I Became a Mountain Tiger in a Fantasy World

< Chapter 7: Essence of the Sky >

I diligently licked my paws with my rough tongue.

It was called grooming, but honestly, I didn’t know why I was doing it right now.

It was an instinctive act, like shaking your leg out of nervousness, or fiddling with a pen as if you weren’t anxious at all.

‘What? Did I see it wrong?’

I pretended to lick my front paw while glaring into the darkness.

‘Is there nothing there?’

It definitely felt like there was something.

The reason I was startled was because the shadow hiding in the bush looked like a person.

It definitely hid in the bush and walked on ‘two legs’.

At a glance, it seemed like it was holding a weapon.

‘Damn it.’

A curse slipped out involuntarily.

Was it a human, a demi-human, or a humanoid monster?

Tingles ran down my spine, and my nerves were on high alert.

‘Danger.’

My wild instincts screamed.

Knowing how to handle a weapon meant high intelligence.

The fact that such a creature saw this place meant…

‘Reconnaissance!’

This was serious. Emergency! Emergency!

In the worst case, I might have to fight against a group of them.

“Grr! Grr!”

I jumped into the nest of the Savage Beak, jumped out again, and this time buried my body in the feathers, sticking only my head out.

‘What should I do?’

I wanted to stay calm, but I simply couldn’t.

I’m just a tiger cub and the opponent had a weapon!

I pondered.

What if the opponent was human?

If they had a sword or a bow, the best plan was to run away unconditionally.

If they suddenly used aura, sword energy, or magic, how could I possibly win?

I needed to leave here immediately.

Just as I made up my mind and was about to step out of the nest.

“Grr.”

I remembered the elixir that Brother Savage Beak was guarding.

……What should I do about that?

‘Wait, come to think of it?’

I stared at the plant emitting the energy.

A thought flashed through my mind.

‘What if they’re after this elixir?’

With such strong energy, the surrounding monsters would definitely have an inkling of the elixir’s existence.

They simply wouldn’t approach recklessly because this was Brother Savage Beak’s territory.

‘Furthermore, this is a high cliff.’

Large beasts climbing the cliff would mostly die from being attacked by Brother Beak.

Yes, certainly, this cliff was a barrier that beasts couldn’t easily cross.

But if the ones after the elixir had intelligence?

‘Damn it!’

I hurried outside and looked down the cliff.

Focusing my vision and straining my eyes, I saw it.

-Keruk!

I spotted suspicious figures entering from the opposite slope of the cliff.

There were over a dozen of them, even carrying gleaming blades.

The puzzle was now completely solved.

They had definitely found a ‘detour’ to attack this place.

‘Those bastards!’

The good news was that they weren’t human.

If humans made noises like ‘keruk,’ that would be crossing the line.

Anyway, I needed to leave here as soon as possible.

‘That was close.’

I checked their entry route and began searching for an escape route.

How could I contact Brother Beak?

I couldn’t leave a note.

Damn, what should I do with the elixir? My head was spinning.

If I just left it, it would surely be taken!

‘Hmm.’

I went to Brother Beak’s nest and stared intently at the plant emitting energy.

‘Damn it.’

There was only one option I could think of right now.

Brother, I’m sorry.

* * *

“Elixir of the Sky?”

Count Friedrich of Bloodmoon looked up at Lia’s question.

“Yes! They say the Sigmund Magic Tower is going to create an elixir comparable to the Elixir of the Sky.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

Lia handed over a parchment labeled ‘Magic Tower Magazine.’ Friedrich glanced at it seriously and then shook his head in disappointment.

“Those wizards, always boasting.”

“What? Why?”

Lia asked, her eyes wide open. It seemed that with no experience in society, Lia had been completely taken in by the false advertisement.

Friedrich kindly explained further.

“It’s not the first time the Magic Tower has announced research achievements involving the ‘Dragon Heart’ or ‘Elixir.’”

“Really? Did the Magic Tower make all those?”

“No.”

Friedrich remembered the gold coins he lost thanks to the Magic Tower and gave a bitter smile.

“Ten years ago, the Magic Tower made a similar announcement. Back then, it was the ‘Dragon Heart’… They said the research period would be five years, and many nobles expressed their intention to invest in the tower.”

“No way…?”

Friedrich spoke with a sorrowful expression.

“Yes. I invested too.”

“Gasp! The investment you lost 1000 pounds on was with the Magic Tower?!”

“Ahem…”

For reference, 1000 pounds (gold bullion) was more than double the annual budget of a poor territory (baron). For the Count of Bloodmoon, it was equivalent to about a third of their annual income.

…Back then, Friedrich had to endure nagging in front of his children.

In fact, it was fortunate that it ended with just that.

Even now, the memory was painful.

Foolishly, Friedrich had dreamed of becoming a billionaire in five years.

Damn it! When is the Dragon Heart Market going to bounce back…!

“If the Dragon Heart ever gets developed!”

“Sigh, they’re complete scammers.”

“Hmm.”

Friedrich shook his head again.

His daughter had learned a big lesson from his mistake, and that was enough.

Wait, why was his vision suddenly blurry?

“Jeez. So, we can’t get the Elixir of the Sky?”

“By the way, why do you suddenly need the Elixir of the Sky?”

“I mentioned it before, I want to use it to develop a new spell.”

Ah, that ridiculous… was what he almost said. But looking into the elixir, it seemed like something serious was going on.

Sure enough, Lia’s eyes sparkled as she pleaded.

“Dad! Can you buy me the Elixir of the Sky?!”

“Hmph.”

“You will, right?! It costs less than half of what you lost! And you earn much more now!!”

“…Ahem.”

“My dear, what are you talking about?”

Friedrich shook his head, struggling to hold back tears.

“Unfortunately, it’s hard to get the ‘genuine’ Essence of the Sky.”

“What?”

The Essence of the Sky was a unique elixir that grew with a spiritual creature. It was said that this essence, created by the condensed power of the sky and wind, could enhance physical abilities and bring mental tranquility just by consuming it.

And,

“The Essence of the Sky grants the power of fire to the falcon that guards it.”

“I know that too!”

Lia responded with a disgruntled tone.

“But it’s just a falcon, right? Can’t we get it easily if we take a knight with us?”

“Hmm.”

Friedrich nodded. It seemed Lia only knew about the benefits of the Essence of the Sky but wasn’t aware of the nature of the spiritual creature guarding it.

“The creature guarding the Essence of the Sky is different from ordinary falcons.”

“Really?”

“Yes. If it faces the danger of losing the essence, it becomes ‘wrathful.’”

“Does that mean it goes berserk?”

“Something like that.”

Friedrich pondered how to explain it to his daughter and then nodded.

“When it becomes wrathful, its strength surpasses that of a griffin.”

“What?! A griffin? The one that guards the World Tree?”

“Yes.”

“That’s impossible!”

A griffin is a monster that can easily take down three or four knights alone. This meant they would need a commander-level knight, at least as strong as a Banneret Knight. At that point, it would essentially be a war. Considering the cost of the Essence of the Sky, it wasn’t worth the effort.

Moreover, the Essence of the Sky wasn’t an elixir for knights or wizards to consume. If one wasn’t a tamer who raised spiritual creatures, it was better to look for other elixirs.

“So that’s why you said it was hard to get!”

“Exactly. If that falcon becomes wrathful……”

It would bring disaster to the entire area.

“Everything would turn to ashes.”

***

Meanwhile, at that very moment, Savage Beak was preparing a ‘special meal.’

“Caw!”

A small animal’s face flashed through his mind. It was his younger sibling who had awakened him to the taste of meat for the first time, always calling him ‘brother, brother.’

And that wasn’t all. His sibling was the one who taught him courage. Furthermore, his sibling had the potential to become a ruler one day, making it impossible not to feel attached.

With satisfaction, Savage Beak lifted his prey. On his way to hunt, he had also discovered some rare, beneficial herbs in this valley. It was an exceptionally lucky day.

But then,

“Someone has stolen the ‘Essence of the Sky.’”

An unexpected alarm sounded in his mind.

Savage Beak hurried back to his nest.

Near the nest, vicious goblins from the other side of the valley were already surrounding the area.

Those bastards dare?

Anger surged, but Savage Beak first tried to detect the presence of the Essence of the Sky.

Nothing.

He could even sense that the flower where the essence had formed was broken.

“Kiiiiiiiii!”

Savage Beak’s pupils instantly began to blaze with fire.

As he was consumed by immense rage, his rationality was paralyzed, and his beak became sharper and harder.

“Caw!”

A roar, unimaginable from a raptor, erupted from him as his body accelerated. The goblins surrounding the nest were struck by something and instantly flung away in all directions.

“Grrr!”

“Kiyaa!”

The startled goblins shrieked and scattered. An old goblin holding a large wooden staff stepped forward.

“Krruk! Stop, Savage Beak!”

“……!”

Savage Beak silently stared at the orb the old goblin shaman held out.

The shaman chanted something while holding the crystal ball, and soon the ball projected a vision of the memory left on the ground.

“…Krruk.”

It was the image of the intruder who had entered his nest.

A small creature hesitated for a long time as if contemplating something, then reached out to the essence.

“Kiaaaa!”

Savage Beak’s pupils trembled violently.

Unbelievable.

He flew quickly to check inside the nest himself.

The flower that had held the Essence of the Sky was dead.

The clear claw marks around it made it evident who the thief was.

Seeing the small animal’s footprints in the disordered nest, Savage Beak let out a sorrowful cry.

“We, will help, you!”

“…….”

The old goblin shaman raised the crystal ball once more. It showed Savage Beak the location of the small creature.

Savage Beak stared at the crystal ball with wavering eyes.

The image showed the small creature, now stronger, breaking through the goblins’ encirclement and escaping.

Sensing the lingering essence on it, Savage Beak’s eyes turned completely cloudy with rage.

Tap, tap-tap!

His anger manifested as blazing flames completely covered his feathers.

“Kiiiiii!”

Engulfed in fierce anger, Savage Beak soared into the sky.

Whoosh!

The goblin shaman, who had been staring blankly at the rapidly departing Savage Beak, finally spoke.

“Prepare!”