Chapter 6
Chapter 6
The world changes. And people change as well.
For a very long time, the classes that ruled society slowly lost their power.
For example, Porca, home to the Porca Academy, was a democratic city-state. There was no king, and power was shared equally.
But the Empire was the exact opposite. The hierarchy between classes was clear and strict.
Commoners could not dare sit at the same table as nobles. The authority of the nobility was absolute.
At the very top was the Emperor, as expected for a society that placed the highest value on hierarchy.
Felix was a noble.
Even if he was a minor noble from the countryside, a noble was still a noble—a person of blue blood passed down through generations.
But above even the noble was someone even more noble.
“…P-Prince Moretti.”
The Moretti family, a renowned magical lineage. They were also a house located on the fringes of the Empire, but the meaning of “fringe” here was different from Felix’s.
Where Felix’s family had been pushed out, forced to move to the periphery, the Moretti had chosen to remain there on their own terms.
A great house that even the Emperor could not touch.
The gray rose symbolized the power of this great family.
“I-I apologize.”
Felix bowed deeply.
The arrogance he had shown just moments ago was completely gone.
“Why are you apologizing to me?”
I gestured toward the Filrn siblings. He should apologize to them. Felix immediately turned and bowed again to the siblings.
“…I apologize.”
“That’s fine. Let’s get along from now on?”
Tiana accepted his apology with a smile.
But Felix seemed to take it as an insult and left the sixth car, followed by his attendants.
“He’s gone.”
“Um, thank you… for helping us.”
Tiana bowed to me. Tybin followed suit, imitating his sister.
I observed them carefully. Bright hair like a golden wheat field in autumn, lively green eyes—these were the main characters of the many events that lay ahead.
Seeing them in person, rather than just in the game, felt strangely emotional.
“I’m Tiana Filrn. This is my younger brother, Tybin Filrn!”
“Matios Vinna Moretti.”
“Even your name sounds noble.”
“It’s just a name.”
“Oh… then…”
Tiana rummaged through her bag and pulled out a steaming potato.
Suddenly?
“I don’t have much, but are you hungry? It’s really good!”
She offered the potato to me. I accepted it without hesitation—it’s polite to accept a gift.
The people around seemed shocked. Apparently, it was surprising that a high-ranking noble accepted a simple potato.
“If you want, sit next to us. There’s salt too.”
“Can I?”
“There’s no other space anyway. Tybin, okay?”
“I’m fine with it.”
I sat next to Tybin and blew on the potato Tiana gave me, dipping it in salt before taking a bite.
Chew…
‘Delicious…’
I had a refined palate, accustomed to noble cuisine, yet even I found it tasty.
The hunger didn’t hurt either. Though meals were served on the train, I hadn’t eaten alone with my sister, so I hadn’t touched anything.
I devoured the potato mindlessly. Tiana kindly offered me water.
“Drink, you must be thirsty.”
Perfect timing. I drank from my own canteen, careful not to use someone else’s.
“Mmm… delicious.”
“Do you want more?”
“No, you should eat too.”
“Eh, but your stomach comes first, noble sir.”
“Really, it’s fine. I’m full anyway.”
It wasn’t a lie. I had a small stomach, and just a few bites of potato made me feel full.
“Then I’ll eat it.”
Tybin snatched the potato from my hand and chewed silently.
“You already ate before.”
“But I’m hungry.”
“You pig.”
“You eat more than me too. You’re even more of a pig.”
“Why…! And why are you speaking formally?”
Tiana, about to hit Tybin’s back, adjusted herself with a cough, aware of me.
“We’re commoners. Just speak casually.”
“Then I’ll speak casually. You too, speak freely.”
I immediately dropped formal speech. I had only used it out of courtesy, and it had been uncomfortable.
“Shall we?”
When Tybin spoke casually,
“What do you mean, ‘shall we’?”
Tiana poked Tybin’s side with her fist. Tybin glared at his sister while coughing.
“Is the noble your friend? Apologize!”
“I said it’s fine to speak casually, sis.”
I smiled at the worried Tiana.
“I’m really fine. After all, we’ll be classmates at the academy.”
“…Ugh.”
“I think you’re older than me. Right?”
“Yes, but….”
Tiana, glancing around, finally gave up and shouted.
“I don’t care! Fine! Let’s get along, Marty.”
She relaxed into the seat, and Tybin chewed his potato, asking,
“Hey, Matios, are you really a noble?”
“Why, you don’t believe me?”
“I’m just curious. You don’t seem like the nobles I know.”
“What kind of nobles do you know?”
“Like that guy earlier.”
“Felix?”
“Yeah. But… Matios seems different from that kind of noble.”
“Not really, I’m similar.”
“Even saying that is different. Isn’t it, sis?”
Tiana replied while sipping tea.
“That’s right. Matios is different. Generally kind and caring!”
I scratched my head.
‘Good, looks like I made a good impression.’
In the original story, Tiana’s words humiliate Felix, who gets angry and attacks, only to be subdued by Tybin. This scene acts as a tutorial, showing the personalities of the main siblings.
It’s good for players to build rapport with the main characters beforehand. I had to get to the academy, but I also felt personal fondness for them. How could anyone dislike kids like this?
‘…Couldn’t find the top student or that guy.’
The top student was in the last car, and ‘that guy’ could appear randomly, maybe in the sixth car. I wanted to check, but unfortunately didn’t.
“Matios, want some star candies for dessert?”
“Sure, sis.”
Tiana carefully placed the star candies on my palm. I chewed, the sweetness bursting in my mouth.
“Hehe, tasty?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
She looked relieved, then rummaged in her pocket again.
“Want more?”
“Are there more?”
“Lots.”
She smiled as she pulled out candy after candy—star candies, bear-shaped gummies, colorful sweets—each offered like treasures.
“The city is full of fascinating things!”
She shook a bear gummy with a laugh.
“This one was cute, and there’s also fried potato snacks. Really good.”
Her green eyes sparkled with every candy. Seeing her, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
‘Totally different from my sister.’
I was slightly jealous of Tybin. I wished my sister could be as kind as Tiana.
“Hey, look!”
Tiana’s eyes widened like a child, pointing out the window.
“Must have crossed the mountains. Look at the cliffs! So beautiful…”
“Cliffs? We crossed the mountains?”
Damn it.
I jumped up and pressed against the window beside Tiana. Our shoulders bumped. I felt her warmth. My breathing shallowed. She clasped her hands to her chest for no reason.
“Why, why are you like this, Marty?”
“That’s—”
Zzzt!!
A chilling screech tore through the train roof. A beast’s hand burst through, tearing it open.
The roof split apart, the train car becoming an open-air car.
Wind poured in. Hair flew. Dust and paper swirled.
Sky revealed—so clear, so light.
Thud!
Something fell. The floor shook. People held their breath.
The horse didn’t move. Eyes blinked.
A giant rose. Human waist, lion chest. Muscles intertwined like armor, mane matted with dried blood.
“Grrr.”
A low, deep roar shook hearts. The lionman glanced at the terrified students, grinning with bared teeth.
A heavy axe in his hand, stained with dried blood.
“Don’t complain, just die.”
He swung horizontally with both hands, ready to slaughter the students.
At that moment, Tybin drew his sword, rushing forward to block the blow.
Clang!
Axe and sword clashed, shaking the car.
The lionman’s strike sent Tybin flying into the ceiling before he fell. If not for him, several students would have died.
“Tybin!”
Tiana shrieked, clutching her cross.
A bright light erupted, slicing at the lionman.
Pffft!
Blood sprayed in all directions. Not insignificant, but still…
“Ha ha, holy magic? Ticklish, ticklish!”
The lionman mocked, lowering his arm. Multiple cuts adorned his body, but only the leather was scratched; muscles unharmed.
He lightly shook his arms, cuts healed instantly. Then grabbed Tiana by the neck with clean arms.
“Sis!”
Tybin rushed in again, but the lionman’s arms swept him away like a fly. Tybin hit the window frame.
“You…!!”
Tiana tried holy magic again, but the light dispersed.
The lionman tilted his head, grinning wickedly.
“Interesting. You die after some fun…”
Bang!
Gunpowder exploded. A shot hit the lionman’s eye.
“Ah!!”
He screamed, closing his eye. Tiana rolled to the floor.
“You! Shorty!”
The lionman glared at the boy holding the smoking pistol—Matios.
‘…Should’ve gone back sooner, delayed too long.’
I dropped the pistol and gathered mana. No time to reload leisurely.
Beastman Leopold. A lieutenant of the Black Oath, all stats above 100. Naturally, the Filrn siblings couldn’t defeat him.
The protagonist had no way to defeat him—it wasn’t meant to be.
‘Just survive until the swordmaster arrives.’
I shot magic: Water Arrow. A water arrow struck Leopold’s face, soaking him.
He wiped his face, revealing a monstrous visage again.
“I’ll tear you limb by limb.”
“….”
He seemed truly provoked, and threw a punch.
“Dodge, Marty!”
Wham!!
My chest caved in. Air rushed out. My body flew, hitting the door. Vision whitened.
I fell to the floor.
“Ugh…”
Blood poured from my mouth. Chest burning.
Leopold walked slowly. Tiana’s holy magic shattered under his axe. Students ran in terror.
He ignored the fleeing students, focusing solely on me.
Then—
Squeak.
A door opened behind me. I turned slightly late.
My sister stood there.
“….”
“….”
No words. She just stared at me, breathing fast.
Her gray eyes trembled slightly.
Was she shocked, or understanding the situation? Hard to tell.
Her wide eyes slowly, very slowly, moved from me to Leopold in the center of the train.
Crackle…
Gray lightning surged.