CH 34

Chapter 34 – Railroad that Carries Things to the West and East

Clean and inexhaustible, the train equipped with the dream-like “Perpetual Magic Power Engine” has finally been completed.

Inside the station, which is usually only accessible to military personnel or ticket-holding nobles, I looked up at the big black train on the tracks.

It was 4 meters high, 3 meters wide, and 20 meters long, with six coaches.

Five of the six coaches are for power and the last one is the passenger coach.

S.u.p.e.r. h.i.g.h. p.o.w.e.r.e.d., right?

We did a pretty good job with this one.

When we made the first coach, we weren’t able to adjust power well so its capacity is only one person.

After this day ends, we can finally leave the rest to the researchers in the royal capital or something.

I’m not really a big fan of this kind of energy-saving research.

If you’re a real man, you want compact and high power.

Why don’t I make my own fuel-eating something?

Right, let’s start thinking about it tomorrow.

Today is the unveiling of this perpetual train after all.

「Then, let’s start the test run.」

「Understood」

Professor Mario, who had always been aloof, sat nervously in the driver’s seat, wearing the formal attire he wears during presentations like this.

Meanwhile, my fiancée, Lady Laura Slayra, is looking as composed as ever while standing next to Professor Marino.

She is wearing a military uniform decorated with countless medals. From a 3rd party’s point of view, you won’t be able to tell who’s the senior officer.

Well, that’s understandable, isn’t it?

To my surprise, a major general of the army was sent from the royal capital for today’s test run of the perpetual train.

The whole lab was in an uproar.

They’re all saying your excellency your excellency.

How much importance does the army attach to this research?

「We’re off then.」

Professor Marino turns the start key, making the connection around the engine links together, and the perpetual magic power engine, which had sucked magic element in the air, starts moving.

Clack! There’s a sound as the linkage starts moving.

Slowly, slowly, slowly, slowly…….

Ten minutes have passed since then but the train had not yet left the station.

We all knew its lack of power but the army personnel who were informed beforehand seemed puzzled.

The uncle next to me kept asking, “Are you sure this is okay?”.

I had no choice but to reply.

There are around 20 people on board and this big Venus is barely moving.

I looked at the front of the coach and saw Professor Marino sweating profusely while explaining to his excellency major general.

Don’t be so nervous. We won’t be able to arrive at Ruefuma, our destination, if you’re that nervous.

Half an hour later, the train finally started running.

The rain was running as fast as a child on a bicycle.

Fresh breeze flew through the coach making me feel a little sleepy.

Ah, I want to go home, take a bath, and go to bed.

The uncle next to me is also yawning.

We both looked at each other and chuckled.

「How’s that?」

「Oh, scary.」

「I’ll take that.」

「Kid, you play too serious. It’s not like it’s a lot of money.」

「Hehehe, I’m from a merchant family so I take as much as I could.」

「You’re too smartass for a kid….how about a game of cards, huh?」

「Bring it on.」

「Kuh….」

The uncle in front of me paid 6 copper coins.

We’re at work so the rate is low.

It’s not really serious but everyone is playing aside from the soldiers on watch.

They say you can never survive as a soldier if you’re always nervous.

His excellency is silent too. We’re on a train so we can’t do anything else.

As for the view, it’s only wheat fields as far as the eyes can see.

3 hours after our departure, a normal magic train would have already arrived there but we’re still at the halfway point.

No matter how low cost it is, I think this is already at an unusable speed…..

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the coach changed.

A soldier on guard puts his safety belt on, goes up and climbs up, and shoots a fireball into the sky.

The intense heat and light created outside the train made the shadows inside the coach very dark for a moment.

After a few seconds, I saw a huge creature falling down onto the wheat field in the distance, burning.

「It should be an egg stag beetle. It’s in its spawning season.」

「Heh, is it strong?」

「It’s weak but it shows up in a herd so it’s kind of tough to deal with.」

As he said that, the shadow on the window sill appeared on the face of the uncle who was sitting next to me for a moment.

It looks like another fireball has been fired.

「Hey, help me out---」

「Affirmative!」

The uncle in the front seat quickly tied a safety belt and climbed up to the ceiling from the boarding door.

Is there a herd?

As I was thinking about it, a grinning uncle tapped me on the shoulder.

「Kid, how about you try it too? You’ll seldom have the opportunity to shoot down giant beasts while being taught by skillful soldiers.」

He pointed out the window happily but unfortunately, it was impossible for me.

「I’m sorry but I must decline. I can’t use attack magic.」

「What? You can’t?」

「Not at all. I’m only good at healing magic.」

The uncle looked disappointed but he put his hand on my shoulder and started to talk.

「I’m so sorry for you to be unable to use attack magic but you shouldn’t look down on yourself, okay? You’re a researcher and if people say anything about you, you have something that they can only look up to, okay?」

「Don’t worry. The people at the lab are all good people.」

「That’s great then.」

「Thanks for your encouragement.」

Just as I was having such a heartwarming conversation with a surprisingly kind uncle, I heard a terrible explosion from above the sky.

Then, I heard laughter coming from above.

「Quiet! You stupid bastard! Can’t you do it quietly!?」

「That’s right, as*hole!」

「I was sleeping!!」

Everyone started cursing at the ceiling.

I could see dismembered shells falling into the wheat field beyond the slope visible from the window.

This is the safest train in the world.

I yawned loudly, relieved.

I think I’ll sleep until we get there.

The train had departed before noon and arrived at the Ruefuma station just as the sun was setting over the horizon.

We alighted in front of the Ruefuma station staff, who were curiously looking at the perpetual train, and saluted to his excellency major general in a formal manner.

「With this, the test run of the no magic crystal magic train has been completed.」

Along with a salute, everyone replied, “Yeah”, and waited for his excellency to lower his hand before lowering our hands.

The soldiers, Professor Marino, and Laura-san are going to stay in Ruefuma and go to the royal capital later but me and the other researchers will go back to Torquiva.

The magic train will start running again on this railway tomorrow morning.

Thus, we have to use the train back.

From there, we’ll have to clear out the site…..

Well, I guess we’ll be done in the morning……

Or at least that’s what I wish.

Let’s prepare for the worst.

The perpetual train was shown to be crazy slow during the test run but the answer from the royal capital was a “GO”.

Apparently, the idea is, “Wouldn’t that be solved if we make more power coaches?”.

The length of the train will seriously exceed the entire length of a city then!

In panic, I submitted a draft of a hybrid system while using the names of Professor Marino, Laura-san, and a few others to the royal capital. It will use the current magic train system to gain initial speed.

It seems like it was well-received and the transcontinental railroad, the Grand Railroad, which is scheduled to open, will honorably bear the first name of Professor Marino, the head of the research lab.

Professor’s name is Frank Marino so…..

Will it be the Transcontinental Frank Railroad?

On the day it was decided that his name would remain for posterity, the professor cried as a man.