Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 110

To my dear friend, Chevati Milo Dotti.

Thank you so much for the delicious snacks. How did you know I’ve been craving sweets lately?

You made the jellies yourself? Wow, how did you get the shapes and colors so perfect?

Why don’t you open a shop? Of course, I’d be your best customer, so you wouldn’t have to worry about sales. I’ll come over in the evening and finish off whatever’s left.

Thank you for asking about Gideon. Actually, hardly anyone knows about Gideon and me, so it’s strange to see his name in a letter.

Lina always acts like Gideon doesn’t exist, so if she has to mention him, she just writes ‘that person.’ It’s really funny.

And she never tells me who she’s seeing!

Last time, she rejected someone her parents introduced her to after just an hour. When I asked why, she said his long, thin nose was full of green snot. She said he kept wiping it with a handkerchief and must have had a terrible cold, adding that it was a truly awful day.

Gideon is probably very tired, but I’m sure he’s doing well.

We actually work in the same Special Forces building, but we’ve never really talked inside! Since our last outing, we’ve only passed each other in the hallway once or twice. He’s very busy right now.

Actually, why would the commander come looking for a low-ranking lieutenant like me to talk to? It would be strange if he did.

Sometimes I think I’m too selfish. I don’t want to reveal our relationship because I’m afraid of what others will think, but at the same time, I feel sad when he just passes by, even though I’m the one who bows my head so we can’t even make eye contact.

Relationships are so difficult. It’s hard to control the endless desires. It used to be easier to give up.

Could it be that being greedy is actually progress for me?

The Special Forces job you were so worried about has become quite familiar now. It’s already been over a month!

The work is endless, so it’s hard sometimes, but when I see the reports of damage from monsters decreasing across Frebah, I feel energized again.

Chevati, what does it mean to know something?

I’ve always enjoyed the process of gaining new knowledge. And I’ve always felt that having various experiences is a joyful thing.

But lately, I’ve been feeling deeply that there are things you don’t necessarily need to know.

I’ve already seen the bottom of many things. Because of that, as you know, I grew up to be a very worried person!

However, after going to the Academy, I thought I had grown up in too desperate an environment.

So I was changing my thinking to believe that the world is different from what I knew, and that there are actually more good people.

Because there’s the very kind benefactor, and you and Lina, of course! Evan and Daloys, and even the professors. (Yes, I’ll include Gideon here, of course.)

So my perspective on the world was changing a bit for the better.

But lately, I’ve learned something new again. People are basically good ‘when they make decisions that don’t affect their own interests.’

The moment their interests are involved, people change. The choices they make then don’t seem to be based on good and evil…

What am I saying? It’s just what I’ve been seeing lately. There seem to be so many people who easily ignore the unhappiness of the vast majority for their own benefit.

Somehow, knowing seems to be a process of me becoming more negative… Discovering the hidden truth and sadly putting down my pen.

But I still want to believe in the goodness of people.

Well, what can I do? I’ll just have to keep getting backstabbed.

Please give my regards to your kind mother and father, and to Cesare!

I think all this will be sorted out within two months. Next time, I’ll visit the Milo Dotti mansion with lots of gifts.

If you don’t mind, that is!

With much affection,

Vanessa Rose.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The Special Combat Unit was an organization created by the Archmage Bam Bandalu.

As the Edirne Empire collapsed for unclear reasons not recorded in history books, new kingdoms were born in various places across the continent.

However, the power of the kings was very weak, and the systems were crude. The weak had to endure the damage from monsters with their own bodies.

Under the full trust of King Frebah, Bam Bandalu argued that there was a need for those who would protect the kingdom’s people.

‘The mages who are loyal to the king must step forward and drive out the monsters themselves.’

That was the beginning of the Special Combat Unit. In the early days, it made a name for itself as a unit that only dealt with monsters. When mages in black uniforms appeared, the kingdom’s people showed their full support with tears, and the king’s popularity also increased.

However, as more than a thousand years passed, the problems they had to deal with could not be limited to monsters. The causes of the problems were diverse.

It could be a natural occurrence, but it could also be an artificial one.

And in fact, the latter caused bigger problems.

Vanessa was busy writing a report. As it was her first report to be submitted after her dispatch, she was overflowing with the enthusiasm typical of a new recruit to do it perfectly.

So overflowing, in fact, that even with the sky already dark, she was still stuck at her desk, tearing at her hair.

‘A brief summary that’s easy to understand would be better, right? But is the content too short? Should I increase the amount even a little bit…’

Vanessa was seriously worried, unaware that there were members who submitted reports with just three lines – went, dealt with, no problems.

After twirling the pen in her hand several times, Vanessa finally added her signature to the front page.

Okay, let’s close it. No matter how many times I think about it, the first report is bound to be lacking. I don’t know where to focus. It’s better to get feedback on the lacking parts and do better next time. This is a waste of time.

But her mind quickly changed.

No, there might still be some parts to improve!

This was definitely Gideon’s fault. She didn’t think that a mere lieutenant’s report would go directly to the commander, but just in case, really just in case! She couldn’t stop herself from constantly revising the content, afraid of what he would think after seeing it.

Eventually, her hand crept towards the pen, and her eyes began to quickly scan the content. It was an action she had already repeated about eight times, but she didn’t even realize it.

Thanks to that, she had already passed her scheduled quitting time, and darkness began to fall outside the window. The weather had warmed up a lot, and she could hear the voices of people sitting in the nearby garden, chatting.

The sound suddenly made her actions seem even more pathetic.

The weather is so nice, and I can’t even enjoy an evening stroll. What am I doing? Gideon is busy and probably not thinking about anything.

So, let’s just look at it one last time. Just check if there are any typos and really go home. Okay, Vanessa Rose?

Vanessa glared at each letter as if she were going to devour it.

Just then, someone burst open the door.

‘Who keeps leaving the lights on every day! It’s so annoying. From tomorrow, I’m going to record each one and make them mine magic stones in the mine—oh? What is it?’

‘Why, is someone there?’

Vanessa’s blue eyes, peeking over the papers, blinked in confusion.

‘L, Lieutenant Rose.’

It was because she met the eyes of Gideon, who had a flustered expression, his face towering over the other members. His eyes seemed to be asking why she was still here.

For some reason, she felt a chill run down her spine.

There were quite a few people standing outside the door. Four people in uniform, one person not in uniform.

There were faces she was happy to see, and faces she was seeing for the first time, but their curious gazes were equally embarrassing.

Vanessa paused and stood up.

‘H, hello…?’

Her voice, unable to find its bearings, faltered awkwardly.

Gideon aside, why are the others staring like that? Have they never seen someone working before?

‘…Lieutenant, why aren’t you home? I thought you hadn’t been back from your dispatch for very long.’

Gideon’s quiet question was interrupted by an oblivious exclamation.

‘Oh, that’s great. It would be better if we went together.’

The red-haired man in uniform spoke in a carefree voice. He didn’t even notice his commander’s cool stare and kept chattering.

‘I know that lieutenant is a magic-specialized member. It’s a perfect fit for the job right now.’

‘…She’s not in charge of this work, so she’s not suitable. Lieutenant, do enough and go home.’

At the firm words, the shaggy man who had been standing slightly to the side glanced at Gideon’s face and smiled gently.

The man was not wearing a uniform…

‘There’s a reason why you have such a good reputation. To manage the members scattered throughout Frebah, you must need two bodies, yet you know everything down to the work handled by a mere lieutenant.’

Gideon’s face turned cold at those words. Vanessa shrank her toes hidden in her shoes. Fortunately, her face had been confused from the start, so it probably wasn’t very noticeable.

The man with the messy hair came inside and extended his hand for a handshake.

‘I’m Baras from the Intelligence Agency. What’s your name, member?’

‘Vanessa Rose.’

‘Ah, that Lieutenant Rose. It’s nice to meet you.’

The man who introduced himself as Baras slowly blinked his slightly drooping eyes. Despite his surprisingly harmless-looking face, there was a strange sharpness to everything he said.

‘It’s been a long time since His Majesty personally chose a member, so I wanted to meet you. It would be great if you came with us. Of course, the decision is up to the commander of the Special Forces.’

The man smiled gently.

‘You might be reluctant from the position of having to ‘protect’ her, but this time, aren’t you in a position where you need to be protected externally?’

Whether it was because he was from the Intelligence Agency, or whether there was really something there, it felt like there were bones in his words.

Vanessa glared resentfully at her report.

What did one typo matter? If I had just done enough and gone home, I wouldn’t be here like this, and I would have been leaning against a soft cushion, reading a book before going to sleep!

One of the members with his arms crossed also expressed his agreement.

‘Last time, we took a new lieutenant to a similar job, and he’s been more cautious since then. It seems like a good idea, Commander.’

Vanessa, who had given up on going home, put on her coat without waiting for Gideon’s answer.

Fortunately, the short clothes were comfortable to move in.

‘…Okay, the lieutenant will come with us too.’

At the words that fell like a sigh, Vanessa took a big step towards the door.