Chapter 1 – The Red Bird

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: The Red Bird

One day, I became a bird.

It was strange and confusing. Wings instead of two arms. A beak instead of a mouth. Feathers instead of clothes.

I saw myself reflected in the lake and couldn’t help but laugh. What was reflected was a bird making strange sounds with its beak.

100 years later. I gradually became accustomed to this body. I accepted that I was no longer human. Naturally, my fear disappeared too. When I gave up the desire to go back, I began to look around me.

‘This isn’t Earth.’

Looking at the land below and the people with a distinctly medieval feel, I thought. It was bewildering enough to become a divine beast, but to have fallen into a fantasy world.

‘I’m sleepy.’

After circling the area once, drowsiness poured over me. This place was blown by storms carrying snow and ice through all four seasons. I blocked the cold with flames, but when the cold grew stronger, unbearable sleepiness would wash over me.

Come to think of it, my body seemed to have shrunk considerably from when I first arrived. Because I couldn’t eat… no, that wasn’t it. I didn’t feel hunger. Just drinking melted ice water, even the cool air was sufficient.

‘Is it because of the cold?’

I thought I should move to another place, but I gave up. I hated the cold. I didn’t know how long it would take, and I wondered if I should do that.

I should sleep. I returned to the nest I had stayed in for 100 years and lay down my body. When will I wake up? In a month? In a year? It didn’t matter anymore.

My previous life gradually became blurry. I accepted my current self. Living like this isn’t so bad. I have no human worries anymore.

“…”

I raised my body. Outside, another ice storm was blowing. I didn’t want to go out. The colder it got, the deeper the sense of helplessness found me. If the reason for shrinking was really because of the cold, then staying here was beneficial.

After thinking for a moment, I spread my wings. Flames bloomed between the feathers.

The commotion grew stronger. It wasn’t far from my nest. I don’t like being interfered with, but I hate noise even more. I hated even more the idea of suffering damage and having to leave this place.

The cold penetrated my body. I flapped my wings more strongly. As the flames grew fiercer, I felt somewhat better. I really hated the cold. Finally arriving at the source of the commotion, two beings came into view.

‘Humans, and a dragon.’

What could have happened for them to be engaged in such a bloody battle? Curiosity arose for a moment, but I just watched for now.

I judged that it wasn’t my business to interfere. They had their own circumstances, so they should resolve it themselves. If they were the same people as before, I might not know, but I was a bird.

—KRAAAA!

The dragon staggered under attacks pouring from all directions. The humans attacked even more fiercely. Magic and sword energy poured down.

As the tide of battle turned, the dragon suddenly turned its body. It wasn’t running away. It was heading toward the village visible over there. Its pride wounded, it intended to take out its anger on the village people.

I had no intention of interfering, but my body moved reflexively. I folded my wings and descended toward the ground at high speed. Indiscriminate slaughter. Unpleasant. It was right to stop it.

I folded my wings powerfully and then spread them. Enormous flames covered the sky. The storm that had been raging throughout the world subsided, and the ice melted away. Sensing something strange, the dragon that was about to attack the village looked at me.

—KWARRREUK!

Flames engulfed the dragon. It became a giant log and burned. The heat was so tremendous that not even ashes remained.

‘This should keep the village safe, right?’

Drowsiness washed over me again. I had stayed in the cold place too long. I had flapped my wings a lot to come here and used flames too.

Without looking back, I returned to my nest. I surrendered my body to the pouring sleep.

“Press the attack!”

The Steel Knight, Delfin, a woman who had defeated countless evil beings and earned the epithet ‘Sword of the Empire’.

Without a doubt, this battle was the most difficult fight for her.

‘The Demon Dragon absolutely cannot reach the village!’

Several villages in the west had already disappeared without a trace. She had pursued the Demon Dragon, the enemy of many, for a full three years. And finally, she had caught it here in the northern part of the continent.

[You insignificant insects!]

Every wave of Dragon Fear shakes my very mind. Even if corrupted, a dragon was still a dragon. Certainly a terrible opponent.

“Kugh!”

The Demon Dragon’s tail struck Delfin’s torso hard. Even wearing armor made by dwarves, the impact was great. As she staggered but stood up, a warm sensation enveloped her body.

“Are you alright, Delfin?”

High Priest of the Order of Light, Luciel. The woman closest to becoming the next saint infused her with divine power.

The pain faded and vitality and vigor returned to her body. Leaving a word of thanks, Delfin attacked the Demon Dragon again. Sword energy flew and carved deep wounds in the dragon’s scales.

“Now!”

The waiting mages unleashed a barrage. Magic didn’t work on dragons. But it was different when the scales were peeled off.

[KRAAAAA!!]

The Demon Dragon, bombarded by magic, let out a pained cry. This much wouldn’t threaten its life. It was just painful and stinging. But when damage accumulated, an opportunity would surely come.

“Delfin!”

The area near the Dragon Heart that the Demon Dragon had been desperately protecting was open.

Luciel recited a prayer to strengthen Delfin’s body. The mages attacked in unison, slowing down the Demon Dragon.

“HAAA!”

With a resounding battle cry, Delfin’s sword pierced the Demon Dragon’s chest. Red blood spurted out and the Demon Dragon let out another agonized scream.

‘It went in!’

She had pierced the hide. If she destroyed the Dragon Heart like this, it would be their victory.

‘Just a little more. Just a little more!’

She pushed the sword into the center of the writhing enormous mana.

“Delfin!”

At Luciel’s urgent cry, Delfin quickly pulled back. If there had been just a little more time, she could have severed its lifeline. But it was okay. An attack that had succeeded once could succeed twice.

[I shall bestow despair upon you.]

They had thought they had the upper hand, but it was a misjudgment. As the subjugation party tried to catch their breath, the Demon Dragon soared into the air.

“No, no! Catch it! Somehow!” [Too late, insects.]

The Demon Dragon enjoyed slaughter. Its targets were those who could not resist. Where it went, only death and burnt ashes were left behind.

“The Demon Dragon is heading toward the village!”

Right now. Before their eyes. The Demon Dragon was trying to cause another tragedy.

“Kuk!”

She couldn’t shoot it down. She couldn’t catch up either. It was impossible for Delfin. Impossible for her as she was now. Unless she paid a corresponding price.

‘One year? No, would three years be needed?’

For fire to burn, firewood was needed. In Delfin’s case, that firewood was her own lifespan.

She put her lifespan on one side of the scales to balance the weight. Then she gained momentary power on the other side.

“Delfin! Don’t tell me you’re going to use the Scales…!” “There’s no choice, Luciel. This is for the best.”

Rather than regretting not being able to save the villagers from the Demon Dragon, It was better to use that much lifespan to kill it.

Her resolve was set. Delfin cut her palm with her sword. Soon blood stained the ground, offering a sacrifice for the Scales.

O Scales of Balance. I, Delfin Lionheart, beseech thee.

—WHIIIIIU!

After offering a just price and on the other side of power…

“…Huh?”

Fortunately, Delfin’s Scales did not tip.

The flesh-cutting cold wind stopped. The fierce ice storm disappeared.

Heat that felt hot rather than warm. Warmth that could never be felt in this harsh north.

“Luciel? Did you perhaps use divine power?”

“No, Delfin.”

“Then this is…”

She had cut her palm. There was so much blood. The wound had disappeared as if washed clean. Not even a scar had remained. All that could be felt was faint heat and warm temperature.

The sky beyond where the Demon Dragon had disappeared burned. In red light. In golden light. Now in brilliant colors.

“Ah, ahhh.”

Delfin. Luciel. All the subjugation party members. Even the Demon Dragon that had been heading toward the village. All lost their minds to that flame and light.

—KWARRREUK!

The mighty Demon Dragon’s body was engulfed in flames. The dragon’s body that had withstood sword energy and magic. Known to be unharmable by any material.

[KRAAAK!]

It melted away. Became ash and scattered. Scales. Hide. Flesh and bone. Even the heart. The very existence called Demon Dragon was erased from the world.

The world became more deeply red. Filled with golden light. Beyond, something could be seen gliding leisurely through the sky.

Beautiful enough to bring tears to the eyes. Frightening enough to raise goosebumps.

Even though it was so far away. Even though it looked so small.

Delfin could instinctively know. At this moment, the Demon Dragon’s words had been right. She was nothing but a mere insect.

The heat subsided. The warmth disappeared. The colorful world returned to monochrome. Cold arrived and snow and ice swirled again.

Only after the being beyond the sky had completely disappeared.

“…HAAK! HAK!”

Delfin. Luciel. The subjugation party members. Everyone could sit down and catch their breath.

‘What the hell. What the hell was that.’

Clutching her madly pounding heart. Trying to compose her trembling body. Delfin tried to understand this situation.

She had fought countless beings until now. Even such a Delfin had never experienced anything like this.

It wasn’t a matter of being strong or evil. The very class was different. Even the word “distant” was insufficient. It was hard even to accept what she had witnessed.

“O God…”

Luciel shed tears and offered prayers. Not opening the scriptures as usual. But toward the direction where the great being had disappeared.

Watching that sight, Delfin clasped her hands together. She knew that God didn’t always answer prayers. Since she was a soul that dealt with Scales.

But. Even so. Today, Delfin also prayed earnestly.

Please let there be no occasion to fight that being. Let there be no moment when we become enemies.