Chapter 113
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Chapter 113
"...As I thought."
I examined the scrolls from every angle.
But just as I'd seen them before, they were utterly ordinary scrolls, nothing more.
The only thing remarkable was their sheer variety.
'I've practically seen every scroll I've ever used.'
Defense scrolls that required 271 of them to block anything, attack scrolls that according to the Empress hurt less than a mosquito bite, movement scrolls slower than walking....
This level of inventory was common even in the Scroll Department.
"But the reason he went out of his way to send these...."
I glanced around the room and quickly drew the curtains.
Then I placed a luminous scroll inside my blanket and activated it as a test.
Just in case, I only channeled half of the standard mana amount, yet an enormous burst of light erupted.
"Kyaaaah!"
I frantically covered the luminous scroll with every piece of clothing I could find.
It was fortunate it was daytime—if it had been night, people could probably have seen this light from incredibly far away.
"What is this, a lighthouse?"
Because I'd channeled only the faintest trace of mana, the light extinguished quickly.
I sat there breathless and dazed for a moment.
'I don't understand why... but after I coughed up blood earlier, I did get stronger, right?'
I'd felt something was off starting with the fever scroll.
The mediocre abilities of the scrolls were being amplified when they met my mana.
'At this rate, there's nothing to fear in this world....'
I swallowed hard as I stared at the attack scroll.
I was terrified to even test how powerful it might be.
I had no idea what had suddenly happened to my body. But....
[Don't think of it only in negative terms. It's a power someone desperately desired.]
The Tower Master's words brought me tremendous comfort.
That it wasn't entirely bad meant it probably wasn't harmful to my body or anything like that.
'What is this, did I suddenly become the strongest person in the world?'
The Tower Master seemed to have sent me these scrolls knowing I'd acquired such power.
I wondered how he'd noticed something even I hadn't realized.
This never happened in the original story. War breaks out, but humans with such special abilities never appeared.
It was also why I'd worried more about the war than the Gaejo Faction's experiments. But that changed the moment I learned Father was involved.
'Either way, I'll need to carry these with me always. I'm truly grateful....'
It felt like Grandfather was looking after me, and my heart warmed.
I carefully placed the scrolls I'd received today into my small handbag, along with the 'scroll that activates when a certain man confesses' that the Tower Master had given me before.
[Namia, I intend to charge into the vast and deep enemy territory to rescue my daughter and son-in-law.]
I hope he remains safe.
I stared at the phrase "vast and deep enemy territory" for a long time.
'I need to gather my strength and do my best as well.'
It was obvious that the High Priest was doing his best in his own way.
'I can roughly guess what methods the High Priest will use. It must be the same method he tried to use to kill Jayden.'
In the original story, Jayden suspects the Temple as the force behind the Gaejo Faction and visits the High Priest directly.
Finding no evidence, on his way back, he nearly dies when a cave collapses.
The conspirators had orchestrated this because they believed he couldn't use his special abilities.
But he survives by using his special abilities and barely makes it back.
Similarly, Crown Prince Kiaros had said something like this before.
[I was supposed to see him off on the day he leaves the Imperial Palace, but I'll have to cancel that for now.]
Just as they brought down the cave, they're probably planning to collapse the Chapel timed with Crown Prince Kiaros's visit.
No matter how superior his physical abilities are, Crown Prince Kiaros is still in his Dark Period and couldn't survive such a massive accident.
That would be more than enough to disguise it as an accident.
Since they were already planning to kill Crown Prince Kiaros separately, it was obvious he wouldn't fall for any trap I set.
'This time, I won't let them use that method.'
So I had to set things up so he'd have no choice but to fall into my trap.
Could you possibly lend me a bomb and Kibon Altes tonight?
I picked up a quill and began writing a letter to Crown Prince Kiaros.
I plan to demolish the Temple within the Imperial Palace. I'd appreciate it if you could provide something appropriate to Kibon—I only need to destroy a small part.
* * *
When the deep night arrived with the moon rising.
Knock, knock—the sound of knocking came at the door.
"Come in."
The man standing at the door was Kibon, holding a small box of bombs.
Kibon's brow furrowed slightly when he saw me dressed in a form-fitting one-piece for easy movement and leather shoes.
"Take off your coat too. We need to move discreetly."
"But it's November...."
"I'll give you a heat scroll."
I activated the heat scroll by channeling just a minimal amount of mana into it.
If I'd poured in the standard amount like before, my entire body would have been drenched in sweat.
"Let's go."
With the heat scroll activated, I smirked.
"To the Temple."
And so Kibon and I quietly left the room in our light clothing and crossed the Garden.
No matter how many people worked in the Imperial Palace, past midnight there was no one about.
Something felt strange.
In the beautiful Imperial Palace Garden, it felt as though only Kibon and I existed.
Kibon hesitated before speaking quietly.
"...Why on earth are you...."
"If there's a group with dark intentions, shouldn't we destroy their base first so they don't panic?"
Currently in the Temple within the Imperial Palace were the High Priest and five or six other priests.
"They need to panic a bit so they move in a different direction."
And so we arrived at the small Temple building.
The structure, comprised of a Chapel and Dormitory, was silent. Everyone was clearly asleep.
I surveyed the surroundings and pointed to a small Warehouse located directly beside the Chapel.
It was a narrow space used to store seeds and tools necessary for maintaining the Garden.
"Once the bomb detonates, people will come rushing over, so there's no time to escape. For now, it's best if we hide there."
"Where are you planning to detonate the bomb?"
"Anywhere on the Dormitory wall. I don't need any major destruction."
After all, explosives in this world weren't particularly effective.
Even if detonated, it would only cause one section of the wall to crumble slightly.
I met Kibon's puzzled gaze and added further explanation.
"It'll be enough for Construction Department officials to come and go tomorrow conducting safety inspections."
They would be methodically weakening the Temple bit by bit, working to make it collapse at the slightest impact.
'So let's create a small accident beforehand.'
Regardless of its sacred status, the Temple was classified as a building within the Imperial Palace.
Tonight, it would quickly be dismissed among the Attendants as merely 'a wall collapsed slightly, with no casualties.'
But starting tomorrow, it was obvious the Construction Department would conduct daily inspections following the accident protocol.
"You understand? Quickly place the bomb near there and come back inside."
I pushed Kibon away and immediately entered the Warehouse.
Since Kibon was more physically capable than I was, it made sense to send him.
But then....
'Hm?'
Wedged between the farm tools, I felt slightly taken aback.
'It's narrower than I thought?'
I'd assumed a Warehouse would be quite spacious, but there was far more inside than expected! It felt cramped for two people, and then the door opened.
"I'm coming in... mm."
Kibon, having quickly placed the bomb against the Dormitory wall, opened the door and blinked with evident bewilderment.
He too had realized just how confined the Warehouse interior was.
But there was no time to deliberate—immediately after, came a loud boom as the bomb detonated.
"Get in!"
I whispered urgently, grabbed his arm, and quickly shut the door.
In the cramped space, his body pressed directly against mine.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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