Chapter 121: The Calm Before the Storm
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 121: The Calm Before the Storm
We quickly arrived at Geneva Station.
"Oh..."
The exterior was a harmonious blend of statues and a clock tower that exuded an early modern European charm. Even the fountain in front of the main entrance was extraordinary.
Stepping inside, my eyes widened once again.
Despite being the modern 21st century, the antique interior was so convincing it made me lose track of time.
"Hurry up!"
Abel gestured to me as I stood there looking around.
Today, too, Abel had her face completely covered with various accessories. Tapping her wristwatch, she said,
"I'd love to let you look around more, but we don't have much time before the train leaves. Let's head in first."
I nodded and followed behind her.
Shail, leading the way, skillfully read the signs to find our platform. True to her status as a senior, her experience was incredibly useful.
Thanks to Shail's guidance, our group boarded the train right on time.
The moment we boarded, my eyes were reflexively drawn upward.
【VVIP Special Room】
The quality of the cabin was worlds apart from the budget airline we had taken before.
It featured a small snack bar, a drinks corner, and guaranteed privacy for each compartment. Even the sofas, beds, and TVs were top-of-the-line.
The rear carriages of the train were reserved exclusively for nobles. I had expected some luxury, but the sheer opulence left me speechless.
On the other hand, a sense of skepticism toward this absurd society washed over me.
Facing the reality of status and class—concepts I had mindlessly glossed over when playing the game—was far from pleasant. If anything, it only fueled my irritation.
'...Well, I guess I'm not one to talk, considering I'm the one benefiting from it right now.'
【Room 3】
The interior was decorated in deep crimson and gold.
I turned my gaze toward the window. The railway tracks laid over gravel and the vast, open scenery came into view all at once.
Entering the compartment, I took a seat by the window.
Opposite me, Abel and Shail sat side by side on the sofa.
"It will take about six hours to arrive, so if you two would like to sleep, I will wake you up," Shail said.
At that, Abel lightly patted her mouth. Her eyelashes were already half-covering her pupils.
"Please do, Shail. I didn't get much sleep, so I am quite drowsy."
Blinking sleepily, Abel gently leaned against Shail.
Shail smiled silently and offered her shoulder.
...A moment later, Abel's eyes softly closed.
She fell asleep just like that, with her arms crossed.
Then again, she had been swinging her sword all night, so it would be abnormal if she weren't tired.
Abel's moonlit training had only ended when the sun rose in the east.
I knew this because the occasional sound of her blade cutting through the air had kept waking me up.
"..."
Resting my chin on my hand against the window frame, I quietly watched Abel. She was breathing softly, sleeping like a baby.
When I shifted my gaze slightly, I locked eyes with Shail. A gentle, knowing smile played on her lips.
"Would you like to switch seats?"
"..."
I quickly turned my head back toward the window. Shail let out a soft chuckle.
Shail folded her hands neatly over her lap. In a poised posture, she too began to enjoy the passing scenery.
Chhhhh—
It was then that the sudden rumble of the train's engine echoed.
Clack-clack— the sound of wheels slowly engaging with the iron tracks.
Smoke billowed from the train's smokestack, signaling its departure.
* * *
By the time the train had been running for about four hours, I stood up. Having had an empty stomach since dawn, I was starving.
I planned to grab a quick bite from the snack bar. Since the Nibelung family was covering all our expenses, I didn't have to worry about the cost.
I spoke to Shail.
"I'm going to head to the snack bar for a bit."
Shail, who had been quietly staring out the window, turned her gaze to me.
Her expression faltered for a moment before she spoke in a quiet voice.
"Well, I won't stop you from going... but I can't exactly recommend it."
"...?"
I tilted my head at her words.
Letting out a soft sigh, she explained.
"Since this is the VIP section, all the other passengers are nobles. And, as you know, Master Geomma, their temperaments are rather..."
"Trash."
At my blunt remark, Shail's eyes widened.
She reflexively glanced over at Abel. Fortunately, Abel was still fast asleep.
"Ahem."
Shail cleared her throat, covering her mouth with her fist. Composing herself, she continued.
"At any rate, for those reasons, I personally wouldn't recommend going alone. Perhaps you could wake Lady Abel and go together?"
"It's fine."
I shook my head.
As the only one who knew exactly why she was so sleep-deprived, I didn't want to disturb her peaceful slumber.
Even a sleeping dog will bite if you wake it up. What would happen if I suddenly woke Abel, who was always on high alert?
The moment her eyes opened, a sharp blade would probably fly straight at my face.
'It's ridiculous to be intimidated by those noble bastards at this point anyway.'
'In the first place, nobles who babble about status are just idiots.'
'If there's shit on the road, there's absolutely no reason for me to avoid it.'
'Either the shit gets out of my way on its own, or I sweep it aside and keep walking. Having worked in a kitchen—the absolute pinnacle of cleanliness—I can't stand anything filthy.'
'Though, it's a bit much to try and educate them with a knife. People aren't fish, after all.'
'Though I've already sliced up quite a few of them.'
I scratched the back of my neck and grabbed the doorknob.
Creak—
Pushing the door open, I asked Shail,
"Can I get you something to drink?"
* * *
"...Sigh."
Shail, who had been staring blankly out the window, pressed her fingers to her temples.
Kang Geomma had headed to the snack bar despite her warnings. Shail couldn't help but worry about him.
Of course, she wasn't worried about his safety. If anything, she should be worrying about whoever crossed his path.
'I just hope no one provokes Master Geomma...'
He was like a hippo. Usually docile, but possessive of a wild beast's heart that would bare ferocious fangs the moment he was provoked.
The entire world now knew the fate of those who dared to provoke him.
'The Twins of Tyranny, the Genius of Auditore, the Iron Leg...'
Every single one of them was a household name—formidable talents once hailed as geniuses.
Yet, in the end, they had all been sliced to pieces by Kang Geomma's sashimi knife.
'A genius on a completely different level...'
But even putting all of that aside, how could he be so utterly fearless before the nobility?
His actions completely defied Shail's common sense.
Of course, Shail also found it incredibly cathartic, but the gap between her understanding and reality was simply too wide.
Kang Geomma was a boy who possessed absolutely no respect for social hierarchy. It was as if he had suddenly dropped into this world out of nowhere one day.
A cadet who delivered satisfying retribution to the commoners instead of coddling the nobles. Lately, Master Geomma had become an overnight sensation.
His reputation was soaring day by day. On top of that, he had his unique identity of black hair and hair shadow.
On various online portals, people attached modifiers to Kang Geomma's name, calling him the "Genius Killer," "Beyond the Heavens," and "Sashimi Faster Than Words."
There was even a growing trend of people proudly calling themselves the "Sashimi Faction."
There was a good reason why reporters kept their eyes glued to Kang Geomma's every move.
In particular, rumors were rampant that American agencies were eagerly looking for an opportunity to recruit him.
'Any sensible person would know better than to pick a fight with someone like him, but...'
Most of the nobility were rotten to the core. Having been a special admission student herself, Shail knew this all too well.
Their sense of superiority often defied logic. For instance, they would assert their ridiculous pride just to reaffirm their own status.
A foolish class of people who would willingly stick their hands into a tiger's mouth.
That was the nobility for you. And Master Geomma had just walked right into that backward monkey den of his own accord.
If things went wrong, it could easily escalate into a violent altercation...
Shail fell into deep thought. Should she just pray that nothing happened, or should she go after him?
If she chose the latter, she would inevitably wake the young lady currently resting against her. Master Geomma had gone alone precisely to avoid doing so.
The scales in her mind tipped back and forth. After a brief moment of hesitation, Shail raised her head, her eyes hardening with resolve.
'It might be late, but I have to go.'
Her role in this party was that of a guide.
To clear the dungeon without any incidents and return safely—that was her duty.
Praying that her worries were groundless, Shail gently took hold of Abel's shoulder.
She felt a pang of guilt, but her growing anxiety quickly overshadowed it. Just as she was about to wake her—
Click.
The door to Room 3 opened. For a moment, Shail stared blankly.
"...?"
Kang Geomma walked in, chewing on a piece of beef jerky.
He was cradling an armful of snacks, gum, and other refreshments, his expression perfectly serene.
Clatter.
Kang Geomma dumped the pile of snacks onto the sofa.
Shail felt the anxiety she had been harboring for the past few minutes pop like a bubble. Feeling a mix of relief and bewilderment, she asked,
"...Did nothing happen?"
Kang Geomma scratched his eyebrow with his thumb.
"It was easier than I thought."
"..."
At Shail's dumbfounded expression, Kang Geomma elaborated.
"Ahem, a few guys were giving me dirty looks, but they looked away the moment I glared back."
Saying so, Kang Geomma handed her a snack.
"The staff gave me this on the house. They said it's the most expensive one, so please, have it, Shail."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Shail took it in a daze. In that brief instant, a cold, blue gleam caught her eye.
Tucked inside the inner pocket of Kang Geomma's coat was his sashimi knife, its blade gleaming sharply.
"...Ah."
Shail let out a quiet gasp. She finally understood why those arrogant nobles had suddenly shut their mouths.
Shail silently revised her impression of Kang Geomma.
A wild beast's heart? No. He was—
'The Mad Demon.'
—A refined madness.
And what's more, he was a true madman who wasn't even aware of his own insanity.
* * *
After a six-hour journey, the train finally arrived at our destination.
"Yaaawn—"
Abel, having slept well, stretched refreshingly.
Lyon, the second-largest city in France.
A completely different atmosphere from Geneva permeated every street.
We got into a waiting limousine taxi.
'I heard Shail handled all the bookings for this trip... and it absolutely reeks of money.'
A frugal employer and a completely opposite employee. It was a stroke of good luck for me.
The driver smoothly sped down the highway.
It was safe, law-abiding driving. However, Shail, sitting in the passenger seat, was restlessly twiddling her fingers.
This speed was probably far from satisfying for her.
Since she was used to going 200 kilometers per hour.
...But perhaps because I had also grown accustomed to her high-speed driving, it honestly felt a bit sluggish to me too.
'I'm starting to lose it too.'
Before long, the limousine pulled up in front of our lodging.
The driver politely opened the door for us.
"We have arrived."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work."
I gave a slightly awkward nod.
The moment I stepped out of the car, a building that seemed to define the very word "luxury" loomed before us.
Dragging our suitcases, our group stepped onto the bright red carpet.
'So this is what wealth feels like.'
...After completing the minor check-in procedures, I stood in front of my assigned room.
【Room 502】
Creak—
"...This is insane."
My voice echoed in the spacious hotel room.
It was incredibly vast. Compared to this, my academy dorm room was practically a chicken coop.
I swallowed hard.
The excitement of spending a night all by myself in a room like this swelled within me.
I buried my face in the bedsheets. A subtle, pleasant scent wafted up, making me want to ask what kind of fabric softener they used.
I rolled over onto my back and stared at the ceiling.
"..."
Today had been a day absolutely dripping with the scent of money.
Perhaps this was the kind of wealth that would naturally follow once I ascended to the rank of the Seven Stars.
—However,
Thinking about it made me feel slightly uneasy.
This, too, was ultimately a byproduct of the class system. If I grew accustomed to this lifestyle, wouldn't I eventually turn into one of those arrogant nobles?
I lay there with my eyes wide open, lost in thought for a long time.
Then, I abruptly sat up and got out of bed.
"...There's absolutely no way."
A comfortable life like this wasn't what I desired.
What I wanted was to survive the living hell of the Human-Demon War that would break out in three years.
In the face of war, could luxurious jewels ever retain their luster? They would be treated as nothing more than common pebbles rolling on the ground. A well-forged piece of steel would be infinitely more valuable.
I knew the pitch-black future, even if only vaguely. This kind of hollow gold was utterly useless to me, both now and in the days to come.
And I was sick to death of the way the nobility ruled.
Whether a king or a noble, shouldn't one fulfill their corresponding duties to enjoy such privileges?
To think that the ruling class consisted of people who looked down on, despised, and mistreated others simply because they were lucky enough to be born to the right parents.
Just the thought of becoming like them made me sick to my stomach.
'In that sense, the Human-Demon War in three years might actually serve as a much-needed purge.'
From what I recalled, the 2nd Human-Demon War was bound to happen.
After all, the protagonist Leon preparing for it step-by-step was the core plotline of Miracle Blessing M.
But now that the narrative had been twisted, I had to prepare as well.
Moreover, the [Blessing of the Sword God] was providing me with fragments of information.
At the end of that path, there would surely be something—no, the very reason why I was brought to this world.
Engraving this resolve into my heart, I looked out the window.
The sky was turning a deep, golden amber under the setting sun.
Pink clouds drifted lazily, like the calm before a storm.
Staring blankly, I eventually muttered,
"It really is the calm before the storm."
For tomorrow, I would be facing a magical beast—a creature akin to a natural disaster—right before my eyes.