Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 119

To Teacher, From Vanessa Episode 119 (119/146)

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Teleportation portals were common in the East. While expensive to install, their maintenance costs were even higher, making widespread placement difficult.

However, the East had a tradition of wealth, and its people actively sought portals, even pooling resources to cover maintenance. They believed this would boost the East’s development, and they were right.

Thanks to the relatively easy movement of people, the East transformed into a region brimming with famous tourist attractions.

“Wow.”

Vanessa gazed at the distant beach, her eyes wide with curiosity. Sparkling white foam, reflecting the sunlight, flickered and vanished, only to be pushed back by the waves, re-decorating the beach in white.

Even if it wasn’t a leisure trip, the beautiful scenery excited her. Perhaps her heart had simply lightened.

“Feeling better?” Evan asked.

Vanessa smiled and nodded.

With her 고민 [worries/troubles] resolved, she was ready to move forward. She was even eager to face him again. She just needed to land one good hit.

Evan grumbled quietly.

“Your eyes are all swollen. You told me to get lost, and now you’re all smiles?”

“I never told you to get lost. I told you to go to work.”

“Isn’t that the same thing? Honestly, was it a love problem?”

Lieutenant Grain clicked his tongue, watching the two bicker without any real tension.

“Hey, Lieutenants. Inis is beautiful, sure, but you can’t be so carefree… Take my luggage to the accommodation. I’m going to grab some juice over there.”

Captain Sleiman, equally frustrated by their nonsense, lightly kicked them all.

“Are you going to get your act together? The Inis subjugation records are vague. Move it!”

The small city bustled with activity.

Inis directly benefited from the Special Forces’ past subjugation. The locals greeted the Special Forces members with friendly looks.

As a resort city, the accommodations were splendid. Uniquely shaped roofs caught the eye, and flower pots adorned each window, petals gently swaying in the breeze. The air felt like spring.

Vanessa tossed her luggage into a simple room and placed the Hornir [a magical communication device] on the table. Quickly, she scribbled a few lines on a piece of paper.

The handwriting was rushed, the signature half-smeared, but the content was what mattered. She included all the sentences she’d been thinking about.

Vanessa stroked the paper, satisfied.

“Lieutenant Rose, come down!”

“Yes, I’m coming!”

Vanessa placed the letter in the Hornir’s opening. Watching the yellow light inside, she ran out of the room.

“Our target is the magic circle of 밤 반달루 [Bam Bandallu – likely a proper noun, possibly a location or person]. It’s okay if it’s not there, but if we find it, we need to assess the damage and report it,” Captain Sleiman said, leaning against the fence, his tone indifferent.

Despite his tone, he had a flower in his mouth, which suited the colorful clothes of the Inis people.

“Honestly, this goal is difficult because it’s so ambiguous. If it ‘has a magic circle,’ we just find it, but if it ‘may or may not be there,’ it’s awkward.”

Everyone nodded.

“But we have to do our best. We’ll split into pairs. I’ll go with Lieutenant Rias… Lieutenant Grain, you’re with Lieutenant Rose. Search the subjugation site. Mark any traces of magic.”

“Yes.”

Lieutenant Grain adjusted the medium-sized sword at his waist. Vanessa looked at the distant high cliffs and surrounding forest.

“Let’s go, Lieutenant.”

Vanessa nodded.

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‘I need time to think.’

Vanessa’s words echoed in Gideon’s head.

What conclusion would she reach? He wasn’t confident…

What if she decided to leave? What could he do to win her back? Anything he did might seem like another deception. Even if he faced that misunderstanding, he’d have no defense.

He never wanted to reveal it himself. He wanted to avoid it forever. What if her feelings were built on a fragile foundation, shattered by a single truth?

Of course, it was his fault…

All that remained was to humbly await her choice.

But he had tasted too much already.

He knew the joy of her smile, the trembling her touch aroused, the peace her warmth brought. He had forgotten his solitary existence.

The thought of her leaving after changing him drove him crazy. Nothing was more precious than her now.

Lost in thought, he didn’t notice where he was going. Others noticed him, but he remained oblivious.

Even if he had noticed, he probably wouldn’t have cared.

Instead of their leader, the Special Forces members exchanged glances and mouthed silently.

‘Damn it, stop staring!’

‘He really looks terrible.’

‘Should we go ahead and tell him to rest?’

‘If I were you, I wouldn’t say anything to the Captain right now.’

‘What’s going on?!’

‘How would I know?’

Usually, he was their leader, sharp and flawless. And where were they going? To the temple, the presumed source of the monster damage.

Gideon had initiated this investigation. He had discovered the strange group when he saw the 밤 반달루 magic circle the day he fell into the cave with a student.

They expected him to be burdened yet relieved to close the book on this case.

Instead, he looked tired, depressed, and even fierce.

He had tiring days, but Gideon never showed it. Their leader seemed made of iron…

What was the gloom in his eyes, the furrow in his brow, the stiffness in his jawline?

A question mark hung over the heads of the Special Forces members. No one had an answer.

“Ahem.”

Ariana from the Ministry of Justice, their witness for 프리바’s [Priba – likely a location] legal code, walked with them, slightly out of breath.

Her slender legs seemed likely to falter on the dirt road, but she stubbornly kept pace. The other Ministry of Justice members lagged far behind, showing her tenacity.

Riet coughed and sidled up to Ariana. Ariana was just a Ministry of Justice member, but she was the second daughter of a good family, so she might know something.

“Ahem, any bad news from the joint meeting lately?”

“I don’t know anything… but joint meetings are always chaotic.”

Ariana replied smoothly. Riet frowned and moved away.

Why was the captain like that?

Ariana smiled brightly.

“Worried about the Captain’s mood?”

“The Captain’s mood greatly affects the members.”

Ariana smiled softly, not like a tenacious, hunting-dog-like Ministry of Justice member.

“I wasn’t planning on applying here, but Captain Gideon came himself, so I did. I picked the wrong day; he’s not in a good mood. Still, he’s hard to walk with…”

Riet scratched her head at Ariana’s words, which hinted at other intentions.

This often happened when collaborating with other departments. Gideon, who had no rumors, was popular within 퓌돔 [likely a location].

Tsk tsk, even his gloom and fatigue seemed like decorations that adorned his shaded eyes. Someone moderately like my husband is best!

Riet happily recalled her husband’s burly face and walked ahead of Ariana.

The road to the temple wasn’t far.

The temple, nestled against a forest, was near where wizards had drawn one-time teleportation magic circles. A slight slope on a dirt road led to it. Soon, the priests standing in front of the gate came into view. They were blocking the people from the royal palace. A frustrated sigh came from the front. Riet clicked her tongue. The Special Forces and the Ministry of Justice had legitimate orders from the king, but they were still making a fuss.

Even at close range, Gideon didn’t slow down, despite a priest shouting.

The distance between him and the priests closed. A Special Forces member started to stop Gideon. But…

There wasn’t even a gesture. The moment his finger brushed his sword, the magic was done. The opponents had no time to defend. Even if they knew, they couldn’t have.

The air pressed down on the priests, forcing them to kneel. They looked bizarre, as if worshiping someone.

Even those from the royal palace flinched. Gideon indifferently passed them and headed to the temple entrance.

“What are you doing? This is a temple!”

“The king is trying to strengthen his authority and punish the flawless temple!”

The ones pressed down like frogs shouted, but only the sound of his heavy footsteps answered.

“You will be punished by heaven!”

Gideon didn’t even blink.

He feared something else more than corrupt priests or a god he’d never seen: Vanessa leaving him.

That had already happened. Gideon saw nothing else.

As he strode forward, the sound of footsteps echoed behind him. The thick military boots made a loud sound.

“Captain, you’re acting fiercely today, or is it my 착각 [misunderstanding]? Is that 모습 [appearance/behavior] a bit much?”

Colonel Riet, who quickly followed, spoke slyly, but Gideon replied coldly.