Love Letter From The Future

Night Sky.

If one were to catch a glimpse of her dark blue hair, they would undoubtedly recall this word. The woman standing tall, gazing down from the cliff with her arms crossed, exuded a deep and heavy atmosphere.

In fact, even before belonging to the Empire’s Intelligence Department, her name had echoed incessantly in my ears.

“Blind Serpent.”

Though she was merely the Fifth Imperial Princess of the Empire, she was evaluated as having unparalleled abilities in human affairs. It was said that she had gained the vision to see a thousand miles after having her eyes plucked out.

Her name was certainly not a mere façade.

Before my knees could bend, the woman’s hospitality returned.

“You have arrived.”

There was no need to turn around; her eyes had long gone blind.

Despite that, there was no one capable of hiding their presence in front of her.

The “Master” was that kind of monster.

Out of the ordinary.

Common sense does not apply in front of them. I knew that well, having once had the “Master” as my mentor.

For most of us, the only best choice to take was just one.

To kneel.

“Your Highness.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Before I could lay out a detailed report, the princess began to compliment me.

But that was only for a moment.

“You dealt with the contamination left in the capital. However, even after going that far, you could not find traces of the Seven Deadly Sins hidden among humanity… Is that fact undeniable?”

As I pondered what excuse to make, I let out a deep sigh.

There was no meaning in trying to make excuses against this woman.

Only results.

That was all my lord sought.

Soon, my head bowed deeper.

“I apologize. However…”

“However?”

“If I had received more visions.”

“Hmm…”

At my cautious counterargument, the princess finally turned her head. A sharp gaze seemed to seep through her tightly closed eyelids.

Still, I couldn’t help but shout out my boiling heart.

“If that were the case, it would have been a more successful…!”

“Let’s walk.”

With just that one word.

Her tone carried the weight of a refusal to allow any further argument. Before I could say anything, the woman snapped her fingers.

And then, a miracle happened.

The earth and rocks began to swirl freely, creating an ancient stepping stone bridge. Down, down, toward the place where the Empire’s last military encampment stood.

It was a distance of at least several kilometers. To adjust the position and create a path using natural materials devoid of any magical power?

I was left speechless for a while, my mind in a daze. Until the woman asked with a playful smile.

“Are you perhaps defying me?”

“That can’t be.”

I quickly answered that way while following behind the woman. With every step, the boulders underneath us emitted a cheerful sound.

After some time.

“Sir Ian.”

As if she were merely saying something trivial, the woman casually addressed me.

“I must make it clear. The ‘created god’ plan is nothing but the ramblings of a madman.”

“But I have succeeded.”

“That makes it all the more.”

Her argument was so seamless, as if anticipating my rebuttal.

The princess continued to speak.

“Hundreds of young knights were sacrificed to my sister’s foolish plan. In reality, logically speaking, it was nothing but a delusion devoid of a success rate. Then one day, suddenly, a successful outcome appeared.”

There was no reason left to keep my lips moving.

The princess had already reached her conclusion, and I was merely to listen. This was the proper structure of a lord and vassal relationship.

“Isn’t it strange? Why, of all times, did this unbelievable being appear when everyone was ready to give up… And we still don’t know why that one man alone survived.”

“If you suspect me…”

“No.”

Before my cautious inquiry could finish, she cut me off.

Soon, a subtle warmth emanated from the woman’s voice.

“The important thing is that that man wants power without even knowing why he survived. Do you understand? You are the only survivor of a plan that was originally impossible. If you were to accept any more visions, you would inevitably become a ‘failure’.”

Her tone was heated like never before.

Seeing a different side of my normally cold lord, I fell silent. The woman then began to scold me as if her cheeks might puff up.

“Even so, do you still want to accept more visions? You are already strong enough. You no longer need to suffer like that…!”

“I don’t want to lose anything.”

It was an unguarded truth.

A sense of exhaustion permeated my voice, which felt parched, as if sighing would only produce an echo.

“I don’t want anything more… So, would you grant me permission?”

In truth, my body was already in tatters.

As the princess pointed out, accumulating dozens of visions in my body was nearly impossible. Even if the body could endure, the mind could not.

What would the end be?

The collapse of the body.

Upon reaching the position of a High Expert, the body no longer remains bound to the physical world. Being part of the realm of concepts, a collapse of the mind would inevitably lead to catastrophic consequences.

The princess already knew this. That was why she was warning me.

If I were to accept any more visions, I would have no choice but to die.

But sometimes, there are futures more terrifying than death.

I had already lost so many precious people. How many loved ones had I already had to send away?

I didn’t want to do that anymore.

Was she reading my heart?

The princess fell silent for a while, observing my complexion, and then slightly pouted her lips. She even stretched out her hand slightly.

“Please guide me.”

“…?”

My gaze, filled with questions, turned towards the princess. After all, she was one of the Masters.

Even if she were blind, she had never complained about inconvenience in her daily life. Surely, she had never entrusted anyone with the task of guiding her.

Nevertheless, the lord’s will stood firm.

“Come on. Since losing my sight, I have been relying on magic to perceive my surroundings, but that is merely superficial. If I am floating in the air like this, I would naturally need a knight’s escort, right?”

“If that’s the case…”

Though there were still parts I couldn’t comprehend, it was a command from my lord.

Having no reason to argue any further, I obediently took the woman’s hand. As her thin, cold fingers touched my skin, an unwarranted flutter surged in my chest.

The princess seemed to grow quite displeased.

“You must have had many precious people.”

“Yes, quite a few…”

“Are there lovers as well?”

“Yes, of course…”

Pout.

The princess again pursed her lips, not bothering to hide her dissatisfaction. To me, it was quite a confusing reaction.

What on earth was with her?

Fortunately, that abnormality did not last long.

“Anyway, there is someone I hired for you.”

“For me?”

“Your body isn’t normal, right? It can’t be healed by divine power.”

It was even more incomprehensible.

While my body was collapsing due to the imbalance between the physical and the mental, what else could restore my broken body besides divine power?

There was no need to wait for an answer.

“Alchemy.”

It was a word I hadn’t heard in a long time.

As I struggled to find words, Shi-en continued explaining on her own.

“She is a senior researcher from the Immortality Faction. Although she charges a hefty commission, her skills are reputedly certain.”

“But the Immortality Faction…”

“I heard she is the last survivor.”

At that, my mouth firmly closed once again.

“The Immortality Faction.”

It had once been the largest school of alchemy, but its lineage had broken due to the schemes of the Dark Cult. I had heard that most of its members had died, yet there was still a survivor.

To be fair, this wasn’t unheard of.

“The last survivor.”

I, too, was the last survivor of the Percus Family. The reality that such tragedies were occurring across the continent was nothing new.

Just as I was about to wear a bitter smile once again.

“You’re making that lonely face again.”

Her voice was sympathetic.

I tried to act nonchalant in response to the princess’s words but soon pondered one question.

“Um, Your Highness? Just now, you said you only perceive your surroundings on a superficial level…”

That’s right. If she were merely judging her surroundings on a superficial level, then she wouldn’t have been able to notice the subtle differences in facial muscles. With a vision that refined, she wouldn’t have needed my guidance.

But I would not receive an answer to that question.

“It would be best to greet her soon.”

With a clap, the princess descended the final staircase.

I soon sighed and decided to turn my gaze away. Since my lord said so, it would have been ridiculous for me, a loyal subject, to raise an objection.

However, when I redirected my gaze to the front.

A gold coin spun in the air.

The sunlight reflected off the golden coin as it twirled, until it was eventually drawn into a pure white hand. Just as the owner’s face solidified in my retina, I had no choice but to remain silent.

Because it was a woman familiar to me.

“Nice to meet you. Your Highness, the Princess, and the esteemed ‘Crow’… Please understand that I have no surname due to my humble origins.”

With reddish-brown hair and light green eyes.

My mouth opened and closed again, unable to find the words.

Yet amid this, the woman wore a proud smile.

“My name is ‘Emma.'”

As she fluttered her white cloak, she bowed. That cloak, adorned with the sun and moon pattern, was evidence of her heritage as a senior researcher from the Immortality Faction.

It symbolized a truth that only a minuscule number could reach on the continent.

“If you need anything, please feel free to call me. Of course… on the condition that the commission is sufficient.”

Her smile was excessively beautiful.

I finally realized.

The connection from long ago had come back to find me.

A reunion with the alchemist.

Ugh, cough.

As I opened my eyes, I let out a sound as if I was about to choke. Soon, coughing out, blood and water poured out.

For a while, my eyes, which had been pounding in my chest, scanned my surroundings blankly.

Where was this place?

I was definitely…

Was I in the conference room? Did I collapse?

The memories of dreams and reality mixed together, increasing my confusion. Not even knowing where I was, I desperately fumbled around my head in search of moisture.

And then.

I felt a familiar sensation in my hand.

The touch of paper.

In an instant, my body froze. From that cold sensation, I felt an ominous premonition.

Holding the letter envelope blankly.

Forgetting even the desire to drink water, I tore open the sealed envelope and unfolded the white stationery inside.

Only one word entered my eyes.

“Will”

It was the unmistakable title at the very top of the letter.

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