Of All Things, I Became a Crow

Translator (Ririi Rain) rambling: So I got the news yesterday that Yuzuru Hanyu is retiring from competitive figure skating... I'm sad at first. I love his performance in competitions. But everything has an end. Plus, I realized that this is just the beginning of his freedom anyway.

I want to tell you Dear Readers to keep doing what you love. You're the main character of your own story. It's fine to tumble, fall, and cry, but don't forget to get back up! Love you!

Sorry for the rambling, on with the next chapter!

*Karmeut’s POV

Karmeut’s heart felt very full, and he swept down Rainelle’s soft hair. Her dark hair, fluttering at his fingertips, was glistening under the light.

"Ka, Karmeut?"

"Did you do it for me?"

"...um, it must have been very difficult for Karmeut to prepare for the banquet... But I don't have anything, so..."

She mumbled with a small voice. Karmeut was afraid that Rainelle will run away in shame like the previous times, so he tightened his hold.

How cute. Her actions and behavior are so lovely.

His heart pounded lightly and he felt a fluttering sensation. She would have turned into a crow and run away before, but now Rainelle still maintained her human form.

Maybe something has changed in her mind?

The Emperor closed his eyes with a hopeful imagination. Feeling a familiar scent tickling the tip of his nose, he smiled.

"---Please excuse my rudeness, Your Majesty the Emperor."

But that happiness was short-lived. Rainelle flinched at the sudden call and turned into a crow immediately.

"...what's the matter?"

There must have been a reason for the servant to come to him, but he couldn't help feeling down.

…at least she did not run away even after transforming into a crow. She’s still in my arms.

The sharp golden eyes turned to the servant who spoke. The servant, who received that gaze, trembled and quickly lowered his head and said.

"Ma, Marquis Miel is asking for an audience with His Majesty the Emperor."

At those words, Karmeut's furrowed his eyebrows.

Of all things, an unwelcome individual was asking to meet now.

“Caw?”

Karmeut looked back at the crow who tilted her head while cawing. Feeling his eyes being burned with the gaze of wonder and curiosity, he sighed inwardly.

Regarding Marquis Miel, after the banquet, Karmeut was able to meet Myrdin separately and listen to his story in detail. Miel was an Elementalist who was amongst the most talented in history, an individual who had contracted high-level spirits, and even a person who made contracts with all four major elemental spirits.

Considering that the common thing was to contract only one element, the ability to make contracts to four elements was enormous. On top of that, the ones he contracted with were all high-level spirits. Even on that alone, Miel's worth was indescribable.

It would be a great loss when a person with such qualities only spent his time as a slave.

--- This is, of course, limited to his ability. He’s someone who should never be missed in terms of ability, but things changed very much when Rainelle is involved.

...he dares.

Karmeut understood the situation. He understood the desire of wanting to repay Rainelle for saving his life. When a slave tried to escape and failed, that person was more likely to die, albeit at the discretion of their owners.

...But Miel's eyes didn’t just show that. He certainly feels grateful and has the desire to repay the favor, but...

More than that, he was full of emotions that went against Karmeut’s heart. The emotion that Karmeut can feel as a man, and as someone who has a woman in his heart.

Karmeut was not so dull that he did not know the gaze of a man who saw Rainelle as a romantic interest.

Karmeut thought to himself: And, I’m not stupid and incompetent enough to have my partner stolen by another guy.

Thinking of Rainelle and of the time, I can’t kick him away right now. ...However, considering that he’s a competent Elementalist, it is the right thing to meet him now.

His worries were brief. As an Emperor, it was impossible to keep away a competent individual due to personal feelings.

"I'm sorry, Rainelle. I guess I'll have to go."

Blinking her purple eyes at those words, Rainelle looked at the Emperor. Then, she cawed once and sat down on Karmeut's shoulder.

Karmeut let out a long sigh inwardly at her action that seemed to make her say: “I’ll go too!”

---I want Rainelle to stay here...

It was unthinkable for him not to listen to what Rainelle wanted.

"Okay. Let's go together."

Seeing Rainelle swishing her tail while cawing, he suddenly became anxious.

...I wonder if Rainelle is interested in Marquis Miel? If she does, does she see him as the opposite sex? Or is it just because she’s the one who saved him?

Anxiety gripped Karmeut’s chest. He reflexively raised his hand and stroked her wing, then he felt her smooth beak rubbing against his cheek.

The small contact calmed his tumultuous heart. Then he smiled at Rainelle’s presence which calmed him to an absurd level.

Stupid. Why am I anxious?

Rainelle was by his side, not anyone else. She could fly away at any time, but she didn't and she stayed by his side. She cared for him, hovered around him, and sometimes bravely rushed in to protect him.

The reason why I’m anxious and see her as lovely is because she is Rainelle.

Thinking up to that point, Karmeut smirked.

…I can't believe that just because it's Rainelle, it makes me think like this. Is it true that loving someone makes one mad, after all?

However, feeling that his willingness to welcome the madness was more of a problem, he patted the crow's back. He could feel the silky feathers under the palm of his hand.

It’s okay.

It's okay even if Miel wants Rainelle’s attention and love as the opposite sex.

Because Karmeut had no intention of letting him take her away from him with his eyes open.

Wolves persistently pursue their predetermined prey. It runs for hours, hours, and hours and will eventually catch it.

And if the goal is its companion, it can't miss it even if its heart explodes while running. Competitor? The one has to pay the price for coveting my mate and I will bite the nape of his neck.

First of all, my lovely mate is by my side. Not by Miel's side.

Just recalling that fact gave him a sense of relief, and the Emperor began to move to meet the Elementalist.

"Greetings to you, Your Majesty."

Seeing Miel greeting him politely, Karmeut nodded her head and sat down.

"What's the matter, Marquis Miel?"

Miel hesitated for a moment. The golden eyes narrowed when Karmeut realized that Miel’s gaze was fixed on the crow sitting on his shoulder.

"Are you here to see Rainelle?"

"---No. I'm here to meet Your Majesty the Emperor."

Miel, who answered after a short pause, knelt down on one knee.

"Thank you for giving me the honor beyond the means of a slave. I, Miel, pledge my allegiance to Your Majesty."

...it isn't that I didn't know that it’s a means to get out of the current situation. However, it’s not bad to get the allegiance of a man with outstanding abilities. No, it is good.

"Don't think of it as excessive. Your abilities are too great to be ignored in the name of slavery."

"...Is that so?"

“Even if you look through history, you’re excellent enough that there are only a few at your level.”

Even with those words, Miel's expression was indistinct. Karmeut then said while smirking,

"You don't seem to understand very well."

"...to be honest, yes."

"The existence of Elementalist itself is rare. However, if you continue to interact with the Imperial Elementalist in the future, you will be able to see how valuable your abilities are."

The Emperor stroked his chin with one hand while saying that.

"So, you shouldn't underestimate your own worth. Of course, you shouldn't be overconfident either. Everyone has things they should and shouldn't do."

His golden eyes while he uttered those words were gleaming strangely. Miel swallowed his saliva at the delicate atmosphere.

"---Even if it's Your Majesty the Emperor...?"

“Even more so if you are a leader of a country.”

Even to the question that could be considered rude, Karmeut answered with a leisurely smile. Seeing this, Miel bit his lip.

He seemed to be so relaxed. Also, he appeared to be really cool. The handsome Emperor might attract others just by looking like this.

After being silent for a moment, Miel lowered his head and said,

"I have prepared a gift for Your Majesty."

"...a gift?"

The Emperor's eyes lit up. Then, the servant who was waiting by the side presented Miel's gift to Karmeut.

"Oh, this is..."

What was contained in the luxurious box was a strange stone. It was not processed to be a jewel, but it was too shiny to be called a stone.

As if the water itself had been condensed, the stone emitted blue light that swayed even with the slightest movement.

Karmeut turned his attention to Miel, who was looking at the stone which was sprinkled with colors ranging from deep indigo to pale sky blue.

“Is it a spirit stone?”

"---! Yes, that's right."

Karmeut smiled at the words.

Spirit stone.

The stones, which were condensed from the power of the spirits, were more valuable than most jewels. There were infinite ways to use the spirit stone, which was created when the power of the spirits was concentrated in one place.

"Looking at the color, it looks like the spirit stone is made from the power of the water spirit..."

"Yes, it requires a lot of mana to use, but the power contained in the spirit stone itself is said to be between intermediate and high-level spirits."

That was huge. The greatest value of the spirit stone was that it made the use of the power associated with it to be possible even without making a contract with a spirit.

Moreover, since it was a spirit stone that contained the power of the water spirit, it can not only control the water itself, but also can heal, so having it was like having an extra life.

A flapping sound was heard. Whether it was because the spirit stone was strange or because it was pretty, Rainelle sat down next to the box. Her purple eyes were sparkling.

"Isn’t it pretty, Rainelle?"

“Caw!”

The crow made a loud cry and inflated her feathers. Maybe wanting to pick it up with her beak, she opened and closed her beak repeatedly, but she did not touch the spirit stone.

She jumped all around Karmeut’s lap to look at it from all angles.

Seeing such a scene, Miel carefully opened his mouth,

"...I... I also have a gift for Rainelle-nim."

Karmeut flinched, while Rainelle tilted her head.

"A gift? What is it?"

Miel’s pink eyes fluttered as Rainelle asked that question after transforming into a human. But that was only for a moment. After regaining his composure, Miel politely bowed his head and opened his mouth,

"I don't know if you'll like it, but..."

The servant approached Rainelle and offered a small box. Her eyes widened slightly as she opened the box. She then blinked.

"...jewels?"

"--You don’t like it?"

Contrary to his expectations, Rainelle didn’t seem to react much, so the corners of Miel's eyes drooped slightly.

Rainelle then answered while gently shaking her head,

"No, no. Thank you."

She said thank you, but she didn't seem happy. Seeing the response that was different from what he had heard from his spirit, Miel's shoulders sag slightly.

"...Then please excuse me."

"Yes, you can go."

Karmeut nodded his head in approval. As Miel went out politely, a smile appeared on Karmeut’s lips.

"You don't like the gift from Marquis Miel?"

At that, Rainelle suddenly raised her head. Then she replied with a sheepish smile,

"Uh, um... It’s not that I don't like it, but..."

"But?"

"…I already have a lot of jewels to play with.

I can't even eat jewels, so I don't need much."

The Emperor burst into laughter at Rainelle’s answer. She frowned as if embarrassed when he laughed.

"Did you?"

"Yeah. That's why I didn't say that I wanted more jewels. They are shiny, but what Karmeut has given is already enough. There are so many jewels that you have given me, aren’t there?"

As Rainelle tilted her head while saying that, Karmeut laughed again, then he nodded his head.

"I got it as a gift, so I should keep it, right?"

"You should, Rainelle. Because there are also the feelings of the person who gave it to you."

"Yeah," said Rainelle while nodding her head. She then handed the jewel box to Karmeut and returned to the form of a crow.

As she let out a caw, she sat down on the Emperor's shoulder who then stroked her feathers and smiled at her action.

"Would you like to go get some snacks?"

"Caaw!!"

The Emperor got up from his seat, chuckling at the crow's behavior of flapping her wings in excitement.

Time passed due to Miel's interruption, but there’s still a lot of free time.

***