Free Web NovelChapter 41: The lion and the witch
While Oliver was still wondering about the strange owl-mare, the battle beneath the river had already ended.
The waters suddenly calmed down and moments later, the giant horse emerged from the depths. There wasn’t even a scratch on its body while behind it floated the corpse of the gigantic sea beast.
Seeing that absurdly huge creature dead so easily, Oliver couldn’t help but gulp.
’Just how strong is this thing?’
Oliver was now certain that it wouldn’t hurt them, after all it had already saved him twice now.
The others, however, obviously didn’t know that. Theo subconsciously summoned his sword while Ahreum and even Korre had a wary look on their face as they stared at the approaching beast.
As soon as it reached the surface, golden light covered its body once more.
Strange runes flashed around once again as its gigantic frame slowly began shrinking. Its shining white fur disappeared while snow-white feathers appeared in their place once more.
Within a few breaths, the gigantic horse was gone and a small owl floated gently above the river, no bigger than an ordinary owl.
Oliver blinked twice as he stared at it.
’Has it gotten weaker?’
’Or is it just more comfortable like this?’
The owl, meanwhile, flapped its wings and slowly approached their boat.
"It’s coming!" Theo exclaimed as everyone instinctively stumbled backward.
The sudden movement caused the boat to sway violently and Ahreum immediately cursed at them to stop moving. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
The owl, however, didn’t seem to care at all as it landed lightly on the edge of the boat and calmly sat there.
It was neither too close and nor was it too far. It was almost as if it knew exactly how much distance humans needed to feel safe.
Then, slowly, it turned its head toward Goldie.
The owl gave a strange expression and Goldie stared back for a second before getting out of Oliver’s grip and then it suddenly smacked the owl right on its face with its fluffy tail.
Oliver almost stopped breathing as his eyes widened in disbelief.
’Goldie, you rat... do you wanna kill me?’
Theo looked horrified while Korre gasped softly and even Ahreum instinctively closed her eyes.
That owl had just killed a sea beast larger than mountains and now this stupid squirrel had casually slapped it in the face.
Fortunately for them, the owl didn’t seem angry and instead, it tilted its head and gave another strange expression.
Goldie crossed its tiny arms and started making noises back at it. The two beasts continued exchanging strange cries as if they were having an actual conversation.
Oliver frowned as he watched them as something about this interaction felt strange. freёweɓnovel.com
’Do they know each other?’
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one thinking that as Ahreum narrowed her eyes and looked at him suspiciously.
"Oliver, you know this... owl?"
Oliver froze. How was he supposed to explain this? That he had met it when he first arrived in this crazy world and that it had casually saved his life?
After staying silent for a few seconds, he simply decided to tell the truth. "Remember when I told you guys that the first beast I met here was an Aberration-ranked monster?"
Everyone nodded as their focus turned to him from the owl.
"Well," Oliver scratched his cheek awkwardly, "like I said, I didn’t kill that thing."
He pointed at the owl and explained further.
"It did... and I guess it kinda saved me."
"Kinda?" Korre repeated after him.
"What do you mean kinda?"
Oliver shrugged his shoulder helplessly as he stared at her.
"I don’t know. It saved me and then just flew away, I even got to keep that beast’s soul core and meat."
Theo nodded thoughtfully as he looked at Oliver, then at Goldie and finally at the owl.
"You know, beasts seem strangely drawn to you."
He rubbed his chin and continued, "You sure you don’t have an attribute related to taming or communicating with beasts?"
Ahreum immediately nodded too as she stared at him accusingly. "He’s right. I asked you before too and you said no, you liar."
Oliver rolled his eyes at her as he really hated the way she was accusing him right now.
’I am not even lying.’
’The lion, the witch and the audacity of this fucking bitch.’
He looked at Ahreum with the exact same deadpan expression she always gave him.
"Look, don’t blame me. When we first reached the riverbank, I literally told you guys that we should find another route."
He pointed his finger at her accusingly.
"You were the one who kept saying stuff like, ’I just know we’re supposed to cross this river’ and ’Let’s make a boat.’"
Theo looked between them while Korre quickly tried to stop them as she could see that this argument was getting serious.
Ahreum’s face instantly turned red as she looked at him as if she felt that Oliver had gone too far.
"You—!" she shouted angrily. "You never even asked why I wanted to cross the river!"
"Your friends wanted to help you deal with your past trauma or whatever and I just went along with it. How was I supposed to know that your grand plan was to blindly sail down a river filled with monsters the size of mountains?"
Ahreum’s eyes widened as she looked at him with hurt in her eyes.
"My...my trauma? It...it has nothing to do with this!"
"Oh really?" Oliver scoffed. "Then maybe explain why you were acting all sad and saying crap like ’I just know this is the right path.’"
"I—I just felt it!"
"Exactly!" Oliver threw his hands in the air. "You felt it! That’s not a plan, that’s gambling with our lives!"
Ahreum clenched her fists and glared at him.
"And yet we’re still alive!"
"Not because of you!" Oliver immediately shot back. "We’re alive because some absurd beast decided to save our asses!"
The two glared at each other as the atmosphere instantly became tense.
Oliver was about to continue when suddenly a soft hand grabbed his. He looked down and saw Korre smiling helplessly at him.
"Hey, calm down Oliver." She gently squeezed his hand. "You know how Ahreum is. She isn’t blaming you, she just..."
Korre glanced at Ahreum for a moment before finishing her sentence.
"...has a terrible personality."
