Love Letter From The Future
Chapter 427: Proof of Existence (15)

Chapter 427: Proof of Existence (15)

0% Unexpected encounters always stirred up a mix of emotions.

Bewilderment, joy or even hatred and anger could result from such coincidences. After facing Senior Sienne Alpenhauser through the crystal ball, the emotions I felt were no different.

I was taken aback at first

Why was she here of all places? Shouldn’t she be busy teaching at the Academy? It was hard to imagine why she’d need to privately contact me.

Then came doubt and anxiety. Not knowing the reason always brought fear. And, finally, the last sensation that arrived was ‘composure’.

That sour expression, those irritated eyes and above all, Senior Sienne was the one who called me saying she had urgent business.

The answer was clear.

I wasn’t the one with the problem—She was. And she was now reaching out to me for help. There was no reason for me to cower.

As soon as I realized this, my expression instantly became calm. Seeing my restored composure, she turned her head away with a snort.

It was still hard to discern where her gaze was directed. The boundary between her silver pupils and the whites of her eyes was ambiguous.

But her words were crystal clear.

“You look well. I take it that life in the Holy Nation suits you, huh?”

“And you, Senior Sienne, don’t look too good. Also, my name isn’t ‘Sir Hatchet-For-Brains ‘, it’s ‘Ian Percus’.”

Despite my calm rebuttal, she merely pouted.

It wasn’t just pouting; she even closed her eyes in disgust. I could almost hear the murmurs of disapproval ringing in my ears.

Senior Sienne’s scolding continued as if it were only natural.

“Oh, really? I didn’t know. The impression of you being a thug who threatens defenseless women with a hatchet was just too strong.”

“Think of it as a sign of affection”

“What kind of madman would take that as a gesture of friendship?!”

The silver-haired woman slammed her fist on the desk and raised her voice. Lost in thought, I scratched my head.

Up until now, this method had always worked though.

Itseemed Senior Sienne was, unfortunately, an exception. Then again, it made sense—this was the normal reaction.

Not that I had any plans to get particularly close to her in the first place.

“Isn’t it common for young people to become friends through roughhousing?”

“Spoken like a pubescent brat...! Violence is usually a sign of a broken relationship, not bonding! Affection? That doesn’t exist between us! Our relationship is over, done, got it?!”

Her snarling display of hostility showed she still hadn’t overcome the shock of our last meeting. Even though I hadn’t actually harmed her with the hatchet.

I shrugged and decided to cut to the chase.

“So then, if our relationship is over, what exactly is the reason we’re having this conversation right now?”

It was a pointed remark that hit home.

Senior Sienne, who had been passionately condemning my rude behavior just moments ago, clamped her mouth shut. After a moment of silence, a sigh escaped the woman’s lips.

And then came a docile voice.

“......What do you want?”

“What do you mean, what do I want?”

I had to ask back because I genuinely didn’t understand. She was the one who reached out to me out of the blue yet now was acting as if I were the one asking for something.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

But, as if I was detestable, she merely narrowed her eyes.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You knew our Alpenhauser trading company was part of the bidding and now you’re trying to monopolize the supply of demonic beast carcasses.”

Ah. I let out a faint exclamation.

That explained it. Due to mine and Mr. Reynold’s participation in the battle, the Nation decided to allocate a massive amount of demonic beast remains to Ria’s trading company. Since this region had recently seen a surge in demonic beast outbreaks, it had become one of the main sources of such materials.

For a trading firm dealing in demonic beast carcasses, this must undoubtedly be frustrating. They had been preparing their bids, only for someone else to sweep away the bulk of the supply.

Still, something didn’t quite add up.

“That’s just one of many businesses under the Alpenhauser name, isn’t it? Whether you win or lose the bid shouldn’t matter that much.”

“The issue is that we already have contracts in place.”

With a ‘hmph’, Senior Sienne snorted and said.

“Don’t you know that the demonic beast carcass industry is the most attention-grabbing business these days? Especially near the Holy Nation, where there are buyers willing to snatch them up at any price.”

Demonic beast carcasses, huh...

Suddenly, a goal I nearly forgot came back to me. The reason I followed Ria here in the first place was to investigate a certain trading company dealing in such materials.

After a moment’s hesitation, I asked, feigning nonchalance.

“I’m not sure I follow.”

“Are you really going to play dumb till the end? I’m talking about ‘Shylock Trading Company’! What kind of terms are you even trying to negotiate with them—?!”

I had heard the name ‘Shylock Trading Company’ somewhere before.

They were the ones dealing with the orphanage. I specifically asked the Saintess for that name before departing, so there was no mistake. Which raised an even bigger question.

Shylock Trading Company was large enough to purchase demonic carcasses in bulk. Instead of relying on other trading companies, they could’ve directly entered the bidding process if they wanted to.

Especially in a region like this, where due to the mass occurrence of demonic beasts, large quantities of carcasses were circulated. It would be more advantageous to do so.

But since arriving at the military camp, I hadn’t heard their name come up even once. I’d probably have to ask Ria for more details.

Were they perhaps deliberately paying additional costs for the sake of coexistence with smaller trading companies?

That was ridiculous. I shook my head with a bitter smile.

Whatever meaning she took from this, Senior Sienne’s expression became anxious.

“Why, why... What are you dissatisfied with?”

I wasn’t particularly dissatisfied. It wasn’t something I could decide on my own anyway.

The trading company belonged to Ria. The decision-making power regarding the trading company’s affairs was also Ria’s, not mine.

But Senior Sienne seemed to be misunderstanding something, as she started to look cowed while glancing at me nervously.

“Ahem. My tone might have been a bit rude, but I apologize for that. Still, there aren’t many firms capable of handling such large-scale transactions. I hope you’ll at least keep in mind that our Alpenhauser can be of assistance.”

Still, I maintained silence instead of answering.

Not for any particular reason—just because watching Senior Sienne fidget under my gaze was amusing.

Finally, Senior Sienne made a pitiful face.

“I said I’m sorry! I*, Sienne Alpenhauser,* even apologized! And you’re still going to act this way?!”

Is this woman really worthy of being called the ‘Sun and Moon of the Alpenhauser House?

I held back a chuckle and let the thought pass.

Come to think of it, there was something I wanted to ask Senior Sienne.

Information related to the Saintess.

The conversation somehow ended without me bringing that up. As I made my way towards Ria’s tent, I felt a strange uneasiness about this fact.

**

“I don’t wanna.”

It was a flat denial, before I could even say anything.

I sighed, Haa, and could only express my feelings of helplessness. I knew very well that my little sister’s stubbornness wouldn’t be easily broken.

Especially regarding certain matters.

Ria was currently burying her face in my chest, practically clinging to me as I sat on the bed. It was a posture that would be embarrassing if others saw it.

Ria’s ‘I don’t wanna’ was a refusal to my upcoming request.

I already knew how this would end, but even so, I had no choice but to ask.

“Ria, please let go... We’ve been like this for two hours now. And you haven’t said a word.”

“B-But I’m scared.....”

My firm resolve wavered at the voice mixed with moisture. Damn it—those teary eyes looking up at me were pretty much cheating.

In the end, I had to again embrace Ria and stroke her head.

“It’s okay, Ria. Nothing will happen now. The Holy Nation dispatched an investigation team, and they’ve agreed to escort us on our way back as well.”

“But I’m still scared!”

Ria raised her voice, tears were dripping from her eyes. She seemed to have been quite shocked.

“Out of nowhere, these faceless people barged in! How could I not be scared?! And they didn’t even speak properly... Ugh, and those demonic beasts just sprouting from the ground!”

I decided to sympathize with Ria, who was shivering in fear. Trying to unnecessarily dredge up memories of that time to get detailed testimony would only backfire.

“Yeah, that must’ve been terrifying. I’m just glad you weren’t hurt.”

“Of course, I wasn’t hurt! They kept muttering something at me, and I was so scared I couldn’t even move! ‘Holy,’ ‘Holy’... something? What the hell were they planning to do......?”

Ria’s body, which had been shaking with anger, suddenly lost strength right after.

It was because she recalled the nightmare of that time and burst into tears again.

“Hic, I was so scared... Oppa......”

“There, there. I’m here now... Let’s talk about work tomorrow, okay?”

Then, Ria’s attitude, which had been crying profusely, changed abruptly.

It was a dramatic change that occurred as soon as she heard the word ‘work’.

I could almost see Ria’s ears perking up as her crying suddenly stopped.

“.....Work?”

“Of course, your trading company’s work. I had some discussions with the Holy Nation side while you were away.”

I heard a gulping sound.

Naturally, it came from Ria. Soon, eyes mixed with expectation and excitement turned towards me.

“W-What kind of discussion?”

“About how to handle the demonic beasts’ carcasses? Also, Mr.Reynold and I should be compensated for our efforts. But what do I need money for?”

Ria’s heart rate began to rise rapidly. The saturation of her sparkling eyes was so high that it was dazzling.

My sister clenched her fists and asked me.

“S-So... what’s going to happen with them?”

“I decided to leave them to your trading company.”

Haa, haa. Now even her breathing was becoming rough.

A little sister panting with a flushed face while in her brother’s arms.

It was truly a sight I didn’t want anyone to see.

Ria asked again with an obviously excited voice.

“A-All of them...? That huge supply.....?”

“Yeah.”

And in the very next moment—

“KYAAAA! OPPA, YOU’RE THE BEST! YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE FOR ME! I’M TOTALLY MARRYING YOU!”

The crying mess from earlier was gone without a trace. Ria shouted with joy and rubbed her cheeks against my chest. She even went so far as to kiss my cheek.

Smooch, smooch, smooch.

If I let this continue, my face would be covered in her lip prints. I had to stop Ria with a wry smile.

“Alright, enough, enough... So, you have no complaints now, right?”

“Of course not! We can make this much money just by getting attacked once? I wouldn’t mind getting attacked a few more times! Should I write a letter to the Dark Order?!”

Instead of an answer, all I could do was let out a dry laugh.

She was still young. She didn’t know how scary the Dark Order was.

But I didn’t scold her for it. I wasn’t tactless enough to spoil my sister’s happy mood.

Instead, I only asked Ria, who was hugging me tightly with joy.

“By the way, Ria. Have you heard of ‘Shylock Trading Company’?”

“Hm? Of course! They’re a major player in the demonic beast carcass industry.”

She answered without a moment’s hesitation, not even questioning why I’d bring it up.

So I was able to dig for information even more freely.

“Did that company come here too?”

“No, they weren’t on the list of bidders. More importantly, Oppa, let’s calculate our money! Look, in order for us to have a comfortable retirement, we need.....”

Ria continued to chatter on about something after that, but my mind was already elsewhere.

‘Shylock Trading Company’.

This was worth digging into. Even if I had to force things a little.

**

The day after finishing the necessary negotiations with the Nation, we finally set out on our journey back to the orphanage.

Although no one showed it, we were all exhausted. Since the Holy Nation was providing the escort, we spent the journey dozing off. Well, except for Mr. Reynold. He was acting a little odd.

“So, Mr. Reynold, what about that ‘girl’s’ eyes?”

It was a question that suddenly came to mind. At my question, Mr. Reynold let out a faint *Ah.*Then he glanced between me and Ria for a while.

A nonchalant voice escaped his lips.

“......Forget it. I must have been mistaken.”

A rather anticlimactic conclusion. But pressing him further would’ve been pointless.

Above all, not long after, an event occurred that completely captured my attention.

On the day we arrived at the orphanage, amidst the chaotic atmosphere, the Saintess approached and said.

“A masked assailant has appeared.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“They really don’t give us a break, do they?”

It seemed that recuperating from the journey’s fatigue would have to wait a little longer.