084 – Let’s Tame the Giant Owl! #3
Animal Nymph Kalilnoi.
She was said to be from a fissure in America.
It felt strange to talk about the American fissure like it was a hometown.
Anyway, when she opened her eyes, she had fallen into the wetlands of a vast national park in America, leaving behind her long-lost hometown, the “Moon Forest.”
Kalilnoi, who had forgotten even her name, was very angry and wreaked havoc using the animals of the national park.
“Come to think of it, Cash once said that the witch of America made things difficult for people by controlling crocodile-like animals.”
I remembered that the S-rank Awakened “Outlaw Cash” had told me stories about the witch of America.
Could it have been about Kalilnoi?
I might find out if I asked Cash, but she still hadn’t responded to the message I sent.
I was in a bit of a bind.
“So now what do we do?”
Cha Yura, with her arms crossed, seemed to be weighing the situation.
She was unsure how to wrap up the chaos where animals rampaged through the abandoned factory.
And the commotion where Seo Ye-rim was attacked, her hair cut off, and she fell under the curse of weakening seemed unresolved.
I found myself troubled in various ways.
Since it was an incident involving an S-rank Awakened, it wouldn’t just end lightly.
Kalilnoi was likely to face actual imprisonment and heavy punishment.
However, Inoi looked at Kalilnoi with a very pitying and sympathetic expression.
“Kalilnoi forgot her name and didn’t even know what actions she was taking…! This Inoi wishes for Kalilnoi to be forgiven…!”
“This Coris also thinks Kalilnoi is pitiful…!”
It seemed that Nymphs who forgot their names became very violent and terrifying.
If we could appeal to this characteristic well, could we lessen the weight of the punishment a little?
I wasn’t familiar with such laws.
“Hurry, apologize to that Illinois…! That Illinois’s lawyer is coming this way…! If you don’t apologize, a lawsuit will start…!”
It seemed that Illinois didn’t really want to forgive Kalilnoi.
Indeed, it was one of those situations where the thought of “it’s understandable she did something wrong but it’s also sad” wouldn’t let the matter slide smoothly.
Soon Illinois started to chuckle.
“But that Illinois is a very forgiving Nymph…! Riding on that Illinois’s back and flying in the sky might make her forgive you a little…!”
Kalilnoi spread her arms wide.
Suddenly, it seemed feathers quickly grew from her body until she transformed into a giant tiger owl.
What a wondrous sight! While I admired it, Kalilnoi carried Illinois on her back and soared across the factory site.
“Look at that Illinois…! Nymphs don’t have wings, but that Illinois is flying in the sky…! No Nymph would feel as high as that Illinois does…!”
I see.
By riding on the tiger owl, Illinois seemed to calm down and feel good as she flew here and there.
I also wanted to try riding on that large, fluffy back.
Would I be able to ride if we became a bit closer?
No.
Still, I had things I needed to say.
Hoo, hoo—!
I spoke to the tiger owl Kalilnoi as it came down to the ground.
“So why did you cut Seo Ye-rim’s hair? And why did you cast a curse? You need to tell me the reasons clearly. And you also need to apologize to the person involved.”
Flap—.
The tiger owl Kalilnoi flapped her wings once.
She opened her beak and spoke.
—I can’t… say that. I made a promise with that person. I’m a Nymph who keeps her promises.
That person?
Who could that be?
A companion?
As I speculated, the tiger owl Kalilnoi spoke again.
—That person is a Nymph who, like me, has forgotten her name. And she’s even more terrifying. But… I think if we meet these little ones, that person might be able to find her name.
A witch companion.
I couldn’t help but think of “that person” as a witch’s companion.
And since Kalilnoi had just come from America to Korea, I figured “that person” must have been in Korea for quite a while.
The conclusion from that was simple.
“Is the witch who cursed me ‘that person’ your companion?”
—Well, I don’t know. But that person is interested in you. And after meeting you, I can tell. Haildo. You are a good person who helps Nymphs.
Receiving compliments from the giant owl felt strangely uplifting.
It felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale with deer and fairies.
Soon, Inoi raised her hand energetically.
“The master of the house is a Nymph-friendly person…! This Inoi helped when times were tough…! Taught how to use the shower, how to use the water purifier, and how to search for Inoi’s name on the computer…!”
—Nymph-friendly… That’s fitting. You feel almost harmless, like a stone or a tree. Anyway, thanks to you all, old good memories have come back to me. My name too.
I see.
In fact, I was thinking that if things got tough, I might have to fight desperately.
I thought this was a fight against a violent criminal strong enough to ambush S-rank Awakened Seo Ye-rim.
But the Nymphs weaving together to find names and pressing their foreheads together made things resolve more easily than expected.
If all matters could be settled through conversation like this, how peaceful the world would become!
# # #
“Il Do. You worked hard today. The animals here…. I’ll talk to my dad and we should either create a zoo or release them into the national park. There are also elves friendly with animals.”
Kalilnoi’s illegally imported animals and Kalilnoi herself were going to be taken care of by Cha Yura, the daughter of the president.
“I’ve contacted the experts, so a response team will be on their way soon.”
How reassuring!
Cha Yura, the daughter of the nation’s most powerful figure, the president, was one of the last two remaining S-rank Awakened.
There was no better way to ensure things were handled correctly than to entrust it to Cha Yura.
Cha Yura said, “And starting today, I become an honorary Nymph too, right? That means I can eat the Dalgona and candies made by those honey ants, right?”
“Muhuh, just ask that Illinois to believe…! After consulting with the Nymphs of the ‘Nymph Aid Foundation,’ I will discuss the results…!”
The Nymphs of the Nymph Aid Foundation consist of only Inoi and Coris.
Inoi and Coris were already treating Cha Yura the same as themselves.
Except for the fact that Cha Yura was slightly taller, there wasn’t much difference from a Nymph….
My eyes looked at the giant owl.
The giant owl Kalilnoi.
She was a tall and slender Nymph, much like an elf.
She could be called an adult Nymph.
Weren’t all Nymphs supposed to be small?
Such a puzzling race.
I asked Cha Yura.
“Are the candies or Dalgona made by honey ants really that delicious?”
I had taken a bite to share before.
It was tasty, but I didn’t think it was so good that I would go out of my way to find it.
You know, those places that make a long line because they are popular on SNS, and when you finally eat there, you think, “Is it really worth that much?”
Soon, Cha Yura chuckled.
“It’s not just about the taste; it feels perfect for my body! After eating the honey candy, my mana increased. I feel like my control has become a bit more delicate too! Oh, and I’ve grown taller!”
Oh.
Is that so?
I had heard that Awakened had foods suitable for their bodies based on their constitution.
In my case, it was the milk tea from the elves I received not long ago. It wasn’t milk tea from the start, but after drinking it, my mana increased dramatically.
But to think she grew taller too?
That’s impressive.
—Climb on my back. Since you are an honorary Nymph, I will carry you specially. Normally, no one can ride on my back. Consider it an honor.
Swish-.
The tiger owl Kalilnoi lowered her head.
Cha Yura mounted her back.
What a peculiar sight.
Now those two would probably fly to where the president was.
If so, it meant this incident would be resolved.
Swish-.
Just as I was thinking I would watch the tiger owl fly toward the sky, Kalilnoi handed me something.
It was a gold feather.
It was the size of my palm.
“What’s this?”
—It’s a gold feather that grew just once from my body. My feathers can disrupt mana, but conversely, they can also help with controlling mana. This is it.
“Oh.”
A material that helps with mana control!
Among the materials you can obtain from fissures, those related to mana were definitely among the top tier.
Moreover, I was in the ‘Manipulation System.’
Through this, I might be able to use mana to perform more special and unique attack techniques with Kkungkkungi or Ahn Ahn.
As I was having such thoughts, the owl added.
—Give it to that witch Seo Ye-rim. I cut her hair, so she should receive my valuable feather in return.
“I see.”
So it wasn’t meant for me but for Seo Ye-rim.
Indeed, Seo Ye-rim was tall, powerful, and handled deadly mana, but compared to that, her ‘manipulation’ skills were lacking.
Seo Ye-rim’s Awakened ranking was low because her manipulation skills weren’t up to par.
Flap—!
The giant owl finally flapped her wings and soared into the sky.
# # #
—When I go to the president, I’ll definitely be held for a long time, right?
Kalilnoi, flying in the sky, asked Cha Yura, who was on her back.
Cha Yura glimpsed the scenery below, which sparkled under the high sky.
“I guess so! At least one month will certainly be spent in detention! And for legal issues and other things, I might be confined for at least a year!”
Confinement.
Does that mean being trapped like a canary in a cage?
Kalilnoi was uncomfortable with the thought of becoming the ferocious beast that she, the apex predator, should be, in our midst.
However—
She was also aware that the actions she committed were wrong and should not have been done.
She understood well that actions come with consequences, a lesson learned more keenly by someone who had grown up.
‘And now I have people who will help me.’
Kalilnoi thought of the little Nymphs and the master of the house. They gave off a warm feeling, much like the forest of her hometown.
If she could be with them—this thought led Kalilnoi to a certain resolve.
—Then, before I am deprived of my freedom, there is something I want to do. I want to meet my companion. Can I persuade her?
“Persuade?”
—That person. She’s planning something dangerous. When I was unable to think straight due to resentment and sadness, I was in agreement too. But I think she can’t be left as she is.
A witch who engages in dangerous activities.
In fact, Cha Yura was aware that such groups existed.
Thanks to the intelligence from the special agency “Patriot,” composed of Awakened.
“Can you really do it?”
—I can.
Flap, flap—.
The tiger owl Kalilnoi gently landed Cha Yura on the roof of a nearby building.
And then she soared back into the sky.
Kalilnoi was headed to a special place located somewhere.
When Kalilnoi arrived, she spoke to a honey-haired woman who was looking at a furnace.
—Honey-haired! I just remembered my name! The little Nymphs and the master of the house, Haildo, helped me. If they can help me, I know you can too!
“…….”
The woman with long honey-colored hair looked at the enormous owl that came to her home with narrow eyes. Her gaze was extremely chilling and sent shivers down one’s spine.
Animal Nymph Kalilnoi, possessing a sense of wild instinct, quickly realized her choice was wrong.
‘This person is not someone you can talk with! Why on earth did I think of her as a companion? She is dangerous!’
Bang—!
Kalilnoi spread her huge wings.
What happened next was a blur to her memory.
Flap—.
Barely moving her wings, she collapsed in the yard when she heard a man’s voice.
“What’s this! Is that Kalilnoi? Kalilnoi! What happened? Didn’t you fly to the president…!?”
Kalilnoi thought she had to tell the man something.
So, when she struggled to open her mouth to make a sound.
—Hoo, hoohoo—.
What came out was an owl’s cry, not a story.
Kalilnoi continued to emit hoohoo— owl sounds afterward.
She was truly like a real owl!
“Inoi! Illinois! Coris! Come here! Kalilnoi is hurt! Quickly! Let’s move her inside!”
Unable to hold on any longer, Kalilnoi lost consciousness.
