Creature Farm Chapter 20: River

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Sulo

 

“Where is the vacation home? Is it a camp of the ‘Survival in the Wild’?”

“Why, if it’s Survival in the Wild, you should be eating ants now.” Quentina folded up the map as if nothing had happened. “Let’s go!”

“…Oh. Then you stand by me, and I’ll waste a bit of magic and teleport us since we can’t help it.”

Quentina exclaimed angrily, “Why use magic if you can solve something with your legs?”

“This suspension bridge looks shabby. God knows if it will break! It’s safer with magic!”

“So what if it breaks! I can become a bat, the unicorn can fly, you can use magic, even if Kyfayar can’t do anything, there is the river below. You won’t fall to your death, and both of you can swim. There is no danger at all!”

“I think it’s very dangerous for you to say so!”

“It’s this process that I enjoy when I travel. If I depend on magic for everything, what’s the meaning of traveling?”

It doesn’t mean much at all! I didn’t come voluntarily! “You mean we’ll go straight there?”

“I won’t mind if you want to leave.”

“…Good, good. I’ll go. I’ll go.” Augusta sighed weakly, and again, reluctantly succumbed to Quentina’s influence.

The party discussed for a while, and decided to let the unicorn carry the luggage first across the bridge. The unicorn, of course, was against it. “I’m a noble unicorn, and I’m not a donkey hauling goods. Why should I carry the luggage?”

“Because you’re the only creature here with four legs.”

“You have the face to say! Didn’t you humans also evolve from monkeys?! Pft! It should be degradation! And why should I be the first to cross the bridge? Do you think I’m expendable?”

“Don’t you know how to fly?” asked Quentina. “Even if the bridge breaks, you’ll be fine. The bridge is terribly shaky that ordinary people have to use the rope for support to walk smoothly, but Kyfayar is carrying all the luggage. And you’re the only one of us who doesn’t need to use a hand…”

The unicorn screamed, “You racist! I will sue you!”

The other three vied to blame him. “No team spirit at all!” 

“You don’t want to be human! I don’t deserve that!” 

“We’ll cross the bridge by ourselves without playing with you!” 

The unicorn was so angry that he jumped, “You are cruel! Put the luggage up quickly! This is my last trip with you! I swear! One last time!”

Kyfayar was finally relieved and could take a break. Carrying his luggage was not enough to make him pant, but everyone’s was too much. He and Quentina tied their luggage to the unicorn’s back as the latter kept swearing. Kyfayar’s relatives, the Arctic wolves, and Quentina’s distant cousin, African vampire bats, who never walked, did not escape his curses. Strapped up, the unicorn groaned and walked onto the bridge.

The suspension bridge was originally swaying with the wind, but the unicorn’s steps made it shake constantly. It seemed that it would break at any time. Fortunately, the unicorn walked so fast and steadily that he was able to easily cross the bridge and climb to the other side of the canyon. They were a little relieved that the suspension bridge could support the unicorn and the weight of all the luggage, so the rest of their weights should be okay.

Quentina ordered the two men to be gentlemanly and was the second to cross the bridge. She acted like the wind, walked on the suspension bridge as if she was walking on the ground, and smoothly arrived at the opposite end like it was a catwalk, as if she were walking on the red carpet instead of crossing the suspension bridge.

Augusta was the third, with Kyfayar last. The magician gingerly grabbed the suspension bridge rope and took a careful step. With a gust of wind, the suspension bridge shook and issued a creepy ‘creaking’ sound. Augusta retreated in horror.

“No way!” He yelled hoarsely, “I don’t think I can make it!”

——So this was the scene that ensued.

Augusta, however, would not move forward, leaving the unicorn and Quentina on the other side shouting and yelling at him. Seeing that he was standing still, the unicorn had a good idea, and changed the method, “Augusta, are you afraid? Oh, the great master dare not even cross a broken suspension bridge? What a coward!”

Quentina added fuel to the fire, “What a disappointment! This is the weakness of mankind! Ah, men!”

Augusta gritted his teeth in anger, “You two wait for me!”

A hand fell on the magician’s shoulder, “Don’t listen to them, sir. It’s just a suspension bridge. It’s not dangerous.” Kyfayar said, “I’m right behind you. If you fall, I will be responsible for saving you!”

“…Mn, I’m not afraid! I’m a great mage, and I’ll save myself!” Augusta muttered.

He knew that there was no way out, and he could only move forward. After crossing the bridge, he must teach those two scoffing guys on the opposite side a lesson!

He grabbed the suspension bridge rope again and took a cautious step. The bridge swayed badly, but not to the point of making him unable to move at all. He slowly moved forward a few steps, only to feel a shock. Kyfayar had followed him on the bridge. Augusta regretted not telling Kyfayar to stay where he was. 

With more than one person, the suspension bridge would have to bear more weight. If it broke, what would they do? What’s more, every step Kyfayar took, the bridge vibrated slightly, making Augusta unstable. But he couldn’t stop Kyfayar. He didn’t want to lose face and so he had to go ahead. He stared at the other side of the river. He didn’t dare to look down for fear of falling down.

Augusta moved slower than a snail, and the unicorn on the opposite side couldn’t wait. As a prank, he raised a hoof and stepped heavily on the suspension bridge. The suspension bridge immediately bumped up and down. Augusta quickly grasped the rope and did not dare to move.

“Hahaha, you’re scared! We should have brought a camera to take a picture of your embarrassment. If you dare to disrespect me, I will release your photos! Hee, hee, hee…” The unicorn swayed his head triumphantly as he stepped on the bridge.

“Damn it! Unicorn, you dare to step on the bridge again and I will cut your horn off!”

“Oh…” The unicorn made a gesture to take back his hooves, but unexpectedly stepped on it three times! The suspension bridge trembled like a boat on a rolling wave. Augusta screamed with fear and almost collapsed on the bridge. The unicorn turned to Quentina, “How about that?”

Instead of stopping, the female vampire gave him a thumbs up, “Well done! Suspension bridge effect, science!”

“Then I’ll step on it a few more times!”

But before the unicorn had time to make waves again, there was a sound of a ‘crack’, and the rope on one side of the suspension bridge suddenly broke! The bridge was out of balance and was leaning to one side! Augusta didn’t respond and slipped down the bridge. At the critical moment, Kyfayar quickly grabbed him with one hand, and grabbed the unbroken rope with the other. The two men were suspended in mid-air, with the abyss and swift river at their feet.

“No, it broke!” The unicorn was stunned.

“Don’t worry, don’t move! We will — ah!”

As soon as Quentina’s voice dropped, the other rope of the suspension bridge also broke. Kyfayar and Augusta fell into the abyss hand in hand, leaving behind the screams of, “Aaaaaaaah!”

A cold wind blew by. The unicorn turned to Quentina, “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

Quentina curled her lips and shrugged, “You go and explain to the judge.”

“You are an accomplice! You too!”

“It’s just a joke. Don’t be nervous. Don’t forget that Lord Augusta can use floating magic.”

The unicorn was relieved. “Yes! I forgot! That is to say, nothing happened at all! Hahaha…”

“Yes, there is no danger! Hahaha, hahaha…”

“But won’t it be too late for Augusta to cast the spell?”

“It doesn’t matter. There’s the river below. They won’t die.”

“Yes, you are smart! I was almost scared to death!”

“False alarm! It’s okay!”

“But Augusta can’t swim…”

“Kyfayar can. Swimming is a dog’s instinct. He’s going to save Augusta.”

“Yes, I didn’t think of it! Oh you are witty, worthy of living for hundreds of years as a vampire, so experienced!”

“I hate that. Don’t praise me so much…”