BVBFW-Chapter 15 – The Believer’s Story (2)

Chapter 15: The Believer’s Story (2)

The north was still northern, cold and desolate. A fierce wind blew and I could see an ice storm in the distance.

‘It’s only been less than a full day since I left, so it’s natural.’

Come to think of it, I had never left the north.

For over a hundred years, I did nothing but pass time. All I did was sleep in my nest and fly around the sky.

At first, it was because of the hope that I could return. I thought staying here would give me hints on how to go back. I thought if this place was the entrance, the exit would also be here.

But as time passed, nothing changed. The path back never appeared in the end.

I eventually accepted my fate and decided to live. Ten years passed. Fifty years went by, then over a hundred. After staying so long, it became awkward to leave.

In the meantime, I happened to meet Anne at the lake. The beginning wasn’t particularly pleasant, but it wasn’t bad either. Perhaps the change started from that day.

‘…Come to think of it, there was that pitch-black dragon too.’

A monster whose intention toward the village was clearly evil. A creature that possessed great power but only engaged in meaningless slaughter. The wicked one who ultimately made me use my power for the first time.

‘I wonder how Anne is doing?’

After Blue Sky left, I watched the village from afar.

I might really send Anne back to death’s side again. Though she said she understood and withdrew, her mind could change. If that happened, I was ready to stop her immediately.

Fortunately, a second confrontation with this world’s god didn’t occur. She wasn’t the type of god to say one thing and do another. Or perhaps clashing with me was burdensome for her.

“Let’s see. It was around here.”

I lowered my altitude to find the lake where I first met Anne.

Back then, I folded my wings and sat on the ground to quench my thirst. Now I descended carrying an inexplicable longing.

It had been over a hundred years since I stopped being human. Yet I still had a human heart remaining.

Looking at it this way, I might really be a monster. A being that was human but not human. I supposed I was a monster.

“….”

The day wasn’t harsh enough yet for the lake to freeze. Just in case, I sat nearby and waited endlessly. Though it was waiting without promise, I had plenty of time, so it was fine.

About an hour later, I sensed human presence.

It might not be Anne. It could be another human. If they saw me, they would be terrified. Anne was like that too. If it wasn’t that girl, I was ready to fly away immediately.

Looking back, it was pointless behavior though.

“Ah? Red Bird-nim?!”

The one who appeared with a fishing rod was none other than Anne. Upon seeing me, she threw away what she was holding.

“Red Bird-nim!”

Anne ran right up to me and smiled brightly at me. She didn’t fear or dread me. She wasn’t even tense. I could feel the joy of finally meeting someone she’d been waiting for.

“You finally came. I was waiting!”

Anne.

“You remember my name too!”

Of course. Forgetting Anne would be absolutely impossible.

She was the first human from this place I directly encountered. The first kind girl who spoke to me. The first flame I saved using my feather.

Have you been well?

At my question, Anne nodded with a smile. She also asked about my whereabouts, wondering where I had gone. Then she sat beside me and chattered away, telling me her stories.

“After Red Bird-nim left, many good things happened. All the bandits disappeared and the village was rebuilt. In the process, we merged completely with another village to become a bigger village.”

That was good news.

“Ah. Do you know? Recently, the Emperor came to our village! At first, I thought it was impossible, but people who said they saw him at the imperial palace gave us tremendous gifts!”

The Emperor. Do you know why he came?

“No. I don’t really know that. Not a single person told us. Maybe they gave us those gifts so we wouldn’t try to find out.”

She was quite perceptive. I liked Anne even more.

“Anyway. All of this is thanks to Red Bird-nim.”

At Anne’s words, I deliberately tilted my head. I meant to convey: But I didn’t really do anything?

“Red Bird-nim came to our village. Everything changed from that day. Many good things happened to the villagers. We saw the Emperor. Crops that always died when planted before now grow well, and fish are always caught well in the lake too!”

She said it was all my doing. It just seemed like good luck though?

“No! It’s all thanks to Red Bird-nim. I’m certain!”

She put her hand on her waist and spoke so confidently. I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Even if it was just empty words, I was grateful. I was even more grateful because it was sincere.

I too had inevitably been human once. Though I wasn’t human, I couldn’t completely discard my human heart.

Since I acted for someone’s sake, there was the temptation to receive gratitude. It wasn’t that I didn’t have the desire to reveal my existence.

It was just that I was a being who shouldn’t be in this place. An uninvited intruder shouldn’t cause a commotion. Perhaps not leaving the north was also for that reason.

“Thank you. Red Bird-nim. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to see you again like this.”

I was glad you seemed to be doing well.

After saying that, I observed Anne for a moment.

She wasn’t a girl of few words. She was bright and lively. Nevertheless, Anne didn’t ask that question until the end.

Anne.

“Yes, Red Bird-nim.”

Don’t you wonder who I am?

This very question. A question anyone would naturally have. Who are you? What kind of being are you exactly?

The bird was red. The bird was large. The bird even conveyed words. It was natural to have all sorts of curiosity and wonder.

I naturally expected Anne to ask about that. But this girl didn’t even approach that topic. Though she could ask the question, she absolutely wouldn’t voice it.

“…Yes. Red Bird-nim.”

Why?

“If you haven’t told me, there must be a reason. I’ve already received such tremendous grace from you, so I don’t want to ask such rude questions.”

At Anne’s answer, a slightly mischievous feeling raised its head. Perhaps it was the desire to test her.

What if I approached with other reasons? With evil intentions?

“Ah, um….”

Anne scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.

“It doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t be here in the first place if it weren’t for Red Bird-nim. And….”

Anne turned her gaze toward my face. Unlike our first meeting, she looked directly at me.

My reflection appeared in the girl’s pupils. A red bird filled a human’s pupils.

“Red Bird-nim would never be like that. Yes. Absolutely not. I didn’t know at first, but now I think I understand. You have the most upright eyes in the world.”

At Anne’s words, I reflexively looked down at the lake. Upright eyes. They were just somewhat unusual eyes, that was all.

Hmm. Is this what they call flattery?

“Ah?! Did it sound like that?”

Seeing my mood improve, it was certainly effective flattery.

I briefly stopped talking and turned my eyes to the sky. After briefly pondering whether to speak or not, I finally made a decision.

Actually, you see. I came from somewhere else outside.

“Somewhere else outside… you mean?”

Yes. Um. Should I call it another world?

I could have deceived Anne. I considered making something up appropriately. But instead, I decided to tell her honestly.

“Somewhere else outside… another world….”

The title Blue Sky used when looking at me was Foreign God. Literally a god from outside. An intruder. One who shouldn’t exist.

That wouldn’t be different even for Anne. Though I was a good being, being someone who shouldn’t be here was no different.

“Um, then… was Red Bird-nim a god from that outside world?”

God? God, huh. If I had to classify it, I was a god. Jujak. A Divine Beast. Though an animal, I was indeed a god.

That would probably be right? There was a name they called me there, but I didn’t know what to call it here.

“If I should call you by that name, please let me know!”

No. Come to think of it, I thought Red Bird-nim that Anne called me might be better.

“No! The title Red Bird-nim was also something I decided on my own. If you’re truly a great being, I think this is also rude.”

Even though I, the person in question, said it was fine, Anne was stubborn. Her reason was that it bothered her to carelessly address a great being.

“Since Red Bird-nim said you are a god from the outside world… um, god from the outside world… should I call you Out? Outer? Outer God?”

At Anne’s words, I vigorously shook my head. Outer God? I wasn’t from the ancient horror side. I didn’t want to become a source of fear that made people tremble just by looking.

Just Red Bird is sufficient.

“But….”

That name is more friendly, isn’t it? Can you do that for me?

I didn’t know about others, but I wanted Anne to call me this way. The first person I directly met and encountered. The first person I exchanged greetings with. It seemed quite fine to treat at least one person intimately.

At my persuasion, Anne finally agreed to do so. She also said she would call me by my true name whenever I told her.

Rather, true name. True name, huh. I looked at my body reflected in the lake. A large red bird. This form was definitely Jujak among the Divine Beasts. For some reason, this name Jujak felt somewhat embarrassing.

It happened to gain another meaning in my world too. If it had been Azure Dragon or White Tiger, I might have introduced myself confidently.

At the same time.

“Is this the place?”

“Indeed. It’s a desolate land. It seems like a land untouched by God’s love.” 

“Foolish. God exists everywhere.”

“I misspoke.”

The Order’s Twelve Generals had reached the northern land.