Liberi Reader

Hrrh! Hah!

*pant*... *pant*...

Hah....! Hraggh!

Take this!

Haah—! Charge!

Have none of you had anything to eat today?

Again.

Ma'am... W-We can't anymore. We're spent...

Get up.

What did I teach you?

Stand up, and grip your weapons tight!

Yes, ma'am!

*pant*... *pant*... Hargh!

Too slow, and not enough force. Your Arts are too rushed, and your tactics too inflexible.

There's some synergy among you. That's about it.

Overall, you're still too weak.

Of course we're no match for you...

*huff*... *pant*...

A compliment from you makes this training more than worth it.

That's not enough! One day, I'll shatter a boulder with a single bare hand just like you, ma'am!

Just you alone...

......

Looks like you've had enough rest.

Do it again.

Huh—?!

Ma'am! This is bad!

Don't panic.

*pant*... *pant*...

Phew...

What happened?

There's trouble!

Things are looking bad at the foot of the mountain... We can't handle it on our own!

It's real serious, ma'am! You should head right over!

Whoa! It's starting to move!

Hahahahaha! Mom, hurry!

—Wah!

That's why I told you not to run around on the train! Are you hurt?!

(Shakes head)

Look, Mom! A foreigner with a funny hat!

Don't say things like that! And don't point at people! The Saintess has no patience for rude children! Now apologize!

I'm sorry...

I am truly sorry, Sir. You'll have to forgive my boy.

No bother.

Please excuse me. My seat is just up ahead.

......

(The train is, evidently, above capacity.)

(Roughly half locals and half sightseers. Hm, peculiar for a sightseeing train.)

(The sacks in the corner at the back seem strange, too... There's movement inside. Contraband livestock, perhaps?)

(Hm, no other abnormalities, and no strange characters worth keeping an eye on...)

(Intelligence mentions nothing other than a train ride to Lake Silberneherze. Indeed, there are no apparent clues.)

(I should find the opportunity to inspect the cabins...)

......

............

Mister Funny Hat, Mister Funny Hat.

Are you some kind of train freak? I saw you two days ago, too!

You saw me...?

Yep!

Mister, did you fall in love with trains because you had never seen tracks or trains?

Ahem.

Mister, why did you clear your throat? It's okay. I'm not gonna make fun of you.

This train is really amazing. I love it, too! Mom told me that it's all thanks to the amazing Saintess and Sir Enciodes and how Kjeragandr has blessed us all!

How about... I lend you my model train? We can play trains! We'll drive a train together!

Put your toys away! Go back to your seat and stop bothering strangers!

I'm truly, terribly sorry that he bothered you again.

Rest assured, I'll teach him some manners!

No, it's fine...

(......)

(This hat...)

(Does it really look so strange?)

There are quite a few passengers today. It seems this new Kjeragandr statue is very popular!

Every time I get on the trains here, it reminds me of the arenas of the Kazimierz Major—

Yow! Something bit my toe!

Is this... a fowlbeast?

(Biting hard)

O-Ow-Oww, please have mercy, fowlbeast!

Hey!

You're going to just let it go?

You sure that's alright? I'm pretty sure pets aren't allowed on the train.

Indeed, that's the rule, but not everything is inspected so closely. They do cut their fellow countrymen some slack every now and then.

Relax. This kind of fowlbeast is usually kept in sacks. It should be no problem.

Let us speak of other things. Come, young lady, my cabin is just ahead.

Phew... Hah!

Finally, a seat! It was so crowded back there!

I didn't expect tickets for this train to be so hard to come by. Thanks for the help, dedushka!

It was the least I could do, young lady.

No need for the fancy title. Just call me Rosalind.

As the young lady wishes...

'Rosalind.' It's a name that suits you well. A riveting sound to it.

It is pretty great, isn't it? My mamochka picked it.

What do I call you?

My name is Harold. Of course, you can also keep calling me 'dedushka,' if please you.

You're very lucky. Had you missed this train, you likely would not make it to Lake Silberneherze in time.

For real?

Hehe, good thing I made it, then.

You're heading to Lake Silberneherze too, aren't you? What are you doing there?

I believe I've already answered this question?

Kjerag's landscapes are truly magnificent. Of course I must feast my eyes upon the sights she has to offer.

You can't fool me. There's not a single guy in your whole gang who looks like a tourist.

We don't look the part to you?

Nope.

Uh, you look more like you came looking for trouble.

Ah, haha. Us? Perish the thought!

I'm so enamored of Kjerag's scenery and culture. I'm even contemplating spending my retirement here!

Yes, right, so long as there are no major issues, we shall remain nothing but tourists, naturally...

And what if—

—How about you, Rosalind?

You speak the Kjerag tongue fairly well for a tourist. Is this your first time here?

Somebody's changing the subject hard and fast!

Hah.

Whatever. I didn't get to this part, did I?

You could call me half Kjerag, even if I don't really feel like one at all. I grew up in Ursus with my mamochka.

Oh, so your mother is Ursine?

Yep, but she told me I was born in Kjerag, and my papa is from here...

I don't remember much about anything that happened when I was a kid. I guess you could call this a vacation.

Hmm, I see.

By the way, I've been meaning to ask since we met...

What is that box you are holding, Rosalind?

Oh, this...?

......

Forgive me. If that intrudes upon your privacy in any way, you need not answer.

It's okay. It's not really a secret or anything. I'm just figuring out how to explain it...

It's something that... my mamochka left to me.

My...

Please accept my condolences.

I am sorry to raise such a painful topic, Rosalind.

Truly sorry.

Hmph, what's so painful about this?

I'm here to fulfill Mamochka's wishes.

......

Madam Degenbrecher, I...

Everything is okay now.

I've taken care of everything that needs taking care of.

Thank you so much, Madam.

If it wasn't for you, who knows what would have happened to me? Thank Kjeragandr I'm still alive.

This is all that I can do.

Sorry. It's not... a pretty sight.

*sigh*. There wasn't any other way...

Ma'am, you have blood all over you. Maybe you should clean up first?

Later.

Time is of the essence. Even though I may have solved the problem for now, I can't guarantee this will be the end of it.

The most important thing is to find the one we're looking for.

But, ma'am, we got news that they're already leaving the station.

Asking the railway to stop the train would only cause a panic.

Stop the train?

There's no need for that.

What else can we do?

Look down.

Wait...

The train is about to pass right under us!

Yes.

Wait, m-ma'am?!

......

Right then.

Where might they be?