Chapter 19: I Reincarnated as a Villainess and… Finally, I’ve Been Rescued! (3)

Inside the small cabin, the train runs with its characteristic roar.

The peculiar sense of reality, caught between science and magic, made my heart pound.

The scenery I saw as a child, holding my parents’ hands at the movie theatre, the same scenery the child actors of my age back then looked out at while unwrapping chocolate, was now unfolding before my very eyes.

“Woah…”

“Indeed. I was wondering why you insisted on the standard seats, but it’s a sort of commoner experience, I see.”

“What’s with you? Are you, a mere newcomer, questioning the Young Lady’s decision?”

“Not at all. It was merely personal curiosity.”

Opposite the window, the long, narrow corridor outside the cabin door was exactly like in the movie.

As someone who had been reincarnated, I felt like I was on a tour of a theme park based on that movie.

‘For this moment, I’m grateful to the author.’

“Ehehe, I wonder when the snack cart will arrive~.”

“Oho, is there such a thing?”

“Of course, there is! In fact, not having a snack cart on a cabin train like this is a serious crime!”

Before long, the eagerly awaited snack cart knocked politely at the door.

The cart was abundantly stocked with chocolates, candies, and other simple snacks, including drinks.

“What would you like to have?”

“Bring everything out.”

The subordinate paid for me, as I only had potions and not a single gold coin, let alone a copper one.

‘If it’s to fulfill my childhood nostalgia, I don’t care about the other passengers’ share.’

‘Besides, snatching away all the snacks that people had been so eagerly anticipating and waiting for… What a villainous and cruel act, isn’t it?’

‘My, my… It hasn’t been long since I was reincarnated… I’ve already become a complete villainess.’

“This. It’s quite a high-quality item, isn’t it?”

“Of course. This is all sold to nobles. There are separate items sold to commoners.”

“Aha, I see… You seem to know quite a lot about the frontier, Senior.”

“It’s you who doesn’t know enough.”

Wondering how long it had been since I last had something sweet, I popped a piece of chocolate into my mouth, and the way it melted so gently filled my mouth with happiness.

‘Is it because I’m in a child’s body? The sweet taste feels more sensitive and intense.’

‘Or maybe it’s just because I haven’t had it in a long time.

Either way, the conclusion is that it was incredibly sweet and delicious.’

“Hmph.”

“Dinavel too! Dinavel wants to eat too!”

“Alright, alright. You guys eat as much as you want too.”

And so, for a short while after, a sweet and happy train journey continued.

Since the frontier was so vast, it was said that even with the innovative invention of the magic train, it would take several days to reach the destination, so I decided to relax and take it easy.

…

‘No, wait a minute…’

‘If I return home like this, it’s a confirmed doom ending…’

‘……This wasn’t the time to be spacing out, was it!?’

That’s right.

Now that the first escape attempt had failed, if I didn’t somehow get off the train, my life would undoubtedly end due to guilt by association.

It was truly a life-or-death crisis.

But… on this fast-moving train.

And to elude three gardeners who were sticking very close to me and run away was practically impossible.

‘Should I just act crazy, break a window, and jump out…?’

‘If I fly into the sky on a broomstick, wouldn’t I be able to escape somehow?’

Such an extreme thought crossed my mind, but I soon gave up.

Because the future was so obvious.

Above all, my puppies were all huddled together in the luggage compartment.

Even if I managed to escape well, it was clear that I would be caught while trying to take the puppies, wasting time.

‘Come to think of it, my personal broomstick is also in the luggage compartment. Damn it….’

“Uuuung…?”

“Hmm…”

Just then, Dinavel suddenly tilted her head.

Not only Dinavel, but one of the male subordinates also made a meaningful expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“I sense several life forms. Perhaps they are bandits targeting the train.”

“Mhm, mhm. Dinavel senses it too. There are a lot of people, something huge.”

“Oh, you sense it too? That’s quite a talented doll you have there.”

Dinavel made a smug face towards the subordinate who acknowledged her ability, as if to say this much was nothing.

It seemed she hadn’t noticed that it wasn’t pure praise, but actually self-praise.

“Huh?”

No sooner were the words spoken,

Than bandits riding horses came into view outside the window.

However, their appearance was vastly different from what one would typically imagine when thinking of ‘bandits.’

They were figures draped in large pieces of cloth, looking more like black mages than thieves, if one had to categorize them.

“……”

“…?”

For a moment, my eyes met with a pupil hidden within a robe.

Upon seeing each other, a bandit suddenly reached out an arm towards me.

“Young Lady…!”

Soon, something flashed brightly.

A deafening explosion, as if my eardrums would burst, engulfed me.

When I came to my senses again, I was in the subordinate’s arms, and the window that had displayed a scene of childhood nostalgia had vanished without a trace along with the ceiling, letting in the outside air quite starkly.

“Are you uninjured?”

“Uh, yes… I’m fine…”

However, looking around, only the leader-like subordinate was present.

The other two had disappeared without a trace.

‘Don’t tell me… they died in that attack just now?’

“Wh-what about the other two…?”

“It seems they were temporarily separated from the train due to the impact. They are excellent subordinates, so they will return on their own. You need not worry.”

“The sin of attacking my Master. I shall pass judgment with sword and flame.”

Fwoosh…!

A hot haze shimmered on Exia’s sword.

Kiriel also began to wreath her hands in storms to attack the enemies.

And Dinavel…

“Go for it! Both of you, beat them up hard for Dinavel’s share too!”
She was hiding behind my shoulder, diligently cheering for her sisters.

“I heard they all failed… So there was one finished product.”

The bandits had climbed onto the train at some point.

The one standing in the center of them looked at Kiriel and Exia and uttered words I didn’t understand.

“It seems they aren’t just simple bandits.”

“…Gardener? Why is a dog of Rosegarden in a place like this?”

The man carefully set Lin down from his arms and protected her behind him.

Seeing the distinctive coat and black rose emblem, the black mages recognized the man’s identity at a glance.

“Some of the homunculi are currently owned by the Rosegarden family. The Head of the family is said to have given them as a birthday present for his daughter.”

“Then that means that girl is the master of the homunculi.”

“So it would seem.”

The black mages carefully observed Kiriel, Exia, and Dinavel, then glared at Lin.

Lin’s shoulders trembled for a moment at the cold gaze, completely different from that of monsters.

Thinking his young master was threatened, the man drew his sword and swung it.

“…!”

“What are you whispering about?”

By the time they turned their heads,

Two of their comrades had already become corpses, falling off the speeding train and rolling away behind it.

The atmosphere changed in an instant.

One black mage who had luckily survived belatedly recognized him and whispered to his superior as if reporting.

“…Hiram. Indeed. Their deaths were an unavoidable fate.”

Galan Hiram.

Born with exceptional strength even among the Hiram family, which had served the Rosegarden family loyally for generations, he was the strongest swordsman among the gardeners, who were all monsters.

“This is an unexpected variable. Wouldn’t it be wise to retreat for now?”

“It matters not. I will take care of recovering that beast and the legacy. You all proceed with the plan as is.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Following their superior’s command, the group of black mages scattered to either side.

Fwoosh…!

Exia swung her sword towards the black mages trying to flee.

Simultaneously, Kiriel’s storm raged fiercely towards the black mages on the opposite side.

“The Master’s command hasn’t even been given. These are dolls with bad manners.”

However, the two dolls’ attacks failed to reach.

Because a small shadow emerging from the black mage’s robes blocked not only the flame-wreathed sword but also the storm.

“Isn’t that right?”

“Yes. It really is. Father.”

“……A doll?”

It was a doll.

Just like Kiriel, Exia, and Dinavel.

‘I definitely heard there were only three…?’

But unlike Lin’s three sisters,

The doll, who was about the same height as Lin, had a distinctly different atmosphere, and her attire was not that of a maid but what an ordinary girl would wear.

“You seem quite surprised, Young Lady of Rosegarden. Unfortunately, you are not the only one who possesses the legacy of the flask.”

“Do not wag that filthy tongue at the Young Lady.”

Lin’s pupils dilated upon seeing the magitech doll that had easily blocked Kiriel and Exia’s attacks.

As the black mage cackled and taunted, Galan unleashed a massive slash.

The black mage’s doll, thinking it was merely an attack on par with the small dolls’ earlier, casually extended its arm,

“……?”

“Hmm, as expected, you can’t block it.”

Instead, it shattered from the slash that pierced through its defensive magic.

“Father…? What is that person?”

The doll’s triumphant expression from moments ago crumbled.

As she looked at the black mage, calling him father, he gently stroked the doll’s head as if she were his real daughter.

“Bad taste.”

“Well. I wonder about that…”

Finding the sight of him playing house with the doll rather distasteful, Galan swung his sword once more to erase it.

“Asmodeus.”

Despite the approaching crisis of death, the black mage calmly whispered a name, giving a command.

Just as the doll’s neck was about to be severed…

“……Lady Leona?”

With an expression as if he had seen a ghost.

“Leona? Leona…. …Hahaha! I see! Leona Rosegarden. Is that the love reflected in your eyes now, Galan…!”

The sword, stopped.