Chapter 111: Chapter 111

Chapter 111 - A New Spark

Well, there wasn't anything particularly noteworthy besides that.

I simply left the balcony as usual and returned to my room, as did everyone else, after exchanging trivial updates, that is.

What was a little surprising was that time passed without anything special happening the next day, or the day after that.

“Here. This is the artifact you successfully bid on, 『Delnos's Fist』.”

Except for receiving the purchased artifact along with that rigid remark from the crew member... well, only ambiguous things happened.

“Home delivery is also possible... but please choose whatever is more convenient for you, whether you prefer to take it yourself.”

Haha. Home delivery, huh.

“...I’ll take it myself.”

I replied that way and looked at the artifact I had successfully bid on, 『Delnos's Fist』.

‘『Delnos's Fist』. It probably means a dagger that kills a fortress...’

Befitting such a grand name, 『Delnos's Fist』 was a dagger with geometric and elegant patterns engraved on its jet-black blade.

From a meta perspective, primarily a gamer's perspective, I knew for sure that this item was of a high grade.

That didn't mean it was designed in a way that sacrificed the practicality typical of fantasy weapons. It had a proper guard and an overall classic structure.

I took 『Delnos's Fist』 out of my room, twirled it once, and then put it back into my pocket.

Overall, I was satisfied. When I saw it only in the catalog, I focused on its abilities, but since it was a dagger I would use frequently, how well it fit in my hand was also important...

Fortunately, it was quite practical.

‘I have high expectations for this weapon; I wonder if it will work out.’

『Delnos's Fist』 was not an artifact that would suddenly boost my stats or prevent me from regressing altogether.

To be precise, it was closer to an artifact that would drastically reduce the number of regressions.

‘I had already given up on the idea of not regressing in the first place.’

No matter how much I tried, or how many shortcuts I took, there was always a fundamental wall of talent and ability that I couldn't overcome.

I had keenly felt that in my previous fight with Theodore.

Well... while it was best for me to become stronger... that method still seemed a distant prospect.

-Remember this. Don't be bound by common sense up to now.

I still hadn't fully digested the teachings I received from Acaite before leaving the academy, so I still had a long way to go.

If there was a simple way to become stronger, it would be to repeat death hundreds of times, but honestly, I didn't want to do that.

That's why I chose 『Delnos's Fist』. Rather than raising my stats, I chose the direction of minimizing regression.

However... it didn't seem like I would need to use 『Delnos's Fist』 immediately.

That was connected to the 'nothing special' I mentioned earlier.

Yes, my recent days had been too peaceful. I woke up, ate breakfast, trained in the training facility provided on the train... I won't bother mentioning what happened after that. I had already mentioned it countless times.

‘It really feels like I’m on a trip.’

A train journey, crossing the continent on a rather luxurious train.

My thoughts had been solely focused on countering the Crown Prince's Faction, but when I thought about it, it was quite a romantic situation.

And with my friends, too. It was cringey, but... wasn't it?

I admit it. Honestly, the recent days had been a little enjoyable.

Days spent exchanging sword blows with Elwin, teasing Yuna, and chatting with Serene. Those kinds of days.

However, after hundreds of regressions, perhaps such tranquility didn't suit me at all, I suddenly found myself thinking.

‘Was something happening beneath the surface again?’

‘Was I missing something?’

It was an anxiety close to an obsession.

And because of such thoughts, I had asked Regina to keep an eye on the movements of Robelia and Kirios, the reasons we came to this Railroad Mysterium.

‘It was a good flow, but... honestly, I was uneasy.’

Certainly, it was a good thing that I obtained information about the Crown Prince's Faction and dealt a blow to 『Ad Astra』.

But was the Crown Prince such an easygoing person?

It wouldn't be strange if he tightened our necks from a blind spot that we didn't perceive.

And Regina seemed to be well aware of that fact, but...

“I am keeping an eye on everyone on the train, including the people from the Duchy of Enlight... but there is nothing particularly noteworthy, Young Master.”

Regina gave that answer.

Regina, who was more cautious than I was and was even described as the incarnation of paranoia in , said as much.

“Yes, I will continue to monitor, but... it seems reasonable to provisionally conclude that there’s no room for the opponent to react further to this incident. It was our surprise attack, after all.”

Since Regina said that much, I couldn't retort anything.

That didn't mean Regina had let go of all her suspicions.

There would be no openings. She was just rating the possibility low.

“Well. Since I will handle the surveillance for now, Young Master, you can relax a little. Until we reach our destination, that is.”

“...Are you referring to when we return to Endinium?”

Seeing my reaction, Regina chuckled.

“Sometimes, you can be quite clueless...”

If Regina said that, it meant there was a clue.

“...Wasn't the Railroad Mysterium the destination of this journey?”

When I, who couldn't recall at all, asked that, Regina shook her head with a triumphant expression. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel★fire.net

“Young Master, when did I tell you to keep your schedule open?”

Then she threw the question back at me.

“That was... right after the academy was attacked by an unknown assailant last time...”

So that's what it was.

As I showed a hint of understanding, Regina revealed the answer.

“That’s right. The Railroad Mysterium is indeed one destination, but... the time I told you to keep your schedule open was before Professor Hugo obtained the information.”

“...So there was originally another destination, and the Railroad Mysterium was both a destination and a means of travel?”

As I had mentioned before, the Railroad Mysterium was a massive circular line that encircled the continent.

In other words, taking the Railroad Mysterium meant one could travel to the north, west, east, and south of the continent.

And Regina was now heading somewhere using the Railroad Mysterium.

‘How did it align so perfectly?’

I could truly feel that she was someone who would never take a loss, no matter when I saw her.

“Then, may I ask what the destination is?”

When I, having vaguely understood, asked again, Regina looked out the window and answered in a low whisper.

“The south, near the Garcia Countdom.”

The south, near the Garcia Countdom.

“...Does that give you a clue?”

Why wouldn't I get a clue?

In truth, I was quite ignorant about information regarding regions not highlighted in .

That's because any information not revealed in the game or lore books was tantamount to completely unknown knowledge for me.

However, I remembered information about this region.

The reason for that was... this region was a significantly important element even in the main story of .

It was a region where the people's uprising, unable to bear the exploitation any longer, was now in full swing.

And if I hadn't stopped Gabriel... it would have been a region where a civil war, instigated by Gabriel disguised as a rebel, would have been in full swing by now.

And it was also the region where one of the seven protagonists of , the 'Visitor from Outside,' Croban Trase, was active.

In the southern part of the Arche Empire, within the Garcia Countdom, a rebellion was currently underway.

The cause was simple. The exploitation by the Garcia Countdom, which had ruled the region for a long time, had grown increasingly severe over time, eventually exceeding all bounds.

Because of this, the common people rose up. They hanged the landlords and nobles who had exploited them, and picked up swords and spears instead of farming tools.

The Southern Rebels were formed in this way. Originally, it should have been a minor disturbance... but the fact that renowned heroes joined the rebel army, causing the flames to spread even wider, suggested that the situation was developing unusually.

However, Enrique, the current leader of the rebel army, had no intention of escalating this uprising into a full-blown civil war.

‘If we clash, the result will surely be ruin.’

It was a given. Although the rebel army had grown significantly due to several strokes of luck, if they were to face the knights and troops dispatched from the central government... the outcome would be as clear as day.

Therefore, Enrique had made negotiating with the central government his primary goal in the current situation.

And that was also the objective of the Moderate Faction who followed Enrique.

However, not all rebels agreed with Enrique's intentions.

Just as there was a Moderate Faction like Enrique, there was also a Hardline Faction opposed to Enrique.

What was suffered must be returned in kind.

They must advance and punish the rotten government's dogs.

There were those who exerted themselves, sacrificing their own lives and the lives of the common people, for such a dream-like plan.

And... this time, they finally committed an act.

“...How could they have made such a choice...?”

Enrique sighed and looked again at the letter that was on his table.

[Urgent news: Key figures of the Hardline Faction are moving north.]

[According to intelligence, the target is the Railroad Mysterium, the train the princess is aboard.]

They were trying to ignite a flame.

A flame that would take countless lives, and a flame that even those who ignited it would be unable to extinguish.

There was a man silently listening to that sigh; he was the one who delivered this letter.

Also... from another perspective, one of the seven protagonists of .

The 'Visitor from Outside,' Croban Trase.