Love Letter From The Future
Chapter 408: Interlude: Gold and Silver (13)

Chapter 408: Interlude: Gold and Silver (13)

0% Even after the war ended, the North was still in turmoil.

First, the very fact that the land—once covered by the Flesh Monster—had been significantly devastated. More than half of the vast coniferous forests had been swept away, and those who had made that land their home were inevitably thrown into hardship.

The coniferous forest was the North’s treasure trove of life.

It wasn’t just a source of firewood; rare mosses and medicinal herbs grew there as well. Many of the villages depended on it for their livelihood.

Even despite the dangers such as Demonic Beasts or hostile elves lurking nearby.

Rather, the existence of Demonic Beasts attracted the attention of Beast Hunters. Some villages even served as outposts for them.

In this way, the coniferous forest was one of the cornerstones of the North’s economy.

And now, that place was utterly destroyed.

Worse still, the elves who once lived there were thrown into utter chaos. With the trees that once provided them shelter now gone, they too had no choice but to take action in some way.

Such potential threats inevitably led to tension and rigidity among the common people.

Though the strong leadership of the House of Yurdina managed to keep things together somehow, the mood of the North’s populace was grim.

Of course, it wasn’t really my problem to worry about.

In fact, the worse the mood among the people, the better—it would only give the Imperial Family more reason to intervene.

I believed in Senior Delphine’s leadership.

I believed she could rebuild the collapsed industries of the North while properly establishing the authority of the Imperial Family.

But my own concerns lay elsewhere.

“Aviang, are you staying here?”

“Yes, that’s the plan.”

That was the answer I expected.

The reason Aviang had been staying around the Academy was because of her mission—to spy on the trends of human society.

Now that her purpose had been fulfilled, returning was only natural.

Or, more precisely, it would be more appropriate to say it had become meaningless.

The war between humans and the elves was over.

There was no victor.

By driving the elves into the frigid North, humanity, who once dwelled there, had lost their homes.

And when it came to the elves, the damage was beyond measure.

In such circumstances, there was no reason to continue her covert work.

Rather, she had to shoulder another role.

“After all, the elves still don’t understand human society well. It will take them a long time to adapt. But since I’ve spent many years among humans......”

“You’re also the least hostile among the elves.”

Aviang hesitated for a moment at my words before breaking into a wry smile.

I too, also found myself smiling, just like Aviang.

It reminded me of our first meeting.

To think that bratty kid who once called humans an inferior species will now serve as a bridge between humans and elves.

It was a change that had occurred in just a few months.

It was hard to believe, but the proof was right before my eyes.

“....Yes, that’s right.”

Just that one phrase carried the determination not to harbor hatred toward humanity any longer—or at least to try not to in the future.

And that alone was enough.

I felt that the days I had spent running around to save Aviang were not in vain.

At one point, I thought I heard someone grumbling discontentedly somewhere, but I deliberately ignored it.

It was a heartwarming atmosphere.

The conversation naturally turned to checking in on one another.

“Come to think of it, how’s your sister?”

“Fortunately, she’s receiving help from the Church of the Heavenly God—especially from the Saintess... She said, um, that Sir Ian introduced her.”

“You should be thankful to the Saintess rather than to me; even with her busy schedule, she managed to spare time to see Betty.”

To Aviang—who was fidgeting and nervously watching me—I said in a playful tone:

“Besides, aren’t we practically family? Your little sister is like my little sister too—”

“WHO’S YOUR LITTLE SISTER?!”

That was when an ear-splitting cry—too loud to ignore any longer—suddenly burst out.

I let out a sigh and turned.

There, clinging to my arm and growling, was none other than—

My little sister, Ria Percus.

She came to find me just a few minutes ago.

I wanted to send her away since this was a rare chance to meet Aviang alone, but Ria was already too worked up.

In other words, she couldn’t be controlled with words.

I could overpower her physically, sure.

But ever since the Corpse Giant Incident, Ria’s awakened physical prowess was no joke.

Even I’d get caught off guard if I wasn’t paying attention.

If I really wanted to subdue her, I’d have to use mana.

But who could bring themselves to go that far against their adorable little sister?

In the end, I had no choice but to accept her tantrum.

“Oppa only has one little sister, and that’s me! How the hell can that elf possibly be his little sister?!”

“Yes, yes.”

I patted Ria’s head to show I heard her.

Even then, she refused to calm down. Only after I pressed her head down did I barely manage to stop her from yelling again.

Aviang could only give an awkward smile at this comical situation.

“Um, you must be... his little sister, right?”

“That’s right!”

Ria jumped up again and answered.

If she had a tail, it would already be stiffly pointed at the sky by now.

It was an expression full of wariness.

No doubt, she was a sister with a serious case of possessiveness.

“You’re that elf who tagged along with my Oppa, huh? I heard how much trouble he went through because of you... Do you know how devastated I was when I heard that?!”

“Ria, please.....”

I covered my face with both hands in resignation.

Of course, Ria wasn’t the type to stop just because of that.

“I’ll let it slide just this once for my Oppa’s sake, but if I hear even a whisper about you causing him trouble again—I’ll use every means at my disposal to utterly destroy—!”

“Um... I’m over a hundred years old, you know.”

It was a sudden confession.

Ria couldn’t help but pause at Aviang’s words.

A girl who looked barely in her late teens was over a hundred years old—it must be hard to comprehend.

She probably had knowledge of the fact.

Elves were a race that lived for more than 500 years, so their perception of age couldn’t be the same as that of humans.

But hearing it directly from the person herself was another matter entirely.

The concept of ‘100 years’ that she knew only conceptually had now become a reality.

While Ria fell silent, Aviang asked with a sly smile,

“Then, how could I possibly be his little sister? And tell me—do humans really form such friendly relationship with their elders? You’re using informal language right from the first meeting.”

“No, w-well... you see......”

Confusion began to cloud Ria’s golden eyes.

The other person had lived for over a hundred years. Naturally, she would be an elder—but that’s only thinking by human standards, isn’t it?

By elven standards, Aviang was still a youngster.

She hadn’t even lived half of half a lifetime yet.

But then again, 100 years was too long to dismiss so easily.

Even Ria’s grandparents probably weren’t that old.

A confused mind bred hesitation.

Ria’s eyes, which had been in a highly agitated state, began to spin wildly. It was an unusual reaction for the clever Ria.

I thought about mediating at this point, but quickly decided against it.

Ria’s flustered state was rather cute, and I was also pleased to see Aviang’s newfound maturity.

The past few weeks had truly transformed her into a responsible adult.

In the past, the first thing she would have done was grab Ria by the hair.

It was a truly touching scene.

“I’m not staying just for myself. I’m not foolish enough to not recognize the debt I owe Sir Ian. I suspect the elves in the coniferous forest are hiding a lot of information.”

“Information?”

”Information that Leoric and his group obtained while cooperating with the Dark Order.”

As soon as I heard those words, I fell into thought with a ‘hmm’.

Certainly, Leoric left me a warning as he died.

Archbishop Aindel.

If I recalled correctly, he was a figure from the Holy Nation.

I’d have to ask the Saintess for details, but an organization that had reached even the Empire’s Five Great Noble Houses wouldn’t have left the Holy Nation alone.

There must be some connection.

I had a feeling I’d be hearing that name for a long time.

“I never thought I’d be benefiting from the services of an elven spy.”

“After already working me to the bone.....”

Aviang grumbled, probably remembering her past hardships.

Of course, she wasn’t really complaining sincerely.

It should be seen as an attempt to reminisce about her memories with me.

I decided to gladly play along.

“But you worked me just as hard too. Hunting snow leopards, carrying lumber......”

“That was voluntary labor.”

She had a point.

The person who had once knocked out a couple of Aviang’s teeth had no right to say anything.

“......Alright, let’s leave it at that.”

A friendly atmosphere was created between us just like that.

Ria, of course, wasn’t the type to just sit by and watch this unfold.

She trembled with her hands tightly clenched.

She looked very frustrated.

However, at this point, I felt something was off.

No matter how worked up Ria got, she wasn’t the type to lose control of her emotions this much.

If she were that kind of person, she wouldn’t have been fit to lead a merchant group in the first place.

But why was she acting like this today?

Just as I was feeling somewhat puzzled.

“Anyway, the conversation is over. Oppa, let’s go back to the Academy right away.”

Aviang was starting to look a little uncomfortable at Ria’s pushiness.

She must not be feeling good either, having her intimate conversation with me interrupted.

Nevertheless, she seemed to exercise extreme patience as she cleared her throat and tried to calm herself.

Then her voice continued softly.

“Um, Little Sister? I’m sorry, but I need to have an important conversation with Sir lan separately.....”

“Stay out of this, Elder.”

Now it was Aviang’s turn to be on the receiving end.

Those two syllables—’Elder’—froze her in place.

It was her own doing.

However, since her words were a bit harsh, I was about to gently reprimand Ria.

If only Ria hadn’t dropped the main point before that.

“Celine Unnie has gone missing.”

I let out a strange, ‘Hmm’, and leaned back against my chair.

What was she talking about?

It took a few seconds for my mind to chew over Ria’s message word by word and comprehend it.

As soon as I realized the implications, my body shot up like a spring.

“Why are you telling me this now?!”

The reason Ria suddenly came to the North.

It was suddenly revealed at this moment.

A new crisis was looming.