Aboard the Hacker Carriage
The next day after the Hacker family's carriage arrived, Jeong-jae ate a hearty breakfast and waited idly. Soon, a carriage pulled up in front of the Magic Tower. It was enormous, almost like a van. Pulled by four horses, the Hacker family's custom carriage was covered in elegant blue fabric, large enough to comfortably seat four to six people at a glance—a vehicle truly befitting a noble house's prestige.
"At least the carriages are at a 19th-century level," Jeong-jae muttered.
He already knew it was pointless to compare this world's technological progress to Earth's. Still, seeing such a splendid carriage made him think, Shouldn't cars be coming along by now?
The massive blue fabric draping the carriage body, which blocked the view inside, bore the Hacker Count's crest: a stark white cross. Just as Jeong-jae stepped forward to speak to the coachman, the fabric over the window swirled up as if by magic, revealing the Hacker Count's face beyond the glass.
"What are you standing around for? Get in."
"Ah, thank you for your kindness."
Jeong-jae, who had been about to ask the coachman if he could board, quickly turned toward the count instead. He opened the door and stepped inside, taking the seat right next to the count on his right. The interior was as spacious as it looked from outside, allowing passengers to sit comfortably apart without feeling cramped.
Jenis sat on the count's left, waving cheerfully at Jeong-jae in greeting. He waved back once, then bowed his head toward the count.
"Thank you for letting me travel with you today. You've saved me a great deal of trouble on the journey south."
"Nonsense. It's an honor for our house that a hero like you rides in my carriage one day."
The count replied with dignified poise. As a central figure in the swirling politics of the realm, the Hacker Count wasn't someone who lived off a flawless reputation alone. Imperial loyalists branded him a "traitor" or "ambitious schemer," claiming his push for elected monarchy and leadership of provincial nobles aimed at crowning himself emperor and dismantling the Audrich Empire. Yet no one could deny that Arthur Hacker held enough gravitas to steady most nobles, and without him, the imperial council would plunge into even greater chaos.
"It'll take about two days to reach Hacker Castle. But we'll cross into my territory by tonight, so I'll handle all lodging within my lands."
"I appreciate it. I don't know how to repay you."
"Just govern Harriet Territory well. Oh, and take good care of my daughter. You've heard the news already, I assume?"
"Yes. I heard your daughter will serve as my aide, despite my shortcomings."
"Jenis begged me earnestly. When this girl sets her mind to something, I can't refuse her."
The count chuckled heartily, stroking his white beard. Jenis, peeking from behind him, grinned and pumped her fist triumphantly.
Jeong-jae, never the most sociable type, worried the conversation might fizzle out soon. He wasn't intimidated by the count's status—accustomed to deference from high society and trading barbs with Crown Princess Rose—but the man exuded an air of noble refinement that made him harder to approach. What to say next? As he pondered, Jeong-jae noticed the carriage glided smoothly without a single jolt. And though the fabric had dropped back over the windows when he entered, the view outside was perfectly clear.
Putting the clues together, this was a carriage enchanted with high-level magic.
"No bumps at all in the carriage. The windows have transparency spells. And you said two days to the castle—considering the horses tire, that means incredible speed. Acceleration magic, right?"
"My only daughter's handiwork. To earn such high praise from you gladdens me as her father and a mage-trainer."
"All of this... by Jenis? Every single one?"
Jeong-jae asked in genuine surprise. Jenis popped her head up from behind the count.
"Of course, Professor! And that's not all! I've layered on space expansion, collision cushioning, presence detection, auto-counterattack, trap evasion—you name it! I could toss this thing into a battlefield, and it'd get me out alive! I'm confident!"
At this point, Jeong-jae's curiosity was genuine, not just small talk.
"Mind if I take a look?"
He asked the count. "Look" meant dissecting each enchantment one by one.
"Ask the enchanter. I don't know much about magic. As long as it's comfortable and fast, who cares about auto-counterattacks?"
"Can I examine the magic circles?"
Jeong-jae turned to Jenis. She nodded, a touch tense.
"Of course! It's my pride and joy from graduation project downtime! Even you won't find much to critique, right? Hardly anything?"
Her confident tone trailed off. "Not much at all, right Dad?"
"Don't ask me. How would I know?"
As the count gave his reasonable reply, Jeong-jae conjured small scouting magic circles in both hands, probing every corner of the carriage's enchantments. This spell, typically used to detect magical traps in suspicious spots, was perfect for verifying allied barriers too. Shrinking it small enough to hold like magnifying glasses in a confined space like this required exceptional control—beyond most mages.
Jenis watched in awe, her admiration plain as he scrutinized her work.
"Perfect."
Jeong-jae declared after scanning every inch. Jenis flushed red; the count leaned in with interest.
"Perfect how?"
"The way the magics interlock. Like a masterfully built cathedral. The acceleration could've overburdened the horses if stronger, or wasted efficiency if weaker. What I'm saying is..."
Jenis, unprepared for such lavish praise, ducked her head and fidgeted. Jeong-jae found her oddly endearing but pressed on for the still-curious count.
"Most haste spells factor only the carriage weight, passengers, and cargo. Slap on defenses and utilities like these, and you add mana load. No need for long explanations—seeing this made me realize how much I screwed up."
"You? How?"
"I need to reflect on assuming my lectures were fine just because a genius like her could follow. She's the outlier. Sorry if this disrespects your daughter, but her comprehension is freakishly good. I've been doing it all wrong!"
"No! You're not wrong at all, Professor! I always loved your classes!"
"That's the problem—you're the only one who could enjoy them."
The count laughed louder, clearly delighted at his daughter's talents being sincerely praised.
"Genius and mortals don't mix well. With your talent, it's no surprise. The real blind spot is not noticing what went wrong!"
"Guess I got too blessed in mana comprehension and capacity," Jeong-jae admitted.
His transcendent mana affinity and reserves were mysterious boons from crossing worlds, but talent always came with a price.
"Still, you'll need to study a bit. A lord deals with countless average folk—and must embrace those lesser still. That's a ruler's duty."
"No worries there."
Jeong-jae grinned easily. "As a lord, I'm average at best—or worse. Won't your daughter's brilliance be the issue?"
"My girl? She's a bookworm now. But with real-world experience under your wing, she'll grow. I have no doubt."
"I'll do my best, but temper your expectations."
"No way! I expect you to make me grow like at school!"
Jenis jumped in. The count gently patted her head.
"Don't burden the baron, Jenis. He doesn't need your prodding—he's ready to guide you."
Jeong-jae wanted to say both father and daughter burdened him equally but held his tongue. Scanning the protections again, he remarked,
"With defenses this strong, no worries about bandits or beasts. Ordinary thieves would drop dead just sitting here."
"That's a real headache. Bandits, I mean."
The count said gravely. Jenis nodded.
"I didn't add these for fun, hero. We know your exploits, but recent conscriptions and levies are giving lords migraines all around."
"Heard private forces dwindled, letting bandit gangs run wild," Jeong-jae nodded.
The count shook his head—it was more.
"The gangs even grow. Draft dodgers flee to hills or woods, turning bandit. Hard to counter when even villagers sometimes aid them."
"That's serious."
"We'll discuss overcoming it later, but steel yourself. Villages groan under labor shortages from missing men; troops to hunt draft-dodging bandits are scarce, so they just watch."
War ravaged the land. This world's society lingered between medieval and modern. Yet against irreconcilable foes like demonkin and the Maou, warfare mimicked post-Napoleonic total war. Forcing nation-scale drafts via hero and council authority in a feudal setup bred contradictions unsolvable without ending the war.
Jeong-jae grew melancholic again. Shouldn't I focus on ending this war fast? Consider any means?
"Forget it, push it aside."
He muttered, shoving away the vivid mushroom cloud in his mind. The count and Jenis didn't pry, sensing his private torment.
They traveled south, dozing occasionally, chatting lightly. They stopped for boxed lunches, rested the overworked horses despite haste magic, but mercifully encountered no monsters, beasts, or thieves. The carriage crossed from imperial direct rule into Hacker-influenced lands.
Here, the saying held: "The emperor is Caprice; the king is Hacker."