Chapter 268
“Why are you coming here so naturally?”
Leo walked to the window and answered curtly.
“There are only three compartnt cars.”
“The other two must already be a ss.”
“Yeah.”
He had his soul ransacked already too.
He waved his hand at the hip flask I'd left open and opened the small ventilation window. He seed sick and tired of the alcohol sll now. He glanced at my book and asked.
“What are you reading?”
“Thus Spoke Zarathustra.”
“Hm.”
Leo seed to have no intention of disturbing further, so he cleanly ignored the roar from the next room and took out his own book to read.
Then, as I took out an eyemask thinking I'd sleep, he suddenly opened his mouth.
“Are you married?”
“…….”
I confird the title of the book he held. It was The Wealth of Nations. His gaze was still on the book.
I concluded I'd misheard and just tried to sleep. No, I tried to.
“I'm asking.”
“Would I? Ah, this bastard.... I'm sleeping, so don't wake .”
He gestured toward the ring hidden under my glove and said.
“You said you'd wear it for a week and erase it.”
“…….”
I knew why he was like this. The last scene he'd seen was enough to make one doubt a comrade, so I could acknowledge that. Even I would suspect if a comrade had beco one with the enemy.
We hadn't yet had a proper conversation about the technologies or information learned in the archbishop's space, his whereabouts, etc. It hadn't even been 12 hours since I woke up and ca to Bavaria, and during that ti, I'd participated in governnt official etings and the knighting ceremony, so I had almost no ti with friends, so it was about ti for the talk to co up.
“The last thing you saw wasn't a wedding but an engagent ceremony, and the situation ended before the ceremony finished. It was all part of my plan, so you don't need to worry about anything. And....”
I removed the ring from my finger and showed him my bare hand.
“I can take it off. But I can't discard it.”
Erasing the letters written on my finger was the sa.
The plan changed. This was the last mana left to by the archbishop, so it had preservation value. Of course, saying it this briefly made it easy to misconstrue my intention.
“You know the situation isn't concluded yet. Until we see the end, we can't carelessly discard the resources left to us.”
“Hm.”
Leo nodded while turning to the next page of his book.
“Then that's fine. You haven't done anything yet, right?”
“Of course not.”
He seed worried I'd been caught up in Pleroma's ritual. Did he think their marriage or engagent would be the sa as a real old human's ritual? The possibility was extrely low from the archbishop's actions. He would give baptism or use unheard-of ritualistic rites to magically bind .
Actually, I had anticipated sothing like a Pleroma-style baptism even at the engagent ceremony, but fortunately, it didn't go that far. It couldn't because I exposed Lu Barre's identity before it ended.
Leo, concentrating sowhere else, spoke in a hollow-sounding voice.
“If I made you feel bad, sorry. That you could make a na for yourself in the empire in less than a year, and that he rose to an important position in Pleroma at once....”
Leo's gaze was on the book, but his irises didn't follow the letters. As if thinking he didn't need to pretend to read, he closed the cover and continued.
“I thought it was possible because your and his ability values were similar.”
“…….”
“I an the way of thinking and insight you or he use when navigating problems. I don't have the ability to understand or break him, but I'm confident you do.”
It wasn't praise but worry. Then I should give an answer fitting the intention.
“I couldn't do it alone.”
“…….”
As Tsheringen said, most core strategies arose because of , I executed them, and I directed them. Does that make this 100% my rit?
No. That day, I concluded at the end that this ga had wrapped up as a positive-sum ga for now. If I had to do it alone, this fight would have beco a chicken ga. Only ruin left.
But Leo was worried about even being in a position to mutually destroy with the archbishop, so I should soften it.
“If you hadn't helped , I wouldn't have even started the plan. I'd be dead.”
At those words, Leo looked at wordlessly and smiled.
“…Yeah. Thanks for trusting and entrusting us. Now we have to work so that the day cos when we can lead you to success without using you as a ans.”
“Thanks for saying that even though it's already enough. But don't feel burdened. You all are already the best comrades to .”
Leo just smiled and didn't say more on the topic. Instead, he pointed to my ear.
“But why aren't you wearing earrings.”
“Just.”
My answer seed ridiculous, as Leo let out a hollow laugh and said.
“Funny.... Just?”
“Sorry, didn't bring it?”
Even though I said that, Leo replied lightly as if no big deal.
“It'll clog. Even I, pierced over 10 years ago, still clogs if I take it out.”
“Yeah?”
Human recovery is amazing after all.
But....
'Why so nonchalant.'
Suspicious. With that inflexible personality, he should start from why I left it and give a long speech.
I had no ti to check further. Right then, sounds of people stopping in front of here ca from outside.
Kwaang—!
Elias ca into our room leading Tsheringen, Ulrike, and Heike. Now I saw the G String Aria from earlier was coming from outside.
“Kids! Why are you boringly not playing board gas or drinking!”
“Where's Narce?”
“Passed out.”
Poor guy. I heard Narce wasn't in good condition from using his ability throughout the tournant. These bastards must have been noisy, making him crash early.
“What were you talking about?”
“Nothing.”
Leo answered annoyedly.
“Nothing?! How can there be nothing! What did you talk about. They're low level so don't want to play together! Sothing like that?”
“Hit a nerve?”
Leo smiled and gave a sharp reply, but Tsheringen ignored it and interjected with a proper smile like Leo.
“Right~ What could they have been talking about.”
“What would you do knowing....”
“Let's go to the dining car!”
Before Leo could finish, Elias grinned and shouted. I let out a hollow laugh in absurdity and asked.
“What for there.”
“Eat! What else in the dining car?”
“We just ate; food going in again?!”
“Shouldn't you eat five als a day?”
“…….”
'What is he saying....'
Leo and I, who ate to live, both disagreed, but no choice. We were dragged out just like that.
The dining car was similar to our compartnt car but much more splendid. Chandeliers and intricate patterned wallpaper caught the eye. The Persian-style thick carpet and green velvet sofas laid in the compartnt car were here too.
Elias sat at the round table covered with white tablecloth and was already cutting steak. He must have ordered food before intruding our car. Whether the five als applied only to Elias, Tsheringen sitting in front of him was sipping juice.
I looked around and found the small orchestra at the far end. The Bach music I'd heard earlier was being played here.
I went to the next section and ordered a drink from the bartender, saying.
“Bach, huh.”
“You recognized it. It's played for Your Excellency. This is the train to Anhalt.”
The bartender answered smiling.
It must be because Bach was employed as court musician in Anhalt. Since he was a favorite composer, it was comfortable to listen.
Still, unfortunate for the friends. Only Bach music would play in Anhalt too; not sure if they could endure.
When I opened the book I was reading earlier while drinking, Elias shouted from beyond the open gangway door while chewing food.
“Luka.”
“Say after eating.”
“They say there's a library here. Since we're here, let's tour the train!”
“Do it after eating please....”
“You'll co if I finish eating?”
The sound of Elias's fork speeding up reached here.
“Wow.”
Heike muttered while looking at him. Not just any noble but a ruling family making fork hit plate sounds must seem special.
I sighed and downed the brandy in the glass in one shot. Why must it be? Because I knew Elias's speed. Elias was already bouncing over and waiting behind .
“Let's go!”
Leo and I were dragged by him—Leo had gone back to the compartnt car but was caught and dragged out—.
Thanks to Elias being bloodshot on finding Leo, Tsheringen, Heike, and Ulrike were pushed out of Elias's interest. Since they didn't follow, perhaps they passed the baton to us.
'Got unnecessarily involved....'
By now, they must be sighing in relief.
The library wasn't far and was a bit brighter than the dining car.
“Wow, my taste~”
Elias exclaid admiration as soon as entering the library.
Well deserved. The bookshelves were full of poetry collections and novels. Elias liked novels and poetry from novels.
Lacking energy, I half-reclined leaning on the couch below the back and opened the book I was reading. The cozy atmosphere of the library and the soft yellow light from the baroque-style lamp were nice.
Only the sound of Elias noisily turning book pages from the far stacks evenly disturbed my concentration. His whistling and muttering sounded loud.
“Oh, Pushkin good. Though I'm a German who wears a big fur hat, fills a mud mug to the brim with beer, and walks around with a cigar in mouth.”
Not really, but sarcasm. Pushkin had described Germans like that in a poem.
And interpreting this now ant I wasn't concentrating on the book at all.
Leo scolded.
“Speak quietly. It's a library.”
“But only us here~! Yay~ Screaming in a library was my dream.”
“Scream in your house library!”
“No thrill because it's my house.”
“…….”
I heard Leo groan. Elias wasn't just excited but childlike, running and jumping to . Actually, this level could be seen as more uplifted than usual, probably because of the trip.
“Luka what are you doing?! Reading here of all places?!”
It's a library, so reading is fine? Common sense shattered.
And having been with Elias for less than half a day, my eardrums felt perforated.
“Yeah, reading here. Get out.”
“What? No. Once visited is enough. Let's see other places! There's a barber here too....”
“How old are you. Go alone.”
“Tired?”
“Yeah.”
“Hm....”
Elias chewed his lip and rolled his eyes. He squatted in front of and shouted.
“Then I won't disturb more! Co with one last ti.”
“What now. If you keep this, I won't give you Gose.”
“No, really! You won't regret.”
I glared at him. But Elias was firm. At his sparkling eyes, I couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
“Yeah. Last.”
Elias nodded vigorously. Then grabbed my hand and ran at almost flying speed.
“Hey! Warn before running! Give ti to put mana in legs.”
“Luka's good at magic, so fine~”
Elias grinned and ran for a while, then stopped in front of a thick wooden door.
Wind sound heard a bit louder. This seed the last car.
“Close your eyes.”
“…….”
I gave a suspicious look, but Elias just covered my eyes. He held my arm and flung open the door.
Kwaaaaa—
“…!”
Wind rushed in, cool air touching my whole body. Instinctively, I opened my eyes.
“Ta-da~”
Elias laughed and gestured.
At the sight unfolding before , I let out a light hollow laugh.
Moon and lake visible far away. Dark blue coniferous forest flashing by the train side. We were passing through the forest.
Elias leaned on the wooden railing and waved for to co quickly.
“…Wow.”
Even Leo, who followed, exclaid shortly.
The place Elias ca to was the observation car.
Actually, I don't know what it's called in Korea. Anyway, this was the observation vehicle attached to the very back of the train.
“Cool, right?”
“Yeah. How did you know about this place?”
New human, probably first ti riding train too.
“Found it while you were holed up in the room~ Gotta search everywhere, right.”
“If born 400 years earlier, this guy would discover the new world....”
Pleased at Leo's mutter, Elias shrugged proudly. Leo said without thought, but Elias was already imrsed in imagination, saying how he'd act differently from barbaric Spanish army if he discovered the new world.
“I'd wrap the continent in a mana field so no one cos. That seems right.”
“Yeah. Like you.”
Leo laughed and replied.
In the anti, I sat at the table inside the observation car and watched the outside scenery.
Ti passed, Leo returned to the compartnt car, and every station stop, Heike, Tsheringen, and Ulrike showed their faces here once or twice. Narce couldn't co, still sleeping.
We stopped at Ingolstadt and Nuremberg, then passed Bayreuth and Jena. The dim city centers, Danube River, streams, and unknown noble-owned castles passing by captured my gaze. I kept watching outside like that.
“Wow~ Nice.”
During to Jena, Elias stayed awake with , even buying a bottle of alcohol to keep pouring down his throat.
“Kuh. Luka why not sleeping?”
“Watching this.”
“Yeah? too.”
Elias drew in the air with his wand. Blue mana shining in the pitch-black night sky scattered finely. Felt like in a movie.
I tried following, but it seed like embers falling, so I gave up. Sa feeling, as Elias giggled looking at . Then, an unexpected question ca from him.
“You okay?”
“…….”
I knew well what he ant by okay. He knew well what going ho ant, so clearly worried.
Yeah. The fact that I was going to Anhalt on my own feet was keeping from bed.
Even so, it wasn't a big problem. Since it was sothing I had to face soday, rather, I'd been waiting for this mont all along.
I smiled and nodded.
It was 4 AM when arriving at Leipzig, and now Dessau was soon.
When the train departed Leipzig station, friends ca out staggering, reeking of alcohol. Ulrike and Heike, who ca out to the observation car and sat next to , muttered with rotten faces.
“Die....”
“The compartnt car beds are too uncomfortable here....”
“You used the chair as bed, so of course uncomfortable.”
I replied laughing.
Right then, Tsheringen and Leo followed into the observation car. All seven gathered here.
Narce had woken refreshed upon arriving at Leipzig station and was drinking morning coffee with us. As friends entered, Narce laughed and asked.
“First ti our Lukas goes ho. Right?”
“Yeah. First for all, right?”
Ulrike said while looking around at the other friends.
Heike, coming out from the dining car holding a liquor bottle, nodded. Tsheringen, not tired, smiled smoothly and answered.
“I went once before, but don't rember much, so practically first.”
“Wow, you've been? Then uniquely....”
“Leo went then too. Right?”
Tsheringen asked Leo leaning on the wall. Leo nodded. Ulrike asked with a flustered face.
“When did just you two go?”
“At the celebration for Deputy Minister Adrian Askanien's imperial entry.”
Leo answered simply.
Tsheringen and Heike didn't know the circumstances, but the atmosphere almost froze for a mont. Fortunately, Ulrike asked energetically.
“Really long ago? Anyway, looking forward. What to do there for fun?!”
“Well... decided on Gose. That alone will take all ti.”
At my words, Ulrike couldn't hide her doubt. She didn't know yet that with Elias, drinking ti drags on massively. Just drinking gas would take all... Still, we wouldn't do only that. But to not crush Elias's expectations, say as little as possible for now.
Like that, thanks to friends, I could spend the last of the train to Anhalt with a sowhat comfortable mind.
From Leipzig to Dessau station was quick. When the station building started visible beyond the window, I packed my luggage bag, put on my hat, and asked.
“All prepared?”
“Of course!”
Ulrike, standing close behind , said energetically.
Soon I got off the train with the conductor's escort. When I raised my head, the familiar national flag and building ca into view.
Anhalt.
Back here again.
The chief butler and so servants standing on the platform spotted .
The chief butler, whose eyes t mine, slightly opened his mouth as if lost in thought and silent, then soon smiled softly and greeted.
“You've co, Your Excellency.”
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