Ambush on the Lehart Express
Why? Don't you know how over there? The Lehart capital. The empire founded by the first emperor is called Polimon, but it's more commonly known by the name of the capital, modeled after the first emperor himself. They say ignorant folks don't know that. Honestly, I just learned the empire's name is Polimon.
'Memorizing even the romance novel's country names is kinda pervy.' It came up a lot, but Lehart gets called way more often. I just found it easier to say Lehart Empire. Anyway, we were heading to that Lehart capital.
"This should do it."
There were quite a few carriages. At a glance, four or five at least. They were busy assigning extra food and personnel just in case. The distance was about ten days. We'd ride horses for three, then...
'We take the train, right?'
There were trains. This world was more advanced than I'd thought. I'd been shocked when I heard trains were part of the route.
'Whoa, fuck. Trains exist?'
The soldier uncle, Singel, had looked at me like some country bumpkin. Shit, that bruised my pride. This orphan kid didn't even know that? Got totally dissed because of it. Uncle, you ever flown? No planes, but you diss me for not knowing trains? Pissed me off big time. Anyway, we were taking the train to the empire. I hadn't expected something like that in this backwater north.
"Don't worry about it."
Just as I was boarding a carriage, I saw August talking to Iris.
"But..."
"Your body's not fully recovered. You've got two months' rest now—use the time to go. It'll be a good chance to broaden your horizons."
"But demons have appeared now. Shouldn't I at least help..."
"Do I look weak to you?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant..."
"If the north would crumble without you, it'd be better off not existing. So don't worry."
"..."
"Answer me."
"...Understood."
Iris, who swore she'd die before going to the capital, finally caved at the last minute. Should've just gone without the attitude. 'But why's she going?' I wondered if Iris really needed to. The goal was probably the World Tree relic and my magic stuff.
'The saintess search wrapped up without issues anyway.' Once Eria used her miracle, it was pointless. The saintess they were looking for was busy hauling groceries into a carriage right now.
"Eria! Be careful!"
"Y-yes!"
The head maid watched Eria anxiously. She really sucked at chores.
'...Useless saintess.' Can't even hide it, no holy power—nah, not a saintess. Just incompetent Eria. Cute with big tits. Isn't that enough? That's what I thought, anyway.
"Young Master Ruin."
"Yeah."
It was Covent.
"Safe travels. Here's a gift."
"A gift?"
I took it, wondering. Covent rubbed his nose sheepishly.
"Just a dagger for self-defense."
"...Ooh..."
A real dagger.
"We all chipped in. Come back safe."
"Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
Handing a dagger to a thirteen-year-old orphan. This era's sensibilities. Realized again this place is fucked up, but it was cool, so I nodded.
Vrrr-!
The vibrator at my waist buzzed again. What? Jealous 'cause I'm excited about the dagger? Funny guy.
'I'm a bad boy.' The total alpha male ignoring shit that likes me. Can't help it, vibrator. Dagger's cooler. You're just a wooden stick.
Vrrr!!
"Ah, cut it out. Legs sore from leg day yesterday."
Smack!
One whack and it quieted down.
"There."
Calmed it, then boarded the carriage. Wonder where Colton and the crown prince rode. Not with me, at least.
"Mr. Mage. Aren't you sleeping?"
Eria, who boarded with me, asked.
"Yeah, kinda sleepy."
"Oh, then, um..."
Eria glanced around and scooted closer. A soft scent wafted over.
"...C-can you do it now?"
"..."
I cracked my eyes. Annoyance flooded in. Sounds sexy, but knowing it's not that intent killed the mood.
"...Tch."
I reached out and grabbed her slender wrist. Soft skin. Felt it as I circulated mana.
Vrrr-!
Shaped it. My gaze on the translucent angel above Eria. The alien shape inside. Mimicking holy power.
Vrrr!!
A pale pink glow appeared and seeped into Eria.
"Ngh...!"
She let out a groan as it entered.
"Haa... ugh..."
"...Do you have to react like that?"
"N-no... it... t-tickles..."
Shhh.
I stopped after pumping in holy power. Eria looked disappointed.
"Why..."
"Why? Mana's low, duh."
Bad cost-performance. This power's always been inefficient. Maybe 'cause it's copied, but mana drains insanely. See? Not even a minute and it's almost empty. Any more and mana thirst knocks me out. Frail protag fainting? Fuck that. I ain't that weak.
"Ahh..."
Eria sighed. I dose her on schedule, but it's not enough.
"So what do you even use it for?"
"...I pray. Talk to the goddess."
"Does it connect?"
"So far..."
No response? Then my effort's wasted?
"Then no need to give it, right?"
"N-no! No response now, but... I feel something each time you give holy power..."
"Feel something."
I eyed the angel. Per her words, that's the goddess?
'Kinda dubious.' Feels off, but I didn't mention it. If the saintess says it's the goddess, whatever. Short hair's trustworthy.
'Plus.'
I had other worries. Lehart capital. Just going there was draining my energy.
'...Let's go.'
Chatting with Eria, the carriage started moving. Five days passed like that in the slowly rolling carriage.
The northern frontier's edge. Seprin City. The only urban hub to the empire's capital, called the north's gateway. After five nauseating days in the carriage, I finally arrived.
"Not as cold here."
Maybe 'cause it's on the front lines—feels almost summer. Well, not quite, but warm enough.
Fewer layers needed.
"Real train."
I stared in wonder at the massive train ahead. Whoa, Mirai-level future tech. Trains in this world? Thought it'd be half-assed, but it's a proper one. For real.
"Eria."
"Yes?"
"You ridden it?"
"Ah, yes."
She said it like it was obvious.
"A few times moving from the Holy Kingdom. You haven't, Mr. Mage?"
"Where's an orphan gonna get train money?"
"Oh. Right..."
"Right?"
"Oops...!"
Eria flinched. Unbelievable.
"Just board, yeah?"
They were already loading up front. Then.
"Board first."
Someone approached. Colton Clay.
"Pardon? Not with you, Duke?"
"Got business nearby."
"Business?"
"Yeah. Next train for me—go ahead."
Colton coming later? Schedules that tight?
'What happened?' He looked serious.
"Board first, got it?"
"Yeah. With that girl, so you know the stop."
He pointed at Iris. She flinched at being singled out.
"You know it."
"Y-yes... I do."
Totally tense. Colton nodded.
"Then I'm counting on you."
"Yes...!"
Full soldier mode. Huge respect for Colton, huh. Anyway, Colton took the crown prince and left. Banheil grumbled regretfully as he walked off.
'Alright.'
Boarded the next train easy. Had tickets. Iris's name carried weight.
"Lady of House Hailron...!"
"Thank you."
Iris who'd faced Colton was gone—replaced by a noble lady. Speech and manners totally different. Who dis? I stared weirdly; she noticed and grumbled awkwardly.
"...Why look like that?"
"Nah. Just didn't expect you to play frail so well."
"...Play?"
"Sword in hand, you're a barbarian warrior. Now you're all girly."
"B-barbaric warrior?"
The compartment we entered was first-class. Nobles only, huh?
'Nice.' Gotta climb the ladder for this. Didn't see economy or second-class, but first-class? Top-tier. Service difference is night and day.
"Right here."
Guided to seats. Sat down. Snow fell outside.
"How long to get there?"
Asked Iris.
"Two days?"
"What? Faster than expected. Thought ten days."
"That's if issues. Smooth sailing, though."
"Lucky us."
Lehart capital. Heading there myself, a place from the novel only. Kinda emotional, all sorts of ways.
About an hour wait, then.
[The train will now depart.]
Screeech-!!!
The train lurched forward with the sound. Swayed as I leaned back.
Half a day later. Sunset outside, train still chugging. No real talk. I'd just learned letters, buried in books. Eria slept; Iris meditated, still as stone. Silence, but comfy. Flowed like that.
'More races than expected.'
My book was on world basics. Borrowed a few from the duke. Needed common sense.
'Elves and dwarves... others treated as monsters.'
Humans, elves, dwarves—only these recognized as proper races. Rest? Monsters. Current world view. Based on old war tales.
'For that...'
Original story barely showed dwarves or elves. One famous elf, but minor, pass-by character. History books mentioned, but nothing major. Just labeled old demon king allies as monsters. Thanked those who allied with humans to beat hero vs. demon king. That's it. So elves/dwarves get kin status, not monsters.
'Elves, huh.' Pretty? Gotta be.
'Wanna see one.'
Curious. What're they like? Seem rare outside World Tree areas. See one someday? Closed the book, gazed out.
Lehart road. Diverse countryside beyond.
"Nice."
Mumbled without thinking. Scenery hit me.
Sleepy Eria stirred.
"...What?"
"Nothin'. Sleep more."
"Ah... okay."
Back to snoozing. Falls asleep pillow-down. Chuckled, looked out again.
'Hm?'
Saw something. Blue thread. Dangling on the window.
"This..."
Mana? Definitely mana haze. Stuck to the frame.
Slide-!
Opened window, stuck head out. Haze trailed long along the train roof.
"What the?"
Huh? Then.
Vrrr-!!!
Circle spun on its own. Weird. Hackles rose all over.
That's when.
"...!"
Meditating Iris snapped eyes open. Grabbed me and Eria suddenly.
Déjà vu. Felt this before. Northern cliffs. Demon ambush.
'No way.'
BOOM-!!!!
Explosion engulfed us with the roar.
Screeech-!!!!
Train rocked wildly.
-Aaaahhh!!
Screams everywhere. Smoke from blast. Amid wreckage, figures emerged.
Crunch.
Stamped train floor. Robed ones with crow masks, scanning around.
A few reacted to the whisper.
"Y-you bastards! Do you know who I am?!"
A potbellied noble yelled at the intruders.
"I'm from Baron Seiron!"
But words cut off. Head flew before he finished.
Splat-!!
"Gurk."
Whole neck gone. Headless body slumped.
No. 2 crow-mask tilted head. Twirled staff, scanned.
Then.
Shing-!!!!
Something gleamed in fog. Silver blade. Sliced through mist.
Shwick-!!!
Clang-!!
A sword flew in. Sharp strike neared, but bounced off translucent barrier.
"Ngh."
Groan. Figure eyed attacker. White-haired blue-eyed woman. In his intel.
-Aaaahhh!!
Screams beyond. Despite no-kill order, slaughter happening.
Figure asked.
Man raised black staff.
"Who are you? Reveal yourself."
[...]
Iris gripped sword, demanded. Intense killing intent. Ferocious for a girl not even twenty.
'Gotta eliminate.'
Capture? Laughable. She'd interfere. Future plans ruined. Kill now.
"[Bizarre and arrogant, vast winds...]"
"...!"
Iris charged at the chant. Mage. Chanting confirmed. Can't give distance.
Quick judgment. But his chant faster.
"[Slice all asunder.]"
Shing-!!!!
Whoosh-!!!
"Damn—."
Iris swung, groaning. Crescent wind blades. Sharp magic invaded.
Crack-!!!
She unleashed aura to deflect, but.
Throb-!
'Ngh!'
Unhealed wound tripped her. Stumbled. Balance off. Can't fully block.
"...!"
Caught on. Iris scrunched nose.
"[Multihued winds—.]"
No mercy. Chanting again. Two crescents left. Iris gritted teeth.
"You fucking bastard."
Curse from behind. Then.
Krunch-!!!
Black swords pierced masked mage.
What? Figure collapsed, staring ahead. What happened?
Behind aura-wielding Iris. Someone stood. Green eyes piercing smoke. Boy with weird wooden stick.
Iris turned, shocked at falling figure.
There.
"...Ruin?"
Black-haired young mage stood. Face full of irritation.