Chapter 147: The Amber-Coloured Bird-Type Magical Beast

After walking through the forest for a while, Ren thought he heard a call. He stopped, listened carefully, and looked around.

“Popo.”

The cry sounded oddly carefree.

“Could it be…?”

Remembering the guild records, Ren raised his bow.

Rustle.

“Popo.”

He calmly drew the string.

“Popooo!”

The foolish-sounding cry rang out, followed by violent rustling beyond a bush.

Ren approached and peered through. A round bird-type magical beast, barely small enough to hold in both arms, flapped and struggled with an arrow lodged in its body.

“…It is a Sun Poppo.”

He recalled the entry from the guild reference room.

Sun Poppo

Characteristics:

An orange, round bird.

Cries ‘Popo!’ when startled.

Weak but fast.

Its meat is mild and tender.

It was larger and rounder than he’d imagined. Its fluffy feathers were a paler orange than a Flame Finch’s.

“…Mild, tender meat. It might be delicious…”

Ren swallowed.

He began draining its blood with Small Box, then remembered being told he was only running an errand when he brought meat to the manor kitchen.

His daily contribution had been treated as though it were nothing. That still hurt, but he wanted to taste the Sun Poppo.

“…I need to secure my dinner.”

He spoke as though convincing himself and stored it away.

Whoosh. Flutter.

Something passed overhead and shook a branch. Beyond the rustling leaves sat a bird-type magical beast with amber-coloured feathers.

Ren nocked an arrow without hesitation.

The bird seemed to glare at him. His shoulder twitched.

Whoosh—thud!

Without warning, it dived straight at him. Ren instinctively summoned a Small Box shield.

The bird struck it, twisted skilfully in mid-air, and immediately dived again.

“Fast…!”

Ren protected himself with Small Box and leapt sideways. A sharp gust passed beside him, strong enough to sting his cheek.

(It was in the records…!)

Amber Crow

Characteristics:

Amber-coloured feathers.

An ochre beak.

Attacks with lumps of earth formed through Earth Magic.

Appears near the forest’s middle layer.

Highly territorial and attacks relentlessly when someone approaches its nest.

“Is its nest nearby?”

The moment he spoke, it charged again.

“Keee!”

Ren placed a Small Box not directly in front of himself, but at a slight angle.

Bang!

The bird slammed into it. Ren circled around and thrust a makeshift arrow he’d hurriedly pulled from Small Box. The point only grazed its wing, and it escaped into the air.

“Too shallow!”

A few drops of blood fell. It wasn’t fatal, but the bird seemed slightly slower.

Ren steadied his breathing and summoned two boxes: one as a shield and another farther back, along the path the bird would use to turn.

“Kee!”

As expected, the Amber Crow failed to notice the second box and struck it with a wing, losing its balance.

“Now!”

Ren stepped in and thrust his makeshift spear. The shaft bent alarmingly, but the point drove deep into its chest.

Thud.

The Amber Crow staggered a few steps while trying to flap. Just as Ren thought it might flee, it glared at him.

“Keeee!”

Whoosh!

Brown, stone-like lumps shot from its mouth.

Bang! Bang!

They struck the Small Box shield. Ren stabbed with his spear again. Once its movements weakened, he finally trapped it inside Small Box.

“…Phew.”

He released a long breath.

The feathers near the base of its wings gleamed amber, shining like jewels in the light.

“They’re beautiful…”

They might work for Charcoal-Core Feather Pens. The thought delighted him.

Then another cry sounded overhead.

“Keeee!”

Ren looked up reflexively.

“…Huh?”

Another bird waited beyond the branches.

“Kee!”

Ren tightened his grip on his bow. In an instant, the forest’s calm became tense.