Chapter 16
The magic train never tires.
The sound of it running with three princes aboard is loud.
About forty years since the establishment of the Imperial Railway Authority and about half that time since it began accepting general passengers.
But it was enough time to penetrate the lives of the people of the capital, Lutilium.
The ticket price was not cheap, but there was no alternative.
The first-class cabin at the very front of the train.
A place prepared for special people, as its name suggests.
So the three princes were naturally there.
Where else in the Cordis Empire would one find people more special and noble than them?
Shion Pollinglight looked out the window and casually asked.
“Where are we going?”
“Reto Colles.”
“Wasn't that one of the villages on the outskirts of the capital?”
“You know it well.”
Shion's blue eyes sparkled, catching the sunlight through the window.
“I remember it as a place barely included in Lutilium. You did well to find it.”
“It wasn't difficult.”
Secundus answered with his arms crossed.
“A few months ago, there was testimony that Dean Hermai had come to this remote place.”
“Is the Dean such a careless person?”
“Hmm, he is a meticulous person. He came pretending to be an old nobleman looking for a spot for a villa, looked around for a few days, and then disappeared, so no one paid much attention.”
The muscular prince raised the corner of his mouth.
“But how could anyone have known? That the owner of the mill in Reto Colles was once a wheat supplier to the Imperial Academy of Magic and recognized him!”
Secundus couldn't hide his amusement and laughed heartily.
As the giant, three heads taller than others, threw his head back in laughter, the seat shook and rattled.
“I sent people to confirm and it seemed certain, so I immediately dragged you two along and we're on our way.”
“The information didn't just come to you, brother, did it?”
“Of course. I tried to block it as much as possible, but it will be passed on soon. Perhaps even sooner.”
It was unlikely the mill owner sold the information only to Secundus.
Also, it was unlikely that there wasn't a spy hidden in his faction.
It was only a matter of time before word reached Leniar or Ferbias.
“But they can't be faster than this magic train. It's only an hour from the Railway Authority to Reto Colles.”
The scenery outside the window flew by in a flash.
Even the fastest horse would not be able to follow its tail.
Such was the majesty of the magic train, the pride of the Cordis Empire.
According to rumors, the magic train could run faster than the sound of its own departure.
It just didn't, for the safety of the passengers.
“Wasn't this magic train also said to be Sen Sorti's concept? Truly amazing. To think of such a thing 400 years ago!”
The First Mage who left the Empire 400 years ago, Sen Sorti.
He left behind many achievements and studies.
This magic train also began from a single blueprint he left behind.
Three hundred years.
The time it took for someone in the Technology Bureau to discover the value of the blueprint sleeping in the dust.
And another sixty years.
The time it took to develop the engine, lay the rails and turn a simple concept into reality.
The innovation that appeared after such a long time could not help but evoke admiration.
“…Truly, the greatest of mages.”
The Third Prince, Kateka Keshulei, also nodded.
For those who walk the path of magic, there was no name greater than Sen Sorti.
His face was still gloomy, but a light of admiration flickered in his eyes.
“…Dean Hermai is also great, but he cannot be compared to Sen Sorti.”
“How much greater would Cordis have become if he had not left the Empire.”
“Why must he be a person from 400 years ago……. It would be great if he were alive.”
‘He’s alive, though.’
I swallowed a piece of strawberry cake.
Thankfully, the first-class cabin provided unlimited refreshments.
It wasn't as good as the Imperial Palace's pumpkin pie, but it was sweet enough.
The strawberries on top were also of good quality.
Come to think of it, Sen Sorti also really liked sweet food.
He always had precious sweets piled up in his house.
Remembering a long-lost memory, I let out a soft laugh.
Sen Sorti had a childish side for his age.
“…Sen Sorti, what a brilliant genius he must have been. I heard his artistic talent was also amazing…….”
‘Not at all.’
At the unfortunate misunderstanding, I shook my head.
If only Sen Sorti had even a little artistic talent!
He was a good person, but his art, really, sigh……. I couldn't hold back a sigh.
“Why the sigh, Zionis.”
“The Sen Sorti I imagine is a little different, brothers.”
“…Oho, I’d like to hear it…….”
Looking at my two brothers with their shining eyes, I resolved myself.
To shatter the pitiful illusion of the beautiful genius, Sen Sorti.
This was the least I could do for them.
“He must be a drunkard. He probably lives soaked in alcohol, pained by his desire to be recognized as an artist but failing to be.”
“A unique perspective……?”
“He'd have a strong drink in his hand day and night, leaving bottles anywhere so the floor is dirty, and his taste in snacks would be so picky that it'd be hard to please him.”
I felt a strange sense of sadness.
Ah, those days before the regression.
How tiring it was to cater to Sen Sorti's moods.
Hadn't my unwanted cooking skills improved drastically then?
“He has the ability, but his spending habits are ridiculously large, so he always whines about having no money, and while he's kind, he's also eccentric. But because of his magic skills, no one can stop him.”
“…To that extent? He's still Sen Sorti, isn't he?”
“You don't know, brother. That tiring old man who gets suspicious if you're nice to him and obsessed if you keep your distance!”
I shook my head.
“Humans shouldn't live for too long……!”
“…You speak as if he is still alive to this day, and you have lived with him.”
At Secundus's question, I nodded my head.
“That's right. We're quite close.”
“……”
“……”
Kateka and Secundus looked at each other.
Then, without anyone starting first, they burst into laughter.
“hahaha, I was wondering what you were going to say!”
“You funny brat……!”
They cackled.
To think the First Mage from 400 years ago was a drunkard with a suspicious and obsessive personality and that Zionis had even lived with him!
They couldn't stop laughing at the unexpected joke.
“Hmm, that was quite funny, Zionis!”
“At first, I really thought you were crazy……”
“I'm glad you enjoyed the laugh.”
I smiled brightly.
‘Of course, they’d think it’s a joke.’
I hadn't expected them to believe me anyway, so I had casually brought up a story from before my regression.
And as expected, Kateka and Secundus just giggled.
Therefore, they did not see it.
That my eyes had reddened slightly.
‘It would have been nice if it were a joke…….’
Those times when I was taking care of Sen Sorti, the hard times that couldn't be dismissed entirely as a joke.
I didn't realize it then, but it was really tough.
You did well, you did well, Shion Pollinglight!
I quietly comforted my past self.
“By the way, brother Kateka, there's something I want to ask.”
“Hmm……?”
Kateka Keshulei tilted his head.
“…That was a sudden change of topic. What is it?”
“Why are you with brother Secundus?”
“…Ah, I thought you'd ask that……”
A listless tone, as if dragging his words.
Skin as white as a tuberculosis patient's and slender limbs.
His features were delicate, making him look even younger than his age.
He was actually twenty, but he looked only a little older than me.
He was a contrast to Secundus.
Anyone would look small next to the man who tore a lion's jaws apart at nine, but Kateka looked exceptionally small.
The sight of the two, who likely didn't have much in common, together was quite awkward.
Kateka himself was already aware of this.
“It's the same reason as you, Zionis……. I wanted to live quietly, but I didn't have the strength to do so……”
Kateka was often called the Reclusive Prince.
He never had any ambition for power in the first place.
All he wanted was to hide among books and learn the mysteries.
But his bloodline was too noble to live quietly.
A peace not permitted to a son of the Great Emperor Continua.
‘Right. He was suspected even when he did nothing.’
That's how the Succession War, the Emperor's blood, was.
Endless anxiety and suspicion.
He must have a scheme.
Isn't he deceiving us and plotting something?
Even Zionis, who had no maternal relatives or anything, was not free, so what could be said for Kateka Keshulei.
Before the regression, 19 years ago for me.
The one who won the Succession War and became the fiftieth emperor was Ferbias Caseptus.
I remembered what happened to the other siblings then.
I couldn't help but smile bitterly.
“Brother Secundus is simple… but not a fool……. Even though he looks like one……”
“Hmm. I can hear you, Kateka.”
“Because he knows that he himself would be in danger if he abandoned us……”
Both Ferbias and Leniar held immense power.
So much that they didn't particularly need other siblings.
But Secundus was different.
He was in need of Kateka's connections in the Academy of Magic and my one Treasure.
That's why a strange sense of camaraderie formed.
Because they knew the other could not easily abandon them, because they were entangled by interests rather than flimsy trust.
It was thicker and stronger than nominal blood ties.
“I don't think that's something you should say in front of me, but you're not wrong either.”
Secundus quietly nodded his head.
He continued to act the part of the hearty and generous older brother.
Whether his inner thoughts were the same was unknown, but both Kateka and I willingly played along.
“We are useful to each other. So we're pretending to be brothers for the time being.”
“Even though we are real brothers……”
Laughter burst out.
It was almost simultaneous among the three brothers, without anyone starting first.
There was no trust.
Even less so was brotherly affection.
But because there was understanding, they could laugh together for a moment.
Even if it was just a fragile and fleeting pretense.
“Hmm. This must be Reto Colles. Prepare yourselves, my brothers.”
Secundus’s voice dropped low.
It was because he felt the magic train coming to a stop.
“Another Treasure is near.”
“There is an old temple site nearby. The Treasure is there.”
It was around the time they got off the train.
“But we'll only know what kind of Treasure it is once we get our hands on it.”
You cannot reach the Treasure without passing the trial.
It was natural not to know.
Unless, of course, one was a regressor who had returned from the future.
‘Reto Colles, if it’s the Treasure of the old temple site… it must be the Sky Crystal Helm.’
I remembered Secundus from before the regression obtaining it and wearing it around quite ostentatiously.
‘It was an especially good item among the Treasures.’
I felt the train stop.
The three princes left the station.
About ten men followed them from the general seating area.
Secundus introduced them as his confidants.
“Now. Let's hurry.”
At Secundus's light gesture with his chin, the men's presence faded.
He had probably given them an order to follow quietly.
The muscular prince took the lead, with Kateka and I following behind.
“Everyone, cover your faces. We're going to pass through the crowd quickly.”
It was bustling right next to the station, which turned out to be a market.
No matter what, they were princes.
There was a possibility that people would recognize them.
They did not want their whereabouts to be known to Ferbias or Leniar.
Secundus hurried.
His confidants also quickened their pace, blending into the crowd.
I secretly bought a sweet snack and put it in my mouth.
I gave one to Kateka as well to shut him up.
“We've left the village. Where do we go next?”
“Beyond the nearby ruins.”
As they left the village, the number of people quickly decreased.
They headed towards a nearby mountain.
The old temple site was said to be on the path up the mountain.
“Wait……!”
Kateka Keshulei stopped the group.
“…I see a suspicious shadow.”
“Does it look like a person, Kateka?”
“Let's check……”
Saying so, Kateka cupped his hands and brought them to his eyes.
The Magic of the Two Stars, Clairvoyance.
The old temple site, which had been at the edge of his vision, appeared large as if it were right in front of him.
Kateka Keshulei muttered in a low voice.
“…For ruins, there are a lot of people……”
“They got here fast.”
It was a distance beyond human sight, but it was clearly visible.
In front of the ruins they were aiming for, there was a group of people.
Every one of them had a balanced movement.
They were clearly private soldiers of another faction.
“…Fifteen, no, about sixteen of them.”
“Which side do they seem to be from?”
“…Hmm.”
Kateka Keshulei observed from a distance.
Even with their faces covered, it was not difficult to identify them.
The small axe hanging from their waists, their lanky height and blonde hair.
With just these features, he could be certain.
“…They have no intention of hiding it, they are warriors from the northeast……”
“Is it sister Leniar?”
The northeast of the Empire, the Duchy of Volmark.
First Princess Leniar's maternal home.
“Hmm. We only found out a short while ago, so the information must have leaked, right?”
“There are endless spies……”
“In the first place, it's impossible to hide anything completely while living in the same Imperial Palace.”
Kateka nodded his head.
He was still observing the group with his hands cupped.
“Do you see our sister by any chance?”
“…Our sister herself doesn't seem to be here.”
“Then that's fine. Only a prince or princess can enter the trial site.”
Secundus rolled up his sleeves.
“I'll go and sort it out.”
His confidants concealed their presence.
I, who had been listening to Kateka and Secundus's conversation, opened my mouth.
“What should I do, brother?”
“You stay put, Zionis. You've only just joined.”
Kateka also chimed in.
“That's right……. The youngest can just stay still. Brother Secundus will take care of it……”
“Hmm.”
Secundus Debius scratched his short hair.
His exposed forearm bulged as if it would burst.
“Watch this big brother's magnificent form.”