In the end, Park Noah’s insistent refusal to leave the train was in vain. Anyway, it will take about half a day to refill the coal and inspect the locomotive. She began to organize her things and left their room. 

“Hello?”

She spotted a blond-haired man crouched in front of the door but ignored it, shrugging her shoulders. She continued walking in the corridor, pretending to be oblivious of the man’s presence. 

However, the blond, untiring, followed her like a lost dog. 

“Hello, Eleanor. Hey, hey, hey? I slept in the hallway all night because you kicked me out.”

Park Noah would have told him to go his way, but she knew it would only pass through his other ear. He trailed behind her, rambling. 

“Did you catch a cold? Gee, this is a remote town, so there won’t be a proper hospital.” He suddenly asked, his voice sounded of concern.

Eventually, Park Noah turned around, pushing her palm onto the man’s face. “If you shut up, I’ll be all right even if I don’t go to the hospital.”

“Ellie lost her memory and Ellie’s gotten more cold-hearted.” The man reacted quickly and stepped back, blocking her hand. 

Park Noah breathed deeply, suppressing the urge to smack the man. However, he merely fluttered his eyes shut, a laugh resounding from his mouth.

“Get out of my way, you… you son of a b*tch.”

His behavior and the way he spoke irked Park Noah, yet every time she looked at the man’s face, her irritation would subside a little. It was a face that boasted a terrible destructive power. 

The man smiled, leaning forward. “I know you don’t like me, Eleanor. But it’s not that way.”

“…..”

“You’re going to the inn to wash up, right? It’s not that way, but this way.” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her body to the right. Then, a red-roofed inn appeared from a distance. 

“Oh… Thank you.” She mumbled, inwardly astonished.

“Thanks, right? So, now I’m-”

“Yes. So, say goodbye here, shall we? Mu, lock him up in the train.”

Without a moment of protest, black mist enveloped his entire body again. Park Noah took a step forward to the inn, sparing no second to look back at the man.

*

Park Noah savored the comfortable bed in the room she rented for half a day, and soon it was only before the sun disappears into the horizon. 

Indeed, there were no hospitals in the remote village, as said by the blond man. She had only taken pills provided by the innkeeper and at least, they had slight usefulness. It was fortunate that Muell’s mana circulating in her blood vessels had a similar effect that of caffeine. Put simply, she was in a state of forced awakening. 

Preparing to leave the inn, Park Noah noticed a telephone booth on the first floor of the inn. 

“…Let’s just call him.” She stepped into the booth without investing much thought on her spontaneous decision. She inserted a coin in the telephone machine and pondered for a moment, then turned the dial according to the Investigative Security Agency’s contact.

The phone rang even before a single beep.

– Yes, Cezanne branch of the Bureau of Investigation Security. How may I help you?

“Hello, may I speak to Sir Leonard, the head of the Bureau of Investigation Security?”

– Pardon? Could you say that again?

Upon detecting suspicion in the responder’s voice, Park Noah realized her mistake. Isn’t it the same as calling the presidential Blue House to ask for Mr. President?

“I’m sorry. Could you connect me to the Bureau of Investigation Security in Lunazel province?”

– Yes, please wait for a moment.

Fortunately, it worked this time. Park Noah waited calmly, clutching the handset closer to her ear. After a short beep, someone answered the phone.

– The Lunazel branch of the Bureau of Investigation Security. How may I help you?

“Hello, this is the person who reported a terrorist attack on the train to Central Edman yesterday in the afternoon. Is Sir Kyle Leonard still there?”

As soon as she finished speaking, a flurry of noise was heard from the other side. Has he left already? 

She thought it would be nice to wait another day in this inn and ride the train together with Kyle Leonard. Apparently, she was in a dire need of a private butler as she felt very weak in both mind and body. 

Then, a familiar voice spoke over the handset. It seemed the magistrate had turned over the phone.

– Miss Noah?