Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 36

To Teacher, From Vanessa – Episode 36 (36/146)

Moshwi huddled, his large frame shrinking as he patted his chest.

“Wow, I couldn’t even swallow. I was afraid they’d hear us.”

“I didn’t think much of the Special Forces guys speaking casually, but… the Commander is on another level.”

“He’s one of the four Commander-level people in Freiba, so that Lieutenant Colonel is just being dumb. What good will come of this? Not showing up while the village is being ravaged.”

Evan grumbled. He opened the door to the room he shared with Moshwi and started stuffing his luggage into his bag.

Vanessa and Daloise had already packed, so they just grabbed their things.

“And is the Commander just any Commander? He’s the sole heir to the Valder Duchy! Even if noble titles are just for show these days, his status is still significant.”

“Now that I think about it, he’s really amazing. Special Forces Commander and Duke of Valder?”

Moshwi scratched his nose as he spoke. Evan nodded.

“A seed of a monster. I’ve never even heard of that.”

Vanessa, sprawled on the bed with her arms open, muttered.

Or maybe I heard it in passing.

“Are we becoming more and more useless?”

Daloise grinned. Despite her words, she looked cheerful. Her bright expression made the other three laugh.

“We need to keep up. Let’s start a ‘Burden’ support group when we get back to the Academy.”

“No one will join, and it’ll end with just our class….”

The four of them lay on their beds, racking their brains until they were called downstairs.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Lina Delina, who is probably working hard.

Hi, Lina. How are you?

How’s that phrase, ‘early winter’? Can you feel my great improvement in literature?

Actually, I don’t know the exact date, so I wrote it like that. Calendars are quite expensive luxuries, so many small villages don’t even have them.

You told me to send a letter right away if I wanted to let you know I was alive! As you know, I’m a pretty good friend, so I listen well.

My internship isn’t bad. Believe me. Except for being ‘a little’ dangerous, I’m learning a lot.

Okay, honestly, it seems a little too dangerous! But what can I do? I’m already here, so I have to do my best.

You know how I was called the Bamberg Academy’s library fixture? I’m using that tenacity here now.

I remember you being worried before I left. But I ride horses very well now. The Special Forces Commander even rode behind me, watching me the whole time.

I was so afraid of being a nuisance that I couldn’t stop practicing riding, even during breaks! Now I’m stable even with a loose rein.

Do you know why the Special Forces travel on horseback instead of carriages? It’s so they don’t miss even one of the small villages scattered around the countryside.

Is it really necessary to do that?

It was. I couldn’t believe how many monsters there were in each small village!

While moving to our ‘destination,’ some of the villages we passed were completely empty.

The villagers left because they couldn’t withstand the damage caused by the monsters. It broke my heart to see the unharvested grain scattered around the fields.

In the end, the Special Forces Commander summoned two more Special Forces members to the west.

The current destination is Morea, in the west. This isn’t a secret, but don’t tell anyone as if it is! It feels like the Special Forces’ missions should be secret.

‘Your’ other friends! Evan Rias, Daloise Staner, and Moshwi Jin are all doing well.

Of course, my best friends are you and Chebati, but the four of us have become quite close. We can tell what each other needs just by looking at each other’s eyes.

Because the four of us are burdens here, so we have to move as quickly as possible.

Oh, my goodness. You have no idea how much I miss you and Chebati. I want to lie in my bed at the Academy and chat with you guys.

Take care, Lina. Don’t be discouraged at your internship. It doesn’t suit you.

With love from Lina Delina’s,

Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa took out Honir [a magical delivery bird], whom she had been carefully carrying in her bag, and sent a letter to Lina. Then, she retrieved the letter from Honir and unfolded it.

The next letter was from her teacher. These days, her teacher’s letters were very short, as he seemed very busy with work.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

To Vanessa Rose.

I’m glad to hear that you seem to be learning a lot, despite my opposition.

However, using such powerful magic means it was that much more dangerous, yet you say it was only ‘a little dangerous.’

I know you’re tired of hearing it, but don’t forget that safety is the most important thing.

I am very worried about you, Vanessa. So, like the promise you made in the letter you sent me, you must return to the Academy healthy.

Let me know immediately if you need anything.

From your Teacher.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa smiled.

Even I, who have never felt family love, knew the worry and affection embedded in the letter.

So, I must keep my promise and return healthy.

As always, the letter from her teacher almost reached the point of being memorized before it returned to its envelope.

As she folded the letter, Vanessa tilted her head, feeling puzzled.

Her teacher usually answers most of her small questions in his letters, but strangely, he mostly ignores stories about Gideon.

The handwriting is too different, so they can’t be the same person. Could the two of them know each other?

Vanessa narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

“Vanessa, aren’t you asleep yet?”

Her thoughts were abruptly cut off and scattered.

Daloise seemed to be restless, tossing and turning on the hard bed. Suddenly, she jumped up and started doing push-ups.

Vanessa watched her with her chin propped up. The well-developed deltoid muscles on Daloise’s shoulders twitched.

“Yeah, I have letters to send. I have to send them to Lina and Chebati.”

“I barely wrote a line to my mom! Sending them to friends, that’s amazing.”

It wasn’t a downpour, but the steady rain made progress slower than expected. Riding a horse in the rain was the worst. Visibility was poor, and the horses’ hooves kept getting stuck in the muddy ground.

In the end, the Special Forces decided to stay at an inn earlier than expected. Her whole body ached.

“Morea is coming up soon. Who knows what will happen? I need to send them quickly. It might be my last letter.”

“Well, just getting here….”

Vanessa and Daloise closed their mouths gloomily.

Wheat Field Village was just the beginning. As they approached Morea in the west, the proliferation of monsters became extreme.

Every time they saw monsters, they rolled, broke, and crashed. [A euphemism for fighting and defeating monsters.]

It was only because they were students that they could manage this much; the Special Forces members were practically working themselves to the bone.

Lieutenant Grain clicked his tongue as he looked at the students.

‘Your seniors worked under Lieutenant Colonel Almont, so they had it easy. You guys are unlucky. To be with the Commander of all people.’

And unintentionally, Vanessa had foreseen the future. It was definitely a good thing to have replied to the letters in advance.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

As they approached Morea, the Special Forces, due to the frequent rain, eventually decided to use carriages to move slowly. It was better for thoroughly checking the various villages.

The White Mushroom Village, which they visited while passing by carriage, was fortunately peaceful. They said they had never suffered damage from monsters.

“We’re not sure either, but we heard that monsters are overflowing at the far end. The villagers who were worried have already left this place.”

The Special Forces members and students decided to stay and rest in this village for today and tomorrow only. Because today, surprisingly, was Saint Barando’s birthday.

Daloise, upon hearing that story, opened her mouth in surprise.

“It’s already November? No way!”

“No wonder everyone is wearing purple clothes.”

Moshwi said with a hollow expression.

Saint Barando’s birthday seemed to be associated with a chilly atmosphere, thick cloaks, and fluffy earmuffs, but the village located at the end of the west was far from that.

Fortunately, the rain stopped and the blue sky was revealed, but the sticky humidity clinging to their bodies only intensified.

Vanessa enjoyed watching the peaceful scene of the villagers after a long time. It was a bountiful season, so everyone welcomed the Special Forces members with smiles.

The children living in the village welcomed the students even more than the Special Forces members.

Because they didn’t have as much of an intimidating presence as the Special Forces members, but they seemed to be in good physical condition.

“Give me a piggyback ride!”

“Throw this, throw this. Please?”

Moshwi, who was large and weak to children, was the most popular. Moshwi put two children on each shoulder and started running around.

Vanessa, Evan, and Daloise, who sacrificed Moshwi and ran away, strolled around the village comfortably.

The village, which didn’t have many large trees surrounding it, was open and refreshing to see. Even in the humid weather, the bugs chirped tirelessly.

“Moshwi says he’s becoming less and less interested in joining the Special Forces.”

“I can see that. It seems different from his fantasy. It’s also scary.”

“Me, why am I still the same? I’m not even good…!”

Evan tore at his hair. His short brown hair became disheveled and messy.

“Fire magic… you’re decent at it.”

At Vanessa’s ambiguous consolation, Evan stopped tearing at his hair and shook Vanessa.

“I haven’t used fire magic once since I came! Is that consolation?”

Vanessa, while being shaken, said indifferently.

“What can you do? Just keep following Professor Conrad’s teachings and swing your wooden sword every day.”

Daloise chuckled. Daloise’s wooden sword duels with Evan always ended in Daloise’s victory.

“Vanessa, shouldn’t you come to the Special Forces after graduation? The Lieutenant praised you a lot last time. He said there’s no incantation magic you can’t do.”

“If you learn one formula, there are things that are easy to connect and do. It’s a bit much to come without knowing the conditions of magic. Unless you’re strong like Daloise.”

Only Evan, who was completely excluded from the exchange of compliments, grumbled.

While monsters continued to appear in the forest, what were the chances that the conditions were related to fire? Moreover, the amount of innate magic power wasn’t very large, so all he could do was physical things.

When the Special Forces members, who had toured all around the village, returned, the villagers prepared and sent some food.

The bread baked today was still warm, the soup was rich and salty, and the juice was sweet.

Only then did the Special Forces members relax and stretch out comfortably in their lodgings.

Even Gideon casually threw off his uniform and leaned back in his chair, dripping water from his freshly washed hair. However, he kept his sword by his side until the end.

“To spend Saint Barando’s birthday like this. It really doesn’t make sense.”

Grain, who always grumbled, started grumbling again. He stretched out his arms and legs next to the table, lying on the dirty floor.

“Then how should we spend it?”

“Of course, surrounded by well-grilled meat bursting with juice, seafood steamed with lemons, and greasy sauces!”

“Just be grateful that you can rest. We can rest because progress is slower than expected.”

Andalus said sharply, and Grain’s mouth stuck out a foot. Anna hummed and happily wiped her sword.

“The food is delicious, and the weather is nice! Then that’s enough, what more could you want? Commander, will we be leaving tomorrow afternoon?”

“Shall we leave after noon tomorrow….”

Gideon trailed off. The long-awaited rest was sweet to him too.

After napping and chatting while eating, it became evening.

As darkness fell, the loud music echoing from the village also subsided. Outside the window, there was silence except for the occasional small laughter.

Everyone seemed to be spending happy time with their families at home.

In the room on the second floor, Vanessa gathered a few letters and picked up the letter she had received from Lina a few days ago, then glanced back.

On the several thick brown blankets spread on the floor, Daloise was asleep with her arms and legs stretched out.

“Brea, breaad… savory.”

Making strange noises.

Vanessa turned her gaze back to the letter in her hand. She hesitated for a moment, but it seemed like the rustling paper would wake Daloise, who had fallen asleep in the back.

Vanessa decided to go down to the first floor and finish reading the letter and writing a reply on the wooden table.

The Special Forces members would also be resting in the rooms given to them, so there would be a seat.

Vanessa carefully walked down the creaking wooden stairs.

Fortunately, there were hardly any people on the first floor. Except for the person she wanted to avoid the most.