Love Letter From The Future

Recently, while the trend has been moving towards the elimination of gender discrimination, it was not the case in the past.

Succession rights were granted only to men, while women were unable to enjoy even the freedom of education. This was closely connected to a structure in which the majority of sacrifices were borne by men due to the existence of a clear enemy known as “monsters.”

Men possessed greater physical strength than women. This was not a prejudice but a simple and obvious truth. Thus, during wars or battles against monsters, men were often conscripted. The same applied to large-scale public works for defense.

According to the teachings of the Heavenly Deity Sect, confronting the monsters, the enemies of humanity, is itself a mission bestowed by the gods. Men who follow the divine mission of the Heavenly Deity Arus, and women who cannot. Gender discrimination was further solidified by religious logic.

However, with the development of magic studies and aura training techniques, a change began to emerge in such mindsets.

If there is magic, one can wield spells capable of sweeping away dozens of monsters at once. Physical capability? While physical training was still not entirely meaningless, the key factor that determined one’s skills as a martial artist was the amount of magical power.

Power is authority. Regardless of gender, if one is endowed with magical talent, they could become a formidable force on the battlefield. This is also why discussions about “gender discrimination” now feel like outdated discourse.

Take Senior Delphine, for example. She is a woman but is already recognized as the heir of the Yuridina family, a prestigious clan. This proved that if one has exceptional skills, gender is irrelevant when it comes to becoming the head of a family.

Of course, it was said that in the Holy Kingdom, which tends to be somewhat conservative in interpreting scriptures, the story was different among commoners who could not systematically train their magical abilities. However, at least among the aristocrats of the Empire, it was not so.

Even if such thoughts existed, it was common to keep them internalized. Now, power was no longer the exclusive domain of men, and whether it was large or small, there were no nobles who enjoyed flaunting their power.

I was no different. I grew up with Celin since childhood and made many friends of both genders while spending time at the Academy.

I thought I had long since parted ways with a worldview marked by gender discrimination. However, the old saying that came to my mind now was truly discriminatory.

“When three women gather, the dishes break.”

It meant that when three women gather, it’s either too noisy causing dishes to break or they end up quarreling, leading to the same outcome. In either case, it implied that the dishes could not help but break, and like most proverbs, it contained a discriminatory ethos.

It was evident just by looking at Ceria. The number of words spoken was merely a matter of individual disposition. Still, the reason I couldn’t help but recall such sayings was somewhere in the back of my mind.

An icy silence settled in the hospital room. The atmosphere was cold and heavy, like the air on the dawn of the first frost. It was so, even though it was only three women gathered together.

Celin, Ceria, and the Lady Virgin Saint.

They were three women of different colors. Celin was a junior noble from the Empire with a vibrant personality, while Ceria belonged to the prestigious Yuridina family but had a quiet demeanor. The Lady Virgin Saint was a noble clergyman in the Holy Kingdom, known for her kind and gentle nature.

The sight of those distinct women, as if they had made a pact to fall silent, was chilling enough to send shivers down my spine. I couldn’t understand why, but the atmosphere was indeed so.

Celin appeared somewhat flustered. Her hazel eyes alternated between me and the Lady Virgin Saint, seemingly unable to grasp the dynamic between us.

The expression on the Lady Virgin Saint’s face, adorned with a benevolent smile, was honest, and frankly speaking, I could not read it. However, it was certain that her smile felt different from usual.

Ceria’s gaze had turned slightly cold in response. She had ignored Celin, but upon the arrival of the Lady Virgin Saint, her aquamarine eyes naturally focused on her.

A tense atmosphere enveloped us. It felt as if making any movement from any of the three could shatter the fragile silence.

The one to break this silence unexpectedly was the Lady Virgin Saint. As she always did, she traced the sign of the cross over her firm chest. Her voice then flowed out softly.

“Immanuel, it’s nice to see you. Brother I-an, and the other sisters. I apologize, but could you please leave the hospital room if you are not directly involved? As the attending priest, I need to examine Brother I-an.”

It was a routine and reasonable statement. The atmosphere in the hospital room, which seemed on the verge of cracking, gradually settled. It was all the more impeccable rhetoric.

One could hardly argue against the attending priest wanting to examine their patient. Celin cast a slightly skeptical glance at the Lady Virgin Saint, but soon exhaled a sigh and waved her hand gently.

It meant she would step out for a moment. After all, I was in this situation partly because of her, so there was no other choice for her.

“Then I’ll step out for a bit, Brother I-an. And Lady Virgin Saint, please take good care of Brother I-an. He’s someone very precious to me…”

As she said that, Celin subtly glanced at the Lady Virgin Saint with her hazel eyes. It was as if she were the angler throwing out bait. The Lady Virgin Saint merely crossed herself again in response to her words.

“Of course, Sister. Brother I-an is special to me as well.”

Her words flowed as naturally as water. Even her tone was extremely calm, causing Celin to show a moment of confusion. She showed a pondering expression for a moment before speaking again.

“Brother I-an has been someone I grew up with since childhood…”

“…Sister.”

The Lady Virgin Saint, while smiling warmly, placed a light hand on Celin’s shoulder as she tried to pass by her.

“Just as precious, take care not to let him get hurt.”

That was all she said. Celin, who had been masking her worries, momentarily displayed a crack on her face, but the Lady Virgin Saint’s smile remained unscathed.

Ultimately, unable to find the words, a small sigh escaped Celin’s lips. She left with a somewhat sulky voice and one final remark.

“…Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

With Celin gone, only Ceria remained in the room. She was simply looking at the Lady Virgin Saint in silence. The Lady Virgin Saint quietly approached my side.

She then directed her pale pink eyes towards Ceria. Only then did Ceria open her mouth.

“Uh, um, we are! Uh… I’m Ceria Yuridina. Nice to meet you, Lady Virgin Saint.”

For some reason, despite the absence of words, it seemed she had been pondering how to deliver her first greeting to the Lady Virgin Saint. Upon hearing her greeting, the Lady Virgin Saint chuckled softly.

“Sister Ceria, didn’t we see each other just recently? On the day you injured your arm.”

“Ah, well, that is true…”

Ceria was already so tense that she was biting her tongue. The Lady Virgin Saint’s remark seemed to make her head go blank, and she began to fumble once again.

Fool, it seemed she had made a wrong choice while trying to pick the most mundane greeting. Given Ceria’s social ineptness, that possibility was entirely plausible.

I was somehow trying to think of an excuse to rescue Ceria, but before I could, the Lady Virgin Saint looked at Ceria with an understanding gaze.

“I’m glad to see you too, Sister Ceria. Let’s save the greetings for later and focus on examining Brother I-an now…”

However, despite the Lady Virgin Saint’s soothing tone, Ceria didn’t budge an inch. She was shuffling her feet, her head bowed, and sensing that something was amiss, both the Lady Virgin Saint and I looked at Ceria simultaneously.

Ceria, upon receiving such inquisitive looks, opened her mouth after a long pause, as if she had made a resolution in her eyes.

“I, um, I want to stay! Uh… is it alright if I stay?”

The subject was omitted, but it was clear whom she was referring to. Ceria was declaring that she wished to remain in this hospital room.

But why? I tilted my head in confusion, while the Lady Virgin Saint made a strange sound, seemingly pondering Ceria’s request.

After a moment of contemplation, the Lady Virgin Saint smiled gently and asked Ceria.

“Are you perhaps engaged?”

The effect of that brief question was considerable. Ceria jumped up in surprise. Her eyes, seemingly bewildered, were flitting around.

“What, engaged… It can’t be! How could I possibly be with a senior like that…!”

“Then are you in a romantic relationship?”

“Ah, no. Uh, it’s not like that…”

“That’s a relief.”

What exactly was reassuring, I didn’t know, but the Lady Virgin Saint didn’t erase her smile. She merely added one more line.

“Then, please leave.”

“Ah, um! Yes…”

Ceria, who had been about to protest, seemed to realize that her words wouldn’t leave an impression anyway, and her shoulders drooped.

With a sullen expression, she exited the hospital room. The Lady Virgin Saint, who had easily subdued both Celin and Ceria with just a few words, finally exhaled a deep sigh.

A bitter smile formed on her lips. It was a smile filled with distress.

“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting for no reason. Shall we start the examination?”

“Um, Lady Virgin Saint. There’s no need to send them both out… Aaah!”

I was cautiously attempting to ask the Lady Virgin Saint something, but I couldn’t finish my question. It was because her hand gripped my arm.

Since my injury hadn’t fully healed, I could only scream in pain.

It hurt enough to bring tears to my eyes. Until now, the Lady Virgin Saint had never handled my injuries so roughly, and I shot her a questioning look filled with skepticism.

However, the Lady Virgin Saint didn’t seem fazed. She heard my scream, and briefly wearing a serious expression, she ignited her divine powers from her hands and began to nod her head.

“You’ve been getting hurt too often lately. If you incur a serious injury next time, you might have to be prepared for permanent aftereffects.”

Saying this, the Lady Virgin Saint’s eyes were cold, as if scolding me. I could only turn my head away and reply in an awkward voice.

“Y-yes, I understand. I need to be careful.”

“Don’t just say it; you must take it seriously. Brother I-an, you are always quite competitive.”

At her words, I sealed my lips shut. She was right.

I had always had a tendency for that, but since losing my memory, it had spiraled out of control. Not holding back and chasing victory at all costs was my stubborn nature.

I had no idea where it all originated from. For the time being, it had granted me plenty of victories, but that burden on my body was also a fact.

The Lady Virgin Saint looked at me in silence for a while before sighing and saying,

“I’m the same way. I can’t live with losing.”

“…You, Lady Virgin Saint?”

“Yes, surprising isn’t it?”

I nodded absentmindedly. Wasn’t she the embodiment of kindness and consideration, the Lady Virgin Saint? It was hard for me to understand that someone so gentle could possess a strong competitive spirit.

The Lady Virgin Saint smiled bitterly, as if she had expected this response. She continued speaking in her characteristic gentle voice.

“So, that’s why I sent those two out. I tend to get impulsive…”

When she said “those two,” it seemed she was referring to Celin and Ceria. But was there ever a moment to be impulsive with them?

I chose not to express that arising doubt. The Lady Virgin Saint must have had her own reasons. As I remained silent, her pure white hands began to trace my injury.

Feeling the blood circulate again in my stiff arm was a relief. As the nerves began to regenerate, the sensation returned from my fingertips.

After a moment of silence, the Lady Virgin Saint turned her pale pink eyes towards me. My gaze, which had been absentmindedly watching her, met hers head-on.

She was beautiful. A beauty that evoked admiration every time I looked at her. Yet even with such a stunning face before me, I could not harbor any impure thoughts.

Because those pale pink eyes gazing at me were deep and earnest. Shortly after, the Lady Virgin Saint opened her mouth with an unusually serious demeanor. It was a quiet warning.

“Do not participate in the Hunting Festival.”

“…What?”

“It is a recommendation from me as the attending priest. If you are thinking of participating in the Hunting Festival, you must abandon that thought. Brother I-an’s body has already reached its limit.”

Her stern voice left no room for negotiation. So I couldn’t bring myself to reply.

Such a level of danger was it. Participating in the Hunting Festival would inevitably lead to facing all types of risks. It would involve dealing with named-level monsters. The future of getting injured was certain.

The Lady Virgin Saint was essentially telling me this. If I were to be injured again, I might have to live with permanent aftereffects. Therefore, do not participate in the Hunting Festival.

A wave of fear surged up.

Permanent aftereffects were nothing short of disabilities. Any impairment, no matter how minor, would significantly impact my ability to wield a sword.

The human body is like a finely-tuned machine, and the body of a swordsman is particularly sensitive.

If even the slightest part begins to falter, the balance of the entire body becomes compromised. It seemed the Lady Virgin Saint recognized that fear within me.

She held my hands in hers, warm and gentle. The touch of a woman I had never felt before conveyed sincerity in the form of warmth.

“…It’s a promise, Brother I-an.”

With those pleading eyes and voice, what man could dare refuse?

All I could do was respond with a slightly choked voice.

“Yes, Lady Virgin Saint.”

Thus, I exchanged a wordless promise with the Lady Virgin Saint, a pact between just the two of us. She finally smiled gently, as if reassured.

*

And the next day, I submitted my application form for the Hunting Festival.

I repeatedly bowed my head inwardly.

I’m sorry, Lady Virgin Saint.

But isn’t it necessary to save the world?

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