Chapter 30
The little snake crawled out from beneath Telecus’s body and flew toward me.
I couldn’t ignore the expectation and affection filling its black eyes, so I held out both hands.
“Come here, Baemi.”
Baemi climbed onto my palm, coiled up, and went limp.
So it loses strength after using its venom. It had gone slack for a while earlier too, after biting that kidnapper boss.
Baemi, if it’s that exhausting, I wish you wouldn’t bite unless you really have to…
Maimon looked at the snake and asked,
“Is that really a wild snake? It seems rather attached to you.”
“It is a wild snake.”
It was true. I never adopted it. I never even thought about picking it up.
“You shouldn’t keep a venomous snake.”
“I know.”
“If you know, you should release it.”
“I want to…”
Having recovered a bit of strength, Baemi flew over to Irix this time, perched beside his neck, and rubbed its head against him.
I saw it—the cold sweat glistening on Irix’s forehead.
“Maimon, this belongs to senior.”
“Wild.”
“Be quiet. It was in senior’s room.”
“That’s not quite right. Baemi was there before I was. Technically, I entered Baemi’s habitat.”
“You’re the one who brought it out of that habitat.”
“I told you—it followed me.”
“And yet you won’t abandon it.”
“You know I can’t.”
It follows me on its own. And it’s already helped me twice—I can’t throw it away in good conscience.
The problem is that all that “help” results in someone dying.
Please, let them both have deserved it.
Just then, a large man appeared through the tattered train car. It was the waiter who had shot an arrow at Irix.
The waiter spoke calmly.
“So, this is where you are.”
If anyone else had said that, it would’ve sounded like Glad to see you.
But from him, it sounded like Good thing I found you.
He raised his hand. A coin-sized sphere of light formed at his fingertips. Thankfully, he didn’t fire it at us. It merely brightened the surroundings.
“Are you alright?”
What an absurd question.
Alright?
Are we alright?
Irix raised his injured hand. My handkerchief was tightly wrapped around the wound.
“Ah, I see you’re alright.”
He looks like the type who’d say someone’s fine as long as they’re still breathing.
A gust of wind blew, and the train shook violently.
Screeech—
Irix waited for the shaking to subside before speaking.
“If I’m to remain alright, I’ll need some help, Zephyr.”
What—
What is this?
“Someone capable of resolving this will arrive soon, Young Master.”
Then he said something utterly ridiculous.
“I’m relieved you’re safe, Young Master.”
You shot an arrow at us. A missile-sized one, at that.
The very Irix who had nearly been hit by that “missile” said,
“You remember that you tried to make me not safe, right?”
“Of course I remember. It was only a moment ago.”
Is it normal to casually launch things like that in another world? How can he be so calm?
“Were you trying to kill me?”
“Yes.”
I glanced at Maimon. He was outwardly calm, though his eyes trembled.
Thank goodness. Even in a fantasy genre, maybe shooting someone you know is still frowned upon.
“Why?”
Irix glared at Zephyr. Zephyr remained bright and cheerful.
“It wasn’t due to personal resentment or emotion.”
Even if it were, that wouldn’t make it acceptable.
“I was ordered to.”
“By whom?”
“His Excellency. He told me to assess the situation and kill you if necessary.”
Irix closed his eyes and tilted his head back. Thankfully, he didn’t look particularly heartbroken. It must be something he’s used to—perhaps his father gives such orders often.
“You truly intended to kill me?”
“I received the order, after all. His Excellency must have had his reasons.”
“What reasons?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
So he tried to kill him without even knowing why.
Why is this world like this?
Well, no wonder it’s headed for ruin. I must have come to the right place.
“But senior was in danger too. And Maimon almost got hurt.”
“I encoded a basic spell into the arrow so that it would only target the Young Master. Even if it struck his friend head-on, it wouldn’t have hurt more than being brushed by a feather.”
“…So you were only trying to kill me?”
“Yes.”
Perhaps that isn’t something you should say so proudly.
“And you never wondered why?”
“No.”
Irix pressed a hand to his forehead.
He clearly felt there was no point in continuing. Honestly, I hope we stop talking about it too.
Even if the intent was malicious, the result turned out helpful. When he tried to kill Irix, Peregion and Telecus were too busy fighting him to focus on us. It created an opening.
Well done, you bastard.
“Did Father say anything else?”
“He mentioned you wouldn’t die easily. And that I shouldn’t overexert myself.”
I said admiringly,
“You must’ve really done something awful to your father.”
“Shut up. This is because my father’s a complete bastard.”
Zephyr looked unfazed, as though he’d seen such scenes many times before. But Maimon looked shocked, as if he’d just heard a tremendous curse.
Maimon, who grew up in the slums seeing all sorts of people, being shocked by one unfilial son? He still has much to learn.
“Fine. Now get lost.”
“Why should I?”
“I don’t even want to see your face.”
“I see. So the Young Master doesn’t want to see me. And?”
“….”
Irix gave up and said nothing further.
I found myself wondering—does Zephyr act like this on purpose, or is this just how he is?
“By the way, Young Master, are you raising that now?”
Zephyr pointed at Baemi.
“Why do you care?”
“It looks quite splendid.”
“Go ahead. Bite him.”
“Would it hurt much?”
“I wasn’t talking to you.”
Right. That must’ve been directed at Baemi—not Maimon.
“And one bite is enough to kill.”
Maimon added,
“That’s correct. One bite and death. I saw it clearly.”
He pointed at Telecus.
Zephyr glanced down at the corpse.
“Is he dead?”
“Check if you’re curious.”
“That’s alright. So, this man died because…?”
“An accident.”
Irix answered.
“He was bitten by a wild snake.”
He gestured toward Baemi, who flicked its tongue. Baemi shook its head at Zephyr—an attack stance.
I honestly wanted to let Zephyr get bitten, but I didn’t want Baemi burdened with killing three people in one day. So I grabbed its wings.
The attack of a contaminated-type demonic beast horde on the Central Line express.
When the Church halted the train to arrest heretics, demonic beasts attacked, causing immense damage.
The train was destroyed, derailed atop a bridge, and nearly fell into the gorge below under repeated assaults. The passengers trembled in terror, and the Church could do nothing.
Then, as suddenly as a storm that had swept in, the horde vanished—evaporating as if waking from a dream.
Though it grew quiet, the passengers still shook, unsure what might happen next.
Before long, soldiers in blue uniforms appeared in the gorge. Orbs of light floated around them, illuminating their path.
At their head was a woman with short dark-brown hair. She stood before the iron bridge and raised her staff. It was as tall as she was—and just as powerful.
“[Even a great mountain is but a pebble in your hand, Remotio!]”
A magic formula, vivid as if drawn in glowing ink, formed and radiated light. When the levitation spell activated, the train slowly rose and moved beyond the bridge.
Thud—
The train was set down on solid ground. The passengers sighed in relief. It was finally over.
An announcement echoed:
—All passengers aboard, please evacuate the train!
As soon as it ended, people poured out. Those too injured to move were carried. Among them were Anerica and Defor.
Anerica was only lightly injured in several places, but Defor was unconscious. She lifted him with magic and brought him outside.
The uniformed mage who had moved the train recognized Zephyr and approached.
Zephyr bowed politely.
“Greetings, Lady Gatra.”
“Hello, Zephyr.”
A white camellia badge was pinned to her chest.
The White Camellia Corps—like the Red Camellia Corps—was a military force tasked with hunting and capturing demonic beasts and criminals.
Unlike the Red Camellia, the White was composed of more experienced and capable members, and thus handled more dangerous cases.
“We were on our way after receiving a report of criminals,” Gatra said. “Human traffickers—kidnapping, robbery. They were supposedly fleeing to Mavelus.”
But none such people were here. At least, not as far as Zephyr knew.
“However, on the way, we received a new report. A massive horde of demonic beasts was attacking the train on the First Iron Bridge of the Grand Gorge.”
Gatra looked around.
“And yet, the beasts have completely vanished. Only traces remain to show they were ever here.”
