Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
“I’m the honorable Fama Odin Ben. I’ll never sing!” Black Coal declared, cocking his head.
I don’t think this stupid bird knows how to sing. A faint sneer of satisfaction crossed Krassu’s face. It’s rare to see him lose face.
Amy was a little disappointed. She turned to look at the drawing on the table again.
“I don’t mind having some crow meat for dinner,” Urien said coldly, staring at Black Coal.
The bird felt a cold shiver of fear run through him. Immediately, he turned to Amy. “Lovely Amy, which song do you like? Just tell me the same. I’m a great singer!”
Amy cocked her head to one side, and thought for a moment. “Can you sing ‘a little girl with mushrooms’?”
Black Coal didn’t understand. “A little what?” He stuck his head out of the cage and widened his eyes.
“A little girl with mushrooms,” Amy repeated carefully.
It should be the song that her little elf sang the other day. I struck out with it that day. Apparently, the bird doesn’t know the song. This has gotten interesting, thought Krassu.
Yabemiya watched the two very old men, wondering, Why are they so angry? And why are they trying to please Amy?
Few people in this world have heard that song. There’s no way the crow can sing it. Amy is putting him in a difficult position, Mag thought.
But Amy hasn’t heard many songs, and she only knows the name of this one. Black Coal has brought this on himself.
The bird raised his voice. “I’ve never heard of this song! You made it up!” he snarled.
“I didn’t. It is a song, and my little elf can sing it,” Amy said solemnly.
Black Coal wasn’t convinced. “But… But I…” He became uneasy,
Urien took a look at Krassu’s smirking face, and then turned to face his bird. “Sing,” he said, his voice colder than ice. The cage got frosted instantly.
Black Coal gave a shudder, and started singing. “A little girl… goes to collect mushrooms, she finds a big mushroom and eats it, and then finds another and eats it…” He managed to turn this merry song into a doleful one.
Black Coal’s voice was good, but the words were all wrong. The girl in the song who liked sharing had become a glutton who loved eating mushrooms.
Yabemiya giggled. It was the first time she had seen a crow sing. And it sang rather well.
Amy frowned as she listened. After the bird finished singing, she shook her head disappointedly. “Black Coal, please don’t sing again. How can you sing so badly? My little elf can sing much better than you.” Then she walked to the counter, took out the music box, and pushed the button.
Melodious notes filled the room immediately. How could Black Coal’s yelling compete with this?
“Amy’s little elf is the best singer. Who would ever want this stupid bird? Amy only needs a peacock to dance for her,” Krassu said with a smile, stroking his beard.
Black Coal’s eyes went wide as he stared at the little elf, silent. After the song was over, he turned slowly to face Urien. “I can’t, even if you kill me.”
Urien put the cage on the floor, and looked at Amy with a smile that was uglier than a frown. “Amy, if you become my disciple, you only need to walk a few steps to reach my house. You can go back home whenever you miss your father. And I’ll pay for your meals. You can eat whatever you want wherever you like.”
Amy’s eyes lit up. “You’ll pay for my meals? Even if I eat at home?”
Urien was taken by surprise, and looked a little odd. I forgot her family owns a restaurant. It’s a little strange I have to pay for her meals when she eats at home. But I’m sure I can afford it. He nodded. “Yes. Just put it on my tab, and I’ll settle it at the end of every month.”
Amy’s face lit up. “Whoa, Turtle Grandpa, you’re so generous!” She had to eat three plates of Yangzhou fried rice, three roujiamos, and six bowls of tofu pudding every day, and they were very expensive. I eat too much. But if he would pay for my meals, I would save Father a lot of money.
“Have you no shame?!” Krassu said, staring at Urien. He is using food to entice Amy. That’s my trick!
“Bite me,” Urien said, giving a derisive laugh. Amy is more interested in food than his stupid magic room.
Krassu felt the anger coiling inside him. “Urien, I’ll beat you to a pulp, just like I did 20 years ago!” he snapped, his white robe floating, fire shining in the sapphire on his staff.
He had come here to sway Mag and Amy with his sincerity. He had been very positive that they would accept his offer. He had never expected Urien to try to rob him of his disciple again.
Urien’s face darkened. “That wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t snuck up on me! And you call yourself a 10th-tier magic caster?! Didn’t I freeze you in ice? Without Irina, you would never have gotten out of that well!” Frost appeared from under his feet and spread on the floor.
The air had suddenly become tense. Two powerful magic casters were on the verge of fighting.
“Calm down, Turtle Grandpa and half-beard grandpa,” Amy said solemnly. “Have some tofu pudding and then talk. It’ll put you in a good mood. Don’t fight in the restaurant, or I’ll get angry. I’m very bad-tempered!”
