After a struggle, Nade finally managed to pull Ronald up.
But once he had pulled him up,
the two of them were one nearly exhausted to death, and the other overtaxed by the excessive strain on his body.
Pat—Pat—
They collapsed side by side against the train door almost simultaneously.
Taking turns, the two began to breathe rhythmically in that spot.
"Huff..."
"I’m dead tired."
With his hands trembling, Ronald adjusted his collar and asked in fits and starts,
"Nade... Nade."
"Didn’t you just say you were infallible?"
Tilting his head to glance at Ronald, Nade quickly found an excuse for himself:
"This actually isn’t my fault."
"Didn’t my shoe break back at Black Mountain?"
"As a result, the shoes I found in that villa on Black Mountain had soles different from the ones I usually wear, which directly caused to slip."
"Otherwise, I would’ve never had such a problem."
"..."
Seeing Nade’s ’I believe myself anyway, whether you believe it or not is up to you’ expression, Ronald could only shake his head helplessly:
"Fine."
"At least we got on the train."
————
On both sides of the train, the scenery flew by.
While the stars above had not shifted in position, the forests on both sides of the tracks began to thin out.
Moving away from the direction nearing the great forest, the surroundings were still desolate,
but gradually moving away from that uninhabited quiet.
Based on his observation of the sky over the past few days, Ronald was certain the train was heading southwest.
If he rembered correctly...
That was the direction toward the sea.
Leisurely, Ronald asked,
"Nade, is this train heading to the seaside?"
Nade nodded:
"That’s right."
"Before reaching Greenwich, the East Wind also passes through two towns along the coast..."
Ronald noticed a word:
"East Wind?"
Sensing his companion’s puzzled tone, Nade continued to explain:
"Yes, the East Wind."
"Because it departs from the capital of Grid, Springs, and travels east to the empire’s easternmost border back and forth, Her Majesty gave this train such a na."
"I see..."
The two chatted back and forth, and as they did, the ti also passed by, second by second.
About fifteen minutes later,
Nade stood up, using the train carriage to support himself, and patted off the dust adhering to his clothes:
"According to the ti,"
"I’ll be getting off at the next town tomorrow morning after it gets light."
Ronald looked up at his companion,
or rather, the first man he could call a friend since crossing over into this world, who was now regarding him with steel blue eyes that held the hue of impending separation.
Then, Nade stretched a hand out to Ronald, who was still sitting on the ground:
"Co on, Ronald."
"Yeah."
Grasping the offered hand, Ronald got to his feet with the help.
They had rested for more than a quarter of an hour, and now it was ti to move again.
"Nade, we..."
"Listen to , Ronald."
Ronald was about to speak, but Nade interrupted him first.
The rchant climbed toward the roof of the train carriage, holding the handle, while he said to him:
"You and I are not the sa."
"There’s no need to stay in that uninteresting little seaside town."
"Or two stops later at Greenwich, or at the end of this train’s journey, the capital of this country, Springs."
"That sort of place is where soone like you should exert your abilities."
Keeping up with him, Ronald imdiately started to explain:
"I..."
"I know."
This ti, it was Nade who interrupted Ronald’s words.
Standing on the roof of the car, after pulling up Ronald who was climbing up as well, Mr. rchant spoke in a very complex tone:
"You have so questions that are difficult to ask, I can see that."
"So don’t worry, I can arrange both your identity and place to stay."
"Even if this is a personal investnt of mine."
"Is that okay?"
"..."
Ronald fell silent.
Given the discernnt of his traveling companion, it was only natural that he could see there was a problem.
So now, Ronald was sowhat uncertain.
Was this ’investnt’ simply the ’personal investnt’ Nade described, or was there sothing deeper, so ’thing’ more profound at play?
Insufficient data—
Impossible to judge.
Stably standing on top of the train, he let the cold wind blow up the corners of his coat.
Ronald could co up with an excuse to refuse directly.
Without even passing through his brain, he could find a whole host of reasons.
But after all, he was not the type of person who always maintained a detached deanor, a rational machine; after experiencing life and death together with another person, he couldn’t simply refuse Nade.
"..."
Nade saw Ronald’s silence.
Then, the rchant smiled.
"Ha ha."
"You clever guys always tend to overthink."
"Let’s go ahead to the cars in front."
Leading the way, Ronald asked:
"The cars in front?"
"You had prepared in advance?"
"That’s right." In response to Ronald’s question, Nade readily admitted, "I had reserved a private car when the train departed, we just need to get there without alarming anyone else."
"..."
Interesting.
At the ti this train had departed, Nade was still playing survival in the wilderness with him.
How could he possibly have gone to the station to buy a ticket!
Moreover, even if it was a reserved ticket,
Nade had been moving with the trade caravan for a long ti prior and simply didn’t have the opportunity to buy a ticket.
There was only one explanation—
Nade had other companions who had purchased the ticket for him before the train departed.
That’s why he was so eager to board this train!
But with this ca a new issue.
If the Black Mountain incident hadn’t occurred, they should’ve continued with the original plan to head to the seaside town.
By the caravan’s pace, Nade would not have made it in ti.
What was the reason then?
"..."
Ronald pondered the situation from behind, while Nade at the front leading the way seed to notice nothing.
After crossing three cars on top of the train,
He looked around, counting the number of cars and then spoke:
"This is it."
"The third compartnt down from the locomotive, that’s our destination."
"Alright."
They climbed down from the top of the car, and since it was night, the car’s doors were locked.
Pressing his ear to the door to make sure the Nightwatchman wasn’t there, Nade began to fiddle with the iron lock on the door.
Click—
Just like back at Black Mountain, although the train’s door lock was more sophisticated, Nade quickly picked it open.
Quietly sliding open the door of the car, the two of them slipped in with the cover of the night.
The interior of the car was very nice.
Polished wooden paneling was placed in every corner of the car, which included so shiny tal ornants, and down the right side aisle that served as a passageway, a red and yellow carpet was laid.
Considering the era of the world they were in,
This was definitely one of the best carriages on the train!
Leading Ronald to the door of the third compartnt of the car, Nade first ran his finger lightly across the door, then pulled it open and entered inside.
The two sat opposite each other inside the carriage.
Feeling the soft cushions of the long bench, they looked out at the night scenery speeding by outside the window.
Both understood—
Tonight, they could finally rest.
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