Shadows Aboard the Magic Train
Cayenne County lay at the easternmost edge of the Ellemental Kingdom, a border domain that governed the frontier with the Fan Empire. Though it was a remote noble house, its prestige within the kingdom rivaled that of the central aristocracy. The Cayenne family derived its influence primarily from military might rather than politics. Even amid the relentless provocations of the Fan Empire—home to the battle-crazed Tugwi—the Cayenne earldom had never once allowed a direct invasion. Their achievements were so renowned that they had been documented in numerous books and were well known to the citizens of the Ellemental Kingdom.
"You really didn't have to come all the way out here."
Henri Cayenne, the eldest son of the Cayenne family, smiled as he spoke to the man across from him.
"It's fine. I had business in the eastern region anyway, so I just stopped by on the way."
Mihail Raymond shrugged playfully in response. At his absurd excuse, Henri narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
"Liar. You always manufacture some excuse just to attend my birthday every year."
The distance from the capital, Raymond, to Cayenne County was considerable. Even traveling directly by magic train took more than half a day. By airship—the fastest option—it still required several hours. Henri had always told Mihail not to bother making the trip, knowing how busy he was, yet the crown prince ignored him and came every year without fail to celebrate his birthday despite his packed schedule.
"Don't come next year. We can just meet whenever we both have time."
Grateful yet guilty, Henri grumbled without meaning it. Mihail merely snorted.
"As if. A birthday party without me? You think I'd allow that?"
"It was never a grand party to begin with."
It was little more than a modest gathering—inviting a few close nobles and retainers for a good meal. Unlike the peaceful northern border, the southern wilds and this eastern frontier bordering the Fan Empire knew no quiet days. There was never time or leisure for lavish parties or extravagance; birthdays simply served as an excuse for family to spend time together. At least, that was how it should have been.
But why is mine the only one that turned out differently?
His birthday had long since deviated from its original purpose, all because of the overly accomplished friend sitting before him. Every year the crown prince attended, so countless nobles sent word that they wished to come as well, hoping to forge a connection. While the Cayenne family wielded considerable influence, they showed little interest in central politics and quietly guarded the border, so few nobles felt the need to curry favor. There was simply no benefit in it. But Mihail was different. Merely being seen with him created ties to the center, so nobles from all around flocked to the Cayenne estate—especially since Mihail, unlike Henri, had neither a fiancée nor a lover.
Still, I can't just turn away people who came under the pretext of celebrating my birthday.
Every year, as his birthday approached, Henri felt guilty watching the servants run themselves ragged. Now that I think about it, this guy showing up has only ever caused trouble. Gratitude and guilt toward his friend gradually faded.
"If you don't come, there won't be any party at all."
"Then I definitely have to attend. I can't let my dearest friend's birthday pass without me."
"Is it even my birthday anymore? It's just your matchmaking event."
"Why do you always assume it's only about me?"
"Enough. I already have someone."
How dare he suggest something so reckless? That woman was terrifyingly jealous. Henri had no intention of dying young. Even after inheriting his title, he would never dream of taking a concubine.
"Still whipped, I see."
"Of course. In love, the one who falls first always loses."
Yet Henri's lips curved into a smile, revealing just how deeply he cherished his lover.
"Well, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters."
Having watched Henri chase after Rosalyn throughout their academy days, Mihail chuckled and shrugged.
"By the way, why take the magic train? You usually fly. You've got the money."
"I wanted to, but my schedule suddenly changed."
Right after leaving the capital, an unexpected deal had been struck with the underworld. Mihail had been surprised when he received the news by phone, but the mission that followed had been even more startling. He had already arranged transportation and reservations for what was supposed to be a rare vacation, yet his father had assigned him this dangerous task anyway. The king loved both his son and daughter, but the difference in how he treated them was clear. No matter how safe the mission was said to be, he would never send Marily on something like this.
If he ever tried to send Marily on a mission like this, I'd dethrone him immediately.
He could never allow even the slightest danger to touch Marily. Any father who would assign her such a task must be out of his mind, and for the sake of the kingdom, he ought to step down. Mihail nodded firmly to himself, growing indignant at his own thoughts. Just then, an announcement that the train was about to depart startled Henri, who hurriedly offered his final farewell.
"Safe travels. Let's keep in touch. Your birthday isn't far off, so I'll see you then anyway."
"Do you really need to come all that way? A simple message would suffice."
"That's exactly what I said earlier."
"It's a royal command."
"You're still just a prince. What royal command?"
"……"
You never listen to me, but just wait. I'll definitely make time to visit the capital. Henri snorted, already plotting his revenge, while Mihail could only let out a helpless laugh.
"Well then, I'll be off."
After shaking Henri's hand one last time, Mihail turned and boarded the magic train with his attendants. Henri watched his retreating figure until it disappeared, then turned away himself and melted into the crowd.
"……"
A single gaze quietly observed them both. The moment Mihail vanished into the train, the watcher scribbled something onto a palm-sized notebook.
—Target has boarded the train as scheduled.
The moment he finished writing, he tore out the page and swallowed it. "The target has boarded the train."
Inside the cargo car at the rear of the train, a man who had received the message from the external agent smiled in the darkness. The notebook was a magical tool that projected written characters onto a linked page. Though far less convenient than a smartphone, it left almost no evidence behind. There were no electronic records, and tearing out or burning the paper erased all traces. Just like the agent outside, the man tore out the page and swallowed it. Then he looked at his subordinates and spoke quietly.
"You there. What is our mission today?"
Before beginning an operation, he always confirmed that his men remembered their objectives. It was an important step to minimize mistakes. The man was clearly a professional, and the subordinate he had singled out answered without the slightest hesitation.
"The assassination of Mihail Raymond, crown prince of the Ellemental Kingdom!"
"Good. Next. What must we be especially cautious of?"
Any hesitation would earn a beating for failing to memorize the mission. That fist, larger than an average adult man's head, was a lethal weapon in itself.
"The Royal Mage Corps guarding the crown prince. In particular, their captain, Lucian Philodein, is a 7th-circle mage and will be our greatest obstacle in assassinating the crown prince."
"Good. Next. Normally, the crown prince's guard captain is a 6th-circle mage. Why has a 7th-circle mage suddenly been assigned, and why in the middle of his schedule?"
"It seems some of our movements have been exposed. They likely realized we had entered the kingdom."
"Next. Who exposed our location?"
"The underworld. Someone there probably sold the information to the royal palace."
The underworld answered only to the Absolute Death King. Their loyalty to him was absolute. But aside from the Death King himself, it was a lawless zone with no permanent allies or enemies. It was only natural that the same broker who had helped them enter the kingdom might also sell their information to the palace.
"But that's all they know. Assigning a 7th-circle mage to the crown prince's side is merely a precaution in case something happens near the border. If they knew our exact composition or target, they would have deployed far more personnel."
"Spare me the unnecessary commentary."
The man's massive fist clenched and relaxed. For a brief moment, death brushed past the subordinate. The man who had nearly been sent back to hell quickly covered his own mouth before he could say anything else foolish.
"Always prepare for the worst. Assume the enemy already knows every move we make."
"Yes, sir. I'll keep that in mind."
"Now then. Next. Even though the enemy discovered our movements, why didn't we cancel the operation?"
"Because our forces still hold the advantage over theirs."
The man nodded in satisfaction at the answer.
"All correct."
The enemy had a 7th-circle mage—an existence only one step away from becoming an 8th-circle transcendent, capable of reducing an entire city to rubble if they so wished. Charging in against such a being would normally be the height of folly. But that did not apply to them. They also possessed a 7th-circle powerhouse. In fact, they had two 7th-circle martial artists, who held the advantage over mages in close combat.
"Everything is for the sake of plunging the world into chaos."
The magic train began to move. Sunlight filtering through the gaps in the door illuminated the man's silhouette. He was a giant reminiscent of an ogre, his bronze skin covered in hideous scars. The massive man, whose build could tear a tiger apart in a single strike, smiled on his equally scarred face.
"Offer your lives once more for Lord Tugwi. With our actions, we will ignite war across the continent."
The Tugwi Guard had crawled back from hell for that purpose alone.
"Fill this train with the stench of blood. Make it so foul that our resolve reaches Lord Tugwi even from afar."
"Yes, sir!"
At the man's growling command, everyone present bowed their heads in unison. Everything was for Tugwi. With that single conviction, they moved as one.