Chapter 39: The Train (1)

Arc.

Once a port city and the final capital of the Kingdom of Priletcha, it is now part of the Duchy of Hardenberg and serves as the trading hub of the Arie Empire.

While it’s called a trade hub, it could just as easily be described as a melting pot of misfits and troublemakers.

Pickpockets and robbers are common, but they’re just the beginning. The city teems with slave traders, human traffickers, and individuals dealing in the worst kinds of business. In the story, it’s also the place where Adele was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

And yet…

“You want to come with me?”

“Yes.”

Adele’s confident gaze met mine, and my head began to ache. The fact that she was kidnapped in the original story is something only I know, but still... Why does she insist on going to a city that’s practically a haven for crime?

When I asked her directly, she gave me an unexpectedly simple answer.

“Because it’s the Emperor’s hometown.”

“Ha...”

Her reasoning wasn’t necessarily flawed. She couldn’t hear imperial secrets from someone else, so she wanted to see for herself. Fair enough.

The problem, however, was the inherent danger of Arc itself.

Before the Kingdom of Priletcha fell, it burned Arc to the ground in an attempt to deal a final blow to the Arie Empire. The destruction left the city in ruins, turning it into a shadow of its former self—a seedy underbelly of crime.

Although the Emperor ordered the city rebuilt, it wasn’t possible to restore the humanity of those who lived there.

‘Does she not know about Arc’s infamy?’

When I looked back at Adele, her bright, curious eyes told me she was oblivious. She didn’t seem to have the faintest idea about the city’s reputation.

“Is it not possible to go?”

“Arc is crawling with crime of every kind,” I explained.

“Ah...”

She nodded, appearing to understand, but then shook her head and retorted.

“But I have Evan with me, don’t I?”

Evan.

A knight at the peak of Sword Expert, just shy of Swordmaster. With his level of aura alone, there were few who could rival him. He could probably even overpower the Crown Prince, a Swordmaster himself.

The fact that he couldn’t protect Adel during the Hunting Festival wasn’t entirely his fault—it was more due to the imperial family’s meddling with monsters.

With Evan by her side, there was some reassurance, true.

‘However...’

Her complacent attitude was the real issue. I had thought she’d improved recently, but it seems old habits die hard.

She’d thrown herself in harm’s way multiple times: blocking Luke’s attack to protect Lily, almost falling to her death at the Hunting Festival... Despite experiencing countless life-threatening moments, she hadn’t changed.

Though she disliked her regression ability, ironically, no one relied on it more than she did.

“Fine.”

This time, I decided to let her be. If things got truly dangerous, she could always call me through the sigil. That was why I accepted her offer for those “three chances” she suggested—to prepare for the possibility of her getting trapped in an endless loop.

“Really?”

Adele’s face lit up instantly. Had she assumed I’d refuse? She looked more excited than a child stumbling upon a lucky coin.

“Yes, really.”

“Yay!”

“Ahem.”

She was so ecstatic she didn’t even notice the glare from Allen.

“Get ready.”

“What?”

Adele tilted her head, surprised. Did she not expect us to leave immediately?

“We’re going to Arc right now.”

“Already?”

Her voice carried a hint of complaint, but I shook my head.

“I don’t have time after the next few days.”

I had worked tirelessly to clear my schedule, leaving just enough time to make this trip possible. Allen would handle the remaining administrative tasks, so I had no major worries. My focus now was on making the most of these few days.

“What should I prepare, then?”

“Light clothes, a change of outfit, and...”

I opened my subspace and reached inside. After rummaging through countless trinkets, I finally found what I was looking for.

“This.”

“What’s this?”

A necklace inlaid with a pristine white gem—a relic I had picked up at an imperial auction by chance.

“It’s an artifact, useful for disguises.”

The artifact would instantly reverse the user’s hair and eye color. Of course, it didn’t include the more critical effects of a proper disguise, such as perception hindrance, which made it somewhat useless and relegated it to a forgotten corner of my subspace.

“All I have to do is wear it?”

“That’s right.”

Adele cautiously fastened the necklace around her neck. When nothing happened immediately, she tilted her head in confusion.

The artifact hung around her neck vibrated briefly before it began absorbing her mana.

Wuuuung…

Her black hair, which had been tied back, started turning a silvery shade, while her ruby-red eyes transformed into a sapphire blue. I froze for a moment, taken aback by her drastically changed appearance.

Her beauty, though shocking in a different way, was undeniable.

“Um… did something change?”

Adele looked perplexed, as though she couldn’t see any noticeable differences. However, from my perspective, the change was significant.

Her sharp, villainous aura had mellowed into a serene, almost saint-like atmosphere, thanks to her now-blue eyes.

I had thought this artifact’s abilities were rather lackluster, but I hadn’t expected it to alter someone’s appearance this dramatically. Spending 300 gold on it was suddenly worth it.

“Allen.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Bring a mirror.”

“Understood.”

Allen bowed his head and exited the room. Adele watched him leave, a question mark practically floating over her head.

“Did I really change?”

“You’ve changed a lot.”

If her previous vibe was that of a sharp-tongued villainess, she now looked like a saint with something to hide.

Adele crossed her arms, pouting at my comment. “What kind of comparison is that?”

“It’s exactly what I said. You’ll understand when you see it for yourself in the mirror.”

“I’ve brought it.”

Allen returned, carefully setting down the full-length mirror. Adele hurriedly approached it, letting out a soft gasp when she saw her reflection.

Her reaction was understandable. The woman staring back at her in the mirror was a completely different person. Her lips, slightly parted in surprise, didn’t seem like they’d close anytime soon.

“Wow...”

Adele let out several soft exclamations as she turned from side to side, marveling at her reflection.

“It’s just as you said.”

She nodded slightly, as though my earlier comparison now made sense to her.

“You really do look like you went from a villainess to a shady saint!”

“What? What are you saying?”

Allen’s voice rose slightly, clearly flustered by my remark. He turned to me, his gaze filled with his usual sternness, which made me avert my eyes instinctively.

“Your Grace.”

“...What is it?”

“There are things one should never say to a lady.”

“Understood.”

I nodded at Allen’s advice, and he said no more. He probably knew there wasn’t much point in lecturing me further.

When I glanced at Adele again, I caught her sticking her tongue out, making sure we couldn’t see her.

I suppose I should be more careful with my words next time—especially around this tattletale.

****

Clack clack.

The train’s rhythmic noise filled my ears as the scenery outside the window zipped by faster than I’d expected. The speed wasn’t much different from the subways I’d ridden in my past life.

This, too, must be the power of magical engineering. I had marveled at it before, like when carriages scaled the steep mountain paths during the Hunting Festival.

The development of this world felt strangely asymmetrical—some aspects rivaled modern technology, while others lagged behind the Middle Ages.

‘What a peculiar world.’

Shaking off my idle thoughts, I turned to see Lily sitting beside me, drooling onto my shoulder as she leaned against me.

I couldn’t help but chuckle softly at the sight. Considering how long we’d been sitting, it made sense she was exhausted.

Across from me sat Abel, quietly engrossed in a book.

‘He seems at ease.’

The peaceful atmosphere of the train, combined with Abel’s composed demeanor, created a strangely satisfying scene.

Perhaps it felt odd because I’d never seen him so relaxed before. Yet, it was oddly reassuring.

I turned back to the window.

In the faint reflection on the glass, I saw the image of a woman with silvery hair and ocean-blue eyes. The unfamiliar appearance was one I’d have to grow accustomed to while in Arc.

‘The ocean, huh...’

In my past life, I hadn’t even managed to visit the sea. I was too busy juggling part-time jobs and studying. I had even turned down invitations from friends to go with them.

Looking back, what was so important about those part-time jobs that I refused their offers? I could’ve found another job, and studying could’ve waited.

A small pang of regret stirred within me.

‘Maybe I should ask Abel to visit the ocean with me.’

The thought crossed my mind briefly, but I shook my head. It didn’t seem like something he’d agree to.

Still, if we did end up going together…

It might actually be fun.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

 

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