Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: #8 To the Capital (3)
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First class was structured with partitions dividing each seat.
It wasn't just partitions blocking the line of sight, of course.
There were more than three spells per compartment that he knew of.
Soundproofing, vision blocking, and shock absorption.
One could certainly feel it was a compartment meant for young nobles.
In that cozy comfort, Tiria's tension eased a little.
Of course, it didn't last long.
Whooooosh—
As the horn blared and the train jolted sharply, Tiria stiffened up.
What followed was even worse.
They had seated her by the window to account for motion sickness.
But the speed of the passing scenery was making her sway.
Elric let out a hollow chuckle and asked,
“What are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
Her shoulders were trembling faintly.
Her once-straight posture was gradually hunching over.
Her gaze was now fixed on her lap instead of out the window.
Elric had never seen a woman so severely afflicted with civilization phobia.
Seeing her this frightened made him feel unexpectedly guilty.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Yes, please.”
It sounded like a plea.
Elric knocked on the partition twice.
The door opened, and the attendant appeared.
“You called?”
“Two cups of tea here, please. Anything's fine for me… What would you like, my lady?”
“Daria leaves, if you would.”
“You heard her.”
Daria leaves were one of the teas grown in the east.
They were famous for their calming effects.
“I'll have it ready shortly. Any refreshments?”
“Something simple.”
“Yes, sir.”
The attendant brewed the tea quite quickly, as requested.
He brought a few cookies along, but Tiria didn't touch them.
What Elric witnessed was a curious sight.
Clink, clink.
Even during meals, she never made a sound with her utensils, yet now she was rattling her teacup.
Her face was utterly vacant.
She sipped the tea steadily, but it was mechanical at best.
Now he was starting to feel truly sorry.
“…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have suggested taking the train.”
“I don't know what you mean.”
“Just saying.”
“You do love your jokes, Family Head.”
How long did she plan to keep up the strong front?
Her stubbornness left him speechless.
Since she didn't want to show weakness, there was no need to pry.
Elric didn't bring up the subject again.
And so, for about two hours, a strange silence born of Tiria's tension hung over the compartment.
A meal was served midway, but she barely touched half of hers. Afterward, she tried to calm herself with a book, only for her motion sickness to worsen.
She looked like she was being tortured.
But there was no getting off a train already in motion.
Idly, Elric's hand patted her back.
Normally, she wouldn't react to such a gesture at all, but
“…Excuse me for a moment.”
Today's Tiria leaned her head on Elric's shoulder.
“…!”
As her scent grew stronger, Elric's breath caught.
His own breath turned hot for some reason, and his gaze wandered into space.
An awkward tension gripped him, but it didn't last.
“…My lady?”
A glance confirmed Tiria was in bad shape.
Her mouth hung open.
Her eyes were unfocused.
“When do we arrive?”
Her trembling form, a mix of motion sickness and phobia, was pitiably frail.
“Hmm, about seven more hours, I think.”
“No…”
Her hand clutched at the hem of Elric's coat like a plea.
An awkward smile crossed Elric's lips.
That was the moment.
Ding~ Ding~ Ding~!
A bell rang, piercing the soundproofing spell.
Elric's eyes widened.
There was only one kind of bell that could penetrate soundproofing.
“…What's happening?”
He couldn't answer Tiria's question right away.
Bewilderment and confusion washed over him.
‘This? Really? Why now?’
In the past ten years of riding trains countless times, he'd never encountered an incident like this—until today, right now.
Clunk!
The door flew open.
The attendant said with a stiff face,
“T-terror! Lock your compartment doors and stay put!”
A train terrorist attack.
Elric's head turned creakily toward Tiria.
Her face was one of utter devastation, staring blankly at the attendant before shifting her gaze to Elric.
Her eyes brimmed with blatant resentment.
Even without words, her thoughts were clear as day.
You said there'd be no terrorism.
That voice seemed to echo in his ears.
Right after.
“Ah…!”
Tiria swayed and fainted.
“M-my lady!”
Elric hurriedly caught her.
*
What an utterly unfunny coincidence.
Elric laid Tiria down in the seat and let out a deep sigh.
Then he asked the attendant,
“What the hell happened?”
The attendant looked troubled as he replied,
“Th-the coachmen.”
“Coachmen?”
“The long-haul coachmen lost their jobs to the trains and are carrying out an explosive terrorist attack. In second class…”
“I'm going.”
“Pardon?”
“I have people there.”
Of all places, second class.
That was where Aldio and the maids were.
What if something happened to them?
Elric grabbed his cane and stepped out of the compartment.
The attendant scurried after him in a panic, but Elric had no attention to spare.
“P-please wait! We'll handle it soon…”
“It's fine. Even if something happens to me, I won't blame you.”
For them, a noble getting involved would be the worst disaster.
Elric understood that, but he hadn't lived a life fearing mere explosives.
If need be, he was prepared to secretly unleash his killing intent and slaughter the terrorists.
Just as he crossed into the next compartment.
“Th-that's not it! I meant you don't need to help!”
As the attendant spoke, the view of second class came into sight.
In that instant, Elric froze solid.
“Situation over! Everyone, let's clean up. You there, collect the bombs. You, move these bodies somewhere out of sight. Alright, passengers! Our train is safe. This was… hmm, let's call it an event. A sudden crisis in your boring lives? How about that?”
There stood a man prattling on with shameless poise.
Skinny and lanky, with long hair braided to his waist and adorned with ornaments, dressed in a flashy uniform of gold and black.
“The coachmen's terror attack—news worth a corner spot. Well, since I handled the incident, that'll make the papers too. Might as well use this to investigate anyone else with terror potential. Hmm, perfect. Now everyone can relax. And with that, your ever-diligent servant for your convenience…”
He bowed deeply in exaggerated courtesy.
“Edward White, Chairman of EW.”
“Woooah!!!”
Cheers shook the entire space.
His smile deepened impossibly.
Elric felt confusion.
Then a throbbing pain in his knees.
‘Why?’
Why was that man here?
Elric's expression chilled.
His eyes filled with wariness and hostility.
“Hm?”
Edward White turned and spotted Elric.
He flashed a bright smile and said,
“Well now…”
It carried a mischievous glint.
“…what a stroke of fateful coincidence.”
On his chest gleamed a badge embossed with a grand palace.
“Long time no see? Four months, maybe?”
“What's your game?”
“Game? What game?”
Edward chuckled wheezily.
“Come on, let's move to our seats.”
He brushed past Elric toward first class.
Elric glared at him with hostile eyes until then.
He had no choice.
Edward White.
Head of the corporation known as EW, the continent's supreme genius who changed the era, the alchemist called the Seer of Truth.
And the title of reverence bestowed upon him was.
‘Gold Duke.’
One of the Continent's Seven Strongest: Gold Duke Edward.
He was the de facto ruler of Armin Kingdom, the Duke of Gold.
And the very man who had shattered Elric's knees in the Autumn War.
His knees ached.
“Not coming?”
His golden eyes glinted through the monocle.
“You planning to stand there?”
His grinning face was the very picture of a clown's antics.
Elric shot him a fierce glare and headed to first class.
His seat was the widest spot at the end of first class.
“Here, have a seat.”
He sank into the sofa and pointed to the seat opposite.
“Our esteemed Sword Ghost!”
Edward spoke with the familiarity of an old friend.
“You're looking well!”
Elric's grip tightened on his cane.
He instinctively assessed the space.
Room-sized, just the two of them.
Weapons? Probably.
But his moves were faster.
Why was he here?
Was this all really coincidence?
‘No.’
It couldn't be.
Not when this man owned the train and the railway.
Suddenly, he worried for Tiria's safety.
‘If worst comes to worst…’
He'd kill the bastard and make a break for it.
Elric's gaze turned icy.
It perfectly mirrored that of Sword Ghost Kasha, who had roamed the battlefields.