What did you talk so hard about, Rainelle?"
"Caw, caaw!"
The crow flapped her wings as she cawed. Rainelle, who
had been cawing hard with her pretty violet-like eyes twinkling, soon looked at
Galenos as if contemplating something.
Rainelle, who briefly met Galenos' gaze, blinked slowly
at his puzzlement and jumped to Karmeut's shoulder. Then, as if she had never
chattered in front of them, the crow pretended to be quiet and closed her beak
tightly. This behavior made the prince burst into laughter.
"Puhaha! Khu... Sir Windster, how about we call it a
day?"
"I agree, Your Highness."
Rainelle puffed up her feathers in response to Galenos' answer
that was said with a smile on his face. However, she didn’t make any sound of
dissatisfaction as Karmeut's hand was rubbing her back as if to soothe her. She
quietly began to tidy her feathers.
***
"So... can you explain what's going on, Rainelle? So
that I can understand, of course."
After returning to the room, the prince washed briefly
and changed clothes. Now he was speaking to the crow who was pecking at the
cookie. Rainelle blinked and looked around once. Upon confirming that no one else
was there, Rainelle flew up calmly and turned into a human.
The prince narrowed his eyes and looked at the black-wearing
lady with a beautiful figure that always attracted his attention. Perhaps
embarrassed by his gaze, Rainelle replied while avoiding that gaze,
"---If you don't think it's useless, I'll tell
you."
"What are you talking about, Rainelle? You've done
things your own way until now, haven't you?"
In response to Karmeut's reply that was said without any
bit of hesitation, Rainelle bit her lips. Then, as if she had lost, she sighed
briefly and flopped down on the sofa.
"...you won’t laugh?"
"I won't laugh."
Rainelle nodded her head slightly as she saw Karmeut
answer with a serious expression and sat on the other side. Then she opened his
mouth frankly,
"I know that Bozcourt is for you and Luwellin alone,
and I know that Karmeut won the fight before... but I’m still worried."
"What are you worried about, Rainelle?"
"...I’m not sure. I'm just, worried…"
Rainelle said with slumped shoulders. She reached out and
picked up a cookie. Then she took a bite. With a happy expression on her face,
she rambled,
"So I called the passing birds. I thought it would
be difficult to communicate because we are different, but luckily we could
talk. I think it’s because of the Crobanlock I ate before."
Rainelle, who ate the one cookie in an instant, put her
hand on the plate once again and continued,
"It’s a bit hard to get them to understand--- but I
asked them to watch Luwellin’s actions. In return, I will give them cookies.
That's all."
Karmeut had been silent for a long time until Rainelle
nodded and said, "That's all." Rainelle wondered if she had done
something wrong, so she began to look at him carefully.
"...you didn't have to do that."
In response to Karmeut’s brief sigh, Rainelle raised her
voice,
"But I'm worried! You said it won’t end unless
someone dies! What if the guy who talks like I’m nothing, who told me to
transform into a human form because he's going to become the emperor, uses a
bad method? What if Karmeut dies? I keep thinking like that, and I'm afraid you’ll
die!"
Karmeut's expression blanked for a moment at Rainelle’s
shout. Her body shook as she tell him that she was afraid of him dying. Rainelle
bit her lip to keep herself from crying. She then mumbled as she lowered her
gaze to the cookies left on the plate,
"...Actually, I thought I'd go directly to him
earlier."
***
Notes:
1 Luwellin had known her looks, so it would be difficult for Rainelle to spy in close proximity↩
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