The Iron Horse Runs
People were swarming like clouds around the Kara Station under construction outside Kara Castle's walls. Today was the demonstration of the magic-powered iron horse, so everyone had come to see the spectacle. It was just a short 5km stretch, but public interest was scorching hot.
A huge number of Kara citizens had gathered to witness this historic moment, and delegations had arrived from most nations across the Prossia Continent.
The group showing the most interest was the Magic Association, made up of the four great magic towers. They operated portal towers, so they couldn't help but eye this new invention—the magic-powered iron horse system—with keen attention.
Portal towers charged 2 to 4 gold leaves per trip, but the magic-powered iron horse from Kara to Mursella cost only 240 silver leaves for first class, 128 for second class, and 64 for third class.
Though the iron horse took longer than instant portal travel, it could deal a massive blow to portal tower business. The price difference was insurmountable. Honestly, covering a week's journey in half a day meant no one but wealthy nobles would bother paying hundreds of times more for portals.
I glanced sideways at Hubeo, who had shown up at my office.
"Ah, so that's why you're here as their rep?"
Hubeo scratched his head sheepishly.
"Yeah. Great-grandpa was supposed to come, but... there were some issues."
"What?"
"Sage Sam asked a favor of him."
"Of Duke Pereiro? Then why'd they send you?"
"It'd bruise his pride. Even if it's a favor, it'd feel like an order to him. It's a touchy subject, hard to bring up. Luckily, since you know me, they sent me as proxy."
I subtly eyed the two women sitting across from him. Erisa and Izel.
"But why'd you bring them? It's summer break now, right?"
"That's why they could tag along for the field trip. Izel's in the magic department."
"And Erisa? She's in strategic tactics at Jan Academy."
"She said she wanted to see how much the magic-powered iron horse boosts national competitiveness."
Nothing weird about that, so I let it slide.
The biggest factor in war is national power. Anyone studying strategy and tactics had to know how boosting it affects warfare.
True to the commander who'd one day defeat me, she'd nailed the essence of war from my offhand remark and was putting it into practice.
"Smart girl."
Erisa flushed red at my praise and shot to her feet, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, Master."
I gave her a puzzled look.
"Master? Since when am I your master?"
"Anyone who teaches is a master."
"Is that so? Well, yeah."
I nodded and held out my hand. Hubeo glanced at my empty palm.
"What?"
"Consultation fee. Ninety gold leaves for three people, plus twelve for meals and travel. Total: 102 gold leaves."
Hubeo frowned slightly.
"Dude, isn't that too much between us?"
"Then just follow the tour guides like everyone else. What I explain is totally different from their scripted spiel—mine has real expert insights. Take it or leave it. I'm only charging you pocket change 'cause it's you. Anyone else, I'd kick 'em out."
Erisa promptly dumped gold coins from her subspatial pouch. Way more than I'd asked.
"This enough?"
True to her Lupert Grand Duke lineage, she spent freely to broaden her horizons.
I pocketed the coins.
"Yeah, perfect. Alright, follow me."
"Yes."
Once I'd collected my pay and stepped outside, they all trailed after me.
Exiting Kara Castle's west gate, we hit the festival-like demo grounds. The path to the half-built station overflowed with crowds, and Kara soldiers patrolled heavily, preparing for the queen's procession.
They showed me deep respect with every salute as I passed.
"My lord husband. Have you come out?"
"Yeah. Keep up the good work."
"It's nothing, just doing our duty."
"Good. Keep at it."
"Yes, sir."
As a squad saluted and moved on, Erisa asked awkwardly,
"Master, are you married to Kara's queen?"
"Nah."
"Planning to?"
"Dunno. Not thinking about marriage right now."
"Then why do they call you 'lord husband'?"
"No better term fits. They can't just yell 'hey you' or 'over there.' I owe 'em big—most rose from commoners to nobility thanks to me."
"Ah... I see."
We soon reached the demo grounds, where a massive magic-powered iron horse loomed before the VIP seats. Hubeo gawked and yelped,
"Dude, that thing actually moves?"
"Of course it does. Tests are done. With delegations from everywhere and Queen Padilla watching, it'd be chaos if it didn't."
"How does something that huge even budge?"
I crossed the barrier and approached the iron horse, thumping its body as I explained.
"All the essence's mana focuses solely on linear motion. Super efficient, and these shiny rails minimize friction."
"Cool. So anyone could make one? Simple magic formula, just build the horse and rails."
"Nope, only we can."
"Why?"
"Trade secret. The design incorporates gravity and motion principles. Every structure and part maximizes efficiency under that philosophy. Slap it together wrong, and it won't move."
Hubeo stroked the body.
"So if it's not built to your specs, it flat-out won't go?"
"Stuff it with essence for more power, maybe force it. But no economy, constant breakdowns. Pointless."
"Huh."
"Doubt me? Try building one. Don't blame me for the mess."
"Mm. Can't copy it easy, got it?"
"Yep."
I eyed Hubeo slyly.
The Magic Association was the world's second-richest group. Dues from rich mages funded portal towers, magic comms, and more.
Winning them over meant big bucks for me—and laying iron horse lines across Prossia wasn't a pipe dream. Humanity would hit a game-changer against the apocalypse.
Plus, Hubeo's great-grandpa, Duke Pereiro, was Yosrahim's magic minister. Huge leverage there.
"So, what's the upside of iron horse lines?"
"Mass troop transport. This pulls seven cars—420 in second class alone. Cram in standees, even more."
That meant nearly 3 gold leaves profit per one-way Kara-Mursella run at second-class rates.
"Not huge. Ops costs eat into it, right?"
"Yep."
"Why not charge more?"
I waved him off.
"Can't."
"Why?"
"Iron horse system's not just for fares."
"Then?"
"Not just people. Cargo and goods too."
"Meaning?"
"Rails link Kara and Mursella—no more camels for bulk resources and trade goods. Fast transport means booming commerce."
Hubeo's eyes lit up.
"Extra freight revenue, skyrocketing taxes from trade boom?"
"Exactly. Plus, slashes food waste in transport—no feed for draft animals."
"Ah, food prices drop. Long-term population boom."
Top-student style—he nailed my point fast.
No transport food loss means more for people, population growth. Cheaper urban food improves lives.
"Yeah. Cheap, fast travel boosts tourism, cuts inter-city commute time for higher productivity."
"Overall, essential infrastructure for national growth."
"Right. And survival."
"Survival how?"
"It's a logistics superweapon. Near cheat-level."
Erisa jumped in.
"How's this a weapon?"
I pondered an example.
"Say Bastain sends 150,000 troops to hit us like Robros did."
"Yes."
"They hit Braam Fortress first—Kara's western frontline chokepoint."
"Right. Robros took it first in the last war."
"Sharp. But Braam's got only thousands now. No defense."
"Yes, 30-to-1 odds."
I pointed at the iron horse.
"But this closes the gap."
"How?"
"Bastain expedition? We spot it six days early via Polkin Gate scouts."
"Yes."
"Word reaches Kara in five days."
"Yes."
"Then we ship troops and supplies from whole kingdom to Braam via iron horse. Tens of thousands in five days—no march fatigue."
Erisa paled.
She knew strategy: mobilizing from prep to front takes a month normally. Rail nations? Days to border.
Huge survival edge. Attacker with rails ravages undefended land for a month. Defender arrives late—if the rally point isn't taken.
"I-impossible..."
"But it's here. Rail-less nations perish in harsh geopolitics; rail nations expand and thrive. Rails = survival. Who controls them wields massive influence."
Hubeo gulped dryly as I eyed him.
Meaning: Magic Association rails across Prossia = power over all nations.
Not profit—pure power.
Then, rustling from under the iron horse. Someone was there.
Bending down, I spotted a glint. It was Fabius Duke, Bastain's founding hero.
"Hey, gramps. Why're you under there?"
Flustered, Fabius poked a hole under the chassis.
"Ah, just curious about this hole."
"That's the toilet waste chute. A duke fiddling with a shitter? Gross—don't touch. Come out."
He jerked away, banging his protruding gut. Rubbing his flushed head, he crawled out.
"Baekmyeon. Why build something so filthy?"
"Long trips need shitting. Duh."
Fabius coughed awkwardly.
"Ahem."
I eyed him oddly.
"What brings you here, gramps?"
"Heard Kara had something big. Came with the delegation."
"You got no life. Chasing minor events?"
He smacked his lips.
"Check on Seongyu too. Hope he's good. Ahem."
"Then tail the orc dude. Why crawl under here? Your folks baffle me."
"Came to see you at the event. But the car's too long—hard to circle back. Needs fixing."
Fix what? Passenger and cargo cars made it long. Shorten it, lose capacity.
"That's your advice?"
"Take it or leave it."
He thumped the body.
"So this is the thing, huh?"
"What now?"
He scanned me up and down.
"Sleazy punk. Think Bastain falls easy?"
I winced.
"No plans to attack. We have a 10-year non-aggression pact."
"10 years almost up."
"Renew it. Plus, you got Polkin Gate."
"Right. The gate you once took."
"Old Robros king spilled the back route."
"He denied it till execution."
"Don't buy that crap. Just begging to live."
"Anyway."
"Argh!"
Fabius shook his head.
"Dangerous. Dangerous. Knew it."
"Stay home then. Build to your Polkin Gate."
His eyes gleamed.
"Selling these?"
"Obviously."
"Oh? Got it. I'll tell His Majesty—sending buyers. No funny business then?"
"Won't. Relax."
"Good. Meet at the carriage later. My treat."
"Whatever."
Fabius waved, relieved, and left.
I sighed watching him go. I'd strong-armed sales before, but never been half-forced like this. Lived short, but seen it all.
After, I boarded the iron horse with Hubeo and the students. Long trip for a tour—might as well ride.