The Academy Train is Guaranteed to Explode - 1

Suddenly, Kasian showed up with a sword, calling it a gift for me. The blade had a faint bluish tint, and a chilling cold seeped from its edge.

Attack power of 75. More than double that of the iron sword I had. Of course, it wasn't quite on par with Karnwenan, but that dagger was an anomaly anyway.

With this level of power, it was top-tier among the returning-grade weapons available in the early game. And not just that—it had ice attribute bonus damage and a chance to slow enemies. Karnwenan had perfect attack and options, but its short reach as a dagger made it awkward as a main weapon. This one? I could use it comfortably well into mid-game.

But why give it to me?

"Hyungnim, what is this...?"

"An entrance gift."

Kasian replied in a tone as if it were the most natural thing in the world. An entrance gift...? Was this guy always like this?

From Ian's memories, Kasian wasn't this kind of character. Sure, in the game, he was the ultimate supporter. He'd load Donnesia up with starter gear before she headed to the academy, and he'd rush to her rescue whenever she was in danger up north. But that was because Donnesia was the heroine.

I was just an extra with a single line in the setting. Plus, I was the younger brother carrying the risk factor of being a rival for the family head position. Not that I cared about that—Kasian was already locked in as heir anyway, so there'd be no fight.

Still, there was no need to shower me with this kind of favor. Gifting me a badass sword like this? Normally, siblings like us would be stabbing each other in the back, right? Was this code for "eat this and get lost"?

"When my little brother sets out with big ambitions, how could an older brother not want to hand him something solid?"

Kasian smiled faintly, his words straight out of a wuxia novel. This wasn't in Ian's memories either. There, our relationship was just lukewarm—nothing special.

This was fucking bewildering. Showering me with kindness instead of Donnesia?

"It would have been proper for me to go myself, but you and Donnesia are going in my stead. Consider this a humble apology for that. I should have sent something finer, but this is all I could give on short notice—I'm the one who feels sorry."

Kasian placed a hand on my shoulder and patted it lightly. My frame was bigger, so he had to reach up a bit, but he didn't mind. No force, no sarcasm—just brotherly.

Just like an older brother patting his dongsaeng.

"Uh, thanks, hyungnim."

Kasian nodded at my stunned response, turned on his heel like his business was done, and headed toward the family head's office.

"Take care out there. I'm counting on you for Donnesia."

He left those parting words and vanished down the hall.

Damn, Kasian...! I like you, man...! Not just sweet to girls, but a guy who genuinely cares for family. I'll put this to good use, hyungnim. Thanks to you, I've got a weapon that'll carry me through mid-game.

I no longer had to worry about that bullshit event ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tomorrow—whether it'd happen or not. Now, time to check my chivalry rewards.

I opened my inventory. Square slots unfurled in a row. Including this latest one, I had two rewards. Sure enough, two slots glowed with golden light.

First up... a ring. A plain band with no gems or ornaments. But it felt warm somehow—a warmth that even the chill from hyungnim's sword couldn't dispel.

Worth standing up to the second prince, alright. Gave me an extra life. The undead/demon debuff was useful, but compared to the main effect, it was basically a bonus. Shame it becomes useless after one use, but hey—an extra life? Can't complain.

Next...

An egg. Plain as could be—no comments, no patterns. Ostrich-egg sized. Were they telling me to make egg fried rice? Wait, could this be like those?

Dawnstar Academia had a pet system. Eggs that hatched into pets boosting stats or fighting alongside you. Pets were great—unlike Donnesia's spirits, which cost spirit power to summon, pets followed you everywhere without resource drain. They were like equippable items: stat buffs, drop rate ups, HP regen, even combat helpers (though those weren't popular due to low damage).

If I'm lucky, maybe a buffer pet. How do I hatch this? Just carry it around?

# The magitech train station buzzed with morning crowds. A massive glass ceiling arched over the sleek, black steam locomotive, warm sunlight pouring through the transparent dome.

I'd been too focused on that tuxedo hell for the banquet trip to really take it in, but...

"This place never fails to amaze me."

Dawnstar Academia had a medieval backdrop, but with magitech blending magic and science, the station evoked 18th-century Europe. Medieval + Industrial Revolution? Absurd combo on paper, but staring at it made my possession in this game world hit home.

"Tickets, please. Miss Donnesia, young master Ian."

We handed our two tickets to the burly conductor at the entrance.

"Enjoy your trip."

With his send-off, we boarded and found our compartment: 404. Car 4, room 4. Two 4's? Even knowing it was coming, I was sweating that event.

Normally, nobles or rich merchants took first-class car 1, but the family head booked car 4 to avoid flashing wealth on an academy trip. For the banquet, we'd ridden car 1, but tuxedo torture made me pray for speed over luxury. Still, first-class sleep was solid.

"4... 4... 4. Found it."

Inside 404: just two long seats for about two people each—unlike the packed car 1 I remembered. No biggie. This time, no tuxedo strangling me. Custom-fit academy uniform, courtesy of Alfred's quick fix after the tux disaster. Hats off to you, old man.

PAAAAANG——!!!

We'd barely sat when the train hissed black steam like a departure signal, jolting forward through a fierce blizzard.

Destination: Ether. Last trip was the imperial capital Astellia for the banquet hall. This time, Lumiere Academy in Ether.

Ether: Home to the continent's top academy, drawing crowds of all races and statuses. Called the empire's second capital, it rivaled Astellia—plenty of sights to make up for missing the capital.

But the real issue? That event. Please don't trigger...

Academy rule one: The train to academy always gets hit with terrorism. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Even in non-romance academy genres like Dawnstar Academia, the protagonist's academy train always had an incident. The banquet train was safe, but this one? Inevitable bullshit.

Good news: Unlike single-protagonist Dawnstar, this world had 3-4 heroines. But the odds were still crap—1/4 chance. 25% we'd get wrecked.

"Ian, you okay? Your face looks rough..."

Tension making my mug scarier than usual? Donnesia eyed me worriedly.

I shook my head. "I'm fine."

Yeah, don't overthink. 1/4 chance to blow. Means 75% safe. My old life's luck sucked, but I never got screwed in lotteries like class rep draws. Trust the luck this time.

Steeling myself, the train hit a station. Dr-r-ruck—404's door slid open.

I froze at the sight. New passengers? Fine, rooms fit four. But these passengers...

"Oh, hi! Sorry to barge in. Didn't expect anyone here!"

"Iris, wait... You're too fast...!"

Someone who shouldn't be here. Golden blonde, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sapphire-blue eyes. Dawnstar's healing heroine: Iris Floridia. The last protagonist I hadn't seen at the banquet, right in front of me.

Fuck! Terror odds just jumped to 1/3!

# Iris Floridia: Daughter of a rural baron's house, gifted to become the next saintess. True to her romance-healing role, she had capybara-level affinity.

"Oh, Lady Donnesia! From the banquet! Wanted to chat, but too crowded... Glad we meet here!"

"Ah... Yes."

Like territorial instincts kicking in—the room's vibe shifted the moment Iris entered. Capybara incarnate. Even Donnesia, who growled at Isabella, was defanged.

"Iris...! That's rude out of nowhere!"

The girl reining in max-affinity capybara? That one. Not just heroine and rival lady in romance—there's the non-romance female supporter! Later pairs with a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sub-male lead for a side couple. Heroine's bestie, sub-heroine: Haede Mercedes. Iris's childhood friend, Mercedes baron's daughter.

Anyway, we ended up sharing the compartment to the academy...

Iris's affinity was god-tier. Donnesia went from flustered to casually chatting personal stuff in no time.

Me? Max tension. Iris here bumped terror odds to 1/3. Two protagonists in one spot? If it doesn't blow, that's weird.

How'd they end up here? Game never had her meeting Kasian on the train... Teacher-student difference?

Shit. It's definitely blowing now!

Aigoo! Calming my churning gut while sorting thoughts...

"Ian, seriously, what's wrong? You sick or something?"

Donnesia asked again, worried. Face that grim from tension?

She looked concerned. Iris...

"Ede? Why? Why cover my eyes?!"

Haede was firmly blocking her view—something she shouldn't see.

Hey, that hurts my feelings too.

That was when—

Ding!

Alert popping up right in front of me meant...

Fuck.

KWAAAAAANG——!!!!!

"Kyaaaaaaaak——!!!"

Less than three seconds after the alert, the train exploded. A blast like ten dynamites rocked the cars. The compartment shook violently from the shockwave. Black smoke billowed from the windows, heat wafting in from a nearby car.

It really fucking blew.