Choo-choo!

The high-pitched whistle resounded, filling every corner of the station as people looked in awe at the enormous steam locomotive train. It came to a slow stop, with more than twenty carriages in tow.

Dressed in formal suits and dresses, people exited and boarded the train, carrying luggage of various sizes. Among them were warriors and hunters, clad in leather armor reinforced with metal plates. The weapon clinched on their waist scare no people acting normal used to see them traveling on the train, going to different bastion to another.

The distinction among the people at the station held little value, for they all shared the same expression on their faces - glittering eyes and unwavering smiles, their visages painted with excitement.

Those who disembarked the train were thrilled to see and explore the Pillar of Humanity, a place safe from all demonic threats, where technology and magic were most advanced. They were headed for Maharlika, the Capital of the Human Empire.

Meanwhile, those boarding the train already had a destination in mind. The opening of the arena in the Shahara Kingdom was only three days away. They were eager to witness firsthand if the news of demons fighting each other there was true. Despite the reliability of their sources, it still seemed surreal, fueling their desire to see and experience it with their own eyes.

After the loading and unloading of passengers, the train whistle resonated once again, signaling its departure and resuming its journey.

It initially moved at a slow speed, gradually picking up pace until it was racing, leaving a trail of dust in its wake along the railway.

***

In one of the train carriages,

Count William Roswell could be seen sitting beside the window, basking in the sunlight as he sipped a cup of tea. His daughter, Lylie Roswell, was peeking through the window, watching the passing scenery.

The seats were positioned facing each other, with tables standing in the middle. Luggage was neatly placed in the overhead compartments, perfectly arranged and aligned.

People dressed in expensive suits and dresses, crafted from high-quality threads and wool, filled all the seats. They chatted and dined with one another, while the train attendants, donning black vests, served them a variety of delectable food and beverages.

It was evident that these individuals were of high standing, if not nobles like Count William, deserving of the VIP carriage. One could only wonder how much money they had spent to acquire tickets for such luxury.

"Lylie, it's not the first time we've ridden this train, so stop peeking and sit back properly," Count William said, looking at his daughter who was kneeling on her seat, engrossed in the scene outside the window.

Lylie, dressed in a beautiful milky white dress that perfectly suited her, wore a small hat atop her head. Her black eyes remained fixed on the sight before her, too immersed to spare her father a glance.

Count William could only sigh and shake his head at this sight. He didn't know what to do anymore with his disobedient daughter. He was certain that he was the subject of discussion among the passengers—a noble who had failed to educate his child. Although he could make Lylie behave using magic, he chose not to. He would rather allow his reputation to be tarnished and be the talk of the town than resort to force with his daughter. Not only did he not want to accidentally harm her, but he also believed it was not right to employ violence against children, especially his own, in exchange for discipline and obedience.

He had always believed that nothing was more important than a family's reputation. He was indeed correct, but what worth was a reputation if he no longer had a family to be proud of? His family was something he held more precious than his title or even his life. With only the two of them left, if he couldn't even protect that and prevent a repeat of the incident from the past, then he had failed as a human being and, most importantly, as a father.

"I shouldn't think that anymore," Count William muttered in a solemn voice as he placed his cup back on the table and turned his gaze to the scene outside the window.

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Before him stretched a vast expanse of sea, with a stunning mosaic of blues that captivated the senses. The water shimmered with a myriad of hues, and sunlight danced upon the undulating waves, creating a dazzling display of sparkling reflections.

At the end of the sea, he could see the silhouette of a succession of tall mountains stretching far beyond the horizon.

This was what people meant when they referred to the capital being safe from the dangers brought by the demons. Maharlika was a large island surrounded by the vast blue sea, which, in turn, was encircled by the towering mountain range known as Sierra Madre.

The capital, with the highest population in the Human Empire, undoubtedly had tight security measures. It had only one entrance, accessible solely by riding this steam locomotive train that glided smoothly over the glistening waves. If one were to ask how a train could travel on the sea, the answer would be a combination of magic and technology!

Through the collaboration of various geniuses, they had created a mechanism whereby the train could travel on a railway that was placed and adhered to the waves, no matter their size.

Additionally, a magic crystal, formed by combining different magic circles, was placed beneath every carriage of the train to prevent sea monsters from approaching the train and its railway.

It was due to these advancements that Maharlika had become famous and symbolized the dreams of many. The progress humanity had achieved despite the threats of their enemies was truly praiseworthy.

"If only the demons didn't exist," Count William sighed in thought. He could only imagine how happy and developed humanity would be if demons were not a part of this world. However, that was nothing more than wishful thinking. He knew all too well that vermin like demons were difficult to extinguish like cockroaches.

"Hm?"

Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his pocket, snapping him out of his thoughts. He quickly took out a brown parchment that was folded in half.

Unfolding it, he saw words being written on it, as if a hand were inscribing them. The words glowed in red and black, accompanied by a soft crackling sound with each new addition.

This parchment was a treasured possession of Count William's. It was fused with magic and used to convey messages over long distances almost instantly. It came in pairs, and Count William had given the other parchment to his valet, Richard, enabling them to exchange messages and news regarding the missions he assigned to him in faraway places. Currently, Richard was already in Shahara, taking care of matters concerning the demon slave that Count William intended to enter into the arena.

A week ago, after successfully signing the contract, Count William received news that the arena in the Kingdom of Shahara had already begun listing the demon slaves that would participate, much earlier than he had expected. Due to the risk of flooding the Shahara Kingdom with not only people but also their demon slaves, the decision was made to open the entry for the demon slaves ahead of time. The kingdom, concerned for the well-being of its citizens, did not want them to witness the presence of these disgusting demons, even if they were slaves, as it would cause unnecessary commotion. Thus, the entry of demon slaves was expedited.

In response, Count William had sent Richard ahead to participate in the entry, accompanied by his demon slave, of course. He had no worries about the demon slaves escaping or harming Richard, as he knew Richard was stronger. Moreover, the demon was bound by the terms of the contract, which stipulated that he must follow Richard's orders in case he was absent and had other important tasks to attend to, such as this event.

After the magical parchment ceased producing words, Count William scanned it with his eyes and read what was written:

'My Lord, I have successfully completed the task you assigned. I managed to enter your demon slave without any trouble. I'm confident that no one has suspected your true intentions. At present, he is in the designated quarter for demon slaves in the arena, alongside the others. While waiting for you and Young Lady, I will prepare everything, including the house where you will stay. That is all. I sincerely wish you a safe and happy journey.'

After reading the message, Count William nodded in satisfaction. He sipped his tea, closed his eyes for a moment, and was enveloped in a sense of contentment.

He was certain that Richard had completed the task without any issues. Richard was reliable, having been his valet since before Count William even inherited his title. To him, Richard was a trusted subordinate and his right-hand man. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Richard was part of the family.

With this thought in mind, Count William felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. He looked at his daughter, who was now standing beside him, and asked in puzzlement,

"What's wrong, Lylie?"

Lylie kept her head down, seemingly muttering something, but her voice was too soft to be heard over the chatter inside the train.

Curious, Count William leaned closer to Lylie and asked again, "What's the matter?"

This time, Lylie looked up at her father, her cheeks flushed, and her crimson eyes on the verge of tears.

"I need to use the restroom," she said shyly.

Count William couldn't help but be slightly shocked. This was the first time Lylie had asked him for anything since that incident. A sweet smile appeared on the Count's face, warmer than anything he had mustered before.

"Alright, I will accompany you," he said, standing up from his seat. He extended his hand to his daughter and looked at her brightly.

"Let's go."