I Transmigrated as my Bias's Messenger Bird - Chapter 46
At the lobby of the Mage Tower, Melli and Per came to Rai’s side, bowing as he returned from his expedition.
“You called for us, Tower Lord?”
“Yes.”
Rai looked at Melli and Per and scanned his surroundings. The mages who came in together quickly exited the tower again. Standing before Rai in the empty lobby, Melli and Per straightened up nervously.
“Did you find the person spying on the exchange student?”
“Yes, we did!”
“And their identity?”
“…Well, they were wrapped in a black cloak and appeared to have a defense barrier of 5th-level or higher, making it impossible to discern their identity!” Per responded.
Rai’s eyes narrowed slightly. “…5th-level or higher, you say. Whereabouts?”
“Uh… They were observing the selection of dresses, then momentarily disappeared. I observed them following Miss Keisha as she went back to the dorm after purchasing a dress from the general store.”
“…To the dorm? And then?”
“…Yes?”
“So, what happened afterward?”
In response to Rai’s question, Melli and Per straightened up, exchanging glances before answering. “We came here upon the Tower Lord’s summons!”
Rai squinted upon hearing their enthusiastic report. “…So, you mean to tell me that you don’t know what’s happened since then?”
“Yes!”
There was a gleam in Rai’s eye.
Sensing something was amiss, Melli hastily spoke up. “Uh… Perhaps…?”
“Perhaps?”
“By now… maybe… she has gone… to the ball?”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m not entirely sure, but it’s very likely… considering the time when the ball is about to start…”
“…Hm.”
As Rai let out a quiet sigh, Melli and Per trembled, not understanding what was wrong.
“If… if we did something wrong, please let us know…”
“J-just tell us…”
After rubbing his temples for a moment, Rai said, “A master of concealment spied on her trying on dresses and followed her, but did he have good intentions?”
“Probably not…”
“I recall ordering you to leave suspicious individuals alone. However, I don’t recall ever allowing you to put our surveillance target in danger, have I?”
As Rai finished speaking, Melli and Per turned pale.
“Uh… Tower Lord, w-we’ll go check again!”
“Enough. If someone has 5th-level concealment abilities or higher, you’d be no match for them.”
“T-then we’ll seek assistance from the higher-ranking mages…”
“I said enough.”
After speaking, Rai turned again towards the entrance of the Mage Tower. It might not be too late now. The person who had been tailing her in the darkness wouldn’t make any sudden moves when it wasn’t even nightfall yet.
“W-what should we do then…?” Melli and Per hurriedly asked Rai as they followed him.
“Just stay here. Don’t do anything.”
Rai’s sharp eyes passed over Melli and Per, and at that moment, they froze in place. They had a feeling that if they did anything more, something very bad would happen.
Rai strode out of the Mage Tower.
***
The shortcut from the Royal Academy to the palace passes through the maze garden. Even though I was wearing low heels, moving quickly on this narrow path while wearing a dress was a bit challenging. I was debating whether to lift the dress a bit more when…
“…Brachias, shouldn’t we start heading to the ballroom now?”
“Why rush to a gathering where all the lowlifes are?”
“Yeah, it’s kind of boring. Anyway, the prince will have that girl from the other world all to himself anyway.”
“True. We’re just hangers-on.”
It was said that old enemies meet not at the crossroads but in the maze garden. Last time I encountered this group, they were harassing Alfie. They hadn’t spotted me yet, apparently, because I was between a wall of bushes in the maze garden.
Right when I wanted to just pass by without any trouble…
“Why not try targeting that elf instead?”
“Have you forgotten what happened the other day? They ran off with that beastman.”
“That’s exactly it. I’m just pretending to care, then when you rely on me, I’ll dump you in front of everyone. How about that?”
Geez, here I was, thinking no one was paying attention, minding my own business. I didn’t see the point in engaging, so I tried to just quietly pass by…
“Even if you cling to me, I’ll heartlessly ditch you. I can be quite cruel.”
“Pfft.”
“Who’s there?!”
Oh, darn. I unintentionally burst into laughter. The leader and one lackey who came running towards me, their mouths agape at the side of me.
‘Great, what a hassle.’
“You, you!”
“Crazy elf!!”
“Please heartlessly pretend not to notice me. I’m a little busy right now.”
“…What?! You eavesdropped on our conversation!”
Were their minds immunized to embarrassment? If I knew that someone overheard that conversation from me, I’d be paralyzed with shame.
“…Let’s get this straight. I didn’t eavesdrop—you guys were just loud.”
“That’s it. We’re going to have to change our plans.”
“No, don’t change the plan you worked so hard on. I think I need to go…”
“Stop right there, elf!!”
I started pacing again.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop?!”
That’s when it happened. I felt a sticky, dull hand grab my shoulder. Oh, darn it. I turned back, ready to cut off my arm if I had to.
“Ahh!!”
A scream rang out accompanied by an unsettling crack.
