Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #40
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*3rd person POV
But the next moment, the murky-golden wolf felt his
breath getting suffocated as he felt sharp things penetrate the skin of his
neck, then he began to struggle. He made a choking noise and struggled with his
front paws, but could not remove the golden wolf that was biting his neck.
The golden wolf, who glared his eyes while making a
ferocious cry, gave strength to his jaw. Luwellin scratched Karmeut's body with
his front paws with whining sounds, but that seemed to intensify the golden
wolf’s anger. It was because he
shook his head violently a few times while he bit Luwellin, and then
slammed him to the floor.
Luwellin still struggled. Karmeut would not miss that defenseless
state of not being able to take a stance properly from the shock of falling on
his back. Luwellin could not get up properly and just waved his legs.
Then, the murky-golden wolf's neck was grotesquely bent with a grotesque crackling sound. The wolf’s body convulsed
once, then it drooped lifelessly. However, maybe wanting to finish it with
certainty, the golden wolf put one leg on the murky-golden wolf's body and was
about to tear off his neck.
"Caaaaww!"
But in the next moment, the crow landed on the wolf's snout
with a crying sound which made the wolf stop his action. The wolf was still
breathing heavily as he looked at the crow's anxious gaze as she blinked her purple
eyes.
After calming his breath, the wolf lay down in place as
if he was tired, then the crow moved onto the wolf's back.
"The result is as you see. I declare that my
successor and the next emperor will be the First Prince, Wolfric Iveld de Karmeut!"
As the emperor's voice that was greatly amplified by
magic reverberated in the area, the atmosphere that had been frozen began to
loosen little by little. Finally, Bozcourt was over.
At the emperor's words, the puffed-up feathers of the
crow (as she had been vigilant) began to flatten again. Then, with a small cry
of joy, she landed near the wolf's head.
"...caw?"
The crow's head tilted. Perhaps she felt that the golden wolf
was strangely quiet, she flew up in a hurry. Then, she hastily flew towards
Namuel and began to tug his collar and pull him.
Panicked at the crow's urgent action, Namuel stiffened
for a moment, then he looked at Karmeut and started running as fast as he
could.
He didn't know if the wound opened up because of the
violent movements, or if the bleeding hadn't stopped in the first place -because
the blood flowing from the wound on Karmeut's neck was soaking his fur.
***
"His Highness will be fine. He's just exhausted from
using a lot of energy during Bozcourt."
Galenos, who had been keeping around like an escort by
the bedside, spoke to the crow who was sitting on the bedpost of the bed as if
to comfort her. Answering him, the crow who drooped her wings let out a weak
cry.
The action had been done quickly. Because Rainelle had quickly
informed Namuel, Karmeut was able to be treated in time.
In addition, Karmeut was the sole legitimate heir as he
had been victorious in Bozcourt, so not only was a healer summoned, but there
was also a physician to check on his condition. They were informed that: "There was excessive
bleeding, but treatment was quickly taken, so it will be okay if he rests well."
After the commotion had passed, Rainelle and Galenos were
the only ones who stood by Karmeut's side now. There was also Namuel, but he
was absent for a while because Myrdin had summoned him.
"...
I'm the only one here right now, so if you like, you can change into a
human form..."
Galenos said so after he
saw that the crow was unable to take her worried gaze off of Karmeut.
A while ago, Galenos and Namuel had prevented her from
being kicked out when the healer and the physician said that it was not good for
animals to be near a patient. Besides, since Namuel was not present, there was
no pressure for her to change into her human form.
Galenos said that because he thought that it would be
better for her to be in her human form, but the crow shook her head slightly.
Rainelle flapped her tail feathers while making a small,
painful cry, then she landed next to his pillow. The crow stared at the
sleeping Karmeut and his bandaged neck for a moment, sat down, and puffed up
her feathers.
Seeing this, Galenos sighed inwardly while remaining seated.
He thought that all this would be over only when the First Prince woke up.
*Rainelle’s POV
I stayed by Karmeut's side suppressing my anxiousness.
...I thought that I really knew what I was doing then. I
moved to protect the current emperor, that is, the previous emperor of the
original storyline, in fear that story might turn in a different direction if
he died...
But I never thought that Karmeut would rush towards
Luwellin even while suffering wounds on his neck that were bleeding profusely.
You
were so hurt, you should have just stayed still!
Aren’t
your neck bitten?! That’s the area where all-important blood vessels and nerves
pass are! It had been pierced with fangs, but you ignore them and keep
moving---!!
Considering the original Karmeut from the original story,
what Karmeut did was reckless. It was at a level that could be described as
aggressive. Because Karmeut, who became emperor in the original story was calm,
rational, and prudent, like the noblest person who would rule a country.
And,
when he tried to rip off Luwellin's head, it was really... scary. If I had let
him rip off Luwellin’s neck there, I’m afraid that the Karmeut I know would
change, so I stopped him...
By
the way, when will he wake up? Namuel had treated him with magic, and the
healer and the physician
had also done their parts, but isn’t it has been too long for him to be
unconscious?
"---eugh..."
As I was tidying my wing feathers with an anxious mind, I
heard a faint groan. I guess Galenos had also heard the sound as he approached
the bed further. I hurriedly moved to the top of his quilt.
His eyes slowly opened as he groaned and frowned. The
gleaming golden eyes were out of focus, but they were clearly open. I opened my
beak slightly in delight, and the golden eyes turned towards me.
"...Rai, nelle..."
Was it because his neck was injured? While muttering in a
voice that sounded deeper and rougher, Karmeut raised his hand slowly.
I put my head on the hand that reached out and gently
rubbed it.
“How are you feeling, Your Highness?”
Kaemeut turned his gaze to Galenos. Then he let out a
short groan and responded.
"Ah... not bad."
"Just in case, I'll call a physician. So wait a
minute..."
Before Galenos could even finish his words, I had changed
into a human form. Fearing that I would crush Karmeut who was under me, I moved
to the side and let out all the words that were boiling from within me,
"You idiot!! You got hurt so much, you could afford
to attack that damn bastard there?!"
Whether they looked at me with surprised eyes or not, the
words that I had been holding tight inside came out of my mouth on their own.
No,
that's not my style! But, from a while ago, it was so hard to hold back what I
wanted to say!!
"It was the neck! You were bitten in the neck! There
was so much blood, and if you move, of course the wound would open and there
would be more blood! You could have died! No, you were dying!! I flew to Namuel
to get help! If I hadn't, you might have died!! Why are you acting
recklessly?!"
My eyes were blurry.
Ugh,
there's something I haven't said yet, but what am I going to do if tears come
out already--!!
"You promised not to die! I mean, you broke your
promise...! Ugh, uhu...!"
Tears streamed down. The whole time I was watching
Bozcourt, I felt like my stomach was burning. Was it because the two wolves
fighting each other until they bleed reminded me of the scenes of wild animals
fighting each other when I was a zookeeper? I don't know about the others, but
it was really painful to watch for me.
I also thought it was an unusual sight. And again, it was
painful for a zookeeper to just watch when animals get hurt. That could be
human nature. And also, one of the parties was Karmeut.
To be honest, Luwellin had done me wrong, so it didn't
matter whether he died and it won’t change my mind no matter how much he
pretended to be a wolf.
But
Karmeut...Karmeut is...!!
With the sound of the quilt rubbing together, Karmeut
raised his body. When I could see that beyond my blurred sight, I screamed and
shouted,
"Don't move!! You could be not all better
yet---!!"
I sobbed as I wiped away
my tears with my hands. To be honest, I was embarrassed because tears
came out without me wanting to. I took a deep breath while continuing to wipe
away the tears with my hands.
I
need to calm down and say one more thing...!!
I was about to say something to Karmeut, but I felt a
touch on my head. The careful but gentle touch was familiar.
"...I'm sorry, Rainelle. I made you worry."
"...Sniff, sniff...! Even if you pat me, I won't
forgive you...!!"
"Yeah, don't forgive me. Because it's my
fault."
The hand that gently stroked my hair then gently patted my
shoulder. I opened my eyes wide and blinked slowly because tears seemed to
burst again at his actions.
Ugh,
huu...!! If I cry as a human like this, the physician won’t be able to come---!!
I hurriedly changed into a crow.
As if it was natural, a hand reached out to my back and I
was pressed against Karmeut's body.
"...Then, I will call the physician, Your Highness."
"I'll inconvenience you, Sir Windster."
After a while, I heard the door close. I shook my head
while being in Karmeut's arms, thinking that tears would still come out even when
I was a crow.
The familiar warmth seemed to tell me that Karmeut was
alive, so I was relieved, and tears came out again.
He didn't say anything. He just gently stroked my back
quietly. My body, which had been trembling without me knowing, little by little
seemed to be soothed by the usual touch and familiar warmth.
How long have we stayed like that? Together with Galenos,
there were the physician, the healer, and even wizards, Namuel and Myrdin, who
entered the room.
As soon as I flew to the bedpost to avoid disturbing them,
the physician and healer hurriedly began to check Karmeut's physical condition.
The healer and the physician, who checked his condition
while asking if there he felt any discomfort or if there was anything different
from usual, concluded, "Your
Highness will be fine if you rest well."
"Is that so? Thank you. ...just go back and
rest."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The healer and the physician left the room. Sigh, that's a relief... By the way, why did
that old wizard named Myrdin come here? Was
he a character in the original story? I don't know… my memory is hazy...
Of
course, he must not be a target character. Was he an NPC? Or is he a character
that I haven't seen at all?
I stealthily glanced at Myrdin. But did he feel my gaze?
The old wizard turned his head and met my eyes.
Surprised, I puffed my feathers and squeaked. And his
response was just like a neighborhood grandfather, laughing out loud as if he
was having fun.
Is
he like a kind and friendly grandfather?
"Heh heh... how are you feeling, Your Highness?"
"It's not bad except for being a little drowsy,
Myrdin-nim."
At Karmeut's words, I widened my eyes. Myrdin '-nim'? Isn't there no other person besides the current emperor who
he will use honorifics with?
Seeing me surprised and looking between the two of them alternately,
the old wizard burst into laughter.
"You’re a cute crow. I've heard from Marquis Namuel of
the Your Highness' pet bird. She's clever."
"Do you think so?"
“Yes, of course. When Luwellin tried to assassinate His
Majesty the Emperor, didn’t she jump in and stopped him? It would be difficult
for a normal crow to understand the situation, but if she’s clever, it would
make sense. Isn’t that right?”
Karmeut was startled when Myrdin winked at me as he said
that.
Of
course I am.
But... that was a gesture like he knew everything.
Whoa!
After all, he's the current emperor's teacher, right? Is he that great?!
While I flapped my wings in embarrassment, Karmeut let
out a long sigh. Then, as if he couldn't help it, he smiled softly and said,
"...I can't hide it from Myrdin-nim after all."
"There’s no reason to hide it. It’s been decided that
you’re the next emperor."
At the old wizard's smirk, Karmeut smiled uncomfortably.
Then I sat down on Karmeut arm, puzzled by his action of
waving his hand to me out of nowhere.
"Rainelle, let them see."
***
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