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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Girl Who Will Become a Countess (1)
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Ronan flipped the sack upside down. Something glowing blue tumbled out. The boys' eyes went wide.
-Peep...?
"W-What's that?"
"A bird?"
It was a bird. Its entire body, excluding the beak, was covered in blue feathers. It was only slightly larger than a pigeon. The blue bird slowly tilted its head, looking around.
"Hah, what bird is blue? That's wild."
Ronan carefully picked up the bird. Even ignoring the blue feathers, its appearance was incredibly unique.
If he had to compare it to an existing bird, it resembled a crow, but with extraordinarily fluffy feathers.
-Peeep...?
"But why's this thing so out of it? Can't you fly?"
The bird huddled quietly in Ronan's palm. Even when he poked it, it just lay limp without much reaction. Asel spoke up from where he was lying down.
"Ronan, there's something on the bird's leg."
"What?"
Ronan flipped the bird over. Sure enough, a thin silver ring was clamped around its leg. Looking closer, there were letters engraved on the ring's surface.
"Ca...ri...bolo?"
Ronan read the letters slowly. He furrowed his brow as he racked his memory. Caribolo. Caribolo's Snare.
If his memory was correct, it was the name of one of the top five poaching organizations on the continent.
'So those two were Caribolo poachers? But they seemed too... stupid for that.'
Ronan knew a fair bit about Caribolo's notoriety. It was thanks to a few Penal Legion comrades who'd been caught for poaching.
They'd stay up all night bragging about the bizarre animals they'd hunted.
"Then this ring..."
He soon recalled the ring's identity as well. Tamer Ring. A kind of shackle made to subdue the mysterious animals commonly called fantasy species. The specially treated metal disrupted the mana of the bound fantasy species, or so it was said.
"Tch."
A knife slid out from Ronan's belt. He pressed the blade against the ring and yanked. The severed Tamer Ring clattered to the ground in two pieces.
"These idiots have nothing better to do than torment beasts that can't even speak."
-Peep?!
His strength control was precise; not a scratch was left on the leg. The bird's eyes widened. Suddenly, its fluffy feathers began to harden.
"W-What's with this guy all of a sudden?"
-Peeeeep...
The feathers weren't just hardening—they were turning glossy. The bird buried its head under its chest and curled into a ball.
Soon, once the feathers fully solidified, it had transformed into what looked exactly like an egg.
"...Is it dead?"
Ronan tapped the eggshell like knocking on a door. It rang like solid metal, but there was no response.
Right then, a deep male voice boomed in Ronan's ear.
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Y-Yes, connected! Are you the one protecting Marfez?!"
"Whoa, you scared me. What the hell?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"S-Sorry! I'm Marfez's—er, the Dream Bird's—original guardian. It went missing at dawn yesterday, and I've been searching."
Listening closely, the voice wasn't in his ear—it echoed in his mind. It was telepathy magic, something he'd experienced before. Only then did Ronan notice the intricate magic circle etched on the egg.
From the context, it seemed like a locator spell to prevent loss. The Tamer Ring must have been blocking it until now. He brought his mouth close to the egg and spoke.
"I don't know what Marfez is, but if you mean the blue bird, then yeah."
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Blue bird! Yes! Oh, thank goodness... May I ask where you found it?"
"Two idiots had it stuffed in a sack and were running away."
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"What?!"
The voice's owner was so shocked that he started firing off questions. Ronan gave a concise rundown of the situation and how he'd ended up saving this bird—or egg, or whatever it was.
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"I can't believe it... I thought it had just gotten lost somewhere, but stolen? I don't even know how to thank you."
"Forget it. Anyway, the bird suddenly turned into an egg. Is that normal?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Ah, turning into an egg is one of Marfez's abilities. It's nimble and quick normally, but when tired or injured, it turns into an egg to rest."
The blue bird's name was Marfez. Though it didn't look it, as a Dream Bird—a fantasy species—it had various abilities beyond turning its feathers into an eggshell.
"So how'd you lose it?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Well... I usually research fantasy species in my lab on the capital island, but..."
He explained that he'd been robbed while spending time in a nearby village for work. Marfez always turned into an egg when sleeping, so he suspected that's when it happened.
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"I was about to file a missing report with the capital police... What a relief."
"Yeah, lucky. So how do I get this guy back to you? I'm not heading to the capital right now."
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Of course, I'll come get it. Tell me your location, and I'll be there in two days."
"Hmm... Waiting two days means we'd have to keep wandering. If I release it, can it find its way home?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Normally, yes, but..."
Fortunately, this bizarre bird had a strong homing instinct and could find its nest from anywhere on the continent.
The catch was that once it turned into an egg, it usually took three to four days to recover and hatch.
Ronan pondered for a moment before speaking.
"What if I sprinkle some potion on it? Will it hatch faster?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Potion? No need to go that far..."
"Yes or no?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"W-Well, Marfez's feathers can absorb beneficial components. But really, no need. I'll be there soon—"
Ronan was already holding a potion vial. It was the leftover from what he'd used on Asel at dawn. He dripped a few drops onto the eggshell.
"It's small, so this should be enough. I just poured it, so open the cage door."
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"S-Sir! Why go to such lengths...!"
"No big deal. Too annoying to carry for three days."
The potion did work. Cracks suddenly spiderwebbed across the egg, and a bright pink beak poked through the shards.
He set the hatching egg on the ground. In just minutes, Marfez—or whatever—fully reverted to bird form.
Its feathers gleamed with luster; it looked several times healthier than when he'd first pulled it from the sack.
Ronan said,
"Go home, birdbrain."
-Peep?
The bird fixed its clear eyes on Ronan, blinking repeatedly. As if sensing its recovery, the telepathy grew more urgent.
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"My word! I don't even know how to thank you... No, quick—pluck a feather. It'll know you saved it, so it won't resist."
"Feather?"
Skeptical, but Ronan did as told. Sure enough, the bird didn't resist. It even nudged its plump tail feathers toward him.
The feather shimmered with a mystical blue no painter could capture. Ronan tilted his head. Pretty, but why pluck it?
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the feather slipped from his hand. It shot like an arrow back into the blue bird and resumed its place. Ronan muttered in disbelief.
"...What sorcery is this?"
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"All Dream Bird feathers have the trait of returning to their owner. If you ever come to the capital, follow that feather. I insist on meeting to reward you."
"It's fine. Not looking to strut around over saving one beast."
Ronan meant it. Money was nice, but he didn't need to do stupid things just to earn it.
🔮 Telepathic Link 🔮
"Please don't refuse. A noble heart deserves reward. Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Professor Baren Phanasir, fantasy species researcher. Then... looking forward to... meeting..."
The telepathy cut off abruptly. Likely because the eggshell with the magic circle had fully reverted to feathers.
The bird didn't budge until Ronan reluctantly plucked a tail feather.
-Piiiiip!
"Whoa whoa whoa?! Hey!"
The bird let out a sudden screech and dove into the river. Ronan leaped to chase it but froze in place. An unbelievable sight unfolded.
"Damn, what the hell."
The bird wasn't flying—it was sprinting across the water's surface. Ignoring the raging current, it dashed out of sight in an instant. The two boys stood dumbfounded, staring after it.
"Shit... living long lets you see all kinds of crap."
"Yeah..."
"That guy said he was some professor, right?"
"I... didn't hear anything."
"...Whatever."
As he turned to go, something round caught Ronan's eye. A single orb lay where the bird had perched.
"What's this now?"
Ronan picked it up. The pinecone-sized lump was a flat oval, like a pebble.
"An egg? Did it just lay it and leave?"
Nothing else explained it. The surface even radiated the warmth of a freshly laid egg.
But Ronan doubted whether to call it an 'egg.' Asel spoke up, staring at it.
"It looks... kinda weird."
Ronan agreed. 'Weird' was putting it politely. If not for its spherical shape, he'd have kicked it thinking it was shit.
The rough surface was crude, like slathered mud, and the color was a near-identical brown.
"Damn, it's not actually shit, is it? Asel, lick it."
"N-No way."
Fortunately, it was odorless. After agonizing over whether to toss it, Ronan pocketed the orb. Fantasy species byproduct or not—shit or egg—it might fetch a good price later.
'Wonder if Marvas merchants know what it is.'
Ronan grabbed the oar again. He stuffed the ever-fluttering blue feather into his backpack. He had to visit the capital soon for the entrance exam anyway, so he'd drop by that Baren guy then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Over the next four days, the boys sold spoils in nearby villages and territories. Even after sorting keepers from trash, the sheer volume took time. With decent coin earned, Ronan bought two sturdy mules.
"Relax your body! Hold the reins light! You don't wanna be treated like a moron who can't ride, right?"
"W-Wait! This is harder to balance than it looks... Ack! Don't whip me!"
Ronan taught Asel to ride on the side. Luckily, Asel picked it up fast. He'd have preferred real horses, but good ones were scarce here.
With five sacks left, they headed to Marvas, a grand city before the Loraima mountain road. A commercial hub with daily markets.
"Two gold coins."
"What?! Look again—real sapphire, even I can tell."
"Hm... Three. No more."
"Three's bullshit, you greedy raccoon. Let's go, Asel."
"Wh-What?! Hey! What'd you just call me?!"
The remaining five sacks held unsold valuables. Finding fair buyers took half a day.
Fortunately, the Karabel Merchant Group bought most at honest prices.
"Hm... Excellent condition. Fine craftsmanship... Twenty-two gold coins?"
Duon Karabel, the caravan leader, offered ten times the previous necklace price. Asel nearly fainted in shock; Ronan nodded calmly. Spot on market value.
"Deal. You have a conscience."
"Haha, credit is a merchant's lifeblood."
Duon bought weapons, potions, and crafts without discrimination. Staff bustled, carrying goods to stalls and wagons. He handed over neat wooden boxes of payment.
Ronan liked him. Fair prices were good, but not prying about origins was better. He'd trade again if possible.
"Thanks for the business. May fortune follow you."
"Oh, mind appraising this too?"
Remembering days prior, Ronan rummaged his pocket and pulled out the dingy orb. He'd totally forgotten it since pocketing.
"...Why pull horse dung from your pocket?"
"Not horse dung—some bird laid it and left. Dropped it, I guess?"
"A bird? This?"
Duon took it carefully. Donning a monocle-like appraiser's lens, he examined it meticulously.
What Ronan thought would be quick took nearly an hour. Duon tilted his head.
"This... is a bit strange."