Chapter 35 – Flower of the North Sea (7)

The Magic Carriage was not a typical horse-drawn carriage but a form of public transportation resembling a train, powered by magic stones.

Unlike Earth, there were no tracks outside cities due to the threat of monsters and bandits. Instead, the seven magic towers managed the Magic Carriage’s routes, clearing obstacles with magic and ensuring high-speed travel.

Surprisingly, this iron beast was invented by Terra Ernestine, who had disappeared after the great war, but her legacy lived on through inventions like the telegraph lines from Horus’s lighthouse.

She provided the concept and engine designs for the Magic Carriage to the magic towers. Those who had worked with her, like myself, knew she was more of an engineer than a mage, but it shocked others when the magic towers, initially skeptical, successfully implemented her designs.

At the Magic Carriage station on the outskirts of Farencia, I found Darling.

When I mentioned her name at the counter, I was immediately guided to a VIP waiting room.

“You’re here.”

Darling Tokarev, the lord of Farencia and owner of the Ruhillen Trading Company, greeted me calmly despite the serious situation. Her white gloves and luxurious red cape, coupled with her petite frame and wavy auburn hair, made her resemble an antique doll.

“The train leaves in ten minutes. I already bought our tickets.”

“I bought mine too.”

“Your ticket was canceled due to double booking. Coincidentally, some wealthy person bought out the entire train except for these two seats. We have to sit together.”

I recalled seeing a crowd of nobles in the waiting room outside, probably frustrated by this.

Tsk, I had hoped to travel separately.

Escorted by the conductor, Darling and I boarded the Magic Carriage. It was about the length of ten regular carriages, with a wide interior that comfortably seated the two of us.

Just as I was about to move to the empty neighboring compartment, Darling pulled me back.

“Store owner, your seat is here.”

“There are empty seats over there.”

“As I said, they’re reserved.”

If they’re not here by departure, doesn’t that mean they’re not coming?

“Store owner, are you the kind of person who takes over land legally occupied by someone just because the owner steps out briefly? I’m appalled to have someone like that around me.”

“What a coincidence. I feel the same way.”

In the end, I sat next to Darling. The Magic Carriage bound for the Frank region departed with a loud horn.

***

The Magic Carriage offered various foods for sale, but I had no appetite. This was partly due to my parting with Adela but more so because of my traveling companion.

“Ueeck—.”

The noise and vibrations of the Magic Carriage far exceeded those of trains on Earth. It didn’t run on smooth rails but smashed through obstacles with front-mounted defense magic and support from standby mages.

Occasionally, the glass windows were splattered with blood, indicating the Magic Carriage’s kill count had increased.

“Bleeeh—.”

So, our viscountess suffered from severe motion sickness, filling a bucket with each lurch.

The smell inevitably wafted over to me, sitting right next to her.

After a while, exhausted from vomiting, Darling wiped her face with her arm.

“Are you crying?”

“No! Who’s crying!”

“Do you need some water?”

“No, I… ugh!”

She took the water bottle I handed her and drank, looking slightly relieved as she closed her eyes and leaned back. I wanted to offer some comfort, but speaking would make me inhale the foul air, making me sick too.

Seeing me holding my breath, Darling pouted.

“There’s no smell anymore. Breathe normally.”

“….”

“Really, I erased it with magic.”

How could I trust that?

Darling shifted closer, and indeed, the foul smell had vanished, replaced by the scent of her fine clothes.

“Come closer. Why sit all the way over there in this wide space?”

“I’m comfortable here.”

“Move over immediately.”

“Why?”

“My head hurts. I need to lie down, and you’re the perfect pillow.”

This didn’t seem like a good idea.

When Darling tried to use my thigh as a pillow, her neck bent awkwardly due to the hard seat and my solid leg.

I gently adjusted her position, thinking about Adela and asked.

“Viscountess, does Rochear have any chronic illness? Like a heart issue from unique magic…”

“You’re spouting nonsense. How would she know that? Besides, the secrets of unique magic are closely guarded by the Rochear family.”

“….”

“Foolishness.”

“Hmm…”

“Ah! Don’t shake my head!”

True, she wasn’t an informant or from a magic-savvy family.

But my excellent interrogation skills, or perhaps the discomfort hitting her brain, seemed to trigger some insight.

“Ugh… Maybe the headmistress knows.”

“Lehel?”

“Yes, she’s lived a long time. She would have known the previous head of Rochear before he died.”

“I see.”

I should ask her once we rescue her.

As the Magic Carriage rattled along, I closed my eyes and sank into thought.

***

We arrived in the Frank region and switched to a carriage heading to Alzar, home of the underground auction hall run by the Martiniqua Trading Company.

The further north we went, the colder it got, and my mood sank with the temperature.

The feeling of frost underfoot reminded me of past winters. Back then, the ice crushed underfoot was often stained with blood.

“Darling Tokarev of Ruhillen and my attendant. We’re here to retrieve Lehel Darard from the Martiniqua Trading Company.”

“Please wait a moment.”

A guard at the gambling den’s entrance took Darling’s badge and went inside.

Shortly after, a well-dressed manager greeted us.

“It’s an honor to meet the head of the Ruhillen Trading Company. I’m Zikra, the auction house manager.”

Zikra led us to the holding area inside the auction house.

It was dirty and dark, reeking of sewage.

“Let’s see… Lehel Darard… Ah, cell number three. She owes 85,000 gold, but her belongings were auctioned, leaving about 70,000 gold in debt.”

“Do we just pay the difference?”

“Yes. Shall we proceed with the paperwork?”

“Very well.”

As Darling nodded, Zikra pointed to me.

“We’ll send her out through your attendant once the transaction is complete.”

“Is she unharmed?”

“Of course. We wouldn’t dare harm a finger of the Reincarnation Duke. Follow me.”

Darling went with Zikra, and I followed another staff member to where Lehel was held.

There was no concern of anything going wrong. It seemed she often found herself in such predicaments, and everyone in the holding area knew her.

— Oh, another one here to save her.

— Haha! How many times is this now? I saw her in Thessalon last year.

— You her lover? I’d leave her hands here. Better if you gave them to us.

“Is this always such a lighthearted place? I don’t understand why a duke is imprisoned here.”

“The Reincarnation Duke is quite lenient. She never abuses magic. She respects the game’s rules.”

She was perhaps too lenient with her actions. A bit more reflection wouldn’t hurt.

Anyway, I found Lehel easily. Her white hair contrasted with the dark cell, but it was something else that caught my eye first.

“Oh, you’re here! Finally, to rescue me! I’ve been waiting, boss!”

Seeing her hanging upside down by her feet in just her undergarments, I didn’t know how to react.

If I had ten feelings at that moment, one of them was definitely pity.

“It doesn’t feel like you’re bowing your head when you greet me! But nice to see you!”

“Why are you like this?”

“All my belongings were seized. The undergarments are about to be auctioned too.”

“….”

Even if you lose all your money, you should keep enough to get home. This is just pitiful.

I opened the cell and entered. Seeing Lehel dangling with her head nearly touching the ground was disheartening.

“Hey, boss.”

“What?”

“Can you lift me up so we’re at eye level? I’m about to pass out from blood rushing to my head.”

Why don’t you just faint then?

“What happened to you?”

“Well, it was a scam! A rigged game! I was cheated!”

The typical excuse of a gambler who lost everything. No need to ask further.

Lehel kept tugging at my pants, wanting me to lift her upper body.

Looking down, I saw her mischievous smile.

“I have something special to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“Come closer…”

Could there really be a conspiracy?

Half-believing, I lifted her into a sitting position. Lehel rested her chin on my shoulder, sighing in relief.

For a duke, she was surprisingly light.

“Ah, I feel alive again. I thought I’d die, like a pig in a butcher’s shop, bled out.”

“You smell. Speak quickly before I drop you.”

“Heh, alright. So, here’s the thing…”

Her thin, playful voice whispered in my ear.

‘I hid my magic device. It’s precious, so I stashed it secretly.’

Her sweet whisper.

‘Guess where it is?’

Had I really left Adela standing like a rain-soaked puppy for this?

Instead of answering, I carefully lowered her back until her head nearly touched the ground. I stretched and cracked my shoulders.

“Boss? What are you doing?”

In front of me were her legs and the chains binding them.

“You can’t take it out now! They’ll confiscate it!”

I placed my hand in front of my eyes, raised it slightly, and then brought it down sharply on the chains binding her legs.

“Ah?”

The chains clanged loudly in the cell.

“Kyahaaaaah!!!!”

At the same time, Lehel screamed, thrashing about wildly.