#1220 The Loop Line of Missing Each Other 

I, Kimeri, am riding the test run of this so-called Otherworldly Railway right now. 

So far, there hasn’t been a single hitch; in fact, it’s almost too comfortable.  

The carriage we’re in rockets forward at dizzying speed, leaving the world outside far behind.  
Peering through the windows, the scenery is even more astonishing than I dared imagine. 

I never pictured the landscape streaming past at such a blur.  

And the glass is so crystal-clear, it’s razor-pure, without a single wisp of distortion.  
I don’t even know if the Demon King's Castle has windows this flawless. 

The leather seats are incredibly plush, too. 
They’re almost springy, like they’re pushing back against me. What on earth is stuffed inside them to give them this bounce? 

I wouldn’t mind tearing one out and installing it in my study. 

Even more uncanny: the train itself barely shudders at all.  
Because there’s no bumping or jostling, I’m riding in absolute ease.  

I know exactly how remarkable that is. 

After all, the horses and wagons we use for long journeys feel like the road itself is waving up and down.  
And they crawl at a speed nowhere near this train’s!  
After a day of that rattle, my poor backside aches so much I can’t even sit on a wooden chair.  

Yet here we blaze along at a few hundred times their speed with zero vibration… 

…Am I dreaming?  
Maybe that’s why there’s no shake or clatter or noise?  
...No, that can’t be.  
Even if reality feels unbelievable, I’m the governor of Rondmelt. I can’t just slip into daydreams to escape. 

Lost in the view, I suddenly hear a voice from inside the carriage: 

“Refreshments on board! Tea, sweets, and our special station bento for sale!” 

…Lord Saint? 
What is he doing? 

“What? Right now, I’m simply your on-board vendor. As a special treat for test-run invitees, everything’s on the house today!” 

Isn’t he just treating us?  

Well, why not indulge.  
I lift the little station bento from its wooden box, and my, how cute! The compartments are all dry-good dishes, perfect for eating on a train without spilling. 

“Today’s special is the shumai bento! Nothing says station lunch like shumai!” 

I wonder where that’s the custom. 
But I stab one of the dumplings with my fork and pop it in my mouth. 
…?! 
It’s soooooooooooo good!!! 

It’s divine!  
These little meat-filled parcels burst with juices the moment I bite them.  
Even cold, they’re splendid! 

“Cold but still delicious, that’s the very essence of a bento! You could zap them warm with a jet, but then the gears would slip. You don’t want that; trust a lonely trading-company man’s expertise!” 

Lord Saint’s metaphors are as baffling as ever.  

But I can’t care because this bento is irresistible! 
I keep stuffing my face with it! 

Rich flavors from the bento and sweeping views from the window.  

For a moment, I feel like nobility!!! 
Haa, this is heaven.  

If only I could lounge like this forever… But of course, Lord Saint’s events never let me slack off that easily. 

“…Attention, passengers.” 

Oh? 
Is that the autonomous golem speaking?  
Impressive that it can project inside the cabin. 

“We have detected multiple figures up ahead plotting to obstruct our passage. They are presumed to be bandits.” 

Bandits?!  
Now that he mentions it, the train must look like a treasure trove to highway thieves.  

They’ve loaded enough cargo to fill dozens of carriages, so just snatching a portion of it would be a massive payday for the bandits. 
And because of how railroads work, it’s easy to figure out the train’s route—guaranteed, even. 

From the bandits’ perspective, this is a once-in-years opportunity to score big with barely any effort. They probably think it’s the easiest job in the world. 
On the flip side, this is our blunder. We should’ve seen this coming. 

“Jiro, what’s the situation with the bandits?” 
“They’ve piled up barricades on the tracks to force the train to stop. Once it does, they’ll leisurely board, subdue the crew, and steal the cargo. Also, it’s Beta, not Jiro.” 

Lord Saint and the golem converse calmly. 
It actually feels reassuring. 

“Expected. Beta, proceed as planned.” 
“Again, I’m not Jir- Ah.” 

I imagine the bandits stacking debris across the tracks, thinking a stopped train is helpless. 
If we keep running, we’ll crash horribly into their barricade.  
Forced to halt, they’ll swarm us.  

Those nasty bandits... Their plan is cruel but effective. 
Since they can’t outrun us alongside, they aim to delay or stop our train. 

Ordinarily, we’d halt, then have our guards dismount to wipe them out.  
We must have guards on board… right? 

“Full throttle, ram through at top speed!” 
“Aye, aye, captain!!!” 

Whaaaaaaat?! 
Where everyone else brakes, he slams the accelerator?! 

The train surges forward faster than before, smashing into the barricade. 

“Beta’s Hit-And-Run Attack!” 

There’s no real impact, just the faint sensation of something shattering and scattering around us. 

Maybe... we just broke through the barricade the bandits set up. 

“I coat the train in a mana-laced sonic-boom shield while running; then I crash into the enemy! That’s my Hit-And-Run Attack.” 

Couldn’t it have picked a snappier name? 

“We’ve successfully cleared the path blocked by the bandits. The safety of all passengers on board is now secured. However, if we leave those bandits unchecked, it’s easy to imagine them causing unnecessary trouble later. Please wait a moment while I nip this threat in the bud.” 

Huh? What? 
Before I can fully process what that means, the train comes to a temporary stop. 
I peer out the window, trying to figure out what’s going on. 

Ah, I see the front car detach… then rise into the air?  
It swings around to the rear of the train? 

“Form change! Beta solo combat mode!” 

The nose car shifts into a humanoid shape?! 

“I can transform into combat form alone! And against mere bandits, it’s a breeze: Mind-the-Yellow-Line Beammmmm!” 
“GYAAAAAAAH!!!” 
“Please-refrain-from-bringing-ladders-onto-the-platform Vulcan!!!” 
“HOGEEEEEEH!" 
“Anti-molestation Tomahawk!!!” 
“BIGYAAAAAAAH!!!” 

Incredible. The humanoid golem’s attacks mow down the bandits without giving them the slightest chance to fight back. 
Now I see why there weren’t any guards assigned to this train. 
The train itself is the most reliable form of protection there is. 

“Lord Saint, what shall we do with the bandits? We don’t have the facilities to transport them, so shall we bury them here?” 
“Stop using ancient Warring States prisoner disposal methods.” 
“We could tie them up and drag them behind the train.” 
“That’s basically a death sentence!” 

In the end, we tie up the bandits and leave them at the scene. 
The Farm Kingdom will send people later to come pick them up. 

Depending on whose territory the crime took place in, how they’re handled will vary, but if things get complicated, we can always just bury them somewhere after all. 

*** 

And with that, the train arrives in the Farm Kingdom. 

“Thank you for riding with Otherworld Railway today. We experienced a slight delay due to an unscheduled stop. We deeply apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience.” 

Still, it’s way faster than taking a carriage; it’s honestly kind of terrifying. 

…By the way. 
There's also a test train coming from the Human Kingdom, right? 
The town chief, Ariaros, is supposed to be on board that one... 

Which means we should be meeting right here at the midway point, in the Farm Kingdom. 

I keep my eyes on the tracks leading from the Human Kingdom side, and then... 
…It’s here. IT’S HEEEREEEEEEEE!!! 

The test train carrying the Human Kingdom’s VIPs barrels into the station platform at full speed and... 
…zooms right past us. 
Huh? 
Why? 

“WOOOHOOOOO! Taking a break here, huh, Beta? Too slow! Victory’s mine, babyyyyyyyyyyy!!!” 
“This was never a race, Alpha.” 

Wait just a secondddddddd! 
Ariaros is on that train! 

We came all this way, made it all the way here, and now we just missed each otherrrrrr?!