#1218 The North-South Lines of Love 

Well… though there are still a few discrepancies here and there, the train cars are finally finished. 

A self-sufficient, AI-driven locomotive… 
Named Ichiro, Jiro, and Saburo. 

“NO! IT’S ALPHA, BETTA, AND GAMMA!!!” 

Fine, fine. Just stop combining already. 

At first, the AI seemed like a totally unnecessary gimmick. But since the cars themselves can think, there’s no need to hire drivers, which saves a ton on personnel costs. 

“AREN'T WE USEFUL?! SO PLEASE DON’T DELETE OUR PERSONALITIES!!!” 

Relax. I’m not that heartless.  

I can’t just wipe them out after they’ve come into being. I guess I’ll grudgingly go along with it for now. 

All right, so the cars are done… 

…Oh, one more thing.  
What powers these guys, anyway? 

I’d assumed the most primitive steam engine, but there’s no way this giant combination robot runs on steam pressure alone…  
I can’t imagine it... 

“Hm? Want to know, Master?” 

…Actually, never mind.  
I’m stuffed on AI talk for one day.  

I’ll ask when I’ve got a clearer head. 

For now, let’s push ahead with the Otherworldly Railway Project!  
We’ve got the cars built and most of what we need. 
It’s time to round everything up and finish the plan!!! 

“Right, so what else do we need?”  

We’ve got the cars, right? 
Next up, tracks! 

With cars and tracks together, that’s a full-fledged railway! 

“HUH? YOU HAVEN’T LAID ANY TRACKS YET? IF YOU LEAVE IT THIS WAY, WE COULD GO OFF AND BE A JUSTICE ROBOT...!” 

Nope, nope.  
That’s not happening. 

Besides, there’s no gig for justice robots around here. 
Get to work hauling cargo like you’re meant to. 

“Huh… so exactly where will these tracks run?” Platy asks. 

Good question. 

A Tokyo-style web of lines spanning the world is still a ways off.  

First, we’ll streamline supplies to the Farm Kingdom. Our branch goes there. 

We’ll build the Farm Station, you can think of it like the other world’s Tokyo Station.  
It’ll be a red-brick station house and all that jazz.  

Tracks from there will stretch toward both the Demon Kingdom and the Human Kingdom!  
I’m thinking we start by reaching the nearest town. 

Once cars and tracks connect, we’ll have shuttle service pumping goods into the Farming King from every nation! And if the Farm Kingdom starts producing exports, those same lines become export routes in reverse. 

It’s a win-win!!! 

“A PLAN READY TO REPEL HOSTILE EXTRATERRESTRIALS WITH NO WEAK POINTS!” 

Give up trying to go that route. 
You won’t have Saikyo* on your line. 

“But to lay tracks, don’t we need permission from the other side? And you need stations too…” 

It’s as Platy says. 
We’ll have to show good faith, maybe grovel a bit, before we ask. 

Let’s head there now!  
As for transport… 

“THEN WE’LL CARRY YOU, MASTER! IN FUSED-ROBOT MODE, WE CAN JET-PROPEL AND FLY!!!” 

Stop making your train mode pointless. 

Flying’s fine, but how do you seat me?  

On your palm?  
I’ll freeze from wind resistance! 

“DON’T WORRY! WE’VE GOT A FULL COCKPIT!!”  

You’re a hero robot, but you’ve got a cockpit? 
But I’ve already tried robot riding with the Spirit King just recently.  

Whatever.  
No more back-and-forth. Let’s board this giant robot and head to town.  
The world gets weirder by the minute. 

As I climb into the giant robot, I suddenly feel a two pairs of eyes on me. 
Huh? I peer through the main camera and there, down on the ground, are two tiny figures. 

Junior and Norito. 
My eldest and second son. 
They're staring up at the combined robot with eyes sparkling like stars. 

Well, this is exactly the kind of thing that hits kids their age right in the heart. 
Maybe I’ll get them a combining robot toy for Christmas this year.  
Something with a ridiculous 108-part combination or something. 

Also, I should probably make sure they don’t try sneaking into this thing themselves. 

*** 

About fifteen minutes of flight later, we arrive at our target town. 

This robot is fast.  
If robot form flies fine and fast, why even need flight mode?  
But that’s a tangent… 

When the giant robot lands, the townspeople react as if there’s a raging fire.  

Of course they would. 
If you live peacefully and suddenly a titanic robot drops from the sky, you’d think it was doomsday. 

This is San-Chome, a Human Kingdom town governed by one Ariaros, whom I befriended at the recent expo.  

I figured he’d welcome me even without an appointment, but… 
...Huh? 
I still need a proper notice even if we’re acquaintances? 

You’re exactly right about that. 

Still, despite my impromptu visit, Ariaros greets me warmly, dashing out in surprise. 

“Wh-What is this colossal golem?! Is it a monster invasion?! Guards! To armssssss!” 

Uh-oh. They’re ready to attack.  
This is bad. 
Hey, giant robot! Self-destruct so the other party knows we mean no harm! 

“NO WAY! WE’LL GET WRECKED IF WE DID THAT!” 

Hmph. Self-destruct is half the fun of being a giant robot. 

I hop down, revealing myself, and only then do they stand down. 

“Lord Saint?! Why were you up there? Were you being eaten by a golem?!” 

Is that what they think?  
It’s too much effort to correct them, though. Moving on. 

I’ve got a favor to ask. 

I want to build a station in this town… 
And lay tracks. 

Ariaros blinks, puzzled.  
Looks like I have to start by explaining the very concept of railways. 

I launch into my best train tutorial. 

“…So you’d be able to move more cargo and people, faster than ever?” 

Of course, a seasoned ruler, even without knowing all the mechanics, he nails the gist. 

Could we set aside some land here for the station?  
Don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of funds. 

Between my deals with the Pandemonium Trading Company, the Farm Kingdom is rolling in cash.  
It almost feels like playing a management sim on cheat mode. 

“I understand, Lord Saint, but we can’t just...!” he protests, still hesitant. 

Well, everything’s new for this world, so caution makes sense. 

...It’s time for a targeted push. 

“…Ariaros, I’m also taking this proposal to Rondmelt, the nearest Demon Kingdom town.” 
“Pardon?” 

If San-Chome and Rondmelt connect by rail, travel will be leaps-and-bounds smoother. 

“And you’ll get to see Lady Kimeri of Rondmelt more often, right?” 

I know.  
Ariaros has a thing for Rondmelt’s ruler, and vice versa!  

A railway could bring them closer in more ways than one! 
So please. 

Let’s open these tracks!