Episode 121: The Eve of the Storm
We arrived at Geneva Station in no time.
“oh…….”
The exterior is a harmonious blend of modern European-style statues and a clock tower. Even the fountain in front of the main gate is extraordinary.
As I entered the room, my eyes widened again.
Even though it is a modern 21st century building, the antique interior is so modern that it makes you feel like you are in the same era.
“Come quickly!”
Abel gestured to me as I was looking around.
Abel’s face was still wrapped tightly in various cosmetics today. She said, tapping her wristwatch.
“I would like to tell you to look around more, but the train doesn’t leave very soon. Let’s go for now.”
I nodded and followed Abel.
Shail, who was walking ahead, skillfully looked at the signs and found the platform. As a senior, her experience was useful.
Thanks to Shail’s guidance, our group was able to board the train on time.
As soon as I got on board, my gaze reflexively rose.
【VVIP Special Room】
The level of the cabin is completely different from the past when it was a low-cost airline.
A simple snack bar and drinking corner, privacy guaranteed in each section, and the sofas, beds, and even TVs were all top-of-the-line.
The last car of the train is for the exclusive use of the nobility. I had expected this to some extent, but I was amazed by its splendor.
On the one hand, I also felt skeptical about this absurd society.
I was not happy when I came across excessive settings in the game, such as status and class, without even realizing it. I felt dissatisfied.
‘… Well, it’s not for me to say that since I’m reaping the benefits right now.’
【Room 3】
An interior filled with crimson and gold.
I turned my gaze towards the conductor. The railroad tracks lined up on the gravel road and the wide open view came into view at a glance.
I entered the room and sat down by the window.
Abel and Shail sat side by side on the sofa across from each other.
“It will take about 6 hours to arrive, so if you two are sleeping, I will wake you up.”
“Shaila said. Abel lightly tapped his lips.
The eyelashes were already covering half of the pupil.
“Then please, Shail. I’m a bit sleepy because I didn’t get much sleep.”
Abel, who had been blinking his eyes for a while, leaned gently against Shail.
Shail smiled silently and offered Abel a shoulder to rest on.
… After a while, Abel’s eyes slowly closed.
She fell asleep with her arms crossed.
Well, it’s abnormal that I’m not tired after swinging my sword all night.
Abel’s moonlit night training ended only when the east rose.
I knew it because I woke up from a deep sleep in the emptiness.
“… … .”
I looked at Abel intently, my arms resting on the windowsill. She was squirming like a chick.
I glanced around and met Shail’s eyes. A Marx-like curve formed on her lips.
“Would you like me to change seats?”
“… … .”
I jerked my head toward the window. Shayle laughed out loud.
Shail put her hands on her knees. In a somewhat humble posture, she too admired the borrowed scenery.
– Cheeeeeeek
It was then that the sound of a train engine was suddenly heard.
Dul-geureuk – The sound of wheels and rebar slowly engaging each other.
Smoke rose from the train chimney, signaling its departure.
* * *
After the train had been running for about 4 hours.
I got up from my seat. I was very hungry since I had been fasting since dawn.
I plan to just grab something simple from the snack bar. Since the entire cost is covered by Nibelung, I don’t have to worry about buying anything.
I told Shail.
“I’m going to the snack bar.”
Shail, who was quietly looking out the window, turned his gaze to me.
Her expression blurred for a moment, then she opened her mouth slightly.
“Well, I don’t intend to stop you from going, but… … I can’t recommend it easily.”
“… … ?”
I tilted my head at Shail’s words.
She said with a sigh.
“After all, since it’s a VIP room, all the guests are nobles. Well, as you know, your Majesty, their personalities are really… … .”
“It’s trash.”
Shail’s eyes lit up at my brain teaser.
Immediately afterwards, Shail’s gaze instinctively turned to Abel. Fortunately, Abel was fast asleep.
“Ahem.”
Shayle coughed, covering her mouth with her fist. She collected her expression and continued.
“Anyway, for this reason and that, I personally don’t think I can recommend it. Or, how about waking up Miss Abel and going with her?”
“it’s okay.”
I shook my head.
As the only one who knew why Abel was sleep deprived, I didn’t want to disturb his sweet slumber.
Even a sleeping dog will bite a person if you wake it up. What if you suddenly wake up Abel, who is always ready to fight?
As soon as your eyelashes open, a fly will fly out.
‘It’s funny to come here and peck at the noble kids now.’
In the first place, the nobles who talk nonsense about their status are idiots.
If there’s shit on the street, there’s no reason for me to avoid it.
The shit either avoids me or just passes by. I can’t stand dirty things, considering that I live in a kitchen that is at the forefront of cleanliness.
However, it is difficult to blindly use a knife to guide people. People are not fish.
‘But I’ve already cut down too much for that to be true.’
I scratched the back of my neck and grabbed the doorknob.
-Squeak.
I asked Shail as I pushed the door open.
“Hey, should I buy you something to drink?”
* * *
“…phew.”
Shail, who had been staring blankly out the window, soon touched his temple.
Despite everyone’s dissuasion, Kang Geum-ma headed to the snack bar. Shail was worried about him.
Of course, I wasn’t worried about myself. Rather, I thought it would be better to worry about the other person.
‘No one should touch the swordsman… … .’
He is a small hippopotamus. Normally gentle, but with the heart of a beast that reveals its ferocious teeth when provoked.
The whole world now knows the end of those who provoked him.
‘The twins of perversion, the genius of Auditore, the iron horn… … .’
All of them are great names. They are people of great talent who were once called geniuses.
But in the end, they were all torn to pieces by Kanggeomma’s sword.
‘A genius who runs counter to the rules… … .’
But even putting all that aside, how can you be so rude to a noble?
It was Shail’s unconventional move that went beyond common sense.
Of course, Shail felt relieved about that, but the gap between understanding and reality was too big.
Kanggeomma is a boy with little respect for class. It’s as if he was suddenly dropped into this world one day.
A cadet who gives cider to the poor, not the nobles. These days, Mr. Geumma is an overnight star.
His reputation was rising day by day. On top of that, he had a unique identity with black hair and a black beard.
Portal sites and other places added idioms such as “genius killer,” “out of the blue,” and “sashimi faster than a horse” to Ganggeomma.
In some circles, there is even a trend of people calling themselves “Sashimi Dan”.
There was a reason why reporters were keeping a close eye on Kang Geum-ma’s whereabouts.
In particular, there were rumors that American agencies were eyeing Kang Geum-ma.
‘A person with common sense would not pick a fight with such a person, but… … .’
The majority of the nobles are rotten and corrupt authors. Shail, who was also a special promotion student, felt this very well.
Their sense of being the chosen people sometimes goes beyond common sense. For example, they try to confirm their own position by asserting their irrational pride.
A stupid class that insists on putting their hand into the tiger’s mouth.
Those are the nobles. And the swordsman walked on his own two feet to that backward monkey den.
If we make a little mistake, it could escalate into violence… … .
Shail was preoccupied. Either he just hoped nothing would happen here, or he would go after the swordsman.
If you choose the latter, the girl who entrusted herself to Shail will naturally wake up. The swordsman went alone with that in mind.
The scales swayed left and right in her head. After a brief moment of thought, Shayle raised her head. Her eyes hardened with determination.
‘It’s late, but I have to go.’
Shail’s role at this party is as a leader.
After clearing the dungeon without a hitch, she would return. That was her duty.
Hoping that these worries would be unfounded, Shail gently grabbed Abel’s shoulder.
She felt a faint sense of guilt. However, a sense of crisis enveloped her. That was when she was about to wake the young lady.
Bam.
The door to room number 3 opened. For a moment, Shail’s gaze went blank.
“… … ?”
The swordsman came in, chewing on jerky.
With a chest full of snacks like candy and gum, his expression was extremely calm.
Woof woof.
Kanggeomma dumped his luggage on the sofa.
Shail felt the anxiety she had been feeling for several minutes bursting like a bubble. She asked with a mixture of relief and bewilderment.
“… Are you okay?”
Kang Geum-ma scratched his eyebrow with his thumb.
“It was nothing special, beyond what I expected.”
“… … .”
Kanggeomma added to Shail’s sullen expression.
“There were some kids who opened their eyes wide, but once I looked at them, they looked away.”
Kang Geum-ma said that and handed her some cookies.
“I got this as a service from the staff. They said it was the most expensive one, so Mr. Shail, please have it.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
Shail was handed to her in a daze. The cold light that formed on her retina at that moment.
In the inner pocket of Kanggeomma’s coat was a piece of sashimi that made the blade shine.
“…ah.”
Shail sighed faintly. She understood why the nobles had become a sycophant.
Shail internally corrected his impressions of the Ganggeomma.
The heart of a beast? No. He was—
‘Mad Demon’
-Refined madness.
He was a true madman, not even aware of it himself.
* * *
The train arrived at its destination after six hours.
“Haam-”
Abel also stretched out, feeling refreshed after sleeping well.
Lyon, France’s second largest city.
An atmosphere completely different from Geneva permeated every street.
We got into the waiting limousine taxi.
‘I heard Shail took care of all the reservations for this schedule… I can smell the money.’
The opposite of a frugal employer, I was lucky.
The knight rode gently down the road.
It was safe driving that followed the rules. However, Shail, who was sitting in the passenger seat, wiggled his fingers.
This speed will not suit her taste.
Because she usually steps on 200.
… But honestly, I felt it was a bit slow, maybe because I was used to that speed.
‘I’m starting to get a taste for it too.’
Soon the limousine stopped in front of the accommodation.
The driver kindly opened the car door for me.
“We have arrived.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you for your hard work.”
I nodded my head sheepishly.
As soon as I got out of the car, a building that seemed to show what luxury was all about appeared before my eyes.
Our group walked along the bright red carpet, pulling our carriers.
‘Is this money?’
… After completing those minor procedures, I stood in front of the door to the room I was assigned.
【No. 502】
Squeak-
“… This is crazy.”
My voice echoed in the hotel room.
A huge area. My dorm room was like a chicken coop by comparison.
I swallowed once.
I was so excited to spend a night alone in a room like this.
I buried my face in the bedsheets. There was a faint scent that made me want to ask what kind of fabric softener I was using.
I turned over and looked at the ceiling.
“… … .”
Today was a day when the smell of money was in the air.
Perhaps it is the money that will naturally follow me when I ascend to the throne of Chilseong.
-but
Thinking about it, I felt a little annoyed.
This is also a relic of the caste system. If I adapt to it, won’t I become like those nobles?
I lay there with my eyes wide open, lost in thought for a while.
Then I suddenly jumped out of bed.
“… That will never happen.”
This is not the kind of comfortable life I want.
The Great War of Inma that will break out in 3 years, and surviving that hell for sure.
In the face of war, how can luxurious jewels show their true colors? They will be treated as mere rolling stones. A well-forged piece of iron would be much more valuable.
I know the dark future, however dimly. This kind of empty gold is useless to me, either now or in the future.
And I was also disgusted with the way the nobles ruled.
Whether you are a king or a noble, if you enjoy privileges, shouldn’t you perform corresponding duties?
The leaders are those who ignore, despise, and look down on those who were born to good parents.
It makes me sick to think that I’m in the same situation as them.
‘In that sense, the Inma War three years later could be a change of scenery in its own way.’
As far as I remember, World War II was bound to break out.
The main character Leon gradually prepares for it, which is the core plot of ‘Miracle Protection M’.
But I too must prepare for the twisted ending of the narrative.
In addition, [Protection of the Sword God] provides me with a terminal piece of information.
There must be something at that destination. No, there must be a reason why I came here.
I looked out the window with the flag engraved on my chest.
The sky is turning yellow with sunset.
Pink clouds float leisurely like the calm before a storm.
I stared blankly for a while and then muttered.
“It’s literally the calm before the storm.”
Tomorrow, we will see the devil’s hand right before our eyes, as a natural disaster occurs.
