082 – Let’s Tame the Giant Owl! #1
━━ Hoo-oo…!
Kkungkkungi has safely returned to us.
A large bird’s feather was caught in Kkungkkungi’s mouth.
Inoi was convinced once again that this was an owl feather.
“It’s exactly the same as the owl feather we found back then…! It’s certain that this naughty nymph has been in this place called a factory…!”
That was a message saying we had come to the right place.
The factory was literally an abandoned site.
There were no supervising personnel, and no one guarding it.
It was just locked up.
If we were to barge in without caution, it would violate laws like ‘trespassing on private property.’
“Don’t you think we need some procedures?”
I thought it would be better to contact the authorities and relevant officials.
However, Cha Yura snorted and jumped over the factory wall effortlessly.
“I’m the relevant authority and official here! I’ll handle any tedious procedures later, so let’s just go inside for now!”
Cha Yura was overflowing with enthusiasm.
“If we resolve this matter well, I’ll be an honorary nymph!”
It seemed she really wanted to become an “honorary nymph.”
Becoming an honorary nymph would allow one to participate in nymph meetings and gain the right to sing together, right?
Indeed, it was an incredible privilege.
No, honestly, I wasn’t quite sure what made it such a great privilege.
Swoosh.
The nymphs crawled over the wall.
I also climbed over the wall with the nymphs.
Swoosh.
Now we were prowling inside the factory where Kkungkkungi had previously illuminated the terrain.
The interior appeared to be equipped with something like an ‘unmanned alarm system,’ which, if detected, seemed to emit a loud noise.
“Freeze!”
As Cha Yura reached out, with a crackling sound, the cameras and alarm systems froze and stopped working.
In an instant, she had incapacitated the mechanical devices.
It was indeed impressive magical control.
“You’ve done this more than once, haven’t you?”
“Of course! Let’s go!”
With that feeling, we arrived at a place piled high with containers.
What could these containers be for?
Soon, Ahn Ahn spoke up.
━ Zzzzi…!
“I see.”
“This Inoi is curious about what Ahn Ahn has said…!”
“Actually, I don’t really know either.”
I still couldn’t understand what Ahn Ahn wanted to say. However, I could vaguely sense that Ahn Ahn was confidently saying, “Leave it to me!”
Swoosh.
Ahn Ahn crawled towards the lock sealing the container.
And with its sharp jaw, it snipped it off.
Clank.
The lock fell to the floor.
I approached the now-opened container box and opened the door.
At the same time, I was greatly surprised.
Flap, flap—
Inside the container was a bird with white feathers.
You could say it was a swan.
Seeing the caged swan flapping its wings as if very surprised made my expression wrinkle.
“Are the animals trapped inside the container?”
“They really seemed to have illegally smuggled animals. Could it be that all these containers are filled with trapped animals?”
Swoosh.
I opened the container with Cha Yura.
As expected, various animals were trapped inside the container, trembling.
“Trapping animals like this… This is not only anti-eco-friendly, but also un-nymph-like behavior! Bad nymph… This is utterly disgusting! This is illegal!”
Illinois seemed to have recognized that these animals were unlawfully trapped, as expected from a nymph who had engaged in illegal activities more than anyone else.
Inoi and Coris frowned as they looked at the trapped swan and raccoon.
“This Inoi feels sorry for the animals…!”
“I wish they could be freed…!”
I also agreed that we must set the animals free.
But suddenly, I felt a strange suspicion.
“What could be the reason for bringing these animals here and keeping them trapped?”
Were they planning to open a zoo?
Or maybe they intended to sell the animals?
It was then that—
“Ahh, look at that…!”
Inoi pointed at something with its hand.
There was a giant owl flapping its wings, circling above our heads.
A giant owl.
Seeing it, even Illinois grimaced and shouted.
“Come down here at once! Nymphs are originally fairy beings without wings…! Flying in the sky is quite despicable!”
Was it because of Illinois’s words?
The owl flying in the air flapped its wings and swooped down towards us with a screech.
Clang!
The giant owl extended its sharp claws.
It looked like it was going to hunt us.
“Freeze, President!”
Pow!
Cha Yura stretched out her hand.
“President” was a signature technique that Cha Yura had used frequently, sufficient to be included in Wikipedia.
It was said that she emanated extreme cold from her hands to suppress and freeze her opponent, right?
It was characterized by a pun mixing ‘president’ and ‘frozen.’
It seemed that she intended to freeze the owl with this terrifying technique.
“What?”
However, Cha Yura made an unexpected sound of dismay.
No ice was emanating from her hand.
“Is the magic usage being interrupted?”
Boom!
In the end, Cha Yura was caught in the massive claws of the owl.
The owl soared back into the air, lifting Cha Yura.
“Let me go! Let me down!”
Cha Yura was struggling.
As if answering her pleas, the soaring owl abruptly dropped Cha Yura from the air.
“Ahh!”
I reached out my arms towards Cha Yura, who started to fall freely.
“I’ll catch you!”
“Ugh!”
Bang!
I felt a heavy impact as I caught a woman falling from over ten meters high.
But it was bearable.
The owl looked at me, laughing.
━ Now do you understand the fear of being hunted? I don’t know how you got this far, but you’ve come to the wrong place! Let me show you the terror of the wild!
Flap—
The giant owl on the container spread its wings wide and let out a loud cry.
It was a noise so loud that the nymphs covered their ears.
The problem was what happened next.
━ Growl…
━ Groooar—
The beasts trapped in the cage began to be released one by one and started to surround us.
Among them, there were ferocious beasts that seemed ready to swallow a nymph whole.
Illinois clenched his fist.
“I will talk to those animals…! Our nymphs are friends with the animals…! Once we communicate, it will be another world!”
━ Growl…
A spotted leopard lunged at Illinois.
If I hadn’t quickly yanked on Illinois’s nape, his body might have been severely injured by the sharp claws.
Illinois, hanging from my arm, yelled frantically.
“It attacking me…! It’s a beast devoid of any intelligence! I’m going to sue!”
“It’s obvious that the giant owl is controlling those animals…! That giant owl’s true identity is likely to be the ‘Nymph of Animals’…!”
Nymph of Animals.
I didn’t know what that meant, but I quickly realized it must be a nymph that could control animals and transform into one.
Grrr…
Growl…
The situation where various beasts surrounded us.
Cha Yura trembled and shouted.
“I can’t use my mana! I feel like I’ve returned to being an ordinary person! I don’t know what’s happening, but the situation isn’t good!”
It was indeed true that mana usage was not going well.
I could feel the mana in my body not being controlled by my will either.
Soon, the large owl hooted.
━ My feathers have the effect of disrupting the concentration of magic. Such things are sprinkled around this factory!
Is this for real?
“Mana jamming.”
An item with such a powerful effect truly exists?
So that’s why Seo Ye-rim was attacked and had her hair roughly cut!
━ If I prevent you from using mana, then Awakened beings like you are as weak as rabbits. Now, go!
Growl—!
The ferocious beasts lunged at us.
I decided on the spot that I had to escape.
# # #
Creak, creak, scratch—
The sound of scratching the factory door with our feet was loud.
Somehow, we managed to escape and secure a safe zone.
Nymph Inoi shivered and said.
“Nymphs of Animals are nymphs that evolve into particularly animal-friendly nymphs…! The Nymph of Animals commands animals with a special song…!”
It certainly seemed that way.
The animals trapped in the containers could be considered ‘weapons.’
Swish—
At that moment, a snake slithered in through the broken window.
━ Hiss Hiss—
It was a snake that was bright overall, but its mouth was dark, and when Cha Yura saw it, she shouted.
“B-Black Mamba! Its bite is fatal!”
The entry of this dangerous venomous snake—
It was Kkungkkungi that intercepted it.
━ Grrr…
With a thunderous roar, Kkungkkungi pounced on the venomous snake.
Swish, swish—
For a moment, the two beasts fought.
Feeling the threat from Kkungkkungi’s fierce onslaught, the venomous snake hurriedly fled.
━ Ssshh—
“Kkungkkungi is truly amazing…!”
Indeed, Kkungkkungi was impressive!
And neither Kkungkkungi nor Ahn Ahn nor Kkungkkungi were being dominated by that “Nymph of Animals.”
I felt a question arise here.
“Why are those like Kkungkkungi and Kkungkkungi not controlled by the Nymph of Animals? Is there something different about them? If I could only figure out the reason, maybe there’s a way to deal with this situation…!”
Just then, Coris raised its hand.
“I think it might be because their owner has tamed them…! So they don’t seem to be controlled by the Nymph of Animals…!”
Soon, Inoi also raised its hand.
“Indeed! Taming… that is an act of opening one’s heart in many ways…! This Inoi has come up with a good idea…!”
It seemed like the clever and cunning Inoi had thought of a good idea.
Clank!
Just then, a tiger’s paw with sharp claws came through the broken window.
Cha Yura was horrified.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but hurry up and execute it! If we stay like this, we’ll be bitten to d*ath!”
Cha Yura grabbed a nearby chair and swung it at the tiger’s paw.
Even if she couldn’t use mana, she showed a truly brave demeanor worthy of an S-grade Awakened.
Very impressive!
As I watched, Inoi spoke.
“The Nymph of Animals has attributes very similar to animals…! Right now, the Nymph of Animals has transformed into a giant owl…! Perhaps it might be possible to tame it…!”
Tame a nymph that has transformed into an animal?
Is that even possible?
Then, Illinois also expressed admiration.
“Indeed, if the top squirrel, emperor ant, and an exceptionally unique phantom spider were to tame it, it might be possible! That’s good thinking…!”
Coris also brightly agreed.
“Even if we can’t tame it, if we create a moment of opportunity, our nymphs will surely be able to touch foreheads…! When our nymphs touch foreheads, they’ll be able to learn its name…!”
Nymphs had a custom of greeting each other by touching foreheads during their first meeting.
By doing so, they could closely share information about one’s age, name, type of nymph, health status, emotions, and more.
“I’ve heard that nymphs who have forgotten their names become serene when they recall their names…! Our nymph sisters will help them find their names…!”
With determination, Inoi raised its fist high.
However, there was a problem.
“How do we tame that giant owl?”
I carefully observed the owl that freely flew through the factory complex beyond the window.
It was as good as a giant military aircraft.
Soon Inoi was grinning.
“This Inoi learned not only how to distinguish between owls and owls but also what they like…! As long as I’m with their owner, it should be entirely possible…!”
