Innovation comes from ideas.
In an Empire where magic-powered carriages using magic stones is being used as an energy source already existed, creating a magic train wasn't all that difficult.
It's just that no one had simply thought of it before.
"This is an absolutely crazy idea!"
The dwarf, upon seeing my train blueprint, slammed his beer mug onto the table with a bang and shouted.
With his bushy red beard, he was none other than Bazette Khan, the chief of the Red Anvil tribe.
Since a train involved the lives of countless people, it couldn't be built carelessly.
That's why I had decided to entrust the construction of the first train to the dwarves.
"Can you make it?"
"Of course! It's more than possible!"
Bazette Khan nodded without a moment's hesitation.
"A magic-powered train running across the continent—are you a genius?"
"I just got the idea from seeing the magic-powered carriages you created, Bazette. If anyone's a genius, it's you for inventing them."
The original creator of the first magic-powered vehicle was the dwarf sitting right before me— Bazette Khan.
All I did was propose a new way to apply his invention.
"Ha-ha-ha! Yes, since I created the magic-powered carriages, I could have thought of this too. But don't be too humble. If you hadn't shown me, it would have taken me a long time to imagine applying it in this way."
"It was only possible because the magic vehicle already existed."
"Human, I like you! Have a drink."
"Thank you."
I took the beer Bazette Khan poured and continued our conversation.
I only had the idea of a train, but I didn't possess much expertise in the specific technology needed to build it.
That's why I believed the key to this project was convincing the dwarves...
"Ahh, imagining a magic train running across the continent—my hands itch to get started!"
'It seems no convincing is needed.'
True to their craftsman nature, once presented with a fresh idea, Bazette Khan wanted nothing more than to build the train with his own hands.
The other dwarves felt the same way.
"C-Chief! What is this?!"
"I must be the one to build this!"
"What are you talking about?! I'll design the blueprint!"
"What does a guy who only makes trinkets know about designing magic vehicles?!"
"What?! You beer-guzzling oaf...!"
The dwarves began to argue and soon started a competition among themselves to see who could create the best train design.
'It looks like they'll do just fine if I leave them be.'
It seemed the train construction would proceed smoothly and without delay.
*
As I expected, the dwarves' work speed was phenomenal.
It was no exaggeration to say that every dwarf of the Red Anvil tribe was fully focused on the train project.
—Let's build a train to cross the continent!
The very idea of a train had ignited the craftsman spirit of the dwarves.
And for good reason—traveling between regions in this world was no easy feat, even for dwarves.
It was no wonder that "travel" was considered a privilege of the nobility.
Beyond humans, dwarves, elves, and even beastfolk, it was a dream for all races to experience a worry-free, comfortable journey.
Since I had presented the possibility of making that dream a reality, it was only natural for the dwarves to be so enthusiastic.
As a result, it took them only two months to complete a small, single-car train.
"How is it? It only holds fifty passengers, but I designed it just as you requested."
"It's perfect."
Clap, clap!
I applauded as I looked at the red single-car train.
Its design resembled the quaint trains of a European countryside—a vintage look that surpassed my expectations.
"Since this is the first prototype, the design is a bit rough, but I'll do it better next time."
"This is more than enough."
Though Bazette seemed unsatisfied, this was already a remarkable achievement.
Of course, compared to the trains of my previous life, which could carry tens of thousands of people, this was modest in scale, but that was something we could improve over time.
If the test run was successful, the imperial family would likely increase funding.
"Is that so? Good to hear! Anyway, I can't wait to see this beauty run!"
"You'll see it in action soon."
With the train completed, all that remained was laying the tracks.
However...
"There's no region that welcomes us. Connecting the capital to its suburbs would be ideal, but the Lord of Rundel vehemently opposed it, so it seems impossible."
The most suitable area for extending the railway from the capital was the Rundel territory in the nearby suburbs.
Unfortunately, the Lord of Rundel was highly skeptical of the train project.
"Wouldn't it be great to have a train? Why is he so opposed to it?"
"He said, 'We already have magic-powered carriages, so there's no need for some unknown contraption.'"
"I see."
It wasn't entirely unexpected.
People are naturally resistant to new technology.
It was easy to predict that they would say, "We already have magic carriages, why do we need trains?"
For nobles, who had magic carriages, transportation was never inconvenient.
There was also a lingering resistance to the common folk enjoying freedom of movement.
In this Empire, freedom of movement itself was a form of power.
"Then let's forget about Rundel."
"But, Yuri, if not Rundel, there's nowhere else to lay the tracks."
Count Trion looked troubled.
He was right—Rundel was the only flat land near the capital suitable for a railroad.
Elsewhere, we'd have to cross mountains or cut through forests, facing numerous obstacles.
That was, if we were only considering "typical territories".
"But there is another flat area, isn't there?"
"Surely... you don't mean Amun?"
"So, it's called Amun? Yes, Amun is what I mean."
"Hmm, but that place..."
"It's infested with beasts, right?"
"Yes, it's too dangerous."
Amun was a mining town.
The high-quality ores extracted there meant that most of the residents were miners.
The rest belonged to military units, stationed to guard against monsters.
Unless they needed to buy necessities in the capital once a month, the residents of Amun had no reason to leave.
Monsters roamed the roads, and thick fog covered the area year-round.
Normally, laying tracks in such a place would be suicidal.
Unless, of course, but we were wizards.
"Aria."
"I'm ready."
Inside her white robe, a gift from me, Aria held a Cryostone.
But it wasn't just any magic stone.
—Amplification.
The stone Aria held was inscribed with a magic formula to spread its power.
Of course, even with this magic, if we didn't regularly supply and replace the magic stones, it wouldn't last long...
"Iberkina, will you join us?"
"...Okay."
Luckily, we had Iberkina, who could supply an infinite amount of Cryostones.
"Before we lay the tracks, let's clear out the monsters."
The monster-infested region, Amun.
It was the perfect place to demonstrate the true potential of trains.
*
The miners of Amun traveled to the capital once a month to restock on daily necessities.
Although Amun and the capital were less than half a day's distance apart, most of those traveling to the capital were heavily armed soldiers.
The miners, pulling their carts, moved under the soldiers' protection.
"Stay sharp, everyone! We're nearing the monster-infested area!"
Aiden, the commander leading the military unit, entered the misty area with a tense expression.
—The Misty Plains.
The terrain itself was flat, but the dense fog and the presence of monsters made it a dangerous zone.
The monsters that appeared here were primarily undead.
This was also why, despite its proximity to the capital, Amun was considered a forbidden region within the Empire.
Aiden walked cautiously, his hand resting on his sword's hilt, ready to draw it at any moment.
They continued through the mist for a while.
Aiden tilted his head in confusion.
'What's going on?'
By now, they should have encountered at least a few ghouls.
However, no matter how far they walked, not a single undead appeared.
"Commander, something's wrong. I don't see any ghouls."
"Yes. Stay vigilant, nonetheless."
Though he found it strange, Aiden did not let his guard down and continued to survey the surroundings.
And then—
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
'?'
A metallic sound, like metal scraping against metal, echoed eerily through the mist.
The soldiers' faces, including Aiden's, hardened at this unfamiliar phenomenon.
'...The sound of iron being struck? Could it be a Dullahan?'
He had heard of them before.
The undead known as Dullahans, who carried their own heads, were said to create menacing sounds by striking the helmets of their severed heads with their swords.
The absence of ghouls might also be due to a Dullahan's presence.
If so, this was a serious problem.
A Dullahan was considered as a high-ranking undead.
Aiden swallowed nervously; his eyes fixed on the mist.
And then—
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
'?'
When he finally saw the source of the sound, Aiden's mouth hung open in bewilderment.
"...Am I seeing things?"
What stood before them was neither ghouls nor a Dullahan but rather workers laying strange metal tracks on the ground.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The noise he had mistaken for a Dullahan striking its helmet was simply the sound of workers driving metal stakes into the earth.
***
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