Of All Things, I Became a Crow

*Rainelle’s POV

I finely brushed the golden fur with the comb. There was not a single part of the fur that was clumped together, so the fur fell as soon as it was combed and the texture was even pleasant to the touch.

"---I don't need to comb it! Karmeut has really good fur!"

Because no fur got stuck by the comb, it felt that the comb itself was useless. When it comes to combing, I like the rewarding feeling when I made it feel soft, so I was a bit disappointed.

Well, if the fur itself is good, that is the best.

Karmeut seemed to be in a good mood. He was lying on his back and waving his tail, but when one side was finished, he rolled over and showed the other side.

The action made me laugh.

So cute! How can I not feel the cuteness when a majestic wolf rolled around for me?

It doesn’t give any effect, but Karmeut liked it so much, so I continued brushing his fur. The golden fur was shiny and beautiful, giving the illusion that I was combing sunlight.

Every time the comb moved, Karmeut closed his eyes like he really enjoyed it.

I'm glad he likes it.

I smiled unknowingly and brushed the fur more thoroughly. Brushing the head, ears, neck, back, legs, and finally the tail, and then I put the comb down.

"There, it’s finished!"

The wolf got up when I said it was over. Then he jumped onto the sofa and rested his chin on my thigh.

His soft, waving tail seemed to say: “Pat me on the head.” I had no choice but to move my hand at such actions.

Although wolves are canines by nature, their dispositions are completely different than dogs.

Am I deceived? It might be strange to say this, but Karmeut in the form of a wolf was full of cuteness.

As I stroked his furry head, his tail wagged even harder. Then he suddenly raised his head and pushed me in the face.

"---!"

I was startled by the moist and slippery tongue that licked my lips.

"Ka, Karmeut~!!"

I grabbed his shoulder and put strength on my arm to try to push him away, but he didn't budge.

Gee, he's really strong!!

As he whined and gave in to my strength, Karmeut gently moved his head away. I sighed and wiped my face with the napkin on the table.

Hm, it's nice, but this kind of affection is kind of burdensome since I get drenched in saliva...

As I was wiping my face thoroughly, I felt a hand touching an area that I hadn't been able to wipe.

"I'm sorry. I did too much, didn't I?"

I shook my head as Karmeut used his hand to wipe my face with a very sorry expression.

"No, it's okay."

A smile appeared on his lips when I said that it was okay. After meticulously wiping the area I had wiped once more, he stroked my hair.

"I'm really sorry. It was just so good that I moved without thinking."

"...?"

Karmeut smiled shyly while saying that. His face was so handsome at that moment that it was hard to take my eyes off him.

I mean, what was so good about it?

"...does it feel good to have your fur brushed?"

Is it because that was the first time his wolf fur had been brushed? Could it be that this kind of thing is unexpectedly his taste?

“Of course that felt good, too.”

Karmeut shook his head while saying that. Then he lowered his hand. Then he moved his hand, which had been stroking my head, and caressed my cheek.

“But the better one is for you to be by my side in your human form without hesitation.”

Whoa whoa whoa!! Seriously, don't rush in like this!!

"Oh, that's---!!"

"It's not that I don't understand. ...But sometimes, you became embarrassed and run away in the form of a crow, so it was a pity in many ways."

His frankness and his behavior of looking straight at my eyes are really... bad for my heart!

"I, I did, huh?"

"Yeah. But that didn't happen when I was in the form of a wolf. Maybe that's why I felt better."

His act of kissing my cheek after saying that was as natural as flowing water. I couldn't even react, so I blinked and jumped out of my seat a moment later.

"K- Karmeut...!!"

"I will always respect your opinion. ...However, I want you to know that someday, I want you to be by my side as a human being and to make you smile."

The way he grabbed my hand and kissed the back of my hand looked desperate. Rather than the touch of his lips on the back of my hand, a strange emotion rose in me when I heard his earnest voice.

Somehow, I felt sorry for running away in the form of a crow when I was so startled.

And I could not say anything because I began to feel that he liked me that much, that he considered me special.

...is that alright? I am a being that should not have appeared. In the original game, wouldn't I appear as a black dot on the background screen? Or one that shows in a battlefield background?

Is this the result of my struggles to survive? Is this really correct? Of course, I also like Karmeut. He’s precious, he’s special, but…

I thought to myself, ‘is this really the right thing to do?’

Of course, as long as I am here, I think it is natural for things to change. But, but...

Is it correct to change things from the original storyline? Is it right for Karmeut to look at me with this kind of gaze and heart? Could it be that I actually made a huge mistake?

"---Rainelle?"

"...ah, uh. What is it, Karmeut?"

Karmeut's brows furrowed slightly, then they returned to normal. And then, as if worried, he inspected me thoroughly and opened his mouth,

"...Are you uncomfortable because you've been a human for a long time?"

"...hm?"

"I think it's the first time I've seen you in your human form like this for so long... ...Isn't that overkill? Isn’t it hard? Would you like to go back to being a crow?"

I closed my mouth as I saw his golden eyes trembling with concern. It felt like my heart melted –although it was an illusion- when I saw him worrying.

Yeah, what's the use of coming here and worrying like this! Let's focused on the present for now!

"No, it's not hard."

"Still..."

"It's really not hard. There wasn't anything worth worrying about, I think? Well... Of course, humans can't fly, so that's a little bit of a problem."

Once I tasted the sensation of flying, I couldn't let it go. Should I say it's addictive? Should I say it's a given? It felt similar to putting on clothes and shoes when going out.

"Do you like flying that much?"

"I can't even imagine not being able to fly anymore!"

Ha…, when I think about it that way, parrots that are kept at home don't enjoy this kind of pleasure.Usually, there are a lot of dangerous things, such as crashing into a window while flying, or going to the kitchen and getting hurt by a gas fire, so they clip the wings¹...

It was an unavoidable measure to live with humans, but I realized that it was a terrible thing to do.

Haa, I don’t think this is the first time that I feel relieved after becoming a crow.

Come on, this isn't the time to think about this! Look at the way he still looks at me anxiously!

"Uh, um. Anyway... Thanks for your concern, Karmeut."

Karmeut smiled softly in response. ...But the feeling of worry in his eyes didn't seem to go away easily.

"...if you’re tired, go back right away to your crow form. Okay?"

"Okay. ...Then, if I want, can I stay in my human form?"

"Of course, as much as you can. Would you like to test how long you can stay a human while you’re at it right now?"

"Um- okay! I was wondering how long I could change too!"

He laughed. Then he looked at me for a while as if not knowing what to do, and then he kissed my cheek again.

Heat rushed to my face at the touch of his lips which caused a ‘chu’ sound.

"Even if I do this, you won't return to the form of a crow?"

"Ka, Karmeut!"

"If you go back because you’re embarrassed, it would be a waste. Don’t you think so?"

As he said that, the man smirked. I trembled with emotions that I did not know whether it was embarrassment or angriness due to his actions.

"Karmeut, you’re so unfair!!"

"Well, I'm just trying to be a little unfair at times like this. You’re always running away, right?"

"Because it's embarrassing!!"

"You're going to test how long you can stay in human form right now, so you can't just change and run away, can you?"

"Really!! Woo!! Then cake! I want to eat a bunch of delicious cakes!!"

"Pfft, haha... Okay, okay, I'll give you as much as you want, but... won’t it disrupt your diet?"

"What is that!"

"Don't you want to eat something delicious for dinner? Not the kind of raw meat, fruits, and grains that you always eat."

Those words roused my ears.

Eh, that's right! When I’m in the form of a crow, my food is more limited than when I’m a human.

In that sense, the skewers that Namuel bought were a deviation(?)! It's grilled with salt, but a crow shouldn't eat salted food like that.

"...what’s delicious?"

"Anything? Is it okay if it’s what I used to eat when we were together?"

"Bread with meat? And salad, and... The red water, too?"

"Wine? ...I don't know, so let's try it at a later time after you get used to being human, okay?"

When Karmeut didn’t really allow me, I was barely able to contain my complaint.

Needless to say, there's nothing good about drinking alcohol for animals, but, khhh... that's a bit of a bummer...!!

If I were a monkey, I could eat naturally fermented fruits² and get drunk! Eh, no, I don't like it that way, because then I won't be able to fly! Very, very, very ignorant!

I was disappointed, but I wasn't strong enough to challenge myself. I didn't know what would happen. Therefore, I answered as I nodded my head,

"Okay. So the rest is fine?"

"Of course. Then, would you like to eat the cake first?"

"Yes!!"

Immediately afterward, Karmeut called the servant and gave the order to bring the cake. Then he took my hand.

"...?"

"We will have some time until the cake is done, so let’s stay like this."

"Uh… huh?!"

He pulled my hand and I fell into his arms.

I, I can't get used to something like this---!!

"Haah... As expected, it’s good."

"What, what?"

“Just, everything. After all, you are amazing.”

Karmeut mumbled the ‘you’re amazing’ part as he buried his face in my shoulder. My face burned and my heart began to beat violently due to the light touch of his breath and body temperature, but I couldn't move.

The last time he slept on my lap overlapped with what was happening now, and I couldn't move.

A small chuckle tickled my ears. His body got tightened with mine as I felt a little more strength in the arms hugging my waist.

"Ka, Karmeut..."

"A little bit more, okay?"

While muttering ‘a little bit more’, Karmeut snuggled his head slightly as he hugged me tighter.

And his breath touched the nape of my neck. The next moment, something soft and warm touched my neckline which shocked me.

"---!!"

I barely managed not to turn into a crow.

Aaaah! Mouth, lips! Lips on my neck!! Hold on, wait! Ca, calm down, let's calm down! I was the one who wondered how long I could be in human form! So...!!

"How are you, Rainelle?"

"Ka, Karmeut, you’re really...!!"

"I’m so happy, I'm sorry. I want you to stay like this a little longer."

"Hey, take your lips off...! Uu?!"

"Ah, can't you do it a little longer? I don't know when we'll be able to be like this again…"

The way he whined while tightening his arms and rubbing his head...

What are you doing?! You’re like a kid!

But that's a big gap, so it's more attractive… Crazy!

"Hey, it tickles...!"

“Then as long as it’s not ticklish?”

"Uh, that's..."

I hesitated and was unable to respond. Karmeut’s shoulders trembled and he laughed out loud. And then, by surprise, he pecked my lips.

"I'm telling you, Rainelle. If you’re like this, I can't just leave you alone."

"Go, leave me alone! Back off!"

"I don’t want to."

"Why?!"

"Well? Hmm, if you can guess the reason, I'll stop."

...this is a joke! You’re teasing me! You're obviously making fun of me!!

I rolled my eyes when I realized he was teasing me, but he just laughed. His face showed a happy smile that was enough to overshadow the more mature atmosphere he had ever since he became the Emperor.

Ah, this makes me feel weak again... Well, it's not that I hate it when Karmeut is like this...

I'm ashamed though! I am so ashamed! I'm shy enough to want to kick a blanket! I'm not used to it!

Amid my inability to answer, Karmeut became even bolder as his fingers slowly descend along my waistline. The touch was so light and subtle that it gave me goosebumps.

The golden eyes staring at me were dark. I felt like I was being eaten by that gaze and it gave me the chills.

But why? I didn't feel like running away. No, if it's Karmeut...

The idea that it was okay to be eaten came to mind and then disappeared. Was it because it was chilling, but not scary? I closed my eyes.

***

Notes:

1 Wing clipping is the process of trimming a bird's primary wing feathers so that it is not fully flight-capable.^↩

2 Naturally fermented fruits: Yes, it’s real. It can happen under certain conditions. It’s said that it’s not uncommon for fallen apples to ferment. ^↩