Cold Steel

I witnessed a scene filled with the sight of knights clad in pure white armor, running across the snowy landscape and leaping onto the train one by one.

Their movements were beyond human capabilities, surpassing horses in speed and possessing enough leg power to shatter rocks.

These were the knights entrusted with guarding the most treacherous region of the Exilion Empire.

"Aagh!"

"Imperial Border Guards! Everyone, run!"

"Help me!"

The screams of the terrorists resounded in every direction.

With the appearance of the Border Guards, comprised of elite members, it became evident that the situation was dire for the assailants.

In less than a minute since the Border Guards intervened, the train raid came to an end.

*********************************************

"Is it over?"

The Cold Steel Knights, a division of the Border Guards.

Though their name may not sound impressive, they consisted of highly skilled individuals who had proven themselves in the harsh and frigid Aret Mountains.

I returned to Room 403, which remained intact.

Slumping into the first available seat, I surveyed the interior of the train. It bore the marks of knives and scorching, evidence of the intense battle that had taken place.

Had it not been for the defensive magic circle engraved within, an ordinary train would have already derailed and plunged off the nearby cliff.

"All thieves have been apprehended, so please rest assured. The train will arrive shortly. Please wait a little longer."

Knights patrolled the train's interior, tending to the survivors.

In truth, the survivors were all high-ranking individuals who had been protected in the safest areas.

In the other rooms, it was difficult to find survivors. In fact, it seemed they had been virtually annihilated.

It was a tragic outcome, even considering the small number of people aboard the train.

Still, it's fortunate that all the terrorists were eliminated.

All those who attacked the train were killed by the knights.

It was a truly futile result for bringing in many wizards.

"Ah. It's me who killed that wizard."

Now is not the time for me to worry about that.

Soon, the train will arrive at its destination.

After passing the mountain range covered with pure white snow, fresh vegetation began to be seen sparsely.

The sheer ice mountains disappeared, and wide plains replaced them.

And what was visible beyond the horizon was <Leather Velk>, one of the large cities of the Exilion Empire.

"It's big."

Even though it is far away, the majesty of the city is magnificent enough to be seen at a glance.

Buildings soaring high like towers towards the sky. Factory chimneys spewing endless white smoke. Even large flying boats roaming among the clouds stained with light.

Mechanical boats made of springs and brass are lined up on the riverside that runs through the city, and steamboats speedily pass between them.

Magical engineering created by combining advanced mechanical engineering with magic.

The civilization it has achieved is very similar to what is commonly referred to as 'Steampunk'.

"It's not surprising now, though."

Still, the strange feeling created by the gap caused by the memories of the previous life could not be erased.

How surprised I was when I died in an accident in my previous life and came to my senses to find out that I was born as a baby in this world.

That was already 27 years ago.

I feel like the years have passed so quickly.

This world is a unique world in which magic dwells in the world commonly referred to as the Victorian era and Belle Époque, and sub-species and monsters are added.

Wouldn't it be better if I entered the world of a game I used to enjoy or a novel I liked... This is a different world that doesn't even exist in my memory, literally without even an ointment.

"Are you okay?"

Someone spoke to me as I sat quietly in my seat and stared at the approaching destination.

When I turned my head, I could see straight black hair at the entrance of the half-destroyed room.

Is it the female knight who saved me in the first place?

She was looking this way with a worried gaze.

"I wonder if the terrorists suffered any harm just a moment ago..."

I immediately shook my head.

"Ah. If so, I'm glad."

The sight of her laughing while sweeping her heart, saying that it was fortunate, was like a rose blooming.

I'm saying it now, but she was quite a beauty. Pure white skin and white armor without blemishes. Contrasting black hair further highlighted her strong image.

She is a good person with no angular character.

Otherwise, there's no way she'll come and stay by my side just because she's worried about someone like me.

Seeing that she belongs to the Knights of Cold Steel, she seems to have abilities, and she looks young, but that means she has talent too.

"My name is Veronica Deville. What about you?"

Deville.

I've heard of it.it was a prestigious family that produced many famous knights in the empire?

"I am…"

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

Just as I was about to say my name, the train honked to announce its arrival.

I naturally kept my mouth shut, and Veronica turned her head to look outside.

"Ah, we have finally arrived at Ledervelk."

The train, which slowed down slowly, came to a complete stop at the train station.

The station seen through the window was full of people.

Apparently, they heard the news that the train was attacked and came to see it. They looked at the exterior of the train, which was broken or damaged in places, and chatted among themselves.

The police came forward and erected a wall to prevent people from approaching, and there were also reporters trying to get a scoop through the cracks.

As expected of a big city, Ledervelk was crowded from the start.

"Aren't there too many people? It seems that the news has already spread."

"It doesn't matter."

Because it has nothing to do with me anyway.

Now, if I had to pick one thing that I regret, this train, which should have gone to the capital, had to stop at Ledervelk because of an unintentional attack.

However, there was no way to get a refund for the already paid ticket, so I had no choice but to get off here.

At that moment, the closed door was thrown open violently, and uniformed policemen rushed in.

What happened all of a sudden?

"Passengers, please do not leave and wait in your seats. I have something to check for a while."

"What is this?"

Veronica asked, and one of the cops asked back.

"Who are you?"

"I am Veronica of the Knights of Cold Steel."

"Ah, you are a Knight of the Knights of Cold Steel. Nice to meet you. I am Officer Remlus of the Ledervelk Metropolitan Police Department."

"Yes, Officer Remlus. Nice to meet you. So what is this?"

"Before I came here, I heard that there was a train raid on the border of the Aret Mountains."

"Yes, that's right. We dealt with all the raiders."

"Thanks to the hard work of the Knights of Cold Steel, I received a report that all the thieves who attacked the train were defeated, but there is something suspicious."

What's inconsequential?

At those words, I became anxious because I thought things were going strangely.

Come to think of it, there was something stuck.

"Even though there was a wizard among the raiders, there was no way that the magical engineering train protected by magic would allow the raiders to goin so easily."

"Yes, it was."

"It is clear that the terrorism that took place this time was not just committed by someone from the outside but also from the inside."

"That…"

Veronica's eyes widened in surprise.

But then she nodded and agreed with the officer's words.

In the first place, that assumption is not a leap forward.

I actually ran into a guy who disguised himself as a train employee and disarmed the magic curtain from inside.

Because of him, the terrorists could easily break into the train and kill the passengers on board.

"Even if they've already identified the corpse, they wouldn't know. Among the survivors inside, there might be someone who has been in liaison with the terrorists, so we're just trying to identify them. Don't worry too much. Those whose identities have been verified will be sent back soon."

"Oh, I see."

Veronica smiled and turned around.

Her smile was full of relief, but instead, cold sweats broke out on my back.

Are they verifying my identity? In this situation where the false face was peeled off?

I calmly touched my face with my fingertips.

Okay. Certainly, the false face is not covered now.

'It's a big deal...!'

I boarded this train as Gerard, a wealthy merchant in his mid-40s.

Of course, the name Gerard would be written on the list of passengers.

That's fine, but the problem is my face right now.

How can this face without a beard or wrinkles be called mid-40s?

'What do I do?'

I did not lead the terror, and I am a passenger who was caught unfairly, but I couldn't be confident.

Gerard is a fake identity to hide my true identity.

A false identity is a felony in any country.

There was a high possibility that I would be hanged only if I was lucky, or even severely tortured if I was involved in a suspected terrorism situation.

If I was a normal person in the first place, there would be no need to fake my identity.

What should I do? Should I run away like this?

'That can't be.'

Now, there are Cold Steel Knights on this train, and even outside the train, there are soldiers of the Empire preparing for any unexpected situation.

The moment I try to run away from here, I won't last even a minute, and my neck will be on the line.

Running away is truly the worst option. But if I stay still, my true identity will be revealed.

I tried not to show my anxiety.

In the meantime, the police who brought the list documents were handing over the paper.

They were trying to compare the people on the train one by one.

He asked me, "What room was the guest in?"

"…This is room 403. Here are the tickets too."

I calmly took out a train ticket from my inside pocket and showed it to the policeman.

He confirmed that the ticket was not fake and immediately flipped through the paperwork.

"Where... No. 403. Ah, here you are. Two guests stayed in the room. Rudger Chelsea, a man in his mid-20s, and Gerard, a man in his 40s."

Then he raised his head and glanced at me.

It was like he was asking why I was alone when there should be two of us.

"How is it only one of you?"

"…They were caught in an explosion as the raid unfolded. They fell down a steep cliff in the Aret Mountains."

Falling down the precipice of that rugged mountain range, even a corpse will not be found.

At my words, the police gave me a more suspicious look.

I clenched my fists, desperately maintaining an expressionless face.

If I continue like this, I will get caught.

But that doesn't mean I can't think of a way to get out of this situation.

There are a lot of police and soldiers outside. The siege is very strong.

'Escape? It's impossible in the first place.'

And another problem, Veronica, a woman in a fluttering white cloak in front of me.

She is the woman who, just a moment ago, split the top of the terrorist's head and cut it in half.

she had no hesitation in killing people.

She treats me with a smile now, but the moment it turns out that I'm suspicious, she's the first one to pull out her sword.

Considering her ability to join the Knights of Cold Steel at a young age, she must be far more intimidating than the officers outside the train.

As all kinds of thoughts are swirling in my head.

Veronica, who had been quietly observing the situation, stood up for me.

"Wait. He is not a suspect in the first place."

"Yes?"

"Because he was fighting the terrorists before the arrival of the Knights of Cold Steel. I saw it with my own two eyes."

"You said you had a fight?"

The officer muttered in disbelief and looked over the list again.

Then, as if he had understood something, he nodded and looked back at me with a face that had changed in an instant.

"So that means Mr. Rudgar Celish survived, and Mr. Gerard was caught in the explosion."

...Uh?

No, wait. What the heck now?

The face of the officer who checked the list more closely was stained with astonishment.

"Uh? A new teacher who will be assigned to Seorn Academy this time?!"

"Yes? Seorn's teacher? Really?"

Officer Remlus's exclamation widened Veronica's eyes as well.

Watching their reactions, like a scene from a comedy, I realized how things were unfolding.

It was truly unbelievable, but...they believed me to be Rudgar .

It was all too sudden, but I made a quick decision.

I immediately regained my composure and nodded.

"Yes, that's right."

Responding like that, I picked up the suitcase that Rudger had dropped before he died.

It was good to have it in advance, just in case.

"I am Rudgar Chelsea."

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This will be the last chapter I will update one more in 12 hours