Chapter 135

Chapter 135

The train that departed from Saint Mathilde stopped after three days, passing through the eastern plains.

Sorry!! Train service has been suspended!

The shouts of station staff echoed throughout the carriage, but unfortunately, it wasnt a cheerful issue like a bandit attack.

Ivan frowned slightly. Despite having prepared his axe, the reason for the track blockage was rational.

Because Dragon is still alive, they blocked the tracks?

Mm.

Isabelle grumbled as she gathered her luggage. On the train platform, the travelers were stretching their bodies after sitting on the train for a long time.

The reason for the track blockade explained by the station staff was simple. Since Dragon was rampaging nearby, they stopped the train to ensure the safety of the people.

A reasonable reason. As a train that stops even for bandit attacks, it couldnt possibly resist a dragon assault.

Dragons were inherently curious and adventurous creatures, so if they spotted a train running across the prairie, there was a high chance they would attack.

Is it near here? The place where Dragon appeared.

No. If we were going to the Bernina Mountains, we would have had to go one more day by train from here.

Ah by train?

It would take about four days on foot.

Thats rough.

Isabelle grimaced.

Since this uncle wouldnt kindly detour through villages, taking the shortest straight route meant camping was inevitable.

She wasnt unfamiliar with camping, but this time was different. As a woman, she couldnt afford to expose any gaps that could never be tolerated by Dragon. She certainly wouldnt show her face without at least washing and wearing clean makeup.

As Isabelle frowned, Ecdysis smirked.

If it takes a day with a lot of effort, wouldnt it take only two days on horseback?

If you put in a lot of effort, it could even be done in a day.

Then how about riding a horse?

Hm.

Ivan looked at Ecdysis with renewed interest. She knows how to ride a horse?

Though often overlooked in many contents, equestrianism is a highly advanced skill. Its not for nothing that horse riding isnt an Olympic sport.

Riding a horse involves not only directing it in the desired direction but also regulating its speed and maintaining balance and posture firmly on the horse.

Horses are extremely sensitive and demanding animals, and they are intelligent livestock. They may not listen to someone theyve never seen before, and due to slightly different personalities and habits, the horse one first mounts is not suitable for long-distance riding.

A kind of taming process must precede. Its no exaggeration to say that the skill to directly control a horse without going through such a process belongs to the realm of specialized techniques.

Ive never ridden a horse before!

I, I only know the basics

Isabelle and Elpheira murmured softly. Just in their early twenties, and city-born students at that, its natural for them to find horseback riding unfamiliar.

Oscar had received education from Jil Ber, and being from the Eastern Knights, he appeared indifferent to horseback riding.

Ecdysis, being from Drovian, could understand familiar things. Drovian was too rough and vast to travel without horses.

Ivan stroked his chin and soon nodded.

Ill prepare the horses. Its a good skill to learn at this opportunity.

Thinking about the future, indeed.

Most of the places the hero party must go are deep in enemy territory, where they must organize expeditions in rugged mountains and fields, where even roads are scarce, let alone trains or carriages.

As the infiltrators of this era dont conduct high-altitude raids from airships.

Therefore, learning equestrianism will be helpful once acquired. The traveling distance with horses is incomparable to walking.

Under the name of education, the party grimaced in response.

The journey by horse turned out to be smoother than expected. Tylesse mainly consisted of plains with little variation in elevation, and the vicinity had well-maintained roads.

Moreover, as there couldnt be bandits or the like in the land where dragons roamed and the homelands border guards raised an army, there was only one obstacle in their way: the pain of riding horses.

However, it would ultimately be a valuable experience, so it was rather good. Ivan lost interest in the party complaining of pain.

Instead, he began to focus on more important matters.

Cutting off the tracks for fear of a dragon attack.

Ivan was lost in thought while on horseback. At that moment, the party was barely clinging to the horses with faces half-dead.

The homeland guards mobilized part of the capital legion and even led the Eastern Knights, yet they cut off the tracks.

Its strange. This train track wasnt just for the passage of the people.

Tylesse was the hub of transportation. It was not only a crucial point that diverted the northeasts Eastern Front but also connected to the long maritime route leading to the western Kalion Kingdom and the trade routes leading to the western coalition countries. It was a trading nation where all kinds of logistics intersected.

Even though it was just one track, the amount of goods transported on this track per day was at an indispensable level.

Ivan rummaged through his mind while quieting his thoughts.

They cut off the supply.

Considering the interruption of the trade route, they cut off the retreat route and the supply route. Both for the troops stationed on the Eastern Front now and simultaneously for the supply route of the Eastern Knights led by Jil Ber.

Assuming that, it somewhat made sense. Even if there was no immediate concern about a shortage of military supplies, if it led to a protracted war, it would inevitably be a severe blow.

It could be anticipated that most of the tracks leading to the east were likely cut off. Its unlikely that only the train Ivan was on happened to be stopped.

My buttocks hurt so much!!

I feel nauseous, I feel like Im going to vomit

Please, no.

We cant do this here!! This is the worst!

Should I sing a song for you? (Ecdysis)

What?

Oscar failed to understand Eugenes words but didnt bother to ask again. Most of the people he had met from Krasilov were not normal.

Even the Three Musketeers that Ivan had gathered from somewhere were the epitome of this. They were widely rumored eccentric individuals on campus. Ivan seemed to have a hobby of collecting eccentrics.

Wait, then what about me?

When it came down to it, Oscar might as well have been one of the students Ivan had collected

Shaking his head at the dreadful thought, Oscar dismissed it. Normal people couldnt understand the thought process of eccentrics.

And soon, he couldnt help but snap out of his reverie.

Who dares!!!!

A booming voice began to shake the entire camp.

A fierce energy, akin to a drawn sword, engulfed the camp and soared into the sky. The wind changed direction, violently shaking the banners.

The soldiers trembled with fear.

Its the first time the Duke has been so enraged. (Soldier A)

Should we flee? (Soldier B)

If those bastards try to escape, well have to face the Duke instead. Wait. (Soldier C)

The soldiers were trembling in fear. Ivan stood erect, trying to contain the bursting energy.

Has he grown up?

That guy.

How dare!! Insulting the deceased!! Who!! Who dares to utter that name to me!! (Jill Ber)

Step aside!! I will go and ask them directly. Where did they hear the name, and who told them to relay it to me!! (Jill Ber)

Thats even worse than offending Einar.

He seems to have lost much of his temperament. Well, he didnt have a good temperament to begin with.

Ivan smiled slightly and waited for a moment. Soon, the energy poured towards him.

The crowd of soldiers, bustling around, silently parted to make way. As the banners rose, a sparkling energy slowly approached through the rigidly standing soldiers.

Behind him, a giant banner with crossed deer antlers, shields, and spears fluttered. It was the emblem of Etarique, the insignia of the Lord Protector of Tylesse, the knight of Iron Mountain, the shield of the Heroes Party.

A middle-aged man, wearing dark armor and a purple cloak like a flag, walked ahead.

With heavy steps, burning green eyes, neatly tied back blonde hair, and a completely incongruous

A truly, truly, truly incongruous mustache.

Ivan was inwardly surprised. The Pringles-shaped comma mustache, reminiscent of Pringles, was neatly groomed.

Ivan Petrovich?

When Ivan was momentarily speechless from shock, Jill Ber stared blankly at him.

He slowly stretched out his hand, then pointed to Ivans chin and narrowed his eyes.

You You were alive? You were alive? Then what about the funeral that time? Did I Did you deceive me? Again?!

Jill Ber de Etarique.

Ivan Ivan Yeremov.!!

Indeed.

What? What did you say?

Ivan Petrovich Yeremov. I am now a nobleman.

Huh Haha!!!

Jill Ber laughed as if coughing. After rubbing his forehead for a while, he lifted his head with a more relaxed face.

Finally, Ivan couldnt hold back and spoke up.

What on earth is that mustache?

What on earth is that mustache!!

The two simultaneously began to criticize each other. Exactly at the same tempo, with the same words.

Your skills have improved.

Have your skills improved?

In martial arts, one can gauge the opponents skill level just by their momentum, breathing, posture, and gait. At their level, having served in the same area for several years, it was even easier.

Both martial artists simultaneously furrowed their brows.

If you were born with talent, you should have put in some effort at least.

And in one voice.

This unlucky fellow.

With smiles on their faces, they approached each other and extended their arms.

It wasnt a handshake. It was a deeper form of salute, where they extended their arms further and grasped each others forearms.

Nice to see you.

You too!

To Ivan, Jill Ber was the most unlucky fellow in the Hero Party.

Always complaining, emphasizing noble manners, and eagerly wanting to compete with the knights despite lacking skills.

A mixture of pride, self-esteem, inferiority, and a sense of entitlement. Very human. A truly unlucky noble knight.

To Jill Ber, Ivan was the most unlucky fellow in the Hero Party.

Always complaining, claiming to be a trained agent, lecturing about this and that, and saying things like I can do anything Ive seen once.

A mixture of pride, self-esteem, inferiority, and a sense of entitlement. Too human, thus even more unlucky as a soldier.

So, in the end, the two looked at each others faces and smiled.

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