episode_0002

“Extra! Extra!”

A boy wearing a newsboy cap ran down the train station platform, his arms full of newspaper bundles.

“This morning, Grand Bishop Nicola was murdered!”

On the exclusive platform for international trains, departing from the Holy Kingdom’s border station and heading directly to the Imperial Capital.

At the unexpected news, a small buzz arose among the passengers who had been waiting for the train early.

“And that’s not all! The one implicated in Grand Bishop Nicola’s murder is none other than the notorious 《Black Serpent》, who can make even crying children stop their tears! For more details, refer to our ‘Saint Times’ special edition—”

What began as a mere flicker of interest quickly captured the passengers’ attention en masse with the mention of the name that followed.

I glanced at the people clamoring to buy the extra edition the boy brought, then quickly lost interest and turned my head away.

“Hmph, how foolish.”

It was then. An old gentleman with a grizzled mustache, who happened to be sitting beside me, scoffed and spoke.

“To rush one’s own death just to sell a few copies of those flimsy pieces of paper. He must be crazy to want to die so badly.”

There was no one else sitting with the old gentleman. It seemed he was addressing me.

“To rush one’s own death, what do you mean?”

“That name, I mean.”

“That name?”

“……Them, the Grand Bishop’s killer, I mean.”

When I feigned ignorance and asked again, the old gentleman frowned in annoyance and lowered his voice, speaking evasively as if he didn’t even want to utter the words carelessly.

“There are things in this world that one should not carelessly utter.”

“Ah, I see.”

I happened to be bored waiting for the train. I felt an unexpected interest and turned my head.

“By the way, a name so reckless to even utter carelessly…”

And I continued, as if it were someone else’s business.

“How about bringing it up out of nowhere as a topic of conversation in front of a stranger?”

“Ha! This old man has been properly cornered.”

The old gentleman seemed quite pleased with my reply, letting out a hearty laugh and offering his hand for a handshake.

It seemed my words just sounded like a funny joke to him.

“I am Oswald Rabbit.”

“……Rain.”

Since it was awkward to refuse a handshake offered so abruptly, I also extended my hand and introduced myself.

“Rain Grey.”

That was my new name. Like it or not, I would have to get used to it from now on.

‘Oswald Rabbit, huh.’

Separately from that, I racked my memory at the incongruity I felt from the old gentleman’s name.

Unlike his somewhat eccentric initial appearance, he was dressed in a very dignified and courteous frock coat and top hat. From his attire, it was easy to guess that he belonged to a considerably wealthy class.

He was probably an NPC businessman from an old installment of the series, but since I couldn’t recall him immediately, he likely wasn’t significant enough to merit special attention.

“Oh, Rain Oppa! I finally found you!”

It was then. From a distance, I heard a girl’s voice warmly calling my name. When I turned my head, I saw a blonde girl, her Gothic dress fluttering cheerfully as usual.

Beside the girl was a lady in black, her eyes covered by a black bandage, leaning on a cane and being supported as she fumbled her way forward.

“Alice, Aria.”

I, too, warmly called their names and smiled.

“Oh, you had company.”

“They are my younger sister and my niece.”

I said that as I watched them approach. For now, that was the pretext. I couldn’t go around acting like a big shot and being called ‘Leader’ out in public where people were.

“Rain Oppa……?”

Aria fumbled with her white cane and asked cautiously. Seeing her precarious state, it felt like a lie that she had snatched an assassin’s blade out of the air and returned it.

“Is someone…… beside you?”

“Ah, yes. I happened to be chatting for a bit.”

A trembling voice that stimulated protective instincts, like a wet mouse. I replied in a soft tone, as if being considerate of her.

After replying, I subtly whispered to the old gentleman beside me, Oswald Rabbit.

“My younger sister is very shy around strangers. As you can see, she can’t see.”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Oswald cleared his throat awkwardly and moved aside.

“Who’s this old man?”

The two sat in the spot the old gentleman had vacated. Meanwhile, Alice tilted her head brazenly and asked.

“Haha, just an old man passing by.”

“Mm-hmm, I see!”

At those words, Alice vigorously nodded her head up and down, then pointed at Oswald abruptly and said to me.

“Can I eat him?”

“……?”

“Don’t eat him.”

“Ugh… okay.”

I replied immediately. Without a moment’s hesitation. Alice clicked her tongue regretfully and looked crestfallen.

I whispered to the flustered, blinking Oswald again.

“Please understand her rudeness. My niece is, well… a little off in the head.”

“Goodness, you must have a lot of trouble on your hands.”

It was just a casual excuse for her behavior, but now that I said it, it was actually true.

“Hmph! Alice isn’t a dummy!”

“Haha. I didn’t say anything, little lady.”

Before long, Oswald was interacting with Alice like a grandfather with his granddaughter.

“Alice, you should properly apologize.”

“No need. Don’t worry about it.”

“……No, elder. I will apologize on her behalf.”

“Indeed, what a considerate young lady.”

Oswald said with a wry smile at Aria’s polite demeanor.

“So, may I ask why you are going to the Empire?”

After saying that, perhaps thinking it was a bit too forward, Oswald hastily added.

“I was just wondering if there was anything I could help with.”

“……Ah.”

It seemed my party had unintentionally charmed him. After all, seeing us like this, a bit lacking but living harmoniously, must have looked quite pleasing. It’s a combination that would make even me instinctively want to help.

At the same time, remembering how reluctant the old gentleman was to even utter the name of the 《Black Serpent》, the words ‘this one is the second in command of that organization, and that one is the twelfth’ almost slipped out of my throat instinctively. And I’m the leader.

“We don’t have any other business. We’re just looking to see the sights of another country.”

“Indeed, it seems I was being unnecessarily nosy. Please forgive me.”

“Not at all. Thank you for your goodwill.”

But that was as far as it went.

Keeping a proper distance from the old gentleman’s offered goodwill, I rose to board the express train that was just pulling in, its whistle blowing.

A short while after taking our seats in the train compartment. It was when passengers had finished boarding one by one and were waiting for ticket inspection just before departure.

Thump!

The train, which hadn’t even departed yet, jolted from a sudden impact. I gave a wry smile, thinking, ‘Just as I expected.’

“……As expected, they wouldn’t let us go easily.”

“Since the Grand Bishop, the one in charge of the archdiocese, was taken down, the Holy Kingdom would have to make some kind of gesture for appearances’ sake.”

Aria replied. In an emotionless voice, completely devoid of the hesitation or vulnerability she had shown just moments before.

The source of the impact that struck the train was a magical seal, a barrier, that blocked off the area.

Logically speaking, it made no sense for them to let an express train, the first to depart their country after the Grand Bishop’s murder, leave without incident. I thought there might be a chance, but it was just as I expected.

“This express train will no longer operate! From now on, all passengers on the train will comply with the Kingdom’s control!”

Before long, knights clad in pure white heavy armor burst into the train, shouting.

“Can I eat those?”

“……Wait.”

After speaking, I looked at the white knights walking down the train corridor, controlling the passengers.

The elite military group boasted by the Holy Kingdom, officially named the 《Poor Warriors of the Holy War》.

Or rather, a knight organization more commonly known as the ‘Crusaders’.

‘Fortunately, there are no named-class strong individuals.’

There were no strong individuals whose faces I could recognize at a glance.

It was likely that they, too, weren’t truly intending a confrontation, but rather viewing it as a show of force solely for the purpose of maintaining their pride. The Holy Kingdom was probably sending a message, practically begging.

Please, just let us save some face.

Quietly hiding our identities and laboriously complying with their control is one method.

However, there was a reason we couldn’t do that now.

“What shall we do, Leader-nim?”

“……Right now, tracking the whereabouts of the Saintess is more important.”

I made my decision and spoke.

Why was that so urgent and important?

Because she was on the cover of this game.

The title character of the 20th-anniversary commemorative work, which I was possessed into as soon as I pre-ordered it, and thus couldn’t even get to see.

The existence of the Saintess on the title was the only clue I could pursue in the current situation.

Anyway, there must have been something special about her to be on the title. For now, I had to find out what that ‘something’ was.

“We cannot let the train be stopped like this.”

“Then—”

There was no other option.

We must make the train move, even if it means resorting to threats with a sword. That’s what a villain needs to do right now.

“Understood.”

Before long, the pure white knights approached the very end of the car where we were, moving through the carriages one by one.

“You there, get off the train at once.”

At the imperious voice resounding, Aria rose as if in response.

Holding the hilt of the jet-black greatsword, Black Sword, her symbolic weapon, which had appeared from who knows where—.