Rattling Rails to the Dragon Slayer's Domain
Rattle, rattle. The noise from the train as it chugged along filled the air. Unlike the high-tech trains back in my modern world, this one wasn't advanced at all—the shaking was intense, and the deafening racket was so loud it felt like my ears were ringing with tinnitus.
"I think trains are truly wonderful."
"…What do you mean, White M…."
"Master."
"…Master."
The atmosphere felt like it would turn icy if I didn't play along, so I gave a half-hearted response. I had no idea why she was so obsessed with that title. Weren't you one of the people who hated me the most after hearing my crimes? Why the sudden clinginess now?
My plan to rest up a bit more and then head to the forge with Mu Yeon crumbled miserably, leaving me feeling all out of sorts.
"Isn't it an amazing mode of transport? It doesn't go its own way like a single horse, and as long as you feed it the right fuel, it gives back accordingly. Plus, it only travels along laid-out rails, eliminating variables entirely. Truly a captivating invention."
White Mask suddenly launched into a passionate lecture on trains, and I felt like I might black out. The words she was saying, the enthusiasm packed into them, and that subtly excited, rising tone in her voice... This was straight-up classic railfan behavior!
I remembered once reading that railfans were one of the "big three otakus" who caused the most public nuisance. And now, one was right in front of me!
"Ah, yeah."
"Your reaction's lackluster. Those who don't grasp the allure of railways are basically missing out on half of life."
I wondered if that was really true, no matter how I thought about it. But why was Mu Yeon so quiet...?
"…How did it come to this, how did it come to this…."
I could see her right next to me, mumbling in a super deformed, dazed expression. She seemed to pale every time the train jolted and touched her. …I had no clue what she was thinking, but leaving her alone seemed best for her mental health.
"By the way."
There was that saying about superiors ordering and subordinates obeying, but surely I had the right to know where we were headed. With that in mind, I shifted to a slightly more serious tone.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"I told you, Geumgu."
"…Could you give me a bit more detail?"
"Well, you'll see when we get there. Just wait a little longer. We're almost there."
Say what you will, it was definitely a train—its speed was pretty impressive. Part of that was because I'd been walking everywhere lately, so it felt even faster by comparison. Anyway, waiting was something I was good at.
"Where was I? Right, this train…."
I wasn't great at listening to info I didn't want, but... What the hell is this, rail otaku?
My head was spinning from what felt like near-brainwashing rail talk when the train finally slowed to a stop at what looked like a properly built station.
"Tch, already here. Let's get off for now."
Seeing White Mask look regretful, like she still had more to say, I decided I had to avoid train topics at all costs. She had a lot of hobbies, and I could usually tolerate them, but this one was a hard no.
"Master, I have a question."
"Go ahead. We've got some time left, so a Q&A session should be fine."
White Mask started to stand but sat back down, facing me. Staring at her expressionless mask, which looked endlessly hollow, she seemed a bit more serious.
"I never imagined you'd actually ask about trains yourself…."
"No, it's not that."
"Tch."
I wondered if this was some kind of mental illness. She cleared her throat to reset the mood.
"It might be a sensitive question, but I'm curious why you suddenly decided to take me on as your disciple and subordinate."
As I said earlier, back in the underground prison, she'd shown clear disgust toward me. It felt too nagging to let that slide without asking. Who knew? Even if I'd grown a bit, she could bury me in the snowfields on a whim. Without knowing the full extent of her strength, challenging a Greater Outer God could backfire spectacularly.
Noticing the mood turn somber, Mu Yeon looked a little downcast, tapping her fingers nervously.
"Hm, that's what you wanted to know?"
White Mask let out a thoughtful hum after hearing me out. Was she figuring out how to phrase it? I waited quietly for her answer, and silence settled around us.
Thankfully, it didn't last long. White Mask lifted her head.
"You went with Mu Yeon to take down the subordinate and the Gardener, right?"
"Y-yes."
"Then I can just speak plainly."
White Mask's tone grew firm.
"You can summon Outer Gods, can't you?"
The bombshell question hit out of nowhere, leaving my mouth agape and my mind blank. …Huh? How did she know that? I'd never gone around advertising it.
"…That look says you're wondering how I knew. Don't panic—I'm the only one who knows, and I haven't told anyone else."
I wasn't sure if it was true, but it seemed like she was trying to calm me down. Still, it was too shocking to brush off.
"…Summon an Outer God, you say?"
"You didn't defeat the Gardener yourself back then."
Mu Yeon shuddered at that too. My heart pounded like it might burst from the second bombshell. How did she piece all this together…? But White Mask spoke casually, even crossing her legs leisurely, like it was no big deal.
"Ah, of course, if Vice Captain had received the report instead of me, he might've overlooked it. But I noticed. The Gardener's leaves are cyan from roses—not that faded color."
She said it with total certainty. So that's why she kept glancing between me and the leaf back then? Did she think we faked the report about defeating the Gardener?
"The decisive clue was the Hearth rift incident. Having fought a Greater Outer God directly, I could tell. Those things never breach the Hearth's power without purpose—it just wastes their strength. Especially considering the Observer's behavioral patterns that I've analyzed; the odds are even lower."
White Mask leaned in close, her masked face unreadable. The endlessly gentle breathing made it impossible to guess her emotions.
"So, your answer?"
"…What kind of answer do you want?"
"Whatever you say, my decision won't change. If you deny it, your guts and power to face the Observer alone are enough to make you worth taking as a disciple. If you admit it, I can give you some more useful info."
Was this a trap? Or sincere? My lingering doubts about the knights made it impossible to know the "right" answer.
Then, out of nowhere, White Mask pulled out a stick and tapped my pants pocket twice.
"Ow!"
The sharp sting made me flinch, and it fell out. The Party Flute—originally the Horn Flute. Mu Yeon's eyes went wide seeing it drop.
"Th-that's a Horn Flute…!"
"Hmm, looks like it came from the Weapon Arsenal, huh?"
White Mask gave a meaningful chuckle.
"It's normally a weapon that blows your head off the moment you use it. Guessing you summoned an Outer God with it?"
"…!"
The tension skyrocketed; adrenaline surged, my brain spinning wildly. What did White Mask want? Why nurture me instead of executing me when she knew all this?
She placed a hand on my shoulder.
"It's a major violation of military law, but based on your actions so far, it doesn't look like you were trying to destroy Rondan. So I reconsidered your crimes."
"…?"
"You probably heard from Her Highness, but mating with Outer Gods isn't impossible. Still, mixing bodies with them isn't easy."
Keeping it secret from the princess, she whispered so Mu Yeon couldn't hear.
"You're frail, but you can use the Horn Flute, showing remarkable resistance to Outer Gods, right?"
"…."
Taking my silence as affirmation, she nodded.
"Doesn't that mean you offered your body to fight them off?"
…Huh? Her sudden sharp turn left me dazed, staring blankly. She let out a pleased laugh.
"I looked into your past a bit. We manage most city records anyway."
Leydan Tantun's past? I perked up, knowing only bad stuff about this body's original owner.
"There was an unusual Outer God descent in your Hearth city once, but oddly few casualties. Witnesses say you were at the center."
Was there something like that…? I had no idea.
"No one would willingly mate with something grotesque unless attacked. The knight probably exaggerated your crimes based on your time-buying actions. We have those types sometimes."
The first I'd heard of "Leydan Tantun's" past. What the hell happened?
"But I saw through your noble intent. That's why I decided to raise you."
Mu Yeon, grasping the context from key phrases, piped up excitedly.
"…Ah, Tantun, is that really true?"
I felt absurd watching her flush with emotion while White Mask stared intently. This wasn't in my info—how should I react…? Ugh.
A sudden headache hit; I clutched my head. It felt like someone was squeezing my brain. Why now? Something flashed by—not fully formed, but I caught the gist.
A crying woman. Me watching—no, not me. This was probably "Leydan Tantun." And….
Someone tapped my shoulder, snapping me back. Blinking wide-eyed, my narrowed vision showed White Mask tilting her head.
"…You don't look well. You okay?"
"Y-yeah. Just a headache…."
"I see."
What was that memory? It felt like Leydan Tantun's, but why surface now? Calm down first. Mu Yeon and White Mask were eyeing me suspiciously.
The talk had been super favorable to me anyway, so this image might work.
"…I'm impressed. How did you deduce all that so carefully?"
I covered with the first excuse that came. White Mask still looked puzzled but dropped it since I said headache.
"After years in the knights, you see all sorts. Some stand out. You were uniquely good, so easier to read."
"…I was just there. I didn't do anything special."
I played humble, and she nodded.
"A modest knight too. They scouted a real gem."
Her opinion of me seemed even better. She stood, heading for the open train door.
"I'll help with your training as much as I can. Especially since Her Highness expects great things from you."
"…Thank you."
Somehow, I'd gone from weird pervert to dark hero saving the world. Felt weird.
"…Ugh, offering your body to an Outer God to buy time… Hiding that fact all along, Tantun…."
I decided to ignore Mu Yeon's mutterings. Her eyes were turning redder by the second.
We followed White Mask off at the station, and without anyone to refuel it, the private train stayed stopped. What convenience.
For now, I'd ponder that sudden past memory later. I'd dig into Leydan Tantun's history properly and figure out what went down. Best if it came naturally. Time would tell anyway.
"We're here."
White Mask stopped, and we did too. The sight before us left my jaw dropping.
In the blizzard-swept area, figures roamed searching for something. And flying through such harsh skies? Probably Outer Gods.
"What the…?"
Mu Yeon asked White Mask uncertainly, who snorted.
"The Dragon Slayer's domain. And…"
White Mask dropped a shocking line.
"The place where the main culprit who made my face like this resides."