Chapter 40: Chapter 40

The clock’s hour-hand pointed at eight. It was still early in the morning but numerous people already crowded the platform. Sorrent was a rural town, and the train seldom travels; it was always hectic at the time of the train’s departure scheduled only a couple of times a week.

At eight o’clock in the morning, the people wait for the train bound to the capital, Tezeba. However, the train’s route was not directly headed to the capital. Instead, it passes through the southern metropolis of Lunazel, and then proceeds to Tezeba in the northwest by Central Edman or Battuanu, the coastal region to the west.

It takes half a day from Sorrent to Lunazel, and at least four days to arrive in Tezeba from Lunazel through Central Edman. Even that could have taken more than six days if he failed to catch the night train, as he had to get off in the middle and stay in an inn.

“It’s taking a long time.”

It was natural that it would take long since Sorrent is located in the southernmost part of Laurent’s east and Tezeba is leaning towards the northwest. In this case, the teleport scroll branded as one of Laurent’s national treasures was desperately needed.

More than 500 years ago, in the early days when dragons defended Laurent, such powerful magic dominated the private sector. But now it remains a legend. The time when magic rained down and split the land in a snap was now long gone.

Now was an era at the crossroad of magic and science – an era where the omnipotent power gradually disappeared and human intelligence began to govern. In the present times, magic is no longer evaluated by its mere power. Humans have begun to incorporate magic into their daily lives. And now that the legend has reappeared, Kyle Leonard knows not what changes will be brought into the future.

However, apart from being a subtle prodigy who was vaguely known in the continent, Kyle Leonard took no interest in the world’s play. He was simply a civil servant working for the Laurent imperial family along with the people of Laurent. It was more important to resolve the current occurrences than those still in the fullness of time.

He took out his usual journal and checked his schedule again, which was perfectly organized by date.

The disappearance of the dragon egg Tezeba, the Rendia District Police Department’s embezzlement case. The Slave Mass Murder in the mine of Noviscosha

At the end of the list was a new incident he recently added.

Eleonora Asil murder

“….”

A familiar face flashed in the investigator’s eyes – a woman who possesses the witch’s body but is not Eleonora Asil, a woman who will be swept away by the waves of turmoil that the dragon will bring to the future.

Considering that Kyle Leonard has decided to exclude Park Noah from his future investigations, she was now unrelated to him. He had no intentions on returning to the far countryside to clean a terribly cluttered two-story house and force a lazy woman her meals.

But if the world really changes, Park Noah will not be able to live satiated and peacefully in the countryside as she has done so far. If it happens, their paths may come across again…

A laugh escaped his lips. “Why are you thinking of this?”

He severed the chain of thoughts and checked the silver watch on his wrist. It was 10 minutes before departure. He fixed his eyes on the train, focusing his mind on the investigation. He lifted the luggage he had put down and moved to the first-class platform.

The crowd gradually decreased as he approached the platform. Suddenly, his pace, which fell neither slowly nor fast, stopped at one point. From a short distance, he saw a familiar vibrant hair.

“…Miss Noah?”

A woman who was sitting cross-legged on a chair that had been roughly carved out of a tree turned her head. Then she smiled. “You’re late, sir.”

Kyle Leonard answered half a beat late. “How did you get here?”

“I walked on both feet.”

“Don’t mess around. It would have fallen off. Why are you here?”

“It could be a farewell, why?”

“Say something that makes sense. Did Miss Noah wake up at this hour and went out to see me off? No… Before that, how did you know I was leaving now?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Park Noah raised her head triumphantly, as if she had heard the most stupid question. “The regular train from Sorrent to Tezeba is only once every five days, sir.”

The investigator stood frozen, at a loss for words. Park Noah shrugged, “I told you yesterday. Don’t worry. I’ll even add a small amount of enthusiasm.”

“…Was that what you meant?”

“What else would it be? Well, that’s not a good reaction. Shouldn’t we say ‘thank you’ first to the witness who said she’ll actively cooperate with the investigation in spite of the inconvenience?”

Kyle Leonard’s mind dallied; he had a difficult time comprehending his situation.

Cooperation? What cooperation? Wasn’t it over yesterday?

Park Noah rose from her seat, pressing the wide brim hat she recently bought to her loosened apricot hair. She was wearing a white dress decorated with pearls and an ivory cape loosely tied around her neck.

Kyle Leonard found a travel bag at her feet much larger than his; on top of the suitcase was a small child in a white shirt and red suspenders. In any way, both of them were dressed as travelers.

“Oh, here comes the train.”

The train rumbled as it approached the platform and the attendant’s voice echoed loudly in the microphones attached on the walls of the station.

“Train to Tezeba, capital city! To Tezeba, the capital, via Lunazel and Central Edman! Passengers, please take a step back!”

The brakes screeched and a light wind blew on their faces when the train came to a stop. Park Noah quickly grabbed her hat which almost flew off, tying the straps tightly to the side, and carried Muell. She glanced at Kyle Leonard who was still rooted to his spot. “It’s first class, isn’t it? We can ride it together.”

He was puzzled to see the station attendant loading her luggage onto the train. So, now… You’re going to the capital with me?

Park Noah, who ascended the train, poked her head out of the door and asked him, “Are you not going to ride?”

“…. I’m getting on.”

After a short moment, the investigator followed her inside. As soon as he set foot on the train, the questions which shrouded his mind were buried under the sound of the chugging train. With the last horn, the doors closed.

The long series of connected trucks moved steadily as the passengers climbed up, the station attendant announcing the train’s departure.

The railroad rattled beneath the train; the chimney exhausted a long tail of grey smoke, gradually dispersing into the atmosphere. The warm sunshine of the midday spring struck the old train station. Sorrent, without the investigator and the witch along its pet, regained its calm as usual.