Chapter 5

◈ Chapter 5: Cold Steel

I saw it.

Knights in snow-white armor running across the snowy field, one by one leaping onto the train.

Movements that transcended human limits.

Beings so powerful they could catch up to a galloping horse on two legs and shatter rocks with their strength.

That was what a knight was.

And these were the knights who were responsible for the most treacherous regions of the Exilion Empire.

“Aaaah!”

“It’s the Imperial Border Guard! Everyone, run!”

“Please, save me!”

Screams of the terrorists echoed everywhere.

If the elite members of the Border Guard had intervened, it was obvious what had happened beyond that point.

In less than a minute, the Border Guard had taken action.

The train hijacking incident was over just like that.

* * *

‘It’s over.’

The Cold Steel Knights, a unit under the Border Guard.

It might not sound like much, but given that they operated in the harsh and cold Aret Mountains, each member was a highly skilled knight.

I returned to the still intact Room 403.

And I slumped into the seat where I had first sat.

The inside of the train was filled with sword marks and scorch marks, evidence of the intense battle.

If it weren’t for the defensive magic array engraved on it, an ordinary train would have derailed and fallen down that cliff long ago.

“The bandits have all been eliminated, so please rest assured. The train will arrive soon, so please wait a little longer.”

I could see the knights walking through the train, calming the survivors.

In fact, the survivors were all from the First Class, the safest place where they had been protected.

The other compartments were almost impossible to find any survivors. In reality, they had all been wiped out.

Considering the small number of people on board, it was a tragic event.

‘At least all the terrorists were eliminated, so that’s a relief.’

The attackers were all killed by the knights.

Given that they had brought many mages, it was a truly futile outcome.

‘Ah, I was the one who killed that mage.’

This isn’t the time to worry about that.

The train will soon arrive at its destination.

As we passed through the snow-covered Aret Mountains, fresh vegetation began to appear here and there.

The jagged ice mountains disappeared, replaced by vast plains.

And on the horizon, one of the major cities of the Exilion Empire, <Lederberg>, came into view.

‘It’s huge.’

Even from a distance, the grandeur of the city was evident.

Tall buildings that soared like towers into the sky, factory chimneys endlessly spewing white smoke, and large airships drifting between the clouds.

Mechanical boats made of brass and gears lined the river that ran through the city, and steamships zipped between them.

Magitech, the fusion of advanced mechanical engineering and magic.

The civilization it created was very similar to what is commonly known as ‘Steampunk.’

‘It’s not really surprising anymore, but...’

Still, the strange feeling of dissonance caused by the memories of my past life couldn’t be erased.

When I realized I had been reborn as a baby in this world after dying in an accident in my past life, I was incredibly shocked.

That was 27 years ago.

Time really flies.

This world is a unique one where magic is infused into a society often described as the Victorian era and Belle Époque, with Ein species and monsters added.

If I had entered the world of a game I enjoyed or a novel I loved, it would have been different... but this is a completely different world, with no connection to my memories.

“Are you okay?”

Someone spoke to me as I sat quietly, gazing at the approaching destination.

Turning my head, I noticed neatly arranged black hair at the entrance of the half-destroyed compartment.

It was the knight who had saved me earlier.

She was looking at me with a worried expression.

“Did the terrorists do anything to you just now...?”

I immediately shook my head.

“No. Thanks to the knights, I’m fine. I was just thinking about something.”

“Oh, that’s a relief.”

She smiled, as if a burden had been lifted from her chest, like a rose blooming.

Now that I think about it, she was quite beautiful. Flawless, snow-white skin, white armor, and black hair that contrasted sharply, emphasizing her intense image.

She was a kind person, with no rough edges.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to check on someone like me.

She seemed capable, being part of the Cold Steel Knights, and young, which suggested she was talented.

I thought she lived in a world very different from mine.

“My name is Veronica Deville. What’s yours?”

Deville.

I’ve heard of it. A prestigious family that has produced many famous knights in the empire.

“I am...”

Paaaaaang───!!!

Just as I was about to say my name, the train blew its whistle, signaling its arrival.

I naturally closed my mouth, and Veronica turned to look outside.

“Oh, we’ve finally arrived at Lederberg.”

The train, now slowing down, had come to a complete stop at the station.

Through the window, the station was bustling with people.

They must have heard about the train hijacking and come to see. They were talking among themselves, looking at the damaged train.

The police formed a barrier to prevent people from getting too close, and reporters were trying to get exclusive stories by slipping through the gaps.

As befitting a major city, Lederberg was bustling from the start.

“There are so many people. The news must have spread already.”

“It doesn’t matter to me.”

After all, it’s not my concern.

If I had to point out something I regret, it would be that this train, which was supposed to go to the capital, had to stop at Lederberg due to the unexpected attack.

Since there’s no way to get a refund for the ticket I already paid for, I have no choice but to get off here.

Creak.

At that moment, the door, which had been closed, was roughly opened, and uniformed police officers rushed in.

What’s going on?

“Please stay in your seats and wait. We need to check something.”

“What’s happening?”

When Veronica asked, one of the police officers responded.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Veronica, a member of the Cold Steel Knights. What’s going on?”

“Oh, you’re from the Cold Steel Knights. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Officer Remus from the Lederberg Metropolitan Police.”

“Yes, Officer Remus. Nice to meet you. So, what’s happening?”

“I heard there was a train hijacking incident at the Aret Mountains border before we arrived.”

“Yes, that’s correct. We took care of all the attackers.”

“We received a report that the bandits were all defeated thanks to the efforts of the Cold Steel Knights, but there’s something that doesn’t add up.”

Something that doesn’t add up?

I felt uneasy, sensing that the situation was taking a strange turn.

Now that I think about it, there was something that didn’t sit right.

“The attackers included a mage, but a magitech train protected by magic shouldn’t have been so easily attacked.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

“This terrorist attack was clearly orchestrated from the inside as well as the outside.”

“That’s...”

Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise.

But after a moment, she nodded, agreeing with the officer.

That assumption wasn’t a stretch.

I had actually encountered someone who had disguised himself as a train staff member and disabled the magical barrier from the inside.

Because of him, the terrorists were able to easily board the train, and the passengers inside were killed.

“Even if we check the identities of the bodies, we can’t be sure. We need to verify the identities of the survivors to see if any of them were in league with the attackers. Don’t worry. We’ll release those whose identities are confirmed quickly.”

“Oh, I see.”

Veronica smiled, relieved, and turned to look at me.

Her smile was full of relief, but I felt cold sweat trickling down my back.

Verify identities? And in this situation, where my mask has been removed?

I calmly touched my face with my fingertips.

Yes, the mask is definitely off.

‘This is bad...!’

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

Naturally, Gerard’s name would be on the passenger list.

That’s fine, but the problem is my face.

How can this face, without a beard or wrinkles, be that of a man in his mid-40s?

‘What should I do?’

I didn’t lead the terrorist attack, and I was an innocent passenger caught up in it, but I can’t act too confidently.

Gerard is a fake identity I created to hide my true self.

Forging an identity is a serious crime in any country.

If I’m lucky, I might face the gallows, but given the current situation, where I’m suspected of terrorism, I could even be tortured.

If I were a normal person, I wouldn’t need to forge an identity.

What should I do? Should I run?

‘That’s impossible.’

The Cold Steel Knights are on this train, and outside, the empire’s soldiers are ready for any potential incidents.

If I try to run, I won’t last a minute before I’m caught.

Running is the worst option. But if I stay, my true identity will be exposed.

I tried to hide my anxiety.

Meanwhile, the police officer who had brought the passenger list was flipping through the papers.

He was comparing the names of the passengers on board.

He asked me,

“Which room were you in, sir?”

“...Room 403. Here’s my ticket.”

I calmly took the train ticket from my pocket and showed it to the officer.

He confirmed it wasn’t fake and quickly flipped through the papers.

“Let’s see... Room 403. Ah, here it is. Two guests in the room. Rudger Chellis, a man in his mid-20s, and Gerard, a man in his 40s.”

He then looked up at me.

It seemed like he was asking why I was alone when there should have been two people.

“What happened to the other person?”

“...He was caught in the explosion during the attack. He fell down the steep cliff of the Aret Mountains.”

Given the treacherous terrain, it’s unlikely his body would ever be found.

The officer’s gaze became even more suspicious.

I clenched my fists but maintained a blank expression.

I’m exposed. If this continues, I’ll be exposed.

But I can’t think of a way to get out of this situation.

The police and soldiers outside form a solid perimeter.

‘Running? It’s impossible from the start.’

Another problem is the woman in the white cloak in front of me, Veronica.

She’s the one who split a terrorist’s head in half just a while ago.

She didn’t hesitate to kill.

Now she’s smiling at me, but if she finds out I’m suspicious, she’ll be the first to draw her sword.

Considering her skills, which got her into the Cold Steel Knights at a young age, she’s far more threatening than the police outside.

As all these thoughts swirled in my head,

Veronica, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up in my defense.

“Wait a moment. This person is not a suspect.”

“Excuse me?”

“Because he was fighting the terrorists before we, the Cold Steel Knights, arrived. I saw it with my own eyes.”

“You were fighting?”

The officer, sounding skeptical, carefully examined the list again.

Then, as if he had come to a conclusion, he nodded and turned to look at me with a changed expression.

“So, Rudger Chellis survived, and Gerard was caught in the explosion.”

...What?

Wait a minute. What did he just say?

The officer’s face turned to shock as he examined the list more closely.

“Wait, the new teacher at Seorun Academy?”

“New teacher at Seorun? Really?”

Officer Remus’s exclamation made Veronica’s eyes widen.

Watching their reactions, which seemed like a scene from a comedy, I realized what was happening.

It was unbelievable, but... they thought I was Rudger.

It was a sudden turn of events, but I quickly made a decision.

I regained my composure and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right.”

As I answered, I picked up the suit case that Rudger had dropped before he died.

I’m glad I had the foresight to grab it.

“I am Rudger Chellis.”