Ch.161Chapter 161: Homecoming (4)

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The transcontinental train gradually moved away from North Kessler Town, unlike its noisy metallic sounds at departure.

After the train’s speed slowly increased and finally reached its peak.

“Is this the 4th generation high-speed train making its first run? It’s remarkably quiet and unbelievably fast, just as I heard at the technology demonstration.”

Just as my sister praised the train’s movement in her calm voice.

The train offered us an astonishing level of quietness.

Not only was there no friction sound of metal grinding against metal that should naturally occur when a vehicle runs on rails.

There wasn’t even the whistling of wind that should invariably be heard when a vehicle of this size cuts through the air at high speed.

Only the scenery reflected in the large reinforced glass with special treatment in the compartment my sister had reserved, passing by at a surreally rapid pace.

This alone indicated that the train was operating at an incredible speed.

To add a bit of exaggeration, it felt as if we were spending a leisurely time at a vacation villa.

This train made no effort to remind passengers that they were on a train.

The eight-passenger large carriage that brought us from Night Haven to North Kessler Town where we needed to board this train had offered incredible comfort and convenience considering its size.

But it was nothing compared to the comfort I felt on this train.

I suddenly remembered the last train I had ridden before this one.

Without even mentioning memories from before my regression, it was a train I had taken long ago.

The last time was when I decided to become a student at the Cradle and took the regular train from Lanos Pass to the Cradle.

The train I rode then was a 3rd generation high-speed train, one generation below this one.

I clearly remember being amazed by the train’s ability to transport many people quickly and reliably.

Yet the train I was using now completely overwhelmed that memory in performance, making it seem like a faded photograph in comparison.

Is this what they call technological advancement?

I could only bow my head to the greatness of magical engineering, which sprouted on this land 100 years ago and grew the Empire, the hegemonic nation of this continent and the central continent, into the world’s strongest country.

The admiration and shock I felt riding this ultra-high-speed train wasn’t just my own.

“It’s so quiet…”

From the lips of Shizu, sitting next to me and gazing endlessly out the window, came a calm yet undisguisedly surprised voice.

“The 3rd generation high-speed trains I often rode were impressive, but they seem shabby compared to this one…”

Even Excel, who had been sparing with his words since boarding the carriage leaving Night Haven except when talking with my sister, briefly expressed his amazement about this train.

However, contrary to the three of us being intoxicated by this display of technological prowess.

There was someone who intended to speak with a different tone.

“Ahem.”

My sister was the protagonist who drew our attention with a single deliberate cough, aimed at changing the atmosphere as we each expressed our admiration.

“Ahem.”

After confirming that our attention was on her, my sister cleared her throat with another cough and slowly began.

“Originally, the Imperial Privy Council had a major project that was being developed simultaneously with this 4th generation train but was canceled.”

The first words contained major information that would pique the interest of enthusiasts.

A project? Developing a train like this was already impressive, but there was a major project linked to the train’s development?

I was momentarily dumbfounded by my sister’s sudden words, unable to grasp what she meant.

‘Ah.’

But at that moment, what major project my sister was trying to tell us about suddenly dawned on me.

It was…

“The project was to build a new train station north of North Kessler Town simultaneously with the commercialization of the train.”

Indeed.

From my sister’s mouth came the details of the major project I vaguely remembered.

One might argue that building just one new train station hardly qualifies as a “major project.”

Especially compared to the development of the new train with its jaw-dropping mobility.

But the train station my sister mentioned wasn’t an ordinary one.

It was extraordinary enough to be called a major project and was secretly progressed until unfavorable circumstances froze it.

But since she only mentioned it was a train station without elaborating further.

Someone among the three of us, excluding myself, would naturally ask my sister a question with appropriate curiosity.

“Considering the cost of developing a train like this, the money needed to build a new station and its accompanying lines would seem like pocket change.”

As I expected, Excel asked such a question.

Seemingly satisfied that someone had asked as she intended, my sister smiled gently and met Excel’s eyes.

Looking over at Excel.

“…”

Suddenly faced with my sister’s smile, he just stared at her silently like someone who had swallowed honey.

Not even trying to hide the flush on his face.

It looked quite foolish, but.

If someone you liked smiled at you like that.

Who wouldn’t react the same way? I thought naturally.

Looking at Excel, I suppressed the smile blooming on my face as much as possible.

I had no intention of teasing him.

I was confident that if Shizu were to smile brightly at me right now, I would watch her with an even more foolish expression.

Whenever I think like this, a mocking voice inevitably invades my mind…

[You’ve got a good grasp of becoming a fool in front of your fiancée.]

There it is, right on cue.

As expected, Fafnir’s voice, not hiding his snickering, shook my mind.

It was quite annoying how he always appeared whenever I had tender thoughts.

‘You always have to interject when someone’s trying to be serious, don’t you?’

I complained inwardly in protest.

[Don’t you think it makes you look pathetic to use the expression “being serious” for that?]

Fafnir’s words shaking my mind mercilessly stabbed my heart, incomparably more than before.

“…”

I could only acknowledge defeat with silence.

If I continued this exchange poorly.

I felt he would render me combat-ineffective with words alone, even before our evening training.

[Hehehe.]

Sensing my surrender, Fafnir gently shook my mind with laughter, displaying the leisure of a victor.

How annoying that laughter sounded.

I unconsciously vowed to silence him with both skill and words later.

Anyway, as I continued to fume inwardly and vow revenge(?), I heard:

“They were planning to build a fortress larger than Night Haven right next to it, with a train station optimized for troop and supply transport inside the fortress.”

My sister was revealing the true nature of the major project she had mentioned earlier.

As I said before, the project my sister described was so grand that calling it “just” a train station would be blasphemous.

“Wow…”

Hearing this, a soft exclamation escaped from Shizu’s lips.

“Huh…”

Excel too quickly abandoned the foolish expression he had while looking at my sister.

He was busy drawing in a sharp breath.

Both of them didn’t forget to show their surprise at the weight of what they had just heard.

Well, it’s understandable for them to be so surprised.

Until just recently.

We had stayed for a long time at Night Haven, the Empire’s security frontline, because of the Subjugation Festival.

And now we were on our way home.

In the northern territory where biting cold prevailed.

After witnessing firsthand the pinnacle of magical engineering applied to create a habitable environment in a fortress.

Where Shizu and Excel couldn’t help but admire.

Building an even larger fortress that surpasses such a fortress.

While also constructing a train station for free transport of personnel and supplies.

It’s understandable why their expressions would be like that after learning how massive this project was.

What about me then?

As I mentioned earlier.

Since I vaguely knew what project my sister was talking about.

I was less surprised than those two.

Therefore, I had no intention of showing surprise in either expression or words.

But I thought that if the same reaction from the two continued, my sister’s story might not progress further.

“It’s not scrapped but frozen?”

While pretending to be surprised outwardly, I asked a question that might allow my sister’s story to continue.

My sister’s expression changed subtly upon receiving my question.

I could easily tell that there was a subtle admiration like ‘Oh, you’re asking such questions?’ in her expression.

My sister drew a faint curve on her lips and then:

“It was a project started with good intentions, but the cost of proceeding with it is astronomical. Even the Privy Council members, who are more vigilant about security matters than His Majesty, had to throw up their hands.”

She continued with a brief supplementary explanation.

The point was this:

Without overhauling the railway lines spread throughout the Central Continent.

While providing a comfortable and pleasant ride on those lines.

And simultaneously, to match the commercialization of the 4th generation ultra-high-speed train that could be used at an unbelievably fast speed.

Transforming Night Haven in the north, which could be called the frontline of imperial security, into a more modernized fortress.

And building a massive train station within the newly constructed fortress that could break the reality of still having to rely on carriages for personnel and material transportation.

This project faced the reality barrier of budget shortages.

Though not completely scrapped, it was in danger of becoming a paper plan known only to high-ranking officials of the Imperial Planning and Finance Department.

Although she spoke in a calm voice.

I could tell that my sister deeply regretted the postponement of the plan that could solve both the construction of a new fortress and the transportation of manpower and materials by train at once.

She couldn’t hide her expression of regret for the frozen plan, slightly furrowing her brow despite her voice.

I know that feeling in my sister’s expression all too well.

In the past, that is, before turning back time, my sister was someone who had directly experienced the aftermath of this plan being scrapped.

I’m not sure if this will apply in the current timeline.

But based on the timeline before my regression.

About three years later, when the true master of the Obsidian Palace, the magical realm beyond the Dragon Claw Mountains, would awaken from a long sleep and attempt to overturn the world.

Night Haven, which had to block this at the frontline despite the repeated gallantry of its members.

Couldn’t withstand the mass offensive of endlessly pouring undead and magical beasts.

Considering that it collapsed.

The importance of building a new fortress with a system that could transport supplies and personnel more comfortably and quickly before such a situation occurs cannot be emphasized enough.

What’s remarkable about my sister now is that.

Despite not yet feeling any notable movement from the magical realm except for the Subjugation Festival.

She is emphasizing to us that such a system needs to be in place for effective deterrence against the magical realm that threatens the peace of imperial citizens.

I still remember.

-If that plan had been established, countless lives could have been saved…

The resentful cry my sister uttered through gritted teeth after barely escaping Night Haven just before it was occupied.

…It’s a pleasant journey, so there’s no point in dwelling on events from a timeline that only I remember now, so I’ll stop here.

“Still, when the time comes, a new fortress surpassing the current Night Haven will be built, becoming an eternal wall of lamentation for those magical realm fellows who covet this land during the Subjugation Festival period.”

I chimed in with my sister’s words, including a small wish.

“It’s a pleasant journey, and I’ve talked about too serious a topic. Let’s end this conversation here.”

My sister also relaxed her expression that had shown regret and changed the subject to lighter conversation.

The first moment of our pleasant train journey thus began with a blossoming of conversation related to this latest train, which revealed the pinnacle of current magical engineering.