CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53 "TESSKE CROW TRANSFORMATION TECHNIQUE

Without directly touching, he picked up a branch cautiously and poked around the belongings of the Crow Witch.

He didn’t touch the bottles and jars without labels, although there were some processed herbs he could use himself. But Aiven wasn’t sure if he’d have the courage to consume anything prepared from the Crow Witch’s materials...

Just when Aiven thought he might not gain anything, he found a tightly kept parchment scroll in its embrace. The slightly yellowed parchment scroll was housed in a reddish-brown leather case, markedly different in style from its other shabby belongings.

No time to inspect further, he stuffed it directly into his backpack. He could hear the battle finishing over there, and he didn’t know how the Crowmen would react to these peculiar spoils, Aiven didn’t want to brawl with them again.

Indeed.

Shortly after the battle concluded, a roaring fire ignited, the ensuing stench causing Aiven to grimace, as he didn’t have the Crowman’s "anti-toxin mask".

Leaving one behind to watch the flames, Saber and another Crowman approached, reeking of burnt odor.

"Injured?" Aiven noticed a bandage wrapped around Saber’s left arm, indicating some difficulty in movement.

"It’s no problem, just a minor injury. The Crow Witch’s mental misdirection was too strong; even the Silver Talisman couldn’t fend it off completely." This was no secret, Saber had no intention of hiding it from Aiven.

As they conversed, the Crowman who accompanied him poured incendiary oil on the Crow Witch’s corpse, igniting it directly. The blazing fire accompanied by a charred smell made them all involuntarily step back a few paces.

"Is it always this straightforward and crude when your Crowmen deal with Demons? You don’t even gather the spoils?" Aiven was somewhat puzzled by their methods, or perhaps they simply had enough money.

"The Crow Witch is primarily an Innately Awakened Witch, even transformed into a Crow Witch, she retains wisdom. The demonized organs of intelligent creatures, after death, are difficult to extract; most simply dissipate." Having fought alongside one another, their relationship had grown closer, Saber patiently explained.

"But as Demons, even after death, their corpses and remaining magic power serve as sources of pollution, potentially spawning other anomalies. Leaving them unchecked is not an option; burning cleanses thoroughly."

Actually, there’s another method he didn’t mention.

The corpses of certain valuable Demons or Extraordinary individuals are reclaimed and sent to the Crowman team’s research department, transformed anew into talismans, weapons, and potions that Crowmen equip, the darker, bloodier aspects of which are not shared with outsiders.

The blaze illuminated their faces with redness, Aiven felt some sentiment within.

The practice of witchcraft in this world is fraught with dangers. Cases like the Crow Witch, affected by witchcraft, resulting in transformation of shape and race, are only one instance among innumerable worse than death risks.

But giving up the wizard’s power is absolutely impossible for him.

"Mr. Aiven, thank you for your contribution to the Kingdom."

"It was nothing, just what I should do."

These few words marked the end of their collaboration.

Soon, both parties parted ways, Aiven headed back to Gabred, while the Crowmen continued into the swamp, searching for the Crow Witch’s corpse killed by Aiven.

Before departing, Saber left Aiven an address, suggesting he contact them directly if he encountered similar anomalies in the future.

Despite having established basic mutual acknowledgment, Aiven didn’t wish to get too entangled with them, remembering that besides being an Official Knight, he is also a Wizard Apprentice they deemed hostile. Unsure of their true attitude, it’s better to maintain distance.

Returning to his residence in Gabred, it was already quite late.

After quickly showering and changing clothes, Aiven eagerly retrieved his loot for examination.

Parchments that undergo special treatment are typically the best medium for wizards to record mysterious knowledge. Aiven believed the one in his possession was no exception.

Now as a Wizard Apprentice, lack of related mysterious knowledge was his biggest deficit.

If this parchment recorded the spiritual witchcraft the Crow Witch once used, it would be perfect. Not only is it swift and covert, but also mighty, making Aiven covet.

Admittedly, even an Apprentice level Crow Witch could visibly affect him, an Official Knight; from a peer, its power should substantially exceed this.

Combined with his Knight level combat prowess, surely it’d yield miraculous results.

Yet Aiven was aware, this possibility was very slim.

Spiritual witchcraft originally stemmed from innate magic-like technique as witches, an inborn talent. Without knowledgeable wizard intervention, long-term analysis to convert it into general witchcraft, others are unlikely to learn or record it.

Indeed.

After preparing precautions, opening the parchment revealed neatly written "Spiritual Text", documenting some mysterious knowledge.

But the title was "Tesske Crow Transformation Technique".

Aiven had braced himself mentally, not disappointed; indeed, any mysterious knowledge at this stage was what he yearned for.

Upon further inspection, the parchment densely covered in text and illustrations, authored by "Tesske", detailed the bird transformation witchcraft targeting crows. Whether its application of magic potion, required rituals, or accompanying spells were thoroughly detailed.

Instantly, in Aiven’s mind flashed those Demonized Crows capable of using "Lost Will" witchcraft, likely the fruits of this witchcraft research.

The transformed pets wielding witchcraft left a deep impression on Aiven. Seeing this, Aiven secretly declared his luck good, believing this to be the most valuable witchcraft knowledge possessed aside from spiritual witchcraft.

Unsure if this witchcraft was the human-era research of the Crow Witch’s three sisters or acquired elsewhere.

But it didn’t hinder Aiven from beginning his first apprentice-level topic. Combining "Bird Language Potion" and "Tesske Crow Transformation Technique", crafting his own unique witchcraft.

Thick-skinned Aiven even thought of a name for the new witchcraft: Galliot Bird Transformation Technique!

So, over the next two weeks, Aiven plunged into busyness.

The following day Aiven, taking the prepared "Whale Potion", resumed his gourmet journey. In a few short days, rumors of a Gourmet King began circulating among Gabred’s restaurants.

Legend has it, the Gourmet King is eight feet tall and equally wide, sweeping through restaurants without ever meeting a challenge. Others struggling to eat two standard meals considered heavy eaters, while the Gourmet King consumed four to five times as much, an astonishing feat.

And this, despite Aiven dining at least three different restaurants each meal.