Clack clack.
There was no creaking sound, just the two of them, Yujin and Olga, silently strolling down a corridor lined with spherical mana lanterns.
This hallway was reserved for S-grade Hunters, a VVIP corridor, but it was unusually quiet.
Soon, the two arrived in front of the train compartment where the elves resided.
“That ended quicker than I thought, Yujin.”
“Normally, we would have been scheduled to stay for at least a week, but thanks to Isia taking down the boss, our plans changed drastically.”
“Hehe, the saintess… If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have had to use the Spirit Nuke.”
“I heard that when the invasion started, she opened the window to enjoy the scenery and got caught between the train and the gate, which caused her to fall. What kind of saintess is that? She seems like nothing but a crazy girl.”
“Don’t be too harsh, Yujin. Even so, Shia is still an impressive saintess when it comes to getting things done, right?”
“Impressive? I still doubt how she defeated the Demon King!”
“Hehehe.”
Even with such words, Olga knew deep down that Yujin actually trusted and relied on Shia quite a bit. Feeling jealous and envious that even though she couldn’t protect the world, Shia managed to do so, she had once confessed this on the bed—not really a confession, but still…
Not long after, Yujin guided Olga into the elf quarters.
“…..”
Olga quietly looked around inside.
Despite being a massive train that traveled through dimensions, the high ceiling gave an open feeling, and the floor was covered in carpet like a luxury hotel. The wooden furniture, arranged with the elves’ taste in mind, exuded both aristocratic elegance and a natural vibe.
Typically, when politicians or high-ranking officials entered the Hunter Train for observation, a few rooms would be offered along with their aides. However, due to the increasing discretion toward the Great Rift, an entire train compartment was given to the elves, so there were no human presences nearby at all.
Of course, there were more elves on board the Hunter Train beyond Olga, but the Hunter Association deemed it very likely that the over 20,000 elves from the Great Forest who had come to Earth would all become hunters.
Although there were some complaints from other parties, the Hunter Association could not afford to neglect the future customers and hunters who carried the asymmetric strategic weapon known as the Spirit Nuke.
“Thanks for your hard work today, Olga. Now, go in and rest.”
“Yujin…”
It was now time to part ways.
“Yujin.”
“What’s wrong, O… oof!?”
Confirming that there was no one around, Olga suddenly hugged Yujin.
As soon as Olga’s hand touched Yujin, the spirits that usually lingered on her body dispersed, and Yujin’s real form, his slender limbs, were caught in Olga’s hands.
Olga’s actions were reminiscent of a child throwing a tantrum because she didn’t want to part.
“Oh, if someone sees us, it’ll be—”
“Haaah, Yujin…”
The corridor was attached separately to the exterior of the train.
Since the corridor where Yujin and Olga were currently located had never had any passersby, Yujin felt a bit on edge, wondering if someone might walk by, while Olga hugged him tightly as if she couldn’t bear to let go.
“This is a bit troubling, Olga. Why are you suddenly acting like this? We’ve been together all day, haven’t we?”
“….You were amazing earlier.”
“Earlier? Ah…”
Yujin, who hadn’t thought much about it, suddenly remembered how Zeus from the Olympus Guild had flirted with Olga, leading to an overreaction from Yujin, who stepped in to protect her.
“That guy Zeus is notorious for being a womanizer. It’s rumored he flirts with everyone, changing partners every day, with over 100 kids! Letting someone like him near you was a dereliction of duty on my part.”
“Yujin…”
“Don’t misunderstand too much, Olga. Right now, I’m not here as Korea’s S-grade Hunter but as the representative of the Returnee Group vouching for the elves and the Great Forest. Protecting you is part of my duty…”
“Huh, he…”
However, it seemed that no matter how much he tried to clarify, Yujin’s words were enough to make Olga’s heart race, which had been waiting hundreds of years for him.
“Hoo-hoo, hehehe… Yujin.”
The more Yujin spoke, the more Olga’s eyes sparkled with excitement, prompting him to stop speaking.
It’s still fine.
Definitely, it’s still fine, but…
He couldn’t just leave Olga, who was licking her lips in anticipation, unattended.
Before the Hunter Train had even started operating in full force, if he became drained already, he might end up worn out throughout the entire operation.
“But, I don’t want to fall apart.”
“…I feel the same way.”
“You’re lying.”
“Cough, Olga. Still, we should refrain from inappropriate actions during the day, don’t you think?”
“Then it’s okay at night!?”
As Olga’s hand slowly descended toward Yujin’s lower abdomen, he made an awkward expression.
Though Yujin tried to catch Olga’s hand to stop her, he couldn’t resist her strength at all.
Squeeze.
Squeeze…
“Ha, oof…!”
Finally, like pressing a switch, Olga’s fingers brushed Yujin’s lower abdomen—specifically, the slightly rounded area.
Ah, this is dangerous…
“Haa, Olga. If you had come here on your own, I might have entertained it, but you’re here as a representative of the Great Forest, aren’t you?”
“Ah, you’re right. I had almost forgotten…”
This time, Olga was on the Hunter Train not as an individual but as a representative of the Great Forest and a child of the World Tree.
Since they boarded the train with quite a political purpose, it was advisable for both Yujin and Olga to refrain from personal meetings as much as possible.
When the dungeon invasion began, they could wander together as hunters, but they wouldn’t be doing either of them any good if baseless rumors spread after they stuck together all day.
Yujin gently patted Olga, who lowered her head as if disappointed.
“Y-Yujin…?”
It was completely unexpected for Yujin to do something like this first!
For Olga, it had been a long time since Yujin initiated any form of physical contact, so her face momentarily turned blank.
Before coming to Earth, after fighting on the front lines against the Demon King’s army all day, we used to make fun of each other while poking each other’s foreheads covered in blood and mud…
Judging from her reaction, it seemed Olga remembered that time as well.
Although it felt like a distant past, Yujin caressed Olga’s white forehead with a single finger just like before.
At first, Olga’s face stiffened due to the unexpected situation, but soon, her expression changed to a blissful one as she began to feel much better due to Yujin’s touch.
Then, she closed her eyes as if she were a tame pet, and in the midst of this, Olga couldn’t hide the corners of her mouth from curling up in an uncontrollable smile.
“There’s no need to worry, Olga.”
Yujin pressed down on the center of her forehead.
“As Shia said… we won’t have to part anymore. Don’t we have more chances to meet in the future?”
“….You’re right.”
What Shia had said applied to them too, as they were both returnees and had reencountered someone from their previous world.
“So, this concludes today’s escort duty. I have some paperwork and a report to return to the Returnee Group, but there’s plenty to do in the train compartment, so if you’re bored, I recommend taking a stroll.”
“Nah. If you’re not here, what’s the fun in going? Besides, I don’t really know many people. I might check in on the saintess when I have time.”
“Okay, then have a nice time….”
“Hey, over there!”
“….!”
At that moment, Yujin turned reflexively at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, adorned with a British accent, and instantly surrounded himself with illusions.
To Yujin’s ears, the English spoken in a native accent was translated into smooth Korean by his smartwatch.
Who the heck is that…!?
This was a corridor that only S-grade Hunters could access!
If anyone spread rumors about how close Olga and Yujin were…!
Just before his emotions escalated irrationally, Yujin thankfully managed to separate himself completely.
He turned sharply toward the source of the voice, furrowing his brow.
“Elizaveta IV…?”
“Oh, Yujin! It’s you, Yujin! Hello!”
What on Earth was Elizaveta IV doing here…?
Yujin pondered desperately why the blonde-haired woman, whose eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, was here.
Elizaveta IV’s compartment was supposed to be more than 20 cars away from here.
This wasn’t the first time he saw her.
Being an S-grade Hunter, he had inevitably crossed paths with S-grade hunters from other countries, whether he liked it or not.
For political reasons or due to overwhelming threats from vast dungeons abroad, it was unavoidable.
Yujin and Elizaveta IV first met three years ago at a lava sea dungeon that had appeared in the Maldives.
Of course, it was not in the same party; they simply passed by each other.
But why does the British queen look so… disheveled?
Even though she wore a bright dress, there were footprints and perhaps fist prints scattered all over her outfit, as if someone had beaten her. The tiara that should have sat neatly on her head was askew and on the verge of falling off.
Yet she seemed completely unbothered by it.
Oh come on. No way the British queen got beaten up by someone.
Considering her personality, it was more plausible that she just messed up her appearance while wandering around.
“Hey, Yujin. Do you want to spar with me?”
“……No.”
“If not Yujin, then that elf over there looks strong! Let’s spar! What you did with the Spirit Nuke earlier was amazing! It would be so much fun to spar!”
For a moment, the gazes of Yujin and Olga crossed at the speed of light.
Who’s that?
Just decline politely.
Is she annoying?
Yeah, very annoying personality of a queen!
Oh, I see…
And with the speed of light, Olga responded with an innocent expression.
“Sorry but I’ll have to decline. I’m just a frail elf.”
Yujin shot an icy stare at Olga, who was making herself out to be weak.
Slightly less than the expected frailness!
Where did you pick up such nonsense…!?
However, it seemed Elizaveta IV took Olga’s declaration of frailty at face value.
“What?! Why?! You seem really strong… oh, by the way! I am the Queen of England! If you spar with me, I can ask Prime Minister Cider to consider a positive approach to establishing diplomatic relations with our country!”
“The Great Forest and England have already established diplomatic relations and signed several treaties.”
“And Your Majesty, it’s not Cider Prime Minister, it’s Simon Prime Minister, isn’t it?”
“Oh, is it?”
So what is “is it”?
You’re from there, after all…!
“Then Yujin, I guess I’ll be going~”
“Ah, no…! Just spar once before you go!”
Elizaveta IV dramatically reached out in despair towards Olga, who waved goodbye and vanished without a trace.
I can’t get used to this every time…
Looking at Isia always made Yujin think, “Is she really a saintess?” But Elizaveta IV was even more shocking.
Of course, she might be the Queen of England, but before the Great Rift occurred, England had a system of constitutional monarchy in place.
The royal family existed and influenced public sentiment, but they did not rule politically.
It wouldn’t be strange if Queen Elizaveta IV had no interest in politics.
However, it was very unusual for the British queen to be an S-grade Hunter, to suddenly propose sparring at random times, and to have a personality detached from nobility by light-years.
Looking at the rumpled clothes and crooked tiara would probably leave the citizens of England or the Prime Minister foaming at the mouth or bursting into tears.
For reference, Elizaveta IV’s personality and behavior were widely known among S-grade Hunters, so much so that no one was unaware of her.
Although many kept quiet for the sake of royal dignity, those who knew would know.
Therefore, anyone who knew her would absolutely decline that sparring offer.
And sparring with her wouldn’t just end there…
In many ways.
Although considered a strange woman, she was genuinely an S-grade Hunter.
Yet, being the S-grade Hunter and the Queen of England, Yujin chose to treat her with the utmost respect.
“I’m sorry. I’m not here as a representative of the country, but as a guarantor for the elves on this Hunter Train, so I can’t accommodate you.”
“Ah, I see. That’s too bad. Then I’ll go see the Wooden Blackhand uncle.”
The one upside was that once he refused, she wouldn’t cling any further.
At that moment, Yujin seemed to have a good idea as he raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, Your Majesty, even though I can’t spar with you, there’s a suitable opponent for you.”
“What?! Really? Who is it?!”
Elizaveta IV’s eyes sparkled with delight at the mention of a suitable opponent, and her mechanical wings flapped excitedly.
It felt a bit strange that her mechanical wings were linked to her emotions, but…
“We have someone named Isia in our country, a quite powerful returnee…”
“Oh, I visited her already.”
“…What? How did you know she’s not an S-grade?”
“I heard that Isia took down the boss in the Blood Swamp. So, of course, I went to see her as soon as the train departed. But sadly, I was turned down with a belly slap.”
“…What?”
A belly slap?!?
Observing Elizaveta IV, who seemed to be still nursing her lower abdomen, drove Yujin to a dizzying state.
○○○○
And Yujin was able to find Isia, along with Menelapie, Teresa, and Yeonhwa, in the dining car…
“Hey, you crazy woman!!!!”
The moment he saw her, he genuinely whacked Isia on the head.
Thud!
“Ah! What’s this about?!”
“What do you mean, what?! How could you belly slap the Queen of England?!”
“Ah! Yujin! What are you doing? There’s an Emperor named me, and you’re complaining about just a belly slap on the queen’s belly?!”
Menelapie’s stunning reaction made Yujin feel like he was about to lose his mind.
“Excuse me, but… Your Majesty should take a backseat for a second!”
“Never! What’s Isia’s business is my business too!”
“That crazy saintess slapped the queen on her belly! Is there going to be a diplomatic dispute?!”
Then Teresa and Yeonhwa took a sip of their drinks, pondering.
‘Here we go again?’
‘Just another usual day.’
It was no longer surprising.
