'Heuk-' My breathing was heavy. I blinked my eyes as I took a deep breath to calm my rapid breathing.

“Uh, so……”

I'm sure… that I went to the zoo in the morning and cleaned the cages. I was temporarily in charge of the tigers because sunbae (senior) was on break. I was happy about it since I really like them.

After that, I felt something struck my throat then my vision blurred.

Reflexively, I raised my hand to stroke my neck, but I halted. *Flap*, it wasn’t my arm that goes up---

"Caww?!!! (What’s this?!)"

Feathers?! No, it's wings!! Why did my arms become wings?! No way, did my brain move into a bird's head?! That's not it!! There can't be a bird with that head size!! What is this?!! Reincarnation? Possession?! That kind of thing is... There's no way something ridiculous like that could happen to me!

My eyes were spinning in confusion. Then, I realized... that I'm not inside the tiger’s cage anymore.

I’m inside a forest full of green.

I calmed my mind that was about to explode and checked out my body. There were black feathers with purple and green lusters depending on the angle on my arms, or wings.

My body was also covered with feathers of the same color.

Furthermore, my legs were as thin as branches and had three front toes. There was one new and distinctive hind toe.

The tail feathers of a suitable length on my backside also had the same black color.

"--- Caw? (Ah-----)"

I was going to make a sound, but the "sound" that came out was "Caw".

Am I a crow?!! I don't know if it's possession or reincarnation, but I'm not a human, I became a crow?!

No, nnooo!

Talking about reincarnation or possession, won't you usually come into a novel or stumble into a game and became a beautiful woman? I was thinking that it would be something like that!!

But why?! Why?! Why did I become a bird?!! On top of that, I’m a crow! The animal that competes with black cat for the number one place of the most unlucky animal!!

What is this?! I’m a bird?!! Doctor!!!

***

The place I was in is a forest. Specifically, I'm on a branch. Earlier, I was so distracted that I didn't look properly, but there were so many thick and large trees that I wondered if they really existed in Korea.

The biggest problem is about my (crow’s) food. I can eat nuts and fruits, but as for bugs, corpses, and half-rotting animal carcasses---.

--Fxck. If I see the god who made me like this in front of me, I want to punch him.

No, I don't have hands, so I'll peck his eyes with my beak!

I realized about something as I imagined pecking the god all over.

--I can fly...right?

No, I used to be a human with no wings at all. Can I fly? But what if I fall?

I bowed my head and looked down below the tree I’m currently on.

Hi- High! It’s so high!! If I fall, my bones will break!

Birds are frail because their bones are fragile!

I stomped my feet multiple times while having that thought, but… something was a bit strange. Huh? What’s going on?

I thought it was an illusion, so I looked down at the ground again. Below me-- huh? That’s weird. I'm supposed to have acrophobia. Why am I okay with this?

Strangely, I wasn't scared of this high place. My heart is pounding, but it wasn't like before where I was sweating profusely and lost my legs strength.

Is it because I became a crow? Well, it would be funny if a flying bird has a phobia of height.

Arms - No, I spread my wings. my feathers swayed by gentle breeze blowing through the branches, it felt like my body would float. Whoa, whoa...

I was almost blown away. No, wait. Don't I have to fly?

Whether I am looking for food, figuring out where I am, or looking for people, I have to figure out how to fly first. The wind seems to be blowing just right. But it was scary to fly right away. I looked around. Ah, there's a tree branch nearby! Oh yeah!

Baby birds practice by flying from branch to branch when they just leave the nest, right? OK, I'll try that.

I swallowed my saliva when I saw that one branch below the branch where I was at. Okay, it'll be fine! C’mon me! If you really think you're going to fall, your arms--no, if you flap your wings rapidly, you won't fall!

I put strength on my legs and jumped towards that branch. I was afraid to fall, so I flap my wings really hard.

"Caww! Caw! Caw! Kkak! (Come on, fly! Go to that branch!)"

I flapped my wings and moved my legs in the air. Perhaps it was worthwhile to move so desperately, because I could barely set my foot on the branch.

Haaaaaa! I'm alive!

I sat on the branch to caught my breath.

Is- isn't this pretty good? I thought it would be a problem, but I think it'll be okay if I practice a little bit--?

Once again, I spread my wings and flap them lightly. With that simple act alone, my body felt like it was floating, and my heart was racing.

Let’s- let’s do it again!

My heart felt like it was being squeezed while chills spread faintly all over my body.

But what's greater was that whenever I move my wings, my body floats as I set my mind to it.

The wind that brushed my cheeks and tickled my feathers was refreshing. The air that gathered under my wings and supported me was also refreshing.

Wow- Did all the flying birds live like this? It's so free!

Still, I think I learned it quickly because my body is that of a crow's.

I'm definitely not a genius, and this is also not a hundred million won worth body.

Well, I'm lucky. It's much better than being stuck here and starved to death or being eaten. *Rumble-

Ugh, I'm hungry. Come to think of it, I overslept this morning and couldn't grab a bite.

I looked around and saw nothing but green.

It would be nice if there are fruits. But I'm not the main character, and there's no way that rice cakes will appear in front of my eyes when I need them, right? If I'm the main character, I wouldn't even become a crow!

Let's see---. Obviously, crows were omnivores, aren't they? Whew, that's a relief.

If I am a bird that only eats bugs, I would have seriously thought about whether I should die and start a third life. How can I put a gross wriggling thing in my mouth? No, in my beak!

I touched my hungry stomach while making a firm resolution not to eat bugs even if I saw them.

There is still hope, though.

I still don't know what kind of world this is, right? If it has a cultivation background, there's a way to train for tens or hundreds of years to become a mystical creature. The fact that it takes decades is a ditch, but since there's a possibility... Hah-- why am I crying?

*Rumble-

Even in this situation, my stomach’s rumbling was not much different from when I was a human. I was somewhat annoyed.

Phew, let's find something to eat first. I’m hungry…

What should I do?

I flew through the forest while muttering to myself. I looked around carefully, listened to the sound of birds chirping in my ears. There’s also the rustling of leaves and something that moved in the bushes.

Maybe it was not the season of fruits. The leaves were abundant, but nothing that looked delicious could be seen. Of course, there will be no seeds.

Then,

- Do I have to eat bugs? Do I have to eat worms?! Oh no! I hate that!! Um, let's find water! I'll catch fish too! I like sashimi, so I'll just close my eyes and eat it!

Not bugs, absolutely!

I sat on a nearby branch and rested for a while, vowing not to eat them.

To be frank, the safest way is to find a flock of crows, but I didn't choose this because I remembered that the crows formed flocks only during the mating season. They’re smart, but it's hard to find a flock which was really outside of the mating season. Being in a flock, there’s also the possibility of being chased, beaten, or killed.

--Give up, I give up. I'd prefer a human. If possible, a male protagonist of any novel or other story. No, I don't care whether it's male or female!

For now, I need to find humans and act as cute as I can to gain their favor, because if I don't, I’ll either be stoned to death, shot down with an arrow, beheaded, or killed because I, a bird that symbolized unluckiness, came close to them.

Why am I in a ditch this early? I take over a body, but why is there no buff? How is that possible?

A sigh came out naturally as I imagined the future, which looked as black as my black feathers. N-no, no!! Calm down! I don't know anything yet!

All I've done so far is that I became a crow, panicked, practiced, and flew around for a bit to look for food! Where is it though? I still don't know. Let's have hope! I can still hold onto the strings of hope that this is a cultivation world!! Don't throw away the possibility that I can be a mystical creature!

For now, I have to find water...

The rustling sound got louder. Huh? Is something there?

I put strength on my arms, or wings, so that I could fly away. I also looked down.

After becoming a crow, thanks to my improved eyesight, I could see the rustling bushes from afar. What is it? What's there?

My heart was pounding, I slowly approached it with caution.

Is it a man? Um, a noble or royalty who went hunting as a hobby in the forest? Although a bit cliché, maybe it’s a member of a hero party? No, if it's a cultivation world, it could be a qi (life energy) master---!

Whatever it is, I just wanted a person to be there. I looked at the rustling bushes with that desperate wish.

O-hoh. Something came out from the bushes!

'Fxck, dreams or hopes doesn't exist in this world.'

I feel betrayed when pig heads pop out from the bushes. Those pig heads with bulging flesh came out while holding crude-looking weapons.

Hey-- hey! What do I do when the things that come out are mountain orcs from a fantasy?! You pigs really don't know how to read the mood!

A handsome guy should be the one who appeared from there! Aaahh! Fxck! This life is ruined!

I feel hopeless about my life, then I stole a glance at the orcs. Really, they're not lying about orcs being dirty and snorts. Originally, pigs are neat animals that are choosy about bathroom, but why are these orcs with pig head so messy?

The sight of the orcs that looked like flies were flying around made me nauseous.

Good grief. Let's not get close- No, wait, think about it.

If the orcs are here, it means the village where the orcs live is nearby, right? When there's a village, it should be easy to get food and water. If nothing else, the water should be nearby!

Ooh, I heard that people gain strength that they didn't have in crisis situations. My head's gears are spinning!

I slowly followed the orcs, praising my brain for its nice thought in this situation.

I don't know if it's because they don't know that I'm following them by flying between branches or if they don't care about crows, but I can hear the orcs' conversation.

"Chiek! We need to find him quickly. Chiek!"

"How dare he kill our comrade, chiek! Let's catch that human and eat soft meat, chiekkk!"

"Since there's only one left, how about the one who catches it gets to eat all of him? Chiek!"

"That's good, chiek! It's such a waste to share when it's just one person!"

Listening to their conversation, I learned two things, one was that, surprisingly, I could understand their words.

Wow, I thought there was no buff, but you made me understand their words? You have at least some conscience!

I don't know if it's God or the will of the world, but I suppose that he has a minimum conscience. Yeah, literally just the bare minimum. Damn it!

Oh, and one more. These orcs are chasing after someone. A person with the skills powerful enough to kill orcs.

But honestly speaking, I don't expect that much.

‘It's probably a mercenary or something like that.’

Just after I became a crow, I had high hopes, and ended up being shattered. You thought I'd look forward to it? I'm not making expectation - I'm not - I'm only going to check out this person.

I'll expect this person to be a mercenary or hunter – please let me meet a human this time. Come, hunter, come out, mercenary-

I prayed in my heart and flew after the orcs. But I chased away that wish.

No, what if I really meet a mercenary or hunter this time? Guess I'll look for this person! Little ****..., if it's like last time, I'll let you know that if a crow is angry, it'll be XXX!

As the orcs march forward, I started searching from up high.

Orcs need to explore on feet for the search, but I'm a crow! I can fly, so I can find that person from above!

I smiled in my heart and looked around eagerly. It hasn't been long since I was able to fly, but it felt so good to be able to fly freely as if I was walking.

Hmhmhm~ Where are you? Where? Please come out!

"Caww! (Found him!)"

Rainelle’s POV

There's a brilliant gold color in the green-filled forest! Wow! It's shining! Oh my god! It's not just gold! I can even see the reflected light of metal under the sunlight! It must be a human!

I struggled to calm down the pounding of anticipation in my chest. If my expectation is not met, my mentality will collapse!

Instead of approaching right away, I sat on a tree a little far away and looked at the place where that person was.

Where are you?

Oh! First of all, he's handsome! He looks sharp! Uh, um, how should I describe this? Oh, right! He has a natural look of looking down on others! His clothes look quite expensive too, and the sword on his waist is shiny!

I didn't take my eyes off the man.

Was it because he was being chased? The man was breathing heavily, but his hiding was superb. I could see that the man was on a tree branch, but the orcs can't see him from their angle.

Isn't that amazing? I thought that he would be easy to spot with that hair color.

But the orcs were moving exactly to where the man was.

No matter how well the man hid, if he moves, the leaves will shake and he would most likely be caught. Looking at how he was gasping for breath right now, it would be too much for him to deal with five orcs.

This! I think I can build a good image with this opportunity! Good, good. Then I must chase the orcs away!

Karmeut’s POV

"Damn it---", the man held his breath while pressing one hand on his side.

The sticky and rusty smelled liquid that he felt on his palm was telling him that the wound was not deep, but it wasn't shallow either.

But there wasn't even the slightest bit of room for him to worry about it. He thought that if he was focused on treating his wounds while the orcs are approaching, he will only make the sacrifices of his knights in vain.

"--- Is it Luwellin? No, he's the only guy who can do something like this."

Other than a blunder, there was no way to explain this situation.

As the first prince, he hadn't been able to manifest the power from his bloodline, but he had to manifest it in order not to lose his right to succession.

Even if his power didn't manifest, in order to show that he wasn't inferior to the other members of the imperial family who had manifested their power, the man had to grit his teeth and overcome the perilous situation as if walking on a knife.

That's why he didn't refuse Count Falun's subtle invitation to hunt, relieve fatigue, and enjoy entertainment.

If it had been suggested by another nobleman, he would have refused, but the Count had so much power as he owned Falun Territory, which had abundant granaries and extend until the end of the Equirin Mountains which produce high-quality iron ore.

How could he refuse the opportunity to build friendships with the nobleman, who he wanted to be at his side?

"What a fool. I can't believe I messed up because I was in a hurry."

Even if the other imperial family members visit the Count, they would not point out that they were trying to get him on their side like himself. He didn't know that the Count would have sided with Luwellin.

No, It was just a guess, but it was a high possibility. Count Falun seemed reluctant to talk to Luwellin. It wasn’t that the Count didn't get closer out of fear that it would backfire- but rather, that was all just an act. He didn't expect that it would be a ploy to pull him into a trap.

The more he thought about it, the more he got angry at himself for falling for such a thing. He was grinding his teeth.

It's too late for regret. He didn't bring a lot of knights because he was just going on a hunt.

In the end, they sacrificed their lives to protect him.

In order not to waste their sacrifice, he must return alive.

"Caaw-"

His head turned to the low, heavy, and annoying cry. Glossy black feathers between the branches of the trees caught his eye.

It was a bird that eat corpses. A bird that he always saw in battlefields and cemeteries. A bird that symbolizes death. It was staring at him.

Does it want to eat me after I die? Eating my flesh after I'm killed by the orcs?

He glared at the crow, which seemed to laugh at his desire to return alive.

He didn't try so hard just to die like this. It would mean that the knights who had pledged their loyalty to him and were killed by the orcs had thrown their lives in vain!

If it wasn't for his injuries, and the fact that he was being pursued by orcs, he would have chased it away immediately.

But, what he can do. He just held his breath as much as possible and waited for the orcs to pass by, looking for an opportunity to get away from this place.

The crow opened and closed its beak. It had been staring at the man for a while. Suddenly, it tilted its head, spread its wings, and began to cry.

"Caaaw- caaw-caaw-".

The man seriously agonized.

Should I throw a stone to kill the crow? If the crow continues to cry like this, my location will be revealed. If I don't take care of it before then-----!

However, things started to turn in a completely different direction than the man had expected. The crow, which started to cry, spread its wings and took off. It flew towards the orcs.

"Chiek-chieek?!"

"Chiek! Chiek! It's a crow. Chiek!"

"It's flying to that side, chiek!

"I think it found something shiny. Chieek! It may have seen the human's sword, chiek!

"Or maybe it saw a human's corpse. Chieek! He's wounded, so he might be dead now. Chiek!"

The Orcs knew that crows like shiny things and eat corpses, so they started running, following after the flying and squealing crow.

The man, who had been watching the events from his hiding place, couldn't hide away his embarrassment and looked blankly to where the orcs and the crow were headed. Obviously, the crow was tilting its head while looking at him. But why?

He felt like his head was in a mess, but one thing was clear. Now is the golden opportunity for him to get away from this place.

The man had a chance, and he was not foolish enough to spend it in vain.

"Ugh..."

Clutching his side, which was still bleeding little by little, the man swallowed a groan and got up from his sitting position. First, he had to stop the bleeding. When he smelled of blood, he couldn't ignore the possibility of being attacked not only by monsters, but also sensitive beasts.

The man muttered that he shouldn't die, then he began to walk with slightly staggering steps.

'I can't die like this'.

That thought which was close to being an obsession was what drove the man to move forward.

Rainelle’s POV

If the Orcs didn't follow me, I made up my mind to try taunting them by attacking an orc at the face, provoking them to chase me, but as soon as they saw me, they went ‘drap-drap-drap-‘. Honestly, I'm very surprised by their behavior that simply followed me. But I achieved my goal!

'The orcs have left!'

If this was a game, such a system phrase would have popped up. I flapped my wings hard.

Ah, I'm more noticeable in the forest because I'm black! I have to hurry up and lost these orcs to get back to him!

I flew over a cliff so that they could not follow me, then I heard flustered sounds from below. What should I say? It was so funny that I hold back my laughter while I was giggling inside. If I laugh now, the orcs will try to chase me again.

To avoid that, I flew until a far enough distance first, then I went back to the place where I saw that man. I'm a little worried that I won't be able to find him.

Work, crow instinct! Animals have better instincts than humans!

He's the precious first person that I met since I became a crow! And he's handsome! That's why I have to find him!

I flew hard to the place where I saw the man earlier.

Mmm- Mmm- I'm sure that I have seen him before.

Of course I didn't see him in person. I don't know if it was a novel or a game, but I think I also have seen that kind of setting before------It's reasonable if I think about it. The situation of being chased by monsters itself is so rotten that it's cliche.

Ummmngh, I don't have enough information to name it!

If I want to know where I am, I need to stick to that guy.

Feeling that the sense of purpose of finding the man became stronger, I flap my wings more vigorously. It took a little bit of time to reach that place where I saw the man as I flew farther than I had expected to outrun the orcs.

How did I know? There was blood on the floor. Ooh, praise the crow's instinct.

'Did I really fly in the right tract?!', 'I'll just go to this direction'.

I flew here with such a vague feeling!

By the way, that man must have been injured pretty badly. Since he was clutching his side, I guessed that he'd been hurt, but this much blood---, I don't think the wound is shallow?

There was a blood trail, so it would not be difficult to follow.

But! I can't just simply chase after him! Medicinal herb! A plant that can stop bleeding when you’re hurt! I'm going to find it and bring it to him! Then he'll be less wary, right? I also got rid of those orcs!!

I looked around. There were plants that looked like weeds, and there were also plants that I had never seen before.

But, strangely enough, I was able to figure out what some of those plants were used for. If you ask me how, I don't know either. They all look the same, how do you tell them apart?

In that sense, aren't the ladies who collected herbs are amazing? I couldn't differentiate them no matter how I looked at them.

I don't know if it's an instinct, I just have a strong feeling that the plants will have particular effects.

Umm-There are grass that cure stomachache and bushes with delicious fruits, but aren't there plants that can stop bleeding?

It's just a hunch, though.

I was contemplating whether to prioritize finding the man or finding the medicinal herb. I decided to find the man first. Who knows, maybe I'll find the herbs on the way.

Trying to ignore the fact that I didn't have any buffs, I flew by following the blood trail. Then, after a while, I found a small valley.

Oh, what's this? Are you sending it to me because you feel sorry for giving me a crow's body? Water! It's water!!

I was so excited that I forgot about the man for a moment.

If there's water, there'll be fish, right? I'm excited! I'm thirsty, so I'm going to drink some water!!

I was excited to find water, but I didn't immediately land right by the water. No matter how neutral the waterside was, it's not bad to be careful.

Because water is an essential element for animals to live, the waterside was like a neutral zone.

You know, it came out in documentaries. Although they drink water from a distance from each other, the herbivorous zebra and the carnivorous lion drink water together.

Sure, in the savannah where the water is scarce, you could get attacked by a crocodile while drinking water and ride the train to another world at once...

No, let's just be careful, I don't want to be a carnivore's food. Lycaon¹ eat their prey's guts when they're still alive! I don't want to go like that!

Wuwuwu(crying)!!

Even if this is a fantasy world, I mean, this is a fantasy world, so I looked around thinking that I might suddenly get jumped and caught by an animal.

All right, good. Nothing looks dangerous yet. Mm. Then, I can land and drink the water, right?

Landing by the water, I submerged my beak in the flowing water.

Ah, uh----!! I can't suck it in like a human! Ugh, It's really hard to drink!

I had no choice but to lay down my beak, put water in it, raise my head, and then swallow the water.

Sigh, drinking is so difficult.---Huh?

I suddenly felt an urge to fly up. How should I say it? I'll be anxious If I don't move right away! Should I say that there's a chill running down my spine?

Anyway, without ignoring my senses, I flew and looked down.

Oh! Gold color! Sparkling!! The man, I found him!

It's the person I saw earlier.

So he is here. Is this person trying to drink water? By the way, he really stands out with his golden hair. It's a really pretty color.

I sat on a nearby branch and cried a little out of joy.

His eyes, which were golden like his hair, were gazing at me for a while, then he turned his eyes away.

I was a little hurt by his look of vigilance and unwelcome attitude.

For you, I was chased by the orcs!! Hah, don't you know that I'm the crow who drove the orcs away?

Animals of the same species all look similar unless you look closely. Possibility is limitless, you know!

Hmmm, but no matter how I look at him, I think I've seen him somewhere. Did I see him on the cover of a novel? Or was it while I was playing a female-oriented game?

Ugh, It's hard to remember! C'mon my brain, get into gear! Work, brain cells! Neurons! I need to remember to know where I am!!

Ah yeah, he's wounded. Are you still bleeding? Hmm, so finding herbs is the priority, right?

First, I need to raise the level of my favorability!

Right now, it doesn't matter who that person is. The important thing is that he's the first human I met here! I'm just saying that I met him in the forest!

Someone who will take me to where humans live!

I'm going to become a cute pet! That way, I won't have to eat bugs!

Just the expectation that I didn't have to eat bugs made him very, very important to me. So, in order to search for medicinal herbs, I spread my wings and flew away.

Let's find the herb that can stop bleeding. I'll also add delicious fruits as a bonus! Yes, food is the best!

***

Notes:

Lycaon/African wild dog: a hypercarnivore, which means its diet consists of over 70 percent meat. Packs prefer to hunt antelope, but will also take wildebeest, warthogs, rodents, and birds↩

Karmeut’s POV

The man, who was looking at the crow that flew away, let out a long sigh. It was nice to moisten his throat and wash his now bandaged wound in the valley, but that was it.

Blood was still seeping out of his wound little by little, and his exhausted body was demanding rest. Sitting on a nearby flat rock, the man thought of that crow.

He didn't know if it was the same crow that led the orcs away or if it was a different one, but he could confirm one thing.

It was a simple coincidence, but it was a fact that his life was saved thanks to that crow.

If that crow hadn't flown over the orcs while cawing, he would have had to deal with the orcs with a wounded and exhausted body from being chased by them.

There's a high probability of dying, and he would have been eaten.

'After a little rest, I'll have to find a safe place.'

This wasn’t a very safe place. The flowing water erased the smell of blood and body odor of the man, but the place where water flows was where many wild animals and monsters stop by.

In addition, humid places wasn't good for an injured body. It constantly lowered body temperature.

Considering that it can worsen his wound, he chose to only stay for recovering his stamina, then he would leave.

The man, who had rested enough, tried to get up from his seat. He had managed to replenish his stamina. As he was about to search for a safe place, something fell over his head.

"Grass? No, this is- this isn't mere grass-", the man could quickly realize that it was a herb.

It was also a common herb used by healers to stop bleeding. It was not difficult for the man to recognize it because he who learned swordsmanship had also learned a little bit about herbal medicine, because he might need it at any time.

But who? The man looked up.

"Caw-"

It was a crow. Under the feet of the large black bird which was sitting on a nearby branch, there were a few more herbs just like the one that fell on the man's head.

The crow tilted its head, perhaps feeling the gaze of the man.

The crow, which opened and closed its beak with a low and small cry, grabbed the herbs and flew.

Looking at the medicinal herbs that fell exactly in front of him, the man remained silent.

As if proud, the crow pushed out its chest and made a caw sound that seemed very happy.

However, the man could not be fully pleased. It was because he had never heard of crows, no, birds, that are so smart that they did favors for no reason.

'Is it someone’s familiar? A hybrid? Or a polymorph dragon?'

The man's suspicions were natural because with his common sense, there was no other way to explain it.

However, the possibility of this crow being someone’s familiar, a hybrid, and a dragon were all unlikely.

Those races weren’t fond of humans, and the ones who support him doesn’t have a familiar. But why is that crow-----?

In any case, the crow was looking down at the man with sparkling eyes.

From that gaze, the man somehow seemed to hear a voice asking, 'I did a good job, right?'

The man rinsed the herbs in running water, put them in his mouth, and chewed. A bitter taste spread through his mouth, but he chewed the herbs without frowning, then he unwrapped his bandage and covered his wound with the mashed herb.

He frowned at the burning sensation and put the bandage back on. This will surely stop the bleeding.

When something fell near his feet, the man looked up. The crow was there, tilting its head while cawing. He looked down to see what fell down.

When he looked, this time it was a small black fruit.

'What is this?'

He had never eaten such a fruit. Seeing the man who picked it up but did not eat it, the crow tilted its head.

With a swish, the crow flew away.

Seeing the crow flying somewhere, the man felt strange. He looked at the small fruit on his palm.

It was obviously a bird that ate dead bodies and symbolized misfortune and death, but for the man, it was a lucky bird.

A low cawing can be heard. When he turned his head, there was the crow. With its beak, it was holding the same fruit as the one in the man's hand

The crow, which flapped its wings while raising its head as if it was looking at him, swallowed the fruit.

The man blinked absentmindedly at the crow's behavior of eating the fruit which was like a mother who told her chick that it was safe.

With an absurd thought that the bird might understand his situation, he pushed the small and black fruit into his mouth.

The fruit was sweet. It was to the point where he can forget his current situation for a moment.

Rainelle’s POV

I watched very happily as he was eating the fruit that I brought.

Yep, that's delicious! I was lucky to find it! I was looking for herbs, I didn't expect to find them! When I saw the fruits, I immediately thought, 'This is delicious.'

The fruit is small, but there are a lot more, so I'll tell you where it is-

I called the man with a caw.

After confirming that the man's eyes are on me, I spread my wings, circled over the man's head, and flew towards where the fruits were.

"Caaw, caaw, caw! (There are delicious fruits, so follow me!)"

I flew back to hover above the man's head who was not moving.

"---Follow you, right?"

Oh, his voice is amazing! It's in a low pitch. Yep, that's right, follow me! I'll tell you where the fruits are, so look at me positively! Please take me with you!

When the man took a step, I was so excited and flew to the place where the fruits were. Rather than immediately flying away, I sat on a branch once in a while so that the man can keep up with me. I flew repeatedly.

It wasn't that far away, so I could get to the bushes which were full of fruits in no time.

I don't know if he was suspicious or worried about when a beast or monster would come out, but the man looked frustrated.

I know it's suspicious, but please understand how I feel!

For the man, I openly picked some berries in the bushes and ate them. If I hadn't find them when I was looking for herbs earlier, I'd be in trouble now.

After eating fruits, I went up on a branch and sat down. Then, the man slowly approached and carefully picked and ate the fruit while looking around.

I'm going to watch over you because you worry me so much! You never know when wild animals will appear and eat you after all.

Come to think of it, it wasn't just this man who should be worried.

There are birds of prey, cats, and beasts! Monsters are usually described as being less agile than animals, but I don't know the situations here, right?!

Why am I so relaxed?!

I bowed my head and looked at the man.

-Yes. To be honest, I couldn't help but be relaxed when I saw a man with this degree of handsomeness.

Haah- It's like I'm healed by just looking at his appearance. I think he's at least a supporting character.

Who could he be?

I felt like I remembered something, yet, I couldn't remember, so I was annoyed.

If I knew this would happen, I would've written games story and novels!! Something like that and something like this!

It’s common when the person is just playing otome game right before, in the middle of reading a novel, or a novelist that haven't finished writing! Why am I neither one of them!

I let out a deep sigh as I was feeling that I was in a ditch again. But then, something caught my eyes.

"Caaaaw! Caaw! Caaaaw! (It's a leopard! Emergency! Emergency! Aah, now's not the time!)"

My body trembled involuntarily.

The instinct of the bird told me to run away, but the memory of being bitten by a tiger rushed to my mind. I felt like I was going to cry as I remembered the feeling of suffocation, the sharp fangs that pierced my throat, and the gushing out blood.

"Caaaaw! Caaw! Caw caaw! (Run away! Don't die! The feeling of being bitten to death is terrible! You're the first person I met here, so don't die!)"

As I continued to scream in distress, the man's aura changed all at once.

He grabbed the handle of the sword on his waist and was wary of the surroundings and really, something incredible happened in front of my eyes.

Perhaps feeling that its sneaky approach had failed, the leopard jumped at the man.

The leopard, which swooped down at the man's injured side with its fangs exposed and without even roaring, was terrifying. It was a scene that made me understand why the leopard was compared to an assassin.

However, unlike me, the man was calm. The moment I thought that his golden eyes were flashing, blood splashed everywhere.

Huh?

What? What did I see? I'm sure that this guy hadn't drawn his sword.

When did he pull it out? What's with the blood on his sword? Huh?

With a gurgling sound, the leopard collapsed. It was bleeding on its neck.

The image of a man who killed a leopard without losing his breath or sweating was so unrealistic that my mind became blank.

Are- aren't you too strong?

But why are you injured? Why are you being chased by orcs alone? Looking at your luxurious clothes, you seem to have a high status. So, why?

My eyes were spinning in confusion. Either way, the man who shook off the blood from his sword by swinging it once turned his head towards me.

Um? What? What is it?

The man who looked at me silently for a while began to collect the remaining fruits in the bushes.

Huh? You're going to take and eat them?

But, finding a safe place is more important. Eum, well, I don't know if you need that safe place. Aren't you insanely strong? No, your body temperature may drop.

I'm looking at the man's behavior while thinking about this and that.

He picked up a large leaf and put it down on the floor and after putting down about half of the picked fruits on the leaf, he started walking away.

Huh, uh---?

Did you pick them for me to eat?

I tilted my head and looked at the man, but the man did not stop walking. I blinked my eyes at the figure of the man who walked away without turning his head, then I hurriedly landed on the floor.

Um, okay, it's okay! Since the leopard is dead! And, and-- That person picked these fruits for me.

I guess he said thank you in his own way? To think that what I've done so far to help him was returned in this way, it somehow tickled my heart.

I wanted to laugh, but I felt very regretful that I couldn't because I had a crow's body, so I just took a bite of a fruit and swallowed it.

In order to taste it, I had to slightly bite the fruit and swallow it, but now the fruit was so sweet that I didn't have to. It was so sweet and delicious that I couldn't leave until I ate all the fruits on the leaf.

***

Crow.

A bird belongs to the Corvidae family. It was the smartest among birds and its improvised problem-solving ability even surpassed chimpanzees.

However, since ancient times, this animal had become a symbol of ominousness because of its image of eating corpses and collecting sparkling objects.

The bird that was ususally drawn on devil or witch-like trinkets.

That's me.

Even if I want to laugh, the sound that came out from my beak is a caw.

I thought that this would bring my mental more down, so I took off to the sky. I sighed deeply as I looked at the ground.

That man and I started to have a strange cohabitation. It was an instinct for crows to build nests and sleep safely and warmly, but I ignored that instinct and hovered around that man.

The wound on his side wasn't serious, but it wasn't shallow either, so the man move as much as he could, but the man didn't move much.

And I continued to bring herbs for him.

Now, when I drop herbs, the corners of his eyes would gently curved. It was so dazzling that my heart fluttered.

Oh, really. A smile on that face is lovely. You're showing off your handsomeness at the level of cheating! And I’m just a mere foot wash compared to you!

Even though I said that, all I did for the man was to bring him some medicinal herbs, tell him the location of fruits that can be found occasionally, and telling him by making a sound if something was strange.

Huh? It's a lot more than I thought.

-Umm, hmm. And it wasn't that I didn't get anything from that man.

He caught fish or rabbits with traps that were made of wood and stones for him to eat and thankfully, very thankfully, he also gave me a portion.

That's a relief! When I was a person, I liked yukhoe¹ and sashimi². *Sob sob*(crying), it's delicious.

"Rainelle"

Hearing the man's words, I cawed and landed on a nearby rock and as I tilted my head while looking at the man, he placed fish meat on the rock.

Oh! Thank you for the food!

I quickly clamped the fish with my beak and flew up to a branch. When I looked down, the man was giving me a soft and friendly smile.

OMG------! That smile is a foul!

The man gave me the name 'Rainelle'. When he called me 'Rainelle', it felt like some unknown feeling was welling up in my chest.

As I thought, I want to sit on the man's arm or shoulder and act cute, but if it's too much right from the beginning, I can feel burdened. Should I just hop around him for a little bit?

Anyway, I have finished eating the fish. I'm full, so I'll go get some herbs.

***

Notes:

Yukhoe: a raw meat dish in Korean cuisine

Sashimi: a Japanese delicacy consisting of fresh raw fish or meat sliced into thin pieces and often eaten with soy sauce