Ghoul Evolution

Chapter 42: Trust fate

As Oliver and Ahreum continued glaring at each other while Theo and Korre desperately tried to calm them down, the owl suddenly let out its signature cry.

"Hoooo..."

Everyone immediately turned toward it and the owl itstelf was looking between Oliver and Ahreum.

Its neck twisted almost ninety degrees to one side and then ninety degrees to the other in that eerie owl-like manner.

And somehow, they all could tell that the owl was looking at them with an expression that said,

’You idiots.’

Oliver clicked his tongue and looked away while Ahreum snorted and turned her face in the opposite direction.

Neither of them wanted to stop arguing, but neither of them wanted to argue in front of a beast that could casually kill monsters the size of mountains either.

The owl shook its head again and then, to everyone’s surprise, it slowly flew toward Ahreum.

Ahreum’s expression immediately changed as she instinctively tried to move backward.

"W-Wait..."

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much space on the small boat, and she soon found herself trapped there.

Meanwhile Oliver watched the scene with amusement.

’By your own logic...’

’Since this beast is paying special attention to you, shouldn’t YOU have some beast taming attribute too?’

’Bitch.’

Still, he kept those thoughts to himself and continued observing what the owl wanted.

The owl gently landed on Ahreum’s lap and she immediately stiffened.

Her entire body trembled as if she didn’t even dare breathe loudly. She looked at the owl and then at everyone else with an expression that screamed,

’Please save me.’

But before Ahreum could do anything else, a faint green glow suddenly spread from the owl’s body and its emerald eyes began shining brightly and the same green light slowly surrounded Ahreum.

Everyone’s expression changed as they looked at her.

"What the hell?" Korre blurted out as she instinctively stood up.

Theo’s reaction was even greater.

"Hey!" he shouted as he gripped the wooden sword that he had summoned earlier. "What are you doing to Noona?!"

He was just about to rush forward but before he could, the owl slowly turned its head toward him.

Its glowing green eyes stared directly into Theo’s and then it slowly shook its head.

Just once.

Theo froze, not because he was afraid but because, for some reason, he instinctively felt that he shouldn’t interfere.

The green glow around Ahreum grew brighter and her tense expression gradually relaxed and then she slowly closed her eyes.

It was as if she had fallen asleep.

Or perhaps...as if her consciousness had been pulled somewhere far away.

"Ahreum?"

Korre called out nervously, but unfortunately, there was no response.

Oliver frowned as he too looked between the owl and Ahreum.

’What the hell is this bird doing now?’

The owl looked just as serious as him as he looked between them as Ahreum kept sleeping.

Oliver sighed as he looked at the owl again and simply asked,

"Ahem...so what exactly are you doing to her?"

The owl looked at him with an intrigued expression for a few moments. Then it opened its beak and responded confidently,

"Skree...Hoot hoot."

Oliver stared blankly.

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration while staring at the owl. Unfortunately, the owl seemed just as frustrated as him.

It shook its head again in its weird owl-like manner, twisting its neck almost unnaturally and then...

It raised one wing and pointed toward the direction they had been travelling earlier.

Oliver blinked as he looked there too.

"Ah...Should we go there...towards that direction?"

The owl immediately nodded and then it pointed at Ahreum who was sleeping peacefully near it and made a few more sounds while flapping its wings around.

"Skreee. Hoot. Hoot."

Oliver frowned.

"I still have no idea what you’re saying."

The owl froze and for a moment, it stared at him silently.

Then it slowly lowered its head and sighed.

Yes, it actually sighed.

Oliver’s eyes widened as he could feel that the owl’s thoughts toward him weren’t exactly positive. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

"Hey!"

’Wow! Even an owl thinks that I am an idiot.’

The owl ignored him and meanwhile, Korre quietly moved closer to Oliver and whispered near his ear.

"Don’t tell me we’re actually going to believe this owl."

She glanced nervously at Ahreum before continuing,

"Who knows what it’s planning? It has been acting strange from the start."

Oliver nodded as he understood where she was coming from.

But...

"Look," he whispered back. "It saved all our lives."

He paused for a moment and continued,

"And mine twice."

Korre sighed.

"Doesn’t that make it even more suspicious?"

She glanced at the owl warily.

"Why would a beast this strong save us? And now only the gods know what it’s doing to Ahreum and we can’t even help her."

Oliver instinctively looked toward Ahreum who was sleeping peacefully.

The green glow around her had faded a little and her expression seemed far calmer than usual.

Honestly...

He didn’t like her personality all that much and they had just fought moments ago.

But after spending days together, living together and almost dying together...he couldn’t help but feel some kind of kinship toward her.

"I don’t think it wants to hurt her," Oliver finally said.

Theo, who had been standing beside the owl this entire time, suddenly walked toward them.

"Maybe the owl is right."

Both Oliver and Korre looked at him as Theo pointed toward the direction the owl had indicated.

"I think we should go there."

Korre looked genuinely surprised as Theo was usually the most sensible person among them regarding stuff related to survival.

If even he agreed...

"Why do you think so?" she asked. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

Theo sighed softly.

"Firstly..."

He pointed at Goldie who was currently sitting proudly on Oliver’s shoulder.

"Oliver’s squirrel pointed toward this direction."

He then looked at Ahreum while scratching his cheek awkwardly.

"Secondly, Ahreum Noona insisted on crossing the river."

"Maybe she had selfish reasons. But..."

"I don’t think she was lying."

He then looked at the owl.

"And now, even this thing is telling us the same."

Theo smiled helplessly as he shrugged.

"At some point..."

"I think we just have to trust fate a little."