Chapter 110: Chapter 110

Chapter 110 - Two People Alike

The Round Robin had reached its final chapter, and its fervor was reaching its peak.

And so were the amounts.

I was beyond astonished; honestly, I was now enjoying it.

'How high will it go?'

It was no longer an amount that felt realistic. In Korean Won, 145 billion?

I felt like using an initial-consonant-only expression for laughter.

"This is... quite unusual..."

And this competition seemed unfamiliar even to Serene and Elwin... their considerable bewilderment was a spectacle.

Yuna was still completely spaced out.

Well, since it's come to this, let's enjoy it.

In many ways, it was a shocking scene for an ordinary modern person who knew nothing of the lives of the world's highest echelons... but wasn't it not a bad situation?

"23.5 billion. Are there any bids above 23.5 billion?"

As the intense bidding war between the Imperial Princess and Kirios ended, the auction hall fell into silence.

Of course, there was no one who could bid higher than this.

I won't bother to say how much that is in real-world currency anymore.

"『Death Without Cost』, successfully bid at 23.5 billion, number 105!"

This is driving me crazy.

After that, well. There was nothing much to report. The Round Robin concluded as such.

All auction participants, including us, exited the auction hall.

And, by then, it was 7 o'clock.

As Yuna, who had barely regained her senses, muttered that, I also empathized and nodded.

"Regular habits are important, you know."

"Is that important right now...?"

Yuna retorted with an incredulous expression, but Serene and Elwin, who were walking with us, seemed to have different opinions.

"No, this is definitely an important point."

"Maintaining one's rhythm of life is certainly important."

"...I'm starting to feel even more distant from you guys..."

Anyway, after that, we headed to the dining car.

Since other people who participated in the Round Robin also did the same, the dining car quickly became crowded with people.

As Yuna, who was hungry and muttering things she usually didn't, said, it was indeed delicious. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

Although it was usually tasty, it seemed they had prepared a special meal today, as it was the highlight of the Railroad Mysterium: the Round Robin.

They probably expected people to pour out at this time.

Anyway, our group began our meal... and the topic of conversation during the meal was, of course, already set.

"Truly... it was heated, this Round Robin."

When Elwin started the conversation, I agreed.

It was incredibly heated. Although it was an intended part.

"I didn't think Her Imperial Highness would invest so heavily in artifacts..."

"Actually, the Duchy's expenditure is equally questionable."

And as Serene continued, Elwin countered her.

As it was right after the Round Robin, it might have been obvious, but the table's attention was entirely focused on that.

This wasn't just true for our table.

-This year's highest auction price is already a foregone conclusion.

-It could even rank among the highest in history.

-It was a good spectacle.

-Why did the Duchy and the Imperial Family spend such enormous sums on those artifacts?

-Moreover, the items they competed for overlapped.

-Could it be a clash between the Crown Prince's Faction and the Imperial Princess' Faction...?

All the surrounding tables were talking about this Round Robin.

It was becoming a complex story, even intertwining political dynamics.

In other words, it was very good.

'I'd be grateful if it became even more of a topic.'

I secretly hoped the rumors would catch more fire.

After roughly finishing my meal, I was slowly heading towards my cabin car... but.

"Do you have a moment?"

Led by the Imperial Princess' invitation, we came out onto the train's balcony.

By then, it was past 8 o'clock, and complete darkness had fallen over the land beyond the balcony.

'What kind of train has a balcony?'

Honestly, that thought also crossed my mind. Thinking with modern knowledge, it was a truly absurd situation.

In a world where people run faster than bullets, generate missile-like impacts with their bare bodies, and fireballs fly from their fingertips, would such worries have any meaning?

Well, there must have been some kind of magic at work.

I thought that and simply enjoyed the outside view. And felt a pleasant breeze.

And, as we both silently gazed outside.

"You completely got them."

I was the first to speak.

"We completely screwed them over."

And Regina's response was that.

"...Shouldn't you consider Her Imperial Highness' dignity?"

"What does it matter? Who's watching~?"

'I'm watching, you know.'

Although I didn't convey these exact words, I wanted to say it with that nuance, but I couldn't utter them.

Well, it was partly due to politeness, but…

Because Regina's face, as she sighed and looked outside with a subtle smile, seemed so utterly at peace.

"Sometimes, you know, I think."

"What are you thinking of?"

"That perhaps your words are merely the delusions of a complete lunatic, and I'm just punching air."

I couldn't logically refute it with, "That can't be."

Because there was no clear evidence to prove my words so far.

Of course, unless Regina was someone with poor political acumen, it seemed she was already convinced by the circumstantial evidence I presented.

Anyway, as I was thinking that, Regina opened her mouth again.

"Do you know why I trust you?"

Regina using the word 'trust.'

'It doesn't suit her.'

It was not a word that suited the Regina I knew, at least.

What kind of person was Regina in ? Was she not someone who exercised extreme caution to avoid even the slightest mistake?

No, a more accurate description would be... that she was someone who trusted no one.

In , what Regina trusted was only the dynamics of self-interest.

'I give A, so I receive B.'

Such a give and take.

The current situation would be no different.

I had provided Regina with a stepping stone to overturn a politically disadvantaged situation, and Regina had given me the position of an Imperial Princess' confidante and various supports.

'But, is the Regina I know truly all of Regina?'

Whenever I saw Regina's occasional unexpected actions, I couldn't help but fall into such thoughts.

And it was the same now.

After all, she was a character stained with all sorts of lies and hypocrisy in ...

But I had never heard her use the word 'trust.'

Because of this, I didn't give a formal answer to Regina's question as usual, but asked with sincerity.

Perhaps it was closer to the intention of 'why are you saying such things to me?'

"That's... perhaps because you live your life so fiercely."

I was startled, my eyes widening uncharacteristically.

Even if the Regina I knew and the Regina I faced in reality were different, her answer went far beyond the scope of my expectations.

"You live your life so desperately. I saw it... and it resonated with me."

There was no longer a smile on Regina's face.

"Actually, I don't really know. But, I just thought about it a bit, you see."

If even this expression was a lie, I would simply let myself be deceived.

To that extent, that expression was filled with indescribable emotions.

"I don't know exactly what you aim for... but I could feel that you are fiercely living your life to survive."

"Perhaps I saw parts of myself in you?"

As Regina reached the end of her story, she smiled again and spread her palms.

It was her usual playful smile.

"...That we are alike?"

"Think what you wish."

Looking back now, Regina's life must have been a struggle for survival.

Born an Imperial Princess of a disadvantaged faction, she was probably used as a tool in political struggles from the moment she took her first steps.

And to survive, she would have become the subject of political struggles.

For the Imperial Princess, defeat in political struggles would have been tantamount to death.

No, she would literally have met death.

As it was in the original .

But the Imperial Princess' opponent was by no means easy. Her opponent was a superhuman, infinitely close to an anomaly, who had reached beyond human cognition: Claudio Renart Abellon.

The foundation of Claudio's ability was his completely severed humanity.

Living with Regina, I came to know. Regina was indeed meticulous and possessed astonishing abilities far beyond those of ordinary people, but…

Regina still retained her humanity. I judged this from the 'unexpected aspects' Regina occasionally showed.

And perhaps that was Regina's misfortune, and the cause of her defeat.

In that unbeatable fight, Regina must have resisted desperately.

It was a scene all too familiar to me.

In an unbeatable fight, approaching the impossible by repeatedly dying.

The only difference, perhaps, was that Regina did not have the ability to overcome death.

"Indeed... it seems we are alike."

At my words, Regina smiled brightly, then slowly approached me.

And, stood beside me.

"If you think that... then shall we cause some more big trouble?"

"Well, what if you and I were to team up—?"

Why would you make such a joke?

"...Don't make such jokes in front of other people."

"Hmph, is it really that strange? My elder brother already got together with your sister."

Yes, I lost. I sighed, conveying that meaning.

As if pleased by my expression, Regina curved her lips into a smile again.

Well. But honestly, I'll say it.

Being with someone who is similar to oneself might be quite comforting.

If Regina's words were a lie... well.

Wouldn't it be right to be deceived by a lie of this extent?

A pleasant night breeze brushed against my cheek.