Chapter 370
Chapter 370
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 370 – Huperion’s Arrival
Night time, north of Helrom, the imperial capital.
The magitek rail train had just rumbled out of the deep gray rock tunnel, passed through the winding mountains, and entered a vast, symmetrical, and solemn ancient forest.
The silhouettes of the mountain peaks, dotted with the occasional flicker of light, loomed in the distance. Outside the fortress-city of Helrom, the National Forest Park and its lakes looked even more profound under the train’s roaring passage.
Far ahead, Helrom’s outline gradually came into view. One by one, the city’s lights lit up, speckling the horizon like stars shining back in response to the night sky’s darkness.
Inside the carriage, the clock hands had just passed seven. The soft yellow light danced across the polished wooden décor. Some passengers sat quietly, some chatted in low voices; the sounds of conversation and silence interwove. Train attendants moved between cars in an orderly manner, answering various passenger requests with practiced smiles, then moving along to the next cabin.
Huperion sat by the window. Her reflection was visible on the glass as she gazed quietly outside. The red ornament in her hair stood out against her now-dark locks, which draped softly over her shoulder.
Across from her, Mishula had already changed into the Protos Royal Academy uniform, her slightly pointed ears betraying faint traces of her demonic heritage.
Between the two, the only sound that occasionally broke the quiet was the soft rustle of Mishula turning pages. Before reaching their destination — Helrom — both sisters remained mostly silent.
Outside, the scenery flashed by in fleeting glimpses, with Helrom’s distant lights becoming more and more distinct.
The sound of the book closing broke the stillness. Mishula tucked it away into her handbag. Though she hadn’t finished reading the book she had borrowed from her sister — Romance of the Holy War — she decided to stop for now and save the rest for when they were back at the academy.
“Don’t worry, Sister. The imperial capital Helrom isn’t that dangerous. The Resurrection Church can’t possibly act as rampantly here as the Annihilation Branch does up north. At least in the academy, we won’t run into their people.”
Noticing the trace of unease in Huperion’s expression, Mishula spoke to reassure her.
She figured her sister’s nervousness was likely a lingering shadow from their earlier encounter back in Box Mountain Province.
Most of the time, Huperion was the picture of composure. Only when she was alone with Mishula did she relax just enough to reveal her true feelings.
“Mishula… I understand. Thank you.”
Huperion turned to look at her sister, stunned for a moment, then gave a soft word of thanks.
Although the checkpoint incident in Box Mountain Province had been a dangerous moment, their subsequent journey — traveling from the empire’s northern frontier down to the central region over the next day and a half — had been unexpectedly calm.
Being in this quiet and comfortable space, and in the company of someone she trusted, made it easy for her to let her guard down.
But Mishula had no idea about the mission Huperion bore — nor the hellish task awaiting her once they reached Helrom.
Every time she thought about infiltrating that isolated prison in this foreign city — venturing deep into the pitch-black levels built to seal even eighth-tier demon lords — a creeping fear welled up inside her.
But there was no one she could tell. She could only keep this secret buried in her heart.
“How about it? Do you like that book?”
Huperion noticed that Mishula had begun preparing for their imminent arrival and smiled as she asked.
The book Mishula had just put away was the one lent to Huperion by the Ice Witch to pass the time during the trip. Later, Huperion had lent it to Mishula.
Since the book was originally a work widely circulated within the Protos Empire, there was nothing suspicious about carrying it here. Most importantly, the Ice Witch had sealed the Great Poet of Love into a bookmark and hidden it inside the book, allowing it to pass security inspections undetected.
“It’s pretty interesting. I don’t want to read anything else now — just the hysterics of the loser heroine.”
Mishula crossed her arms seriously as she commented.
Although the story — set during the Holy War era — was completely fictional with imaginary characters, there were three heroines, each with a distinct personality: one with the aura of the “main wife,” one who looked like a main wife but was actually a loser heroine, and one who looked every bit like a loser heroine — and indeed was one.
“You mean the girl who’s either eating or holding food every time she appears?”
Huperion asked in puzzlement. This book had only released its first part earlier this year from the Imperial Royal Academy Press, so it was still hard to say who the true winner would be in the end.
“That’s her.”
Mishula nodded.
“I think she’s adorable.”
Huperion said with a little laugh. If she were a man, she thought, she’d probably like that heroine best.
“I think the cutest is still the younger heroine. If life is a journey, she feels despair, feels loneliness, yet can still dispel those feelings — her elegance, her loyalty to promises, her beauty… they deserve to be cherished.”
Mishula said with pure-hearted sincerity.
Their conversation made the short wait before arrival pass quickly — so quickly that neither noticed when the clock’s minute hand ticked twice.
With a slight jolt, the train began to slow down. The stars and lights outside the window seemed to move more slowly, giving way to the glow of the Helrom station platform as they approached.
The humming between wheel and rail that had lasted all night grew fainter, signaling the end of their journey.
Mishula and Huperion lifted their heads from the world of fiction and let the topic drop. Their gazes fell on the platform outside the window, watching as the figures of the bustling passengers came into focus.
“Sister, let’s go to the commercial district first to buy a few things before we return to school.”
Mishula glanced outside, then turned back to Huperion. She felt her sister still hadn’t truly relaxed since they left home.
“If we don’t take advantage of the weekend to go off campus, we won’t get another chance for several days once Monday comes.”
If she had her way, Mishula wouldn’t spend a single unnecessary minute inside the Protos Royal Academy.
Their checked luggage — sent earlier at the station — would be delivered directly to their residence by the academy’s logistics.
As nobles, the two sisters had been granted permission by Count Nelson Milford to stay in a detached house in the academy’s northern residential district.
After disembarking, they had almost no baggage with them. If they went south from the station, they could reach the academy in just over ten minutes. But if they went north, they would arrive at the lively commercial district in the southern part of Helrom — full of renowned shops and endless things to see.