Free City (1)
“If you two go, I’ll buy you something from the auction. I’ve got plenty of money.”
Her follow-up made things even more awkward, so I scratched my cheek and replied, “That might be tough.”
“Why…?”
Senior tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. I explained.
“It’s not just for the auction. I’ve got some important business too.”
“How important?”
“Very. That’s why it’d be hard with just the two of us.”
She looked a little downcast at that—nothing obvious on the surface, but the mood grew heavy. For some reason, she seemed to have been hoping for a repeat of the Parun Magic Kingdom trip.
But the timing’s all wrong.
Back then, we could take it easy, but not now. Auction day was going to be hectic.
That’s when Rana hugged senior and chimed in. “Ruina Senior, please understand just this once. Kyle’s going because of a request from the World Tree.”
“World Tree? The green god?”
“Yeah. An elf got kidnapped. She’s being held in the Free City right now. Kyle’s going to rescue her.”
Rana explained patiently, like soothing a child. Thankfully, senior seemed to get it. Back to her usual self, she said, “Okay. Got it.”
“Hehe, thanks!”
Rana hugged her even tighter. Senior’s face scrunched up in annoyance.
“…Suffocating. Let go.”
“Don’t be like that. Look, I’ve got that apple pie I mentioned last time!”
Rana pulled out a pie from somewhere. Senior’s eyes locked onto it instantly. Rana popped a piece into her mouth.
“Tasty, right?”
“Yeah…”
Senior nodded, munching away. She looked almost trained to eat on cue. I worried if this was okay, but their dynamic was cute enough to leave alone.
“Anyway, you’re coming too, right, Senior?”
“Yeah. I’ll go.”
“Cool, I’ll book an extra train ticket then.”
Ratral could swing one more seat easy. Guy had the pull for it.
“I’m not broke. I’ve got money.”
“Think of it as commission for the job.”
The real reason I’d come to senior was to have her craft some black magic stones into artifacts.
“What’re you making?”
“Bombs. Really big ones.”
Not just physically huge—ones with insane firepower.
“Bombs. Got it. I’ll make ’em.”
She took the black magic stones with a grimace, wrapping them in alchemy to avoid skin contact.
“Thanks, then.”
“Yeah.”
I mentioned heading out tomorrow or the next day, then left the workshop. Rana was on me the second I stepped out.
“Now we eat?”
“Gotta see Professor Ratral one more time first.”
Had to let him know so he’d book the tickets.
“I’ll tell Grandpa!”
“You handle it?”
Truth be told, I wasn’t thrilled about the hassle. I’d just hit the capital for cakes for senior.
“Yup! So let’s eat. I’m starving.”
She rattled it off like a machine gun and grabbed my hand, dragging me along.
Gurgle—
Her stomach growled mid-stride, but she ignored it, urging me on.
“Kyle, hurry! I’m hungry!”
I stifled a chuckle at this new whiny side of Rana. She’d hit her limit for real.
“Got it. Let’s go. What do you wanna eat?”
“Anything you like!”
We headed to the student cafeteria.
Two days later.
I’d gotten word the tickets were ready the day before, so I met Bellum before linking up with the group.
“Invitations?”
“Ready.”
He handed over two invitations stamped with the Free City emblem—one white, one black. Front and back of the auction house.
“Money?”
“Here.”
Bellum offered a stack of checks, cashable anywhere in the Free City.
“A bit short, but it’ll do.”
Only 80% of target, but plenty for the auction.
He bowed. “Sorry. Things got messy midway.”
“Whatever.”
I hadn’t expected smooth sailing anyway. Info was one thing; executing was another.
Business with Bellum done, I headed to the station. It was packed, and there were Rana and the crew in the distance.
“Hyungnim! Over here!”
“Kyle, you’re late! Train leaves in 30!”
The two were buzzing; Ruina Senior just stood there blankly. Maybe ’cause Evan was next to her—she didn’t look thrilled. She’d positioned Rana in the middle as a buffer.
“Sorry I’m late. We’ll talk on board.”
I led the group in, handed tickets to the staff, and got directed.
“Whoa, this makes amusement park trains look like toys…”
Evan gawked in our assigned room, lost in awe.
“Sightsee later. Sit.”
“Y-Yes!”
No surprise—he was a farm boy. This continental train was massive, like linked three-story buses. High traffic, sure, but mainly ’cause trips lasted days. City-to-city took time, so rooms had beds.
“A week in a place like this… gotta be a dream.”
“Quit yapping.”
Evan teared up post-unpacking. Trains tiered rooms by class—ours was deluxe above first-class, suite-level. We’d have it till Free City.
“All set? Let’s meet Rana and Senior in the dining car.”
“Yes!”
I roomed with Evan; they had the girls’. Plan was dining car after settling.
The continental line ran its own restaurant. They’d snagged a table by the time we arrived.
“Ruina Senior! How’s the salad?”
“No. Not sweet.”
“They say picky eating’s bad for you.”
“…My choice.”
They were menu-shopping, clashing a bit. Senior only ate desserts—no rice, veggies, or meat.
“It’s Kyle!”
“Get this one off me…”
Rana spotted me; Senior begged relief on sight. I sat across with Evan.
“Variety now and then wouldn’t hurt. Rare train ride.”
“…You’d say that to Master…?”
Senior looked betrayed. Didn’t see that coming from her disciple, huh. Evan snickered beside me. She didn’t like it.
“Why laugh.”
“Me?”
Her icy tone had him play dumb. Normal folk’d brush it off, but Senior wasn’t normal.
“Lying too. Annoying.”
She whipped up a mana circle. Alchemy gripped Evan. Couldn’t let that fly in the train, though.
I countered with my own alchemy. Hurt flashed on her face again.
“Why block again…?”
“Senior. Quiet in the cars—it’s polite.”
“He started it.”
True, but no chaos allowed.
“I’ll chew him out later.”
“…Definitely.”
“Yes.”
Nodding, I locked eyes with Rana. Silent exchange. She acted first.
“Ruina Senior! Strawberry parfait? It’s the house special!”
“Chocolate too.”
“Got it!”
While Rana distracted, I threw up a mana barrier and eyed Evan.
“Evan. Cut her slack. Just watch your mouth and moves.”
“Yes, Hyungnim.”
She took Rana despite gripes—didn’t hate people outright. But Evan? Pure dislike since day one. No clue why.
Brief drama over, we ate and hit the cafe—first-class and up only. Fancy as the restaurant.
We got drinks; Senior, cake. Dessert fiend.
“Never dreamed of luxury like this.”
Evan marveled during break. Fair—peasants rarely hit first-class.
“Enjoy the week. Busy after arrival.”
Seven days from Empire to Free City in the great desert.
“Right, work trip? Elf rescue?”
“Yeah.”
“Burden on you, but thanks. Riding this thanks to you.”
“Then step up out there.”
He nodded vigorously, sipped, then asked, “Why train, though? Warp gates exist.”
“Desert blocks spatial transfer.”
Huge leyline or whatever—no teleporting across. Novel glossed over why.
“Ah, explains the crowds.”
“Only way to Free City.”
Trains crossed safely; walking or mounts worked too. Hence the rush—auction season.
“Idiot. Didn’t even know that.”
Senior cut in.
“Sorry. Farm life.”
Evan rolled with it. I wished they’d get along, but she started it.
“Anyway, treat train time as vacation.”
“Yes, Hyungnim.”
No incidents on board. We wandered, enjoyed views, then bed.
That night.
Ruina Lindel lay staring at stars through the ceiling glass. Unfamiliar place, mostly—post-enrollment, she’d only slept outside the workshop maybe once a year. Not tense, just sleepless.
She slept 2-3 hours max daily. No materials or space for crafting anyway. Plus, she’d wake her sleeping junior. Pass.
Daytime nagging was enough hassle. Better stargazing blankly.
The night sky was as captivating as her junior. Then thirst hit.
She grabbed water from the fridge, returned to bed.
A voice reached her ears.
“Ruina Senior. You asleep?”
Hearing it, Ruina suddenly craved the workshop.