Heading North (1)
“Lord Dante, is there anything making you uncomfortable?”
“No, everything’s to my liking.”
“Thank you. We hope you have a pleasant journey.”
The attendant had come to Dante’s cabin with her question. He gave a casual reply and shut the door.
Then he flopped onto the bed.
This train…! It was comfortable enough, but a train was still just a train!
He hadn’t even been away from home for half a day, and already Dante wanted to go back.
Ahh~ I wanna roll around in my bed back home~
The train bed was at least king-sized. But the cabin was so cramped that the bed took up almost all the space.
It couldn’t be helped. Trains and ships were inherently confined by their designs.
But that was that.
For Dante, who’d been tumbling around in spacious rooms, this commoner-like(?) squeeze felt utterly alien.
Hoo… Just gotta endure for ten days.
Once he reached the Carmilton Duchy, the duke and duchess would welcome him.
A northern duke’s home wouldn’t be as cramped and stuffy as this, right?
With that thought, Dante sat at the desk. He had some things to organize.
A few days before departure.
Dante had met Princess Esilia and received a simple briefing.
“The Carmilton Liberation Army is a headache even for the grand duke.”
“I imagine so.”
The princess explained calmly.
The Carmilton Grand Duchy had joined the empire about 300 years ago. Originally, it had been a kingdom unrelated to the empire—a harsh, frozen north that it had carved out, uniting shattered tribes into one realm. That was why the Carmilton royals were nicknamed the Kings of the North.
But… the kingdom they’d built soon faced rapid decline.
“Monster waves, right?”
“Exactly. It’s a foreign concept to imperials, though~”
Monster waves. Every year, without fail, massive hordes surged down from beyond the northern great snowfields.
That was what they called monster waves.
The Carmilton royals fought desperately to hold them back. They built the great ice barrier and formed the elite Snowfield Guard legion to drive off the monsters.
But… the annual waves inflicted devastating losses on the northerners. No matter how well they held, it was futile. People died, weapons and resources drained away like water. How could a barren northern kingdom sustain such bleeding?
After about a century of torment… the Carmilton royals changed their mindset entirely.
Hey, kids. Do we really have to stop all these monsters(?)
Yes. Tormented too long, they’d lost their minds…!
It happened when the kingdom was on the brink of collapse, but anyway—they abandoned the idea of [stop the monsters!].
Full open gates. When waves hit, they locked the doors, hunkered down, and endured until it passed. A declaration of surrender, basically.
Then something bizarre happened.
Monsters roaming the barren north discovered the warm, fertile imperial lands and charged south like mad!
The Carmilton royals were amazed. Whoa, damn. It turned out like this? We didn’t need to block them after all(?)
Of course—the empire’s northern border regions erupted in chaos. Raving monsters wrecked farms to bits!
Pleadings flooded the emperor, naturally. We can’t live with these monsters~ Waaah~
The emperor investigated immediately—and reached an absurd truth.
What? The Carmilton kingdom just… opened the gates and let monsters through(?)? Those lunatics!
The empire sent envoys at once. [Hey! Block your damn monsters!]
The Carmilton royals brazenly replied. [Why should we?]
[?????]
[The north’s done for anyway? We’re dying soon too?]
[…]
Yes. The kingdom lacked the power to stop the waves, so they’d reverted to tribal federation survival mode.
As a result, the empire suffered endless annual waves…
[Pleeease block the monsters…!]
[Ah~ We can’t~]
[We’ll send money, food, weapons!]
[Ah~ We don’t need any~ But if you insist, maybe take it~?]
[Pleeease take it…!]
The empire and kingdom reached a dramatic compromise. The kingdom accepted the empire’s granted title of Carmilton Grand Duke and ascended to northern grand duke status.
Officially united with the empire.
The grand duke’s sole role: Guard the ice barrier, stop monster waves, protect the empire!
That was the current Carmilton grand duke’s mission.
“Until 300 years ago, the empire suffered monster wave damage too.”
“Using northerners like mercenaries, huh.”
“Right~. The empire’s advanced in agriculture and industry, producing endless supplies for the north. In exchange, northerners guard the ice barrier and fight monsters.”
Everyone ended up happy. The north regained stability with food and weapon aid. The empire stayed safe without spilling blood.
“So the idea of a ‘liberation army’ doesn’t even make sense.”
True. The kingdom and empire had united willingly, pooling taxes to solve the monster wave headache.
So what the hell was this liberation army? Unless an arrow to the head, it was unthinkable.
Though it had actually happened…
“The Carmilton Liberation Army wants to revert Carmilton to its kingdom days.”
“With zero benefits.”
“Yes. Purely chasing the absurd ideal of [the north’s old glory].”
Princess Esilia smirked.
“Obvious, right? The Hand of Power’s just baiting naive northern idiots as pawns.”
Purest smokescreen.
Naturally… the grand duke saw the Carmilton Liberation Army as rebels he’d love to crush. Factual, too. Antisocial terrorists, nothing more.
So when Princess Esilia announced dispatching Dante north… the grand duke’s side promised enthusiastic cooperation.
“Is the grand duke trustworthy?”
Dante asked, and the princess replied nonchalantly.
“I don’t know the grand duke well. He’s a man, after all.”
“Then…?”
“The grand duchess is trustworthy. We’ve known each other forever… and we’re pretty close~?”
She said. No telling how cooperative the duke would be, but the duchess would surely side with Dante.
So meet her first upon arrival, she advised.
“She’ll handle most issues. Feel free to use her.”
“Noted.”
Dante reviewed his northern itinerary.
Upon arrival, contact the grand duchess and learn the local situation. Then, with civilian allies, track the Carmilton Liberation Army. Uproot them and expose their Hand of Power ties.
Snap!
He closed his notebook.
Lots to do, but no worries or fear.
Dante had the Aision family’s wealth, bug magic, and his father’s martial training. The grand duchess would aid him too… He’d just give his all to complete the mission.
“Lord Dante.”
The attendant knocked.
“Dinnertime. Meals are ready in the dining car.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Much to do, but food first.
Dante headed to the dining car.
Dante’s reserved car was Noble Suite class. Luxurious enough to be called a [head car] like in some train movie.
Tables draped in crisp linens. Adorable mini planters atop them. Attendants in pristine uniforms standing at attention, awaiting calls.
Opulently lavish… but Dante felt nothing.
Why? Too familiar!
Imperial parties offered this as standard! He even thought: Hmm… A train to the imperial fringes can only do so much, huh? A bit disappointing.
At some point, Dante had become a haughty noble numb to luxury…!
All thanks to his rich father.
“Would you like to sample the wine?”
“What do you have?”
“16-year Viñas Sherry is ready.”
“Anything else?”
“Château Impéum. Noir style.”
“Any blanc?”
“Then I recommend the Chardonnay. Here’s the catalog…”
Dante flipped through and picked a few casually. Everyday stuff.
Like asking at a diner, ‘Regular cola or zero?’, then ‘Got zero cider?’ Just pairing with food!
But Dante’s ‘routine’ seemed awfully ‘refined’ to someone.
“Hey, check that guy.”
“What?”
“He’s ordering expensive wines non-stop… Big drinker?”
“…Just Noble class, right? Booze and food are free there.”
“Yeah…? Noble ticket holder…?”
Cabins were segregated, but not the dining car. This train wasn’t that elite.
Plenty of other ticket holders mingled. VVIPs were rare; mostly standard VIP or premium.
A group of baronesses’ daughters fit the bill. Off on a last trip before a friend’s wedding!
“How much is a Noble ticket?”
“Over 4 million cellon?”
“…Insane. 4 million for a week…?”
“Must be loaded.”
“…”
“…”
The baronesses kept stealing glances at Dante.
Seemed like a Noble ticket owner… but why alone?
No companions?!
They stared, but it made no sense. A man burning 4 million for a week’s trip. Handsome too!
Such a guy traveling solo, no girlfriend? Something wrong with him…?
“Should I ask?”
“Ask what?”
“If he’s alone.”
“…!”
The bold one(?) stepped up. They all thought alike.
Want to stop her… but don’t! Curious too!
Is Dante alone? Girlfriend spot open? Room for me(?)?!
“I’m going!”
The baroness charged confidently. No hesitation. Men like bold women!
“Um…! Are you traveling alone?”
“?”
Dante tilted his head at the sudden question. But habit kicked in.
“Yes, alone. And you, miss?”
“Oh… I-I’m alone too… You seem to love wine, and I do too, so…”
She babbled, face beet-red. Brave, but first time hunting(?).
Dante listened, then smiled softly.
“Thanks, but I prefer solo.”
“…Ah.”
Her face burned hotter.
Sorry to the baroness, but… what was he supposed to do?
If Princess Esilia found out later, she’d ‘adore’ the miss plenty.
Bad for both.
“You like wine? The samples were good. If you drink, mind a gift?”
“Y-Yes! Please!”
“Four glasses for the ladies, please.”
Absurdly pricey, but the server fetched and poured instantly. VVIP order—must oblige!
Dante smiled faintly.
“Have a good evening.”
“Y-Yes… Th-thank you for the wine…”
The baroness fled without eye contact, blushing furiously.
“Wow… He’s so kind…”
“Must be from some amazing house…?”
“Sigh. What’s it to us.”
“Let’s eat, girls…”
Dante ignored their glances.
Reason for the wine: Get drunk and buzz off.
VVIP meant free food and drink. 4 million spent, yet ‘free’ was cracked(?), but true.
So he shared what others paid for (buying cheaper, obviously).
Alone again, Dante savored dinner leisurely.
“…”
“…”
From afar, attendants watched him with odd looks.