Chapter 104 - Railroad Mysterium (1)

By setting, Endinium, the capital of Hargen Province where Archenia Academy was located, was situated quite far north. Thus, its summers were not very hot.

With a month passed since the end of the first semester, it was truly the height of summer, but I wondered if it really felt that hot.

Perhaps it felt even more so, having lived in a place that was an icy hell in winter and a burning hell in summer.

Well, anyway, the day we boarded the Railroad Mysterium was no different.

In fact, standing on the open platform early in the morning, it might have been even cooler than usual.

It wasn't just because of the cold, but thanks to the Knight Robe Regina gave me last time, I was able to maintain a comfortable state.

『Knight Robe - Senior』

Grade: Unique

Durability: 100/100

Defense: 400

Special Properties: Magic Resistance, Lightweight, Small Internal Subspace, Camouflage, Temperature Control

: A protective robe used by knights in actual combat. It is light yet offers excellent defense, and its performance increases exponentially with grade.

The original design was quite elaborate, making me wonder if I could wear it normally, but thanks to the camouflage function, I could change its appearance.

Currently, I was wearing it in the form of a light coat.

"..."

Anyway, I slowly turned my gaze to look at the companions who were coming with me.

"Did I bring too much..."

Yuna seemed to have packed a lot, carrying a bag almost like a suitcase.

"They provide most things inside, you know..."

"Ahahaha..."

In contrast, Elwin and Serene carried only a small handbag each.

I didn't have much luggage either.

"Is it just me who looks awkward again...?"

As Yuna muttered, sweating profusely, I calmly retorted.

"It's the usual scenario for you."

"You bastard...!"

After that, well. It was just our usual bickering.

As we were in the midst of our squabble.

Click-clack.

The gentle sound of shoes approaching from afar.

"It's good to see everyone so healthy this morning."

And as always, Regina's gentle voice, but one that hid a cunning serpent within, reached us.

"Oh, Imperial Princess!"

"..."

In contrast to Yuna's lively greeting, I quietly bowed my head.

Seeing such a reaction, it seemed that the distance between her and the Imperial Princess had lessened more than expected over the semester.

In the original story, she was easygoing if anything, not a scaredy-cat.

"Oh, I thought you'd be intimidated... but you're quite lively."

"Intimidated?"

As Regina said that to Yuna, I interjected.

"Most of the passengers on the Railroad Mysterium are high-ranking nobles, you see. I mentioned it last time, I believe?"

"Oh, um..."

Upon hearing my words, Yuna's speech, sure enough, became less frequent than before.

"Did you just forget..."

Sigh.

Anyway, the platform was generally quiet. Besides us, there were only about two other groups.

It was a natural thing. The Railroad Mysterium was not designed to carry many people, and people boarded from various parts of the continent.

After a short while, a blue light became visible through the misty early morning platform.

Unlike a typical train's arrival, there were no precursors like massive noise or loud vibrations.

A relatively low decibel sound, and a blue headlight rapidly approaching the platform.

"It's here."

As Elwin said, only those signs announced the approach of the train—the Railroad Mysterium.

Chiiiiiik-

Then, with a sound like steam escaping... the Railroad Mysterium pulled to a stop before us, revealing itself.

I slowly looked at the train that had stopped at the platform.

Its body was made of dark reddish-brown metal without a shine, and brass-colored pipes occasionally wrapped around the train were visible.

Overall, it had an antique and imposing design.

"This is... the Railroad Mysterium."

As I murmured, Regina stood beside me and subtly asked.

"What's your impression?"

"...Indeed, it's beautiful."

There was no lie in that statement. Even when I lived my original life, I occasionally rode trains, but I had naturally never seen a train with this kind of design.

The body seemed to emphasize artistry more than practicality.

It might be inefficient, but that didn't mean it had poor performance.

And with a smile curving her lips at my answer, Regina boarded the train with her attendants.

We, too, boarded the Railroad Mysterium.

As the train's target demographic was mostly high-ranking individuals, it was natural that the interior design was so extravagant it was tiresome to even describe.

"Oh..."

Yuna openly exclaimed her wonder, and though my expression didn't change much, I was inwardly amazed as I observed.

Conversely, Serene, Elwin, and Regina were all accustomed to it, having been here before, so they behaved as usual.

"Then, I will guide you to your cabins."

We slowly walked down the corridor following the guide.

The Railroad Mysterium's body was relatively long for its passenger capacity, the reason being that a significant portion of the cars was designed for private rooms.

Well, our group, having boarded with the Imperial Princess' guarantee and invitation, also stayed in private rooms.

"Ohhh, a private room...!"

Upon receiving such guidance, Yuna spoke, her voice somewhat raised.

"Are you pleased?"

"Of course I am, the dormitory was a quadruple room."

At Yuna's retort, I shrugged.

"If you maintain this pace next semester, you can come to Aurora Hall in your second year."

"Hmm, hmph..."

She was such an affectionate person that even if she could come to Aurora Hall, she would probably stay in Nova Hall out of attachment.

Anyway, we each went into our rooms to unpack.

My adjacent rooms were Elwin's and Yuna's, respectively. From Yuna's room, I heard a sound of someone jumping onto something soft... and various noises expressing excitement.

'I'll prank her later.'

I've been enjoying it lately.

***

Unlike the simply excited Yuna, my heart was not at ease.

The reason was simple. I hadn't come here just for fun in the first place.

Consider the reason we came here. Wasn't it because of intelligence that Kirios il Enlight and Robelia il Enlight had secretly headed to the Railroad Mysterium?

I had to expose their schemes here.

Honestly, it would have been good if Regina's intelligence network could solve it, but generally, information about the Railroad Mysterium was not disclosed to the public as a matter of principle.

Proxies couldn't attend, so if one wanted information, one had to move personally.

'I won't be able to relax.'

The second unsettling reason was... well, frankly, Robelia il Enlight was a major factor.

Think about my encounter with Robelia last time. I was mentally overwhelmed just by running into her; if she deliberately tried to pressure me, I honestly wasn't confident I could withstand it.

-Please, won't you answer me?

-The moment those words left Robelia's lips-

-[ System : Skill, 『Iron Will[A]』 mitigates the effects of mental attack! ]

The fact that 『Iron Will』 activated at Robelia's words back then was also disturbing.

"Haa..."

Not encountering her was the best scenario. Just being aware that she was on the same train made me gasp for air like this... it seemed I had a terrible karmic tie with the original Rain.

Even though she herself was unusually friendly, to the point of feeling unnatural.

Anyway, after boarding, we had free time.

In fact, as there were no group schedules, all actions were free.

I went out to the lounge. I had a purpose.

There were quite a few people in the lounge. It was striking that they were almost certainly all high-ranking nobles or powerful individuals.

Should I say it was fortunate or unfortunate? I didn't see any familiar faces.

'If there were positive figures, it would have been good to make their acquaintance here.'

Well, I should consider it fortunate that there were no antagonists.

...

Unlike the Academy, there weren't overt whispers directed at me, but I could feel various gazes fixed on me.

It was a familiar feeling. I had received many such gazes at Archenia Academy.

'Is Rain Enlight more famous than I thought?'

At the Academy, since I was enrolled there, it made sense for my face to be known, but do even ordinary nobles recognize my face?

I thought that and glanced at the mirror.

"Hmm..."

Jet-black hair, deep dark circles under my eyes, eyes devoid of vitality, eyes not fully open due to the effects of chronic fatigue.

And encompassing all these elements, a strangely haggard impression.

...It was certainly a face that would stick in one's mind.

Having been in the spotlight lately for various reasons, my face must have become more recognized.

Anyway. I sat at a table in the lounge, drank tea, and opened a brochure.

It was a catalog of artifacts to be put up for auction.

'Among the things I can do now, this is the most productive.'

Primarily, I did have a mind to shop. I had diligently saved money to buy one or two useful artifacts.

But more importantly, it was to understand the schemes of Robelia and Kirios, and by extension, Claudio and Ad Astra.

Why on earth had they come to the Railroad Mysterium? And so quietly?

It was rational to assume it was to acquire certain artifacts to hand over to the Crown Prince's side.

After all, the Duchy of Enlight was extremely pro-Crown Prince's Faction, and Robelia was even the Crown Princess-to-be.

'I thought they didn't appear much in the original story, but they were moving behind the scenes like this?'

Well, whatever. Hoping there would be clues in this catalog, I slowly opened it and began to read.

And.

"...Hoo."

It wasn't too difficult to guess their intentions with just one read-through.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.