CHAPTER 47: CHAPTER 47 – GATE CAPITAL (PART 1)

Chapter 47 – Gate Capital (Part 1)

"What is it?" Zane asked, narrowing his eyes slightly as he studied the girl in front of him. Something in her body language was off—tense, hesitant. She looked like she’d been holding something in for a while.

Elizabeth shifted her weight, biting her lower lip. Then, after a sharp breath, she finally looked up and met his gaze.

"I wanted to thank you," she said softly. "If you hadn’t pulled me away when you did... I would’ve died."

Her voice trembled as the words escaped her lips, and a visible shudder ran through her body at the memory. The image of the monster lunging at her—paralysis in her limbs, that cold flash of terror—was clearly still fresh in her mind.

Zane lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable. "No need to thank me," he muttered. "I saved you because I could."

The words came out colder than he intended. Deep down, gratitude felt alien to him. Praise, kindness, even recognition—none of that was something he was used to. All his life, the reactions he got were confusion, disdain, or pity. Hearing genuine appreciation only made his skin crawl with discomfort.

Still, he could sense Elizabeth wasn’t finished.

He sighed, closing the status panel floating beside him. "Is there something else you wanted to say?"

"Mmm..." She fidgeted.

"Out with it," he prompted, this time more gently.

"It’s... hard to explain," she said, lowering her voice. "Zane, I haven’t told many people this. Actually, hardly anyone. My Stigma... it lets me see things that others can’t."

Zane’s brow rose slightly, but he stayed silent waiting for the girl to continue speaking.

Elizabeth hesitated for a second, then sat down across from him, resting her hands in her lap. "I don’t fully understand what it means myself, but... have you noticed anything strange about the conductor?"

"The conductor?" Zane echoed, frowning. "He’s a little odd, sure. But he’s clearly powerful. Nothing beyond that."

She shook her head. "Not his power. I mean... his behavior."

Zane leaned forward a little, his eyes narrowing. ’Where is she going with this?’

"I-I don’t think he’s... human," she said at last, her voice almost a whisper. "Or at least, not completely."

Zane blinked. "What?"

"When I tried to use my ability on him, I..." she paused, searching for the words.

But just then, the door to the wagon creaked open.

Both of them went silent immediately.

The conductor entered, pushing a cart stacked with trays of warm food. His expression, as always, was calm, placid, emotionless.

"My apologies for the late meal," he said, stopping near their table. "Please, enjoy."

Elizabeth visibly shrank back. Zane, meanwhile, kept his eyes locked on the man, studying every gesture, every subtle tick of expression—or lack thereof.

The conductor turned to Emilio. "Mr. Emilio. Would you please take a seat?"

"Tsk. I’m just making sure no more monsters attack this train," Emilio grumbled, arms crossed.

"I am certain there will be no further incidents before we reach the destination," the conductor replied smoothly. "Please, relax."

Emilio gave him a long, hard stare. For a fleeting moment, something icy pricked at the back of his neck. He didn’t know why, but every fiber of his being screamed that something was wrong with this man.

"...Fine," Emilio muttered as he finally sat down.

"Enjoy your meal." With that, the conductor turned around and exited the wagon, the door clicking shut behind him.

The air remained tense long after he left.

Zane stared at the door. ’He walked in just when Elizabeth was about to say something important. Coincidence?’ His instincts buzzed with unease.

"Zane?" Elizabeth whispered.

"Hold on." Zane stood up and quietly opened the door, peeking out into the corridor.

Empty.

No sign of the conductor.

’He vanished... Could he been truly... No, it has to be... he’s been listening this entire time.’ Zane closed the door gently and returned to his seat.

Sitting closer this time, he leaned in and whispered, "I think he can hear us from the control room. We shouldn’t talk here. Wait until we reach Gate Capital. Then, you can tell me what you saw."

Elizabeth nodded quietly. "Mm... O-okay."

Zane picked up his spoon, eyeing the steaming plate in front of him. But after a moment of hesitation, he let the spoon clatter back onto the tray.

’I’m not in the mood for food. I smell like a butcher shop.’ The scent clung to him like guilt, and though he wasn’t particularly squeamish, the aftermath of the battle still hovered over him.

What surprised him, though, was that he didn’t feel revulsion.

He expected to be sick after killing the Cluser Spider. After all, it had once been human. He thought he’d be haunted by the image of his blade piercing through its hide, by the sound of its dying breath.

But none of that came.

Instead, he felt... something else.

Strength.

Pure, intoxicating strength. When he struck the killing blow, when the power surged into him through the system’s strange design, it didn’t feel like murder. It felt like victory. A reward. The feeling lingered in his blood like a drug.

He looked down at his hand, flexing his fingers.

’This power... it’s real. Addictive. The more I kill, the stronger I get.’

And yet, deep beneath that thought, another realization settled into him.

’The conductor... he’s on a whole different level. His presence alone is enough to send shivers down my spine. But... That glimpse of power he showed is just... The ceiling for power must be way higher than I thought. So Knights can really get THAT strong... It was never an exaggeration when they said that their powers can truly destroy entire worlds.’

Zane leaned back slightly, lips curling into a faint, cold smile.

’Good. That means I still have a long way to grow. And when I do... nothing will stop me. Not the people who ruined my life. Not the ones who killed my mother. No one.’

He clenched his fist.

’They’ll pay. I’ll make sure of it.’

A quiet chuckle slipped from his lips.

"Haha..."

Elizabeth’s head rose up suddenly. "Zane?"

"Hm?"

"Are... you okay??"

He turned to her. "Yeah. Why?"

"It’s just..." She hesitated. "You’ve been talking to yourself..." Her eyes flashed with myriads of emotions as if she had just heard something shocking.

Zane blinked. For a second, her eyes looked like they were staring right through him, peeling back his thoughts layer by layer. The sensation made him shiver, though he couldn’t say why.

"Hey, Elizabeth," he said suddenly, voice low.

"Y-Yes?"

"Earlier, you said your Stigma lets you see what others can’t. What exactly does that mean? What’s your Stigma?"

She laced her fingers together tightly, visibly uncomfortable.

"You don’t have to tell me," Zane said quickly. "If it’s too personal, I get it. I’m keeping mine a secret too."

Elizabeth stared at him, surprised by the gentleness in his voice. That made her tense shoulders ease up as she exhaled a long breath.

"No... I want to tell you. I just hope you don’t judge me."

"Judge you?"

She looked up at him, her voice barely above a whisper.

"My Stigma... lets me read minds."