Chapter 2 - Pet Crow
Crows and vultures in the area screech and swarm the holy turkey. Their wings, claws, and feathers block my path and my sight.
However, no creature manages to touch it. They phase through the object, even though it sends off a fragrant smell all over the battlefield. They try to peck the turkey, but they all fail. They tilt and cock their heads in confusion.
It's my turn. I reach to grab the turkey's leg.
My fingertips touch it.
I get feedback sensations from my fingers!
I stop thinking. My hands grab the turkey and tear it. Shoving the leg piece into my mouth, I chew it.
It's the most delicious turkey I've ever had. I almost cry.
As I hold the leg in my mouth, I pick up the wine jar and unseal the cover. I gulp down half of what's inside.
I'm alive again.
Unfortunately, these gluttonous crows are envious of me. A crow lands on my right shoulder, attempting to snatch my food from my hand, but its beak passes right through it.
"CAAA!!"
It protests and pecks my hand with the turkey's leg.
I know it's frustrating, but this is mine. I glance at it and smirk to mock it.
A second later, I feel bad. It has teary eyes, and it looks thinner than the others. Its body is riddled with several small wounds. Its feathers are fewer than usual, revealing its tiny body.
I frown at it and point at the other corpses.
"Hey, your food is over there. There are plenty of corpses. Why are you fighting me over this?"
"CAAA!!"
It opens its beak and flaps its wings before it talks like a human.
"PLEASE!"
"…"
I'm speechless. A crow knows how to beg politely.
I don't know where it learned the human language from, but I kind of pity the creature. I offer a small piece of turkey, hovering it in front of its face.
"If you can eat it, then eat it. But if you cannot touch this, I can't help you."
It turns to my face. Its eyes, filled with tears, meet mine. The crow bows deeply once more and speaks.
"THANK YOU!"
I slowly nod. This guy deserves all the love in the world. I sincerely wish it could touch the food.
The bird softly pecks the turkey, then grasps it with its beak.
Wait, it can touch the turkey?
I can't help but laugh.
But how?
What's the secret behind this miracle?
While I'm in shock, the other crows mimic the bird and swarm the turkey's leg in my right hand. However, they manage to touch nothing but my skin. Several of them peck me.
Picking a fight with crows is a bad idea. They will never forget their resentment and will torment me for the rest of eternity.
Being careful, I wave my hands to shoo them away instead of trying to harm them.
It works somewhat. Every crow flies away, except the polite guy.
The crows squawk at me, but they keep their distance, observing us. Every bird in the area exudes killing intent. The shoulder crow shudders, but it stays on me.
I spit out a piece of turkey bone in my mouth. Not caring about their resentment, I continue eating the turkey and share some with the poor bird on my shoulder.
Minutes later, I'm full, but half of the turkey remains. I turn to look at the polite crow, but it is as full as I am.
Nearby crows surround us, staring at the turkey with gleaming eyes.
I tear a piece of turkey and wave at them, showing a friendly gesture.
"If you stop being a dick and behave, I'll give you the rest of the chicken! See this falla on my shoulder?"
The shoulder crow extends its neck, mocking its comrades. The surrounding crows blink and tilt their heads, comprehending the situation.
I grab the remaining turkey on the floating plate and tear it into smaller pieces. With the food in my hand, I throw it to the crows that are standing on the corpses close by.
The birds swarm the food like hyenas. Strangely, they can touch the turkey now.
Several cunning crows still try to steal the food from my hands, but their beaks pass through the objects. The only thing they touch is my palm.
Their beaks are sharp and tough. After a couple of pecks, my hands are bleeding.
"Get off, you greedy pigs!"
I pull my food and hand away from the greedy ones. I toss the remaining pieces of turkey toward the crowd, away from the rude folks. Then, I check my palms to see the wounds.
The wounds… are healing.
The crow on my shoulder flaps its wings and squeaks. I turn to the guy and notice an anomaly.
The black feathers are growing at a rate similar to that of a budding plant in online time-lapse videos. In seconds, it recovers all its lost feathers. The wounds are also healed.
The polite guy looks at my face and blinks several times. Moving closer to my face, it gently pulls my hair behind my ear with its beak.
Strangely, its beak is burning hot. It feels like someone is lighting the back of my head on fire with a lighter, but the burning pain quickly fades. Instead, my head feels cool and light.
I rub its head with my index finger while I scratch the back of my head.
What did you do to me, punk?!
It shrinks its neck in response and blinks again.
Isn't it cute?
Too bad, I can't keep you as a pet. I'll probably die of the blood infection soon… or not.
I'm not in pain.
Am I fully healed?
I inspect my arms, legs, and stomach. I remember getting scratches everywhere while I was climbing out of the mass grave.
But where are the scratches? I don't feel any pain anymore.
I pause for a long time to sense the familiar pain from open wounds, but I can't feel anything. Confused, I take off my leather armor, causing the polite crow to fluster and land on top of my head instead.
Looking at my chest and stomach again, I'm depressed.
I'm a walking skeleton. Where are the fat and muscle? How could you send this person to war?
But that's not the point. I don't see any wounds or scratches. Only bloodstains remain on my skin.
At a time like this, I need to take a bath to remove the grim and get a second check, but I can't do that.
I inspect further by removing the leather pants.
Nothing.
As for my assets, that's… impressive. Am I even human?
I put on the leather pants and leather armor. Then, I gaze at the half-eaten turkey. It's still floating in the beacon of golden light.
Was it because of the magical food?
Does it have the same healing effects as food items in the hack-and-slash games?
Whatever the case, I'm grateful. Actually, I want to keep the turkey to myself now.
I look at the crows. They are drooling, waiting for me to share more holy chicken.
Easy come, easy go. I sigh as I give up the magical turkey to these guys. Even though they could be assholes, I still believe they are fundamentally harmless.
It takes a while to distribute the remaining turkey. As soon as I stuff the last piece of vegetable into a begging crow nearby, the magical beacon and the plate vanish. The empty wine jar is also gone.
It's a pity. I could use a water container on my journey.
All plans have changed. I don't think I will die of a blood infection anymore. I have to come up with something quick and get ready for the night.
I turn away from the corpse-filled field and start walking. As soon as I pick up a short spear that seems to be in good condition, the surrounding crows part ways, but they still stare at me. As for the polite dude, it sits on my head.
"Hey, birb. My hair is not your nest." I jest with the crow.
"NEST! CAAA!"
"Okay, you're smart. I understand. But why my head?"
"ME FULL! ME HEAVY! CAAA!"
In short, this bozo ate so much that it couldn't fly.
"Anyway, are you a boy or a girl? Do you lay eggs or do you hump ladies?"
"CAAA!"
It flaps its wings. It doesn't seem to understand every word.
And thus, I have gotten a companion. No, MANY companions. The crows that I fed earlier follow us as I leave this place.