I Transmigrated as my Bias's Messenger Bird - Chapter 3
The Tower Lord route existed? And I’m annihilated if I fail? This isn’t your average crazy game, is it? Where do I post a bug report?
A translucent window appeared in front of me, accompanied by a loud ‘ding-ding’ as my pupils quivered from the slight shock.
[Select the initial activation reward for the route!
- Coo-Coo Skill – Allows you to sit on Rai Sherfied’s whenever you want.
- Cool-Cool Skill – You can always rest in a premium birdcage whenever you want.
- Yum-Yum skill – You can eat the finest food whenever you want.]
It said to raise affection levels, but the options didn’t seem all that useful for that. So, I chose the first one, which seemed like the only reasonable choice.
[You have acquired a new skill! – Coo-Coo Skill.]
[You can now sit on Rai Sherfied’s shoulders whenever you want].
“Now let’s go.”
Rai fastened the final golden button on his black uniform coat.
“Yes.”
In response to his words, the short-haired woman opened the door with a graceful movement, and Rai began to walk.
‘Now? Can I use the skill now?’
[Skill activated – Coo-Coo.]
Without hesitation, I used the skill I had just gained.
Click.
In an instant, my body felt light as I soared through the air, and I gently landed on Rai’s right shoulder as he left the room. I could feel the luxurious velvet texture beneath my feet. Rai stopped in his tracks.
“……?”
Rai’s head turned halfway in my direction, his turquoise eyes briefly glancing at me. The short-haired woman who had been following us approached hesitantly.
“Coo, what are you doing? That’s strange, I’ve never seen this before…….”
‘It’s ……? I thought it was natural when you gave it to me as an option, but it’s never happened before?’
Realizing that I had become a sleepy, erratic pet bird, I turned my head nonchalantly. I wanted to pretend it was business as usual somehow, but I had no idea what normal bird behavior was, so I just flapped my wings and moved my head naturally, simulating the movements of a pigeon I’d seen somewhere.
“……Anyway, I’ll be needing you once the job is done, so I’ll take you with me.””
“Alright, understood.”
Perhaps my natural acting skills had worked. With that, I rode on Rai’s shoulder to the gate.
***
On the carriage ride from the tower to the gate, Rai said nothing, only closing his eyes and crossing his arms, seemingly lost in thought. The short-haired woman, whose name turned out to be Reina, didn’t bother to initiate a conversation, as if she were used to Rai being like this.
Matching the atmosphere, I stood silently on his shoulder. Actually, it’s more like there was really nothing I could do during the ride.
After a while, the carriage came to a quiet stop.
“We have arrived, my Lord.”
The sound of Reina’s words made Rai’s eyes open. He slowly stepped out of the carriage. Shafts of light descended from the sky over the massive translucent dome. At the end of the path that led directly from where the carriage had stopped was a gilded archway.
Rai proceeded at a leisurely pace, and a man with deep navy hair, who stood in front of the arched door, approached us with a courteous bow.
“Have they arrived?”
“Any progress?”
“The first door has just opened.”
“I see.”
“Oh, by the way…….”
The man’s gaze went from Rai to me.
“You’re taking that bird…… in with you?”
“Ah.”
As if on cue, Rai turned his head slightly in my direction and gave a faint smile.
“She seems to be having separation anxiety today.”
“Ah…… I understand. In that case, we’ll wait outside.”
As the man finished speaking, a dozen guards with spears rushed out from inside.
‘What is it? Is there something happening inside?’
Curious and a little afraid, I craned my neck and pressed my talons against Rai’s shoulder.
***
The central hall of the greenhouse was tranquil. Dappled sunlight quietly filtered down along the greenhouse’s ceiling, overgrown with greenery, and the gentle, babbling sound of water flowed from the man-made canal that wrapped the perimeter of the hall. In the very center, there was a circular stone floor and a massive monument inscribed with unintelligible characters.
Upon entering the hall, Rai took a deep breath. He clenched his fists, stretched his arms forward, and then unclasped them, taking slow, measured steps towards the monument.
About ten adults extended their arms to just barely encircle the monument as it was so massive. A pale blue whirlpool-like pattern swirled on its surface.
‘What is that?’
Anxiously, I glanced over at Rai and saw his face staring straight ahead with a calm expression, as if there was nothing particularly unusual.
‘……His face looks just like it did back then…….’
I thought back to my first meeting with Rai when I played the game’s intro, when he was standing there with the calm face of a gardener. He had the same expression then.
‘But what is that swirl?’
As I gazed at the monument with curiosity, the swirling pattern expanded with a whizzing sound. It was at that moment that a violet hue mixed with the pale blue light.
“Three.”
Rai, who had been silently staring at the monument, mumbled softly and then raised his right arm.
“Two.”
He then extended his large hand toward the monument.
“One.”
When the last number was counted:
Swoosh.
At the center of the vortex, a reptilian eye pulsed, and the instant its pupil locked onto this side, a gaping mouth snapped open.
