In A Parallel World With Random Skills, I Reluctantly Become A Mafia Boss?

Chapter 5: Start

  When the large bird noticed me, it released a weak sound. This is bad. I hasten my steps to make it to its side, even just a second earlier. But when it saw me approaching, it weakly shot out a ball of flame from its mouth, hitting the ground right in front of me.

I barely noticed that, considering how weak my body felt right now, but it still made me stagger for a moment. When I looked towards the large bird, it had a resigned expression, like it told me to not come any closer.

A slight hesitation grew within me. But it quickly dispersed. After coming this far, no way in hell am I going to stop now.

I continued on, slowly raising my right foot forward, then my left, squeezing out what's left of my meager stamina. I could not live with myself without even saying a word of thanks towards my benefactor. Nay, I would not accept any less. A debt must be repaid, I always say.

As I walked closer and closer, it spit out more and more fireballs to hinder me. Some grazed me, and scorched some of my skin slightly. I could smell the aroma of burning flesh coming from my left side, but it didn't make me falter.

After what seemed to be a few minutes of walking step by step, I made it near the far side of the wall.

I let loose the strength that I was putting on my legs, and involuntarily kneeled down before the large, majestic, wounded bird. When it saw my unwavering determination when we stared into each other's eyes, it felt as though it had given up and let me do as I pleased.

With a sense of relief wafting on my mind, I smiled towards my savior.

"Thank you. For saving my life."

I said my piece, as sincere as I could put it in words. I was not good at showing my feelings to other people, but I could slightly sense that I could easily express my thoughts towards this creature. It was a calming notion.

At first I thought that there was no way a bird could understand what I was saying, but right after that, the large bird lifted its head up, and shook it from side to side weakly. Could this being really understand my words? Is this the effect of the 'Automatic Language Translation' skill?

Still, I didn't know whether it could apply to animals. I thought only humanoid-shape beings were the only ones I could talk to. If it was the past me, he would have never believed that I would be one day, talking to a bird.

As a matter of fact, I could even slightly understand what the large bird was saying, even though it didn't speak. It's actions were as if it has accepted its fate, and told me not to worry about it.

I could feel a deep sense of respect towards the one who sacrificed its life for me. Even though it could escape during the time the beast was eating me, it chose to fight back instead. Though I did the same thing, it was still different.

No normal person would do that for a complete stranger. Even more so for non-humans. Most would probably make its own survival a priority. But not this bird for some reason, I don't know why it did such a thing.