Mornings in Huiwu Town were always exceptionally peaceful.
The sky was already bright, with only a few pedestrians scattered along the streets. Honey-colored sunlight cast its glow upon the windvane pigeons atop the clock tower's spire.
Today, however, the quiet town was unusually lively, and the train station tucked away in the corner was buzzing with noise.
The reason was simple: the train bound for the Imperial Capital was about to arrive.
Bong— The heavy toll of the ancient clock reverberated, long and resonant.
“Young Master, Young Master, are we really taking the magitech train?” The cherry-blossom-haired girl tugged at the corner of the youth's coat, whispering her question.
“This is already the fourth time you've asked me that, Lilian,” Lynn sighed, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the girl's enthusiasm.
“But Lilian is just so curious!~” With her eyes sparkling, she spread her arms wide. “I've only ever heard the adults say that the magitech train is a rumbling steel monster.”
“They say if anything gets in its way, even a sturdy brick house would be flattened in an instant! How on earth does it work?”
“Lilian is super curious!”
Your young master is very curious too! Lynn thought. The background of this world is clearly medieval Western fantasy magic, so how does a setting like a magitech train even exist?
Game dev team, please put some actual effort into this!
If anyone asked, the answer was always "magical technology." Quite magical, wasn't it?
“There are four magic trains in total responsible for carrying the new students, departing from the East, West, South, and North territories respectively. The one we are taking is the North Territory train.”
“Four of them... Only the Imperial Capital could be wealthy enough to pull off something like that,” Lynn remarked with feeling.
“We'll be staying on the train for one, two...”
“It will be three days, Lilian.”
The rewards promised from his sparring sessions with Sena were finally delivered just before their departure.
Lilian received a wand crafted from the tail feather of a Tier 5 Blazing Bird.
Lynn, on the other hand, received a Tier 5 silver sword. According to Sena, it was the sword she had used during her younger days of adventuring.
But on top of that, Sena had also mysteriously tossed him a badge right before they left.
Lynn stared at the badge in his hand.
It was shaped like a rose petal carved from mithril, engraved with three letters: S.N.L.
“This is a little surprise I prepared for you, Young Master.”
“Once you enter the Imperial Royal Magic Academy, take this badge to the Star-Gazing Department, and you will understand what it represents.”
Recalling the pained expression of that gorilla-strength head maid, he couldn't help but chuckle.
A noisy commotion interrupted Lynn's train of thought.
“Make way! Make way! Step back behind the yellow line!”
“The magitech train is about to enter the station! Everyone stand back, unless you want to be flattened into a painting on the wall!”
With a long, drawn-out whistle, the magitech train slowly pulled into the station.
“Let's go.”
Lynn took Lilian's small hand in his.
...
The first day spent on the train passed without anything worth mentioning, until—
“Young Master... aren't you going to sleep yet?”
It was already midnight. Wearing a thin nightgown, Lilian rubbed her sleepy eyes and approached him, yawning repeatedly.
Lynn immediately pressed a palm against her chubby cheek and pushed her away.
“Go, go. Your bed is over on the other side.”
“I don't want to!~”
Lilian immediately cried out in mock grief and indignation.
After all, when she first found out that she would be sharing a room with the young master on the train, she had tossed and turned all night, too excited and nervous to sleep.
Hehehe, I'm going to share a bed with the young master~
But the moment she boarded, she was completely dumbfounded.
What the hell? Why are there two beds in this room?!
And to make matters worse, one was on the easternmost side while the other was on the westernmost side.
Doesn't this mean I don't even have the chance to play dumb and climb into the wrong bed?!
And so, they spent their first night on the train. Under Lynn's strict vigilance, she hadn't found a single opportunity.
If this continued, they would arrive at the academy in no time!
No way. No matter what, tonight I must...
The lights in the room had already been turned off.
Having rejected Lilian for the umpteenth time, Lynn let out a sigh of relief.
He quietly peeked at Lilian, who had buried herself under her blanket.
Excellent. Looks like she's asleep.
Truth be told, it wasn't that he was against sharing a blanket with the fragrant, soft Lilian. After all, who wouldn't want a cute, human-sized hugging pillow?
But...
He had things he absolutely had to do!
After repeatedly confirming that Lilian was indeed asleep, Lynn unbuckled his belt.
And from his crotch, he pulled out—
A pocket-sized, miniature spellbook!
He pulled the blanket over his head, using the faint light of a flame in his palm to read.
As mentioned before, when it came to magic, Lilian was already one step ahead of Lynn, having mastered a Tier 4 spell first.
If he didn't hurry up, catch up, and surpass Lilian—
That mere Lilian would definitely pounce in front of him like a fierce tiger, stepping on her feet while laughing mockingly: “Young Master's magic level is completely inferior to Lilian's~ That means Young Master is just a weakling~ a weakling~”
Ugh... That girl, who is already showing signs of bratty-girl syndrome, will absolutely do that! Absolutely!
To preserve his dignity as the young master, Lynn had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.
Sorry, Lilian, but I really have to out-grind you.
With a completely insincere apology in his heart, Lynn began burning the midnight oil under his blanket.
Time slipped by, and suddenly, Lynn's body stiffened.
A pair of cool, small hands quietly wrapped around his waist.
Gentle breath brushed against his neck.
“Sniff sniff... Hehehe... Young Master's scent...”
A dazed, mumbled whisper drifted into his ears.
Li... Lilian!
Every muscle in Lynn's body tensed like never before. He didn't dare move a single inch, terrified that Lilian behind him would notice even the slightest movement.
If Lilian finds out that I'm secretly grinding to outdo her, my life as a dignified young master will be completely over, won't it?
Lynn endured the most agonizing fifteen minutes of his life.
Only when the breathing of the girl behind him gradually steadied did he completely relax.
Behind his back, where he couldn't see, the girl's lips curled up into a faint smile.
Dummy.
She didn't make a sound, her lips merely twitching.
【Emotion Points +100】
Rate on N.U.
