Ch.162Chapter 162: Homecoming (5)

#

The first day of our journey home began with me listening to my sister’s stories and ended without any major incidents.

After having our meals in the dining car rather than our cabin.

We gathered again to chat about what had happened in our lives.

We spent what might seem like a very mundane day, sharing our impressions of the rapidly changing scenery visible through the train windows.

But that alone was enough to keep the four of us from feeling bored.

How could it be otherwise?

How could there be any room for boredom when four childhood friends gathered in one place after a long time to catch up?

Excel, who listened to my stories and laughed with somewhat exaggerated expressions to liven up the mood.

Shizu, who wasn’t exaggerated but genuinely showed how much she enjoyed listening to my stories.

And unlike these two, my sister, who displayed the composure of an elder by attentively listening not just to me but to what the others had to say as well, even if she didn’t overtly show her emotions.

After returning to this time, the first day of traveling with childhood friends who were as close as family was filled with nothing but joy.

“It’s time to sleep. I’m going to bed first, and don’t stay up too late, you all.”

It continued until my sister looked at the window, now showing a dark night view, and got up from her seat.

Literally, I could say we lost track of time as we were so engrossed in conversation.

By the way, Excel followed right behind my sister as soon as she stood up, only to be scolded to go to sleep, and then trudged off to his bedroom with slumped shoulders.

…I hate to say this, but it was rather pitiful seeing him floundering after seemingly making some progress only to be suddenly blocked.

Anyway, all that talking has made me tired too.

Should I go to bed now?

“Are you going to sleep too, Karl?”

Shizu’s voice reached my ears, having sensed my intention even though I hadn’t said anything.

“Yeah. I’m a bit tired, so I should get some sleep.”

When I expressed my intention to sleep in the gentlest voice I could offer her.

Shizu slowly rose from her seat as soon as she heard my answer and approached me.

“If Karl isn’t here to talk with, I don’t see much point in staying up.”

She looked at me with a voice tinged with a strange playfulness.

Complete with an adorable eye-smile that was dizzying just to look at.

…How should I put this?

After finishing her eye-smile, I could see a peculiar passion in her gaze as she looked at me.

I described it as peculiar because it was truly a type of look I’d never seen before.

Though her beauty, which wouldn’t be diminished even with anyone else beside her, couldn’t really change in any dramatic way by being described as peculiar.

It was just that there was a clear expectation in her expression, which is why I called it peculiar.

What do you want from me that makes you look at me with such a peculiar expression?

Hiding my desire to ask this directly, I carefully met her eyes.

“Um…well.”

Just as I was about to continue my questioning, Shizu’s voice broke through my thoughts.

It had been a very long time since I’d heard her voice trembling like this, filled with hesitation.

…The image of Shizu gathering her courage to speak to me before I returned to this time, when I was a pathetic fool drowning in an inferiority complex, unable to distinguish right from wrong, and driving nails into others’ hearts.

While not exactly the same, it was quite similar.

The image of her back then, when she never gave up trying to convey her tender feelings for me despite receiving dozens of thorny words for every single word she spoke.

“…”

Though I couldn’t show it outwardly, I felt a self-loathing rising within me that was enough to make me feel sick.

But even though it was a past full of filth I wanted to forget.

Every time I recall it, it serves the positive function of making me vow never to be like that again.

Your voice, filled with hesitation similar to how you used to struggle with me back then, a time I can’t simply ignore…

“L-later.”

Was reaching my ears after a long time.

I was relieved that it wasn’t a voice tinged with sadness that seemed ready to burst at the slightest touch like back then.

Gulp

Watching Shizu like this, I couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

I could also see her face gradually flushing with expectation.

“I… I…”

Even the way she stumbled slightly over a brief sentence as she tried to speak to me.

All I could do was wait endlessly for the next words to come from her lips, unable to even imagine what she was trying to say.

…But really, what is she trying to ask me that’s making her so flustered?

[Pfft!]

‘…Why are you suddenly laughing?’

[What special request would a maiden of marriageable age have for a man in the dead of night?]

‘…What?’

[Pretending not to know won’t help. It’s obvious just from how her face turns bright red every time she tries to speak.]

No, no, no.

What is this crazy dragon saying right now?

Fafnir’s voice, which made me dizzy just hearing it, was throwing my already troubled mind into chaos.

[Ah, why are you hesitating? Obviously, that young lady wants to spend the night with you in the same place and co…]

‘Aaaah! Stop!’

I hurriedly tried to block what Fafnir was about to say, as I felt I might actually faint standing up if I heard any more of those words.

[Hahahahaha!!]

Finding my reaction amusing, Fafnir was filling my head with hearty laughter, even though I couldn’t see him, I could easily imagine his state.

Perhaps he was frustrated that I’d been winning our verbal battles lately.

Every word Fafnir uttered, as if he’d been sharpening his sword, was delivering a shock to me equivalent to a fatal sword strike.

Just as I was worried that my ears might actually start bleeding if I continued listening.

“Hoo…hoo…”

My attention was drawn to Shizu’s actions as she suddenly stopped what she was about to say and took a deep breath.

“No! It’s nothing! Good night then!”

Shizu, who had stopped what she was about to say, hurriedly got up from her seat and trotted toward her bedroom assigned in the cabin.

Though she brushed it off saying it was nothing before returning to her place.

From her retreating figure, which was clearly flustered even at a glance.

I could clearly tell that she had returned without being able to convey what she had wanted to say to me.

By the way, why is even her retreating figure, walking in a flustered manner, so cute?

I was about to be captivated by Shizu’s movements, which evoked a protective instinct to embrace and protect her vulnerability as she walked unsteadily.

[Wow, this girl who looks more cold-hearted than her ancestor Agrinn is actually like a puppy inside.]

…Fafnir kept adding unnecessary comments, making my mind troubled and preventing me from continuing my appreciation of Shizu’s retreating figure.

Despite my troubled state, I felt considerable sadness upon hearing this remark from Fafnir in my head.

The core of my sadness was that I couldn’t refute his opinion, which was close to an accurate observation from his sharp insight, even though I had dismissed it as an unnecessary comment.

Such a cute appearance.

An appearance I want to know about and keep to myself alone.

It’s a bit disappointing that others are gradually getting to know it too.

“Good night!!”

As I continued these troubled thoughts, I saw Shizu vigorously waving her right hand toward me just before entering her bedroom through the door.

“Good night.”

I also waved my right hand in response to her greeting.

Seeing my hand wave, Shizu smiled brightly and entered her bedroom.

And so I was left alone in the cabin.

In the cabin interior, which was surprisingly well-insulated against noise and vibration, only the rapidly changing night view through the window indicated that we were on a moving train.

“Nnngh!”

With no one around, the tension eased and a wave of relief washed over me, bringing fatigue that I stretched to relieve.

Then I headed to my bedroom to prepare for the end of the day.

It was the most uneventful day since I had returned to this time.

How could it not be considered peaceful when I spent time just looking at the outside scenery and chatting?

Anyway, after falling asleep like this, and then waking up and spending the day, repeating this for three days at the earliest or five days at the latest, we would arrive at our destination, Lanos Territory.

All that remained was to relax with the feeling of taking my first vacation since returning to this time…

[Hehehe.]

Ah.

[Young one. As soon as you get to your room, infuse your sword with fighting spirit.]

I had forgotten about this.

The protagonist who would give me the only difficulty on this trip was speaking in my head.

There was still one thing left to do before ending the day.

That was training with Fafnir, who was shaking my head with a voice full of anticipation.

In an unknown place shrouded in whitish fog.

How much would Fafnir, who would dazzle my eyes with all sorts of flashy martial arts, work me over today?

[Rest assured. I’ll adjust it so you won’t feel any fatigue when you wake up.]

Though I was grateful just for those words.

The thought of Fafnir working me over before that healing process could take place made my knees weak.

Am I afraid? To be honest, I am a bit scared.

Even before returning to this time, I had faced a demon god who spewed malice in an attempt to turn this world into his own twisted utopia.

And meeting old friends who despised me, capable of facing such a demon god, was also a series of fears.

Fighting with an ancient dragon who had shaken the human world before the demon god, whenever there was a chance, was also a considerably frightening affair.

Despite the difference that, unlike the first two where I had to worry about losing my life, this didn’t carry such a risk.

As the momentary bewilderment that arose from suddenly remembering something I had pushed to a corner of my mind tried to take over my body.

‘I look forward to your guidance.’

Soon, a voice from within my mind signaled that I was ready for the training I would have with Fafnir.

[Let’s begin!]

Fafnir’s voice, excited about training with me, resonated in my head.

Well, thinking that this arduous training would be nourishment to overcome future adversities, it wasn’t difficult at all.

…Really.

The last thought that crossed my mind as my vision blurred while infusing fighting spirit into the dragon sword I had left in my bedroom was this.

#

And so, after the first day passed, came the second day of our journey.

“Karl…? Didn’t you sleep well? You look tired.”

“I guess the fatigue hasn’t fully gone away even after a good night’s sleep.”

The second day also began peacefully, with me reassuring Shizu who worriedly asked about me, seeing the fatigue from my fierce battle with Fafnir clearly showing on my face.

The high-speed train, which had been moving vigorously carrying us and others who had boarded from North Kessler Town, continued peacefully until it finally made its historic stop at the first station on this route.

The Imperial Capital, Solarium.

The City of the Sun, which could rightfully be called a thousand-year-old capital.

The capital where all the wealth and administrative power of the Empire was concentrated was the first stop on this long journey.

Most of those who had boarded this train from North Kessler Town could be seen packing their belongings and disembarking as soon as the train stopped here.

Most of them were knights rather than ordinary soldiers.

Well, it’s natural that if someone has a family home to return to in such a metropolis, they would at least be an Imperial Knight with a certain degree of wealth and honor.

However, as these knights disembarked from the train, an even larger crowd was rushing toward the train as if they had been waiting for this moment.

These protagonists of the bustling crowd, visible even through a glance from the window, were mostly central nobles who had grown up based in this imperial capital.

…This might sound a bit materialistic, but.

Even so, their prestige falls far short compared to Lanos, Proxian, and Bernstein in this cabin.

“Quite a crowd coming in.”

This was what my sister said as she tilted her teacup, watching the nobles boarding the train while maintaining order and displaying dignity befitting imperial nobility.

#

As they flocked to board this newly operating 4th generation high-speed train.

Although the journey, which had been somewhat quiet, seemed to be turning boisterous.

That was only from the noise of people boarding the train in front of the platform.

Such commotion didn’t reach our cabin.

Well, this is natural.

Thanks to my sister using her own money to charter this luxurious cabin, which was equipped with all necessary facilities for living including bedrooms and entertainment facilities except for the dining car.

No one could enter or leave the cabin where we were staying.

Occasionally, among the haughty central nobles.

There are some brazen individuals who, relying solely on their family’s power, often ignore public decorum that should be observed in public places and stick their faces in.

Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be such people on this trip.

Not a single person entered our cabin under the pretense of making a mistake.

Well, even if there were such thick-skinned friends.

Except for direct or not-too-distant collateral imperial family members.

No one would be brave enough to enter a cabin occupied by the children of Lanos, Proxian, and Bernstein, who are considered among the blue-blooded elite of the Empire, and talk nonsense.

…If there were, that would be a problem in itself.

“It was the right choice to tell the conductor in advance to hang a guest-prohibiting tag with the Lanos twin dragon seal on the cabin entrance.”

Judging by my sister’s relaxed voice as she took a sip of tea, seeing that not a single person from the crowd rushing onto the train entered this cabin.

It seemed safe to believe that such a thing wouldn’t happen.

Yes, I definitely believed that.

“It’s been a while, Iriana.”

Until someone appeared who ignored the guest-prohibiting tag hung at the entrance of this cabin and walked in naturally with a casual attitude, greeting my sister.

The confidence that emanated from this person, who entered as naturally as if entering their own home despite not being a conductor or station attendant, went beyond brazenness to boldness.

Normally, my sister would have directed icy anger at an intruder who invaded our privacy like this.

“…Hmm.”

But because my sister’s expression, upon seeing the person who entered, was filled with an indescribable embarrassment.

I could only silently observe her from behind.

I really had no choice.

Excel and Shizu might not know well.

But the person who just entered this cabin is someone who has the right to reign over the four of us.

“I heard the subjugation festival was over and thought you might be on this train, so I came to check. I’m glad I was right.”

And that person was now showing genuine delight toward my sister.

“Your Highness.”

“Oh, don’t be so formal with ‘Your Highness,’ just call me Luca. We’re friends after all.”

Waving off my sister’s formality and asking her to just use his name, treating her without reserve, this person’s name was Luca Bright Solarium.

He is the third prince… of the Empire, a full brother of the Crown Prince who holds the position of future Emperor.

And in the future that will never come, three years from now, which only I remember.

He is also the precious person who ascends to the throne following the Crown Prince who dies suddenly during the Great War.

Apart from the brief profile of this person that came to mind as soon as I saw him.

…I couldn’t help but wonder why this person was here.

An impurity… anyway, an impurity had suddenly intruded into a journey meant to be comfortable among like-minded people.