Love Letter From The Future-Chapter 340: Bread and Dagger (38)

The hatchet deflected by Sir Alex’s sword spun wildly through the air.

It didn’t remain aloft for long; it returned to my hand soon enough..

I, once again, let out a troubled sigh—Hoo.

“Sir Alex, we need to gather intel.”

I cast a glance at the elven woman whose hair I had been gripping.

She was gazing at the elven man and Sir Alex with a bewildered expression.

Finally, I let go of her hair and tossed her aside.

Slowly, I straightened my posture..

“The more mouths we have, the better... Isn’t that common sense?”

Sir Alex let out a quiet hum, swallowing his thoughts as he silently gazed at me.

He stood still for a moment and then, with a faint smile, sheathed his sword.

“You still have compassion, young master. But soon, you will come to understand.”

With a faint shling sound, Sir Alex turned away as he slid his blade into its sheath.

He was entrusting the fate of the remaining elves entirely to me.

Relieved by his unexpectedly compliant attitude, I sighed inwardly.

“...the North really isn’t as warm as the East”

As if I didn’t know already.

In this place, where every breath freezes into a white mist before dissipating,

How hard it is to survive in this living hell, where even tears and blood serve as nourishment, staining the plants and moss a reddish hue.

Now, escorting the prisoners was the only task left.

The interrogation would take place back at the camp—not just the official questioning by the Yurdina army but also a secret interrogation with the presence of Senior Neris.

Leaving the groaning elven woman behind, I hung the hatchet at my waist. Then, I whispered to Aviang, who was still standing there in a daze.

“...Aviang.”

Startled, she flinched and looked at me.

Her eyes were filled with so many emotions that it was hard to read her true feelings.

So I left her with the only words that needed to be said.

“Don’t act rashly.”

It was the best advice I could offer.

And for the weak, it was also the only way to survive.

With a single phrase that was once my unshakable golden rule, our journey back was decided.

Capturing three elves alive was an excellent outcome for our first reconnaissance mission.

By the way, the first elf I subdued was on the verge of death.

I seemed to have used a bit too much strength..

Still, I treated him with a healing potion afterward, so I figured I’d done my part.

After all, I could get healing potions for free from Senior Delphine anyway.

This was my first encounter with elves.

The northern sky remained as overcast as ever, even the sunlight being so scattered that it resembled mist.

***“Are you here to take the academy’s preliminary exam?”

It was early afternoon, with clear skies and sunlight that was still a bit overwhelming.

Three women, all with looks that would turn heads wherever they went, gathered together.

They sat at a table shaded by the roof of a teahouse in front of the academy’s central avenue.

The woman who just posed the question had amber eyes. She was leaning back in her chair, noisily sipping through a straw.

At a glance, it was hard to tell the speaker from the listener by appearance alone, both having black hair and yellow-hued eyes.

Their atmospheres, however, were entirely different.

The woman who asked the question had her nape exposed, her neatly tied-back hair swaying in a ponytail.

At a glance, she gave off a lively impression.

In contrast, the woman being questioned had long hair that cascaded down to her hips. Her pale skin gave off a frail impression to those who saw her.

Their names were, respectively, Celine Haster and Ria Percus.

At Celine’s question, Ria nodded with a somewhat weary expression.

“Yes, to be exact, it’s part of the preparation process for the entrance exam. The academy’s business department is notorious for assigning all sorts of bizarre tasks. So it’s not uncommon for people to settle here months in advance.”

“And where did you get the money for that? I heard your trading company went under.”

“An anonymous benefactor provided financial support...”

It was a modest reply, but Celine didn’t seem convinced at all, her skeptical gaze turning towards Ria..

.

She, of course, didn’t budge, flashing a gentle smile instead.

“So, where is my dearest brother?”

“The North.”

Perhaps thinking it wasn’t something to hide, Celine tossed out the answer.

Doubt filled Ria’s eyes.

Officially, the fact that Ian went to the North was kept a secret. There was no need to make it public, since it was a covert operation.

However, anyone with the right connections already knew about it.

The group used the warp gate, passed through the center of Yurdina City and even stayed overnight at the Yurdina Castle.

It was impossible for rumors about them not to spread.

It was just that no one openly spoke of it.

Had she waited a few more days, Ria would likely have learned of it..

But in her eagerness to see her brother, she had come to the Academy too early, which proved to be a misstep.

Cautiously glancing around, Celina then lowered her voice to explain the situation as best as she could.

“Senior Yurdina... You know, the next head of the Yurdina family? I’m talking about Seria’s older sister. That Senior asked Ian for help. Apparently, there’s been something unusual about the elves’ movements lately.”

It was an explanation given to the best of her ability, but Ria didn’t seem the least bit convinced.

Instead, Ria retorted with even deeper suspicion.

“What? How long has it been since he almost died?”

“Hmm, about a month, maybe?”

Her tone was surprisingly calm.

Or perhaps it wasn’t calmness at all, but the resignation of someone who had already given up. That seemed evident in Celine’s drained expression as she spoke.

It wasn’t her first time dealing with something like this.

Gradually, Celine was coming to realize just how important Ian was—and more than that, how immense the responsibilities he bore truly were.

In fact, every time she came to that realization, it made her stomach churn.

Her own inadequacies felt like a blade twisting in her gut.

She couldn’t share his burden even if she wanted to. That’s why, lately, Celine had been immersing herself in training day and night.

Because she, somehow, wanted to stand by Ian’s side again.

But this was something limited to Celine alone.

On the other hand, whenever Ian was involved, Ria lost all sense of reason.There was no way she’d accept such an explanation.

The girl’s temper flared, and her voice rose sharply.

“What? Isn’t that just shameless?! After everything my brother’s been through... Sending someone who almost died back to the battlefield?! And you just stood there and let it happen, Celine Eonni?!”

“Hey, hey, calm down. It’s not like I didn’t have anything to say about it...”

“I’m going to lodge an official complaint to the Yurdina family!”

Unable to contain her fury, Ria’s body trembled as she spat out the words.

By then, her golden eyes were blazing with a fierce determination.

“From what I can see, there must have been some kind of coercion or threat involved! I mean, it’s my Oppa, we’re talking about. There’s no way he’d volunteer to go to such a dangerous place! Maybe that next head of the Yurdina family seduced my innocent brother or something...”

“Yes, that would be my sister you’re talking about.”

The voice that cut in was laced with unmistakable coldness.

Its tone was so cold that Ria, who had been fuming moments ago, involuntarily flinched. Her wide golden eyes turned toward its source.

It was Seria, the girl with silver-gray hair, faintly smiling.

For someone like her , whose expression rarely changed, that smile was a rare sight. Yet, somehow, it didn’t feel like a good sign.

Ria felt a cold sweat trickle down her back.

“Are you implying that my sister would do such a thing, miss? My sister, who always walked the path of victory through rational and sound judgment, commanding the admiration of the wise and her vassals alike—what exactly are you accusing her of?”

“Th-That is... I didn’t mean she actually did that...”

Ria was a merchant by nature.

She had rarely, if ever, faced the genuine killing intent of a true swordsman—let alone after making such careless and disrespectful remarks.

She couldn’t help but shrink back.

Even so, she couldn’t let go of her last shred of defiance.

“I-I’m just saying we can’t completely rule out the possibility...”

This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.

Of course, her defiance didn’t last long.

It was because an illusion of a shadow seemed to loom behind Seria. Ria trusted her primal instincts.

Before long, her head was slammed onto the table.

“I’m sorry! I got too worked up and misspoke!”

“Alright, I’ll let it slide this time, since you’re Senior Ian’s little sister.”

Seria replied without wiping the smile off her face.

The unwavering response made Ria let out a faint groan.

She hadn’t realized it back at the Percus Manor, but this girl was dangerous.

Though she appeared calm and collected, when it came to certain topics, she was incredibly sensitive.. If Ria wasn’t careful, she might end up facing unexpected trouble.

Looking at Ria’s sorry state, Celine let out a small sigh, as if she had expected this all along, and then smoothly changed the topic.

“So, what kind of business are you planning to do?”

Not being one to miss an opportunity, Ria immediately lifted her head and began to explain.

“A-Ahh! So, well... I’m planning to work with products related to demonic beasts. They’ve been getting pretty popular lately, especially starting in the capital, right? The idea is to gradually ease people’s aversion to demonic beasts and turn them into a sort of trendy item...”

“De-Demonic beasts?!”

Celine’s eyes instantly lit up. When it came to demonic beast meat, she was helplessly weak.

Encouraged by her enthusiastic response, Ria went on and on about her plan. How she had been planning it for some time, but the trading company had gone bankrupt just before it could be realized, and so on.

And how she already had all the distribution networks and other necessary connections ready.

Of course, to Seria, it was information that didn’t interest her in the slightest.

She merely sipped her tea, resting her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

My sister, seducing Senior Ian with her body?

Pffftt, a small scoff escaped the girl’s lips.

As if that could happen.

They were two people she loved and respected dearly.

Such a catastrophe could never happen.

But if, by any chance, it did happen?

Even the mere thought was so repulsive that Seria almost gagged.

No, that could never happen.

Absolutely not.

***Meanwhile, after escorting the elves to the camp, Ian headed to his tent. He intended to close his eyes and rest for a while.

The elves needed treatment. Only after receiving permission from the Saintess could they proceed with a proper interrogation.

However, the real problem lay elsewhere.

Ian opened his eyes to the sound of rustling. He had been so deeply asleep that he hadn’t even noticed someone entering his tent.

Still, no matter how tired he was, he should have noticed..

Ian was a skilled fighter who had reached the level of an Expert. He should have been able to wake at even the slightest disturbance.

And yet, when he opened his eyes, a suspicious figure was already in his line of sight. Someone was already straddling his waist.

Judging by the soft, supple sensation pressing against him, it was undoubtedly a woman.

Ian could just barely deduce her identity in the faint light.

Flowing brown hair and eyes resembling blue sapphires.

It was ‘Elsie Rinella.’

Startled, he raised his voice.

“Wha—Senior Elsie! What in the world are you doing...!”

“Q-Quiet!”

But Elsie didn’t seem entirely in her right mind.

Her trembling hands fumbled over his torso. It looked like she was trying to undress him, but lacking any experience with men, her movements were awkward and inefficient.

At this rate, it seemed she’d still be struggling to undress him by morning.

Elsie’s eyes were already spinning in circles—a clear sign of how flustered she was.

“I-It’s all your fault... Why, why am I the only one who can’t?!”

Catching the faint scent of alcohol on her breath, Ian squeezed his eyes shut.

Ah, damn these drinking habits.

He resolved to impose a strict ban on alcohol among his companions for the remainder of their time in the North.

But first, he had to get through this crisis.

Or was it an opportunity?

Ian was a bit confused.