Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 11

To my teacher,

It feels like it’s been a while since I last wrote. How *do* you know someone like that?

Oh, no. I’m being too abrupt without even asking how you are. But you understand how I feel, right?

I rode a train for the first time on the day I left for Nimrod. The sight of the red train puffing out steam in the mountains was really pretty.

I was so excited that I jumped into a cabin and sat down, but there were so many people with… *unique* outfits.

Some had fluffy fur on their ears, and others had horns on their foreheads. What’s with that?

Nimrod is a very vibrant city. I fell in love with it as soon as I got off the train. It’s amazing how the houses that soar so high and lean in every direction don’t collapse.

It’s famous as a city of wizards, so I guess it’s all magic?

The city is small, but so many people are trying to get in that houses rise higher several times a day. It’s common to see them flip over.

As I walked through the plaza, paper airplanes kept flying overhead. I found out they were orders being sent to each other’s shops. It’s funny to see the paper orders colliding and flapping.

Even ordinary objects aren’t ordinary. Shoes can be enchanted to make the heels sparkle when you tap them, or to help you jump higher.

But I think I prefer things without any special functions.

Fireworks go off from people’s hats every hour. But I have no idea why. Don’t they have grandfather clocks here?

Walking through the plaza with its white stone floors, sparkling smoke bursts here and there, along with the screams of the designers. That usually means a magical device they were building has broken.

As soon as I arrived in Nimrod, I was distracted by many things, but first, I went to the address you told me about.

Nimrod, 319. Jenien’s house.

As soon as I asked where 319 was, everyone looked uncomfortable. I didn’t know why.

“You look young. Why are you going there?”

They even gave me snacks with a pitiful look! Suddenly, the luggage in my hands felt so heavy.

Number 319 was in a very secluded place. There were hardly any trees in Nimrod, but this place was surrounded by trees, and the back was a forest, so I felt as comfortable as when I returned to Bamberg Academy [presumably a school or institution the letter writer is familiar with].

But I couldn’t see a house anywhere!

The only thing on the stake firmly planted in the ground was ‘319’ written in crude handwriting.

I had no idea where the house was, so I wandered around, and then I tapped the stake, just in case.

But still, nothing happened.

I kept circling around and finally shouted into the air.

“Harihara!”

Suddenly, a huge mansion rose from the ground! I screamed in surprise, and a very… very nasty wizard appeared from inside! Nasty! Nasty!

“Who is it!”

The wizard shouted even louder than my scream and started glaring at me. Of course, I didn’t back down and retorted.

“My patron told me to spend my vacation here.”

“Who *is* it, you idiot!”

“I don’t know. They just told me to shout ‘Harihara.’”

The wizard made a frustrated noise, turned around, and went back into the mansion.

I hesitated for a moment but diligently followed him inside. In what I thought was a garden, there were poisonous flowers. Oh my!

Jenien slammed the door of the mansion in front of my nose, but I didn’t give up and burst the door open.

The inside was really strange. It was definitely a huge mansion, but inside there were just five antique wooden doors and nothing else.

Of course, the strangest thing was that the wooden doors were floating in the air.

Jenien gave me a key.

“Just go to the second floor, kid. If you go anywhere else, I won’t let it go! I’ll roast you and eat you!”

He really looked like an evil wizard who kidnaps people. The way he screams!

“Where do I go to see my grandfather?”

“Kiiiid. I’m not your graaandfather!”

He bared his teeth, sticking his crooked nose in my face. I couldn’t lose to such an impolite wizard who started screaming as soon as he saw me.

“Why don’t you look in the mirror? How *do* we eat?”

“Just take out whatever you want and eat it!”

“How do I get to the second floor?”

Jenien stomped over and opened one of the doors floating in the air. Inside, I could vaguely see a hallway with several rooms.

I was amazed by the incredible magic, but I didn’t show it at all. Hmph.

“Second floor! You don’t even know that! Aha, you don’t know because you’re stupid.”

“I’m not a stupid kid. I’m Vanessa Rose.”

“Vaa-nee-sa-Rose. How can I remember such a name? I can’t remember anything worthless.”

Jenien scoffed and ridiculed my name.

“What’s your grandfather’s name?”

“I told you, I’m not your grandfather!”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

“You stupid kid! Jenien Pokis Polis Stargera!”

He screamed right into my ear, and oh my gosh. My jaw almost dropped as soon as I heard the name. I didn’t know it was *the* Jenien.

Jenien Pokis Polis Stargera, who compiled and systematized the ancient language magic passed down from the past. That person is so… what a personality! Really!

I hope most of the great people I know don’t have personalities like that? Oh, please say no.

How *do* you know someone like that? What *is* Harihara? Jenien kicks the table as soon as you shout ‘Harihara.’ Of course, I think his foot hurts more.

Anyway, I’ve completely adapted to this house now. Secretly, it’s actually fun.

I look at the magic engraved behind the doors floating in the air, and I sneak into the study to copy ancient books. I see why you said it would be a fun place to stay.

I think I’ve gotten a little closer to Jenien.

The food here tastes so disgusting that I once made a lemon pie. He took one bite and ran away with the whole pie.

He’s been a little nicer to me since then. Just a little….

I even had a meal with him. I actually asked him if he knew you.

“How do you know my patron?”

“Your patron is the worst person in the world. Do you know how arrogant he is? ‘This violates what, and this is so and so….’”

He said it while acting like the most pitiful person in the world, but I didn’t believe a word of it. If you’re bad, he must be the devil or something!

Anyway, the only thing I found out about you is that you know a lot of wizards with strange personalities.

Still, Jenien shows me a lot of interesting things. He secretly likes it when I show interest in what he’s doing.

If I keep asking what this magic circle is, he always starts with ‘You idiot,’ but a very long explanation follows.

Of course, more than half of it is bragging, but half of it is very helpful.

For example, after engraving a magic circle, you have to give it time for the magic to settle, magic circles engraved on Sharnai marble last a very long time, and it’s good to engrave the power of magic with golden ink.

Did you know that fairy dust, which is essential for engraving magic circles, comes off very well with blood? Who figures these things out?

I’m going to go to the pond in the back tomorrow. They say there are strange creatures living there.

Lina and Chevati want to come here during the vacation, but I’m worried because I can’t let the precious daughters of noble families sleep here.

Getting addicted to tormenting Jenien,

Becoming just as nasty,

Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Hmm.”

It’s been three hours since I woke up and buried myself in the sofa to read a book.

Jenien’s house was still quiet. It was thanks to Jenien being so engrossed in his research that he hadn’t left his room for twenty-eight hours.

Vanessa peeked her head up.

“Grandpa Jenien!”

Vanessa shouted into the air in a clear voice, but only her voice echoed off the ceiling.

Usually, he would get angry and jump out if I called him grandpa, but he must be really engrossed in his research.

Vanessa, who was bored, rolled around and then jumped up.

I’ve been reading books to my heart’s content since yesterday, and I don’t feel like sneaking into Jenien’s study today. I definitely don’t feel like touching the poisonous plants in the yard either.

So, I should go to the center of Nimrod to fill the food storage and take a walk.

The conclusion was quickly reached.

“Jenien, I’m going out!”

Of course, there was no answer. Vanessa smiled and jumped out.

She closed the door and walked on the stone path, passing through the front yard full of poisonous plants, which she was now used to. Her bright yellow skirt brushed below her knees with her light steps.

The distance from Jenien’s house to the center was neither too far nor too close.

She walked for a while without knowing how hard it was, thanks to the cheerful birdsong ringing in her ears, but there was something she overlooked. It was noon.

Nimrod was a place where the shade of trees was precious. The city was not large enough to be called a small city, but it was so full of buildings that there was no room to step, thanks to the wizards and engineers who flocked there.

In the end, the small city, lacking in green space, had no choice but to melt in the summer heat.

As soon as she got out of the neighborhood near Jenien’s house, the midday sun began to pour down on her head. Her steps became more and more sluggish in the inescapable heat.

“Ugh, it’s hot….”

It was weather that made her seriously consider going back to Jenien’s house.

Vanessa looked around for a tree shade to cool off, but it was already crowded with people.

Vanessa sadly wrinkled her nose and walked to the fountain, where there was still some space left. People were spreading parasols on the stone wall of the fountain and chatting to avoid the sunlight.

Vanessa barely sat on the edge of the fountain and took a breath. Her brown hair, simply tied with a white ribbon, hung down long, but there was not a single breeze, so it only stuck to the back of her neck.

Amid the noisy people, Vanessa tapped the floor with the toe of her blue shoe. Then someone spoke to her.

“Miss, don’t you have a parasol?”

It was a woman who was drinking juice and chatting with the person next to her. She clicked her tongue at Vanessa, who was directly exposed to the sunlight, and tilted her parasol to share a bit of shade.

“Thank you…. I didn’t know it would be this hot.”

Vanessa smiled awkwardly.

“You have to be careful because the summer here is really terrible. How many people collapse while walking?”

“A parasol is essential during the day, essential. I guess you haven’t been to Nimrod for long!”

The woman who lent her the shade rummaged through her brown basket and handed her a red fruit. Vanessa blushed and bowed her head at the kindness given with a generous smile.

A brief, pleasant chatter passed by. Vanessa took a bite of the fruit. The crunchy texture and rich juice were excellent.

The food storage was empty, so I should buy some freshly baked white bread and a lot of hard brown bread that can be stored for a long time. A little jam and butter, a little fruit. Fresh vegetables.

She was revitalized with just a bit of shade she had borrowed. When she was curiously looking up at the fountain that suddenly splashed water in the opposite direction, someone passing by spoke to her.