On the platform level of the mana rail station in Herrom, the Imperial Capital, a faint gleam of dawn colored the winter morning.
Though the sun had not yet fully risen, the pale blue sky was already reflecting light, casting a gentle touch of warmth over the sprawling cluster of towers and ancient architecture.
It was the first weekend since the arrival of March.
A light white mist rose from the tracks, born of evaporating dew that had settled during the night's chill. Beside the rails, the waiting mana rail train sat in profound stillness, with only the occasional whistle or mechanical hum reminding passersby of its presence.
To one side of the platform, near the station sign, stood Lanqi. He wore a suit vest with a diamond pattern, an overcoat of deep gray draped over his shoulders. Looking up at the timetable displayed on the crystal screen, he then cast his gaze toward the far end of the tracks veiled in mist, seemingly confident that the arriving train would appear before long.
"Hi."
A familiar voice broke the quiet around him.
Lanqi turned around.
There stood Side.
Over a tailored white shirt, she wore a flowing coat paired with a long black skirt, giving her an air of brisk, effortless poise.
"Good morning," Lanqi greeted the Bishop of Domination.
The two had agreed long beforehand that once he wrapped up his week-long duties at Protos Royal Magic Academy, they would set out on their journey to the northern Extinction branch.
Naturally, this was also the mission handed to both newly inducted Extinction Priests by the Extinction branch in the Imperial Capital.
Even though they had not crossed paths once at the academy, Lanqi was fairly certain Side had kept an eye on him by disguising herself as a student.
The platform had not yet grown busy. From afar, the clock tower tolled six. Only a handful of early-morning travelers hurried past.
Standing motionless near the edge of the platform, their two silhouettes seemed particularly quiet.
"Where's your cat?"
Side glanced at Lanqi's hands, then toward his black scarf.
He had clearly purchased two supplementary pet tickets just a moment ago. One of his pets had shifted into his scarf, but the other remained hidden.
Lanqi said nothing, only looking down at his own shadow.
Beneath his feet, the shadow was trembling.
Boss Cat was evidently scared to death.
Or rather, it would rather die than be anywhere near the Bishop of Domination.
The black fox, by contrast, had no concept of whether Side was strong or weak, showing no wariness whatsoever.
"He's just too timid," Lanqi said, turning a helpless gaze toward Side.
"That's normal. Usually, if I don't disguise myself or rein in my aura, even powerful magic beasts run for their lives."
Side did not seem to mind at all, apparently well aware that she possessed a natural disposition for scaring off animals.
"This cat has always been shy around strangers. He probably takes more readily to elderly folks he's familiar with."
Lanqi could not tell whether Side had wanted to pet the little black cat, but it was clear she had little hope of laying a hand on Boss Cat unless she resorted to force.
"I see."
As their brief exchange ended, the low drone of metal wheels grinding against steel tracks drifted in from the distance.
The sound steadily swelled, shifting from a faint murmur to a distinct rumble. Amid the roar, a beam of golden headlights pierced the dense mist as the mana rail train glided toward the platform.
Pulling in with a swift yet majestic grace, the train sent a characteristic tremor of mana rippling through the platform. After coming to a complete stop over the next several dozen seconds, vapor drifted from its roof like light smoke. The carriage doors slowly slid open, revealing the luxurious interior within.
The tickets purchased for them by the Temple of the Knights of Extinction were for adjacent seats—something they had known without even checking.
Boarding the train, Lanqi and Side walked through several carriages and soon found their seats.
Thick curtains were drawn over the windows on both sides, though glimpses of the hazy landscape outside could still be seen through the narrow gaps.
Lanqi gazed out the window, looking somewhat reluctant to leave his academy behind in the Imperial Capital. Side, on the other hand, picked up a magazine and prepared to flip through it.
She rarely embarked on journeys like this.
Consequently, she felt an unusual amount of leisure now, to the point of needing something to pass the time.
At last, Lanqi seemed to set his thoughts aside, choosing instead to focus on the journey ahead.
"Side, you'll have to protect me well, you know. I'm just a fourth-tier support," Lanqi said with a faint smile, addressing Sigrid.
Sigrid had insisted on reverting to the strength of her teenage years.
Yet even with her power suppressed to the fourth tier, she still exuded an oppressive presence over anyone of the same rank. It seemed that back when she genuinely was at the fourth tier, she had knocked out almost every opponent of the same rank with a single punch.
"Let me make this clear beforehand: right now, I'm merely your companion. While it's theoretically possible I might save your life, I won't stop you from committing suicide. I know how to respect other people's fates. The moment I judge that you're walking into certain death, I will no longer follow you."
Side turned her head to look at him, speaking bluntly without the slightest inclination to coddle him.
"..."
Lanqi maintained his polite smile, though his expression froze in place.
It seemed framing an enemy to bait Side into instantly annihilating them would not be an option.
"Furthermore, when I judge that an enemy is far stronger than me, I'll make reasonable decisions suited for a fourth-tier warrior—such as choosing to run when it's time to run, and deciding whether to sell you out or take you with me."
Side continued explaining her operational parameters to Lanqi, which served as a liability disclaimer: if Lanqi managed to get himself killed by acting reckless, he was not to blame her.
"Under what circumstances would you take me with you when you run?"
"That will depend on the severity of the danger, as well as the favorability that my identity as Side holds toward you."
"Huh?"
Lanqi had never heard of someone running things like that.
"So naturally, you need to cherish me and protect me well in return," Side said, putting down the magazine and patting Lanqi on the shoulder with utter certainty.
"Why do I have to protect you?"
Lanqi was baffled. How had the conversation looped around to where he was supposed to protect Side instead?
"If I'm unhappy, I might just leave the party. You have to take your teammate's feelings into consideration," Side stated with utmost seriousness.
Lanqi found himself momentarily at a loss for words.
*You're really covering all your bases, aren't you?*
*If I hadn't asked and cleared this up right now, were you planning to pull a 'you'll regret it when I'm gone' routine on me later?*
"..."
Seeing Lanqi reduced to silence, Boss Cat felt that Lanqi had finally met his match.
Not only had he failed to play the manipulative victim, but after following her bizarre line of reasoning in a full circle, he had ended up completely outmaneuvered.
"...Ah, fine," Lanqi finally conceded with a nod.
He understood Side's logic now.
Her top priority was slacking off; she had no intention of letting Lanqi exploit any loopholes.
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became, and the more of a bad deal it felt like.
If she wasn't going to help, what was the point of bringing her along?
No, he had to take the death-seeking route.
This northern expedition was going to be an all-out charge into the jaws of death.
She had only said that she wouldn't tag along on suicidal moves where death was a certainty.
That meant as long as there was a slim chance of survival, it was still possible to spur Side into action!
A catastrophic, earth-shattering blow from a Bishop—letting the journey pass without using it even once would be a total waste!
Chapter 304