I Transmigrated as my Bias's Messenger Bird - Chapter 35
‘Hello, I’m the neurotic elf.’
While I was thinking about something like this as a new greeting, Leon responded, “I’ve made my judgment based on evidence.”
His firm reply made me glance nervously at Rai, but Rai, without even turning towards us, interjected, “What evidence?”
“The murdered guard left an elven symbol on the floor as he died. And currently, there’s only one elf in Alucina. Isn’t that enough evidence?”
“And how are you so sure there’s only one fairy in Alucina?”
“That…That’s based on officially gathered information.”
“As expected, humans only judge by what they see.”
“…Excuse me?” Leon, who had been responding confidently until now, seemed taken aback.
“There’s also a tendency to overestimate the elves,” Rai murmured with a hint of mockery, turning to me before shaking his head in a rather pitiful manner.
‘What, why, what’s wrong?’
I protested silently with my eyes.
Rai turned away and addressed Leon, saying, “I don’t think there’s a need to drag this on. In any case, the elf in question was indeed at the village teahouse at the time you’re thinking about. Is that enough?”
“…If the Tower Lord says so, then I suppose we have no way to investigate further.”
“Alright then. Let’s leave it at that.”
Rai was getting ready to leave when Leon spoke up.
“The power that killed the guard,” said Leon, “It’s nature-based magic. That’s something the elves are known to use.”
His eyes were fixed on me, as if assuming I naturally knew how to wield nature-based offensive magic.
‘That’s a huge misunderstanding. I don’t know anything like that.’
“Oh, I see.” Rai nodded as if it was no big deal and said, “In a situation where anyone would think of only one elf, using nature-based magic to kill someone and leaving an elven sigil… Everything fits too perfectly, doesn’t it?”
“…That’s…”
“You won’t be able to catch the criminal if you only focus on visible evidence, Leon.”
After saying his piece, Rai passed me and spoke quietly. “You, come with me.”
***
Now I am once again sitting by the window of a teahouse with the Lord of the Magic Tower, whom I have been unable to meet even though I’ve pursued him for so long.
I was watching Rai’s strawberry tart mukbang[1] live. Fork slicing through the tart, followed by a sip of tea—it felt like I was watching a scene from a game event. It looked so much like a CG[2] that I lost my mind for a moment. The scene went on like that for a while. There was no sound other than the clink of the fork against the plate and the tea being swallowed. It was almost like ASMR[3].
What on earth was going on here? I couldn’t stand it any longer and opened my mouth first.
“Um… You read my letter, right? Thank you for saving me…”
Rai, wiping his mouth with a napkin, replied, “What’s your purpose, exchange student?”
“…Pardon?”
“You said you see me every day and write about me. Oh, and you even proposed to me once.”
His memory was quite something. Damn it.
“Th-that’s… true.”
“Alright. I confirmed that was the truth.”
That’s right. I remembered the bead of light coming into my throat. I wondered why he was asking again after he had done all that to confirm.
Rai, who had been silently observing me, tilted his head slightly and said, “That’s strange.”
“Strange?”
Taking a sip of tea, Rai stared at me with an odd expression.
“What… seems strange?” I asked. “I’m telling the truth.”
“It’s the discrepancy between your purpose and your actions.”
“…Discrepancy between my purpose and actions?”
Rai, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, put down his tea and crossed his arms.
“Wasn’t your purpose me?”
“…Pardon?”
Rai’s eyes pierced into mine, and a faint smile crept upon his lips.
“Why did you go to the Royal Warehouse?”
“Well…um, how did you know…?”
How did he know? No, he knew but he covered it up for me? Why?
In an instant, cold sweat broke out on her back. As my pupils were shaking at the intensity of magnitude 8.
Rai continued, “Didn’t you think I’d verify the truth when you asked me for help?”
“…That’s! So, you…”
“After receiving your letter, I conducted a little investigation. There were traces of mana on the walls and floor of the Royal Warehouse. The Imperial Knights merely saw it as mana, but it was undoubtedly the kind distinctive to elves. Very familiar.”
Well, there’s no way out of this. What should I do? Even if I use teleportation, Rai would likely catch up. Plus, my fate is tied to his favor. Then what should I do? Should I just be honest? At least while keeping Dito’s involvement hidden.
“…I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“…I really wanted that fishing rod. I’m truly sorry.”
“What?”
Rai, who paused for a moment with a puzzled expression, burst out laughing.
“Please don’t ask me why. Anyway, it’s true that I stole the fishing rod. I promise I’ll return it later. Just this once, please look the other way. Please, I beg you…”
I clasped my hands together, pleading as earnestly as I could. There wasn’t a single lie. It was utterly, completely true.
“…You seem to have more interest in sea creatures than expected.”
“I do?”
“Well, I’ll believe you.”
“You will?!”
Rai said something incomprehensible and suddenly he said he would trust me. I was dumbfounded. Could he really trust me this easily?
“…Um… Are you… forgiving the theft of the fishing rod?”
“Those items weren’t originally the Emperor’s possessions anyway. It’s none of my concern, nor is it something I need to forgive.”
For a moment, it felt like a halo shone behind Rai’s head. Was he an angel?
“The issue is the guard’s murder, though…” Rai said, staring at me again.
The look in his eyes changed in an instant. A chill ran down my spine.
¹ Korean for “eating show”. Mukbangs are video broadcasts which feature the presenter consuming food on camera.↩
² CG is short for Computer Graphic, a common element of dating simulation games. These come in the form of unlockable art, video, and occasionally audio of a character or event and are usually presented as cut scene rewards.↩
³ ASMR or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is a tingling sensation from the back of your head to the nape of your neck that is triggered specific auditory stimuli. People mainly associate it with online videos that feature whispering or other low-volume ambient sounds.↩
