6. Train (1)
6. Train (1)
Yuma walked.
With the black-haired, golden-eyed young girl, Cloné.
The two were wearing the gray robes that Princess Brigitte had given them. They were to conceal their faces and appearances.
"Certainly, after we took down those enemies earlier, there are no longer any tails following us."
As she walked, Cloné, who was continuously using field detection magic, spoke to Yuma.
"Good job."
Yuma patted Cloné's head.
"Yes!"
Cloné beamed.
'He must have developed a ki sense.'
She didn't think Yuma, who at a glance appeared to be at least a master level, would fail to notice pursuing enemies.
Of course, Yuma had not a shred of ki, let alone ki sense.
'He must be doing this so that I don't feel useless... so I don't feel powerless.'
Cloné's golden eyes held a gaze full of yearning.
'I will definitely become useful. To Yuma-nim.'
She must study magic very diligently.
It had only been two days since she had been with Yuma.
But her one-sided attachment was incredibly strong.
She still firmly believed that he had stepped forward to save her the day before.
Thanks to that, she had been able to escape the nightmares and anxiety that had plagued her ceaselessly during the nearly month-long chase.
"Here it is."
The place where Yuma and Cloné stopped was the capital Barnok station of the magic train company <Heilro>.
If they took this train, in eleven hours they could arrive at 'Akan' — the northern terminus adjacent to the County of Rubelt and a transit city.
They headed to the ticket office. A considerable number of people were lined up at the counter. Naturally, the main customers of the magic train were nobles.
Because the cost was quite expensive.
One use cost 5,000 cents. That was a price far exceeding the monthly food expenses of a commoner family of three.
Originally, paying this amount itself served as proof of one's status.
Of course, the men standing in front of Yuma now were not nobles but servants of noble houses. Servants lining up to get tickets for their masters.
Among the servants, some stood with a slouched posture, leaning crookedly on one leg.
It was a twisted case of a servant taking pride in the fact that their master's title was at least that of a count.
"Ticket issuance is taking unusually long today."
Yuma overheard the conversation of the noble servants ahead of him.
"Aren't there train terror threats that have been going on for a month? That's why they're asking for family crests or merchant plaques, they say. They're doing identity checks."
"They've only been making threats for a month and haven't actually attacked? Those guys must be all talk."
One by one, the chatting people ahead disappeared, and it was Yuma's turn.
There was a blackout curtain in front of the counter where IDs were checked. It seemed to be for protecting each person's privacy. Though it didn't look all that practical.
Even after dealing with dozens of people, the ticket office clerk smiled brightly and said,
"Welcome. May I see your identification?"
Without hesitation, Yuma produced the golden plaque inside the pouch at his waist. It was a proof plaque with three swords pointing straight upward. A proof plaque imbued with the mana imprint of the 1st Princess Brigitte.
"I am the agent of the 1st Princess Brigitte."
The female clerk's eyes went wide. An urgent official document that had come down from the higher-ups at dawn flashed through her mind like lightning.
"I-Identity confirmed."
"Two tickets, including the child beside me."
"Yes!"
The title of princess — an agent of imperial blood — seemed to induce considerable tension in those dealing with them.
The professional clerk handed over two tickets with trembling hands.
Yuma accepted the tickets with an expressionless face.
'As the princess said, my identity is guaranteed.'
It was a moment to confirm that.
***
The evening glow was settling over the sky.
The office of the 1st Prince's Palace.
Inside an office so overly spacious for a private study that it reminded one of a library, a man was sitting in a chair.
1st Prince Schubertche von Astes was in a dazed state after the news he had just heard.
In just two days, he had lost three of the Ten Seats, the greatest military power among those under his command.
Kainegal, Spear Demon Roark, Heavenly Bow Derain.
They were all supreme powerhouses who could not be pushed back by force wherever they went.
Even if the matter failed, to prevent it from becoming known, he had deployed a massive dome artifact in front of the 1st Princess's Palace that blocked sight and sound, but it seemed there had already been spies of other nobles within the domain.
"Brigitte..."
What kind of person did you turn into? What means did you use to make them one of your people?
Udeudeuk!
His teeth ground together on their own.
Jiiing!
The communication magical device 'Neuma' sitting on the desk let out a cry.
'Neuma' was a magical device still in the testing phase in the empire, and its communication range only functioned within the capital.
Schubertche picked up the device roughly.
"Who is it?"
-It's the 3rd Seat, Kailon. Your Highness.
"...Kailon."
Kailon of Slaughter, the 3rd Seat.
Kailon was an inhuman being. A high-class vampire. A superhuman who traversed battlefields to secure his blood supply.
That he was a vampire was known only to the council of noble elders and above.
-I came to the capital for a break. And I heard something very interesting.
Kailon's voice was eerily filled with excitement.
-The God of War Yuma, what the hell is he? Did he kill three of the Ten Seats in two days? Did he also get the name God of War in just two days? Because of this throne struggle between the two of you, word of his existence spread among the upper nobles staying in the capital within half a day. Kuhahahahaha!
It was clearly a tone mocking him. But Schubertche already had plenty of targets for his anger.
The 1st Princess Brigitte, the Witch's Daughter Cloné, and the existence called Yuma who had suddenly dropped from the sky.
Among them, Yuma currently occupied the largest share of his rage.
Fear also definitely existed. Would facing a dragon even bring this kind of terror?
But for now, his anger was far stronger than his fear.
"Can you kill him? Kailon?"
-Oh, Your Highness. You seem to be growing quite impatient. Indeed, since the 1st and 2nd Seats are neutral, the Ten Seats left under Your Highness's command are now... only five, including myself? You must be feeling uneasy.
After a brief silence, Kailon continued.
-You know it's not because I can't beat the 1st or 2nd Seat that I'm in the 3rd, don't you? Just tell me where he is. If I pick the right place and time, there's no one I can't kill.
Schubertche's brow furrowed deeply.
Come to think of it, he didn't know the bastard's current whereabouts.
'He would use the train.'
No matter the destination, using the train was inevitable.
Conveniently, the owner of that train was still staying in the capital.
"I'll find out and contact you."
***
Yuma and Cloné were sitting in the waiting room.
Cloné was looking around the station's interior facilities with wide, astonished eyes, seeing them for the first time in her life.
"Wow..."
Her golden eyes were fixed on the transparent high-grade glass.
"What's that?"
Cloné's gaze was directed at the bread in the hand of a young girl her age. The wrapper around the bread had letters embossed on it. Heilro sweet red bean bread.
'Sweet red bean bread.'
What was red bean bread doing in a medieval Western setting?
Yuma gave a wry smile at Cloné. Just like 'Loof Blood,' this world too mixed all sorts of Eastern and Western fantasy elements, so it wasn't strange for red bean bread to appear.
Money was overflowing.
Yuma took Cloné to the bakery and bought her the sweet red bean bread.
Cloné stared intently at the glossy sweet red bean bread in her hand, then opened her mouth wide — aah — and took a bite.
Cloné's cheeks puffed up.
"Mmm! It's delicious!"
Cloné smiled brightly.
Chewing on his soboro bread, Yuma briefly recalled the distinctive taste of franchise bread from his hometown.
While savoring the leisure before the train departure.
Someone approached from the side.
He was an elderly man with a physique that clearly showed he had trained. Judging by his neat black shirt, he appeared to be a station employee.
The old man bowed his head to Yuma, then leaned in close and whispered.
"You are the agent of Her Highness the 1st Princess, correct?"
Yuma slowly nodded.
"What is it?"
"There is someone who earnestly wishes to meet you. Would you meet with them?"
Yuma asked indifferently.
"Who?"
"Count Benosetian, the owner of this Heilro and the owner of all magic trains in the empire, desires to see you."
"Is he waiting now?"
"Yes, he is currently waiting in the adjacent reception room."
Yuma recalled one of the many things Princess Brigitte had rambled about last night while drinking wine with a flushed face.
The list of nobles who could be called the empire's real power brokers.
'He was definitely on that list.'
A figure he'd heard was close to neutrality.
Yuma slowly nodded. So far, he had never properly conversed with anyone in this world except Princess Brigitte and Cloné, so he thought there was value in meeting him.
"There are still twenty minutes until the train departs, so I can spare that much."
The old man bowed deeply.
"Please follow me."
The old man led Yuma and Cloné deeper inside, to a place with no foot traffic at all.
It was a reception room in a restricted area where entry was forbidden except for employees.
When the door opened, a blond noble with a good-natured appearance was standing there. He was approaching his late thirties, but he had quite a handsome face.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yuma."
Count Benosetian smiled at those words, then knelt on his left knee without any hesitation.
"I greet you, Yuma-nim, who holds the authority of agent for Her Highness the 1st Princess."
The face of a count? That wasn't important.
'How can I put on airs in front of someone who wiped out three of the Ten Seats in two days?'
Do I have a death wish?
Benosetian decided to humble himself first.