Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: NO ADULTS ZONE (3)
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Novel Online.
I know most of the truth about that world, and I even possess information that can't be uncovered within the game itself.
Honestly, I could say I know this world better than I do stories about Earth—but sometimes, things like this make it feel utterly alien.
《 ~Neutral Stage~ Asral Cargo Station. 》
Time had flown by, and the day of departure had arrived.
-Chiiiik!
A vigorous burst of steam from the chimney produced that sound.
“Huh...”
Right now, a train sat before my eyes.
The kind of train you'd expect from the 19th century, built to haul freight...
Well, in a world where luxury airships soar through the skies, one might think there's nothing surprising about a plain old train like that. If anything, its sheer ordinariness is what's shocking.
It's probably identical to trains on Earth—except they use magic stones for power.
And in a complete fantasy world like this...
“...So, this is it?”
“Yes. The Beastkin Nation of Sabuna was able to lay these tracks a few years back after a commercial treaty was signed. No need to bother with uncomfortable carriages or pricey airships.”
[Turk Merchant Owner 'Stran']
Stran said it proudly, holding his nose high.
Come to think of it, this train was a project pushed by the Turk Merchant Company. From my perspective, flying ships are far more wondrous, but this world apparently sees it the other way around.
'With monsters crawling all over the land, long distances are handled by airships rather than carriages.'
But this setup is the polar opposite of that.
“What if monsters attack?”
“No need to worry! We've got unmanned scout trains running ahead to check for track breaks, and this train is protected by powerful barrier spells crafted in collaboration with the Adventurer's Guild master and several elves!”
...Certainly, this train is enveloped in a formidable barrier.
It should hold up easily against monsters around level 200.
Most monsters are slower than the train anyway—if we just barrel through, there shouldn't be any issues.
“And that's not all. Even if the tracks get severed midway, the train can generate its own temporary path! Impressive, isn't it?!”
“Y-yeah. It certainly is. But wouldn't operating a few more airships be smarter with that kind of money?”
“It's fine. Cutting-edge tech like this demands heavy upfront costs, but once it's commercialized, we'll reap far greater profits within the next ten years.”
“I see. That's a relief, then.”
I nodded along, playing the part.
But this guy... his vibe has shifted way too much from our first encounter.
Back then, he acted like the boss of some evil syndicate. Now he's running counter to Novel Online's entire storyline.
A rich merchant is handy in all sorts of ways, so I spared him—but I never imagined this level of turnaround.
Maybe that blow to the head did it? Mental breaks aren't something recovery potions can fix, so who knows...
“By the way, High Elf ma'am.”
“Yes?”
“Something's been nagging at me...”
Stran suddenly stared straight at me and asked cautiously.
“...Haven't you gotten a little smaller?”
“Ah.”
He tilted his head, puzzled about my sudden shrinkage.
I'd even worn special shoes to look taller, but it was still obvious.
No hiding shortened limbs to make them seem long—it had to look off...
“Don't mind it. It's just your imagination.”
“Is that so? Haha, thinking about it, you're right. I've been up for five straight days now. That damn brat or whatever's been kicking up such a storm... haha... ha...”
It wasn't a huge issue if he noticed my youthened state, but I preferred keeping it under wraps. My excuse seemed to land—
-Thud!
“Hm?”
—or so I thought, until Stran abruptly keeled over backward.
'Passed out.'
I scanned for ambushes, but it was just exhaustion.
'...Yeah, he does look gaunter than a few days ago.'
Come to think of it, he'd said that rascal punk smashed every caravan the company sent out, forcing all-nighters on cleanup.
He'd already been swamped dealing with a bandit gang before that, and no sooner had that wrapped up than trouble brewed in the Grendel Mountains. No helping it, he'd explained.
“Then, we'll escort Mr. Stran away.”
“Do that. Tell him to spend the next while sleeping in bed instead of working...”
Before long, Turk Merchant Company staff rushed over and carted him off to the hospital.
His collapse seemed routine—they reacted with familiar nonchalance.
At that point, maybe he should just take a break.
'Sigh. Took the medicine too early, I guess.'
In any case, I checked my reflection in a station mirror.
That rascal has exceptional eyesight.
The Heavenly Demon's passives include Heavenly Eye, which boosts accuracy and evasion—but in this world, it's treated as superhuman vision.
Even limited x-ray sight is possible.
To avoid him spotting me taking the drug and shrinking, I'd dosed up early for safety...
'Everyone's staring.'
Maybe that was a mistake.
The reason? Every single person at the station had their eyes locked on me.
Regardless of age or gender, all gazes fixed my way.
The crowd here was just Turk employees, hired mercenaries, and adventurers. A lone kid standing there? Of course it'd draw eyes.
Especially a suspicious one in a hood.
-Step, step.
With Stran around, it hadn't been this intense—but now that he'd collapsed and been hauled off, this happens.
“Hey, little miss. What's a kid like you doing here? Looking for big bro or daddy?”
Case in point: this guy.
A rough-faced, hairy brute lumbered over.
Beastkin ears on his head.
Yet despite Stran introducing me upfront as the hired mage for protection, here he was with this attitude.
To casual ears, he might sound like a kind uncle helping a lost child—but from one adventurer to another, this approach screamed 'picking a fight.'
“Hey, ease up, moron. I've told you a million times: don't poke the mage.”
His buddy even stepped in from nearby.
“What's the big deal? Magic from a squirt like that'd be lucky to light a match— ”
-Fwoosh!
Normally, I'd have stomped trash like this myself.
“Gah?! What the—fire on my head...!! Water! Water!”
But right now, I had no interest wasting energy on small fry. I'd adapted somewhat to this youthened body, but adaptation aside, other problems lingered.
'Hm. Went for charcoal roast, but it just singed his hair.'
My overall output had dropped.
That simple spell from earlier, the Heavenly Demon techniques—they weren't hitting full power.
'Around 40% of normal.'
Put simply, all my stats were down to about 40% capacity.
But it wasn't a real concern.
Even like this, I could thrash Louise. Give me time, and I could flatten a Demon King.
Probably put up a decent fight against that rascal, too.
“Whoa, that was instant—no chant, no prep? You're stronger than you look!”
This time, the approaching woman was the runaway's teammate.
A brown-haired beastkin gal with a spear slung over her shoulder.
The other three behind her were fellow adventurers, it seemed.
“Sorry about our buddy's rudeness. He's got bad history with mages—picks fights with any that look like easy marks.”
The beastkin woman chuckled.
Hmm. But that phrasing makes me sound like an easy mark.
I might look it in this form, but that's separate from how it lands on the listener.
Maybe boil him alive this time...
“N-not that you're an easy mark or anything! Just him. I hate having my head catch fire.”
She shook her head frantically in apology, so I let it slide.
“A-anyway, no hard feelings about our guy! I'm outta here! Catch you after takeoff, kiddo!”
...Off she bolted.
Back to her teammate.
'Hm. So the guards for this caravan are beastkin.'
Beastkin adventurers are surprisingly uncommon here. Beastkin tend toward mercenary work over adventuring.
The jobs overlap, but their natures differ sharply.
One key distinction: involvement in inter-nation 'wars.'
Adventurers stay neutral across all countries. They skip wars and mutual plundering, sticking mostly to requests targeting savage monsters.
'Hm. Faint whiff of human blood on their weapons—recent.'
Mercenaries, however, are different.
Their staples: bandit suppression and wartime participation.
Adventurers do take bandit hunts, but elves and humans generally avoid clashes with them...
'Pretty fresh, too.'
Beastkin are another story.
Not every one, but they're bellicose, bloodthirsty types who join wars as mercenaries and see tearing into slain foes as glory.
It's their innate instinct—a clear sign of the wild blood still coursing through them.
'Hope this doesn't trigger some sudden quest.'
Makes me uneasy, but if one pops up, I'll handle it myself.
Above all, that 'rascal's' awakening is even part of Novel Online's main story.
Bring it on, then...
“Excuse me! High Elf ma'am! What's in this box?”
“What box?”
I shoved future worries aside and stretched—when a familiar Turk employee hauled over a massive crate.
“Ah, that one?”
“Yes... It's heavy, and the staff said it was moving on its own...”
That was my 'personal luggage' I'd mentioned to Stran.
I'd wondered where it'd vanished to—cargo hold, apparently.
As for its contents:
“Nothing much. Just storing my pet lizard and some tentacles for potion ingredients.”
“T-ten-tacles?!"
“Yeah. Common stuff among elves—don't sweat it. Take it to my room.”
“Y-yes, sir! Hey! This isn't merchandise—it's the High Elf's luggage. Handle with care!”
Well, yeah.
Locking it in the room wasn't cutting it for punishment anymore... So this time, I'd boxed it up tight—no escaping or scurrying off.
“The train will depart shortly! Crew and adventurers, please board promptly!”
Anyway, it's go time.