Chapter 21: Platinum Feathers (Part two)

The next morning, Ren left the old house several hours earlier than usual.

Arriving at the gate before the sun rose, he greeted the knight who guarded the gate and set off down the street. The morning sun gradually illuminated the area after a short while.

“Let’s do our best.”

Ren said.

“Hi-hin.”

Jerukku’s former horse neighs.

Her name, by the way, is Io.

It’s the name Ren got from a character in a novel in this world, and the horse already likes it so much that she responds when you call her by that name.

It’s a female.

“I’ve got to hurry.”

I said while listening to the sound of hoof beats.

“I’m going to ask the owner of the store where I bought the clothes to process the platinum feathers when I get them. I’ll have to think about the time it will take, so I’ll have to hurry to get it in time.”

“…… bruu.”

“Um, don’t eat the grass on the side of the road just because you don’t know any better.”

The horse didn’t care what Ren said and started to eat the grass on the side of the road.

“Oh well…..”

Eventually she was satisfied and started walking, so there was nothing to say.

Ren gazed deep into the forest that lay just off the road and then looked up to the heavens.

He prayed to Elfen, the Lord God, for a good result.

****************************

—-Several hours passed.

Ren stepped into his planned hunting area, near where the White Hawks were passing through the sky.

There were several tall trees growing in the area, bearing bright red fruit reminiscent of grapes.

The werewolf told me that they are White Hawk’s favorite food.

The story goes that in the mornings, the trees are swarming with white hawks who come to feed on the fruit.

(Just as well.)

It saves me the trouble of making the white hawks full.

I hid in the woods, using the power of the wooden magic sword to look as natural as possible, so as not to be discovered. The smell of human odor was masked by the scent-eliminating perfume I bought at the Adventurers’ Guild.

Ren hid behind leaves and ivy on a thick branch and thought aloud.

(The question is, will one with platinum feathers show up?)

Just as he’s concerned, something appears in the sky nearby, moving like a white cloud.

There’s no doubt about it. It’s a flock of White Hawks.

They are flying straight toward the direction where Ren is waiting. Ren hides himself even more and hides his breath.

Soon, the white hawks are aiming at the fruit that grows around them, and they stay on the branches.

(I wonder if there’s ……)

He checks the appearance of each and every bird.

But when you think about it, in the game era, you could barely get one after encountering several hundred birds.

Moreover, I had to start the battle without being spotted by the White Hawks, so it was an item that could be obtained with a probability that was beyond troublesome.

Therefore, it was natural that it couldn’t be obtained.

If I couldn’t find it after many searches, I’d have to give up and prepare another gift.

While I was thinking about it, the White Hawks changed their positions in place.

At first I tried to count how many birds there were, but gave up halfway through.

The first group left after a few minutes, and then another group came in to replace it.

However, I couldn’t find anything at all.

I couldn’t find platinum feathers, even though there were dozens of them and over a hundred.

Anyway, as I thought earlier, it was natural.

No wonder, considering the odds in the game days.

He wasn’t certain if it was indeed reckless, and he began to laugh…..

Suddenly.　

(…… hmm?)

It was sunlight reflected somewhere.

But there should be nothing to reflect, and Ren looked toward the direction where the dazzling light arrived.

(…… hmm!?)

Frankly, I thought it was impossible.

In an instant, the thought that it would be extremely difficult to find disappeared, and his eyes were caught by a lone White Hawk, which was eating fruit at the end of his line of sight.

There it was, a white hawk with gleaming tail feathers.

“Kruuuuuh!”

Ren’s heart beats fast, and his hand sweats as he grips a thick branch.

(There you are!)

His eyes are glued to the white hawk, which is eating a fruit.

Seeing the platinum feathers that asserted its presence with its tail feathers, I knew I had to get it no matter what.

To do so, I had to put that individual into a coma before it flew away.

However, Ren aimed a stone at White hawk’s head and was about to throw the stone he had brought with him.

(Wait a minute!)

The first one that finished its meal flew into the sky, followed by one and then another.

The one with platinum wings flapped its wings in the same way, and it let go of the tree from which it had been standing.

Ren’s aim was off in an instant, as he’s not a good thrower to begin with.

If he forced his aim and missed, he would lose the platinum feathers.

…… That’s it.

Realizing that coma by throwing a projectile would be difficult, however, Ren comes up with another means.

The first thing he did was to summon the thief’s magic sword, attach it to his finger, and with all the strength he could muster, he kicked the thick branch to which he had entrusted his body.

“Kruuuuuh? 』

The sound of him leaping into the air caught its attention, and the White Hawk I was aiming at almost turned around.

But just before he finished turning around.

(This is the only way!)

Ren’s arm swung down a moment later, and a gust of wind caressed the White hawk’s body.

“Gauh! 』

“Krrrrrruuuu! 』

The surrounding White Hawks all cried out at once, and flapped their wings in a panic to get away from Ren, who had suddenly appeared.

Ren, who had leaped into the air, looked up at them as he fell.

No fear of falling.

Ren swung the wooden magic sword he had summoned toward the earth, creating tree roots and ivy, and fell to it.

As the ivy, stretched somewhat playfully, caught Ren’s body, he recognized the feeling that was at hand.

…… please let it be that feather.

I had the feeling that I had stolen something, but I was too afraid to look and shied away.

So it was only after a few dozen seconds that I was able to confirm it.

I opened the palm of my hand, which I brought to my face, and fluttered, fluttered, and a few feathers landed.

“….. Haha.”

The dry laugh was due to my nervousness and thirst.

But the joy on his cheeks was exceptional.

“Perhaps I’ve used up all the luck I’ve had in my life.”

Platinum feathers are scarce.

How miraculous it would be to obtain it with a thief’s magic sword, which can take an item with probability, if calculated well.

Ren looked at the platinum-plated feathers that fell to his chest, and his whole body trembled with a joy he had never felt before.

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