Chapter 109

*Rainelle’s POV

“Long time no see, Rainelle-nim.”

“Hello, Myrdin-nim. It’s been a while.”

Hearing that, Myrdin-nim laughed. Then he opened his mouth while squinting his eyes gently,

“Rainelle-nim wanted to meet me? It was a bit unexpected.”

“I have questions.”

“That would be questions to ask this friend rather than me, right?”

While saying that, Myrdin-nim looked at his shoulder. I also turned my head to look at the crow sitting on his shoulder.

It was a very old-looking crow. The smooth luster of the feathers also faded and looked disheveled, and the tips of the black feathers were grayish.

The beak, which should have been smooth and hard, was also grazed here and there. But his deep brown eyes were shining.

I bowed my head toward the crow that had a wise look reminiscent of an old man.

“Hello. My name is Rainelle.”

The crow flew up from Myrdin-nim’s shoulder, then he changed into a human form.

“How can I not come when a beautiful girl wants to meet me? It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a young fellow who ate the fragment.”

While saying that, the human figure of the crow, an old man who looked to be in his 60s, was smiling emptily. His tiny wrinkles seemed to show the passage of time.

“Nice to meet you, my name is Hempel. Myrdin gave me the name.”

Hempel-nim, who smiled as he said that, seemed to really like the fact. I smiled involuntarily at his smile and replied,

“Karmeut gave me my name.”

“He doesn’t seem to be here?”

“He couldn’t come because he is busy.”

“I see. A name given by a person dear to you is very special. So? I heard you want to see me. Why?”

Hearing those words, I looked at Myrdin-nim for a moment. However, Hempel-nim’s manner of waiting for me to speak while wearing a soft smile seemed to say that it was okay to just be forward, so I opened my mouth, although with difficulty,

“I… I want to meet the Deity.”

“…The Deity?”

“The black bird that flies high toward the sun. I want to meet the bird that scattered pieces of its eggshell to the ground.”

At those words, Myrdin and Hempel’s eyebrows narrowed.

“…The Black Bird? Why do you want to meet the Black Bird?”

“That’s… if Crobanlock is a fragment of the eggshell the Black Bird scattered, I’d like to meet that being. Thanks to that, I’m able to transform into a human.”

I tried to make an excuse and looked into Hempel-nim’s eyes. He rubbed his chin and tilted his head, shedding a brief silence as if he was worried about something.

“Is that so? I also ate Crobanlock, but I never thought of meeting that being.”

“…Really?”

“In the first place, why should we, as crows, meet the Black Bird?”

“Yes?”

“We are crows. Even if we eat the fruit, can change into human form, and can live a long time, our true nature is crow. Flying in the sky, looking for food, pairing up, and looking after our young. Is there anything more we should hope for?”

I gritted my teeth at his words.

-Yes. He is originally a crow. Same as me, but different. I am intelligent because I’m a human soul who possessed a crow. My way of thinking is closer to humans.

But Hempel-nim is different.

He is a crow that has lived with animal values ​​ for over 60 years. His relationship with Myrdin-nim is special, but that’s it.

“So, you don’t know?”

“I don’t know how to meet the Black Bird. There’s no need to meet.”

I felt an uneasy feeling creep up inside of me at those words, but I managed to push it away. Then I said,

“Then, if you know anything about the Black Bird, please let me know. Any little bit of information is fine. If you tell me everything you know—!!”

“Why are you so desperate to look for the Black Bird? For food? For nest? Territory?”

Hempel-nim asked, tilting his head as if he didn’t really understand. I didn’t know how to explain this after seeing his attitude, so I was silent for a while before replying,

“…to protect my partner.”

“Your mate?”

Instead of answering, I nodded. But Hempel-nim shook his head with excitement.

“Of course, a mate is important. But even if you lose your mate, isn’t it enough to find a new mate next year?”

I opened my mouth as I was about to answer. But soon I was able to understand.

—It is said that no matter how crows only have one mate, it was an exception when one of them dies.

I know. I know, I know that, but…

“I don’t like that.”

I don’t want to lose Karmeut. A new mate? A new man? Don’t make me laugh. I don’t have the slightest intention of doing that.

“So tell me. About the Black Bird. Anything”

I felt Myrdin-nim’s and Hempel-nim’s gazes gathered on me. Ignoring it, I met Hempel-nim’’s eyes. The old crow blinked his eyes a few times, then slowly opened his mouth,

“I don’t understand, but I’ll let you know if you want it. Myrdin?”

“Um? Am I not supposed to be here?”

“Isn’t it strange for humans to intervene in crows’ affairs?”

At that, Myrdin meekly nodded his head and left the room.

I kept looking at Hempel-nim as I heard the door creak shut.

He looked like he was contemplating where to start.

“Where should I start… Did you know that the Black Bird became the wings of the Wolf by flying high?”

“Yes, I know that. The Black Bird ate corpses for humans, and scattered pieces of its eggshells on the ground…”

“A crow that ate it could take human form and live longer. But I don’t know if that’s a happy thing.”

I tilted my head at that.

Why?

“Because they have to go through the sadness of losing their partner. Even if they’re together for as long as possible, they can only be together for about 20 years.”

“Ah…”

“Of course, as they live long, they learn how to avoid danger, and sometimes lead the group safely with that knowledge… But I myself am already tired of that. Right now, it’s best to live comfortably next to Myrdin while conversing with him.”

Hempel-nim, who smiled softly as he said “It’s safe, peaceful, and a little fun,” seemed really satisfied.

…but that wasn’t the answer I was looking for. I was a human, not fully a crow. And the difference in lifespan from crows that did not eat Crobanlock was actually beneficial to me.

“And what else?”

“I don’t know very much. Crows that ate Crobanlock do appear occasionally, and most of them live by hiding the fact that they can transform into human form from humans. It’s usually the case. It’s normal to take on the head of a group with their knowledge accumulated over time…”

He looked up.

“…and when a long-time partner dies, they grieve and then disappear.”

“…Disappear?”

“Yeah. Probably going to die. So that they don’t show their death to anyone in the group.”

Hempel-nim lowered his gaze. Then he went on to say,

“I have Myrdin, but for the other crows that ate Crobanlock, the death of a mate they had been with for a long time must have been such great sadness. Of course, I did experience that. But I was comforted and warmed by Myrdin, but those guys aren’t as lucky.”

After saying “So they must have left on their own”, the old crow was silent as he was lost in thought for a moment, then he added:

“It is said that the Black Bird wished that the crow that ate the fragment of its eggshells would soar higher. I’m sorry, none of the crows that ate the Crobanlock even thought or tried to meet the Black Bird, so I can’t be of any help.”

“…No. Thank you for telling me.”

Hempel-nim nodded at those words and returned to the form of a crow. When I reached out my arm, the old crow sat down on it.

Perhaps tired of the passage of time, he sighed briefly and fluttered his wings.

I stroked his wings carefully. Then the crow paused for a moment and turned his head to me.

Smiling at him, I continued to gently stroke his wings and his back. Hempel-nim then pressed his beak against my finger.

Feeling the slightly rough beak, I raised my voice and called out to Myrdin-nim,

“Myrdin-nim. You can come in.”

“Is the conversation over?”

Hempel-nim flew toward Myrdin-nim, who came in with a kind smile. I replied while looking at the crow sitting on his shoulder familiarly.

“Yeah …it doesn’t seem like there’s a lot of information.”

“Is that so? That’s a pity.”

After saying so, Myrdin-nim, who was stroking Hempel-nim’s beak, opened his mouth again,

“If it’s the Black Bird…”

“…?”

“It may be quite funny for a mage to discuss theology, but this is my view: is there a world where Godly beings exist? The Wolf left their blood in the Wolfric Imperial Family, the Black Bird left Crobanlocks. And God is announcing their existence by divine power. So, the stories written in theology are true, not fiction.”

I tilted my head at Myrdin-nim’s actions of saying confusing words.

What do you want to say?

“So, how about understanding it as it is and as it was conveyed? How was the Black Bird in theology, and how was the Black Bird which the crows talked about? If you think about it, I think you’ll get the answer.”

It was still something I couldn’t understand, but I nodded and bowed my head in a vague mood.

“Thank you for the advice.”

“Then I’ll go back with Hempel. Hempel gets tired easily because of his age.”

I shifted my gaze and saw the old crow nodding his head as he started to doze off. Although I couldn’t gain much, I was grateful to him for accepting my request and coming here.

“Go home safely.”

“We’ll leave, then.”

After Myrdin-nim and Hempel-nim closed the door and left, I sat down on the sofa. Then I let out a long sigh.

“Haa… I didn’t get anything.”

I desperately thought I could get something, but I feel like that hope is shattered mercilessly.

“—Should I ask Karmeut to take the Crobanlock from Namuel?”

No, can it be done in the first place? He’s a wizard. Couldn’t he use magic to hide the Crobanlock? Besides, I’m not sure yet, but I get the feeling that he has a heart for Aria, so won’t it make him refuse to hand it over even more?

I pressed my temples as I felt a throbbing pain. Then suddenly, a thought came to me.

“…to understand it as it is, and as it was conveyed?”

I don’t know why Myrdin-nim’s words suddenly came to mind, but I focused on that idea.

–There might be something that could be a clue. That’s how I felt. Or it was a sense close to the instinct of a crow.

What was the story about the Black Bird? I’m sure it’s…

“A bird that had become the Wolf’s wings and soared toward the sun. A divine animal that served as an assistant of God. The Black Bird scattered pieces of its eggshells on the ground, and gives the crows the role of eating corpses…”

And what else was there?

“—It is said that it wished that the crow that ate the fragment to fly higher…”

Height.

To fly high.

It hoped that the crow that ate the Black Bird’s eggshell, the Crobanlock, would fly higher.

Without realizing it, I jumped out of my seat and was on my feet.

Are the crows a high-flying bird? Not. Sometimes they acted in groups, but they are not basically high-flying birds. In the first place, there is no need for them to fly high. Foraging for food, mating, and giving birth are all things that happen on the ground.

A high-flying bird is a bird that travels thousands of kilometers, or a bird of prey. Traveling birds have to fly in air currents so that they can fly far with little force, and birds of prey do this to keep their prey from noticing. Considering the speed of a rapid descent with the wings folded while maintaining a high altitude, it is also a fairly effective tactic.

But crows didn’t need to do that, right? Then why did the Black Bird wish for them to fly higher? And why is the Black Bird soaring towards the sun?

“Is it, the Three-legged crow…?”

It’s the symbol bird of Goguryo1. The Three-legged crow is believed to live in the sun. But that’s a Korean myth2…

—Oh right. This is a female-oriented game. It’s a game-based world to be precise, so it’s likely to be heterogeneous.

“—What were the game makers thinking while making the settings?”

I tried to complain, but there was no answer. Still, it’s definitely the Three-legged! Although there is no evidence of that, it’s better to think that they were similar.

“Fly high…”

A thought occurred to me in an instant.

—Want us to fly really high?

“—Phew! What a simple idea.”

It wasn’t that bad when I think about it.

“Hmm, maybe the crows that ate Crobanlock didn’t fly high enough to meet the Black Bird?”

Of course, the biggest reason is that there is no reason for them to meet the Black Bird. What crow would fly high aimlessly? It’s not a bird of prey, and it’s not a migratory bird that needs to travel far.

Nevertheless, it’s said that the Black Bird wished for them to fly high. A Godly animal, which has no temples or priests, wished for it.

“—I have to believe it, right?”

It’s a matter of doing it or not doing it. There’s no harm in doing that. I will be exhausted at best.

If I’m right, then…

I clenched my fist.

Meeting the Black Bird does not mean that I can get power, nor does it guarantee that it will help me.

But I am the one who has to grab at straws. Thinking like that, I returned to my crow form.

To meet the Black Bird.

***

Notes:

1 In Korean mythology, it is known as Samjogo (literally ‘three-legged crow’). During the Goguryo period, the ancient Korean people thought the Samjok-o to be a symbol of the sun and of great power, often representing the Taewang (literally ‘Emperor’ or ‘Greatest of Kings’) and Goguryeo’s sovereignty. It was also believed that the three-legged crow lived in the sun while a toad lived in the moon. The Samjok-o is such a highly respected symbol of power, even superior to both the dragon and the Korean phoenix.↩

2 It’s actually not just Korean. This mythological creature also appears in China’s and Japan’s mythologies. ↩