Love Letter From The Future

The forest was quiet. It was a dark path, obscured by the leaves. Unknown flowers, grass, and even mushrooms bloomed everywhere.

As the Hunting Festival passed and the monsters in the forest hid their shadows, there were rumors that students from the alchemy department occasionally formed groups to come into the forest. This was because the birthplace of monsters had a high magical density, making it easy to gather high-quality materials.

It was indeed a fitting place. Even without human footsteps, the forest retained its natural state. In other words, it also meant that the paths were yet to be fully established.

Not just animals, but places are tamed by human activity as well. The more footpaths are created, and the more places are partitioned, the more familiar the place becomes to humans.

No matter how remote it was, if there was a village nearby, there had to be at least one path. The forest was a treasure trove of resources. It was impossible for anyone from the village not to come and go.

However, this forest was an exception, located south of the Academy. While the Academy didn’t explicitly restrict access, students had no reason to traverse the Southern Forest.

Firstly, there was not just one forest within the Academy grounds. There was also a small forest near the dormitory. There were no monsters there, and people’s entry was frequent, making it a great place for walking or camping.

If someone wanted to go into the forest, there was no need to take a long journey to the south.

And even when it came to gathering materials, this was the Academy. It was a place where many nobles studied, and while there were not few commoners, there were also many children of wealthy merchants.

It meant that there were plenty of students willing to pay additional costs if they had to take risks. Exceptionally, students from poorer backgrounds like Emma would occasionally move around the outskirts of the forest, but even they wouldn’t venture deep into the forest without protection.

In other words, this forest had little foot traffic, and consequently, there were obviously no paths established. Thus, there was only one conclusion.

Seeds of various kinds were stuck all over my and Ceria’s uniforms. From seeds that looked like cotton fluff to spiky seeds that seemed painful to touch.

Though it was spoken of as “the great nature,” for someone traversing it, it was a struggle. If luck was against me, sharp branches could catch on my uniform and tear it.

I was walking with a half-given-up expression. I recalled the words that Emma had thrown at me not long ago.

“You were pretending not to be one, but you turn out to be a noble’s son, huh?”

Yeah, it seemed right. With seeds sticking to my uniform and wet soil clinging to my pants, I wasn’t feeling very good. If Emma, a herbalist, saw me, she might have erupted in laughter.

I was a grown man, so even though I thought Ceria might feel the same, I couldn’t bring myself to show it.

Ceria was walking without complaint. To put it bluntly, Ceria was already a swordsman who had participated in monster subjugation several times since childhood. She was probably used to such a state.

However, I couldn’t show a disgraceful appearance as a senior. I called out to Ceria, trying hard to act as if nothing was wrong.

“Ceria.”

“Yes, senior…”

Ceria seemed a bit tense and almost bit her tongue again, but she managed to avoid the crisis. Still, she clearly felt the shame of pausing her words, and her face turned slightly red.

It was an unbelievable change from the cold expression she had just a moment ago. In fact, I had now somewhat caught on.

The reason she maintained a stoic expression was that she didn’t know what kind of expression she should show.

There was no need to be that tense; for now, it seemed I could only hope that we would get closer and things would improve.

“Do you sense any presence around?”

“……? Yes, not for now.”

Hmm, with that response, I fell into thought for a moment.

We had already ventured quite deep into the forest. If monsters were to attack students, they had to be present within this distance at least.

Of course, the forest was vast. No matter how developed Ceria’s sensitivity was, there was still a possibility of slipping through its gaps and attacking other students.

But would monsters really do that?

Right not too far, there were only two easy targets. If they wished to attack students, Ceria and I would also be among the targets.

Monsters, known as ‘named,’ had low intelligence except for some. They wouldn’t intentionally choose to divert when there were appetizing prey so close.

Of course, even with intelligence, it wouldn’t be different. I earnestly asked Ceria in a serious voice.

“I’m sorry, but please don’t let your guard down for a while, and let’s rest here for now.”

“Yes, it’s not a difficult task, but…”

Ceria seemed to be unclear about why I was saying to keep watching and why I wanted to rest here after coming so deep.

However, she soon faithfully followed my words. She appeared hesitant and seemed to want to ask a question but ultimately kept her mouth shut.

It seemed like a choice made considering that she had made some verbal blunders during our recent conversations. After all, she often fluctuated between honesty and rudeness.

In any case, she was a timid girl. I casually sat on a nearby rock. As I opened my canteen and drank water, my face and neck, rubbed by leaves, stung.

It was a rather unpleasant experience for someone living in the world of civilization. But I had to get used to it.

From the moment I held a sword, I had to be prepared not just to take lives from monsters but also from others. A blade was ultimately a tool for harm.

Having undergone harsh training in my childhood, my teacher had almost brainwashed me into adopting that mindset. It would be laughable for a man living a bloody life to merely avoid the forest.

At that moment, a small sound escaped from Ceria, who had been silent. My eyes naturally turned toward her.

“Um, senior?”

“Yes, what is it?”

In response to my immediate answer, Ceria’s body trembled slightly, although it was a trembling only caught by my heightened senses. This was also an indication that she was beginning to closely gauge my reaction.

She seemed to be building her understanding of human relationships through me recently. After all, I was the only one she could call a friend, so it made sense.

So she had been particularly perceptive lately. To be frank, it was a bit uncomfortable.

How high and mighty did she think I was for her to be so cautious? However, Ceria was in a state resembling that of a child who had just emerged into the world.

Filled with curiosity, she was an innocent maiden who still had much to learn. At least in terms of human relationships, she was likely experiencing everything for the first time.

Thus, every little action of hers came naturally cautious. To be honest, she could afford to be a bit more careful.

What I could do as a senior was only to patiently wait.

After a moment, Ceria cautiously asked me.

“Um, can I ask you one thing?”

“Of course, it’s fine to ask your senior.”

I added that there was no need to go as far as to ask for permission, as I again wet my parched throat with water from the canteen.

I shouldn’t drink too much. I had to prepare for any eventuality. I suppressed the urge to gulp down the water.

Maybe later, when I made some money, I could replace my canteen with one enchanted with space-distortion magic. But those items with semi-permanent magical engravings were expensive, so that day seemed distant.

Seeing me drink from the canteen without saying anything, Ceria seemed to decide it was okay to ask her question. Her lovely lips cautiously opened again.

“Why did you choose to team up with me?”

A straightforward and simple question. As I was closing the canteen lid, I casually turned my gaze toward Ceria.

Ceria’s eyes looked quietly settled but were slightly shaking. That subtle tremor was the only means of reading her emotions.

Since losing my memories, even I, who became exceptionally sensitive, had only noticed this habit after spending several days together.

Because of the inability to read this, people had nicknamed her “Yuridina’s Brat.”

Looking back, it was quite a cruel thing. That might have actually made me care about her even more.

For some reason, I couldn’t leave her alone; you could call it cheap sympathy from a senior toward a junior. I found myself unable to treat her as merely another person.

Yet I deliberately kept my true feelings to myself. I was embarrassed and felt it was unnecessary.

“Just.”

Two words were enough, and a look of disbelief crossed Ceria’s face as she waited for my answer with a somewhat tense expression.

“Weren’t you thinking of teaming up with your friend?”

“Initially, yes.”

With my smooth answer, Ceria’s eyes became even more filled with suspicion. She asked again.

“Then why…?”

“I told you, just.”

I laughed lightly and met Ceria’s gaze directly. Ceria’s body flinched slightly.

“Celin is also my friend, and you’re my friend too. Isn’t it normal for friends to team up without needing a reason?”

To be honest, the main reason she looked particularly lonely at that moment was crucial, but considering her pride, I deliberately didn’t mention it.

In response to my clear explanation, Ceria looked even more flustered. She momentarily became dazed, fumbled, and then eventually bowed her head deeply to avoid my gaze.

Her small mumbling brushed against my ears.

“Friend…”

It was a sound as if she had never heard that word before, a mix of unfamiliarity and embarrassment. It was hard to believe that was the case, still.

I looked at Ceria and asked back.

“Surely, I’m not the only one who thinks so? Surely we can call each other ‘friends,’ right?”

“Y-Yes, that’s true… But, um…”

Ceria stuttered, flustered, and soon her face turned bright red as she bowed her head deeply. The scene of a beautiful maiden doing so was even picturesque.

It was a sight too good to waste on just me. I thought that while waiting for Ceria’s next words.

However, what came next from Ceria was beyond my imagination.

“…What do friends do together?”

I could only freeze in place.

In response to the unbelievable look in my eyes, Ceria shyly averted her gaze, clearly embarrassed. What do friends do together?

Well, they chat, go out, eat together, it wasn’t a rigid pattern. However, it seemed Ceria truly didn’t understand, so I had to ponder for a moment.

What should I say in response? No appropriate answers were coming to mind.

“Um, it’s like what we’re doing now. Talking together, going for walks, sharing thoughts that we can’t say to others… sharing precious moments together.”

“Sharing, sharing, sharing… Ah.”

Ceria’s eyes widened as if she had remembered something. She asked me in a serious tone.

“By the way, I’ve heard that close friends also exchange gifts.”

“Well, sometimes that happens.”

It wasn’t something that occurred excessively, but since it wasn’t incorrect, I nodded in agreement. Ceria’s expression became even more serious.

“T-Then, does that mean I should give you something in return for you being my friend?”

“…Huh?”

I was so taken aback that I repeated her words, but it seemed Ceria took this as agreement. She murmured in a fluster.

“I don’t have anything now, but when I get back to the dorm, I’ll figure something out with the 200 gold I was going to give you last time…”

“No, that’s not it… If you do that, we’re not friends anymore; it feels like a hiring relationship, right?”

My junior was more troublesome than she appeared. I slapped my forehead and had to explain “friends” to her several more times.

Ceria seemed to have finally understood that she didn’t need to give me anything. She still looked a bit confused, but at least she wouldn’t bring it up again in front of me.

I decided to be satisfied with that. After all, as time passed, Ceria would understand. That there are relationships that cannot be measured in money.

However, it seemed Ceria still had some lingering questions. Sighing deeply, she cautiously asked me.

“Um, senior?”

“Uh, what is it?”

There was evident weariness in my voice as I replied. I was tired from Ceria’s unexpected tendencies of being an outsider.

I didn’t want to get angry; she might become more withdrawn.

However, I had a wish for her to ask more perceptive questions.

As if the God Arus had heard my wish, Ceria put forth a somewhat more normal question.

“Then, as friends, may I ask a somewhat rude question?”

Given that the oblivious Ceria referred to it as “rude,” I was genuinely curious at this point.

I answered her without much thought.

“Go ahead, ask.”

As soon as I gave my permission, the last bit of hesitation Ceria had vanished. She immediately asked me.

A clear and straightforward voice.

“Is it because of your friend?”

In that moment, I had no choice but to stiffen up as if I had taken an unexpected blow.

My gaze, which had been scraping the ground as if I had given up, turned to Ceria. Her deep blue eyes were calm and serene, as they always were.

“Did you come here because your friend was attacked in this forest?”

That question pierced my core like an arrow shot by a skilled archer.

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