An Aura Farmer's Guide to Another World-Chapter 42: Oh great, we’re in an apocalypse?

"Choo-choo!"

Steam billowed from the smoke funnels as the pistons began to pump, polluting the otherwise fresh air.

The first-class seats were luxurious velvet chaises, arranged in compartments where pairs of seats faced each other. A small table in the middle provided a divide between Lucy and me, and Cupcake and Evelyn.

My gaze drifted to the window, where the tall wall circling Velmora came into view, its gates already parting for the train.

’Creakkkkkk!’

With the gates open, the train’s speed surged tenfold, carrying it out of Velmora.

The sun, having passed its peak, showered us with a soft golden glow. Evelyn was instantly asleep, but Cupcake’s gaze remained fixed on me as if I’d sinned.

The way she tapped the armrest of the velvet chair told me she’d chew me alive once we reached Silver Bell.

It was just a kiss. Besides, she told me straight to my face that she didn’t love me.

A small "Hmph!" escaped Lucy’s lips, more a puff of air than a sound, as she looked away.

Since Devil’s Island, Lucy had been ignoring me, foiling every attempt I made to engage her in conversation.

Gaggle!

From a cluster of vultures, a harsh, cackling sound emerged as they feasted on what appeared to be human remains, or possibly a demon.

That grotesque sight snapped me out of my thoughts, waking me to the harsh reality.

Beyond Velmora’s fortress walls, the land stretched red and barren; dead, dry trees, resembling frozen snakes, were scarcely spread across the landscape.

The railway track lay ensconced within giant metal bars, which looked like the skeletal ribs of a colossal snake creature.

’Bang!’

A cart-sized vulture crashed into the metal bars protecting the train tracks. What was truly terrifying was its human face, a grotesque detail that reminded me of the monsters I’d fought on Devil’s Island.

"Choo-choo!"

The train kept moving forward, and all the passengers behaved as if nothing unusual had happened.

’Thud-thud!’

A flock of giraffes ran toward the moving train, their necks extending into the evening sky. When I looked closer, I saw that instead of normal giraffe heads, they had the heads of oryxes, complete with two massive horns.

The positive thing was that the creatures appeared to be slow, allowing us to outpace them.

Beyond the creatures in the wasteland, the train also passed by towns and villages that presented frightening scenes.

Moments before twilight, we paced through a ghost city, its buildings crumbling like the aftermath of a battle scene.

From every corner of the city, behind the crumbling stone pillars and cathedrals, a mutated monster lurked in the shadows.

Some of them attempted to attack the train, only to be blocked by the steel bars. The smaller monsters, like rabbits and chickens that managed to slip through the endless rows of steel, were immediately crushed by the massive weight of the train and its momentum.

***

"What can I get for you, sir?" a stewardess inquired, pausing with her food cart next to my seat.

Glancing at the lady, I saw she was dressed in a velvet uniform gown with a fitted bodice and a long, flowing skirt.

"I want—"

"Give us rose tea with milk, make it extra creamy and cold," Cupcake cut in.

"But I want—"

Cupcake stared at me, "Want what?"

"I will have the rose tea." I glanced away, assuming she was still mad at me for kissing Elizabeth.

"Here you go."

"Thanks"

With the teacup in my hand, I looked out at the moon, which was shrouded in darkness. Inside, gas lanterns were on throughout the carriage, casting a warm orange glow on us.

’Sip-sip.’

The tea tasted like oolong tea mixed with rose syrup and milk; the ice cubes did wonders for the flavor, further bringing out the taste of honey.

"Status," I called out to the system.

I figured it would be best to upgrade my stats before the start of the new quest.

[Status....֍֍֍֍]

∎[Name: Liam Becker]

∎[Core: Lota]

∎[Heartbeat: 100s]

∎[Unique Skill: Aura]

∎[Race: Human]

∎[Class: Succubus]

∎[Sub-class: Disciple of the Nameless god]

✷✷✷ATTRIBUTES✷✷✷

✠『 Mana ⟹ 100%』

✠『HP ⟹ 100%』

✠『Stamina ⟹ 100%』

✠『Intelligence ⟹ 40.00』⤉ 81.82%

✠ 『Dexterity ⟹ 35.00 』⤉ 105.88%

✠ 『EXP ⟹ 150.00』⤉ 400%

✠ 『Succubus point (SP) ⟹ 00.00』⤉ 0%

✾❉❉❉REVELATIONS (Skills)❉❉❉✾

⫸ Negative Touch: Level 1 (Ability to repel)

⫸ Positive Touch: Level 1 (Ability to attract)

❦❦❦❦❦INVENTORY❦❦❦❦❦

✜....

✜....

✜....

[Available balance = 800฿]

[Ding... Congratulations, you have farmed Aura.]

[The way you killed two death row inmates—a silent beheading plus a single shot of gravity wave to the head—was impressive. Aura +20]

[Grak’s defeat by snapping your fingers was Badass. Aura +100]

[Total Aura farmed = 120]

[Aura converted to EXP = 120 EXP]

[You have 30 experience points (EXP) in your possession, and you have earned an additional 120 EXP. Your total is now 150 EXP.]

[Ding... The system has detected that you have a disciple and over 50 EXP. You’ve met the two requirements to unlock your Vessel of the Demon God subclass-related skill.]

[Do you wish to proceed?]

YES ▣☚

[Congratulations, you have unlocked a new skill: Inverted Square]

✾❉❉❉REVELATIONS (Skills)❉❉❉✾ freёnovelkiss.com

⫸ Negative Touch: Level 1 (Ability to repel)

⫸ Positive Touch: Level 1 (Ability to attract)

✜....[Ocean Eyes related skills]

⫸ Inverted Square: Level 1

[Details: The Skill allows you to project your senses into a 3x3x3 meter cube, perceiving everything within its bounds as if you were everywhere at once. The cube itself is invisible, but its eight corners act as your eyes, providing a comprehensive, 3D view of the interior. When activated near a solid surface, Inverted Square penetrates the barrier, letting you see clearly through walls and obstacles within the cube’s dimensions.]

I have unlocked a new skill, although it is not an attack type, I can already think of how it will help me prevent surprise attacks.

[Ding... New quest available.]

[Quest Details: Kill Lady Beatrice. Do not allow her to live under any circumstances.]

[Reward: 50 million berries]

[Penalty: You will regret not killing Lady Beatrice.]

’Badump-badump!’

I placed my hand against my heart. Queen Violet had decreed that I protect Lady Beatrice, yet the system was ordering me to kill her.

What should I do?

[Balance = 800฿]

If only I had enough coins, I could buy a memory fragment to learn if Lady Beatrice was evil, or if the system intended for me to kill an innocent.

For now, I’d observe her and then make my choice.

"Choo-choo!"

"Welcome to Silver Bell."

"Thank you for traveling with Queen’s Railways."

"Please ensure you have all your personal belongings before exiting the train."