Chapter 272: Train Station, chooo, choooo!

Chapter 272: Train Station, chooo, choooo!

Oooh, look, Rajah! Mother! A boat restaurant! Quite a few of their guests look pretty wealthy, too. I pointed at a medium-sized boat floating in the waterway of Gleisvale, looking like a restaurant from all the food being served to guests. Looking closer, practically all the diners wore clothing fitting for nobles or wealthy merchants.

However, while I was enthusiastic at seeing something new, well, new to Peolynca, Mother and Rajah didnt share my enthusiasm.

It is simply a boat, Hestia. You see them all the time in Caedhul. If you are already excited with a small one like this, once we visit the levianewts capital, Lecullius, you will be amazed at the aquatic culture of the aquapolis.

[Master. All this water. Dangerous.]

Jeez, come on! At least act amazed! I complained about Mothers and Rajahs indifference. Argh, whatever. Rajah, Ill have Varya help me teach you how to swim. You cant always be scared of the water since youll grow into a strong and large virigress one day.

[ Rajah doesnt like swimming.]

Complaints and complaints, just like a spoiled child. Then again, maybe it was my fault too since I was spoiling him too much. Regardless, this was all part of the joy of sightseeing, right?

Rajah wasnt originally part of the train-watching squad since I thought he would join his mother and brothers with helping Saori, Tasianna, and Gael with the black market search as a member of the Shadow Pack. However, before they headed off, he jumped out of Saoris shadow and joined me.

His mother, Varya, was about to drag him back into their shadow, but Saori stopped her. Instead, she used this chance to slip a [Shadow Snake] into one of Rajahs black foggy legs and Ellaines right gauntlet. This way, she would be able to keep watch of where we were, in case one of us got into trouble.

We separated and departed at that point to our respective destinations. Grimnir led us to a nearby water boat dock, walking through the streets instead of driving inside the RV. On the way, I noticed that there were quite a few foxians around, about the same amount as humans actually.

Grimnir explained this was due to Estralias worship of Mercurias, the only foxian god in the six pantheons. While you wouldnt find such a concentration of them in the other cities or towns, since Gleisvale was the center of commerce for the republic, foxians should be the second most populous race in this country. Similar to Lecartiglio and arvisians, foxians were treated far better than other beastmen races in this place.

I wonder if Zeather and Quini would like it here? I wondered, thinking of the two foxian merchants I met in Firwood. They worked for the Sarlenzia company and were indebted to its president, Amelias grandfather, so I didnt think they would leave the company, but I couldnt help but imagine it.

Honored guests, would a ride on our humble canal boat interest you?

Speaking of foxians, the dock manager and boat drivers were all foxians. They even spoke in the same manner Zeather did, in that humble second-person point-of-view way. Maybe it was due to their religious teachings or something. Or maybe it was just how foxian merchants behaved in general, I didnt know. It was irrelevant.

In any case, what was important was that we got onto a boat and were now on our way to the train station with it. Surprisingly, while I thought it was just a pure sightseeing ride, I really should have anticipated the number of merchants wanting to sell you stuff. Yes, even while we were on this boat.

Papribulbs! Papribulbs! Papricha stuffed with meat! Crunchy vegetable skin with soft and juicy meat! Grilled right above the water and handed it to you immediately!

Fried noodles! Made by dwarven artisans with quality tazlokwheat! Got some fresh vegetables and pork included in it, too! Good food just for you!

Orslagges! Orslagges! I got the best orslagges in the country! Everybody needs some orslagges in their life! Energy comes from a meal made with orslagges!

Are you kidding me, there is a guy selling cabbages on a boat? Cant believe there is an orslagges-exclusive seller around.

Hey, hey, Kyouya! Come and buy some! These papribulbs are freaking amazing! Damn, mhmm! Tatsuya made a satisfied face after buying a few grilled paprikas stuffed with meat and other stuff.

Bladdarg, are you kidding me?! These aint tazongn-made noodles! What the hell is this form and its length?! We tazongs enjoy our noodles long and firm! You dare disrespect our workmanship with your cheap imitation! By Crustacias twin-tails, I bet these arent even made using tazlokwheat! Grimnir got into a fight with the noodle vendor.

Daichi joined in, about to throw a fireball at the poor man and his boat. Oooooh?! How dare you serve these cheap, unskilled copies of dwarven wheat! You snake-oil seller, I should burn you into a crisp!

Daichi! Elrick rushed over to him, barely stopping Daichi from doing something stupid. Still, that was enough to scare the noodle vendor away.

Swooo Mhmm. This aint bad. On the other hand, Asaka brought some of the noodles and was enjoying it. You three want some? I bought some for Haru-chan, but the portion sizes are pretty large despite how cheap they were. Probably evident enough that it wasnt made by a dwarf.

Hiehie, yeah, I giggled at what she said. Well-made noodles cost quite a bit, if we take Japan as an example. Mother, Rajah. Lets eat.

How generous. Thank you.

[Rajah wants meat pieces.]

Gleisvale wasnt a maritime city but they still were dependent on the river flowing from the mountain and through the city of Gleislain. It was the reason why Estralias capital was the center of commerce and was so wealthy. It was cause the river's length spanned over multiple countries and into the Empire, such that their cargo and merchant ships could trade with so many different people. It was the same with any other country with access to the ocean.

Still, the canals were pretty large and spacious enough to accommodate multiple boats and gondolas. There was a culture developed around this river you didnt need to go to the port to see. For a city where money was everything, people had to be creative to survive within it.

If I could hazard a guess, it was cause of this culture and its lack of a caste system that even affluent people would mingle and traverse even into the middle district. In Artorias, nobles would go no further than the merchant district in most cases, but here, the rich went from and out with their carriages or personal boats. Money and entertainment could be found even in the less opulent areas.

Mhmm, these noodles arent too bad.

After meeting a few more boat merchants, we eventually made it to the artisan district, or, as Grimnir liked to call it, the dwarven district.

There is history in this city for us tazongs. We made it for the humans and, since they didnt know how to maintain it properly, quite a few of us stayed here. You gotta remember, this city was made before the train was established. Travel was hard and long with those Centipedeclaws, so staying around was better.

During the War for the Faefolk, Estralia officially stayed neutral with respects to either side, wishing not to completely sever their ties to humans and dwarves. Still, problems crept up as the republics populace were divided. The dwarves wanted Estralia to fight on the side of the northern alliance due to them owing the dwarves for their city, while the humans were less than enthused about fighting their own race.

Nowadays, you would rarely find dwarves outside their districts outside of work. They were stubborn and considered the city their home. Even if the Ankoran King ordered them to return or the human populace of Estralia wanted them out, they would not leave. This was their home and they would defend it as if it was any other dwarven hold.

And to prove this point, the artisan district was entirely different aesthetically from the rest of the city.

Jeez, there is so much smoke around. Are those factories? Tatsuya pointed at the numerous chimneys letting out black smoke.

Hey, look, everybody. Kyouya, too, pointed at something. What he was drawing our attention to was a bridge with rails built above the buildings, allowing minecarts to transport items around with dwarves manning them.

Mhmm. Thats our minecart system. Mobilized with runes, we had to invent this system once we realized that getting from the mines to the surface took too long with our short legs. It was eventually extended to being a part of our daily lives, Grimnir explained. The rider is protected with runes if they were to fall, but our design of it is perfect, so accidents barely ever happen. As such, you can expect ores, monster materials, or food to move around a tazongn hold or city through this system. However, its a bit outdated nowadays.

Wow, Tatsuya exclaimed, and all of us could agree. Well, outside of Mother and Grimnir, but both Rajah and Elrick were stunned by how huge this place was. It seemed Elrick had never been to a train station before.

Oi! But our amazement ended when somebody called us out. By Crustacia, this aint a place for you akongs to hang around! If you got business, get to it and Hmm? Dragonewts?

If I had to be honest, I couldnt tell the age difference between male dwarves. The females were easy since they didnt have a beard covering their faces. However, since beards represented age and experience, from the looks of this dwarfs beard, he was probably a young adult.

And this dwarf was sweaty and dirty, having soot covering his hands and face. From the looks of it, he was a blacksmith or an ironmonger.

Rare sight so deep into akong territory, but still, what A zuekluk? The moment he saw Grimnir, the slightly annoyed dwarf quickly turned antagonistic. Tsk, get the hell out of here you damn zuekluk! We dont need a dishonored inside the holy place of Goddess Chihiro! Get the hell out of here!

Not just antagonistic, he was bluntly hostile now, even taking out a hammer from his tool apron. He pointed it at us, shouting that we should leave, causing a commotion that drew in the sights of the other dwarves. Like flies, they came towards us, further fueling the anger of the rambunctious complainer.

Hey, hey! Look at that damn zuekluk! He dares come into the railroad guilds territory and taints Goddess Chihiros ground! This train station aint for damn traitors and dishonored!

Huh? A zuekluk?! Bladdarg, why the hell are you here?! Get the hell out, you scum!

Get the hell out! You akongs and krasulongs, too!

It was a vortex of hate and rage, and we were in the middle of it all. Spit was shooting out like a minigun as the crowd didnt show any signs of stopping, continuously flinging insults and rude remarks at Grimnir like it was normal.

Everybody was unnerved by this, all except for Grimnir, who simply shut his eyes and shook his head. Without saying anything back, our friend kept his head down and slowly moved towards the entrance, the only path the crowd left open for us. Seeing him not even fighting back, all of us clicked our tongues and followed him.

Fuck these people!

I glared at all of them, feeling absolutely disgusted by behavior, but in all their rage, none of them reacted to my [Draconic Aura]. There was no way to break a dwarfs confidence when he was angered, I presumed.

Holding onto Rajah tighter, I gritted my teeth and simply moved faster. Responding to this sorta hate was something Ive never experienced before. Sure, some ill stigma or racism, but this? It felt suffocating and unbearable. I despised them from the depths of my soul, and I honestly just wanted to let it out. Activate [Royal Presence] and [Draconic Aura] to their maximum output and cause them all to shit their pants!

Fucking hell!

As we all tried to rush towards the exit, I suddenly heard the sound of something flying towards us. [Foresight] didnt activate if the attack was not a threat to me, but my senses were trained enough to pick up on them without my skills. And this one was a stone thrown at Grimnir.

Scheie!

My legs moved and grabbed the thing before Grimnir reacted to it. He looked at me stunned, surprised that I did just that. His [Prediction] probably activated, but I was still faster than him

Las Grimnir probably wanted to thank me, but before he could say anything, I felt a sudden chill coming from behind me.

Kriassah!

The very temperature dropped far below what you could call comfortable following a dignified roar, silencing all the loud dwarves. Ice formed in the area as I turned around, seeing Mother standing proudly before the shivering dwarves, all of whom having fallen either onto their butts or knees.

Listen, dwarves. This is your last warning. When my daughter appears before you again, you shall show her the due respect you would to a dragon princess. If you displease her, if you dare threaten her, if you ever dare harm her! Prepare your clan for battle, otherwise you will witness the age of ice overwhelm everything you hold dear. It will be forfeited!

Solid ice spread towards them, threatening the dwarves with spears of ice, as Mother turned around and told us to leave. We followed her, too occupied with how daunting she just was. Once we were outside the train station, I walked over to Mother and asked her why she did that.

I thought you wanted me to fight my own battles? I asked her with Rajah still shivering in my arms. He seemed to be scared of Mother now.

Hestia, there is a difference between having your daughter handle her own problems and people disrespecting you. In the former, your goals and ambitions will create trials and tribulations which you must conquer and prove to me that you can survive. In the latter I am your Mother, and I will not allow some ants to spit upon the pride of us dragons.

In other words, Mother was being overprotective. Well, not like I could complain. I was about to spew fire at them and imprison them in an obsidian jail for what they were doing to Grimnir. Mother figuratively and literally cooled me down.

Well, it was still satisfying seeing them shiver like that. It probably doesnt solve any of Grimnirs problems, though

I looked over to Grimnir. He had thanked Mother and me for standing up for him, even Daichi and Tatsuya for before, but he didnt look any better. He still had that depressed look on him. Crestfallen with a face telling us he wanted to go home now.

I guess that is another thing we need to solve. Grimnirs relationship with the other dwarves will be dicy

Haaaaa, I hope we dont get into too much trouble.

Hestia, I have already made my point to them.

I guess she did under threat of freezing them all. Hmm?

Now that I think about it, shouldnt I have announced my arrival to the local leaders? I mean, I did the same with Duke Equevanna, I wondered, but Mother simply shook her head.

You had to make sure he had everything prepared for your concert, Hestia. You came to that Fillion to make sure he had your preparation finished. However, in this case, they should come and plead for you to grace them with your presence. You are a dragon princess, Hestia. Do not forget about that. Words go around this city, so you can assume they had spies notify the citys leaders of our presence. Now, you wait.

Mother was a proud dragon and she wanted me to act like her since I was her daughter. Mother really had an ice queen personality behind all of that loving mother act she had with Aurora. I liked it.

But, as if her words were premonition, it came true the moment we returned to the inn.

Ahhh, Princess Hestia! I am a representative of the local merchants guild! We wish to invite you for some business!

Princess Hestia, I am the manager of the most illustrious tailor store in Gleisvale. Please, would you honor us with your visit and a chance for us to create something beautiful for you?

Princess Hestia, I am a messenger of one of Estralias senators. My master wishes to invite you to her humble abode.

Oh right, I was a princess now.