Love Letter From The Future
Chapter 419: Proof of Existence (7)

Chapter 419: Proof of Existence (7)

0% The rhythmic clatter of hooves added to the thrill of the journey.

Leaving the city behind, we entered the outskirts where unfamiliar scenery and passersby greeted our carriage. Unlike in the Empire, the sentries here wore gray uniforms, each bearing a cross on their chest.

Truth be told, I’d never set foot outside the Empire before.

I was merely the second son of a rural viscount not long ago. There was no reason for me to visit a foreign land nor did I have the luxury to do so while immersed in my training. After entering the Academy, I struggled just to keep up with the rigorous curriculum.

I also never felt a strong urge to go abroad. I assumed that all cities would look more or less the same anyway.

But I finally get it now that I arrived in the Holy Nation.

The reason people say that one must travel in order to expand one’s perspective.

From the architectural styles to the language and customs—everything was different. Though I had known this in theory,experiencing it firsthand left me somewhat dazed.

Yuren, who was sitting beside me on the driver’s seat, turned to ask,

“Ian, do you speak the language of the Holy Nation?”

“Siendel, right? That was actually my primary foreign language at the Academy.”

Yuren let out a sigh of relief. Although it was his hometown he was returning to after a long time, his expression had been displeased throughout.

Clearly, he wasn’t happy about this sudden trip to the Holy Nation.

Understandable—he already lost much of his training time traveling with me. And he was now being roped again into volunteer work at the orphanage, so there was no way he could be in a good mood.

One way or another, Yuren loved swords.

“That’s a relief at least. The kids at the orphanage don’t understand the Imperial language at all.”

“Why would they need to?”

“Why not? It’d be incredibly useful... At the very least, they wouldn’t have to starve when they leave the orphanage. That’s why we even hired a teacher for them.”

Yuren clicked his tongue with a Tch. Clearly his educational investments weren’t paying off.

“Anyway, my sister is too impatient. Who gives just a week’s notice for something like this?”

I could only offer an awkward smile in response.

After all, I wasn’t entirely blameless either. Strictly speaking, this was my future self’s fault—but I still bore some moral responsibility too.

He acted to help me. This situation was a result of that, so I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

Or... was he really trying to help me?

As I was pondering deeply like that when Yuren spoke again.

“If anything’s bothering you, just let me know. You’re a guest, so I’ll treat you properly.”

Although his tone was a little gruff, I could feel the consideration for me in those words.

I had to swallow a bitter smile at those words.

“Just sitting here in the driver’s seat is enough for me.”

*Kuh—*Then a laugh burst out.

Of course, the source was Yuren. He was now smiling as if it was ridiculous.

“Man, you really have it rough.”

There was a lot of meaning packed into that one sentence.

I turned my gaze to the scenery around me. The plains, transitioning from summer to autumn, were dotted with wildflowers. It was a peaceful sight.

Then, I glanced behind me.

The back of the carriage, where several people sat, was eerily silent. I had escaped to avoid that heavy atmosphere.

The mistake was letting the party grow larger than expected.

Bringing Ria was fine. It was understandable—after all, the Saintess wanted to introduce her family too. But the problem started after that.

Out of nowhere, Celine also expressed her intention on joining the trip to the Holy Nation.

Naturally, the Saintess had politely declined, but Celine’s reasoning had been utterly absurd.

“I’m practically Ian oppa’s family too, aren’t I?”

I wanted to say, What nonsense is that?—but at that moment, Celine was arm in arm with me. In other words, it meant she could put pressure on me anytime by tightening her arm.

I could have shaken her off if I wanted to.

But then, I recalled my conversation with Leto. His stinging remark about how I had been neglecting Celine lately was still fresh in my mind.

Also, Celine’s excuse bothered me.

‘Family,’ of all things, that word has been on my mind constantly these days.

In the end, with my implicit approval, Celine joined the trip. That was when the Saintess’s mood began to sour. And the final nail in the coffin that dropped her mood to rock bottom was Senior Elsie’s appearance.

She claimed it was a ‘coincidence,’ but I knew better.

To make matters worse, even she hadn’t expected Mr. Reynold’s appearance.

I could still clearly recall the moment he called me his ‘nephew-in-law’ and how the Saintess, Ria and Celine had all glared daggers at me, sending chills down my spine.

And, worst of all, Mr. Reynold had taken a seat in the back of the carriage.

He joined in the blink, so there was no time to stop him.

I muttered while trying to suppress the throbbing headache.

“Why the hell did Mr. Reynold come along......?”

“I’ve already given up trying to understand. Let me know if you figure it out.”

Even Yuren—who was an oddball among oddballs—had said this. I couldn’t make heads or tails of Mr. Reynold’s motives either.

In the end, I shook my head in frustration.

“Why are relationships so complicated? In battle, you just need to swing a hatchet well.”

“You handle relationships the same way too, y’know.”

I shot an annoyed glare at Yuren, but of course, he didn’t even bat an eye.

“At least you have it easier. Most of the people around you have goodwill toward you.”

“Are you talking about yourself?”

“No, about my sister. She has a lot of enemies in the Holy Nation.”

Hmmm, I swallowed and thought.

Come to think of it, right before Leoric died, he mentioned ‘Archbishop Aindel’. The Saintess had once before brought that name up as well.

I picked a question to get more detailed info.

“Archbishop Aindel?”

At that, Yuren’s gaze briefly shifted toward me. There was a hint of surprise in his eyes.

“Yeah, he’s one of them. My sister believes in a broader interpretation of doctrine, but the guy is the exact opposite.”

“Sounds like a rigid man.”

“He wasn’t always like that.”

I was about to respond but held my tongue as Yuren continued without pause.

“He changed after losing his son.”

“How did he die?”

“Doctrinal trial.”

In the silence, only the clattering sound of hooves echoed. We were almost at the orphanage now.

“Archbishop Aindel’s son sought forbidden knowledge. That’s why he died.”

I didn’t press for more details. Thus, the road led us straight to the orphanage.

To where a new incident surely awaited.

**

“Welcome, Saintess, Sir Ian, Hero of Humanity, and your esteemed companions.”

The person who greeted us as soon as we arrived at the orphanage was an elderly nun. Those wrinkles seemed to reveal years of dedication to the weak.

I awkwardly fumbled in response to the excessive title of ‘Hero of Humanity’ and felt a renewed sense of unfamiliarity as I looked around the orphanage.

It was incomparable to the Gilford Orphanage.

The facilities were excellent—and some of the buildings were newly constructed. There were plenty of orphans curiously watching us from all around, yet none of them looked malnourished or was poorly dressed.

As expected of an orphanage that managed to produce the Saintess.

Both the Saintess and Yuren had undoubtedly taken care of matters here but, beyond that, it was clear that the Holy Nation paid close attention. Of course, it was natural since the prestige of the Heavenly God Church was at stake.

Ria and Celine seemed startled by the unexpectedly neat environment.

“Unnie, this place might actually be better than my room?”

“Well, your room is full of things Ian oppa gave... Ugh?!”

In fact, Celine couldn’t even finish her sentiment properly because Ria pinched her side.

Meanwhile, the Saintess remained calm.

Although it was a place where childhood memories were piled up, she didn’t even show a hint of nostalgia. She just calmly looked around before asking the head nun.

“The head nun has changed. And the facilities are very different too.”

“Yes, the Holy Nation now directly manages this place. Many changes have come with that.”

The Saintess nodded, as if she had expected this and soon after, she exchanged common greetings.

“Are there any problems at the orphanage? Anything lacking.....”

“Oh my, of course not. This is where Your Holiness herself stayed. The blessings of the Heavenly God are indescribably abundant.”

It was truly a stereotypical courtesy.

The Saintess didn’t seem to want to continue this conversation either. Surely they could discuss something more practical.

It was then that I suddenly interrupted.

“Really, not a single problem?”

It was a hastily thrown question.

Because my voice was somewhat loud, everyone’s attention immediately focused on me. Of course, this included the head nun.

The startled old woman fixed her eyes on me.

“Perhaps children have been disappearing recently.....”

“Oh my, what nonsense you’re spouting.”

Though flustered, the head nun answered confidently. There was not a hint of falsehood in that unwavering voice.

“This is an orphanage under the management of the Holy Nation. Of course, such a tragic thing couldn’t happen. Even if it did, a report would have been immediately filed and the Holy Knights would be dispatched.”

It was a clear explanation—so clear to the point where it would be fine to let it go, but still, I raised my voice once again.

“If not disappearances, perhaps there have been other unusual incidents. Has there been any bizarre occurrence recently.....?”

“IAN!”

In the end, it wasn’t the head nun but the Saintess who restrained me.

Her face was already bright red,clearly furious at my rudeness.

“What kind of insolence is this! This is an orphanage managed by the Holy Nation! Are you saying you don’t trust the authority of the Holy Nation?”

“No, well.....”

I deliberately trailed off and avoided her gaze. Then rather, it was the head nun who was flustered.

“It-it’s alright, Your Holiness. I’ve heard that Sir Ian has been fighting the Dark Order for the past few months. I understand his anxiety, as his movements might have been exposed in advance.”

As the head nun actively defended me, the Saintess’s anger somewhat subsided.

No, in fact, she might have been hoping for this.

It was the only way to preserve both our dignities despite my insolence.

The Saintess muttered in a voice full of apology.

“But.....”

“I’ll say it again, it’s fine. Hoho... Rather, I’ll tell you confidently. That such unfortunate incidents will not occur at our orphanage!”

Instead of meeting the Saintess’s piercing gaze, I pretended to be distracted.

This should be enough. The head nun looked very confident, and I could just ask about the reason later.

What I was really expecting, however, was something else.

While the Saintess and the head nun chatted amicably as they entered the orphanage, I sensed a strange gaze and turned my head.

There were children everywhere, having probably rushed here due to the sudden commotion.

Among them, one boy was staring intently at me and, next to him, there was a girl with an anxious look.

I slightly curled up the corners of my mouth.

Good. Children tend to perceive things that adults cannot.

After deeply engraving the image of those two in my retina, I tried to enter the orphanage following the group. Then my eyes caught on a plaque at the entrance.

It bore the names of those who had contributed to the founding of the orphanage. Judging by the recent construction date, it appeared the orphanage had been rebuilt after coming under the management of the Holy Nation.

My eyes suddenly stopped as I read down the list.

‘Archbishop Aindel’.

Hmm, I muttered under my breath as I continued walking.

No matter how I looked at it, something was suspicious about this orphanage.

Just as I was about to fully enter, I suddenly felt a force insistently tugging at my collar.

Startled, I turned around—and there was a pointed hat.

No, below it stood a girl with an anxious expression.

“Hey, wait a minute... Master, can we talk, just the two of us?”

It was Senior Elsie.