Chapter 12
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: The Queen Falls for Baseball - 2
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[Our train will now depart.]
The announcement appeared on the screen.
The stationary train began to move smoothly.
Scenery rushed past outside the window.
"Master."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sleepy..."
Eli yawned.
Maybe she was too excited last night. She must not have slept well.
She's not a kid anymore.
"You can sleep."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You can get about an hour."
"Then..."
Eli leaned against my shoulder.
"Master. Lend me your shoulder."
"Sure."
I felt her weight settle in.
A faint shampoo scent wafted over.
"Good night..."
Eli murmured softly, and soon I heard her steady breathing. She'd fallen asleep already.
I let her sleep and gazed out the window.
'Prostia.'
The Ice Queen.
My second comrade, whom I'd meet soon.
'This one will surely be strong too.'
I could tell just from Eli.
A Disaster Grade 7 dragon.
Overwhelming combat prowess.
If she fought alongside me, she had to be on a similar level.
'Will she listen to me?'
Eli was a special case.
According to what Eli had said, there had been a connection between us from the start, and she was willing to follow me.
But Prostia might be different.
'I can't remember.'
We fought together to save the world in that other realm.
Honestly, those memories still didn't come clearly. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I'd completely forgotten them.
'What should I say when we meet?'
Hello?
Or long time no see?
'Both feel awkward.'
As I pondered, Eli started sleep-talking.
"Master... chicken..."
I couldn't help but chuckle.
Even in her sleep, she's thinking about chicken.
'First things first, let's meet her.'
Somehow, it'll work out.
Eli's come around in the end. If things go south, I can handle it with Eli.
With that thought, the train kept speeding on.
Cities, mountains, and fields flew by outside.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon arrive at Daejeon Station."
The broadcast announced.
Time to get off.
"Eli."
"Mm..."
"Wake up. We're almost there."
"Huh? Already?"
"Yeah."
Eli yawned and sat up.
"I slept well."
"Good."
The train came to a stop at the same time.
[Daejeon Station]
[This train has arrived at Daejeon Station. Please check for any forgotten items before disembarking.]
We stood up, grabbed our bags, and got off the train.
Eli immediately looked around.
"Is this Daejeon?"
"Yeah."
"Fewer people than Seoul."
"Seoul's just packed."
Still, a decent crowd moved about.
Among them, I spotted a few in familiar uniforms.
People wearing Eagles uniforms.
"Master, where to now?"
"First... let's drop our stuff at the lodging."
"Yes, Master."
Eli eagerly took the lead with an excited look.
I followed, checking the map.
'Prostia.'
We'll meet soon.
My second comrade.
The Ice Queen.
My heart pounded.
Half excitement, half worry.
But we'd come this far—no turning back now.
We unpacked at a small but cozy motel, then headed straight to the baseball stadium.
I checked the game time on my phone.
[Eagles VS Tigers]
[Starts at 2 PM]
It was one o'clock now.
If we left right away, we'd have time to look around.
As we walked, Eli pointed at a distant building.
"Is that the baseball stadium?"
A massive dome stadium.
That was the one we were looking for.
"Yeah, that's it."
We quickened our pace.
A crowd had already gathered at the stadium entrance.
"Eagles! Eagles!"
People chanted cheers.
Fans in uniforms.
Fans with cheering gear.
They hyped up the team in their own ways.
"Wow."
Eli's eyes sparkled.
"Master, all these people came to watch this?"
"Yeah."
"They're all so passionate."
She sniffed the air.
Right, can't miss that at a ballpark.
"Chicken smell!"
"I'll get some later."
"Yes, Master. Weirdly, my appetite's grown since coming to Earth."
I wish she'd hold back on the eating a bit.
She's put on a little weight lately—it's noticeable.
I found a souvenir cap and put it on her as a memento.
"Ah, Master..."
"What?"
"Your scent on my head... it won't go away."
That much?
"Uh, yeah."
I nodded awkwardly.
Better to just think of her as the type who says stuff like that.
'Now, where do I find that person?'
The stadium was huge.
And at least tens of thousands of people here.
Finding one among them wouldn't be easy.
No guarantee she'd even be here today.
Grrrowl—
A rumble sounded.
From Eli's stomach.
"Hungry?"
"N-no!"
Eli clutched her belly in a panic.
But it growled again.
"Let's go."
"Where?"
"To get chicken."
"For real? Yay!"
We headed to the concession stand.
A line had formed.
I checked the menu while waiting.
[Cola Popcorn - 5,000 won]
Cola Popcorn.
It's been a while.
"Eli, wanna try that?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
One chicken and one of those should do.
She'd devour it anyway.
We joined the line.
At the end of the long queue, a loud voice rang out.
"Game starts soon, so we're closing the stand shortly! Last in line is the cutoff!"
We'd barely made it.
I glanced toward the voice.
Silver hair.
"...!"
My breath caught.
A silver-haired woman stood at the concession counter.
Her white hair tied back, apron on, selling chicken.
Blue eyes.
Definitely the one from TV.
'Why's she working there?'
The Ice Queen?
Why was someone that incredible slinging chicken at a ballpark?
"Master? That person over there..."
Eli had seen her too.
Her eyes widened.
"Prostia!"
Eli shouted.
The silver-haired woman looked our way upon hearing it.
My breath stopped short.
Her blue eyes locked onto me.
Time seemed to freeze.
And then.
"...Soulmate."
She murmured softly, unable to look away.
Her pupils trembled.
I could see the emotions in them.
Shock, joy, and...
But she shook her head soon after.
Her hands, which had paused, resumed working.
"Sorry, sir. What would you like?"
Eli panicked.
But Prostia tended to the customer in front first.
"Ready to order?"
"Y-yeah. Two Cola Popcorns."
"Yes. That's 10,000 won."
Prostia deftly packed the chicken, poured the cola, and bagged it.
"Thank you. Enjoy."
Next customer.
Then the next.
Prostia didn't glance our way.
No, she was pretending not to see us.
She focused on the job.
Handling each request quickly and precisely.
'She's diligent.'
I realized watching her.
The Ice Queen.
A being who might rival Eli in power.
But right now, she was a part-timer.
Giving her all to it.
Our turn came up.
I ordered the chicken as planned and waited for payment.
"Prostia."
Eli tried to approach.
But Prostia raised a hand.
"I'm working. Please wait a moment."
"But..."
"Ten minutes till closing. I'd appreciate it if you could wait."
Prostia's voice was polite but firm.
Eli had no choice but to step back.
As we took our food and moved aside,
Prostia's hand briefly grasped mine.
"...Still so warm."
She whispered, then switched back to her work face.
We sat on a nearby bench, and I asked Eli,
"Eli. Can you tell me about Prostia from that world?"
"Ah, sure."
Eli took a bite of the Cola Popcorn chicken and chose her words carefully.
"Shall I start from when you tried to kill her, Master?"
What?
Eli recalled that day.
It was about half a year into their travels together.
Prostia, who could create illusions of herself.
Seo Gi-hyeon sliced through the illusion's throat and muttered in a rage-filled voice,
"I don't know who you are. Or what you want."
"I don't even know why you're doing this."
"But one thing's for sure."
"I'll find you... and kill you."