Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Train and Mage (1)
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“Subspace magic... isn't it just so appealing?”
Raymond, the department head, had come bearing a truly powerful card.
A private room all to myself. A mobile bedroom.
This was... a revolution.
“...Could I hear more details about that?”
“Heh heh. I happened to be looking through the catalog for the Mage Tower's regular auction, and there's an ancient grimoire called the 'Book of Minor Dimensions' up for bid.”
The department head continued with a relaxed smile.
“It's a tome containing the essence of spatial magic. With your talent, Miss Lunaris, just reading it should give you the key to constructing a subspace.”
“But that thing's probably insanely expensive.”
Being at auction meant I couldn't even guess the price.
“Don't worry about it!”
But the department head thumped his chest, telling me not to sweat it.
“Just come to the Mage Tower with me, and I'll gift you that book!”
“...”
I quickly ran the numbers in my head.
Leaving my sweet dorm room for the Mage Tower was a hassle, but... when I factored in all the little perks, it was definitely a net gain.
“Hmm... well, I've been cooped up in my room and it's gotten a bit boring anyway.”
I stretched languidly and stood up.
“Might as well step out for some fresh air.”
“Signs point to a new archmage being born in the Belhart Empire.”
In a dimly lit secret chamber where candle flames flickered faintly.
A matter-of-fact voice settled over the continental map spread across the table.
“...Is this confirmed?”
A cracked, elderly voice prompted a shadowy figure melded into the darkness to bow its head.
“It's word from the 'eye' we've planted inside Elterion Academy.”
“Hmm...”
“Since Archmage Raymond Cloud has unofficially acknowledged it, it seems reliable.”
“Well, that old fox may exaggerate, but he never outright lies...”
The weight of the title 'archmage' on this continent was never light.
It wasn't just given to someone who handled magic better than others.
Beings who could face armies alone, reshape terrain, and even defy the laws of the heavens.
Walking natural disasters in human form.
That was what an archmage was.
“This is a serious issue.”
The old man stroked the name 'Belhart Empire' etched on the map with his wrinkled hand.
The empire's might was proven by territories so vast they couldn't be covered by an outstretched hand on the map.
An empire already gripping continental hegemony.
If an uncontrollable power was added to that...
“The balance of the continent might collapse.”
Which also meant their own place in the world could vanish.
“Have you identified the one ascending to archmage? Who is it?”
“...You may find it hard to believe.”
The man in the shadows paused before speaking with difficulty.
“It's a first-year student who just enrolled in Elterion Academy this year.”
“...”
The gnarled hand hovering over the map trembled suddenly.
The air in the chamber turned icy in an instant.
“A first-year? Some snot-nosed kid of barely sixteen who broke through the walls of magic?”
“I doubted it at first too, but cross-verification confirmed it's true.”
“Hah...”
The old man let out a hollow laugh.
A laugh mixed with shock and fear.
Academy first-year. Barely mid-teens.
At that young age, already grasping nature's laws and ascending to archmage.
If that child kept growing at this rate?
What kind of monster would they become in 10 years, 20 years?
50 years, 60 years from now...
'We might even witness the end of magic itself.'
And the end of that power would inevitably turn toward everything beyond the empire.
“What's the name?”
“Lunaris Evermoon, a female student in the Maengineering Department.”
“Sounds familiar. I remember that Raymond fellow making a fuss earlier this year about her being an archmage candidate or some such.”
Back then, he'd dismissed it as the usual bluster.
Who knew she'd reach archmage in just one semester.
-Tap, tap.
The old man's index finger drummed slowly on the map.
He looked deep in thought.
“Before the Mage Tower and Belhart formally bestow the title and turn that brat into their empire's vanguard... we need to make a move.”
Suddenly, blood-red eyes gleamed in the darkness.
“Have you tracked their movements?”
“They'll apparently board the mana train soon for the archmage certification at the Mage Tower.”
“The mana train...”
A low groan escaped the old man's lips.
“What a pity.”
His wrinkled finger traced the rail line connecting the capital to the Mage Tower.
“The road to the Mage Tower is long and perilous. Those mages built their tower atop steep mountains, as if playing at being hermits.”
His voice was as dry as predicting rain today.
But no one present missed the implication.
“Accidents happen frequently on roads like this, don't they?”
“We'll take the 'mana train' all the way to the Mage Tower!”
In the finest carriage heading to the outskirts of the capital.
Raymond, sitting across from me, excitedly recited the travel plans.
“First, we'll ride this carriage to the station, then board the empire's one and only—or rather, the continent's sole—mana train and head straight north to the Mage Tower~”
The department head's eyes sparkled like a kid on their first outing.
“Heh heh... a train journey. It's been ages. There's something unexpectedly romantic about the rattling sounds and watching the scenery flash by outside the window.”
Romantic, my foot.
The views would just be dense mountains, and rattling up the slopes would batter my backside. Nothing but annoyance.
Especially for me, with faint memories from my past life of cramming into hellish rush-hour trains for my commute—the word 'train' sparked zero excitement.
“Yawn...”
At my lukewarm reaction, the department head cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Actually, elder mages like me can go directly via warp gate, but...”
“Then just do that. Why bother with the train? Wasting time.”
“You don't have clearance yet, Miss Lunaris.”
The department head shrugged helplessly.
“I can't just leave you behind and go alone, right?”
“...”
“But don't worry! Once we get there and you receive official archmage recognition, you'll be acknowledged as an elder too, and get your warp gate permit! Oh ho ho ho!”
“Ah... sure...”
I nodded half-heartedly.
No way I'd set foot near the Mage Tower again after this trip anyway. What did it matter?
“B-by the way, Miss Lunaris! You've never heard of the mana train before, right? It's an incredible vehicle embodying the pinnacle of the Mage Tower's maengineering tech!”
When my response stayed tepid, the department head launched into technical bragging.
“Carrying hundreds of people and heavy cargo up treacherous mountain paths—it's mind-boggling how they built it.”
He spoke like it was some grand invention, but to me, it was just a money pit.
The mana train was the epitome of the Mage Tower flaunting their tech and squandering budgets.
I recalled it costing an average barony's monthly budget per run, all vanishing into thin air.
Because it guzzled precious mana stones like firewood. Only the Mage Tower could dream of it.
No other transport was this inefficient. It was just self-indulgent showboating from magic nerds out of touch with the world.
The single route linking the capital and Mage Tower wasn't due to any special tech needs.
...That said.
Trains and terrorism go hand in hand.
In the original story, protagonist Kyle visited the Mage Tower once a year as a mage.
And every time, he boarded the mana train.
Not once did he arrive normally.
Griffon crashing the tracks.
Mana train derailment.
Mysterious group hijacking the train.
And more.
Every episode that came to mind was a total pain.
Of course, the train the department head and I were taking wouldn't have Kyle...
But I still couldn't relax.
“Department head.”
I straightened up and stared him down.
“When was the last 'accident' on the mana train?”
“...Pardon?”
“Derailment, explosion. Or someone attacking the train.”
At my blunt question, Raymond's eyes darted around.
He broke into a cold sweat and averted his gaze.
“Miss Lunaris, you've read too many novels. An imperial facility having such mishaps...”
“Don't dodge the question.”
“...Ahem. Well, since it's classified as a magitech device, minor malfunctions happen occasionally.”
The department head wiped sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, mumbling evasively.
“In the last three years... there haven't been any 'officially' major incidents.”
“But there was one three years ago?”
“No, that wasn't an accident, it was...”
I narrowed my eyes and pressed him.
I never bought claims of accident-free years.
If it were true by some miracle, that was an even bigger problem.
A train with zero incidents until now suddenly having issues the moment I board? That's 'daily life' in academy stories.
“Ah, that's ancient history!”
The department head finally surrendered, raising both hands in defense.
“Fifteen years ago, when the tracks were first laid—sure, there were frequent resistance attacks and monster raids... but now the defense systems are perfect! Really!”
“...”
Yeah, perfect.
Those words from the department head just perfectly raised the flag.
“I want to go back to Linea Hall...”
“Suddenly?!”
In the jostling carriage, I dry-washed my face, sensing the doom ahead.
This trip was doomed to be anything but smooth.