Chapter 1
Whenever the train burst out of a long tunnel, a different world always awaited.
Childhood memories were fond ones.
Some days, it was blanketed in deep snow.
Others, exotic landscapes greeted me.
I loved trains.
They took me to new places.
New scenery always waited for me.
But why was this a first?
Why were those romance fantasy-style mansions visible over there?
It had been fifteen years since I fell into this world.
I came to my senses and struggled to adapt to its harshness.
Romance fantasies are kind only to nobles, after all.
There was no place that welcomed a black-haired foreigner.
Somehow surviving, I now drove trains.
High-end ones to the capital, ridden only by nobles, at that.
"Ah... fuck."
"Captain, the passengers might hear."
"Marie. Isn't it weird if I don't swear? They say I wrecked the train. Yeah?"
This world had an absurdly high number of villains.
Typical baddies who might as well be begging, 'Please take me out.'
The papers reported pirates slain by some duke's kin, cultists wiped out by a prince.
Like they were mere fodder for nobles' accolades.
The problem? Those villains kept respawning no matter how many times they were killed.
The only victims were the powerless commoners.
Like me!
Yesterday's Red Flag rebels were the same.
Even with terrorists like them running rampant, it was a miracle the administration functioned.
"Marie, yeah? They say I wrecked it... Me..."
"Captain, want a hug?"
I knew it was a joke, but damn, I really wanted to bury myself in her.
"Urgh..."
In yesterday's fierce battle, I'd killed three rebels.
One with my fist, one with my gun.
The last with magic.
Pretty versatile, huh.
The issue was the magic.
I'd botched a spell engraved in the train, blowing off a rebel's head and the outer wall.
The train was now drafty as hell, and they wanted me to pay for it.
Fuck!
"Argh! With this pittance of a salary, what am I supposed to pay with?!"
I handle the passengers.
I fend off the robbers.
I even fix the damn train.
"How much more do I have to do..."
I vented stress, puffing furiously on my pipe.
"Mm. You're in rough shape today. But look on the bright side—off-duty soon."
The woman chattering beside me was Marie.
Secretary, vice-captain, head stewardess...
"And a beauty."
"Yeah. That's important too."
Marie handled everything except actually piloting the train. Incredibly capable.
And a stunner, to boot.
Light blue-white hair nearing silver, blue eyes.
A delicate frame mismatched with her...
enormous...
"Pervert."
Marie poked my nose with her finger.
"Busted."
"I can see it in your eyes. Oh, buildings ahead, Captain."
"Right. Duty calls."
Tsssh.
Tsssh.
"Ahem. Good day. This is Captain Theo. We will soon arrive at our destination, Capital Levinas. Allow me to repeat: We will soon arrive at Capital Levinas. Thank you for traveling with us."
I spat the memorized lines and sighed deeply.
I'd traversed the continent for a week straight.
I was exhausted beyond measure.
"Yeah. Time for some rest. Haven't slept a wink."
"One day. Just one."
"Don't tease. I'm stressed."
"Why? We could hang out all day."
"Nah. You rest easy at least, Marie..."
A day off with the captain? Might be the worst.
If only I'd scheduled better last time.
I'd taken this job because that woman said days off were packed with bread.
"I got scammed! Arrrgh!"
I flung off my hat, writhing. Marie giggled beside me.
"So cute. Ahaha."
"Stop teasing!"
Naughty girl.
To me, Capital Levinas was dazzling.
The empire's capital, so of course.
Patisseries, tailors, salons everywhere.
Pure romance fantasy shops.
Men in cravats helped women in frilly dresses from carriages.
Seemed like a city of love at a glance.
But my grimy engineer's uniform kept anyone from approaching.
"Ugh, gotta work. To work..."
My side ached oddly. I grabbed some street food and headed in.
The Magic Engine Bureau of the Great Morris Empire.
Oversees all magic engines in the empire.
Trains count as mana-powered structures, so engineers like Theo reported here.
Passing the familiar gray building to the third floor, a red short-haired woman welcomed me.
"Here you are, empire's top engineer!"
Ah.
"Everyone's extra teasing today."
I dangled my bread temptingly. She shut her mouth.
"Kidding, babe."
"Not 'babe,' sir."
Train Division Section 5 Chief.
5th Circle magic engineer. Melia Gray.
Beauty with fiery red hair unlike her name.
A big shot, section chief at a young age.
"Chief, operation report. For approval."
"Heard you took down another one?"
"Yeah. Just some grunts."
"Ahaha. Always 'grunts' with you."
They were grunts.
If a mere engineer could handle them, right? "Phew. No quiet days anymore."
"Trains carry nobles, so they're targets. Want a department transfer? Even now?"
What?!
"For real?"
I eyed Melia sparklingly.
"Lies. No one else can drive like you."
Ah.
"I'm out."
Pissed, I turned to leave.
Exhausted to death.
"W-Wait! Sorry! No more jokes. But check this—you'll hate to go."
Melia hurriedly pulled a document.
Stamped higher than chief.
Deputy director's approval.
"What now? The wall repair bill?"
"Yup. See for yourself."
I skimmed it. The contents made me want to kiss Melia.
Regarding the incident caused by negligence in the line of duty... It is impossible to entrust repairs to a single engineer... Repair costs of 50 gold are hereby canceled...
For the merit of subduing armed robbers, 5 gold is awarded.
"Kyaaah!"
Too thrilled, a girly squeal escaped.
"Chief! Chief!"
I grabbed Melia's hand, spinning her around wildly.
Her face flushed, she pursed her lips, standing still.
Drained of energy, I hummed, took my next assignment, and zipped out.
"Really... so oblivious..."
Melia rubbed her red cheeks, pulling my left-behind report.
Rosenberg Station departure, train to Capital Levinas begins operation.
Between Holden Station and Fontana Station, attacked by Red Flag rebels.
31 hostages total. 4th car of Capital-bound Train 7 occupied.
Evacuated crew and passengers immediately.
Trap 3-E activated. 1 killed amid outer wall breach.
Captain Theodor: Killed 3, captured 19 alive.
Hostages rescued successfully.
1 injured.
No anomalies.
Captain Theodor.
"Mm. As expected, clean work... Wait, Red Flag?"
Red Flag.
Elite rebels with bounties over 100 gold each.
Last summer, they breached a city's guards and killed the lord.
"Only insiders know, but these aren't grunts at all..."
If truly Red Flag, he'd deserve a medal.
Higher-ups always cut it down, though.
Melia kept thinking they were wasting talent.
'Maybe really transfer him.'
Munching my left-behind bread, she approved the reports.
Ah, sweet-bitter pipe.
Only you comfort me.
Why back to work so soon?
"Marie. What'd you do in the capital?"
Hm?
Marie's lips were pouting oddly.
Her face when I screwed up.
"Marie. What's wrong? Something happen in the capital?"
"Nope! Nothing. And you, Captain?"
"Just work. All work..."
Really, just work.
Revised reports, dropped at Bureau...
Slept at dorms, then back.
Awful.
Marie wasn't buying it, leaning in close.
"Liar. Said no playtime with me, but you were with a woman."
Too close.
Soft scent.
Breasts nearly brushing—I leaned back slightly.
Sensitive to this lately.
Anyway, a woman?
If only, I'd have no regrets.
"Ah. Chief Melia?"
"So chummy!"
What'd I do?
My brain spun at max speed.
No clue, but deny first.
"Calm down, Marie. She's my boss. Just routine reporting."
"Really? Boss?"
"Yep. Boss. Nothing more."
She liked "nothing more," grinning finally.
"Good then. Thought our drab captain got a girlfriend."
Drab?
Uncle's heart hurts.
"But I've got you, right?"
She smiled softly, leaning in again.
No sense of distance.
Seeing her beaming face, I chuckled.
"Yeah, Marie. Only you. Let's work."
I stretched my arms, prepping for the run.
"Yes, Captain!"
Hate it or not, gotta eat. Work.
Demon king?
World peace?
Happy ending?
Now, just wanna eat well, live well, no starving.
Time to depart again.
Tsssh.
Tsssh.
"Ahem. This is Captain Theo. The train to Roengreen departs now. Passengers, please take your seats and follow crew instructions. Safe travels."