Akatsuki Translations

Up until now, Ur thought he had figured out the omen bird’s methods of attack from the battles they had fought. However, he realized that what he knew about its attack methods was only a part of the weapons the omen bird possessed. He came to this realization at this very moment.

『A BOULDER!! 』-Rock

“Wha–?!!!” -Ur

The all-too-brief warning from Rock was followed by a shock that hit the entire chariot before Ur could even confirm it. Ur braced himself so as to not move and grabbed the handles to support his body with both hands.

“What the hell? What did that dumbass bird do?!” -Ur

『It grabbed a boulder and threw it!! 』-Rock

“It’s supposed to be a bird, right?!” -Ur

Considering the impact, it couldn’t have been something the size of a human palm. Ur could only think that it must have grabbed and thrown the boulder with its feet. He marveled at the dexterity of the bird.

“Here comes more!! Three of ‘em!” -Ur

『Whoa, here we go!! 』-Rock

Rock once again violently maneuvered the carriage. Inside, Ur braced his body against the shifting gravity. He gritted his teeth, determined not to interfere with Lynne’s work. If this place fell apart, everything would be over.

“【………………!!】” -Lynne

Ur felt relieved seeing Lynne continue her work without stopping her pen, despite the intense shocks and vibrations. But if this chariot was destroyed, there would be nothing left to protect him and her, who couldn’t move freely. He had to act.

“Put up a smoke screen! Rock! Keep as much distance as possible—” -Ur

“【O Wind, Sing and Play with Me. Envelope us in a stalwart shield tha—】” -Shizuku

And then Shizuku began chanting her magic. A barrier to protect from the boulders? But the barrier, meant only for countering attacks from behind—

“Above!!” -Ur

“【Cloak of the Wind King】” -Shizuku

Just after the mid-level barrier magic was activated, several impacts came from above, and at the same time, the sound of them being repelled by the barrier was heard. It wasn’t the omen bird. The quality of the sound when the boulders hit the barrier was similar to the boulders that had been thrown earlier.

That meant the omen bird was throwing boulders at them, curving them in an arc.

“It’s attacking from multiple angles…!” -Ur

『Is that bird really a bird?』-Rock

Rock’s question was reasonable, and Ur was starting to doubt it too. But whether it was a bird or not, the fact was that it was attacking them with unusual tactics. They had no choice but to come up with a countermeasure.

“Shizuku! Release the barrier at the right moment! We need to conserve a bit mor—” -Ur

“No, not yet! To the right and slightly behind our course!!” -Shizuku

At Shizuku’s command, Rock quickly turned the vehicle, and Ur aimed the ballista in that direction. With his body, now being toughened and continuously enhanced by magic, he forcefully reset the string and reloaded. A huge shadow pierced through the thick smoke.

『ＫＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！』

The omen bird was chasing them. Ur quickly aimed and prepared to fire the reloaded shot at the omen bird. He didn’t need to hit it; just keeping it at bay was enough.

『ＫＥ』

But before he could fire the shot, there was a sound like an explosion. Ur only realized what had happened after the entire chariot shook, and a sharp “thorn” appeared in front of his eyes.

“………! Talo-ns, huh?” -Ur

Shizuku’s mid-level magic barrier and the chariot’s armor were pierced by the omen bird’s talon, thrust forward like a charging spear. It was just a step away from making a hole in Ur’s face.

Poison dripped from the tip of the claw, falling at Ur’s feet. He broke into a cold sweat. Blood dripped down his cheek along with the sweat, as a shard from the pierced armor had cut it. He was relieved it didn’t hit his eye, this strangely calm thought crossing his mind.

“……!! Get away!!” -Ur

『ＧＵＧＥＥＥＥ？！！』

After a brief moment, Ur reacted. He struck a small knife he had kept handy into the base of the protruding claw. The blade was repelled by the bird’s incredibly tough skin. Ur’s position was poor, and he couldn’t exert much force, but he forcefully cut through.

“I’ll help…!” -Shizuku

“『ＧＥＥＥＥ！！！』

Soon, the 【Cloak of the Wind King】 struck the body of the closely approaching omen bird, and its massive body, still impaled on the chariot, was thrown off, tearing its claw and flesh. Blood splattered, and the claw, dripping with poison, fell inside the chariot.

『ＧＹＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡＡ！！！』

“Phew… phew… fuck, that’s no joke.” -Ur

While flicking away the poison-covered claw with the knife, Ur groaned. He hadn’t placed excessive trust in the armor, but to be penetrated so easily was chilling. The fact that only his cheek was cut, not the poisonous claw, was due to the prior “Wind Barrier” and some luck.

“【……】… I’ll release, the barrier.” -Shizuku

Shizuku dissolved the mid-level barrier.

“Rock… where’s the omen bird?” -Ur

『Got one of its fingers chopped off, so it’s being cautious. Keeping its distance.』-Rock

“Is it chasing us?” -Ur

『It’s coming. It clearly doesn’t intend to let us escape.』-Rock

“Be on guard. If there’s any sign of another charge, let me know.” -Ur

Having experienced such a painful blow, it’s unlikely the bird would repeat the same attack. But they had to be vigilant. They had to block its path.

“Shizuku, how about over there?” -Ur

“Ur-sama! There are ‘newcomers!” -Shizuku

“Huh?” He questioned, but before Shizuku could answer, Ur heard it himself. Along with the noisy rumble of the omen bird, there was the sound of multiple “flapping wings” and strange cries similar to the omen bird’s.

『It’s the poison claw birds! There are countless of them!』-Rock

“ONE AFTER THE OTHER!!” -Ur

The shrill cries of the omen bird and the poison claw birds drowned out Ur’s scream.

『『『ＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！！！』』』

The sound of their cries, far too harsh to be considered bird chirps, mixed with the flapping of numerous wings, creating a massive noise that surrounded Ur and the others. It was like a cage of noise. And soon, the noise rapidly approached them.

“Whoa!!” -Ur

The constant crashing sounds against the chariot’s barriers resonated incessantly. Additionally, there were sounds of something, or several things, climbing on top and hitting the wheels, causing the chariot’s movement to become erratic. The poison claw birds were launching a kamikaze attack.

“Rock!!” -Ur

『Leave it to me!! 【Bone Core Transformation!!】』 -Rock

In an instant, the bone armor covering the chariot transformed. The blades that emerged from the armor tore through the flesh of the birds clinging to it. This transformation of the necromancy vessel was a part of the necromancy skills Shizuku had acquired.

『ＫＥＥ！！』

The omen birds, with their wings and flesh torn by the blades, screamed in pain and scattered. But immediately, more poison claw birds charged in. The continuous thunderous noises were unending. They recklessly charged, utterly disregarding the massacre of their comrades.

They could endure this. The prepared barriers were not so fragile as to crumble under the attack of the poison claw birds. However, the simultaneous charge of more than a dozen monsters was clearly hindering the chariot’s progress. And moreover,

『ＭＯＫＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥＥ！！』

The omen bird was still alive.

Glancing through the peephole, Ur saw the omen bird maintaining a suitable distance from them. The same kind of charge as before was coming. Ur felt a chill.

“Damn beast!!!” -Ur

『ＫＥＥＥＥ！！！』

He fired a bullet, but a poison claw bird intercepted the line of fire. It didn’t reach its target.

“Change the barrel!” -Ur

Declaring so, he pulled out the ballista and shifted it sideways. In its place, he forcefully inserted the dragonfang spear into the barrel slot, designed to fit perfectly. He operated quickly and pulled the trigger.

“【Roar!!】” -Ur

『ＫＥ！？』

The flame emitted from the roar incinerated the poison claw birds and headed straight for the omen bird, writhing. However, before it could make a direct hit, the omen bird immediately abandoned its charging posture and leaped up to avoid it. It seemed to remember the power of the Roar.

Ur had a moment of regret for revealing the Roar during their investigations. But, if it made the bird abandon its charge, then that was good enough. After all, in the poor visibility and the rush of firing, he wasn’t confident he could hit the omen bird charging at them.

“Run!!!” -Ur

『Right!!』-Rock

“【Sing, O Water, and Ward Off Evil】” -Shizuku

As Ur gave the order, Rock moved the chariot and dashed out. Shizuku cast a barrier, freezing the attacking poison claw birds and repelling them. Weaving through the opening created between the omen bird and the poison claw birds, Rock raced through the dungeon.

　　　　　　　　　◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

—-It sensed the turmoil in the dungeon.

“It” wasn’t particularly interested in the conflicts within the dungeon.

To “It,” the struggles happening inside the dungeon, the battles between humans and monsters, were insignificant. Had “It” not paid attention, “It” might not even have noticed something was happening, and even if “It” had noticed, “It” would not have interfered.

Of course. As easily as twisting a baby’s arm, “It” could obliterate these conflicts. “It” found no value in going out of “It’s” way to a sandcastle that could be collapsed without even moving a finger, only to then demolish it. It would be far more meaningful to do nothing, to cast aside “It’s” consciousness and sleep.

However, for some reason, on that day, “It” paid attention to the commotion that “It” usually ignored.

Something caught “It’s” interest.

Even the being itself didn’t understand why “It’s” consciousness was drawn there. But “It” couldn’t just dismiss it as nothing.

And then, “It” found it.