I was just thinking about pinching her cheeks just to gain some bad deeds. I shouldn't have been nice to her this morning...
The idiot tripped on air, fell on me and now the maids are gossiping away while changing my clothes. Is a cape really necessary?!
"Young Master Claud, please refrain from consummating your marriage before you are legally wed."
"Huh? Why do I have to do what you say? Just get things done quietly, butler."
These accursed options. I was expecting, 'Why do I have to do what you say?' to be a genuine question, not a subtle threat...
What does 'consummating marriage' even mean?
I feel all funky after last night. I have to get my head on straight...
----------------------------------------
A heralding device? This is a phone, isn't it?
"Claud, do you like this device that much?"
Yeah. I do.
This piece of technology can be considered one of a kind. If I manage to restrict its distribution early on while it's being developed, I can monopolize it. I'll have to pay a visit to the inventor.
"Now the journey to Eindell will take roughly 5 days, so you may explore around the train and enjoy yourselves. But... do remember to keep your voices down."
"Okay, Mr butler we will!"
I need to be careful, this is a one of a kind item.
"Oh. I'll get the door for you, Claud."
I nod to thank her.
After putting down the luggage, I fiddle with it to see how it works.
"What do you like about it?"
"The possibilities-"
You could use this to deliver messages in a war setting.
"-with this you could call your friends and family even if you're far apart. It can deliver information over a distance faster than a letter or person could travel."
Sophie and I won't even have to be on the battlefield in case of war. I could be a tactician giving instructions from the back, while Sophie stayed close by to guard me.
I'll have to rise up the ranks quickly and get troops to command. This is what I've been reading in the library for.
I seriously need to prevent the spread of this technology. If other states got their hands on this, it could be disastrous. Once I return to the capital city, I'll get information from my father and silence the inventor who made this.
If I threaten him with treason and exposing state secrets, I might be able to manipulate him. After all, even though I'm a trainee, I'm still part of the Imperial Noble Academy. I'm like a government employee and it is part of my duty to protect my country from internal threats.
"Claud... do you perhaps want to talk to your parents?"
Huh? W-What? My train of thought... Where did she get that from?
"Is it a friend?"
Haha... you think I have any friends except you? Haven't we spent almost the entire last two weeks together?
Actually Claud Branford might have friends. But as for me.
-Willpower: 19/24-
"You're my one and only friend, Sophie... I've never had any other friends before."
She's fidgeting and grinning to herself. That's creepy. But I'll take that as a good sign that she's happy.
"C-Claud! Lets go see the rest of the train! We'll only be here for 5 days after all! Leave your books in the cabin! We can read them later!"
This girl sure follows her whims...
----------------------------------------
First class dining.
Read books.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Sleep.
This has been our routine for the past two days... It's unbearable.
Being on a train for the first time was fun but at the end of the day, it's just a tiny steel box.
I've already run out of books to read and the hum of the engine is irritating, I couldn't get any sleep.
To pass the time, Sophie recommended exchanging our mana to train and it's annoying.
If I were to describe her mana, it enters my body and starts boiling, making it really hot and uncomfortable for me. But according to her, my mana is cool and wraps around, making it comfortable.
I'm an ice pack.
She's using me like an ice pack.
She said this would be an enjoyable activity that would help us level up our magic... but I haven't seen a single growth in stats.
If you weren't my best friend, I would have clocked you over the head by now... No actually, I should clock you over the head anyways. I want more bad deed completions.
"Claud, the train's making a stop at Ruvere City for an entire day to restock supplies. You want to go outside?"
I nodded.
"In that case, I'll change into something more suitable to walk around in."
On cue, I got up and left the room. Waiting outside in the corridor, I looked through the window.
The city in the distance was already visible. I wonder what that massive tower is used for?
Hmm.
"Claud, I'm done."
Ah. She's wearing her academy uniform...
"I didn't have any more dresses to wear... My uniforms are all that's left."
Perhaps I stared at her clothes for too long, she felt like she had to comment about it.
The reason I looked at her uniform for so long was because it stands out. In a bad way.
Ruvere Mountain originally didn't belong to the Empire. It was part of the independent Western country, Ruvere. But the Empire colonized it during the war 20 years ago. The natives are needless to say. Unhappy.
The Empire stationed a large number of soldiers here to pressure the inhabitants into obeying. Though I doubt Sophie was thinking about that when she ran out of clothes.
To wear the Empire's uniform here, is to pressure the people.
I definitely can't leave her wearing that alone or else she'll be targeted. I'll change into my uniform too.
----------------------------------------
After walking around the town square briefly, Sophie, in the name of exploration, unwittingly pulled us into a bad part of the city. She didn't realize it but... everyone was looking at our uniforms.
A passing sign caught my attention. Ruvere, the Connecting City. The only path connecting the Eastern and Western parts of the continent. The most diverse city on the continent!
Heh. Because of that, it is also the only city with so much internal strife.
"Claud... It's not right. They can't do such a thing..."
Hmm?
In an alley, a group of students were beating somebody up.
Imperial Academy garb. But different from mine and Sophie's. Ours belonged to the capital city, the most prestigious one. Perhaps I turned my nose up at them slightly after seeing that. We had a higher status.
Them beating up the residents is none of my problem but I think Sophie is about to make it hers.
"Stop that!"
Uh oh. That drew a lot of attention. People were starting to gather.
"Huh..."
"Tsk. Look at their uniforms, it's brats from the capital city."
"Y-you can't do that. Committing violence against people of the Empire is wrong!"
"Committing violence? We were just doing our duty of protecting the city. This guy is a rebel, he was trying to spread dissidence among the citizens."
Hmm... judging by the crowd's cold response to that. Most are probably pro rebel huh. We walked into the wrong neighborhood.
"E-even so! He has to stand trial! You can't keep hurting him when he's not resisting!"
Not necessarily, Sophie.
"Stand trial? We already witnessed him doing it. Rebels are to be executed on sight."
This atmosphere right now... reminds me of a newspaper article about Ruvere. What was it about again?
"Y-you can't..."
Oh Sophie... you poor thing. Don't cry for people you don't know about.
Fine. Since you looked to me for help, I'll lend a hand.
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 17/24-
"Are you sure he's a rebel?"
I stepped towards them.
"Huh? Of course we're sure! He was spreading dissidence."
I'm not too sure you know what that word means...
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 16/24-
"How was he spreading dissidence?"
With every word, I got closer.
"He was promoting Ruvere independence and-"
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 15/24-
"And how was he promoting Ruvere independence?"
I was right in front of him. About a sword's length.
"He was... protesting-"
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 14/24-
"Protesting? But I didn't hear anything. Did anyone else hear him protesting?"
I projected my voice to the crowd. Perhaps they were scared of imperial soldiers. But they didn't have to be.
I just need one person here. Out of this entire, pro rebel neighborhood...
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 13/24-
"Did anyone hear him protesting at all?"
Just one.
"N-no. I didn't hear anything!"
"Me neither."
"We didn't hear anything..."
As soon as one of the crowd said no, the rest of the sheep joined in bleating.
Whether that's true or not. It doesn't matter.
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 12/24-
"If he were protesting, how did all the people here not hear anything?"
The crowd grew even louder.
The idiots were feeling pressured.
I emphasized the noble to show off the difference in our status and gave him my most shit eating grin.
If they're smart they would back off and leave now.
"Claud!"
He punched me in the face. I didn't have to sell the hit and fell onto the ground naturally.
"Brat you better scram before we kill both of you!"
It's over for you now. Stupid~
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 11/24-
"You... punched a Noble Academy student. You wouldn't happen to be a rebel now, would you?"
Complete and utter bullshit.
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 10/24-
"It is only fair to say that you're a rebel... You're sowing seeds of unrest amongst the population after all."
What sort of nonsense is coming out of my mouth right now...
"Huh?! What the hell are you saying!?"
But even educated people in my old world would drink shit if you told them it helped their constipation. The people in this world don't get public education.
-Claud Branford's Willpower: 9/24-
"Anyone who causes discord in Ruvere between the Imperials and the citizens of Ruvere, is classified as a dissident... a rebel. And rebels are to be executed on the spot. By every law abiding citizen. Everyone here has seen you spreading dissidence..."
The looks in the crowd's faces changed.
I think I remember that newspaper article now.
It was about disappearing soldiers in Ruvere.
Heh.