Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #73
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
"This is a high-level
wind spirit. It is also a spirit that I contracted with."
I got up from my seat
unconsciously. My contracted spirit, Mui, was a low-level spirit, so it was
small and cute, but the high-level spirit was cool.
So cool!! He had shown it before
at the banquet hall, but I haven't seen it this close!!
"Wow--- !! This is
what a high-level wind spirit looks like!"
"There is no specific
form of the spirits. This is what the high-level spirit I contracted with looks
like."
"It looks great---!!
Mui, come on out!"
Mui appeared with my
necklace as the medium. Being afraid of the high-level spirit in front of us,
Mui hid behind me.
"It's okay, Mui."
After I said that it was
okay, Mui poked her head out and looked to the front. Miel also looked at the
high-leveled spirit.
Then the spirit's figure
disappeared.
Ah, too bad.
"Too bad..."
"I couldn't help it because
the spirit that made a contract with Rainelle-nim was afraid of the high-level
spirit. The spirits are strictly hierarchical."
"Strictly
hierarchical?"
“Yes. Using an analogy, the
high-level wind spirit is a typhoon, and the
low-level wind spirit is a breeze…? Since it is like a big typhoon, a small
wind naturally cannot beat the typhoon.”
I nodded at his explanation. After
all, one of the common fantasy settings was that the low-level spirits obeyed the high-level spirits, right?
"It would be nice if
Mui becomes a high-leveled spirit, wouldn't it? Then you might be really cool
too, right?"
Mui nodded her head as she
burst into a giggle and circled my head once. At the spirit's actions, I wanted
to fly too out of nowhere.
Oh, if it wasn't for Miel, we'd have fun
playing together after I become to be a crow!!
I put my regrets aside and
accepted Mui's playfulness with a smile, but a soft voice reached me,
"Do you like spirits,
Rainelle-nim?"
"Yes, I really like
them. This one is cute, isn't it? Of course, I've heard that spirits are useful
if you used them well, but I've never used this one that much."
Even if I use it, I think it’s when I’m playing while
flying? The cute Mui can control the wind, which really helps when I’m flying.
At my words, Miel nodded his
head and said,
"Is that true?
Actually, so am I. The people who made a contract with the spirits practically
did not use the spirits very often."
"...why?"
"If one uses the
power of a high-level spirit recklessly, the city can be destroyed."
Ah, it would be a big deal if a typhoon
suddenly appeared in the city. Besides, magic is much more
versatile...
"Rainelle-nim. Do you have any intention of making a contract with another
spirit?"
I blinked at Miel's words
about making a contract with another spirit.
Uh... of course, I'm curious about the spirits
of other elements. Mui is cute, but what about the water spirits, fire spirits,
and earth spirits? Would they look like animals? Would they have humanoid
figures or animal-like figures?
Just imagining it made my
heart flutter.
But the biggest problem is…
"But I don't know if
I have an affinity for spirits of other elements. What does Marquis Miel
think?"
"I need to call the
spirits of other elements to check..."
Miel seemed to ponder for
a moment, then he shook his head and said,
"Forgive me, that was
a slip of the tongue. It is a matter of life and death to proceed with the
contract by force. To say such a thing..."
"Oh, no. It's okay. I
was interested, but I heard that the spirit contract itself is usually
difficult. Thank you for your concern, Marquis Miel."
"...it's hard to say when
it’s about another spirit, but if you want a spirit stone, I can help
you."
"A spirit
stone?"
"It is a rare stone
found in places where the power of the spirits is concentrated. It's very
useful because it's a stone that allows you to use the power of the spirits
without having to go through a contract. Moreover, it is so beautiful that
countless people want to obtain the spirit stone."
I thought so. The spirit stone you gave to
Karmeut was also very pretty, wasn't it? No, wait.
"...Isn't the spirit
stone a precious thing? But is it easy to get it?"
"If it's for Rainelle-nim,
I can do anything to help."
---I couldn't help but
feel good even though I was troubled by Miel's behavior which was almost at the
level of worship.
Ugh, such a handsome man!! Treating me like
this!! Who would hate it!!
"Is there any way to get
it?"
"Of course. Spirit stone
is a stone condensed from the energy of the spirits. The easiest way to find it
is through a spirit."
"Ah---! So only the spirits
can find it?"
"A person passing by
accidentally may be amazed at the unique color and pick it up. However, it is
usually easily found by spirits or elves who are sensitive to the energy of
nature."
Oh oh---!! Another setting!
"But while humans seek it to use
it, the elves find the condensed energy of the spirits to be not harmonious to
nature."
"Then they would destroy the
spirit stone?"
"I think it’s probably so. It is
also called the ‘power of spirits’, but it's actually
an abnormally concentrated power in one place."
"That’s too bad...
I've seen it before, and the spirit stone is very beautiful..."
At those words, Miel
smiled a little. The gentle smile was different from Karmeut’s, but it also seemed
to shine brightly.
"Hm... Is that so?
Usually, the people able to use the power of spirits are attracted to it... so
it’s the same for Rainelle-nim."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. It's hard for
me to find something as large as the one I gave to His Majesty, but small ones
are okay."
Whoa, whoa---!!
"Really? It must be
hard to find. Are you sure?"
"-If Rainelle-nim wants
it."
...I never think that Miel is cool when he
gently curved his eyes before! Eeh, it’s not that I betray Karmeut!!
It would be weird if someone who said 'If it's
for you' wouldn’t be cool, right! Moreover, it’s to get something hard to find!
Right?!
Although something pricked
kinda pricked me, my head that thought that he was cool also remained the same,
so I put a smile on my face.
"It's not something I
have to get, so don't overdo it. Okay?"
"Okay, Rainelle-nim."
I smiled a little as I
looked at Miel who smiled as he answered without hesitation.
Oh, looking at it like this, Miel isn't that bad, is he? I
think I didn't have to stay away from him and make a fuss that the original
storyline would be destroyed!
*Karmeut’s POV
Karmeut was walking
quickly. Now that he had become the emperor, something bad should never happen
again, but still, people don't know for sure. To prepare for unexpected things,
he had secretly attached a guard to Rainelle.
The report he heard was
that Marquis Miel was visiting Rainelle, so Karmeut was on his way there.
Something was disturbing
Karmeut. And Marquis Miel was personally annoying to him. If Miel’s abilities
weren't outstanding and he was arrogant, Karmeut would have thrown him out
straight away.
I can't kick him away. But... I can't stand him
being around Rainelle over and over again. Because he felt that the emotion in Miel’s eyes was more than wanting to serve Rainelle.
A strong man that had feelings for
Rainelle and can keep her safer1 ...In that sense, Miel was perfect.
The Emperor, who felt like
his stomach was boiling, quickened his steps.
"-Wow!! That's great,
Miel!"
"Thank you for the
compliment."
"Again, can you show
me something else?"
It was a clear voice full
of curiosity. Knowing who the owner of that voice was, Karmeut's steps became
more cautious.
When he opened the door
slightly and peered inside through a gap, there were Rainelle in her human form
and Marquis Miel.
The purple eyes sparkling
with curiosity were fixed on the little spirits that were hovering in the air.
What seemed to be low-level
spirits: a butterfly made of flames, a fish made of water, and a small
dwarf-like spirit made of earth, were hovering around Rainelle. Karmeut
clenched his fists tightly when Rainelle’s figure with a smile on her lips as
if finding the spirits to be cute and fascinating came into his view.
I've never seen her make such a smile.
She must have been happy
to see the spirits, but when Karmeut thought that the person who made it
possible for her to smile like that was Marquis Miel, the Emperor's body trembled.
Understandably, he thinks
of Rainelle as a benefactor because she had saved his life. Besides, Rainelle
is so beautiful and lovable that it’s likely to have special feelings towards
her.
But, that doesn't mean that he can approach
her. Rainelle is my companion. Rainelle is the only one who can be my partner.
How can I let someone else lay their gaze on my
precious partner?
The golden eyes glowed
eerily, the pupils briefly changed to that of a wolf and then went back to a
human’s.
After taking a short deep
breath, the Emperor threw his gaze to the side.
-The knight, who had been
stiff since the Emperor arrived, nodded quickly and opened his mouth while
tapping the door lightly,
"Rainelle-nim, His
Majesty the Emperor has arrived."
Then the voice of joy
ceased. After that, a confused voice was heard,
"His Majesty the
Emperor---?!"
Then, not long after, the
door swung open.
"Your
Majesty--!"
Seeing the expression of
surprise and delight on Rainelle’s face, Karmeut's heart melted. The Emperor’s
eyes, which showed smiles and looked at her softly, turned behind her.
When he saw Miel, who stood
awkwardly and then greeted him with courtesy, Karmeut’s eyes became cold.
"I'm sorry to disturb
you, Marquis Miel."
"...No, Your Majesty
the Emperor."
"I've been trying to
stop by. Sorry, but I would like you to leave. I've got something urgent to
tell Rainelle."
Miel’s pink eyes shook for
a moment at those words. However, after speaking his farewell politely, Miel
left the room.
"Karmeut, what's the
matter? You said you had something to tell me?"
Karmeut, who had been
watching Miel until the door closed, turned his head. Feeling the unpleasantness
slowly fading away, he smiled faintly, but then he quickly hid it as the purple
eyes looked at him in wonder and worry.
*Rainelle-s POV
He suddenly said that he have something to tell
me. What is going on? Maybe something happened?! Is it war? A rebellion or
something?!
I was even more worried
after seeing Karmeut’s tired expression.
Hmm?! What, what is it?!! What’s happening all
of a sudden?!
"Sorry, Rainelle, for
disturbing your meeting with Marquis Miel."
"Ah, no, no!! I was
just looking at the low-level spirits that the Marquis Miel had called! But what
is it? What's going on?"
"Ah... After the
banquet was over, I had some free time, but the work has started to pile up
again..."
There was no strength in
Kamut's smiling face as he said that. The first thing I felt when seeing him
like that was sadness.
Yes... It’s said that kings and emperors have had
a lot of work since the old days... But seeing it real in front of me, feels
kind of strange. The emperor's ‘lululala2’ appearance in the novel was all a
lie!!
No, although the job has been described as hard,
I didn't expect it to be this much! Again, the reality cannot be taken
lightly---!! Ah, even in history, some kings and emperors died from
overwork---!!
When I thought about it
that far, I got more worried.
"Are you okay, Karmeut?"
"Well..."
Karmeut approached me with
a weak voice, then he grabbed me and buried his face in my shoulder. While
rubbing his head slowly, he said,
"Sigh... I came here
because I wanted to rest a little bit. Is it okay?"
The voice that said he
wanted to rest had no energy, so I nodded my head without even realizing it.
Then, Karmeut muttered "Thank you," and turned into a wolf.
The wolf's fur was
glistening in gold color as he rubbed his head on the hem of my dress and made
a small whine.
The image of a wolf
wagging his tail slowly and whining as if telling me to pet it...
So cute! Cool yet cute!!
I gently stroked the back
of his neck. Then, while making a small woof, the wolf carefully licked my
fingers. The action made my heart flutter in a different sense than when I saw
the low-level spirits.
Wow... as expected, animals are the best!!
Perfect!! Spirits are nice, but I can't touch them like this! Mui is a wind
spirit, so it’s fine, but I might get burned while petting the fire spirit,
right?
I sat down on the bed as
my lips unconsciously loosened. Then Karmeut jumped onto the bed too.
The bed shook for a
moment, but then it became still. Slowly wagging his tail, the wolf lay down
next to me and put his shout on my lap.
The slowly flickering
golden eyes looked tired for some reason, so I gently petted him.
When I gently stroked his
head and then brushed the nape of his neck, he let out a sigh of satisfaction.
Karmeut's action of
putting his head on my stomach with a small whining sound was cute yet pitiful.
How tired and exhausted must he be to act like this?
Recalling that Karmeut had
rarely done this, I moved my hand more carefully without realizing it. As I
caressed his cheek, the wolf gently closed his eyes. I felt his body relaxed
and leaning against me.
"If you're tired, get
some sleep, Karmeut."
As I patted his back, his
tail wagged once. It was funny of him to reply with his tail, so it made me want
to laugh, but I barely held it down when I remembered that he had come here to
rest.
The wolf's head was warm
on my lap, and the fur that brushed against my fingers was soft.
Accepting all of those
with happiness, I thought to myself,
...Next time, I'll try to be in his arms while
Karmeut is a wolf and me in the form of a crow. It must feel really good
because his fur is long and soft, right?
***
Notes:
1 Maybe in terms of politics. Y’know, higher status have more risks↩
2 Like, smiling and sparkling? ↩
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