#1223 The Mantis' Carriage 

This abrupt summon has left me baffled. 

What’s all this carnival hullabaloo? 
All I heard from Miss Kimeri was something interesting is happening so I should come. 

“There really is something interesting.” 

Oh, Miss Kimeri?  
I never thought a governor would lie, given how buttoned-up the office is. 

If you’re plotting something shady, I’ll rat to Ariaros! 

“Not at all! Today’s event is going to be both immensely meaningful and great fun! I’m certain even you’ll be delighted, Lord Saint!” 

Is that so… 

But since I have zero idea what we’re actually doing, I can’t get excited or even be on guard. 
If anything, I’m more wary given how completely this is all unknown. 

People fear what they don’t understand. 

So, could someone just tell me what the heck we’re doing today?  
What’s the plan here? 
A dinosaur mascot race or something? 

“It’s a contest!” 

Man, in this world there’s always some kind of contest going on.  
Maybe it’s an isekai destiny thing. 

“It’s a transport showdown: wagon versus train!” 

Ah, a transport duel!  

The otherworld railroad is a brand-new invention, so a big publicity event makes sense! 

Wait a second! 

Doesn’t that sound ridiculous?!  

A horse-drawn carriage versus a train?  
That’s like old civilization against new civilization!  
The outcome’s a foregone conclusion and could be downright one-sided. How is that even a fair match? 

Does that even qualify as a “contest”? 

And how did the carriage people agree to this?  
Do they really know what they’re signing up for?  
Miss Kimeri didn’t trick them into this, did she? 

“No, actually this challenge came at the Wagon Guild’s request.” 

The Wagon Guild? 
Like an adventurer’s guild, but for wagons? This world really has everything. 

“In the Demon Kingdom, most professions have their own guild or union. Craftspeople band together to negotiate with the authorities.” 

So, the Wagon Guild has formed a nationwide distribution network by pooling resources. You can’t deny the power of cooperation. 

“The one who threw down the gauntlet is the Wagon Guildmaster, Cretus Ponaka.” 
“Youuuuuuuu! How dare you trample our territoryyyyyyy?!” 

A hulking, bald fellow stomps toward us!  
The ground thuds with each step he takes...he looks terrifying!  

“I am the Wagon Guild’s master! You’re the inventor of that so-called railroad, right? We accept your challenge! You’ll witness the strength of those of us who walk alongside horses! We won’t die without a fight, remember thaaaaaaaat!!!” 

Waaaaah... 
His energy is through the roof. It’s kind of intimidating. 

Is this guy so desperate because he thinks he’s facing certain death?  
Like, go nuts if it’s your last stand. 

“Those poor fools who dare challenge us!” 

And descending hero-style comes our train car—Unit One Taro…  
Or is it Ichiro? 

“It’s neither! I told you I’m Alpha! Stop renaming me without asking!” 

Sorry, Ichiro. 

Given how busy these guys are running farm runs back and forth, I’m pretty sure they heard about this before I did. 

Why didn’t they think it through?  
Racing a carriage against a train is like fighting a Gatling gun with a sword. 
It’s a mismatched fight with a clear winner. 

Why are they even happy about this?  
Why didn’t they call a “hold”? 

“Nah, not at all.” 

This rascal... 

“That’s the point. Winning every time makes it sweet. This is our chance to show off! Besides, I don’t just like competing; I love winning!!!” 

This guy’s less hero and more villain.  
It’s going to be the guinea pig for some final boss move and get torn to bits. 

Well, Car One’s personality was always a handful, so maybe this is inevitable.  
I wonder if the other train cars agree. 
Can’t we steer this toward something more reasonable? 

“My brother’s ranting, but if challenged, we must accept. That’s the etiquette of competition.” 
“And though seeking out a fight is recklessness, true heroes meet the battle head-on!”  

Jiro and Saburo think the same.  

Maybe being hero-robots makes them down with battle. 

But from my civilian viewpoint, this doesn’t seem fair at all.  

The gap in raw capability is absurd.  
One-sided matches are just painful to watch… 

“Miss Kimeri, Miss Kimeri…” 
“Yes, Lord Saint?” 
“What exactly do we do in this contest?” 
“Of course, we start from here at the same time and race to the Farm Kingdom. Whoever arrives first wins.” 

It’s purely a test of speed and endurance. 
A train’s a shoo-in unless someone bombs the tracks. 

Don’t underestimate civilization. 

After all, I drafted the plans for this otherworld railroad, and I’m the creator of these cars.  
I’m supposed to root for the trains, but the unfairness makes me want to cheer for the underdog. 

I guess that’s my Japanese soul siding with the weaker party. 

… 
A few seconds of deep thought later, I speak up. 

“As someone on the railroad side, may I propose a variant?” 
“By all means!”  

Miss Kimeri looks momentarily startled... 

“If it carries Lord Saint’s opinion, we’ll give it top priority.” 
“Very well.” 

I announce my contest format. 
It’s called...the Mushroom Alley Cat Home Delivery Race! 

*** 

All right. Both sides receive ten parcels.  
Deliver each parcel to the address on its label.  
No leaving them at the door! 

Whoever finishes all deliveries first wins!  
Ready… set… Go! 

“Whaaaat?!” 

My train cars are in shock.  

We borrowed Miss Kimeri’s town, Rondmelt, as our arena.  
We have to scurry through town to ten different addresses. 

Naturally, the Wagon Guild thrives under these rules. 

“Parcel delivery!” 
“Please sign here!” 
“The dog’s barking, I’m scared!” 

They’re knocking out deliveries like professionals. 

That’s right. The carriage’s old-school perk...is maneuverability. 

Trains can haul tons at high speed, but only on laid tracks.  
Off-rail they’re stuck. It’s an Achilles’ heel of the most advanced civilization. 

No matter how great, every invention has flaws.  
That’s a universal truth. 

The rails lock my cars in place, and it feels like the outcome’s sealed.  
But… 

“Uoooh! I’m not giving up!” 
“We can’t let down our creator!” 
“Let’s pool our power…!!!” 
“ULTIMATE FUSION!!!” 

Oh, right. 
These guys can combine into a super-robot and operate off-tracks. 

But trying to deliver parcels while lugging them in a giant mech is just wildly inefficient.  
Bipedal walking is jittery.  
What if the breakables shatter? 

“Delive… Huh? It’s next door?!” 
“Argh! I tripped while delivering! The parceeeeeel!!!” 
“Why aren’t you here at the time you specified?!” 

Clueless at door-to-door delivery, the train team falls further behind. 

Do you see now, trains? No matter how advanced civilization gets, no matter how fast you zoom past the speed of sound… 
You can’t handle everything all by yourselves. 

The world turns by layering each other’s strengths and weaknesses.  
I hope they get that takeaway from today’s competition.