Of All
Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #103
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
After parting with Miel, I
pondered about it as I went around the Imperial Palace several times. The
things I heard from Miel meant so much to me.
Some nobles dislike me.
This wasn't the time for
leisure.
I should have guessed it even if I’m less
intelligent.
About how many nobles would see me as a thorn
in their eyes. And about how they must have been trying to get rid of me
somehow.
It can also explain the
mountain of work Karmeut had to do, which I had not realized until now.
At first, I thought it was because it was the
beginning of his ascension, but right now it is too much to say that it is
still the beginning. No, in the long run, this is an early period, but...
Ha... I mean, it became clear that Karmeut had
so much work so far because of internal stability and the restraints from the
nobles.
Thinking about it that
way, me going to play to Aria was dangerous.
Karmeut allowed it… did he not know? ---No, I
don't think that's the case. Karmeut is the type of person who would have made
preparation one way or another.
And now, I‘m going to go
to Aria’s place three days later and help her regarding the Crobanlock.
In the long run, this is
important. But the issue related to the nobles is also important. And when I
realized deep within my bones that my intellectual decline had been so severe
up to now, I felt like I was going to suffocate in self-loathing.
Even a child can distinguish between those who
like them and those who don’t. Of course, it's more of an instinct at that age,
but in terms of instinct, I should have been more sensitive as a crow.
...but after all, there were only people who
showed their good face by my side. Of course, they won’t openly talk to each
other considering my position. Most people would show a good side on the
outside even if they didn't like someone on the inside, right?
I sat down on the roof and
sighed deeply.
---This is a serious situation.
The thought of whether or
not I could do something about it came to mind.
Maybe it's something I didn't try to think
about.
If that's really the case, then I'm a real bird
head. Haha,
it's a pity that my intelligence has deteriorated, but I'm still thinking it'll
be okay up until now because Karmeut is doing well.
I don't think I can be that laidback now.
After spending my time on
the roof for a while, I went back to my room. Being on the roof made me feel
like baking in the sun. Maybe it's because the feathers are black.
Oh, is there really no solution? At this rate,
even if I become an empress, I will be a stumbling block for Karmeut in many
ways.
A stupid empress, an empress whose intelligence
is equal to six or seven years old humans.
‘Wow, that's awesome then! How easy would it be
to kill her!’ Haha, I’m going crazy!!
The conversation I had
with Miel was brief, but it was enough to make me aware of reality. No, it was
fully aware now. Because it made me confront the problem much more than just
listening to the conversations of the two nobles. As a crow, I had complained
about my intellectual decline, but how could I not be aware of people’s
dissatisfaction?
A sense of danger
resonated in my mind over and over again. Sadly, it only went round and round
in my head without an exit.
So far, it seems that Karmeut is doing a good
job, but where in the world can the Emperor do the works all by himself?
This is a fact that can be
seen by taking a little look at history books.
Besides, the queen or empress is the king's
companion, so it's basic for them to have power in their own way.
In that case, I have a lot of disadvantages.
Me? I’m a crow. Although I can transform into a
human from eating Crobanlock, I’m a being whose abilities do not deviate from
ordinary crows and ordinary humans.
I have made a contract with a spirit, but it’s
just a low-level wind spirit. That won't stop anyone who's trying to
assassinate me. I wouldn't be considered capable either.
I have no background compared to an ordinary
aristocratic woman or princess. I have no power in social standing, nor do I
have some impressive ability.
When I thought until that
point, I was ripping my hair out unconsciously.
Aaa!! It hurts!!
I quickly let go. Then,
vigorously, I slammed a pillow down.
"Ughh!! Why am I so
incompetent!!"
Why! No, it’s even worse! My intelligence has
gone down!! Ugh, crazy, crazy, crazy!!
"Sigh, if this is a cultivation world, I can somehow train and grow
my spiritual level. But this is a Western-based world, isn't it? So it will be
impossible."
I felt like blaming God
again, so I raised my fists, but then I stopped.
"Wait, God?"
Let's think, think!! God, God... Ah yes!!
"Myrdin-nim!"
The last time I signed a contract with Mui,
Myrdin-nim mentioned God! He was explaining about Crobanlock, but he mentioned
it anyway!
"Black bird, the
black bird that scatters its eggshells on the land."
A black bird believed to be a crow. Then, isn't
the god of crows the black bird?
Like the wolf who gave the seed to the Wolfric
family…
"---Should I go to
the temple? No, but is there a temple dedicated to the black bird?"
I'm sure there isn't. It's obvious there isn't!
If there is one, then there's no way humans would hate crows so much!
"...ahh, I want to
get stronger..."
No, I want to gain abilities rather than become
stronger! Ahh, I hope I at least maintain my full intelligence after
possession!
From now on, I have to live among people. An Intellectual
decline is so, so, so fatal!!
I have to look for a way to keep myself safe
for now! Is there a way?!
"Hmmm, first of all,
I need to find someone who is the most knowledgeable about the black
bird..."
The male crow? ---But I didn't see it
yesterday. And it's kind of weird to go meet that guy.
"Ummm... Ah! There is
a crow that ate Crobanlock who is close to Myrdin-nim, right?"
An incredible 65-year-old crow! If the crow has
lived more than three times the average lifespan of a crow, wouldn't he know
something?!
As soon as I thought until
that point, I immediately returned to my crow form. Then I flapped my wings
quickly towards the office where Karmeut was working.
Karmeuttt!! Help me meet Myrdin-nim!! It's very
important for you and me!!
*Karmeut’s POV
"Caaaw!"
Karmeut's hand, which was
holding the quill, stopped writing. The familiar cries and flapping of wings
were getting closer and closer.
"...? Rainelle?"
A crow flew in smoothly.
Then, as she landed gently on the desk, the papers hovered slightly from the
wind, then sank back down.
The crow, which was
looking around with her purple eyes, soon turned into a human figure.
"Karmeut, I have a
request..."
"What is it,
Rainelle?"
At the word ‘request’,
Karmeut straightened his posture. Rainelle opened her mouth in a slightly
awkward but impatient voice,
"Um, can I meet
Myrdin-nim?"
"...Myrdin-nim?"
"Yeah. I want to ask
something."
Karmeut furrowed his
eyebrows at that.
What is it that Rainelle suddenly wants to ask the
Archmage?
The emperor looked around.
---Of course, there was no one there, but he asked the question only after he
had heightened his senses and made sure that the area was truly clear.
"Can I know what you
want to ask?"
Hearing that, Rainelle bit
her lower lip. She wiggled her fingers as if contemplating something for a
moment. Finally, she answered with a sigh,
"…Actually, I want to
meet that crow who is a friend of Myrdin-nim."
"---Myrdin-nim's crow
friend... The crow that ate Crobanlock? The one that has lived for over 60
years?"
Rainelle’s nod made
Karmeut furrow deeper.
"Can I know
why?"
"Uh... That's because
he’s a crow that ate Crobanlock too, so I have a feeling that we’re kinda
similar, and... he has lived for over 60 years, right? He might know something
I don't."
At those words, Karmeut
felt frustrated and asked again,
"Why? When you first
found out about that crow, you didn't even have the thought or interest in
meeting him."
"That’s true,
but..."
Rainelle hesitated for a
moment, then let out a long sigh. Looking straight into his eyes, she said,
"Hey, Karmeut, aren't
you having a lot of trouble because of me?"
"...what do you mean?
Trouble?"
At the sudden words,
Karmeut's expression hardened even more. But Rainelle had made up her mind, so
she continued,
"Karmeut had said.
That I'm the next empress. ---By the way, while learning to read from Aria, I
also learned a lot of things. I learned that the empress is usually a noble or
princess of another country. Right? That's how they can help the emperor as
well."
"...never mind that.
I have no interest in other women."
That’s the truth. How can I look at a woman
other than Rainelle? There will never be such a thing in the future.
But Rainelle shook her
head.
"It's not because of
that. ---I'm not capable enough. Even if I ate Crobanlock, I could only
transform into a human. Although I signed a contract with a low-level wind
spirit, I only have the power of an ordinary person or an ordinary
crow..."
Having said that, Rainelle
let out a long sigh.
"There are nobles who
don't like me, right? Isn't that why Karmeut has a lot of work? To deal with
those nobles?"
"---That's what Young
Lady Gwynell told you?"
Raynell shook her head.
"She didn't tell me
this. It was from my own thinking. It’s kind of similar with crows too."
She continued saying while
blinking her eyes,
"It must feel like an
intruder is breaking into their territory. They will not feel happy when
there’s a stranger, taking a lot of good food in their area. They will want to
kick that stranger out. It's like a territorial dispute, right?"
"...It's
similar."
"The strong side wins
the battle for territory. But I am weak. Karmeut is protecting me, who is
weak."
Rainelle placed her hands
on the desk and leaned her body. As she brought her head closer to him and met
his gaze, Rainelle made a clear statement,
"So, I want to be
helpful, at least I want to be able to protect myself."
"You don't have to
worry about that, Rainelle. I appreciate your thought, but-"
"Karmeut."
Rainelle cut off Karmeut's words.
"It's hard to just be
protected."
"Rainelle."
"You know, in the wild, mothers try to protect their young until the end. The child
is born after much pain. It's a life that they cherish. Thinking about when it
will come out while hugging it warmly in their arms, feeling the beating sound
until it breaks the eggshell."
When speaking up until
that part, the purple eyes sank their gaze.
"But, there are times
when even a mother who cares for her young like that has to give up her
baby."
"..."
"When something that
cannot be controlled by one's own strength occurs, like when there is a fire,
or a lot of rain, or the water rises, or when a natural enemy that the mother
cannot handle comes, the mother gives up the baby. Why? As long as the mother
is alive, a baby can be born anytime."
"Rainelle."
"So I don’t want to
only be protected. If I’m just being protected, one day Karmeut will get
tired."
"That’s not true,
Rainelle. That's not going to happen, and even if it is-"
"I don’t like
it."
When she said so,
Karmeut's body stiffened.
"I'm not a baby bird.
I can't just be being protected. If Karmeut is having a hard time because of
me, it's even worse."
"But
Rainelle---!!"
"If I had the
strength, I could not have been kidnapped by Luwellin. Karmeut wouldn’t have
been so worried!"
Her dark hair flew around
as she shook her head violently.
"So, I want to meet
that crow. ...He may know things I don't, so, although it’s not certain, maybe
at least I'll be able to protect myself."
Rainelle’s eyes were
shining more earnestly than ever when she said: “So, please…”
And the emperor was always
weak against her. "---Okay, I'll ask Myrdin-nim to visit the Imperial
Palace with that crow."
"Thank you,
Karmeut!"
"In return, can I be
there with you? There are far more unknowns than
known about Crobanlock and crows."
Rainelle pondered for a
moment at that, then she happily nodded her head.
"Okay."
"I'll contact
Myrdin-nim, and I'll let you know when we can meet as soon as I get the
reply."
Rainelle nodded. She then
murmured while giving an apologetic look,
"I'm sorry, Karmeut.
And thank you. I mean it."
Hearing that, Karmeut
smiled. Then he planted a kiss on Rainelle’s lips, whose head was still close
to him.
"---!!"
As if to savor the taste,
he stuck out his tongue and licked her moist lower lip slowly. After that, he
slowly pulled her away. Then he said while bending his eyes gently.
"There's no need to
say sorry thank you. I'll just take the rewards."
His voice when he said
“So, look forward to the night”, was low and full of desire.
***
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