79. Riding the Train South (Not the Training Camp)
There's a saying that you should strike while the iron is hot. And similar sentiments exist on the elven side as well.
Eloise, who values such proverbs more highly than others, immediately began preparing as soon as the academy entered its official winter break and strongly declared her intention to head south.
“Ah, if we go late, we'll just be more crowded! We should go now and quietly... no, not that! Anyway!!”
“I heard something extremely suspicious just now.”
So, starting with Eloise, who could be considered the start of this trip, Karl who was directly invited, Selena who would be going with him, and the Four Idiots who tagged along as a bonus.
After everyone prepared, they headed south by train to the Great Forest near the hot springs.
The reactions of the hot spring tourists on the train were diverse, to say the least, and first—
“Oh, I suddenly remembered taking the train to the training camp.”
“Remembering the training camp reactions from back then is still interesting.”
“What was it? Did everyone faint? Weren't you told not to joke?”
“The only sure thing is that the training camp director came out in shock and ran away.”
...The Four Idiots first burst into laughter, recalling their 'self-proclaimed' impressive actions from a few months ago (which Karl found completely unremarkable).
At that time, after informing their families, they boarded the train and headed straight to the training camp.
As expected, all of them were already well-known faces within the Empire. They were just the heirs of noble families, marquises, and counts.
In such a situation, the people who were on the train with them must have thought, 'No way, no way.'
Why were such distinguished people moving without an escort?
The Four Idiots didn't know, but that was the exact moment when everyone on that train felt uneasy.
“Hot springs, huh. Interesting. Thanks for inviting me, Eloise Lohengrin.”
“Call me casually. Casually. After all, you're my senior? Selena Ifreet.”
“Hahaha. Later. When you really get comfortable, you can call me that way too?”
Selena declaring that it would never happen.
And Eloise, looking at such Selena, thinking 'As expected, she's not easy.'
One invited, the other invited. So, if we have to define the relationship, Eloise is the inviter and Selena is the invitee—
“Please enjoy the hot springs well and return safely.”
“Huhu. After all, the essence of travel isn't to go to places where nothing unexpected happens, right?”
“Is that so? Strange. Travel can just be about consuming a fixed schedule under thorough planning.”
“Of course it can. But then there's no fun, right? Not interesting at all. Sometimes getting caught up in incidents and accidents is fun. That's what I think travel is, Selena.”
“I hope there are no incidents and accidents, Eloise.”
“Don't cross the line. Don't try to stir things up. Since it's a trip, just enjoy the trip,
After all, it's a trip, so unexpected things can happen! A trip between men and women!
Continuous rivalry. Those trying to squeeze in gaps and those not allowing even gaps. It's a battle between spear and shield. Whether to pierce or block, it was fiercely ongoing.
Fortunately, the place where they were sitting wasn't regular passenger seats but a special compartment using one entire room.
If it had been regular seats, everyone around would have been tense and on edge.
Finally, the reason for the spear and shield tussling was Karl—
'...Is it not another train terror? Gganf bastards. I wonder if there are any survivors. But they're like weeds, like roaches. Just show your face. I won't leave you alone.'
The old friend from the bottom of his heart who had come along even to the hot springs trip. He was fiddling with the 'Medal of Honor'.
*
People tend to worry that if they've experienced something once, it might happen again.
In that regard, for someone, train travel is comfortable, but for me, it's not knowing when terror will strike and whether I'll add another ballistic plate to my chest.
'I don't want to carry more from here. Really. Leaving aside the burden, it's just heavy now.'
Two Medal of Honors. If I think about wearing the Imperial Knight Medal and the Medal of Honor for Combat Veterans as well, that's eight. And adding the Elven Legion of Honor makes a total of eleven medals.
The good thing is that the Medal of Honor for Combat Veterans can be worn as one, so it reduces to one.
But even considering that, there are still seven medals flashing on my chest.
Not made of cloth, and for flamboyance, even gold, silver, and gems.
Even if one is light, seven are... if I don't feel it, that's strange.
By the way, the Empire doesn't have gem-adorned medals, it's the elves.
Why are gems embedded in the medals like this. If things get tight later, they'll sell them. Anyway, strange people.
“I heard that you can even boil eggs in the hot springs water.”
“Can you really do that, Schlippen? It's not boiling water?”
“It's just boasting after hearing nonsense again.”
“No, Wilhelm! It really said to put eggs in the hot springs water!”
“Yeah, yeah. You should hope they enter boiling water. I wonder if we can even call boiling water hot springs.”
“Yeah, yeah. Strange people aren't only far away. They were right next door too.”
“Hot springs eggs really exist. Wilhelm.”
“What?”
“Eh, Karl! You know?!”
“I do. Of course, people can't enter, so you put them in water just before boiling and eat them as soft-boiled.”
Hot springs eggs in a Western fantasy? What kind of world is this. Anyway, everything is strange.
“Look, Wilhelm! My words are right!”
“Didn’t you hear what Karl said just now? It's at a level where people can't enter! It just says hot springs eggs, but in reality, it's just soft-boiled eggs!”
These guys seem not to get tired of tussling. They fight with new topics every day.
It's surprising that the Four Idiots are from noble families recognized even within the Empire. Ah, what a tragedy. Anyway.
More strangely, if I remember romance, when going on a trip, the gender ratio of men and women should match. But looking at it, the only women I see are Selena and Eloise.
In contrast, there are five men including me. This is meaningless too, as it's obvious who those two women staring at each other are aiming for.
Ah. Is that the case? Turns out they are extras? That seems right.
Or they could be chaperones. In any case, I hope they behave quietly.
“...”
I turned my head slightly and met Eloise's gaze as if she had been waiting.
As soon as I felt the gaze, she seemed like that. After all, being an elf, she has a sharp sense.
“Waa! Karl! Look outside! The scenery is really pretty!”
Selena, noticing it too, exclaimed, telling me to look outside the window.
But Eloise, who was staring at me instead of beyond the window.
“Look. Isn't it really pretty?”
“Eh, eh. Yeah. Yeah, it's pretty.”
“Keep looking more, Karl. It's good for mental and physical stability.”
As she said that, Selena turned my gaze outside the window after turning it away from me, and whispered to Eloise.
Something like 'Enough' or 'Why do you keep trying to make eye contact on purpose'.
Eloise, unfazed, tried to brush it off as coincidence.
The journey to the southern Empire wouldn't be quiet.
According to the schedule, we'd barely arrive today if we rushed.
“Ah. Ah.”
At this moment, a voice came from the magic speaker installed in each room.
Dear passengers. This train is the 17th train departing from the Empire's central station heading south to the Empire's south. I am Stephen, the train conductor, who will see you all to the destination.
Our train will stop for 20 minutes at each station to meet and part with other passengers. The train departs after exactly 20 minutes at each station, so please be careful not to miss the train due to time discrepancies. Please note that the train side is not responsible if you miss the train due to time discrepancies.
...And I will safely see you all to the destination. If anything uncomfortable happens, please inform the crew through the staff. The weather in the southern Empire is clear. I hope you have a good trip.
Ah. And one more thing, I have something to tell you, dear passengers.
Currently, there is a Medal of Honor recipient on our train. A person with courage and spirit of sacrifice who was willing to give their life for the Empire. Being able to escort such a hero makes this the most glorious moment in my train conductor life.
If you see the recipient among the passengers, please treat them politely and courteously.
Oh divine one, protect the Empire and His Imperial Majesty. Place the heroes of the Empire by your side.
...No, no. This is the train conductor, mister! What is this! That line!!
“If you see the recipient among the passengers, please treat them politely and courteously.”
“Oh divine one, protect the Empire and His Imperial Majesty. Place the heroes of the Empire by your side.”
Clack—
With those words, the train conductor's announcement ended in each room.
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“...”
Selena, Eloise, and even the Four Idiots who were giggling and chatting, all stared at me with their mouths shut.
I quietly turned my gaze outside the window. Wow. The scenery is really pretty. Good for mental and physical stability.