Love Letter From The Future

In the midday library, numerous students were reading books with drowsy expressions.

Although there was still plenty of time left until the exam period, the Academy’s final exams were not something that could be overcome with last-minute cramming. Without consistent studying, it was impossible to manage grades.

However, it was just after finishing lunch, and a significant festival like the Hunting Festival was approaching. There was no way the contents of the book could properly enter my mind.

That was why most of the students sitting in the library were yawning, seemingly bored.

Of course, there were a few students who were diligently studying, but they must have been a rare breed who had never found studying boring in the first place. They were strange kinds of humans you could only see at the Academy.

Unfortunately, I belonged to the latter category rather than the former. I had made considerable progress with the liberal arts lectures I had been attending during my time in the Temple’s Intensive Care Room, and I was now spending unhappy hours visiting the library to supplement that knowledge.

The only consolation was that I didn’t have to bear that pain alone. Sitting across from me was Reto, whose expression looked drained.

There was only one book lying in front of me, but next to him was a stack of various books boasting colorful covers. It was the amount of study time typically seen among students from the Magic Department, who valued theory and hypothesis.

In comparison, how fortunate I was. Thus, I took a sip from my canteen filled with tea I had brought along, feeling a sense of pathetic mental victory.

The refreshing aroma of the tea had a clarifying effect on my mind. It would not be an exaggeration to say that there were no Academy students who didn’t enjoy this tea during exam periods.

Of course, Reto was one of them. He too emptied the tea in his canteen into his mouth, only to realize that his portion was now empty, and he frowned.

He lightly tapped my foot with his own. I was gripping my throbbing head and trying to read, and I looked at Reto with a question in my eyes.

Reto gestured with his eyes. It was a signal that held the following meaning.

“Let’s step outside for a moment.”

Just when I was looking for an excuse to escape from this hell of a book. There was no reason for me to decline Reto’s suggestion.

I excitedly closed the book. I didn’t forget the bookmark. There was still about half of the material I had yet to read.

I couldn’t help but wonder why someone who wields a sword would need to learn “topology.” However, since the Academy required each student to take at least one humanities and one science class each semester, it couldn’t be helped.

Math was somewhat bearable. If I asked Reto, he usually had an answer. Even now, I had jotted down a few questions to ask him.

However, the actual topic of conversation between Reto and me unexpectedly focused on another subject. It all began when Reto picked up one of the newspapers published by the campus clubs near the entrance of the library.

Reto ordered tea from the Student Council Building directly opposite the library and began flipping through the newspaper. His tired eyes skimmed over the newsprint until he noticed something interesting, and a glimmer crossed his face.

He burst into a chuckle. The newspaper was presented to me as if to show off. Reto particularly tapped on one section.

There was a short title written there.

“Southern Forest Monster Massacre Incident”

As I was ordering a new tea and finishing the drink remaining in my canteen, I nearly spit it out.

I quickly snatched the newspaper. It contained somewhat sensationalized rumors written as if they were objective facts.

[‘Southern Forest Monster Massacre Incident’]

[Ian Fercurus, a third-year student at this school (23), is making headlines after slaying numerous monsters in the forest located south of the Academy Grounds on the 15th. The monsters he single-handedly exterminated that day amounted to over ten, including high-ranking monsters, which is quite extraordinary considering he is in the Academy’s senior class.]

[On the other hand, Seraia Yuridina (22), who boasts excellent grades as the top student in the Swordsmanship Department, is under fire for fleeing while putting her companions in danger. The Education Department has explained that “the mass emergence of monsters in the Southern Forest happened because they neglected to manage the monster’s breeding in preparation for the Hunting Festival.”]

[Additionally, Ian Fercurus is also the protagonist of the so-called “Yuridina’s Snobbish Near-Death Incident,” adding to the controversy. Despite being a third-year student with mediocre grades, he has recently shown unexpected abilities. As a rare individual from a lower noble family in the Empire, it remains to be seen how far he will go.]

As I read further down the article, my expression grew more rigid. After finishing the last line, I frowned and said.

“What’s this?”

“What do you mean, what? It’s a newspaper article. And it’s about you.”

Reto chuckled with an air of it being someone else’s matter, but I couldn’t feel at ease. There were many problematic aspects in the contents of the article.

My voice rose with irritation.

“No, what is this nonsense? I only killed one high-ranking monster that day, yet it implies that there were several? And Seraia put her companions in danger and fled? I went to call Professor Derek! And why is my background being emphasized?”

“That’s how it sells.”

However, in response to my complaints, Reto stated what seemed to him a simple truth.

“People tend to be more attracted to the facts they want to believe rather than the actual truth. That arrogant Yuridina ran away while a lower noble student with mediocre grades defeated several high-ranking monsters? Wow! That’s a story!”

“Still, it’s just not right…”

Deep down, I thought Reto was right, but I couldn’t stop grumbling nevertheless.

At this rate, I felt too guilty towards Seraia. I had just heard recently that she was struggling with bullying.

The feeling that I was gaining fame at the cost of Seraia made my heart ache even more. No matter how much Seraia may not care about others, she was still human.

Her heart was composed of flesh and muscle. Knowing that she might be wounded in relationships, I felt I could no longer standby in this situation.

I had recently left a warning for a bunch of punks making noise in the alley, but if this distorted information continued to circulate, it would be like pouring water into a bottomless pit.

Ultimately, I was resolved, nodding to myself.

“I have to address this with the place that published this newspaper.”

However, Reto’s reaction to my firm resolve was utterly mundane. He merely smirked, stretched, and enjoyed the sunlight. Perhaps due to the emergence of an interesting story, his haggard expression seemed a bit brighter.

“Arthur, Arthur. That club has a famous senior as the president. There’s no way they would listen to you.”

“Who is the president?”

“The Martial Arts Festival Princess.”

“Oh, that commoner…”

Hearing Reto’s words, I was left dumbfounded. That senior was unlikely to even pretend to listen to what I have to say. She was notoriously known for having extensive connections and being inscrutable.

Seeing my face filled with a troubled expression today, Reto glanced at me, trying to gauge my mood with a straightforward but probing question.

“Why, did something happen?”

At those words, I hesitated for a moment. I was reluctant to mention that Seraia was being ostracized and that it had recently escalated into bullying.

It was Seraia’s personal issue. Making such problems known to others could hurt Seraia even more.

However, it was also true that I couldn’t think of a suitable solution. I couldn’t go around warning everyone badmouthing Seraia one by one.

Ultimately, I sighed and shared the rough situation involving Seraia that I had learned yesterday.

The recent spread of negative opinions about Seraia, how the distorted information regarding the monster extermination incident was contributing to it, and that the bullying was becoming increasingly severe.

Reto listened with an expression of mild disinterest, his face unaffected, and eventually spoke in a lackluster voice.

“Those punks you met yesterday.”

“Hmm?”

I couldn’t help but respond with confusion to Reto’s sudden question.

Those punks from yesterday, the ones who were talking trash about Seraia in that alley?

They had been properly reprimanded and sent on their way. At least they wouldn’t dare get in Seraia’s face openly moving forward.

Having lost focus on them afterward, I felt Reto’s sudden interest in them was a bit out of the blue.

However, it seemed Reto had a somewhat different perspective.

“What color was their cloak?”

“To me, they called me ‘senior’… so, yes, it was brown.”

Second-year students, the same year as Seraia and Celin.

At my answer, Reto sighed, as if he expected this. A look of concern finally settled on his face.

He seemed to be pondering something, pressing his temples as if his head hurt. His voice grew tinged with irritation.

“First of all, it seems like you’ve made the mistake…”

I see, I couldn’t help but lower my gaze. It appeared that I had unwittingly provided the impetus for the already negative perception towards Seraia.

Though it was a decision to save Seraia’s life, I had ultimately hurt her due to my thoughtlessness.

She had two more years left at the Academy after this year. If this opinion continued, she would inevitably face difficulties as she moved into the higher years, where group dynamics became significant.

But Reto wasn’t finished speaking. He threw me a cryptic remark.

“… It’s not entirely your fault.”

At his vague statement, my expression involuntarily twisted. What was he trying to convey? While it was my fault, it was not entirely my fault?

It was an ambiguous statement. A counter-question escaped my lips without thinking.

“What do you mean?”

“Who knows.”

Despite my serious response, Reto merely returned a disinterested look. Just then, I decided I needed to pry a little deeper into this.

Reto shook his head, as if he couldn’t help it. Finally, a sigh-laden piece of advice slipped from his mouth.

“I’ll tell you this much. There is always a leading group in bullying. Those who shape opinions and actively take part in the harassment.”

“That’s the Tean gang, right?”

At my words, Reto’s green eyes briefly flicked toward me before he averted them. A groan escaped from his lips.

“Well, they might be involved, but… think about it logically. If they were the only ones, would the mood have reached this level already?”

“…So, a new group has joined in?”

Reto shrugged. He didn’t deny it with his silence, and that alone gave me a clue to his speculation.

I crossed my arms, momentarily lost in thought. A new group had joined in, but why?

At this point, it was hard to tell. However, the answer was simple.

“Then, we just need to deal with those two groups?”

“Well, kind of… but will you be able to do that?”

At Reto’s skeptical gaze, I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Nevertheless, my voice responding to him was calm yet resolute.

“I’ll have to. Somehow.”

It was my responsibility, and I hoped Seraia wouldn’t suffer more because of me.

As for my determined response, Reto scoffed and poked fun at me.

“Good to have that resolve, why not apply that will to topology too?”

His words struck a nerve, and I snapped back in exasperation. It was one of the fundamental questions that had been on my mind lately.

“Seriously, why does a swordsman need to study that? It doesn’t make sense!”

“Tsk, tsk, don’t you know these days’ trend is interdisciplinary fusion? Try to apply topology somehow in swordsmanship.”

Reto clicked his tongue and left that response, but to me, it was a story that evoked more of a hollow laugh than anything.

“Have you gone mad?”

Applying topology to swordsmanship?

Swordsmanship is about the moment of combat. There were limits to understanding and calculating with the mind. Each sword strike could only rely on instincts and experience.

Reto, who had thrown such words, seemed to be joking, waving his hands in laughter. And I decided not to dwell on that issue any longer, as I had more pressing matters at hand, however much I had to deal with.

Still, one problem remained on my mind.

The group bullying Seraia.

I still couldn’t come up with a answer. I needed to think more carefully.

At the very least, I thought, I’d consider it until I saw Seraia’s condition the next day.

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