I feel a rustling sensation on top of me as I come to my senses. I open my eyes, and I see Nina laying on top of me in our bed. We picked out one of the larger rooms in the mansion's second floor and moved our belongings in last night.
She still seems to be asleep…I look at her and smile warmly. Then, I feel the rustling sensation again. What the hell?
I look over to where I felt the sensation, and I see that Alara has crawled into our bed near me…she's looming over me with an intense stare.
"Good…Mizuki, you're finally awake! What is that silver structure down in the valley!?" (Alara)
I stare at her dumbfounded. Then, the absurdity of it sets in, and I'm a little miffed.
"Alara…get the hell out of our bed. We're not dressed, you know. You're in bed with a naked human. Should I tell your friends?" (Mizuki)
Alara's face becomes deathly serious.
"Tch…you're not even human, Mizuki, not really. Threats like this from you don't scare me either. How about I make one? If you don't take me down there right now, I'm going to climb under these blankets with you." (Alara)
What the actual shit!? I stare at her in bewilderment, and she smirks at me.
"I'm starting to think I liked you better when you were scared to death of me. Fine, you win – you're insane. Give me a few minutes to get dressed." (Mizuki)
Alara nods smugly, then climbs out the bed and…goes to stand in the corner of the room!?
"Alara, what the hell are you doing? Go wait outside the room, I need to get dressed." (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…you got to see me the other day, what's the big deal?" (Alara)
Alright, time to quit playing around with her. I climb out of bed, paying her no mind, and Nina begins to stir. Alara raises her eyebrows curiously.
I walk over to her, and apprehension begins to appear on her face as well. I walk up, right in front of her face, and look her in the eyes – she becomes clearly nervous. I reach my hand out and place it on her shoulder.
"U-Uhm…M-Mizuki…I'm not…what are you…" (Alara)
I give her a vicious smile, then I teleport her away from me down to the valley below. I sigh in relief. I turn back to the bed, and Nina is sitting up groggily.
"Mizuki…were you talking to someone?" (Nina)
"Yes, Alara decided that it would be a good idea to crawl into our bed this morning. I got rid of her." (Mizuki)
Nina smirks.
"Fufufufu…good, that's what I like to hear." (Nina)
Nina and I get ready for the day, then collect Alto and Zara. We all teleport down to the valley together to meet up with Alara. When we arrive, Alara is climbing all over the railcar on the track. Alto, Zara, and Nina seem to register the new structure, and excitedly go to inspect the railway and railcar.
"Mizuki! What is this material!? It's so shiny, I quite like it!" (Nina)
She really is a dragon cliché, through and through. Alara comes running over to me frantically.
"Mizuki, I can't make it work! I thought you said anyone would be able to use it!?" (Alara)
I stifle my laughter, then let out a deep sigh and shake my head at her.
"I also told you that I'd make sure there were safeguards in place. Everyone, please follow me!" (Mizuki)
The group looks towards me, then I lead them into the railcar. I direct Nina and Zara to sit in the passenger section, then bring Alara and Alto with me to the operator's cabin. I take a seat in the operator's chair, then pull the control plates out of my item box.
"These are the enchanted items used to control this form of transportation, called a train. You place them in their corresponding slots as indicated." (Mizuki)
I place all the control plates into their slots on the podium. Then I gesture at the forcefield place icon.
"This is the first spell you have to activate. Alto, please swap places with me and activate it with your magic." (Mizuki)
Alto nods excitedly and does as I ask. There is a slight lurch in the railcar as it's lifted, and it slowly begins to glide forward on the uneven railway.
"Great, Alto, now you have to make sure that one stays supplied with magic while the railcar is moving. That's very important. Next, you want to supply magic to this one at the same time. The more magic you supply, the faster it will go!" (Mizuki)
I gesture to the acceleration plate, and Alto starts pouring her magic into it. The railcar begins to glide forward, faster and faster.
"Woooh! Mizuki, this is incredible!" (Alto)
"It's…incredible…we're going so fast!" (Alara)
From what I can tell, we're not going more than 100 kph.
"Alto, can you speed up as much as you can while still being able to maintain the magic consumption for a few hours? When you're up to that speed, hold it there and let me know." (Mizuki)
Alto nods and focuses on the control panel for a few minutes as we speed up.
"Okay, Mizuki, I think this is the fastest I could go and comfortably maintain it as long as you're thinking." (Alto)
The railcar is humming again like before. Hmm…magic sense says about 400 kph, that's wonderful! So, people with a magic power level of three can comfortably operate the railcar at a pace that completes this trip in a little over two hours!
"Wow, that's pretty good Alto! At this rate, we'd get to the palace in about two hours." (Mizuki)
Alara turns to me incredulously.
"What, that fast!? Mizuki, this is completely absurd! People from Avalon could make day trips deep into my territory!" (Alara)
I nod at her smugly.
"I know, I tried to tell you as much. If you charge a reasonable price to transport each person, like five coppers, you could earn a platinum per month from just transporting people. Even if you paid the operator of the railcar and a maintenance person one platinum coin per year each, you could still make eight platinum coins a year just from this railcar." (Mizuki)
Alara makes a disgusted face.
"Only five coppers, Mizuki? We could charge far more than that for something like this!" (Alara)
"Obviously, but that's not the point. You still make plenty of money from charging five coppers, and it allows more people to come to your territory. So many, in fact, that there will be a constant waiting list to ride this thing. Your railway and your hot spring will be the talk of Avalon for months. So, keeping the price low will ultimately draw subjects to your territory, instead of just having short-term tourism from wealthier elves." (Mizuki)
Alara looks surprised, then becomes thoughtful. I take the opportunity to finish instructing Alto.
"Alto, this symbol here is used to slow down the train, and this one here is just used to produce light in front of the train. So, you won't ever need it in the daytime." (Mizuki)
I gesture to the deceleration and headlights plates in sequence, and Alto nods her acknowledgement. Her eyes linger on the headlight plate…I'm betting she really wants to activate it. She's been struggling with radiation-based magic in our lessons. I return my focus to Alara.
"Alara, while we're here in the train, why don't you just continue on to the palace with Alto and Nina, and see if you can hire some elven workers to begin construction efforts? I'd focus on people who have design and skilled labor experiences for buildings. You can bring them back with you in this train if you want." (Mizuki)
I turn to address Nina before Alara can respond.
"Nina, make sure to take out these plates here and safeguard them when you arrive. Also, our cover story for this railway suddenly appearing is that you made it to thank the Elven Kingdom for welcoming us." (Mizuki)
"Fufufu…anything for my fans, of course." (Nina)
I roll my eyes internally at Nina…at least she's acknowledging her job, though. Alara gives me a puzzled look.
"I feel like this is all moving very fast, Mizuki. Where am I supposed to find these workers? Why am I only focusing on managerial people? Also, what will you and Zara be doing?" (Alara)
"Well, fast is what I promised you, right? I'm sure Alto can help you find workers, and most Avalon commoners are probably familiar with the local construction people – just ask around. As for your other questions, Zara and I will go ahead and visit her village to recruit the wolf-kin as unskilled laborers. So, let any elves you hire know that they'll be working with them." (Mizuki)
Alto makes a conflicted expression.
"Mizuki, you said that I could hire as many elves for labor as I want, so why limit me like that now, and force the prioritization of the wolf-kin?" (Alara)
"I'm not limiting you – hire as many elves as you want, I just suggest starting with skilled ones and managers. The wolf-kin will already be back in your territory, and you can only carry twenty or so people at a time in this train. It makes sense to start with people that can make use of unskilled laborers like the wolf-kin. After that, you can go back to Avalon repeatedly and get as many elves as you want for work." (Mizuki)
That seems to placate Alara, and she becomes thoughtful. After a moment, she smiles and nods.
"Okay, Mizuki, that sounds like a good idea. Alto, Great Dragon, is that fine with both of you?" (Alara)
"Fufufu…yes, I'm excited to see how much my fans love the toy I built for them!" (Nina)
"Of course, I'm excited to start developing an actual city in your territory, so we're not so lonely." (Alto)
Great…that dragon is huffing her own fumes now. At least Alto is reasonable. Alara nods at them both appreciatively.
"Very well, Mizuki, I accept. Thank you. We'll meet you back at the valley later. Good luck with the wolf-kin." (Alara)
I nod at them all with a big smile, then turn to Zara.
"Zara, are you ready to see your village again?" (Mizuki)
Zara nods her agreement, but I can see a strange steeliness in her eyes. It's like she's hyper-focused on preparing for something. That doesn't bode well.