ch92

No matter how much technology advances, the ones wielding it are still the same people.

I wouldn’t want to call it an experience, and it’s too unsettling to be a lesson, even after learning it. I wish I could simply say that those kinds of experiential activities are over.

“Please be careful of your step. The ledge of the connection is a bit high.”

“…How considerate of you?”

“As a dedicated first-class attendant, I have undergone extensive training to ensure that I can serve guests without any issues.”

Clunk…

Following the lead of the attendant with the impressive title, I cross another train car.

Having barely escaped the densely packed four-person compartments, I now find myself in the two-person sections.

Not that there’s much of a difference.

Still the same drab gray connecting corridors and bland lighting, and a similar size per compartment despite half the number of occupants. It’s basically just replacing four chairs with two beds in the same space, offering the bare minimum of service.

If I ever have to move again, I’ll definitely take a bed compartment instead of stubbornly sticking to a seat like an idiot.

After making that small resolution, I cross another car.

Clunk!

Without even bothering to look back, I’ve been enjoying the train scenery to my heart’s content, thanks to the attendant’s incredible control and almost imperceptible adjustments to our walking pace.

However… something is starting to bother me.

It could be a phenomenon maintained because the concept of a train as a mode of transportation hasn’t changed, or it could just be the result of sequential design…

But why are the more expensive compartments located closer to the front?

I’ve already passed the four-person compartments, then the two-person compartments, and even the private rooms and crew area. Come to think of it, the last one isn’t even for passengers.

I hope they don’t have some cruel intention of detaching the rear cars in case of emergency…

And if they’re not planning on sticking me in the engine room, I’d appreciate it if that first-class cabin would show up soon.

“Huh?”

As I grumbled inwardly and crossed over, a bleak scene filled with nothing but boxes appeared, with no partitions or people in sight. Here and there were steel shelves and grids fixed to the train, and in the corner, a transport rail robot was charging.

This is definitely… a cargo car, right? Right?

I was relieved to see a layout that contradicted my terrifying hypothesis, but then the attendant suddenly apologized.

“…Ah, I’m sorry. It seems the business department only heard that the first-class cabins were empty on this run and filled them with delivery items without permission. If it’s made you uncomfortable, I’ll contact them to quickly begin unloading…”

“Huh? No, I don’t mind at all.”

Completely different from his professional attitude just moments ago, he was shrinking back as if he had discovered some huge mistake. I looked at him strangely.

What’s the problem with having cargo in a cargo car? And why is he suddenly apologizing to me about it?

The answer to the seemingly complex question was simpler than I thought. From here on out… it was practically a different zone.

There was a security door at the entrance from the crew area to the cargo car, but it wasn’t locked. The same kind of door was blocking our path.

Click.

Without hesitation, he swiped the keycard hanging around his neck on the reader attached to the door, and the door began to open with a loud hissing sound.

“…The difference in facilities is really extreme.”

The cheap paint job and holographic trickery I’d seen a few times before were nothing compared to the quality of the brown wood flooring that was now spread out before me.

A subtle and rich fragrance tickled my nose, and the lighting was noticeably brighter than in the cars behind us.

On the other hand, the furniture and interior… were a bit strange.

I understand the liquor bottles filling the cabinets, but why are there so many chairs and sofas? There’s no way there wouldn’t be a bed in first class, when even the two-person compartments had them?

“Do you find the indoor bar for easy socializing among our first-class guests to your liking? Please excuse the somewhat desolate atmosphere, as the dedicated staff are still on their way.”

Ah, so this isn’t a cabin, but an amenity.

The cargo car we passed through was also a ‘first-class only’ cargo car, which explains his peculiar reaction.

“…What else is there?”

“Well, the Astra Express is an older model, so aside from the bar, there’s only a dining car and a medical room. It’s not much of a substitute, but the interior is accordingly dignified and full of traditional charm!”

The Paradise badge on the attendant’s uniform fluttered as he gave his enthusiastic introduction.

Capitalism… capitalism. I rolled the brilliant and heavy word around in my mouth.

No matter how I looked at it from different angles, it was really impossible to get used to it right away. Is this why people like the Five Eyes riding back there are clamoring for revolution… I mean, reform?

With a complicated heart, I rubbed my face roughly and faced him, who was waiting for the customer’s cold evaluation, and quickly sorted out the situation.

“You said I’m the only first-class passenger, right…? Send all those dedicated staff who are supposedly rushing over back, and depart as soon as my Droid boards.”

“But… without a chef, I can only offer you food cartridge-level service…”

That’s enough! Please, just let’s go! Please??

He trailed off, stammering, seemingly flustered by my firm attitude, but then quickly responded as if he understood my dying wish to escape the embarrassment and shame.

“…I apologize! Every minute and second must be a huge loss for a VIP like yourself. Then I will postpone summoning the supervisor and guide you to your cabin immediately.”

…No, I don’t think he understood at all?

And what the hell is with summoning the supervisor? Can’t he ever stop?!

“This is normally where the security teams accompanying VIPs would wait, but this is the first time we’ve had a first-class passenger arrive in such a simple manner…”

“Yeah~ Okay. You’ve worked hard…”

I closed the cabin door behind him, leaving him to insist that he would be waiting in front of the door at all times, so I could call him whenever I needed.

All this fuss and commotion was excessive for a journey that would only take a little over half a day.

Unless it was protocol tailored to the movements of real dignitaries, it was a waste of movie-worthy settings and props to have someone like me, a regular person, being carried along.

First, I moved away from the door and calmly surveyed the personal space I had been given.

The unobstructed view from the window, which was incomparable to the regular cabins, the double-sized bed with drapes, and the attached private bathroom. Even this alone was wider than the one-room apartment where the Valentine sisters lived together.

On the other side, there were mini-refrigerators, air purifiers, and other miscellaneous appliances and furniture for relaxation.

But while it was definitely luxurious… it somehow felt nouveau riche…

“Oops.”

I carefully stepped aside so as not to get dirt on the carpet and examined the aggressively assertive chair up close.

The bright red cushion and gold trim were fine, but the armrests with the embossed lion heads were a bit much, weren’t they?

I don’t know which era the designer had in mind when considering ‘traditional charm,’ but as someone who lived much closer to that era, I can say with certainty that this is too much.

Still, the cushion looked very comfortable, so I lay down. I ran my fingers over the bumpy carvings on the armrest to pass the time, but no matter how long I waited, the new occupant showed no sign of opening his mouth.

Ugh, I can’t help it. I’ll have to break the ice again.

“…So, got anything to say?”

…I have no excuse. I’m sorry. –

He didn’t even bother to hide his presence when he came in. He must have felt bad about calling out to me while I had my back turned, so he hesitated and answered dejectedly.

I turned my head and looked over my shoulder. There was Zero, kneeling demurely with both knees on the ground, the scanner light turned off, in a perfect posture of repentance, begging for forgiveness.

And upon seeing that sight, I finally unleashed the anger I had been holding back…

“…Seriously.”

What anger? All the anger I was about to unleash vanished, and even my annoyance subsided.

Not only that, but the worries about the future and concerns about my identity that had been occupying my mind also seemed unimportant when I saw the super-artificial intelligence groaning as if he had lost everything just because he had messed up a simple errand.

I kicked off the throne-like chair with its bad taste and plopped down.

I also sat cross-legged and comfortably on the carpet in front of Zero.

……. –

I glared at the idiot who was waiting for criticism with his eyes tightly closed, even though he knew I was right in front of him.

No need to talk for long. Let’s finish this quickly and rest together.

“You heard the conversation Rosalyn and I were having, right? There’s no need to feel burdened. Learn from your mistakes and continue to act as you think is right in the future. …Of course, you need to learn about common sense and when to commit legal and illegal acts.”

…Are you not going to scold me further? –

Scold? That’s absurd and not the case.

I don’t even know what right I have to believe I can evaluate him.

“…The reason I was flustered was because I was worried that Zero would get caught up in bigger problems if he was left alone. If you want to break away and act independently as soon as possible, then try harder.”

After reciting the graded test, I silently held out my hand.

Immediately, with a cheerful click! A chilled drink, Daily Brew Works’ orange juice, was placed in my grasp.

“Thanks, you idiot.”

★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★

In the middle of a wasteland, in a shabby shack, huddled together in the darkness without proper lighting, they were all staring at the mouth of the gang member in charge of communications, who was holding an old-fashioned radio.

No matter how great the equipment was, it was only up to the standards of outlaws outside the barrier, not a game-changer that could stand up to a head-on fight.

That’s why they waited diligently, for low-level criminals.

To make a big score with the goods they bought with expensive Credits.

“Tsk. Astra… something? Anyway, there’s a train coming towards Neo Haven that doesn’t have many passengers, so all the cargo cars are packed with newly released products, they say?”

“There have been plenty of trains with overflowing supplies, you idiot! The important thing is that there shouldn’t be any big shots with mercenaries or… bodyguards.”

Slap!!

The guy who got hit on the back of the head cursed, but clung to the radio again.

After a minute… two minutes, of anxious waiting, the man’s mouth finally widened with a satisfied grin as he heard information that the boss would be pleased with.

“The only mercenary they had suddenly disappeared right before departure, and the luxury cabins are completely empty, so not even the staff are riding in them!”

“…Good, we’ll hit it a little ways away from the city. Just robbing the front and rear cargo cars will be more than enough to give each of us a lifetime of freedom, so don’t screw up, you bastards…!”