Main Scenario/Trans-MS Race

MS Transcontinental Race Episode
23-1	Protagonist's Arrogance
23-2	Phony and Genuine
23-3	Suspicious Stepsister
23-4	Family Reunion
23-5	Trans-MS Race
23-6	Get Set, Go
23-7	The Usual Promises
23-8	Midnight Secret Talk
23-9	Running Monstrosity
23-10	The True Hero

After that... Once we were back on the train, we all decided to discuss our future plans.
Paddington	"--Trans Mt. S. Iris Race?"
Columbia	"Yes. It's a major event, held jointly by the five superpowers above ground and the five superpowers below, a total of ten countries."
Columbia	"Ostensibly, the purpose is to promote friendship between the surface and the underground."
Whisper	"Ah~ It's only recently that we've begun to interact with the underground world, there's still a lot of friction in-between."
Whisper	"It's necessary to have such social gatherings. When one comes into contact with a completely new culture, you have to be very good at it. If you don't do it very well, you might even start a war."
Whisper, who seems to be a dark elf from the Dark Continent, is somewhat deeply moved by this. In fact, there were tragic wars between her race, the dark elves, and ordinary elves in history.
Whisper	"The dark elves, who were completely violent barbarians, were hated and driven away because they were looting elven villages and so on- Or something like that."
Whisper	"That was a long time ago, nowadays we don't know how to make contact with other cultures."
Columbia	"Yes. All the countries are surrounded by the Mist, both above and below ground. We were so busy trying to fight the Mist that we didn't have time to explore new lands."
Columbia	"That's why there has been no major rewriting of the world map since ancient times, until recently."
Dr. Gloria	"That's right. The world has expanded very rapidly since the development of the Mist Train, which can break through the Mist and travel around the world."
Dr. Gloria	"Hmmhmm. Perhaps that's why our mum built the train. For the development of mankind and for a brighter future."
Columbia	"Well, I agree. I'm sure she made something much more meaningful than just weapons- Ricardo, or whoever she's called, the inventor of the Mist Train."
Columbia	"However. As the world expands in this way, it also brings a hundred new problems. Diplomacy issues, refugees, epidemics, you name it."
Columbia	"In order to solve those problems, the ten major countries, above and below ground, have to work together."
Dr. Gloria	"Yes. We are partners fighting the Phantom Mist, our common enemy, and we should join forces. If we cannibalize each other, we will all fall together."
Columbia	"Despite being our enemy in the past, you are very convincing when you say it. I mean, really, you're just a good girl."
Dr. Gloria	"Eh? Oh, is that so? Ehehe...♪"
Dr. Gloria	"Wait no, We the Doggan Gang are an evil organisation! We are not good kids!"
Woking	"May I stroke you for a moment?"
Dr. Gloria	"Why?"
Whisper	"Glorii~n. In case you forgot, we've reformed and are now partners with the SSS. You should be careful of what you say, OK?"
Dr. Gloria	"Awawa, you're right!? Sorry, we're good kids! We fight for justice!"
Columbia	"Eh, that's fine. Everyone has their own true intentions and their own pretexts."
Columbia	"Of course, this event - the Trans-MS Race - has a front and back story."
Columbia	"As I said before, the front is to deepen the friendship between the surface and the underground. The back is the investigation of the subterranean universe of Iris Metro."
Columbia	"We will travel around Metro St Iris, the center of the subterranean universe, to investigate the geography and culture. At the same time, we'll look at the capital's economical and military strength, the capabilities of the other subterranean countries, and much more."
Columbia	"Furthermore. We will demonstrate our surface's superior technological capabilities. In the future, the surface universe side will have the upper hand when it comes to negotiations."
Conductor	That sounds fishy. I'd like to keep the SSS as far away from that kind of politics as possible.
Columbia	"Yes. I think that's fine with you. I, your future wife, will take care of everything so that you can do as you wish. I will take care of all the hassles."
Columbia	"Leave the politics to me. For this reason, I have the title of Honorary Brigadier General of the Order of St. Iris, I was born with the best and most perfect abilities."
Woking	"In fact, the President has done a lot of hard work for the SSS. I don't mean to ingratiate her, but please don't hate her too much.
Columbia	"You should not be saying anything, Woking."
Woking	"What~? Why? Are you ashamed that people think you're actually a nice person?"
Columbia	"Because I don't act entirely out of the goodness of my heart either. If I decide that the SSS is not worthy of being the heroes who will save the world, I will crush them and replace them immediately."
Columbia	"If you ever feel that being a hero is too much work and you want to quit, tell me immediately."
Conductor	I have no intention of doing so at the moment. If we were defeated by a great evil and fall, however, I want you to protect the world instead - Columbia.
Columbia	"You will not be defeated, I will stand behind you."
Columbia	"That's why we're competing in the Trans-MS race."
Paddington	"What do you mean...?"
Columbia	"How can you be the Conductor's partner if you don't understand what's going on?"
Paddington	"Hawawa! You're saying I'm a partner of...♪"
Conductor	Paddington has been acting strangely from time to time recently.
Woking	"Haha, Sire's a guilty man too."
Columbia	"Cut the unnecessary chatter, we're having a serious conversation."
Colombia, who for some reason became grumpy on her own accord, continued talking while sipping tea brewed by the Doggan Gang.
Columbia	"We're looking for contestants from all over the world for the Trans-MS race. Contestants can run on their own two feet, or they can even use vehicles, such as horses or trains."
Dr. Gloria	"Eeeeeh? Of course the train is going to win! This train is the best vehicle ever made by our mum."
Woking	"That's the interesting thing about racing, it's not always a beeline. Performance of the vehicle isn't everything, the result is always some matter of luck."
Columbia	"You like these, don't you?"
Woking	"Yes. If the situation allows, I would have enjoyed it as a spectator- No, it would be fun to compete. If I make full use of my shadow crossing ability, I might be able to compete fairly well."
Dr. Gloria	"Oh, if you can move from shadow to shadow, you can always move to the shadow of the fastest person or vehicle, then you've got a reasonable chance of winning."
Whisper	"There was a Nishikese story about that. Was it the Zodiac mythos?"
Dr. Gloria	"Whisper, did you know a lot about Nishiki?"
Whisper	"Well, I interacted with a lot of people in prison. The Ezo Prison, where I was, is in Nishiki after all, so I got to know a lot more about that side of the prison."
Dr. Gloria	"Hmmhmm. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed prison life more than you thought. I'm relieved."
Columbia	"Don't make me repeat it. Don't chit-chat when I'm talking."
Columbia	"Well, be that as it may - I'm assuming that the fake Mist Train in question is going to appear in the Tran-MS Race."
Paddington	"Eh? Is that right? I don't think the culprit would be showing themselves in the midst of such international revelry...?"
Columbia	"Shallow. Our enemies are not ordinary culprits, likely it is a monster created by a Phantom Mist. Based on previous sightings of the fake Mist Train, I have a theory."
Columbia	"The fake Mist Train has so far been seen in places where more people congregate, that's why there have been so many sightings. It's causing a lot of reputational damage to the real Mist Train."
Dr. Gloria	"I see. Is the fake Mist Train a show-off?"
Columbia	"Yes. That's why you and your Doggan Gang were the first suspects to come to our attention. You girls should be more shameful of your criminal activities."
Dr. Gloria	"Hmmhmm♪ the Doggan Gang have nothing to be ashamed of to anyone! We do bad things, fair and square, with flamboyance!"
Whisper	"You're fundamentally unsuited to be a criminal~ my dear♪"
Bright	"That is what is so endearing about my Master. What a tease she is when she tries so hard to do something that doesn't suit her nature."
Whisper	"It makes us want to cheer her on~♪"
Paddington	"Mmm-hmm. I see~ Back on topic, if that's the case, it would make sense to hold the Trans-MS Race, which is likely to attract a large audience."
Columbia	"Yes. This event is a trap, a bait to catch the fake Mist Train. It will lure the enemy to us and we crush it."
Columbia	"Incidentally, the fake Mist Train is often spotted from the top of a running vehicle. Apparently this phony is attracted to things with speed."
Paddington	"Hawawa. If that's the case, it seems only fitting then that we should have a need for speed."
Columbia	"Yeah, and the fake Mist Train seem to have a strong attraction to faster vehicles, so- We, the SSS, should also participate in the Trans-MS Race by train."
Columbia	"Then we'll take out the phony Mist Train we lured out. That will solve everything."
Paddington	"I see. That's great, Miss Columbia. You've made the perfect move so quickly."
Columbia	"Of course, who do you think I am?"
Columbia	"I'd like to say. The idea of a Trans-MS Race has actually been around for a while. It's just that this time - it seemed to work, so we made use of it."
Whisper	"Like the Nishikese saying, 'a horse from a gourd', eh?"
Columbia	"Hmm. If we make this Trans-MS Race a tradition, the participating countries will develop vehicles for future events, and maybe one day we'll have a vehicle that's as good as this Train."
Columbia	"If that happens, the Mist Train will be pulled down from its heroic position. And when that happens, I will be on the world stage as a hero in full force."
Columbia	"Just like that, the only person I care of is myself. Don't make the mistake of thinking that I am always on your side. If you're not careful, I'll have your heads on a spike."
Dr. Gloria	"Hmm. I don't think you're a bad person at all if you say such things so honestly♪"

MS Transcontinental Race Episode
23-1	Protagonist's Arrogance
23-2	Phony and Genuine
23-3	Suspicious Stepsister
23-4	Family Reunion
23-5	Trans-MS Race
23-6	Get Set, Go
23-7	The Usual Promises
23-8	Midnight Secret Talk
23-9	Running Monstrosity
23-10	The True Hero