After today's enlightening discovery — finally figuring out where I am in the Tensura timeline and confirming that I'm actually in Tensura — I should've been panicking. But honestly? I was mostly excited.
Still, damn it, man… I really wanted that quick evolution through getting named. Thought maybe I could get Rimuru to name me, but then I'd be stuck as his subordinate. Hmm. Maybe if I played it smart — like Veldora did — I could convince him to name me as his equal. That way, I might not lose the chance to become a Demon Lord myself.
Anyhow, tonight's the night. I'm going to make my mark. During the Direwolf attack, I'll swoop in and help — even if it's just a little. Just enough to be noticed.
Flapping my wings, I soared above the treeline near the goblin village. The wind cut through my feathers, and the rustling leaves below shimmered like waves. The cool forest air had that earthy scent — pine, wet bark, and distant smoke — the kind that made you feel like something big was coming.
And then I saw them.
A flock of birds, perched along the twisted branches of a crooked, ancient tree. They weren't like me. From what [Cognitus] had told me — and what I could piece together from my reflection in a nearby pond — I looked like a Pampas Pipit, a fairly common bird. Same compact body, same feathery pattern. But my beak? That was different. Crimson vines curled along its surface, almost like tattoos, spiraling toward the tip. It pulsed faintly, like something magical lay underneath.
The birds in front of me were far flashier. Their feathers shimmered in brilliant shades of jade and cerulean, with fiery streaks of magenta trailing from their wings and tails. Elegant plumes crowned their heads, curling upward like flames caught mid-dance. They stood tall, regal even, with sharp eyes and talons that gripped the branch like they owned the forest. When one of them opened its wings, the sunlight caught on the feathers and scattered in rainbow shimmers across the leaves.
They were stunning. Probably native to this forest — no, definitely. Some kind of magical avian beast species? If this were a game, they'd be the kind of creatures that either dropped a rare item or tore you to shreds in under a second.
And here I was, floating awkwardly nearby, like the ugly duckling that took a wrong turn into the Phoenix enclosure.
Using my Resonant Cry, though dialed down to a more appropriate speaking tone, I screeched out at them across the canopy.
"Hey! You guys from around here? I'm new — wanna be friends?"
To human ears, it probably sounded like chirps and clicks. But with a bit of effort, I focused on intent and resonance, embedding meaning into the sound. They understood.
A few sharp cawks rang out in response.
"What did you just call me?!"
Oh right. I forgot — I don't actually speak bird. Weird, considering I am one.
[Translating spoken messages…]
"Ey, who's this ugly little thing?"
"Eugh, why would we ever associate with a Pipit?"
"Hahaha!"
Jeering laughter echoed as the flock launched themselves into the air, wings flashing with that obnoxious shimmer.
Jerks.
Once they were gone, I fluttered down to the thick branch they'd vacated, expecting nothing. But then I saw it — a dark, crumpled figure slouched behind the crook of the bark. A crow, black-bodied and dull-eyed.
I tilted my head. "Hey... are you okay?"
The crow slowly lifted its head. "No, not really. But... thank you. For chasing them off."
I scratched my neck with a wingtip. "Didn't exactly chase them off, but... are you hurt? What happened?"
He let out a weak chuckle. "Those birds — they're Velstryxes. Elegant, arrogant, and territorial. They don't tolerate anyone they consider beneath them entering 'their' forest. Apparently, that's all of it. Us crows? We've lived here for generations. But we've got no flashy feathers, no special calls, no magic. Just wings and grit. So yeah… we get pushed around."
I stepped closer. "Can you stand? And... do you know where they roost?"
The crow blinked. "Huh? I mean... yeah, I can stand. But why? Trust me, it's not a good idea to get on their bad side."
A slow grin curled across my beak.
"Don't worry," I chirped smugly. "Just tell me where."