Misono Mika remained silent, merely watching them quietly.
"Lady Mika...?"
The retainers felt a chill down their spines from her gaze, and everyone grew tense.
"Since this road is a shortcut, let us continue along it. I have no desire to stay in these cramped carriages for a long time. As for the threat of the Kabane, I will handle them this time. After all, I destroyed two of the Koutetsujou's doors. Until they are fully repaired, I need to take proper responsibility."
Mika withdrew her gaze, thoughtfully providing these men with an excuse.
There were things everyone understood in their hearts but were not suitable to state plainly.
Additionally, since their attitude was decent enough, she truly could not stand by and watch.
If nearly everyone on the train died before reaching the next station, there would be no point.
They were all her property now; as long as she disagreed, no one else was allowed to reach out and take them.
"T-Two... doors?!"
Several people instinctively looked back.
On the half-open door not far from them, a distinct fist imprint marked the indentation.
Gulp.
The group instinctively swallowed.
They truly did not expect that besides possessing an exquisitely powerful firearm and the ability to summon meteors, Mika herself possessed such terrifying physical strength.
She was practically a Hexagon Warrior!
If a punch like that landed on a person, wouldn't they end up scattered across the floor in pieces?
"...How should I put it, as expected of Lady Mika."
"It is wonderful that Lady Mika is willing to help. After hearing this good news, everyone will surely feel much more at ease and be able to sleep soundly."
"After all, Lady Mika's strength is obvious to everyone. If it weren't for her, the number of survivors on the Koutetsujou would be significantly lower!"
"Thank you, Lady Mika..."
The retainers were pleasantly surprised by Mika's decision, and they each chimed in with words to flatter her.
It had to be said.
After the Kawakami Shunsuke incident, the people's attitude toward Mika began to take a new turn.
They started to stop fearing her terrifying strength and instead sought protection from her.
It was a form of admiration for the strong.
Mika waved her hand to dismiss several of them to count the survivors and remaining supplies. Once the retainers left one by one, only Mika, Mumei, and Yomogawa Ayame remained in the cockpit, along with the red-haired girl named Yukina.
"Miss Ayame, do you think I will stay on the Koutetsujou forever?"
Mika sat beside Ayame, speaking with hidden meaning.
Hearing this, Mumei, who was sitting up high, stopped swinging her fair, slender legs.
"Eh...?"
Ayame was startled. She turned to look at Mika's exquisite profile and seemed to understand something. She shook her head with a bitter smile. "I... I do not believe a small Koutetsujou can hold you. Those Kabane are no obstacle to you at all. The reason you have not left must be because you have your own goals. Once you achieve them in the future, that will likely be the time we part ways."
"You are very clear-headed. So you should also understand that the person who will continue to lead the people of the Koutetsujou to survive successfully in the future is not me."
Mika picked up the master key. She had no intention of returning it to its original owner yet. She looked at the golden key in her hand. "I will look after this key for you temporarily. Note that you must find a way to ask for it back before I give it away or lose it."
"...But what must I do to reclaim the master key from your hands?"
"Come find me when you have become a qualified leader."
"You truly are a gentle person."
Ayame understood now. A flash of determination crossed her eyes as she answered solemnly, "I will work hard to fulfill the expectations you have for me and lead everyone on the Koutetsujou to survive. I will ensure that when you return, you will still see familiar faces."
"Just talking won't do. From now on, I will not interfere in your decisions. If you make a mistake in judgment, I will not clean up your mess."
Mika gave a satisfied smile. She was pleased with Ayame's answer.
Although she might leave this world in two years, she might come back for a look later.
If Ayame and the others were all gone the moment she left, she would be quite frustrated.
Ayame indeed possessed the talent to be a leader. In the original story, when everyone was hesitant, she decisively stood up to back Ikoma and Mumei.
Ultimately, it was through her intervention that the people on the Koutetsujou accepted them.
"I look forward to seeing how far you can grow."
Mika stood up and took Quis ut Deus from her backpack module. Holding it in her hand, she walked outward. "But before that, I will first deal with a group of uninvited guests for you."
As she spoke, the moment the Koutetsujou entered a tunnel, the Kabane waiting atop the tunnel entrance leaped down with all their might.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The dull thuds of heavy objects landing on the roof hit the Koutetsujou like raindrops.
When the hideous faces of the Kabane appeared in everyone's sight, the rear carriages immediately erupted with the sounds of a panicked crowd.
As Mika stepped out of the cockpit, a sudden rush of wind came from above her head.
A Kabane bared its foul, sharp teeth, coiled its legs against a corner of the carriage, and sprang. Whoosh! Like a stone fired from a slingshot, it reached the pink-haired girl in the blink of an eye.
'I have no desire to let you touch me, not even as a corpse.'
Mika's brows furrowed slightly. She swiftly tilted her body to dodge the Kabane's pounce and raised her right foot, encased in white silk, to kick forcefully at its heart.
Whoosh—Bang!
The Kabane was sent flying instantly, smashing heavily against the stone wall inside the tunnel and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Other positions are hard to handle for now. I'll wait until the Koutetsujou exits the tunnel before climbing up to deal with them one by one."
Mika scanned the pitch-black tunnel and decided to wait patiently for a moment.
"I'll help too!"
Mumei quickly jumped down, drawing her two beloved red short guns and moving to Mika's side.
Ayame was not idle either. She used the loudspeaker in the cockpit to notify the samurai in all carriages to take up defensive positions and soothe the panicked crowd.
"Mama, is what Lady Ayame said true?"
"It's true. I believe that under Lady Mika's protection, we will all be fine."
A mother held her six-year-old daughter, gently patting her back to comfort her.
The second the Koutetsujou emerged from the tunnel, dense gunfire suddenly erupted above their heads.
Then, in less than five seconds, the restless Kabane on the roof suddenly went silent.