074 – Birthday Party (5)
Bastian briefly received the message from Trisha and went out into the hallway.
When Bastian cast the Silence magic around him, Trisha handed him a note.
“This is the magic circle.”
It was a half magic circle, but the analysis took less than 30 seconds.
“This is vapor explosion magic.”
“A vapor explosion?”
“It is a magic that forces liquid water to vaporize and explodes. This magic is also forbidden in the Empire for ethical reasons.”
Trisha was no stranger to magic, but as she was associated with terrorism, she immediately knew how this magic could be used.
“Are you trying to force the water out of a person’s body?”
“Forcing the blood of the human body to boil is a high-level magic. But after analyzing this magic circle, it is clear that it is a vapor explosion magic using human blood.”
“Oh my God, what is the intensity of the explosion then?”
“It depends on the amount of moisture contained inside the human body, but if a normal adult male explodes, it will cause instant death in a radius of 3 meters, third-degree burns up to 10 meters, and serious injuries. It’s quite natural for someone who explodes to die.”
Bastian looked at the magic circle again with cold eyes.
“And the communication magic for long-distance explosions and the security magic that interferes with dispels, algorithm magic, and the magic that interferes with the detection of magic are closely intertwined. It has undergone a detailed transformation like a handicraft, so many wizards cannot use it.”
To summarize, there were three main types of information contained in this magic circle.
First, the type of magic is vapor explosion magic that makes human blood boil and explode.
Second, there are communication magic and algorithm magic, and the moment the magic is activated, the bodies of the people designated by the criminal explode.
Third, how many living human bombs may be around here.
“Then can you figure out how to tell who is associated with this circle?”
“The address of the algorithm has been cut off by more than half, so finding it is impossible. Even if we find it, it will take more than a week.”
“Then Dispel is…….”
“If you’ve seen the whole magic circle, you wouldn’t know, so it’s impossible with half of it. We have to approach it more carefully, especially since it is a security technique.”
Bastian fluttered the note and said.
“What’s hopeful is that we’ve found that this security algorithm reacts with certain ‘potions’. It is most likely a colorless and odorless potion or a drink with a strong flavor.”
“Then to the beverage used in today’s party…….”
Bastian shook his head.
“That is impossible. At this banquet, we carefully check every 30 minutes to make sure there are no abnormalities in the drinks. If there was a potion that reacted with a certain communication magic, I would have noticed it right away.”
“Then it means that everyone except those who attended the party drank the potioned beverage…”
“Then there is only one. theater members.”
Trisha had a chill on her back.
“I, the high-ranking nobles, and the royal family drink safe drinks, but they must be a bit lax.”
“Wait a minute, then Rakan…!”
“There is no need to be excited. Once you find a drink with a potion, there is a solution.”
Bastian pulled out his pocket watch and looked at it.
There was only an hour left until the play ended.
“Then bring me a drink with a potion. In the meantime, I’m thinking of a magic to destroy.”
“yes. All right.”
* * *
Trisha first reported this to Tigris.
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Just in time, Irene brought a communication crystal connected to Rakan.Tigris touched the communication crystal and summoned Rakan.
– This is Rakan.
“How much time do we have to talk now?”
– About 30 minutes.
“I’m sending Trisha now, so hand over the water or drinks you and the members have in common. I’ll explain why later.”
– Yes. Okay.
“And have you ever drank the drink provided to the members today?”
After a moment’s silence, Rakan opened his mouth.
– ······That’s right.
In response to Rakan’s answer, Rain Rover covered his mouth with both hands.
Because that was the same as saying that Rakan’s life was already in the hands of the criminal.
“Let’s get a drink quickly.”
– Yes, I understand. And here’s what I found out.
“what?”
– I found the name of the terrorist. His name is Mattia, a priest of the Lux Church.
It was an unexpectedly great harvest.
Berggan, who was listening quietly behind the door, quickly gave instructions to the Golden Knights.
“Find out whose recommendation Priest Mattia came to, and if you are here now, prepare to arrest him. It is highly likely that he is an accomplice.”
“Yes. All right.”
Tigris said to Rakan.
“Then, if there is any water or drink that Priest Mattia brought, bring it to focus.”
– Yes. Okay.
“I’m going to cut off communication.”
They found out the suspect’s name, identity, and even the method of terrorism.
Now all that remains is to quietly capture him.
We need to know the exact reason why he’s trying to commit terrorism.
Tigris said to Charlotte, Irene and Linia.
“The three of them suffered a lot. Can the three of you go back to your seats and wait?”
They all nodded, knowing that there was nothing the three of them could do any more.
“Yes. All right.”
“Thank you.”
The three of them closed the door and left, leaving only Lane Rover and Tigris.
Rain Rover looked at Tigris’ expression.
He was looking at the stage with a serious expression instead of his usual blunt expression.
No, to be precise, I was looking behind the stage.
“Are you worried about Rakan?”
“If I said I wasn’t worried, I would be lying.”
If Mattia Gnome immediately casts a vapor explosion magic, Rakan will be killed without Tigris being spared.
Tigris looked at the ruby necklace hanging from his neck.
“······· This holy thing is not all-rounder.”
I never dreamed that I would know the limits of this relic in this way.
If Rakan had not noticed any signs of terrorism, he was terrified at the thought that Rakan’s life would have been lost.
Tigris was worried.
Can’t we just run backstage and kill Mattia before she even reacts?
What if Rakan had an accomplice he didn’t notice?
Then, even if Mattia was captured, the lives of Rakan and the members of the theater could have been blown away.
But what if Mattia notices and commits suicide before that?
What if Bastian fails to dispel?
What if an accomplice jumps out and commits a terrorist act in another way?
At that moment, Rain Rover’s hand covered Tigris’ hand.
“Sir Tigris. It’ll be fine. Bastian will find the answer. And they say Nadal will be here soon.”
Even the 7th Circle Archmage has no way to stop it if he can’t find the answer.
Tigris did everything he could.
Working with Rakan, he uncovered the identity of the terrorist and even figured out how to commit the terror.
Now all that was left was what Bastian, Bergang and Nadal did.
But even then, if there is a terrorist attack and Rakan is lost, and hundreds of people are killed and injured, would it be comforting to just have done everything you had to do?
‘no.’
Tigris will never forgive himself.
But what more to do here?
If Tigris disappeared from this grandstand, he would think it strange and self-destruct.
When Tigris began to fall into deep trouble again, Rain Rover could not stand still.
“Sir Tigris.”
“Yes. His Majesty, Rain Rover.”
“Just as we believe in Lord Tigris, Lord Tigris trust us.”
Rain Rover was the one who had read the directory that Tigris had written 10 times.
Therefore, Rain Rover knew Tigris better than anyone.
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Just as Tigris described Rain Rover as ‘a general who cannot be exchanged for Ecliptic Victorie’, there was one sentence describing Tigris himself.[An arrogant swordsman who does not trust his allies.]
Most of the mistakes and failures Tigris made stemmed from not trusting his allies.
Especially when a problem arose in an urgent situation like now, Tigris tended to make decisions and move on his own.
When Tigris showed signs of making another mistake, Rain Rover held Tigris’ hand strongly.
“I know Sir Tigris is anxious. Because Lord Tigris doesn’t trust him unless he solves the problem himself. Especially in a sudden situation like now.”
Tigris meekly accepted Rain Rover’s words.
It is said that Tigris has changed a lot since the day he returned, but it was impossible for a person to change 180 degrees at once.
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Just like how deeply a letter written with a pencil is erased with an eraser no matter how much, traces remain.“The two archmage of the 7th circle and one sword master are moving directly. Those three people are rolling up their arms themselves, can’t they solve this problem?”
“Of course I know it’s because Rakan’s life is at stake. He knows very well what Rakan means to Sir Tigris.”
“But please trust us a little more. We can handle this.”
Tigris closed his eyes at Rain Rover’s words.
And I remembered the final battlefield.
A terrifying smell of blood tickled the tip of Tigris’ nose, and his body and mind sank heavily.
Tigris opened his eyes.
“In the judgment of Princess Rain Rover, if I move myself, do you think it will get in the way?”
“I think it’s too much to move up to Sir Tigris now. If something really unexpected happens, I think it is right for Sir Tigris to come forward.”
Tigris nodded and put her back on the backrest.
“All right.”
“thanks. Sir Tigris. For trusting us.”
“no. By the way, hold this hand…”
“ah!”
Rain Rover was surprised to find out that he was holding Tigris’s hand without realizing it, and released it.
Rain Rover said blushing.
“No, so. It seems that Lord Tigris is too anxious, so I don’t know…”
“no. thank you It calmed me down.”
Tigris said as he watched the play coming to an end.
“······· Next time, please.”
Rain Rover said with a small smile involuntarily at Tigris’ words.
“yes. Anytime.”
* * *
Rakan was so nauseous that he couldn’t stand it.
Rakan ran to the bathroom and vomited up what he ate.
································································································· !
Rakan, who vomited everything until he was sick, flushed the toilet.
Tigris and Trisha didn’t explain exactly, but they knew that the water and drinks were related to this terrorist attack, unless you were an idiot.
Rakan actually endured a lot.
It was really difficult to keep pretending to be okay to escape Mattia’s suspicions.
However, when he learned that Rakan’s life depended on Mattia, he crossed the limit of his patience.
“after······.”
After pouring everything out, Rakan rinsed his mouth and looked in the mirror.
He couldn’t see what his face looked like because he was covered in barbarian makeup, but a very tired man was looking at Rakan.
‘Am I going to die?’
His hands trembled as he thought that if Tigris couldn’t stop Mattia, Rakan might die too.
It’s not that I don’t believe in Tigris, but it was really terrifying that my life depended on someone else.
‘Nope. Kim Yoo-shin. Don’t be weak.’
What Rakan had to do here was to act like Rakan as usual as calmly as possible.
And on stage, it was to die fiercely by Perschen.
Now, after only 20 minutes, it was over.
“All barbarians out!”
Rakan took a deep breath and exhaled as the stage director’s call echoed through the bathroom.
Then he took off his shirt and headed towards the stage manager.
Then Mattia came to the side.
“Like a while ago, he was often away. It didn’t seem like they were watching the stage. Where have you been?”
Rakan made up his mind and used ‘low-level acting’.
“I just went to the bathroom and came back.”
“Why did you go to the bathroom?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Just because you’re shooting like that.”
Rakan sighed and said.
“Because it’s the last time, I think I’m a little nervous.”
“I never dreamed that you were nervous. It didn’t look like that at all.”
“It’s my first stage too. It must be tense.”
“Hmmmm……Isn’t it just to relieve tension by drinking it all or removing the half-empty drink bottle?”
Mattia began to doubt.
Was handing the bottle of drink to Trisha a problem?
I handed it over as unnoticed as possible, but Mattia seemed to feel a sense of crisis when the drink bottle she had manipulated disappeared.
“…what is that?”
Mattia gave an eerie smile.
“By the way, do you know where the half bottle of soda on the table in the corner of the waiting room went? I was drinking, so you want to find some?”
“Did you clean it all up?”
“Where?”
“I don’t know either. I just handed it over to the staff.”
In fact, I handed the whole box of drink bottles to Trisha.
Maybe he saw it?
Rakan’s heart started beating like crazy.
“Hmmm…”
Rakan’s hair stood up at the sound of his uncomfortable moan.
“I have a question, do you believe in Lux?”
“Why are you asking such a thing all of a sudden?”
“I just suddenly became curious about you.”
“······I do not know.”
“okay? Sorry. I thought maybe we could meet in the same place.”
Rakan froze.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s true, like Biscotti, I tend to talk a bit more when I’m nervous. I heard from Tommy and he said that Biscotti is also the type of person who talks a lot when he’s nervous? Isn’t it? Tommy?”
Tommy looked at Mattia as if he were looking at a strange person.
“What are you talking about?”
“No. It’s our turn soon. Now all that’s left is to die bravely? Then it’s all over.”
Rakan’s head went blank.
Rakan handed Trisha a water bottle about 40 minutes ago.
Did Tigris really solve this problem?
I was about to vomit again.
At that moment, the stage director, who was peeking at the stage, said:
“Let’s go, barbarians.”
Mattia said with a smirk.
“What are you doing? Rakan? Didn’t the stage manager give you instructions?”
Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump-
Rakan’s heart pounded like crazy.
Rakan realized that he was walking without realizing it.
To be precise, Mattia was pushing Rakan’s back.
“Looking at your face, you must have recognized who I am. Since when did you know?”
“·················ogue.”
“I can’t really answer. Originally, I was going to do it after the play was over, but I guess I’ll have to start now. It would be impossible to run away from now on.”
Mattia and Rakan climbed the stairs.
The groan of the creaking wooden stairs was so appalling.
“Look. Where did that casual look from before? After all, it seems that Lux is right in saying that all human beings are equal in the face of death.”
Rakan could hardly see Mattia’s face.
Because if Mattia wanted to, Rakan would be dead.
Mattia continued to speak with a smile, as if she liked Rakan’s frightened expression.
“Then let’s make a bet. The people helping you must have completely destroyed my magic. or you couldn’t Only the Goddess will know.”
Mattia explained how he came to this situation, as if he was making a confession as he went out toward the tent covering the stage and behind the stage.
“Actually, the reason I commit such a great sin is not because of you or mine, but because of the lack of communication between the Gillion Kingdom and the Lux Church.”
“Our Lux Church had no idea that Prince Matthew would be so angry. I thought he would be upset that Viscount Kayle, who was providing the money, was caught, but I never expected to touch Tigris.”
“’He’ kept the eyes of the Empire fixed on the black soil at best, but by touching the strict beehive, Emperor Todd and Tigris began to take an interest in the kingdom of Gillion. If the Lux Church had noticed Prince Matthew’s change of heart in advance, that wouldn’t have happened.”
A bright stage light fell on Rakan’s face.
Rakan could hardly move forward.
Because I didn’t know if Rakan would die if I went forward.
“So what can you do? Because faithful and good Lux members like me have always been martyred for great things. If the Kingdom of Gillion and the members of Lux can be safe, I will die a hundred times over.”
Mattia wrapped her arms around Rakan’s neck and headed towards the middle of the stage.
It was as terrible as a snake wrapped around its neck, and its body stiffened.
The actors on the stage as well as the audience all looked at the two with strange eyes.
Mattia whispered in Rakan’s ear.
“Is there anything you would like to pray for? I’ll give you a dying prayer Actually, prayer of congratulations is not my specialty, but prayer on the deathbed.”
Rakan raised his head and looked at Tigris.
Tigris looked down at Rakan with a calm expression.
Seeing that, Rakan found hope.
“If you want to die, search alone.”
“I also chose the path of heresy. Thank you though. Thanks to you, I feel a lot lighter. I think this is also a blessing from Goddess Lux.”
Mattia pushed Rakan aside.
“Now I have to see the end of the bet. Do you trust your colleagues?”
And I proudly opened my chest as if I was the main character on this stage.
Mattia stretched out her left palm and put magical energy into it.
Then the magic circle drawn on the left palm began to glow in blue.
Now Mattia had one thing to do.
At the same time as referring to the black soil, it was to blow up everyone on the stage.
Mattia looked at the emperor and said.
“Black soil…….. Whoops!”
Mattia was suddenly pushed forward and thrown off the stage.
Mattia turned and looked around the stage to see a pale-skinned man standing there.
it was nadal
Rakan looked down at Mattia and said.
“Did you say? If you want to die, you have to die alone.”
Mattia was astonished.
“how?! I must have run out of time!”
Nadal looked down at Mattia with cool eyes.
“You disregard the power of the Empire too much.”
A spark flashed in Mattia’s eyes.
“Hey Zen……!”
Mattia’s appearance disappeared.
Nadal had cast a teleport spell on Mattia.
Kwareung!!
And in the distance there was the sound of large fireworks exploding.