Yuma wasn’t the one shocked by Venosetian’s sudden action; it was the old veteran who had guided him and Cloney to the meeting room.
The old man was a sword expert and the captain of the Halo Guard, tasked with protecting Count Venosetian.
The old man, who never imagined his lord would kneel, hurriedly knelt before Yuma as well.
Yuma, seeing the sudden excessive courtesy from both the elder and the count, spoke up.
“Get up.”
Count Venosetian straightened up, releasing the knees he had bent in respect.
Of course, Yuma didn’t catch the intent behind the gesture.
He just felt a bit pressured.
Yuma nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Count Venosetian.”
Venosetian closely observed Yuma’s words and actions.
‘Is this really a commoner?’
The calmness in his speech.
The dignity that naturally emanated from him was hard to believe it belonged to a mere commoner.
He recalled the mercenary Yumir, who had gone to the First Princess’s palace on his commission, describing him as someone who didn’t seem ordinary.
“Right.”
Yuma casually took a seat in the meeting room and invited Cloney to sit beside him.
Count Venosetian sat opposite Yuma.
The older man stood erect next to him.
“Why did you want to see me, Count Venosetian?”
Yuma wasn’t too curious about how his identity had been discovered. It was obvious the ticket booth employee had reported it up the chain.
“I am here to convey my position as a subject of the Empire to you, my lord Yumir, the representative and sword of Her Highness Princess Brigitte.”
Wait a second.
Wasn’t there something strange in what he just said?
And apparently, Yuma wasn’t the only one bothered by it.
Cloney next to him widened her eyes.
“The sword of Her Highness…?”
Yuma added his comment to Cloney’s astonished remark.
“Is that something the count made up to tease me?”
Count Venosetian shook his head vigorously.
“No! How could I even think of such an impudent act! It is written clearly in the official document that arrived this morning!”
Count Venosetian hurriedly pulled out an envelope from inside his robes and presented it to Yuma.
“Please read it.”
Yuma began to read through the envelope.
[This is Astes von Brigitte, the First Princess of the Astes Empire. I hereby inform all nobles across the Empire.
Today, I have appointed a representative who will act on my behalf, traversing the Empire and foreign lands to carry out my will.
The man who is my representative and my sword shall possess a golden insignia of three swords rising to the sky. Whoever holds this is equal to me and shall be treated with the respect due to a great lineage.]
“Those who possess it shall be treated as equals to me, with the proper respect afforded to great bloodlines.”
‘My sword.’
At that moment, Yuma’s brow subtly furrowed.
“Princess Brigitte, is she reading a romance novel or something?”
If he ever had the chance to visit the First Princess’s Palace again, he thought he might take a look at the bookshelves.
The Venosetian smiled as he returned a document to Yuma.
“Sir Yuma, just after you purchased your ticket, Prince Schwarze called.”
There was no hint of sarcasm in that smile. It looked like a genuine smile, meant to convey sincerity.
“Knowing that wherever you go, you must use our Halo train, he called ahead.”
Yuma remained silent, listening to the Venosetian’s continued remarks.
“I heard from His Highness the Prince that I should report if I found you. However, I have no intention of complying. I brought you here to guide you onto the train via the emergency passage.”
I am moving for your sake.
Yuma thought the Count Venosetian was making every effort to instill such a feeling in him.
“Get to the point.”
Yuma did not like this ambiguous stance. He only wanted a clear conclusion.
“Will you side with Princess Brigitte or not?”
The Venosetian swallowed hard.
What part of this is commoner behavior? To ask for such a definitive answer in front of a nobleman.
On the surface, he intended to maintain neutrality. But those words did not come out.
“…I will support the First Princess.”
It wasn’t out of conviction for Princess Brigitte, but because of Yuma’s strength and aura that he felt compelled to declare his support. He had no confidence that Brigitte could defeat Schwarze. But the man in front of him, Yuma, did not seem like someone who could lose to anyone.
“Convey your support to the princess directly. She’ll be very pleased.”
Yuma said this somewhat indifferently as he stood up.
“Let’s go, Cloney. It’s time to depart.”
“Yes!”
The old man moved with precision.
“I will guide you through the emergency passage. It leads to the VIP room.”
*
The old man pressed a button.
It was a magic device similar to a modern elevator.
Cloney felt the sensation of slowly descending with her mouth agape.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a massive, long black magical train.
Blue mana steam flowed mysteriously from it.
Except for the driver’s compartment, the very front car was the VIP room.
Zing—
The VIP door opened.
“Please make yourselves comfortable wherever you like.”
The old man politely guided Yuma and Cloney until the very end.
Yuma and Cloney were guided with great importance.
The special seating area had 30 seats. Out of those, only 15 were already occupied. Ivan and Cloney entered at the far right end of the special room.
Cloney, sitting by the window, looked outside with her golden eyes.
“Yuma-sama, Yuma-sama.”
Then, she gazed at Yuma sitting on her left with sparkling eyes.
“Have you ever ridden a train before, Yuma-sama?”
He had never been on a train here. But there was a similar train in ‘Loop Blood.’ Of course, it was quite realistic, but it was just a train in VR.
It wasn’t as immersive as this.
“This is my first time too.”
“Mhm, then you should be a bit more excited!”
Cloney puffed her cheeks shyly. Yuma chuckled. She was so innocent. Her childlike naivety completely eased Yuma’s slight tension.
Clank clank—
The rhythmic sound of wheels passing over the tracks could be felt.
The lush forest on the outskirts of the capital came into view. The green trees that formed the forest stood out against the backdrop of a crimson sunset.
Cloney intently gazed at the scenery.
Longing.
Like that red sunset. She wanted to ignite a fierce flame. She wanted to be strong enough not to rely on Yuma and the Princess sitting next to her.
Not just a one-sided protection, but a reciprocal relationship.
Yuma’s low voice seeped into Cloney’s ears, nurturing that longing.
“Since we’re passing through Arkan, we won’t have a break once we arrive at Count Rubelt’s house. We have to fulfill the Princess’s orders. So for now, just enjoy the scenery.”
The darkening landscape looked like a painting being created in real time.
“Yes, Yuma-sama.”
Cloney smiled brightly. According to Yuma’s advice, she decided to temporarily set aside her magical achievements and ambitions for strength and just focus on the healing views.
‘Because I need to listen to Yuma-sama well.’
She had to be a good girl.
Meanwhile, Yuma, who gave her that advice, couldn’t completely shake off his own distractions.
‘The blue-haired swordsman.’
If he was truly in the midst of this world’s ‘main story,’ then that guy sitting next to Cloney would have a role in saving the world.
A mage, a hero, and the future Empress who was confirmed to ascend to the Imperial Throne.
It was quite an attractive combination.
Rather than a hero who couldn’t slay enemies without parrying, it made much more sense and was more plausible for those three to save the world.
‘I have to find him within two years.’
The whereabouts of the blue-haired swordsman.
He had to secure that person’s identity within two years. The only clue being that there were blue locks of hair. It would certainly be a long journey.
7 PM.
As complete night fell, a neatly dressed cabin attendant in sky-blue uniform approached.
As it approached, a cabin crew member dressed in a neat sky-blue uniform came over.
And flashed a bright business smile.
“I will prepare your dinner. Dear customer.”
“Yes!”
Cloney, though not particularly hungry, seemed excited by the simple fact that food was being served on the train and eagerly opened the meal tray placed on her seat.
Gorgeously cooked soft toast, a yellow omelet, and a nicely browned premium sausage were served.
“Wow!”
The moment Cloney picked up her fork with shining eyes—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed throughout the first-class carriage.
Thud! Thud!
Figures clad in black military-style uniforms strode through the thick gray smoke.
Out of five, four guarded the entrance to the first-class cabin. Only one stepped out.
A man in a black uniform walked forward without so much as glancing at Yuma and Cloney. A completely masked face was prominent.
In his right hand, he held a heavy spiked mace.
“Count Bainens.”
“What the hell are you?”
The red-haired count, Bainens, frowned as he looked at the masked man.
The masked man’s voice was as heavy as the mask he wore.
“Your crimes. Abusing your noble status to oppress commoners. The crime of violating the wife of an innocent citizen. The crime of slaying those who rose against you. Countless sins lurk behind you.”
“What the hell are you mumbling about, you lunatic? Rakan.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
A young man called Rakan drew the longsword strapped at his waist.
And a brilliant aura surged from that longsword.
“Whoooa!!”
Gasps came from the ten nobles sitting in the first-class cabin. The knight preparing to strike down the villain behind the mask.
Confident that the scene they expected would soon unfold before their eyes.
Whoosh!
Rakan’s brilliant blade struck down towards the armored figure. But right at the shoulder, the sword came to an abrupt halt.
Whoa—
Rakan didn’t even realize that the mace in the masked man’s right hand had swung. By the time he understood, half his head was already caved in.
Splatter…!
Blood sprayed all around the first-class cabin.
Rakan’s corpse, having died instantly, lay carelessly on the floor.
“Repent for your sins and die, Bainens.”
“W-Wait a second…!”
The masked man didn’t hesitate.
With a blue aura imbued in the mace, he swung it again. Count Bainens’ head exploded, spewing brain matter and blood at once.
The masked man swung the mace widely in the air, shaking off flesh and blood.
“For the glory of the Empire.”
Silence fell over the train.
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