Chapter 268

“Why are you coming here so naturally?”

Leo walked to the window and answered curtly.

“There are only three compartment cars.”

“The other two must already be a mess.”

“Yeah.”

He had his soul ransacked already too.

He waved his hand at the hip flask I’d left open and opened the small ventilation window. He seemed sick and tired of the alcohol smell now. He glanced at my book and asked.

“What are you reading?”

“Thus Spoke Zarathustra.”

“Hm.”

Leo seemed to have no intention of disturbing me further, so he cleanly ignored the roar from the next room and took out his own book to read.

Then, as I took out an eyemask thinking I’d sleep, he suddenly opened his mouth.

“Are you married?”

“…….”

I confirmed the title of the book he held. It was The Wealth of Nations. His gaze was still on the book.

I concluded I’d misheard and just tried to sleep. No, I tried to.

“I’m asking.”

“Would I? Ah, this bastard…. I’m sleeping, so don’t wake me.”

He gestured toward the ring hidden under my glove and said.

“You said you’d wear it for a week and erase it.”

“…….”

I knew why he was like this. The last scene he’d seen was enough to make one doubt a comrade, so I could acknowledge that. Even I would suspect if a comrade had become one with the enemy.

We hadn’t yet had a proper conversation about the technologies or information learned in the archbishop’s space, his whereabouts, etc. It hadn’t even been 12 hours since I woke up and came to Bavaria, and during that time, I’d participated in government official meetings and the knighting ceremony, so I had almost no time with friends, so it was about time for the talk to come up.

“The last thing you saw wasn’t a wedding but an engagement ceremony, and the situation ended before the ceremony finished. It was all part of my plan, so you don’t need to worry about anything. And….”

I removed the ring from my finger and showed him my bare hand.

“I can take it off. But I can’t discard it.”

Erasing the letters written on my finger was the same.

The plan changed. This was the last mana left to me by the archbishop, so it had preservation value. Of course, saying it this briefly made it easy to misconstrue my intention.

“You know the situation isn’t concluded yet. Until we see the end, we can’t carelessly discard the resources left to us.”

“Hm.”

Leo nodded while turning to the next page of his book.

“Then that’s fine. You haven’t done anything yet, right?”

“Of course not.”

He seemed worried I’d been caught up in Pleroma’s ritual. Did he think their marriage or engagement would be the same as a real old human’s ritual? The possibility was extremely low from the archbishop’s actions. He would give baptism or use unheard-of ritualistic rites to magically bind me.

Actually, I had anticipated something like a Pleroma-style baptism even at the engagement ceremony, but fortunately, it didn’t go that far. It couldn’t because I exposed Lu Barre’s identity before it ended.

Leo, concentrating somewhere else, spoke in a hollow-sounding voice.

“If I made you feel bad, sorry. That you could make a name for yourself in the empire in less than a year, and that he rose to an important position in Pleroma at once….”

Leo’s gaze was on the book, but his irises didn’t follow the letters. As if thinking he didn’t need to pretend to read, he closed the cover and continued.

“I thought it was possible because your and his ability values were similar.”

“…….”

“I mean the way of thinking and insight you or he use when navigating problems. I don’t have the ability to understand or break him, but I’m confident you do.”

It wasn’t praise but worry. Then I should give an answer fitting the intention.

“I couldn’t do it alone.”

“…….”

As Tsheringen said, most core strategies arose because of me, I executed them, and I directed them. Does that make this 100% my merit?

No. That day, I concluded at the end that this game had wrapped up as a positive-sum game for now. If I had to do it alone, this fight would have become a chicken game. Only ruin left.

But Leo was worried about me even being in a position to mutually destroy with the archbishop, so I should soften it.

“If you hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have even started the plan. I’d be dead.”

At those words, Leo looked at me wordlessly and smiled.

“…Yeah. Thanks for trusting and entrusting us. Now we have to work so that the day comes when we can lead you to success without using you as a means.”

“Thanks for saying that even though it’s already enough. But don’t feel burdened. You all are already the best comrades to me.”

Leo just smiled and didn’t say more on the topic. Instead, he pointed to my ear.

“But why aren’t you wearing earrings.”

“Just.”

My answer seemed ridiculous, as Leo let out a hollow laugh and said.

“Funny…. Just?”

“Sorry, didn’t bring it?”

Even though I said that, Leo replied lightly as if no big deal.

“It’ll clog. Even I, pierced over 10 years ago, still clogs if I take it out.”

“Yeah?”

Human recovery is amazing after all.

But….

‘Why so nonchalant.’

Suspicious. With that inflexible personality, he should start from why I left it and give a long speech.

I had no time to check further. Right then, sounds of people stopping in front of here came from outside.

Kwaang—!

Elias came into our room leading Tsheringen, Ulrike, and Heike. Now I saw the G String Aria from earlier was coming from outside.

“Kids! Why are you boringly not playing board games or drinking!”

“Where’s Narce?”

“Passed out.”

Poor guy. I heard Narce wasn’t in good condition from using his ability throughout the tournament. These bastards must have been noisy, making him crash early.

“What were you talking about?”

“Nothing.”

Leo answered annoyedly.

“Nothing?! How can there be nothing! What did you talk about. They’re low level so don’t want to play together! Something like that?”

“Hit a nerve?”

Leo smiled and gave a sharp reply, but Tsheringen ignored it and interjected with a proper smile like Leo.

“Right~ What could they have been talking about.”

“What would you do knowing….”

“Let’s go to the dining car!”

Before Leo could finish, Elias grinned and shouted. I let out a hollow laugh in absurdity and asked.

“What for there.”

“Eat! What else in the dining car?”

“We just ate; food going in again?!”

“Shouldn’t you eat five meals a day?”

“…….”

‘What is he saying….’

Leo and I, who ate to live, both disagreed, but no choice. We were dragged out just like that.

The dining car was similar to our compartment car but much more splendid. Chandeliers and intricate patterned wallpaper caught the eye. The Persian-style thick carpet and green velvet sofas laid in the compartment car were here too.

Elias sat at the round table covered with white tablecloth and was already cutting steak. He must have ordered food before intruding our car. Whether the five meals applied only to Elias, Tsheringen sitting in front of him was sipping juice.

I looked around and found the small orchestra at the far end. The Bach music I’d heard earlier was being played here.

I went to the next section and ordered a drink from the bartender, saying.

“Bach, huh.”

“You recognized it. It’s played for Your Excellency. This is the train to Anhalt.”

The bartender answered smiling.

It must be because Bach was employed as court musician in Anhalt. Since he was a favorite composer, it was comfortable to listen.

Still, unfortunate for the friends. Only Bach music would play in Anhalt too; not sure if they could endure.

When I opened the book I was reading earlier while drinking, Elias shouted from beyond the open gangway door while chewing food.

“Luka.”

“Say after eating.”

“They say there’s a library here. Since we’re here, let’s tour the train!”

“Do it after eating please….”

“You’ll come if I finish eating?”

The sound of Elias’s fork speeding up reached here.

“Wow.”

Heike muttered while looking at him. Not just any noble but a ruling family making fork hit plate sounds must seem special.

I sighed and downed the brandy in the glass in one shot. Why must it be? Because I knew Elias’s speed. Elias was already bouncing over and waiting behind me.

“Let’s go!”

Leo and I were dragged by him—Leo had gone back to the compartment car but was caught and dragged out—.

Thanks to Elias being bloodshot on finding Leo, Tsheringen, Heike, and Ulrike were pushed out of Elias’s interest. Since they didn’t follow, perhaps they passed the baton to us.

‘Got unnecessarily involved….’

By now, they must be sighing in relief.

The library wasn’t far and was a bit brighter than the dining car.

“Wow, my taste~”

Elias exclaimed admiration as soon as entering the library.

Well deserved. The bookshelves were full of poetry collections and novels. Elias liked novels and poetry from novels.

Lacking energy, I half-reclined leaning on the couch below the back and opened the book I was reading. The cozy atmosphere of the library and the soft yellow light from the baroque-style lamp were nice.

Only the sound of Elias noisily turning book pages from the far stacks evenly disturbed my concentration. His whistling and muttering sounded loud.

“Oh, Pushkin good. Though I’m a German who wears a big fur hat, fills a mud mug to the brim with beer, and walks around with a cigar in mouth.”

Not really, but sarcasm. Pushkin had described Germans like that in a poem.

And me interpreting this now meant I wasn’t concentrating on the book at all.

Leo scolded.

“Speak quietly. It’s a library.”

“But only us here~! Yay~ Screaming in a library was my dream.”

“Scream in your house library!”

“No thrill because it’s my house.”

“…….”

I heard Leo groan. Elias wasn’t just excited but childlike, running and jumping to me. Actually, this level could be seen as more uplifted than usual, probably because of the trip.

“Luka what are you doing?! Reading here of all places?!”

It’s a library, so reading is fine? Common sense shattered.

And having been with Elias for less than half a day, my eardrums felt perforated.

“Yeah, reading here. Get out.”

“What? No. Once visited is enough. Let’s see other places! There’s a barber here too….”

“How old are you. Go alone.”

“Tired?”

“Yeah.”

“Hm….”

Elias chewed his lip and rolled his eyes. He squatted in front of me and shouted.

“Then I won’t disturb more! Come with me one last time.”

“What now. If you keep this, I won’t give you Gose.”

“No, really! You won’t regret.”

I glared at him. But Elias was firm. At his sparkling eyes, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“Yeah. Last.”

Elias nodded vigorously. Then grabbed my hand and ran at almost flying speed.

“Hey! Warn before running! Give time to put mana in legs.”

“Luka’s good at magic, so fine~”

Elias grinned and ran for a while, then stopped in front of a thick wooden door.

Wind sound heard a bit louder. This seemed the last car.

“Close your eyes.”

“…….”

I gave a suspicious look, but Elias just covered my eyes. He held my arm and flung open the door.

Kwaaaaa—

“…!”

Wind rushed in, cool air touching my whole body. Instinctively, I opened my eyes.

“Ta-da~”

Elias laughed and gestured.

At the sight unfolding before me, I let out a light hollow laugh.

Moon and lake visible far away. Dark blue coniferous forest flashing by the train side. We were passing through the forest.

Elias leaned on the wooden railing and waved for me to come quickly.

“…Wow.”

Even Leo, who followed, exclaimed shortly.

The place Elias came to was the observation car.

Actually, I don’t know what it’s called in Korea. Anyway, this was the observation vehicle attached to the very back of the train.

“Cool, right?”

“Yeah. How did you know about this place?”

New human, probably first time riding train too.

“Found it while you were holed up in the room~ Gotta search everywhere, right.”

“If born 400 years earlier, this guy would discover the new world….”

Pleased at Leo’s mutter, Elias shrugged proudly. Leo said without thought, but Elias was already immersed in imagination, saying how he’d act differently from barbaric Spanish army if he discovered the new world.

“I’d wrap the continent in a mana field so no one comes. That seems right.”

“Yeah. Like you.”

Leo laughed and replied.

In the meantime, I sat at the table inside the observation car and watched the outside scenery.

Time passed, Leo returned to the compartment car, and every station stop, Heike, Tsheringen, and Ulrike showed their faces here once or twice. Narce couldn’t come, still sleeping.

We stopped at Ingolstadt and Nuremberg, then passed Bayreuth and Jena. The dim city centers, Danube River, streams, and unknown noble-owned castles passing by captured my gaze. I kept watching outside like that.

“Wow~ Nice.”

During to Jena, Elias stayed awake with me, even buying a bottle of alcohol to keep pouring down his throat.

“Kuh. Luka why not sleeping?”

“Watching this.”

“Yeah? Me too.”

Elias drew in the air with his wand. Blue mana shining in the pitch-black night sky scattered finely. Felt like in a movie.

I tried following, but it seemed like embers falling, so I gave up. Same feeling, as Elias giggled looking at me. Then, an unexpected question came from him.

“You okay?”

“…….”

I knew well what he meant by okay. He knew well what going home meant, so clearly worried.

Yeah. The fact that I was going to Anhalt on my own feet was keeping me from bed.

Even so, it wasn’t a big problem. Since it was something I had to face someday, rather, I’d been waiting for this moment all along.

I smiled and nodded.

It was 4 AM when arriving at Leipzig, and now Dessau was soon.

When the train departed Leipzig station, friends came out staggering, reeking of alcohol. Ulrike and Heike, who came out to the observation car and sat next to me, muttered with rotten faces.

“Die….”

“The compartment car beds are too uncomfortable here….”

“You used the chair as bed, so of course uncomfortable.”

I replied laughing.

Right then, Tsheringen and Leo followed into the observation car. All seven gathered here.

Narce had woken refreshed upon arriving at Leipzig station and was drinking morning coffee with us. As friends entered, Narce laughed and asked.

“First time our Lukas goes home. Right?”

“Yeah. First for all, right?”

Ulrike said while looking around at the other friends.

Heike, coming out from the dining car holding a liquor bottle, nodded. Tsheringen, not tired, smiled smoothly and answered.

“I went once before, but don’t remember much, so practically first.”

“Wow, you’ve been? Then uniquely….”

“Leo went then too. Right?”

Tsheringen asked Leo leaning on the wall. Leo nodded. Ulrike asked with a flustered face.

“When did just you two go?”

“At the celebration for Deputy Minister Adrian Askanien’s imperial entry.”

Leo answered simply.

Tsheringen and Heike didn’t know the circumstances, but the atmosphere almost froze for a moment. Fortunately, Ulrike asked energetically.

“Really long ago? Anyway, looking forward. What to do there for fun?!”

“Well… decided on Gose. That alone will take all time.”

At my words, Ulrike couldn’t hide her doubt. She didn’t know yet that with Elias, drinking time drags on massively. Just drinking games would take all… Still, we wouldn’t do only that. But to not crush Elias’s expectations, say as little as possible for now.

Like that, thanks to friends, I could spend the last of the train to Anhalt with a somewhat comfortable mind.

From Leipzig to Dessau station was quick. When the station building started visible beyond the window, I packed my luggage bag, put on my hat, and asked.

“All prepared?”

“Of course!”

Ulrike, standing close behind me, said energetically.

Soon I got off the train with the conductor’s escort. When I raised my head, the familiar national flag and building came into view.

Anhalt.

Back here again.

The chief butler and some servants standing on the platform spotted me.

The chief butler, whose eyes met mine, slightly opened his mouth as if lost in thought and silent, then soon smiled softly and greeted.

“You’ve come, Your Excellency.”

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