Of All
Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #107
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
Regardless of the feeling
of doom, time passed. What choice did I
make? Of course, it’s to make a good image! Karmeut's ‘clinginess’ is, hmm...
I, I can't just say it's bad. Because it's actually good...
The good thing is that he didn't bother all day
long as he said he would.
Anyway, today is the day I made an appointment
with Aria. Since I already told Karmeut...
I turned into a crow,
spread my wings, and flew. This time I don't want to be stoned, so I fly at a high
altitude and head to Aria's manor.
...I didn't see that male crow today either,
huh?
Where did it go? ---Today is a historic(?) day
when we weave Aria and Namuel together, so not being able to see that guy is
rather helpful...
Shaking my head, I brushed
off my thoughts about that crow.
It is today. TODAY! The day Aria hands over the
Crobanlock to Namuel!
Thinking of it, I gave
more strength to my wings.
---I don't know how things will turn out, but
if Aria hands Namuel the Crobanlock, the problem of the plot will go away,
right? Of course, there are still real-world problems, but I have to meet
Myrdin-nim and that one crow...
For now, let's focus on Aria and Namuel.
***
*3rd person POV
*Knock, knock, knock-“
At the sound of light
knocking on his window, Namuel turned his head to look at the window.
There was a crow with
black feathers that glistened under the sunlight. After confirming the sapphire
necklace hanging from her neck, he put down the crystal bottle containing a
reagent in his hand and headed towards the window.
"Welcome, Rainelle-nim."
Coming inside, the crow
nodded her head with a brief cry. The crow, who entered the space that was filled
with the smell of drugs, parchment, and ink, immediately turned into a human.
"How have you been? Namuel."
"Thank you for your
concern."
Saying that, Namuel quickly looked
around from the corner of his eyes.
"Excuse me, Rainelle-nim,
um..."
Rainelle giggled quietly
at the sight of him, who was rarely unable to speak and hesitate. Then, while
tilting her head slightly, she said,
"Today, I came to
deliver Aria's message, not a letter."
"---Adriana, I mean...
a message from Count Gwynell's daughter?"
Rainelle nodded her head
with a smile on her face. Seeing that playful face, Namuel regained his
attitude. He coughed and straightened his expression.
Rainelle covered her mouth
with one hand as if finding his behavior funny, then she opened her mouth in a
cheerful voice,
"I was asked to tell
you that she’s waiting at the place where you two last met. If it's Namuel, you
know where it is, right?"
Namuel nodded his head.
‘If it was the last place we met, then...’
The wizard paused as he
thought about that. It was only then that he realized that the behavior of Rainelle,
who was smiling and looking at him, was different from usual.
Although Rainelle
volunteered, her primary job was to deliver letters. She thought it was interesting.
And she kept her crow appearance whenever possible, so he also accepted the
letter with some ease.
But what about now?
‘She changed into a human form and delivered a
message from Adriana.’
Namuel’s eyes narrowed at
the completely unusual behavior.
"Excuse me, Rainelle-nim,
may I ask you a question?"
"Okay. What is
it?"
The wizard slowly opened
his mouth as he watched the crow waiting for a question with a smile.
"Why are you sending a
message, not a letter?"
Hearing that, Rainelle
laughed.
"That's because Aria
asked me to deliver it in words instead of a letter."
Namuel kept his mouth shut
at the very simple answer.
‘---But that didn't solve all the questions.’
"Why...?"
"You will know that
when you meet Aria. Isn't it special if it's different than usual?"
When she said “So, go and
meet Aria," while still smiling, Namuel hardened his heart.
"Alright. I’m sorry
to trouble you, Rainelle-nim."
“I did it because I wanted
to, so you don’t have to worry too much about it.”
Saying that, Rainelle
burst into laughter once more and turned into a crow. Then she swish through
the open window and flew away.
Without looking at her
figure to the end, Namuel hurried to get ready to go out.
To meet her.
*Namuel’s POV
The last place I met Adriana was at a restaurant
in the southern part of the Capital.
The restaurant, mainly
used by the nobles and wealthy merchants, was a place where the architecture,
interior decoration, quality of food, and service were all excellent.
"Lady Adriana."
Following the guidance of the clerk,
Namuel reached the seat with a good view. He greeted her, who was sitting and
waiting.
"Oh, Namuel-nim."
Watching her beautiful blue eyes
gently curving, he struggled to suppress his faintly beating heart.
"I'm sorry. Did you wait
long?"
"No, I didn't wait that
long."
Sitting across from Adriana, who smiled rather modestly, he looked at her.
When he met her for the
first time, he didn't have any special feelings. He was more curious about
Adriana, who had more knowledge about crows than he expected.
He was drawn to her intellect, and as he conversed with her,
sending and receiving letters, he knew. That she was
very different from any other noble girl.
Above all, the biggest
shock was that Rainelle was close to Adriana without any rejection. The shock
was easily extinguished by her knowledge.
She was very knowledgeable
about animals, especially birds, and was curious about magic. Although she has no talent, it was amazing
to see her asking this and that, saying she was interested in magic itself.
Having such knowledge, she must have liked
Rainelle-nim. And what about the enthusiasm for learning?
Magic is a science. You can only dip your feet
if you have the talent of magic, but if you don't build up your knowledge, the
talent of magic becomes useless.
It was a pity that she has no talent for magic when I saw
her academic zeal.
Because of that, he
treated her a little more kindly. Although she may not be able to use magic, he
thought that it would be enough if he could help her build her knowledge.
The beginning was like that. But now...
Her smile seemed to shine,
so Namuel squinted his eyes. Then he hurriedly opened his mouth so as avoid the
agitation inside him,
"I heard you want to
meet me. I wonder what's going on..."
Adriana put on a slightly
disappointed expression at those words.
"I'm sorry that I may
have bothered you."
"...I’m not bothered."
No way. How can I call her a bother?
"I seem to have done something rude. Forgive me. I called you
out without thinking of Namuel-nim’s circumstance."
Adriana, who had spoken her apology in
a soft voice, then said with a burst of exclamation,
"Oh, this is not the time. I have
something for you, Namuel-nim."
"---Something for me?"
With a “Yes,” Adriana
nodded and took out a small box.
"...?"
Although the size of the
box was small, the delicate decoration and gold leaf showed that the box was of
high value.
"Please accept
this."
Namuel blinked slowly at
Adriana's action of holding out the box towards him.
Accepting it, he opened
his mouth,
"...May I open
it?"
Adriana nodded her head.
Trying to look away from the blue eyes full of expectations, he slightly opened
the lid of the box to check the inside.
"---!!
This---!!"
A round sphere with a
jewel-like shiny surface, which had a sweet scent. Having had it once in his
hands, he couldn't help but know what it was.
Namuel hurriedly closed
the lid because there were other people. Then, after using a barrier to block
their voice from their surroundings, he raised his voice in bewilderment,
"La, Lady Adriana!
This is---!!"
"...Namuel-nim is guessing
right."
"It's okay to speak comfortably.
I’ve erected a barrier to prevent our conversation from leaking out. But Lady,
this is---!"
"Crobanlock, a fruit that
'awakens' those who ate it."
"I know. I know---!! Why are you
giving me such a precious thing...?"
Seeing Namuel flustered, Adriana
covered her mouth with one hand. Then she answered with a smile in her voice,
"Crobanlock is a valuable fruit.
...So, isn't it worth researching? Of course, Namuel-nim can eat it. The reason
I'm giving this to you is..."
Adriana's white night turned red. As
if shy, she held her hands together and avoided his gaze slightly. She then
said in a small voice,
"---Namuel-nim, I just wanted to
be of some help to you."
When she said that, Namuel was silent.
Perhaps the silence was disturbing,
Adriana continued,
"Until now, Namuel-nim has helped
me in many ways. And..."
Swallowing her saliva,
Adriana raised her head and looked at Namuel. Her blue eyes were shining firmly
as if she had decided on something.
"---I like Namuel-nim, so I
wanted to give it to you."
Namuel's lips trembled slightly as he
looked at her red cheeks.
"...Then, were you interested in magic because you liked me?"
At that, Adriana hesitated for a
moment.
"...I'd be lying if I didn't feel
that way at all. But I'm also serious about being interested in magic. Although
I can’t be a mage because I have no talent, I think magic itself is very
cool."
When she said that, Namuel closed his
eyes Namuel. Then he let out a long sigh inside.
He was
feeling disappointed, but more than that, his heart and mind were dizzy with
bizarre feelings.
Feeling his head
disorganized and in a mess, the wizard opened his eyes and looked at the noble
young lady.
"---I’m grateful."
As he spits out the words
that had been hovering in his mouth, the wizard stood up.
"Then I'll see you
next time, Lady Adriana."
"...Yes, next time,
again."
Namuel, who turned his
head away from her, left the restaurant...
Despite his complicated
mind and feelings, the wizard was holding the small box very preciously.
***
*Rainelle’s POV
I was looking at Namuel
and Adriana alternately with my beak wide open. I was sitting on a nearby tree
branch and listened to the conversation with Mui's help, but I didn't quite
understand the situation.
...did it work out or not?
Namuel seems too cold to say that it worked out
well, but to say it didn't work out… he took the Crobanlock with him, right?
As I was thinking while
tilting my head, I saw Aria coming out of the restaurant and getting on the
carriage.
There's Aria, too! Then I'll go to the manor
first!
I went to the manor first
and waited. Not long after, Aria returned. When Aria found me in her room, she dismissed
everyone near her room, and I hurriedly returned to my human form.
“How was it, Aria? Do you
think it’s a success?”
At my question, Aria bowed
her head. Then her shoulders began to tremble.
Uh, huh?
"A, Aria? Are you okay?"
"…khuhuhuhuhuhu---"
"...?!"
I was startled by Aria's sudden
disgraceful laughter, and I reflexively backed away. Regardless of that, Aria
smiled strangely with “khuhuhuhu” sound... She then
put her hands on her waist and continued to chuckle wildly.
"...Ar, Aria?"
‘Are you going crazy? It's ok, you can’t break
down!’ Those words lingered in my
mouth.
"Um, I know the shock of a broken heart is immense, but, what is
it, uh, um, so... they say that there is no tree that stands firm after chopped
at 10 times1, right? So...?"
"Heh heh heh heh...
Rainelle."
"Huh?"
"What are you talking
about?! It’s a success!!"
Aria's face, while she was
making a V sigh with her fingers and saying it was a success, was very
refreshing.
Aria's lips twitched, seemingly
couldn't overcome her joy.
"Eh? Success?"
"Yes! Success!! Oh,
of course, in terms of a game, success would be the correct expression."
Aria, who struggled to
drive away her laughter by taking a deep breath,
went on,
"It's like the game. If it fails
in the first place, Namuel won't accept the Crobanlock."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes. Well, he’s disappointed
because he thinks I tried to get closer by being interested in something that
he likes. What do you just want to say? My favorability is done for and his
route is a failure? Because it would go straight to Bad Ending No. 1, [The
female protagonist ate well and lived a good life on her own], and it would be
better to target the two other caharcters?"
“Um, isn’t there the assassin route
too?”
"Sedarun? You indeed need all the target characters’ favorability to reach a
certain level to get into the Sedarun route, but if I give Namuel a Crobanlock,
the Sedarun route is automatically abandoned. The Crobanlock is the key to the
start of a route. To attack Sedarun, I had to give the Crobanlock to him
as the target, so it won’t happen now."
There was only one thought
that came to my mind.
"...it's so difficult to get
Namuel."
"When other target characters get
Crobanlock, they either succeed in awakening or die. It would be easy to tell
if the ending will be good or bad after the Crobanlock-giving moment, but that
isn’t the case with Namuel..."
I silently approached Aria, who
couldn't speak anymore and just trembled, then I patted her on the shoulder.
"It’s the hardship that must be
endured to get the most hard-to-catch character."
"Oh---! But, but---!! Namuel
really suits my taste---!! I can't give up---!!"
I nodded silently at Aria’s strong attitude.
***
Notes:
1 Korean idiom, meaning: People can achieve anything if they keep making efforts.↩
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