I Transmigrated as my Bias's Messenger Bird - Chapter 55
While the ball was going on, I headed to the royal warehouse to try out the item Theo had given me.
When I first came here, I didn’t think anything of it and casually entered using a transformation spell, but now, returning to the warehouse made me more nervous. I wasn’t even sure if traces of magic could be tracked back to me.
Still, the item in my hand was vouched for by the High Priest, so it should be safe to use, right? Surely, Theo mentioned that using this near the royal warehouse might help a bit with finding the culprit.
‘But what makes him so sure it’ll help?’
Could he have read my mind and found out that someone murdered the guards near the warehouse using magic? Well, for now, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.
Fortunately, the area around the warehouse was less crowded than last time as people flocked to the ball. However, it seemed that they upped the security since the last incident; and there were now four guards standing there.
I walked to the back of the warehouse as sneakily as I could. I refrained from using a hasty transformation spell.
‘Using it willy-nilly might only attract more suspicion.’
Theo had specifically mentioned being near the warehouse, not inside. So, this should do it.
Casually strolling towards the back of the warehouse, I took out the cube Theo had given me. In the dim light, it seemed to glow even more brilliantly.
I took a deep breath and threw the cube against the warehouse wall. It shattered with a sound like glass breaking, and a golden light shot up into the sky.
And then, nothing happened.
…?
‘What? Well, that wasn’t any help at all.’
I stood around for a bit, looking disappointed. But when I glanced around, I noticed the golden light gathering above the broken cube, engraving letters into the air. What’s this? As I got closer, the words became clearer.
[May judgment be cast upon those who have taken a life.]
…?
It was then. A giant magic circle, the size of the entire warehouse, sprang up along its perimeter and shot up straight into the sky. A moment later, the sky flashed multiple times, as if struck by lightning.
Kwaaang!!!
A bolt of lightning cut through the darkness and towards…
…The Mage Tower?
“Uh…?”
High Priest…? You said this was supposed to help…?
A bit…?
…Right?
***
Chaos erupted through the ballroom as screams echoed. As Rai slowly made his way through the screaming crowd, he glanced at the distant sky and shook his head in disbelief.
‘I never thought it actually happened.’
As if to confirm his suspicions, more small lightning bolts fell from the sky above the tower like aftershocks. Theo, who had quietly walked out beside him, gazed in the same direction as Rai and whispered in amazement.
“…Interesting.”
Rai’s gaze turned slowly toward Theo. A peculiar smile played on his lips, but his eyes were cold.
“Stop playing dumb. What’s going on?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
When Theo shrugged nonchalantly, Rai turned to face him.
“Why did a 7th-level Judgment fall on the tower?”
“Well… I’m actually a bit surprised myself.”
“Other than the High Priest, is there anyone in Alucina who could call down a 7th-level Judgment?”
“That’s the thing.” Theo, who had been stroking his chin with a fascinated look on his face, smiled and said to Rai, “The cube I gave to Keisha contained a 5th-level Judgment.”
“…What did you say?” Rai’s eyes narrowed. “Are you saying it was Keisha who called down the 7th-level Judgment?”
It didn’t make sense. If the 5th-level Judgment was merely a tracking tool used to mark a murderer, the 7th-level was a lethal spell. In other words, it was used in situations where the enemy had to be killed with a single blow.
7th-level Judgment was powerful but came with risks. If the enemy survived the Judgment, a created a small link between the target and the caster. Through this link, the target would continue to receive additional damage until their eventual death. However, this was exactly why it was risky.
‘If someone is hit by the 7th-level Judgment, they can trace the caster’s location through the link.’
That’s why even High Priests like Theo refrained from calling down 7th-level Judgment unless it was absolutely necessary. And even then, it carried a significant burden due to the immense amount of magical power required. The fact that Keisha had cast it made no sense.
“I gave it as a gift, saying it was to find the person who murdered the imperial guard. But to have it fall on the tower, and at a 7th-level at that… It’s quite intriguing. It seems Miss Keisha has surpassed my expectations.”
“You seem too intrigued.”
“That there’s a murderer in the tower or with Keisha using 7th-level Judgment?”
“Either one, I rather you not.”
“Well… now that you say that, I’m even more interested.”
“Please, keep it in check,” Rai said dryly.
Theo found Rai’s reaction amusing.
“By the way, are you alright with leaving it like this? If the target isn’t dead, the first place he’ll head to is…” Theo asked with his usual sly smile.
Rai’s eyes sank. Afterward, Reina and Luke rushed over.
“My Lord, we have to hurry…!”
“I know.”
“Then, we’ll prepare the carriage right away!”
“No. No need.”
Before Rai finished speaking, he vanished in the blink of an eye. In his place, only a faint trace of magical light remained.
