Ch.143Starlight Scales

I had successfully eliminated Hayato, the target of the mission. Although there were numerous casualties in the process, the mission could be considered successfully completed.

“What should we do about this?”

“The train is stranded in the middle of the ocean… Even if we can somehow make it back…”

The problem was the maritime train, whose power engine had been completely destroyed during the battle. While the Blue Wing members had means to return to land one way or another, the ordinary passengers did not.

That’s when Sephiroth stepped forward.

“I’ll release mana to substitute for the power engine.”

“What…? Do you really think that’s possible? Look at the size of this train…!”

Sephiroth didn’t respond to the member’s words. She simply moved to the frontmost car of the train and placed one foot on what remained of its skeletal frame.

Sephiroth closed her eyes. The masterpiece of the century created by dwarves had maintained its intact form despite the battle between masters. The circuit that moved the entire train was likewise undamaged.

“The train’s operation will not be suspended. We can’t let tourists suffer because of us.”

Fwooosh-!

With those words, Sephiroth began releasing an enormous amount of mana. Golden swirling mana shot high into the sky, then spread throughout the entire train along its framework.

That’s when the train began to move. The massive iron body started advancing forward, using Sephiroth’s mana as its power source.

Thud- Thud-

In an instant, the blue sea parted, and the surrounding scenery stretched into lines.

“Se-rin. Are you okay?”

Se-rin, sitting against a half-broken seat on top of a train car that had lost its roof and walls, looked up at Theo who approached her. Flora was with him as well.

“As you can see. I’m fine. What about you two…”

Se-rin said this while briefly checking the physical condition of her two friends. Their complexions weren’t good, but their limbs were intact. She would need to check the extent of their internal injuries, but they seemed able to move without immediate difficulty.

Se-rin naturally made room beside her.

Swoosh-!

Occasionally rising waves soaked the three of them. Although they could have used mana to push away the approaching waves, they deliberately chose not to. They were exhausted.

“How do you feel, Se-rin?”

It was Flora’s question. A question with many implied meanings. Se-rin didn’t answer immediately. She was still sorting through the various emotions swirling inside her.

“It’s a bit difficult to express in words.”

“But you must feel relieved.”

Se-rin nodded at Theo’s words.

The three people who shared similar pasts closed their eyes as they faced the sea breeze.

***

The maritime train didn’t stop. However, it couldn’t return the way it came either. Though the sturdy framework and complex circuits remained intact, a problem had occurred due to the abnormal method of power supply.

One-way traffic.

The function to turn back wasn’t responding.

The train had no choice but to continue toward its final destination.

The train, which had been running vigorously, reached its final stop at dawn the next day. Beyond the open view, the vast horizon met the sky, scattering soft starlight in all directions.

The final stop: Starforge.

It was a city of dwarves, said to have arrived in this world with brilliant starlight. The scenery of the city, bathed in soft starlight, was incredibly beautiful.

Situated like a painting on the calm water surface, it almost looked like a city floating in the sky.

Se-rin stepped onto the water surface where starlight rippled.

“My goodness! What on earth happened!”

“T-this can’t be! The maritime train…!”

That’s when dwarves began popping out from all directions, making a fuss. Dwarf workers who looked like mechanics checked the maritime train with pale faces, then came running with large toolboxes and all sorts of materials from inside.

Naturally, Sephiroth took responsibility for this incident. With staggering movements, she approached the dwarves and began explaining the situation. The dwarves who were conversing with her nodded with serious expressions, then brought someone who appeared to be in charge.

“This looks like it’s going to be a long conversation.”

“Yeah. I just want to lie down in bed…”

Just as Se-rin was finding a secluded spot with her friends, several dwarves carrying luggage stared blankly at Se-rin before crashing into a large pillar.

“Oops!”

“H-hey! You should watch where you’re going!”

“Are you even keeping your eyes open? What were you looking at to run into a pillar… No, perhaps I was the one not seeing clearly…”

One of the dwarves who had been blaming his colleague quickly changed his words. He too had noticed Se-rin, or more precisely, the swords that Se-rin and her companions were carrying.

“The tall woman’s sword… doesn’t it feel like our technology?”

“Similar but different. The fundamentals seem like the work of someone who learned here…”

“That man’s sword. Was it tempered with lightning? There’s a faint smell of burning from inside…”

The dwarves who had risen from their seats began approaching while conversing. Their gazes remained fixed on the swords carried by Se-rin’s group. Se-rin and her friends were bewildered, but the dwarves didn’t seem particularly concerned.

“Hmm…”

“I can feel the heat on my skin. It’s like standing in front of a furnace.”

“Aren’t those the Ice Dragon Sword and Fire Dragon Sword? The ones said to be born in the storm.”

“That doesn’t make sense…”

“Oh, come on! The characteristics match perfectly!”

“I’m more interested in examining the blade of that katana. The smell of blood is overwhelming, how many people…”

“What would we know? It would be better to send it to those who never leave the furnace.”

It was then. The dwarves who had been conversing among themselves suddenly became aware of their surroundings, and one stepped forward as a representative. Moving with short, waddling legs, he stroked his beard and cleared his throat.

“Ahem… Judging by your attire, you appear to be knights of the Blue Wing. Is that correct?”

The three nodded at the dwarf’s question. Then, the group of dwarves moved even closer.

“The Blue Wing is a group very close to us.”

“Did you know? We designed the iron swords supplied to your side. It was a very long time ago, though…”

Se-rin stared at the approaching dwarf with a peculiar expression. Since joining the Blue Wing, this was the first time she had encountered someone of equal eye level. Otherwise, it was only very young children.

It was quite unfamiliar to meet an adult with the same eye level.

The dwarves also looked at Se-rin with curiosity.

“Where are you from?”

“The Frozen Tundra.”

“The Frozen Tundra…? You mean beyond that mountain range…”

“Did any of our kind ever cross over there?”

“Oh, come on. Isn’t that jumping to conclusions when nothing’s been confirmed yet?”

“But look. These short legs… If they’re Blue Wing, aren’t they knights? I’ve never heard of human knights with such a small stature.”

“That’s true, but…”

They were saying impolite things right in front of a person. Se-rin, who had placed her hand on her sword, spotted Sephiroth approaching from a distance and lowered her hand.

“Deputy Commander.”

“Is the conversation over?”

“It ended well. However, it seems we’ll have to wait for the maritime train to be repaired since there’s no way to return immediately.”

Se-rin looked beyond the repair dock where the maritime train was stationed. The sun was rising at the edge of the endless sea. It was too far to see land.

What if we returned by sword?

Se-rin counted the number of swords remaining in her subspace but shook her head. In her current physical state, forcing mana manipulation could cause permanent damage to her blood vessels.

“All members of the Hayato subjugation team. Rest until the maritime train is repaired.”

***

The Karma Empire is a country that uses gold like a sword. The Blue Wing, a group under it, was also famous for its wealth. It was natural for Blue Wing members to secure rooms at expensive inns.

Sephiroth rented an entire floor of the inn.

Although the cost was beyond what an ordinary knight’s salary could afford, no one cared. After all, it wasn’t money they had to pay themselves.

“What is this place? Why are the chairs so low?”

“The doorknobs are at the bottom. You’ll have to bend down to open the doors.”

“Crazy, did you see the coat rack? When I hang my clothes, the hems touch the floor.”

“Those are dwarf-exclusive rooms. Humans are from room 208 onwards.”

Some rooms in the inn were filled with furniture custom-made for dwarves, not humans. Everyone complained about the discomfort of the low furniture, but only Se-rin used those rooms without any issue.

‘My feet touch the floor…’

Se-rin sat in a chair and tapped the floor with her toes. Her legs, which always dangled when sitting in chairs, were now firmly planted on the floor with stability.

It was quite satisfying.

‘I should buy a few to take back.’

For her sibling, not herself.