NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34
Ironically, the modes of transportation in a fantasy world are quite similar to the modern day.
Railway, vehicles, and ships.
Aside from the fact that they operate on magic power instead of fossil fuels like coal or oil, it’s hard to find any significant differences from modern transportation.
“Is there no airplane?”
On the train station platform, as horns blared and soldiers on duty boarded, Camila Lowell asked.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a machine that flies in the sky….”
In this fundamentally silly pseudo-Cold War-fantasy world, airplanes do not exist.
If you ask why, as a complete nerd with no magic and two liberal arts degrees, I have nothing to say. I should be asking the science majors or the magic students.
“The common means of transportation are only railroads, vehicles, and ships.”
Camila Lowell tilted her head in confusion.
“But there are carriages, too?”
“Those are for important ceremonies; they have a certain flair to them.”
“Oh.”
It’s a world lacking in romanticism, but it still has its charm.
It belongs to the realm of diplomacy and ceremonial prestige. That’s why the cult always provided Camila Lowell with a carriage. Because it looks good.
However, this isn’t the time to be worrying about appearances.
“We need to hurry now, so we should take the train.”
“Um….”
Camila Lowell spoke in a worried tone.
“Won’t it take too long? I’ve heard it’s quite dangerous….”
“Yes, since we have to cross the No Man’s Land, it is indeed dangerous.”
No Man’s Land.
A realm where vagrants and monsters run rampant.
This isn’t a nice place for people to live, so moving overland presents numerous issues.
So, when we came to the cult, we used the safest mode of transportation: ships.
“If we want to go safely and quickly, we must take a ship. But you might get seasick; are you okay with that?”
But Camila Lowell does get seasick.
Perhaps recalling the shame of having vomited, her face turned pale.
“Ah, no. Let’s just take the train.”
“You made a good choice.”
Episode 3 – A Fantastic Vacation
The inside of the train was quite lavish.
“Wow….”
A gasp escaped Camila Lowell’s lips.
“Isn’t this, like, all funded by our taxes?”
“Oh, for real….”
The subordinates, struggling with their meager salaries, let out a curse. Indeed, this train was built with the taxpayers’ money.
For reference, this is a luxury compartment for VIPs.
“This is what nobles get; it should be decent enough.”
“Wow, Colonel, being a noble is pretty nice….”
“Yep. Just a local baron.”
If I were originally from a wealthy or powerful family, I wouldn’t be a soldier. I joined due to patriotism in my past life, but now I don’t have much patriotism left.
“By the way, you all have a week off.”
“Huh?”
“Just do it if I say so. A week off.”
“Wow-!”
Pippin and Jake hopped around joyfully.
A full week off, mind you.
These days, even getting just three nights is a blessing, but a week? That’s like making a pilgrimage towards Headquarters.
Pippin and Jake were bouncing around as if they were about to start tap dancing, while Camila Lowell gasped in awe at each and every ornament’s design.
“Camila Lowell, we’ll be departing soon, so please take your seat.”
“Yes.”
“You all sit down.”
“Yes.”
For the record, we have rented this entire train. Due to safety concerns and for appearances, the kingdom sent it all over.
Pippin and Jake took one seat each and sprawled out, and Camila Lowell….
“I’ll sit here.”
“….”
She sat right in front of me.
“…Is it okay if I sit here?”
You’ve already sat down, haven’t you?
“Ah, well… sit as you please….”
*
Even though she is my colleague, there wasn’t much of a friendship to speak of.
In the first place, I was too busy to get close to her. When you don’t know when a terror attack may occur, there’s no time for chit-chat.
So, Camila Lowell and I would be better described as a manager and bodyguard rather than colleagues.
“Hehe….”
“….”
She smiled while looking out the window at the landscape.
I wanted to relax, but having her sitting in front made it slightly uncomfortable. Still, I couldn’t say anything while she was beaming at me.
Not being able to sleep and feeling the awkward silence, I decided to break the ice first.
“What’s so fascinating?”
“It’s my first time riding a train.”
“You’ve never ridden one?”
“I don’t really enjoy traveling….”
“It can be a bit bothersome, yes. There are many things to worry about.”
I recalled the time I went to the valley with friends without checking the weather forecast and got caught in a downpour. The one who suggested going was with us too.
But how can someone who doesn’t like traveling never take a train?
“This train moves with magic power, right?”
“Yes. So the engineers are people who majored in magic.”
“Magicians?”
“Something like that.”
Magic power compatibility varies from person to person. Whether one can use magic or not is secondary; what’s crucial is how much they can handle.
People labeled as magicians must have a compatibility above a certain level.
“Those who can wield magic but have low compatibility are unable to use proper spells.”
“Oh.”
“They usually end up working in research or industry-related fields.”
In this sense, magic is certainly convenient. If one can use magic, it alleviates concerns about career paths. It’s basically a cheat version of life.
Camila Lowell looked at her palm.
“Is this power I wield also considered magic?”
“I suspect it’s magic.”
Given that heroes are such rare specimens, research on them is still underdeveloped, and it’s hard to define it.
Some say it’s magic, some say it’s a divine gift, while others call it a supernatural power.
The origins of magic remain unclear, so how can we analyze the powers of people who came from another world?
Thus, we decided to head towards a more scientific direction.
“We’re going to conduct tests on your abilities, Camila Lowell.”
“Tests?”
“We need to find out why you faint. While you’re staying at the hotel, we’re planning to conduct detailed examinations.”
“Ah….”
She briefly loses consciousness whenever she uses her abilities.
Why that happens, I don’t know. It’s just guesswork.
“I don’t remember much.”
Before and after losing consciousness, there is a gap in her memory. She knows by now that she can control flames, but she has no idea why she faints.
It’s confidential, but even at the royal palace, she fainted while using her abilities.
That’s why she didn’t know what her powers were.
“Um… you don’t need to worry too much.”
“Yes?”
“The researchers are more capable than you think; they’ll uncover the cause quickly.”
I refrained from mentioning that they could just take her to the Magic Tower for tests.
“Don’t worry.”
“…Yes.”
*
During the several hours on the train, a multitude of episodes unfolded.
“Ugh….”
“W-What on earth are you eating?”
“Jelly!”
Eating squirmy worm jelly, which I had never seen before.
“Colonel.”
“Yes.”
“What are those running animals?”
“….”
“Colonel?”
“They look like wild animals, I guess.”
She seemed to find it fascinating that a monster running to catch up with the train was a wild animal.
“Is it not okay to ride a broomstick anywhere?”
In this place, the common sense is lacking, and she asked an obvious question.
“Flight magic is not allowed in the city.”
“Why?”
“Due to privacy invasion and safety issues.”
Looking puzzled, Camila Lowell tilted her head.
“Imagine if a magician catches sight of you while you’re changing clothes.”
“Ah….”
In the countryside or during travel, flying is fine. However, flying within a city is a huge problem.
You might crash through someone’s window after having a few drinks; you might drop something and cause injury to someone’s head; or fly over confidential sites.
There was even a madman who peeked into someone’s bedroom. There are indeed many lunatics in the world.
“You need a license to ride a broom.”
“A license?”
“Occasionally, young friends recklessly ride broomsticks and cause accidents.”
“Oh… driving license.”
In the past, people with high magic compatibility were invariably given magic training.
During that time, many wizards lacked social skills and knowledge in other academic fields.
They would spy on couples’ privacy, casually use magic on passersby, or even get into high-speed chases with the police while riding broomsticks.
After such incidents, systems like mandatory military service for magicians and compulsory education were hastily introduced.
“There are still plenty of such people around.”
“What do you mean?”
“Sometimes you see people racing on broomsticks in cities.”
It’s basically an Isekai version of pole position racing.
On those days, all police and military police are on high alert.
In the past, it was a death sentence, but now it’s just a way to reduce sentences with a snap of fingers.
By the way, why did she suddenly ask about magic? Does she have any interest in it?
“Hmm….”
Camila Lowell stared at the flames swirling in her palm, observing curiously.
She poked at it with her fingers, gently shook it, even took a whiff….
“Why are you sniffing it?”
“Just curious if I can smell burnt magic.”
“What exactly has to burn for you to smell it?”
She blinked in awe at the rising flames.
“Now that you mention it, I guess you’re right?”
“For goodness’ sake….”
Camila Lowell chuckled softly.
“I must look foolish, huh?”
“Humans are naturally curious creatures, after all.”
*
Camila Lowell, Pippin, and Jake fell asleep.
They ate, drank, and played until they were exhausted.
I took out a few blankets to cover them and waved to the magicians who had been waiting outside. They were the ones tasked with guarding the train and the hero.
Before I knew it, Camila Lowell had curled up under her blanket like a caterpillar.
After straightening her out, I gazed out the window.
The distant horizon was adorned with a beautiful sunset.
Stars began to peek out shyly.
Below, a few monsters roamed the vast prairie.
Occasionally, I caught a glimpse of something shining far off, likely someone fighting in the No Man’s Land.
Some live there, while others perish there.
To cross borders, seek a better fate, escape from prison, fear the civil war, dislike an oppressive life, or dread epidemics.
Everyone has different reasons, but it’s an undeniable fact that all head towards No Man’s Land to survive.
That’s just how the world is.
“…Colonel.”
At that moment, one of the magicians in charge of the escort approached me.
“We’ve crossed the border. We are expected to arrive in the capital in three hours.”
It seems we have entered a safe area now.
“Thank you.”
“Please relax.”
The magician quietly departed, and I turned my gaze back to the window.
The border towns and cities shone brilliantly, blurring the line between heaven and earth.
“…We’ve arrived.”
As I pulled up the blanket and gently closed my eyes.
Alright.
Now I can finally get some sleep.
– Ding!
Ah, shoot.
Who the heck is calling me at this hour?
Checking the screen, an unknown number appeared.
Who could it be?
“…Hello?”
-‘This is not a call for you, isn’t it?’
“….”
-‘Hey, why didn’t you pick up?’
What a crazy person.