Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Flower of the North Sea (7)
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The mana train—more akin to a train than a typical horse-drawn carriage—was a form of public transportation powered by mana stones.
Unlike on Earth, tracks weren't laid outside the cities due to the risk of damage from monsters or bandit groups.
Instead, the seven magic towers served as control towers, managing the train's operation to designated destinations.
They cleared all obstacles along the route with magic, propelling the massive iron beast forward at ultra-high speeds. Surprisingly, the inventor was Terra Ernisten.
She hadn't appeared in public since the Great War, but her legacy lived and breathed across the continent—and was still being transmitted in real-time.
Through the telegraph lines sent from the Horus Lighthouse.
The very concept of the mana train and its engine blueprints had been provided by her to the magic towers.
Having spent quite a long time with her, back when she lugged cannons around as a horse-drawn cart, I knew Terra was more engineer than mage at heart. But it seemed like a massive shock to others.
The old folks at the magic towers were skeptical at first, but the design was so perfectly crafted that they pushed for practical implementation—and ultimately succeeded.
At the mana train station on the outskirts of Pharenchia, I found Darling.
Upon entering the station and giving her name, I was immediately escorted to the VIP lounge.
"You've arrived."
Darling Tokarev de Luhillen—lord of Pharenchia and head of the Luhillen Merchant Guild—greeted me calmly, even in her grave situation.
Her ever-present white gloves and the luxurious red cape draped over her shoulders.
Her petite frame and wavy crimson hair cascading to her shoulders made her look like an exquisite antique doll.
"They say it departs in ten minutes. I've already bought the tickets."
"I bought mine too."
"That ticket of yours was just canceled due to a double booking. Quite coincidentally, some tycoon bought up all the seats except these two. So, we're stuck sitting together."
Come to think of it, I'd seen crowds of nobles milling about the waiting area, desperate for tickets. It looked like they'd bought out the entire front car on purpose.
Tsk. I was hoping to travel separately.
Escorted by the conductor, Darling and I boarded the mana train. It was as long as ten regular carriages linked together, with plenty of width for two to sit comfortably.
I tried to move to the empty adjacent compartment, but she grabbed me.
"Canteen Owner, your seat is here."
"The one next to us is empty though?"
"I told you. That one's already reserved by someone."
No, if no one's there when it departs soon, doesn't that mean they're not boarding?
"Canteen Owner, are you the type to unceremoniously seize land that's been legally occupied by someone for ages, just because they stepped away briefly? The thought of such a rude person being around me gives me chills."
"What a coincidence. I'm getting chills too."
In the end, I sat next to Darling. Late at night, the mana train bound for the Frank region sounded its horn and departed.
Various snacks were sold inside the train. Since we wouldn't get off until we reached our destination, I'd have to eat something, but I had no appetite.
Part of it was due to my final parting with Adella, but the more fundamental reason was right beside me.
"Gueeeh—."
Unlike the trains on Earth, this mana train was incredibly noisy and shaky.
It didn't run on flat rails; it smashed through obstacles ahead using defensive magic embedded in the front and interceptions from waiting mages.
Every so often, blood would splatter across the outer windows, signaling that the train's kill count had gone up by one. Probably hit a goblin or something.
"Geh—."
Thus, our motion-sick viscountess was filling the bucket beside her with each jolt of the carriage.
Naturally, the smell wafted over to me, sitting right next to her.
After vomiting for a while, the exhausted Darling wiped her tears with her arm.
"Are you crying?"
"No! Who's crying?!"
"Want some water?"
"No need... Urk!"
She took the canteen I offered and drank, her expression easing as she closed her eyes and leaned her head back.
I wanted to comfort her, but opening my mouth to breathe this compartment's air might make me hurl too, so I stayed quiet.
Glancing sideways at me holding my breath, Darling's lips pouted.
"It doesn't smell. Breathe."
"......"
"Really. I already cleaned it all with magic."
As if I can believe that.
Darling scooted closer, inching her hips over. Whether she'd really dispelled it or not, the foul smell was gone, replaced by the luxurious scent of her fabrics teasing my nose.
"Come here. Why squeeze into the corner in this spacious seat?"
"This spot's comfy."
"Come over here right now."
"Why?"
"My head's throbbing. I need to lie down. Perfect pillow right there, so come closer."
This doesn't seem like a good idea.
Sure enough, when she tried to use my leg as a pillow, the hard seat plus my thick thigh bent her neck at nearly ninety degrees.
Still, as she stiffly held her head up, I laid her down sideways and suddenly asked about Adella.
"Hey, Viscountess."
"What."
"Does Roshiar have any chronic illnesses? Like heart problems from her unique magic circuit or something..."
"You say the most random things. How would you even know that? And the secrets of unique magic circuits are top-secret even within Roshiar."
"......"
"Foolish."
"Hmm..."
"Gaaah! Don't shake your head, don't shake your head!!"
Fair enough. She's not an info broker, and her family isn't versed in magic.
Whether it was my superior interrogation skills shining through, or the stomach acid rising to her throat tickling her brain into a flash of inspiration, Darling gave a second answer.
"Urgh... The chairman might know something."
"Lehel?"
"Yeah, rumor has it she's lived quite a while. She's known the previous Roshiar family head since before he died, so she probably knows at least a little."
"Got it."
I'll ask slowly after rescuing her.
I closed my eyes again amid the jolting carriage and sank into thought.
We arrived in the Frank region and transferred to another carriage, heading to Alzar, where the underground auction house was located.
As we drew nearer the north, the chill in the air deepened, and my mood sank colder.
The feel of blood-soaked soil underfoot evoked memories of an always-frozen past. The ice crushed under my shoes back then wasn't the pure white it is now—it was bloodstained.
"Darling Tokarev of Luhillen and my attendant. We're here to take custody of Lehel Darad, detained by the Martinica Merchant Guild."
"Please wait a moment."
The man guarding the gambling den entrance behind the weathered wooden building took the nameplate Darling handed him and went inside.
Soon after, a lavishly dressed manager came out personally to greet us.
"To meet the head of the Luhillen Guild in person—it's an honor beyond my station. I'm Zikra, the chief manager of the auction house."
Zikra led us to the slave prison located deeper inside the auction house.
It was a filthy, dark place reeking of rotten sewage.
"Let me see... Lehel, Lehel Darad... Ah, cell number three. She racked up 85,000 gold in debts at our casino. We auctioned off all her possessions, leaving about 70,000 gold outstanding."
"So we just pay the difference?"
"Yes. Shall I prepare the paperwork now?"
"Very well."
Darling nodded, and Zikra pointed at me.
"Then, once the transaction is complete, we'll send her via your attendant."
"She hasn't been hurt, has she?"
"What do you take us for? We've handled cases like this countless times—do you think we'd lay a finger on the Reincarnation Duke? Follow me."
Darling went upstairs with Zikra, while I followed another staff member to where Lehel was held.
I worried something might go wrong, but surprisingly, they were all business: pay up, and she's yours right away.
Apparently, Lehel often lost everything at the tables and waited for rescue like this. Every debtor in that prison knew her.
—Oh, this time a decent guy's come to bail her out.
—Heh! How many times is this now? I saw her in Thessalon last year.
—Hey, mister, you her lover? If it were me, I'd leave that lady's fingers here. Better off with us.
"Is it always this casual? I can hardly believe you've imprisoned a grand duke here."
"Well... the Reincarnation Duke is generous. Surprisingly, she doesn't abuse magic. They say it's generosity in following the rules of the game."
Maybe she's too generous with herself. It'd be nice if she'd reflect on that.
Anyway, Lehel was easy to spot. Not just because her snow-capped-hill white hair stood out against the dim prison... though that helped.
To be precise, a different part caught my eye first.
"Ooh, you've come! To rescue me! I've been waiting, Boss!!"
How should I describe my feelings seeing her flailing about, down to her underwear with her feet bound upside-down to the ceiling?
Assuming ten emotions surged up, pity would definitely be at the top of the list.
"You don't look like you're bowing to greet me! Still, happy to see you!"
"Why are you in that state?"
"They confiscated all my stuff. Even my underwear's up for auction soon."
"......"
You've gotta leave cab fare home, not stake your undies. The pity doubled—she doesn't even look cute anymore.
I unlocked the iron bars and stepped inside. Lehel dangled there in white panties and bra.
A shame I faced her mound reflected in the underwear, not her face.
"Hey, Boss."
"What."
"Mind putting your hand under my armpit to level my head? Blood's rushing—feels like I'm dying!"
Why don't you just die then.
"How'd you end up like this?"
"Listen! It was all rigged! Total scam, they worked me over!!"
The classic line from every gambler who'd lost it all. No need to hear the details.
Lehel kept tugging my pants, demanding I lift her upper body.
With her head down, I caught a glimpse of her irritating, cat-like smirk.
"Got something special to tell you, Boss."
"What?"
"Bring your ear closer..."
Was there really some scheme behind this?
Skeptical, I lifted her into a mermaid-princess carry. She rested her chin on my shoulder with a sigh of relief.
For a grand duke, she was shockingly light.
"Haa... I'll Liv. Thought I was done for, like a pig bleeding out in a butcher shop."
"You stink—haven't bathed. Spill it quick before I drop you."
"Heh, got it. So..."
Her thin, playful whisper tickled my ear.
'Actually, they took everything I had, but I hid the mana carriage 'cause it's precious.'
A fairy-like sweet murmur.
'Where'd you stash it~?'
Did I really abandon Adella—standing there like a rain-soaked puppy—for this bitch?
Instead of answering, I carefully lowered her back until her head nearly touched the ground. Then I rolled my shoulders and loosened up.
"Boss? What's up?"
Before my eyes: white legs, slim thighs, and the pure white panties at their apex.
"Y-You can't take it out now? They'll confiscate it?"
I raised my hand lightly in front of me, then flicked it upward a bit.
"Huh?"
The spot where I suspected she'd hidden the mana carriage. I chopped down with my hand edge.
The force transferred to the chains binding her legs—clang!!—echoing through the prison.
"Kyahaaaaah—!!!!"
Lehel's scream rang out too, as she flopped like a fish out of water.