Chapter 53

Chapter 53

Eastern Express

#53

The Steel Tower that finished the awarding ceremony entered full-scale restoration work.

Quickly but quietly.

The lord decided after discussion not to inform the incident that occurred in the Steel Tower to the outside.

“Let’s do so.”

“You thought well. For now that seems correct.”

It was a result actively reflecting Bran’s opinion.

Of course later everyone would know the truth, but for now it was a time when peace is more important than journalism.

If the incident originating from Silien spreads in the city now uncontrollable great chaos would be caused.

The switched lord!

The secret laboratory underground!

New model golems made from death row inmates’ brains!

The mage of the Steel Tower who went crazy!

The golem loitering the streets tried to kill you and your family and destroy the city!

Just extracting keywords the breath is blocked.

It was not that the public knowing this helps catch the Abyss.

Rather there was a high possibility that an environment good for the Abyss to run wild would arrive because they distrust each other.

‘It would be good if the intelligence bureau produces meaningful results.’

Instead, the core information was conveyed to the empire’s intelligence bureau as a secret letter.

Along with the attachment that since it is an organization more dangerous and larger in scale than thought certain measures are needed.

Ah. Bentley who is in a coma was also transferred together.

“To Kargai. You said going.”

“Yes.”

Bran answered while sipping tea.

Although expecting because it is the tea the lord likes most it was just ordinary barley tea.

Of course this was not bad either.

They were spending time of a private meeting in the conference room located on the top floor of the Steel Tower.

After a long silence the lord nodded.

“······If you guys. There would be a reason.”

“Thank you.”

Bran smiled.

While worrying not making unnecessary interference was the advantage of our lord.

Actually there was also a reason.

It was not only to fully display the performance of Weed’s Pack.

‘As of now it is the optimal route.’

He planned while flipping the calendar for the past few days.

When comparing using the degree Silien’s plan was progressing as a measure, there was still quite a lot of time left until a major incident directly connected to destruction occurs.

Enough to visit one or two places and reinforce power.

Thanks to stopping the destruction of Valkeros ending earlier than thought.

Furthermore, seeds of evil were also planted in the Kargai Plateau.

“When departing?”

“For now thinking five days later.”

“Is that so. Understood.”

“Why?”

“A farewell party. Have to do.”

It was a tone of asking something obvious.

Even though he bestowed a reward separately from the Steel Badge it seemed not satisfying.

Not even a countryside grandmother.

Farewell party.

Emptying the teacup Bran smiled.

“That is anticipated.”

Two days later from that dawn.

Bran’s group left Valkeros.

****

Although sorry to the lord the farewell party was omitted.

Not forever parting, and since reunion was sufficiently shared.

And if spending more time here he felt he would really want to settle.

‘The time of full stomach and warm back lengthening is not good.’

Dawn when even the sun has not risen yet.

Bran’s group boarded the train heading to the Kargai Plateau from Valkeros central station.

The named transportation that exists even in the game “Eastern Express”.

Precisely it was a train that operates not to Kargai but to the nearest station, but with that alone the travel time could be drastically shortened.

“Now here is also goodbye.”

Ilark monologued.

She was sitting on the spacious seat looking outside the dark window.

Whether because leaving the city where she stayed for a long time, subtle regret was tinged in the eyes.

“Uwaa, this large machine moving···!”

Kale was appreciating the outside while sticking his face tightly to the window.

The appearance of eyes sparkling was exactly a child.

The platinum blonde that grew to the shoulders was shaking matching the train’s rattling.

“···The Steel Badge is good.”

Bran fiddled with the medal on his chest.

Even in the original world he had never sat on a chair this large and wide.

It was a seat the staff at the ticket office who saw the Steel Badge screamed and upgraded for free.

Furthermore since it is a form of seats installed facing each other two by two the feeling of traveling overflowed.

Unfolding the route map Ilark conveyed a question.

“So Bran. How far did you say going?”

“Havelga.”

“Havelga··· Havelga··· ah, found. Since it is the terminal station there will be no matter of confusing.”

Ilark nodded.

Their destination Havelga station was located at the northeastern end of the route.

The required time is a full two days.

Since sleeper cars are also separately provided except for being a bit stuffy it could be said to be a very comfortable trip.

Rattle.

As the train entered the tunnel penetrating the Red Mountains the outside of the window was covered.

Only then Kale who detached his face from the window turned to Bran.

“By the way Bran. Can I ask just one thing?”

“What?”

“What is on the underground 5th floor of the secret laboratory? Clearly Bran said there is up to the 5th floor, but we seem to have only entered up to the 4th floor.”

“You remembered that? As expected smart ones are different.”

Bran admired.

As expected this guy’s head is good.

Although it was a story that just passed by.

Recalling the memory as a player he let out a meaningful smile.

“······There is a very terrifying secret.”

Even if said he would not believe.

The true use of the Steel Tower is not the tower.

The last wonder left by the legendary blacksmith Valkeros exists right there.

Information that as of now only three people or so on the entire continent would know.

Bran informed only Linhardt of the existence of the underground 5th floor and came.

‘Will that gentleman be able to do it?’

Even if not using right away preparation must be done so it can be used anytime.

Of course knowing the secret and activating the function of the 5th floor was a different story.

Kale tilted his head.

“What? I’m curious.”

“Now it is a secret. Later see directly.”

“Ek, where is there that kind of thing?”

“If I say so then it is so guy. I’ll praise only the excellent memory.”

The room for use arising is still a matter of the distant future.

Honestly speaking remaining only as a forgotten legend was the best ending.

Still if giving just one hint.

“I’ll tell this. The underground 5th floor is connected to the Dragon Heart Furnace.”

“Dragon Heart Furnace? That in front of uncle Bilmoris’s smithy?”

“Yes. Infer the rest once.”

“Uuum··· what is it?”

Kale’s eyes narrowed.

If rich in imagination he might be able to match it.

One of the reasons he has to save Valkeros was also because he becomes able to use that giant asymmetric power.

Hwaak!

Then, at the same time as the train exited the tunnel bright light poured.

Turning to the window side the three’s eyes widened round.

“Oh.”

At some point the east was breaking.

Valkeros receiving the dawn light was shining like a longsword just taken out from the furnace.

The journey so far was quickly flashing before the eyes.

Although he saw a lot of dirty appearances, and experienced countless crises of death since in the end he overcame it was fine anyway.

Bran smiled faintly.

“Let’s see again.”

Toward the city of fire and steel that was gradually receding.

The hammer sound was no longer heard.

****

Long long ago, a very long time ago.

In one corner of the world, in a place where wind and starlight stay there was a plateau called Kargai.

There lived a nomadic people who ride horses well.

They were people who live in tents made of leather.

During the day they hunted wild beasts, at night they sang the sky where stars flow.

And, by the people’s side there was one king.

A great king who rules the country of wind.

When he raised his hand the entire plateau stopped,

When he smiled a hawk descended from the sky.

Under the king’s excellent rule people lived without knowing hunger and war.

But one day, the emperor of the empire appeared in Kargai.

A person who believes all land existing under the sky is his own.

Looking around the fertile plateau a greedy smile rose at the corner of the emperor’s mouth.

- This land is also mine!

Like that war broke out.

The imperial army killed people and beasts and set fire to the green plateau.

Although Kargai’s warriors were brave the empire was too strong.

Like that the great country of wind gradually, slowly collapsed.

The king placed in a desperate crisis pondered for many nights.

And in the end made the worst choice.

To offer the souls of all the people following him to the devil.

To protect the land of the ancestors.

- To protect the plateau··· everyone must become one heart.

Despite the beloved wife’s dissuasion the king eventually held the ritual.

And offered with his own hands.

All the people who believed and followed him.

Even the wife and children.

Really funny isn’t it?

Without people what use are ancestors and land?

Anyway. The ritual succeeded.

That night, the plateau turned into a howling wilderness.

An unidentified disease covered the imperial army.

The dead Kargai warriors rose as ghosts.

A cavalry charging riding ghost horses.

Ghost wails ringing out from a field with nothing.

The startled emperor ran away taking the soldiers.

Like that Kargai became land that no one seeks.

Ah, what happened to the great king?

Don’t be surprised. He is still alive.

Inside a large tent that moves following the wind.

Sitting on a chair made of bones.

Harvesting the heads of invaders who dare enter the plateau.

Waiting only for the day of resurrection again.

So, child.

Absolutely do not enter Kargai.

That place where even the wind loses its way, is already not the land of the living.

Ringing out from the fog-

“······Be careful of the hoof sounds.”

Tak.

Bran closed the book.

On the cover made of horse leather the title “Cursed Plateau” was written.

Along with the author’s name engraved small.

A fairy tale book Bran brought to explain about Kargai.

Although a book he read even in the game, directly reading it was more eerie.

‘What fairy tale book is this creepy?’

And, it seemed not only Bran felt that way.

“······.”

“······.”

Kale and Ilark were listening to the story from the opposite side.

Kale was catching his breath while tightly gripping his fists with both hands, and Ilark was wrapping Kale’s waist with her tail and pulling him toward herself.

It was reasonable.

Although the story is the story the scenery outside the window was also quite dreary.

An empty wilderness where not even one animal passes was continuing for several hours.

The second night ahead of arriving at Havelga.

In the dimly lit passenger car only the three including Bran were riding.

Since an old man got off this morning they were the only passengers.

“I-is it over···?”

Just as Kale was about to carefully open his mouth.

“Waaak!”

Bran suddenly stuck his face in and shouted.

“Aei fuck startled!”

Ilark bounced back.

Bang!

Reflexively raising her body she hit the crown on the luggage rack and sat down.

“Kraaak! My head!”

“Compared to the size you are timid. Lady Ilark.”

“Y-you, doing that kind of thing well···!”

Bran giggled.

The sound of Ilark’s heart thumping was being heard even here.

A reaction with reward for reading the book.

“Honestly this is you being timid. Look at Kale a bit. How composed.”

Bran said in a tone tinged with pride.

Unlike Ilark who filmed slapstick comedy Kale was staring at himself with eyes wide open.

Finally grew Kale. I don’t know why Weed’s Pack doesn’t activate.

Just as he was smiling while recalling Kale’s cowardly past.

“···This guy fainted?”

“What?”

Ilark said.

Looking closely Kale’s limbs were limp.

Just as he thought surely and poked the cheek, a reaction close to sleep talking returned.

“Ubeub.”

“Ah.”

Now looking the eyes were only open but the focus was completely loose.

Sighing Bran slowly swept his face.

This kind of thing is a member of the great nine families, a cleric who inherited the blood of Astrea.

“The liver is smaller than a pill bug’s dung···.”

Extremely uneasy.

In Kargai Kale’s role is particularly more important.

Just as he was pondering whether to wake by flicking the nose.

“Hey. Are you okay?”

Suddenly an unfamiliar voice rang out from close.

“What···”

“Fuck! What?!”

Bran’s eyes widened.

Ilark was startled and gripped the axe.

In the place he hurriedly turned some short dwarf was standing.

The dwarf waved his hands.

“C-calm down! I am not a ghost but a person!”

“···You are?”

“I was riding in the next car and came because a loud sound was heard. My god, to think there was still a person who hasn’t gotten off besides me!”

The dwarf admired.

A truly shabby yet strange appearance dwarf.

Large goggles that a WWII pilot or so would use.

A giant backpack that could even put himself in.

From the entrance of the bulging backpack the heads of a pickaxe and field shovel were protruding.

Although rude if thinking this way no occupation other than grave robber comes to mind.

Examining the group’s faces the dwarf asked back in an excited voice.

“H-just in case asking··· seeing that you remain this far are you guys also going to Kargai by any chance?”

“······.”

“Aa, please answer that it is so! The place I am going is too rugged a path to walk without a conversation partner!”

Bran’s eyes narrowed thinly.

The noisy tone and gestures were somehow familiar.

Although the face was different he clearly saw a similar character somewhere.

And it seemed a person in a quite important position.

Rummaging the past memory Bran asked him.

“By any chance, is your father’s or grandfather’s name Benden Kradil?”

“Mm? How do you know my name?”

The dwarf raised an eyebrow.

Bran’s face hardened stiffly.

What? Himself?

Extremely flustered.

There was a considerable difference from what seen in the game.

If he is Benden he naturally had to know.

Because the author of the fairy tale book Bran was reading until just now was this dwarf.

“Eh··· I see.”

Of course it was not only because of that.

Bran knew this dwarf’s future.

From the moment shining most in life, to the terrible end met in the end all.

If someone requests he could even write a timeline on paper.

‘An amazing coincidence. Even though he wandered the world from a young age.’

The dwarf’s name is Benden Kradil.

The later head of the empire’s adventurer guild, and a man who becomes the most renowned archaeologist on the continent.

Although a museum named after himself is even built according to his lifelong wish, an unfortunate big shot who closes his eyes without seeing it in the end.

“Anyway nice to meet. As this friend said just now my name is Benden Kradil. I concurrently serve as archaeologist and explorer, writer, brave warrior.”

And, he was one of the playable characters of Return Road.

“Here the seats are quite good. Completely different from the 3rd class seat I was in. Can I sit together?”

“Uwaak! Brush off the dirt and sit!”

···Although now he just looked like a dirt beggar.