#1246 Otherworldly Railway Extension Project 

While we’re busy hanging out with Momoko, it seems the world outside has been making moves of its own. 

Apparently, there’s been some talk about wanting to extend the railway... 
Huh? What’s this about? 

“The railway that Lord Saint has created is a truly magnificent tool!!!” 

That’s the Demon King speaking. 
He’s dropped by the farm again today... what’s this? 
A business meeting? Or maybe politics? 

“I’m here too, you know.” 

That’s Ritheseus.  
He’s the current president of the Human Kingdom. 
Having both the leaders of the Human and Demon Kingdoms showing up together like this... 

...Yeah, experience tells me this usually means a big deal is coming. 

“The railway you gave to connect Rondmelt and San-chome is amazing! The ability to transport huge amounts of goods so quickly! It’s the kind of thing that could turn the whole world upside-down!” 

Ah, so this is about the otherworld railway. 

In this fantasy world, railroads don’t normally exist. Here, a machine with an internal combustion engine that runs endlessly along rails is the ultimate symbol of modern technology. 

I used my cheat powers and modern-world knowledge to recreate it. 
Since our newly founded Farm Kingdom is still in the middle of opening its borders, there’s constant movement of goods in and out, so I developed the railway to make things more efficient. 

Thanks to that, we now have a line running from the Farm Kingdom’s central station to the nearest towns in both the Demon Kingdom and Human Kingdom. 

That’s what the Demon King and Ritheseus are talking about. 

I originally built it to help develop the Farm Kingdom, but as you know, railways were one of the key players in the real-world Industrial Revolution, completely outpacing anything that came before in transportation. 

And of course, leaders as sharp as Demon King and Ritheseus weren’t about to let something that revolutionary slip by. 

“If you can transport that much cargo that fast, it’ll change the world!” 
“So let’s change the world!!!” 

… 
I dunno. Somehow, when Ritheseus says it, I feel there’s something ominous lurking under the words. It’s probably just me overthinking 
 

Yeah. Definitely overthinking. 
Their meaning is pretty clear anyway… 

They just want to spread the railway more widely, right? Like plant roots spreading through the earth? 

“Exactly! If a network of railways spreads across the land, it’ll be like the veins running through a body! Goods and people will flow just as blood circulates! 
 “And if those railways cross borders, international exchange will thrive. A Central Express straight to peace!!!” 

Ritheseus’ un-fantasy-like vocabulary must be the mark of genius. 

Still, I get what he’s saying. 
It’s only natural for rulers to want the world to prosper. 

But as someone summoned from another world, I have a different perspective. 

Rapid change always brings distortions. 
Population explosions driving space colonization, AI evolving too far and rebelling against humanity and the like. 
Those “too much, too fast” disasters were all over 90s sci-fi and got drilled into my head. 

I’m one of the many shaped by that mindset. 
So, if I’m going to kick-start a distribution revolution that will fast-forward history by centuries… I’d rather stoke the fire slowly. 

“How about we start small as a trial run?” 

A compromise proposal. 
Compromise isn’t cowardice. It’s the wisdom of building something constructive for everyone. 

“Maybe we lay a short stretch of track in a limited area somewhere between the Demon Kingdom and Human Kingdom and see how it goes?” 
“Hmm…!” 

We could then measure the economic benefits, gauge local reactions, and piece this into the puzzle of society slowly, carefully. A puzzle that will never truly be complete. 

“…If that’s the case, I have a proposal.” 

Ritheseus speaks up. 
 …And that would be? 

“What if… we connect the two capitals?” 

Connect them?! 
The two capitals?! 

By two capitals... Washington and London? 
No, that’s not it. 

Obviously, in this world it means... 

The Royal Capital of the Human Kingdom. 
The Demon Capital of the Demon Kingdom. 

Nothing else fits. 
These are the two superpowers that once fought over global domination. 

Linking their capitals by rail… 
That’s such a massive project! 

Come to think of it, I feel like they’ve mentioned this before…?  
My memory’s fuzzy. 

“I believe this has a significance far beyond just improving distribution.” 
“What?! …Ah, I see!” 

As a fellow ruler, the Demon King understands immediately with barely a word. 

Meanwhile, I’ve got no clue! 
I really need to reach that level someday!!! 

“In the past, the Demon and Human Kingdoms were locked in a long, bloody struggle to decide who would rule the surface...” 
"Back then, the capitals were the ‘if we lose this, it’s over’ final strongholds. If the capital fell, the royal family was captured, and the political and economic heart taken, the country could no longer resist.” 
“The war actually ended because the Royal Capital was captured in a lightning strike.” 

Which is why both sides heavily fortified their capitals against any intrusion. 
That was the absolute defensive line with no retreat beyond it. 

That’s what a capital means. 

And now, they’re talking about connecting two such capitals with a railway… what would that mean? 

“Unthinkable in wartime.” 

The Demon King says it with a shudder. 

“We both know how fast trains can move and how much they can carry. If they can carry cargo, they can carry people. Imagine a train full of soldiers rolling into the Demon Capital… it’s enough to make your skin crawl.”  
“Exactly. I feel the same.” 

Any technology that convenient carries equal risk. 
If you can make it easy to reach a capital, then the enemy could just as easily use it to attack. 

That’s too dangerous. 
And that’s why I keep saying, no rushing into change…! 

“From that perspective, linking capitals by rail is way too dangerous. You’d be giving the other side a straight shot to deploy forces right into your heart. In no time at all, you could be occupied.” 
“It really drives home how incredible railways are.”  
“But… if you look at it another way, a railway could also become a bridge of peace.” 

Ritheseus continues. 

“If both sides accept the risk of invasion and still choose to link their capitals, it’s a sign of mutual trust. An unspoken pledge that we will no longer fight, but move toward peace together. A declaration made not with words, but with action.” 
“Indeed! Well said, Lord Ritheseus!” 

The Demon King is fired up. 

“Not only that, once the line is open, travel between us will be easier, making summits and courtesy visits far simpler!” 
“We could just use teleportation magic for that…!” 
“Regular people will travel more, too, which will only deepen mutual understanding! And for the peace we’ve built to last far into the future, the railway plan is absolutely essential!!!” 

Bam! 
The both of them turn to me, eyes sparkling with expectation. 

…All right. 
All right, I get it…! 

Fine. We’ll go ahead and start laying a line between the Demon Capital and Royal Capital. 
Our orcs are probably bored this winter anyway. 

“As expected of Lord Saint!” 
 “No matter how reluctant he is, if we pester him enough, he’ll give in! That’s Lord Saint for you!” 

Am I being… subtly used here? 

Oh well. A direct line between the capitals could benefit us, too. 

Let’s just make it our big winter project. 

*** 

“By the way, Lord Saint.” 

Whoa!  
It’s Mermaid King Arowana! 

What’s up?! 

“Could you build that railway over the sea?” 

… 
Well, now that you mention it, it would feel wrong to leave one of the Three Great Kingdoms—the Mermaid Kingdom—out of the loop. 

But your country is underwater, so… 
If you really want it, maybe talk to the people of Water *. 

========== 

Water * - water 7 is a one piece reference, the famous “water city” known for its architecture and sea-train.