Chapter 146: Chapter 146: The Train to Karak-Zorn (1)

​The train creaked slowly along the stone tracks, leaving the shrinking lights of Karak-Loden behind. The heavy breathing of the Stone Drakes mingled with the rhythmic rattling of iron-rimmed wooden wheels, creating the unique soundtrack of subterranean travel. Occasionally, a burst of steam erupted from the giant reptiles’ nostrils, followed by a red glint from their eyes glowing in the darkness.

​Dayat sat in the corner of the third carriage, his shoulder resting against the hard, cold wooden wall. Beside him, Dola pressed close, her head resting on his shoulder—still in the “pretending to be scared” mode she had started earlier. Her hands gripped Dayat’s arm, and she occasionally whispered unintelligible things.

​There were several other passengers in the carriage. Across from them sat an old merchant with a small cart filled with colorful woven fabrics. Two middle-aged Dwarven women sat side by side, busy knitting while gossiping about their grandchildren. A human adventurer with a bandaged arm sat in the corner, eyes closed as he tried to catch some sleep. And at the far end of the carriage, a small family—a father, mother, and a blonde girl about seven years old whose eyes kept darting toward Dola with curiosity.

​Dayat observed them all briefly before returning his gaze to the window. Outside, the cavern walls soared high, dotted with sparsely placed crystal lamps. Sometimes they passed dark, abandoned mine shafts; other times they crossed stone bridges over chasms of unfathomable depth.

​”Husband,” Dola whispered softly.

​”Hm?”

​”I’m scared.”

​Dayat turned, looking at Dola’s anxious expression which—he knew full well—was pure acting. Her eyes were slightly wide, her brows quivered, her lips pouted adorably, and her grip on his arm was tight enough to leave finger marks.

​This is so fake.

​But he played along anyway. He reached for Dola’s hand, stroking it gently. “Relax, Dol. It’s safe.”

​”But that sound just now…” Dola looked down, her voice trembling falsely. “I heard something.”

​”Just the usual train noise.”

​”No…” Dola shook her head slowly. “A… different sound. Like… scratching. On the walls.”

​Dayat narrowed his eyes. He indeed heard nothing. But Dola had much sharper sensors. There might be some truth to it.

​The old merchant across from them—a human man in his fifties with a thin beard and tattered, patched-up clothes—smiled at their interaction. “Don’t worry, My Lady. Our guards are veterans. They’ve traversed this path thousands of times.”

​Dola turned to him, maintaining her anxious facade. “R-really?”

​”Yes.” The merchant nodded confidently. “I’ve been traveling this route for three years. At most, you encounter monsters once or twice. And the guards always handle it.”

​He extended a hand to Dayat, introducing himself. “The name’s Barnaby. An itinerant fabric merchant. My wares are in the back carriage; these are just samples.”

​Dayat shook his hand casually. “Dayat.”

​Barnaby waited, but Dayat didn’t volunteer his origin or destination. Barnaby didn’t push, his eyes shifting back to Dola. “Your wife, I assume? Quite beautiful. Newlyweds?”

​Dayat only nodded awkwardly. Dola gave Barnaby a sweet smile, but under the table, she pinched Dayat’s waist quite hard.

​”Ouch—”

​”Is something wrong, Husband?” Dola asked innocently.

​”No… it’s nothing.”

​Barnaby chuckled softly but made no further comment.

​The first hour of the journey was slow. The carriage occasionally jolted violently as it passed over uneven rails. The crystal lamps outside became scarce, and darkness began to dominate.

​Hilda—one of the Dwarven women—began talking loudly. “My second grandson was born yesterday. Seven pounds, my daughter-in-law said.”

​Olga, her friend, nodded enthusiastically. “Oh, congratulations! Boy or girl?”

​”A boy. But he has fiery red hair just like his grandfather.”

​They laughed together.

​At the end of the carriage, the little blonde girl finally mustered the courage to ask her mother something. Her voice was a whisper, but audible enough in the quiet carriage.

​”Mom, why is that lady’s hair white?”

​The young mother blushed, covering her daughter’s mouth. “Ssh… don’t point, it’s rude.”

​”But I’m curious, Mom.”

​”Just be quiet.”

​Dola overheard the conversation and smiled at the child. The smile was soft and friendly. But the little girl immediately hid behind her mother’s arm, leaving only her eyes to peek out cautiously.

​Dayat laughed quietly. “You’re scaring the kid.”

​”I gave her a friendly smile,” Dola replied, still in her fake damsel tone.

​”A ’friendly smile’ in your version can be interpreted differently.”

​Dola responded with another pinch. This time on his stomach.

​”Dammit—”

​”Live peacefully, Husband.”

​Barnaby, watching their interaction, only shook his head with a smile. “Ah, young love.”

​Dayat let out a long sigh. It’s been like this for months.

​As they entered the third hour, the atmosphere shifted.

​The rattling of the train began to blend with something else—a faint rustling from outside, like many legs crawling along the cavern walls. It was quiet at first, then grew clearer. More numerous.

​The guards outside, who had been lounging on the carriage roofs, began to move. Dayat heard their voices through the cracks in the wooden walls.

​”Get ready!”

​”Movement detected!”

​”Monsters! Lots of them!”

​The train began to slow down. Brakes screeched, wheels grinding against the rails. The passengers inside exchanged worried glances.

​”What’s happening?” Hilda asked, her knitting needles going still.

​Renard—the adventurer with the bandaged arm—who had been sleeping, woke up with a start. His eyes immediately went to the window. “What is it? An ambush?”

​Before anyone could answer, the train came to a dead stop. The sudden jolt sent several belongings tumbling. The little girl at the end of the carriage began to whimper.

​”Daddy… I’m scared…”

​Her father stroked her head. “Hush, sweetheart. Daddy’s here.”

​Outside, the shouts of the guards grew louder. Weapons were drawn from their sheaths. Dayat peeked out the window, seeing the guards dismounting and forming a perimeter.

​From the darkness of the tunnel, dozens of creatures began to emerge.

​Their bodies were tall and gaunt, with grey, scaly skin that shimmered under the dim crystal light. Their eyes glowed a fiery red. Long claws glinted sharply. They moved with terrifying speed, scurrying across the cavern walls and ceiling with agility—their heads could swivel 180 degrees, their bodies coiling like snakes.

​”Gurok-Stalkers,” Dola whispered. This time, her voice wasn’t faked. “Native monsters of Terragard. They dwell in the dark tunnels.”

​”You know them?”

​”I know many things, Husband.”

​Outside, the guards were ready. There were ten of them—a mix of humans, Dwarves, and one Elf. Their weaponry was varied. Two Dwarves with giant axes stood in the front. Three human archers in the rear. Two magic users with fireballs ready in their hands. The rest were armed with swords and spears.

​”Don’t let them near the carriages!” shouted their leader—a Dwarf with a red beard.

​Battle erupted.

​The first Gurok-Stalker leaped, lunging toward the Dwarf with the axe. The Dwarf met it with a horizontal swing, his axe cleaving the air. The monster was sliced in two, its body falling into the chasm beside the tracks.

​But three more immediately took its place.

​Arrows whistled from the Elf’s bow, piercing the heads of monsters crawling on the ceiling. Creatures fell with a sickening thud. Fireballs exploded in the middle of a Gurok-Stalker cluster, incinerating three at once.

​But their numbers were too great.

​Two monsters managed to break through the defense, bolting toward the passenger carriage. Their long legs allowed them to leap like giant grasshoppers.

​Inside the carriage, panic spread.

​”By the God Arda!” Hilda screamed, clutching her knitting bag tightly.

​Olga beside her could only pray in a trembling voice. “God Arda… protect us…”

​Renard stood up, his hand reaching for the sword at his waist—but his injury made his movements sluggish.

​The little girl at the end of the carriage was wailing now. Her mother hugged her, weeping as well. Her father stood in front of them with a trembling body, trying to protect his family.

​Barnaby gripped his cane, his hands shaking violently. “Mercy… mercy…”

​Dola huddled closer to Dayat, her body shaking—faked. “H-Husband… I’m scared…”

​Dayat patted her shoulder. “Just stay quiet for now.”

​He peeked outside. The two monsters were very close. Only about ten meters away.

​Suddenly, a young guard—a human with curly hair and a bright smile—ran to intercept them. His sword flashed, piercing the belly of the first monster. The second monster tried to pounce, but he dodged nimbly and slashed the creature’s throat.

​One… two… both monsters fell.

​The guard turned around, and his eyes immediately found the carriage window—where Dola was sitting. He flashed a wide grin and raised a hand in salute.

​”Don’t worry, My Lady!” he shouted. “I am Kael! You are safe!”

​Dola only nodded anxiously, but behind her fearful expression, the corner of her lip twitched slightly—only Dayat knew that was a mischievous smirk.

​Kael turned back, returning to the fray. But every so often, he glanced back at the carriage. At Dola.

​Dayat sighed. Classic skirt-chaser.

​”Husband,” Dola whispered.

​”What?”

​”That guard is looking at me.”

​”I saw.”

​”Jealous?”

​Dayat looked at her flatly. “I know you could kill him with your pinky.”

​Dola giggled softly—a sound only Dayat could hear. “True enough.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep