# Enhanced Translation
"Upper"
The train that departed from Matilenne crossed the eastern plains and stopped after three days.
"We apologize!! Train service has been suspended!"
The station attendants' announcements echoed throughout the train car. Unfortunately, it wasn't an exciting issue like a bandit attack.
Ivan inwardly frowned. Despite having prepared his axe, the reason for the blocked railway was quite reasonable.
"A dragon is still alive and blocking the tracks?"
"Hmm."
Isabelle grumbled as she gathered her belongings and disembarked. At the train platform, the group was stretching their bodies after sitting on the train for a long time.
The station attendants' explanation for the track closure was simple. A dragon was rampaging in the nearby territory, so train operations were suspended for the safety of the people.
A reasonable enough explanation. A train that stops even for bandits would have no defense against a dragon's attack.
Dragons were inherently sadistic and curious creatures, so if they spotted a train running across the plains, they would likely attack it.
"Is it nearby? The place where the dragon appeared?"
"No. To reach the Bernina Mountains, we would have needed another day by train from here."
"Um... by 'train'?"
"On foot, it would take about four days."
"This is maddening."
Isabelle clutched her head and groaned.
With this man's personality, he definitely wouldn't take a route through villages—he'd go straight through in the most direct line, which meant camping outdoors was guaranteed.
It wasn't that she had no experience camping in the wild, but this was different. As a woman, there were certain vulnerabilities she couldn't accept exposing. This definitely wasn't a face she wanted to show without being clean and fully made up.
While Isabelle frowned, Asidis tilted her head.
"If it's four days on foot, couldn't we make it in about two days on horseback if we push ourselves?"
"With a lot of effort, we could even make it in one day."
"Then how about riding horses?"
"...Hmm."
Ivan looked at Asidis with fresh eyes. She knows how to ride a horse?
In most content, it's often overlooked, but horsemanship is a highly advanced skill. There's a reason equestrian events are Olympic sports.
It includes directing a horse in the desired direction, controlling its speed, maintaining balance, and keeping a firm posture while riding.
Horses are extremely sensitive, demanding, and intelligent animals. They often don't listen to strangers, and each horse has slightly different personalities and habits, making a first-time mount unsuitable for long-distance travel.
A kind of taming process must come first. Skipping that process and immediately controlling a horse requires professional-level skill.
"I've never ridden a horse before!"
"I, I only know the basics..."
Isabelle and Elfihera quietly grumbled. As students who had just turned 20, especially from urban backgrounds, it was natural for horseback riding to be unfamiliar.
Oskar had received training from Gil Ber and was from the Eastern Knight Order, so he seemed unconcerned about riding.
Ivan could understand why Asidis was familiar with it, being from Droan. Droan was basically too rough and vast a land to travel without horses.
Ivan stroked his chin and soon nodded.
"I'll prepare the horses. It's a good skill to learn."
It would be useful for the future.
The Hero Party often needs to travel deep into enemy territory, through mountains and fields where there aren't even proper roads, let alone trains or carriages.
In this era, infiltration teams don't perform high-altitude drops from airships.
Therefore, horsemanship is a useful skill to acquire. The distance one can travel on horseback is incomparable to traveling on foot.
Under the name of "education," the group's expressions soured.
The journey on horseback was smoother than expected. Tilles had many plains with minimal elevation changes, and the roads in this area were well-maintained.
Moreover, with a dragon rampaging and the Lord Protector mobilizing troops, there couldn't be any bandits to block their way. The only obstacle was the pain of horseback riding itself.
But that would eventually become a valuable experience, so it was actually beneficial. Ivan ignored his companions' complaints about pain.
Instead, he began to focus on more important matters.
'They cut the railway out of concern for dragon attacks...'
Ivan was lost in thought while on horseback. By that point, the rest of the group was barely hanging onto their horses with half-dead expressions.
'The Lord Protector brought part of the capital garrison and even led the Eastern Knight Order on an expedition, yet they still cut the railway...'
Strange. This railway wasn't just for civilian transportation.
Tilles is a transportation hub. It was a strategic point blocking the eastern front in the northeast, but also a trading nation where all kinds of logistics intersected, including the long maritime route to the western Kalion Archipelago and trade routes to the western allied nations.
Even a single railway line transports an amount of goods daily that cannot be ignored.
Ivan quietly flipped through the mental notebook in his mind.
'They cut off supplies.'
They considered the disruption of trade routes and cut off retreat and supply lines. Simultaneously cutting the supply lines for troops stationed on the eastern front and the Eastern Knight Order led by Gil Ber.
Assuming that, it made sense. While there might not be an immediate concern about military supplies running out, it would definitely be a severe blow if it led to a prolonged conflict.
If he had to guess, most of the railway lines leading east were likely cut off. It's unlikely they stopped only the train Ivan was on by coincidence.
"My butt... hurts so much!!"
"I'm getting motion sick. I think I'm going to throw up..."
"Go ahead then."
"I can't do it here!! That would be the end!"
"Would you like me to sing a song?"
"...What?"
"A song! I'm a music major, you know?"
Ignoring the buzzing sounds in his ears, Ivan sank into deep contemplation.
The more he thought about it, the more intricately the plan fit together. There was a high possibility that the dragon's appearance itself was a means to get Gil Ber out of the capital.
The goal was likely to send the Lord Protector and his vassals away from the capital. If so... if he was the "Grand Duke" preparing for a rebellion, what else would he have arranged?
Right now, Ivan's mind contained a complete military map of Tilles. He slowly unfolded it.
The terrain of Tilles spread along its borders. From the mountain-dense east to the central plains, and then to the vast forests extending to the north.
Red lines were drawn across them. Routes for transporting people and military supplies.
Numerous railway lines, march routes, supply routes, garrisons of each corps and subordinate troops, fortified castles, and strongholds of territorial nobles were intricately intertwined.
As points and points, lines and lines colored the surface, all the shapes that had been moving busily and intricately intertwined came to a halt.
The entire northeastern plain solidifies. Supplies stop. A dragon rampages.
Gil Ber leaves to stop it. But it's not enough. With Gil Ber's abilities, one dragon is insufficient.
Therefore, the "demon race" appearing on the eastern front cannot easily cross the border. Their position and Gil Ber's march route are too close...
'All plans that can be assumed... are based on the premise that Gil Ber can be killed.'
His existence alone can preemptively block all threats to the nation. Each time his destination changes, the forces of various factions retreat.
The Eastern Knight Order he leads from the front is Tilles' strongest military force.
How could anyone possibly deal with someone like him?
"Military flags!!"
Elfihera, who had been lying face down on her horse with drool, suddenly sat up and shouted.
At the foot of the mountain, across the plain, military flags could be seen fluttering along the wide fields.
Elfihera instantly wove magic and formed a hand seal. With blue sparks crackling, she rounded her hand and placed it against one eye.
"Military flags! That's right! Over there!!"
"I know."
"We're here! My goodness... my goodness... I'll never, never ride a horse again... Riding livestock is barbaric, you know? Modern civilized people should use magical engineering devices."
"I see."
"Like aerial battleships! Or sky transporters!"
Ignoring the elf privy councilor's daughter who seemed intent on personally appropriating military supplies, Ivan turned his horse toward the military camp.
After traveling for about 30 more minutes, passing through hilly terrain, the military camp gradually came into clearer view.
"Wow..."
Yu-jin blankly exclaimed in admiration. Having lived only in cities since his transmigration, this was his first time seeing a proper military camp.
The St. Francisco flag of the Eastern Knight Order. The flag depicting the sun rising over the field burning a demon fluttered throughout the entire camp.
Numerous horses and attendants moved around the camp. Knights in shining armor could be seen, with soldiers moving in between them.
A guard who noticed their approach waved his hand. It was a stop signal.
"Halt!! This is a military operation zone! Identify yourselves! Where are you coming from?"
"Upper Matilenne."
The guard's face wrinkled at Ivan's answer.
"Damn it. Did our lords send you as reinforcements? To monitor us?"
Though it was just quiet grumbling from a distance, Ivan could hear it clearly. It was evident that the royal family and the House of Lords had hit rock bottom in terms of reputation.
It was understandable, if predictable. They had assigned a mission, sent troops on an expedition, and then cut off the supply lines. Naturally, the atmosphere in the camp would be extremely tense.
There was no need to correct the misunderstanding that they were officials dispatched by the royal family. Time should be used more effectively.
As the soldier was about to shout something, Ivan raised his hand to stop him and said briefly:
"Tell Gil Ber de Etakrihi that Ivan Petrovich is here."
"How dare you...!! Do you speak as if the Duke is your friend? How dare you in the Eastern Knight Order's camp?!"
"He is my friend."
It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't a particularly pleasant word.
Ivan said with a crooked lip:
"It's not for you to judge. Whoever I am, someone who has come from Upper Matilenne to here is beyond your capacity to handle. Go and tell your master properly. Say that Ivan Petrovich is here."
"...Martin! Don't let those guys escape! Archers! Shoot if they move!"
The guard, his face red with anger, disappeared beyond the camp.
Oskar approached him and whispered quietly:
"Wouldn't it have been easier if I just said I came to find my father?"
"...Hmm."
"...Pardon?"
"That's right."
Ivan turned his head. Wondering if there was some other intention, Oskar tilted his head briefly and then stepped back.
Yu-jin moved closer to him.
"Hehe, Mr. Oskar. Big brother is feeling embarrassed right now. And he's also a bit excited!"
"...Pardon?"
"His intimacy level has risen so I can see his [Current Feelings] a little. Oh, wait. Ah... um..."
It just dropped by 3 points.
"I can't see it anymore," Yu-jin said with a sycophantic smile.
Oskar failed to understand Yu-jin's words but didn't bother to ask again. After all, most Krasilov people he had met weren't normal.
Even more so, the "club trio" that Ivan had gathered were the epitome of that. They were infamous lunatics on campus. Inwardly, he wondered if Ivan had a hobby of collecting madmen.
'Wait, then what about me...?'
He was also one of the students Ivan had collected...
Oskar shook his head to dispel the terrible thought. Normal people cannot understand the thinking of madmen.
And soon, he had no choice but to snap out of his thoughts.
-Who!! Dares—!!!!
A thunderous voice began to shake the entire camp.
A killing intent sharp as a blade covered the camp and soared into the sky. The wind changed direction and violently shook the military flags.
The soldiers retreated with terrified faces.
"The, the Duke has never been this angry before..."
"Should we get away...?"
"If those guys try to escape, we'll have to deal with the Duke instead. Wait."
The soldiers were whispering in fear. Ivan stood straight, gauging the erupting killing intent.
'Has he... grown?'
What an unpleasant fellow.
-How dare you!! Disrespect the deceased!! Who is it!! Who dared to tell me to deliver that name!!
-Move aside!! I must go and ask those people myself. Where they heard that name, and who told them to deliver it to me!!
That's even worse than Einar.
He's developed quite a temper. Well, he never had a good personality to begin with.
Ivan waited for a moment with a slight smile. Soon the killing intent poured toward him.
The soldiers who had gathered suddenly parted and stepped aside. Between the soldiers standing at attention with flags held high, a burning killing intent slowly began to approach.
A huge military flag with antlers, a shield, and crossed spears fluttered behind him. Etakrihi, the emblem of the Lord Protector.
A group of knights with stern expressions followed him, stepping forward with measured strides. They were the inducted knights of the Eastern Knight Order. And in front of them.
The Knight Commander of the Eastern Knight Order, the Guardian of Upper Matilenne, the Lord Protector of the Tilles Kingdom. The Knight of the Iron Mountain. The Shield of the Hero Party.
A middle-aged man wearing ash-gray armor and a purple cape like a banner was walking toward them.
Heavy footsteps, burning green eyes, clean blonde hair tied back, and completely mismatched.
Really, really, really mismatched mustache on the man.
Ivan was inwardly surprised. The distinctive comma-shaped mustache reminiscent of Pringles was neatly trimmed and curled upward.
"...Ivan Petrovich...?"
While Ivan was momentarily speechless from shock, Gil Ber stood blankly staring at him.
He slowly stretched out his hand, pointed around Ivan's chin, and narrowed his eyes.
"Alive... you were alive...? You were alive? Then that funeral was...? You, you deceived me...? Again?!"
"Gil Ber de Etakrihi."
"Ivan... Ivan Nenooom...!!"
"It's Yeremov."
"What? What did you say?"
"Ivan Petrovich Yeremov. I'm a nobleman now."
"Huh... Ha!!!"
Gil Ber laughed, choking as if coughing. After clutching his forehead and groaning for a while, he raised his head with a more relaxed expression.
Finally, Ivan couldn't hold back and opened his mouth.
"What's with that mustache?"
"What's with that mustache?!"
The two men began to criticize each other simultaneously. With exactly the same tempo, the same words.
"Your skills have improved."
"Your skills have improved!"
Superhumans can gauge each other's abilities just by their aura, breathing, posture, and gait. At their level, especially having served in the same theater for years, it was even easier.
The two superhumans simultaneously frowned deeply.
"'If you have natural talent, you should have at least put in moderate effort.'"
And in unison:
"'Unpleasant bastard.'"
While smiling. They approached each other and extended their arms.
It wasn't a handshake. It was a deeper form of salute. Extending their arms further to grasp each other's forearms.
"Good to see you."
"You too!!"
To Ivan, Gil Ber was the most unpleasant fellow in the Hero Party.
Always showing off, emphasizing noble posture and grumbling loudly, wanting to compete with the hero despite lacking skill.
A mix of pride and dignity, inferiority complex and feelings of inadequacy. So very human. An unpleasant noble knight.
To Gil Ber, Ivan was the most unpleasant fellow in the Hero Party.
Always showing off, nagging about being a trained agent, and immediately copying anything shown to him with comments like "I can do anything I've seen once."
A mix of pride and dignity, inferiority complex and feelings of inadequacy. So very human, making him even more unpleasant as a soldier.
And so, the two men finally looked at each other's faces and smiled.