Of All
Things, I Became a Crow: Side Story #7
Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain
*Rainelle’s POV
It was fun to grill and eat meat alone with Karmeut on the lakeside where there was no one else. Even when I ate the meat only with the bread that I brought, it tasted much better than usual.
"Delicious."
“Yes, it is delicious.”
"It's not much
compared to what we eat at the Imperial Palace, but it's amazing that it's so
delicious, isn't it?"
Karmeut chuckled at the
remark.
“It may be because it was
meaningful that cooked it ourselves.”
"Well, the Imperial
Palace prepares everything. Of course, it's not that it's not delicious,
but..."
“Isn’t this kind of thing
good sometimes?”
"Yes."
I nodded.
It was good to be served
by others, but it was also good to do something yourself like this. I don't
know if it's because it's been a while.
I put the well-roasted
meat on the bread and handed it out to Karmeut.
"Open up,
Karmeut."
Karmeut opened his mouth
and took a big bite.
"It's delicious. All
the more so since you feed it to me."
"That, cough, of
course I can feed you. You’re my husband, right?"
As I said the word
‘husband’, heat rushed to my cheeks, but I steadfastly ended my words.
Karmeut smiled and
replied,
“It is also a husband’s
wish for his wife not to do difficult
things.”
As he said that, I averted
my eyes. Karmeut chuckled.
Whoa. Sure, Karmeut did take really good care of
me...
Karmeut said as he put
another piece of wood into the fire,
"Rainelle."
"Yes?"
“Can you put me on your
back and fly one more time?”
I turned my eyes at those
words.
"...One more
time?"
“If you say no, I have no
intention of forcing you.”
Karmeut's quick addition
made me let out a small laugh.
“There is nothing hard
about that. But I think it's dangerous because there's no saddle."
"Doesn't it feel
stuffy when you put on the saddle?""
"It’s better than
putting Karmeut in danger. That's why I'm wearing the saddle all the way
here."
Having said that, I was
very happy. That's why I said while gently shaking the tips of my wings,
"...But I'm glad.
Karmeut asked me to go on a date with him."
"...Really?"
"Yeah. Flying in the
sky is really cool and fun. You seem to like it so you ask for a ride again. It
makes me happy."
At those words, Karmeut
let out a long sigh.
"...thank God. I was
a little worried that maybe I was being pushy.
"Not at all! How fun
it was to fly with Karmeut!"
I said so while flapping
my wings. Karmeut gave a small smile.
"I'd love anything as
long as I’m with you."
At that, my face flushed
red.
...I-it's not fair to suddenly jump in like
this!
"...Really, you’re so
unfair. If you say that, it's really..."
"You don’t like
it?"
“I, I don’t hate it, but…”
Karmeut laughed. Then he
said while lightly pinching my cheek,
“Rainelle is shy.”
"...Karmeut is
sly."
"I'm only doing this
to you. Because you're so pretty and lovely."
At that, my face turned
redder and I turned my head away. Then, pretending not able to win from his act
of gently hugging me from behind, I hid my wings and quietly embraced him.
"From now on, don't
be self-conscious and just be comfortable."
"...Are you talking
about turning into a crow or a big bird?"
“Yes. Isn’t the human
appearance uncomfortable for you?”
I couldn't lie in front of
Karmeut who asked a question with a very serious attitude. So I quietly nodded
his head and said,
“...The crow form is the
most comfortable. "
“You can say that anyone
else can’t tell because they don't know anything....But I can go back and forth
between wolf and human form. I know it's more comfortable to be in the original
form rather than the one that we can change into. So I want you to be more
comfortable."
Without replying, I
quietly hugged him and wiggled my fingers.
"Now we have many
helpers, and the situation is stable. Of course, things can't always be at peace.
That's what governing a country is like. ...But it's not like I can't make you
feel comfortable.'
Saying that, Karmeut
patted my back cautiously.
“Even if the empress takes
on a different appearance, no one will say anything. I assure you.”
I didn’t deny Karmeut’s
words, but I laughed lightly.
"You said it again."
"Because I don't want
to lie to you."
“There were many times
when we didn’t say anything in the past, right?”
"At that time, I was
like that, since I was also weak."
Saying that, Karmeut gave
his arms a little more strength.
"But it's different
now. Not only me, but you're strong too. Enough to subdue the rampaging
descendant of the Wolf."
I had nothing to say, so I
laughed awkwardly. Then Karmeut smiled a little and buried his face in the nape
of my neck. He snuggled.
"That's why I believe
so. Of course, I always want to protect and protect you, but...”
"Yes, of course. But
I am not a child."
"Yes, because you
said that husband and wife should trust and respect each other."
Having said that, he
continued,
"That's why I believe
in you, Rainelle. Your strength and your actions as the empress."
I laughed my head off at
the remark. I couldn't help laughing because I was embarrassed and tickled.
“I believe in Karmeut from
the beginning.”
I felt Karmeut flinch at
those words.
But when you think about
it, isn't it natural?
“Birds are very wary. If
you don’t trust them, they won’t go near you. And I believed in Karmeut from
the beginning."
...At that time, rather than believing in
Karmeut, it was more that I saw him as the only person who would pick me up and
raise me beautifully! But...
"...I was also very
curious."
My conscience pricked me a
lot when I simply say I believed him, so I added that briefly, and Karmeut
burst into laughter.
"... Haha. I should
be grateful for that curiosity. If it wasn't for Rainelle's curiosity, I
wouldn't be here."
"Isn't that something
no one knows?"
"I've never been in
such a tight spot. I mean it."
Smiling broadly, I leaned
comfortably against Karmeut's body.
"I think I'm lucky
too. Getting to know Karmeut."
"You think so?"
"Yeah. I appreciate
Karmeut who treat me well... but I know there are many people who don't."
How nice it would be if
there were only people who were not mean, behaved friendly, and took good care
of wild animals approaching them. But
there are many people who don't.
I'm sure there are people who will catch them
and do harm. In addition, considering the background of this place (even though
it is the background of the game), I could have been caught and sold, saying
that I am strange, or I could have been killed simply because I was seen as
unlucky.
Thinking so, meeting
Karmeut was very fortunate for me as well.
"I'm thankful that
you didn't judge. That's why I'm glad I met Karmeut."
Karmeut carefully hugged
me. I quickly added, surrendering myself entirely to the more cautious hands,
"But it's not only
that now. Karmeut even made crow as the national bird."
"My wife is a crow,
after all."
"Yes, yes."
When I responded to
Karmeut's words with a nod of my head, he lightly kissed me on the cheek.
"...then should we go
back? I think the others are starting to worry."
"Yeah, let’s do that.
Lord Windster couldn't accompany us, so he must be pretty upset."
"If you say so, I
feel a little sorry for him."
Saying that, Karmeut
laughed and stood up. I quickly followed him and got up to help cleaning up.
The fire remaining in the
firewood was completely extinguished, and the bones were gathered well and
buried.
Now, I was about to change
into a crow to leave, but Karmeut started saying,
“Rainelle, would you like
to ride on my back when we return?”
"Huh? Karmeut's
back?"
"Yes, I want to let
you ride and run once. Since I came all the way here on your back."
At that, my eyes lit up.
Of course, I had hugged him and slept as he used his wolf form many times, but
since I had never ridden on his back for long distances, I was honestly looking
forward to it.
"Okay!"
Karmeut smiled. Then he
changed into his wolf form.
The large golden wolf was
even bigger than when he first awakened. It used to be big, but should I say
it's almost the size of a bull now?
The wolf affectionately
nudged with his snout and stuck out his tongue, carefully licking my cheek. I
laughed at his action and hugged his neck tightly.
As I buried my head in the
soft, fluffy golden fur and rubbed it, Karmeut carefully tapped his tail while
grunting.
I loosened my arms and
took a step back, then Karmeut fell flat on his stomach the floor.
After I carefully climbed
onto his back, I felt him stand up cautiously.
I nodded my head at
Karmeut's behavior of alternately glancing at me and the nape of his neck as he
threw his eyes this way. I gripped his mane tightly.
He sniffed for a moment,
then started walking slowly forward.
"Oh, wow..."
Perhaps trying to give me
time to adjust, he slowly walked along the lakeside. I looked around as I
braced myself for his swaying movements.
It was a different feeling
from flying. I'm not walking myself, but it still feels like I'm walking…?
However, it was still
different than riding a horse. Horse made the sound of a horse's hooves and
there was a rattling feeling. However, perhaps because Karmeut was a wolf, he
was more flexible, gentle, and quiet.
"I'm used to it
now."
Saying that, I gently
tapped him on the nape of his neck, and Karmeut began to increase his speed
little by little.
"Wow, wow...!
Karmeut, faster!"
Excitedly, I urged
Karmeut, and Karmeut, too, seemed excited and began to run at faster speed.
Although it was quiet, I
had to tighten my hold while riding on the back of Karmeut, who ran faster than
a horse. But the feeling was very good.
"It's different from
mine! Exciting!"
Watching Karmeut
vigorously wagging his tail, I promised myself that I would ask for a ride
again when the opportunity arises.
It's such a waste to do this just once! It's so fast and exciting!
***
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