“Man, what a great day. Perfect weather for a picnic, isn’t it?”
When the weekend finally arrived, Yugo found himself on the Marmint Highway to the east of the academy. He was there to handle the highway security job he’d accepted alongside Melt.
Bathed in the brilliant rays of the sun, Yugo felt a pleasant warmth as he surveyed his surroundings. He let out a sigh of pure admiration at the beauty of the landscape.
The meadows flanking the stone-paved highway were a vibrant, budding green. Combined with the cheerful spring air and the deep blue of the sky, the scenery put him in such a bright mood he felt like humming a tune.
The travelers passing by on the road all wore smiles. Since this was Yugo’s first time stepping outside the academy grounds, he took his time savoring every bit of the fresh scenery.
(It’s a beautiful view you’d never see in modern society. It really feels like I’ve stepped into the world of an anime.)
For Yugo, who had lived his previous life in the cluttered urban sprawl of modern Japan, such breathtaking sights were precious rarities usually only glimpsed on a television or computer screen.
As an indoor person, he’d rarely gone on trips back then. In fact, he wouldn’t have even known where to go to find a vista like this.
Technically, he was on the clock, but there wasn't exactly a lot to do during highway security duty. Deciding there was no need to stay wound tight the entire time, Yugo relaxed and turned toward the opposite side of the road. His eyes widened at the sight.
“Whoa, incredible...! They actually have trains running here...!”
A black locomotive was chugging along, belching thick plumes of white smoke from its chimney. Yugo muttered to himself, his eyes sparkling at the sight of the dark chassis—a sight that never failed to stir a young man’s heart.
Even for a locomotive, the smoke it puffed was a shimmering silver, suggesting it wasn't burning coal but was instead powered by technology unique to this world. As he was pondering the mechanics, Melt, who had been watching his reaction with an amused smile, called out to him.
“Don't tell me you’ve forgotten about the Magic Locomotives, too? Though, I suppose I hadn’t actually seen one in person until I moved here either...”
“Really? Are railroads not that common?”
“This area is close to the Royal Capital, and Luminous Academy is a major facility, so there's a line through here. But back where I’m from—a small rural city—we mostly got around by horse-drawn carriage.”
“Huh... So this area is the exception, then.”
Yugo nodded in understanding as he watched the train disappear into a tunnel.
It should have been obvious, but he realized once again just how little he knew about this world. Beside him, Melt spoke up with a bounce in her voice as she watched the train go.
“We’ll probably get to ride a Magic Locomotive ourselves eventually, so let’s look forward to that. You might have ridden one before, Yugo, but since you have amnesia, you’ll get to experience the novelty all over again, right?”
“Ahaha, you’re right! Put that way, having amnesia doesn't seem so bad after all! Still... this guard duty is pretty dull, isn't it?”
After the train vanished, Yugo looked out at the highway. With the foot traffic thinning out, he couldn't help but grumble his honest impression to Melt.
When he’d heard the word “security,” he had imagined a job where they’d be defending travelers from marauding monsters. Instead, their duties consisted of little more than periodic patrols and keeping an eye on the immediate area. Aside from answering the occasional question from a passerby, there was nothing to do.
Well, they were just students—essentially short-term part-timers—so they probably wouldn't be entrusted with anything truly critical, Yugo thought as he stretched. Melt pointed toward the tunnel the train had just entered.
“I heard there are others who took the same request as us doing security work on the other side of that tunnel. I’m sure they’re just as bored as we are, though.”
“Heh, is that so? Well, it’s fine, isn’t it? If the guards are bored, it means the area is at peace.”
“That’s true! Whether we’re working our tails off or just spacing out, the pay is the same! In that case, I’d much rather earn my money the peaceful, easy way!”
Melt opened her mouth wide and laughed heartily.
Since this was the first request they had ever taken together, getting caught up in a sudden crisis would have been a headache anyway. They concluded that a boring day where nothing happened was just right, and for a while, the two enjoyed their lighthearted conversation. However, in this world, such talk was often what people called a "flag."
“Whoa!? Wh-What was that?”
“Huh? A transmission...? What’s going on? It isn't time for our regular check-in yet...”
Startled by a sudden sound like a ringing bell, Yugo searched for the source until he spotted the crystal on Melt’s bracelet glowing with a blue light.
He recalled their supervisor handing them those devices when they set out for their posts, explaining they were for communication. As Yugo watched, Melt finished her exchange with the security guards stationed nearby, her expression turning somber.
“Yugo, they said the Magic Locomotive from earlier hasn’t arrived at the station yet. There’s no response when they try to hail it, and the guards on the other side didn’t see the train come out. They think something happened inside the tunnel and want us to go check it out.”
“The train? I wonder what’s wrong. It couldn't have run out of fuel, could it?”
“I don’t know. For now, let’s head inside and see for ourselves. Once we know the situation, we’ll contact the station again for instructions.”
“Right. Let’s go, then.”
Agreeing with Melt, Yugo headed toward the tunnel to investigate the status of the Magic Locomotive.
At that moment, while he felt the tension of an unexpected incident, he assumed it wouldn't turn into anything major. But was he right?