Chapter 117

Of All Things, I Became a Crow: Chapter #117

Translators: Nyx and Ririi Rain

*Rainelle’s POV

Class started the very next day.

…Is this how fast you can fetch teachers? They’re available immediately without even an introduction? Did Karmeut do something?

Although I was suspicious, I chose to turn away from that matter.

Class is what’s important now, class!

Of course, among the teachers, Madame Fangxia was also there. Except for Namuel, whom I designated, there were teachers in charge of history, culture, politics, theology, etc.

When the teachers flocked to me, I was about to lose my mind.

"Ahhhh… Lord, I think I'm going to die…"

I was tormented until mealtime. I was able to relax comfortably only when it was time for a break or tea time, so now, I lay face down on the sofa. Everyone was dismissed, in case the maids told the teachers about this.

"Human beings are strange. They pay attention to even useless parts."

"Yeah, I know… Ugh, I learn because I need it, but it's really, really, really hard…"

Sa, save me! This is a different hell than when it was Madame Fangxia alone! I'm feeling like I'm preparing for the college entrance exam! I have learned some things from Madame Fangxia before, but still, if someone is watching me, my body is bound to be tense!

"But didn't you say you would?"

"Yes, yes, but that doesn't mean it's not hard."

"Well, that’s true."

I felt complicated by Eileen-nim's lightly affirming words that were said in a smiling voice.

"Sigh… It's hard to be the empress…"

"That's how much responsibility there is in the seat. Of course, the meaning and weight of responsibility for humans and crows seem to be different."

I sighed and nodded my head.

Ahhh, I thought the days of school were over for me, but this feels like I’m repeating my senior year of high school.

I bowed my head and buried my face in the sofa.

"Ughhh… I don’t like history… I don’t like theology…"

"Those two subjects are indeed a bit complicated."

"Ahhh?!"

I jumped up at the sudden voice. My waist made a sound.

"Oh, my waist… oof, ah, it hurts…"

"I, I'm sorry. Are you okay? I didn't mean to surprise you."

Karmeut, who approached helplessly, stroked my waist carefully. I groaned and slowly turned my head to look at him.

"Hey, what are you doing here…?"

"It's the first day of class for you, so I came here to see how it would be. —Is it hard?"

I let out a brief sigh as his hand gently stroked my head. Then I answered, burying my face in the cushion,

"—I feel like my head is going to explode… Really, I think I have a lot to learn…"

"Would you like to shorten the class time? If it's too hard, you can take your time, you know?"

Of course, it was not that I don't want to, but there were times when I want to go beyond that.

"I'm going to shove that Duke's nose very flat! I'll learn quickly and accurately so no one will make that kind of noise again!"

Karmeut widened his eyes slightly. Then he started to laugh.

"Why, why are you laughing?"

"Pfft, ah, no… Rainelle. If that's the problem, you can turn into that big black bird and eat the Duke, right?"

"Hey, I said that because I didn't want to be looked down on! I don't want to eat people because I've never eaten them! Cookies taste better!!"

If I eat something like that, I might get a stomach ache! And that Duke is old!

I don't know, the older the livestock, the tougher it gets and the more intense the stench gets, so the slaughter time is fixed! Why do I prefer lamb to mutton? It’s because of the smell!

"There are so many delicious things in the world. How can I eat a human…"

I grumbled and pursed my lips.

Of course, I'll even consider killing if necessary, but eating is…

"Just kidding," Karmeut said, starting to laugh. Then he patted my back and said,

"It’s a joke. I'm not going to let you kill Duke Howard."

"…Why?"

"That's because he’s not valuable enough to get your hands dirty."

Karmeut, who answered without hesitation as if he was saying something obvious, gently curved the corners of his eyes.

"If it's really hard, tell me. No one should badmouth you just because you’re a little slow at learning."

"—Are you going to make them disappear?"

"Oh my, you got me."

Karmeut smiled playfully and kissed me on the cheek. In response to his actions, I stretched out my arms and wrapped them around his neck.

"Not there."

At what I just uttered, he widened his eyes. Then he smiled.

"You've become bold, haven't you, Rainelle?"

"Um… you don't like it? I want to be praised because I'm working hard."

“No, no. If it’s something like this, I will give you as many as you want.”

I closed my eyes at Karmeut's face that approached as he said so.

There was a soft feeling on my lips. After he opened my mouth in a gentle prompting action, a slimy flesh rushed in.

His movement was soft as if he was licking a wound, but I felt drunk on the thick texture. I stick out my tongue and entwined it.

Feeling soft hair standing up with every little movement, I tightened my arms and clung to him. However, my eyes widened at the action of Karmeut who immediately removed his lips.

"Ha…"

"—Don't be too much, Rainelle."

I shrank my shoulders at Karmeut’s action of slightly biting my earlobe while whispering "Then it's hard for me to bear it."

"You have another class later, right? So, you can't be like that."

"…Ugh, you’re so mean."

"Mean? Why?"

"I'm asking because I like it…"

Seriously! I didn't know I would say this! But it's indeed good, and I don't want to lie about this…

I let out a brief groan as he embraced me tightly all of a sudden.

"—Really, this makes it unbearable…"

The low growl-like voice gave me goosebumps. A hand touched my back and my body stiffened, feeling as if I was about to get eaten.

When my body relaxed a little as the hand patted me, as if he was comforting me, saying that it was okay and not to be afraid, he slowly rubbed our cheeks together.

"—Thank you for your hard work. It must be hard and difficult in many ways."

"It's for Karmeut. Of course, it's also for me… but it’s what I have to do to be with Karmeut."

I said "So don't think too much about it," and hugged him tightly.

Then the sound of laughter tickled my ears.

"Thank you. —But all I can say is, stay strong."

"Um- If you really want to support me, I think it would be good if you could give me a delicious snack."

"Snack?"

"Yeah! Eating sweet snacks makes me feel better."

"Okay, okay. I'll instruct the maids to always have snacks ready. Anything else you need?"

"I don't think I have any."

Karmeut laughed quietly. The next moment, he said while stroking my head,

"I’m telling you again, don't overdo it. You can reject it if you don't like it. No matter what anyone says, you are my only mate."

His calm but sincere voice tickled my heart. Once again, he looked so cool, so I smiled and replied,

"You are also my only mate. So, even if studying is hard and difficult, I will try my best."

He laughed out loud. Then he kissed me on the forehead.

"See you later."

"Yeah, see you later."

Waving my hand, I saw Karmeut off. Perhaps he came because took time out of his work, he made a regretful face and left the room.

"…He’s a good mate."

I turned my gaze to my necklace at the gentle voice. The sapphire necklace gave off a small brilliance.

"I think I understand a little bit why you're trying so hard."

"—Isn't Karmeut cool?"

"Yeah, he's really cool."

Eileen-nim's smiling and affirming voice made me feel better than when I was praised. I laughed.

Yeah! I have to be strong!!

***

"—Huh? Namuel?"

"Hello, Rainelle-nim. This time, I'm going to help Rainelle-nim."

So this moment finally come. This is also a time I’m looking forward to.

Namuel. A target character of a female-oriented game. And when the heroine rides the Namuel route, he can wake up, but he will go berserk and kill Karmeut.

I turned my eyes to look at him.

Namuel, who was preparing for class by taking out a book along with parchment and a quill, didn't seem to have awakened.

Well, if he awakens, there’ll be a riot right away. So it means that he hasn't eaten the Crobanlock yet…

"…? Rainelle-nim?"

"…Ah! I'm sorry. I have a question for you, but I don't know if I can ask…"

"You're free to ask. There's nothing more rewarding than helping you in your search for knowledge."

I marveled inwardly at Namuel's smile as he gently nodded.

Hm, hm. Karmeut is the most handsome, cool, and the best, but Namuel is second to none. I think I can understand why Aria is so smitten.

How can a character with glasses smile like that? Also, Namuel is showing gentleness! This is precious—!! If there is a camera, I’ll definitely take a picture and show it to Aria—!!

"I'm curious about the existence of demons."

"The existence of demons…?"

I nodded my head quietly.

—It won’t be good if I mention Succubus and Incubus, so I should say it like this.

Namuel narrowed his brows. Maybe such a question was surprising. But he didn't ask why I asked such a question. He simply answered as he lifted his eyeglasses with one hand,

“Before discussing the existence of demons, it seems the first thing we should talk about is the demon realm. The demon realm It refers to one of the other worlds, not this one. Along with the spirit realm, the heavenly realm, and the phantom realm. This place where we live is in the middle of the other realms. One of them is the demon realm."

He mentioned the existence of the demon realm, which was common in a fantasy world, in a serious and easy-to-understand way.

“When it comes to the existence of the demon realm, you may think that everything there is unconditionally evil, but that’s not necessarily the case.”

"…Huh? Is that so?"

"Yeah, just like not all heavenly beings are good."

….I tilted her head, wondering what this was all about.

He laughed a little seeing my reaction and added an explanation,

"If you go to the extremes on either side, it can also be destructive. Warmth is important for living things, but too much will burn you. Our world is literally in the middle. It's okay if you lean a little to one side, but if you go to the extremes, it will be destructive, whether good or evil."

"—It's hard."

"Ummm… I can explain it this way: Helping others is a good thing. Usually, it's a commendable thing to do. But when it goes to the extreme? You'll end up helping others without taking care of your own body. Whether your body is broken or you will die, you will try to help. Can you really call that normal?"

"…That's strange. How can you help others when you're not well?"

“That’s right. That is why, no matter how hard you try to help others, there must be some selfish aspect of taking care of yourself. In the same sense, the existence of the demon realm does not necessarily mean goodness should not exist. Our world that’s in the middle is influenced by many realms, whether it is more or less."

“Do people usually avoid the demon realm and demons?”

"Because… the so-called 'extreme' is still natural by their standards, but by human standards, it’s extreme in the real meaning, so of course. Otherwise, humans will suffer."

I nodded at the easy-to-understand explanation. It was to the extent that I thought: perhaps it would have still been easy to understand even if I still had a crow brain.

"Then what about the occasional mixed blood?"

"…Are you talking about demon mixed blood?"

"I heard that there is almost no mixed blood with demons… So, is there any?"

"Of course there is, but it is extremely rare. Mixed blood… Mixed blood is dangerous."

While saying that they were dangerous, Namuel fixed his glasses.

“If you put a weight on a balanced balance, it will only tilt. And mixed blood is like a tilted balance. It is a balance that is difficult to be balanced with any effort or will. Mixed blood, which is easy to reach extremes, is just as dangerous. It's not that they didn’t think of the extreme instinct as a bad thing, but it's very difficult to go against that instinct."

I swallowed my saliva at those words.

…He doesn't know that word applies to him, does he?

Listening to the explanation, I got the hang of it.

Instinct. Instinct cannot be resisted. So, when Namuel woke up, he could kill Karmeut.

A pack only needed one leader. Karmeut would be a wolf as he had awakened, and he was the one holding the leader position, while Namuel would be a challenger.

It was self-evident that a fight broke out over the leadership position.

Besides, the blood of an incubus, which was from the demon realm, was flowing through his body…

What's more, he might think nothing of the slaughter.

In the original story, it was the heroine who corrected the tilted balance. To be precise, it must be the result of Namuel’s 'will' of loving the heroine and not wanting to harm her.

I nodded at Namuel who asked if my curiosity was solved. Then, I tried to calm my complicated mind as I looked at him who said,

"Let's proceed with the class."

After listening to the explanation, I understood why the original story goes like that, but…

I looked at Namuel, feeling that it was too much for me alone.

…Oh, really, what should I do with this man? This is driving me crazy!!