Love Letter From The Future

5. Bread and Dagger (60)

The vine given by old man Pope had a mysterious effect.

Every time I took a step, it seemed that the road was drawn by itself. On the map that popped into my head, the trajectory of my movement was displayed.

It was a different sensation.

I wondered why old Pope could find his way through the coniferous forest. If I had something like this, I would of course be able to figure out the coniferous forest.

I was also benefiting from it.

My eyes scanned the burned surroundings. In the place where everything was burnt, a world of black and white spread out.

Only the scorched remains testify to the artifacts that were there.

Looking at the tent and other auxiliary facilities, it was clear that it was a military camp. The human army had dug into this area before they knew it.

Although it caught fire due to an unknown cause.

That was my question.

The North was cold and dry.

Once a fire broke out, there was a risk that it would spread any number of times. It’s a shame that there was snow covering the ground, otherwise last night’s fire could have turned into a major disaster.

Why is coniferous forest able to form such a dense forest?

It was because the environment was not easy to catch fire in the first place.

The coniferous forest was the place where water droplets freeze as soon as they fall. Even more so, the wind blowing all year round was the main culprit in extinguishing the embers that had just bloomed.

Naturally, the probability of a natural fire occurring was extremely low.

Then there was only one answer.

The fire last night was man-made.

But I couldn’t guess the culprit. Who dares to touch the armies of mankind?

If it was an elf, it was possible.

Humans and elves were hostile. Setting fire to military camps was only part of a legitimate military operation.

However, the suspicion I had was starting from that very point.

As far as I know, the elven village around here is the only one where I stay. And our village didn’t even know the location of this military camp.

It meant that the preconditions for burning this place were not met in the first place.

There were only two possibilities left.

Either the elf who went missing yesterday set fire to this place, or there is a third suspect.

The former was soon denied.

It was because my eyes were on the remains of burnt restraints. It was something that could not be made with the elves’ technology.

You’ve been kidnapped.

I immediately guessed the circumstances behind it.

The unfortunate elf wandering in the coniferous forest was caught and interrogated by the human reconnaissance team.

It was difficult to light a fire while being restrained. Even more so, everyone in the military camp must have been watching that elf.

Having discarded another hypothesis, my eyes carefully scanned the surroundings.

In the corner of the fire site, a uniquely heterogeneous terrain was located.

It was a shallow bongbun.

Above it was a sword and a spear. It was a tomb for the dead.

Could it be that soldiers from the military camp returned and collected the body?

I immediately shook my head and denied the reasoning. If so, I should have been more aggressive in erasing the traces.

No commander wanted to expose his position to the enemy. There was no way he would miss the golden opportunity to suddenly attack the elven village.

If it had been right after a noticeable action like a fire, he would have cleaned up the debris left here.

In the end, I couldn’t find the answer and had to turn around.

The body of the missing elf was not even visible. And the criminals who set fire to the military camp were still hidden in the shadows.

Even empty words weren’t a great achievement.

But what can I do?

I was a knight Unless I was a professionally trained skirmisher, there was a limit to what I could grasp.

First of all, the constant was to return to the village as soon as possible.

Then he could borrow the wisdom of the villagers.

Most of them were simple elves, but among them there were old people with a lot of experience like old man Pope. For now, I had no choice but to rely on their wisdom.

Yeah, I thought so.

Until you see the town on fire.

I could feel the heat licking my face and licking it. It was an obvious fire. Otherwise, what should I call that red, blazing thing?

I couldn’t come to my senses for a while.

Humanity’s military camp burned down last night. Naturally, I shouldn’t have been back here for a few weeks.

But it was only a few hours.

While I was away, the village was burning. Hearing the weapons clashing, it was clear that it was an attack.

who the hell and why

What awakened my sunken spirit was the resounding shouts.

“First of all, burn the warehouse! These bastards have quite a lot of food?”

“Oh, no! It’s been a while since I’ve gathered food…”

“Gather all the elves in the center!”

I stumbled and took a step.

The bristling senses conveyed the whole scene to my optic nerve. Among the burning buildings was a food warehouse.

It was the place where the snow leopard meat that was hunted last time was stored. How happy the elves were at that time.

It was now on the verge of being burnt to ashes.

And that wasn’t all.

The huts of Ruggett, Dolph and Isha were also on fire. Old Pope’s cabin was about to catch fire.

I couldn’t stand it any longer.

I hit the ground straight away and was shot. As I repeatedly jumped and jumped, my body moved to the center of the village before I knew it.

There were elves tied up with ropes. And the soldiers dragging them into the center.

I saw the seal of the Yurdina family.

My mind unraveled at random, like a thread that had been cut off. Yurdina-kun couldn’t do that.

Yurdina-kun never attacks the elves first.

It was also declared by Delphine-senpai, and it was common sense in the empire. The Empire has always been on the side of the Elves.

There was never a law to stand on the side of the perpetrator.

At least I knew that until today. But what is the scenery unfolding in front of me right now?

Unfortunately, I didn’t even have time to get lost in my worries.

It hit my uvula and a paroxysmal cry erupted.

“stop!”

Standing tall, the soldiers who lit the fire and moved the elves stopped walking.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, including the elves.

A strange silence fell over the burning village in the background.

The soldiers couldn’t speak for a long time. They opened their eyes wide, then exchanged glances.

My eyes hurriedly scanned the elves. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any dead elves yet.

If so, it could be saved.

I was Ian Percus. He was a hero of mankind, and a person who was fully trusted by the next head of the Yurdina family.

Even if it was an elf, if the opponent was a human, they couldn’t be free from my halo.

Even now, look.

The soldiers who hesitated with confused eyes.

I roared again.

“Stop it, right now… What are you all doing right now? Since when did humanity attack innocent elves!”

The soldiers started to panic over my exclamation.

They shuddered, lowering their torches or loosening their grip on the elf.

I was sure then

It goes through. If this continued, the elves could be saved without any damage.

It was around the time I was so happy inside.

Suddenly, a familiar voice hit my ear.

“……hahahaha, this is true. I never thought I’d see you here.”

Hearing laughter, the bodies of the hesitant soldiers stiffened all at once.

They immediately took a straight posture and saluted. It was the best courtesy I had ever seen.

An honor that only respected superiors can enjoy.

My eyes slowly turned to the source of the voice.

**

“After all, it sounds like you don’t know the location.”

It was a bruise mixed with a sigh.

Several people were gathered in the hospital room prepared on one side of Yurdina Castle.

Not only the sick Seria, but also the saint and Elsie to Emma and the princess.

They were all brought by Ian. Yuren also stood silent behind the saintess like a shadow.

The saintess looked a little nervous. I could tell from the way he kept biting his lip, whether he was nervous.

It wasn’t just the saintess.

Everyone in this room had a confused look on their faces. Only Seria, who had become the target of bruising, simply lowered her head.

she murmured as if to make excuses.

“I can’t figure out the exact location of the operation. I know the approximate direction, but the coniferous forest is an unknown space. It’s a miracle to go so deep.”

“But the owner is staying around there!”

It was the sound Elsie spat out in tears.

Yes. It was not uncommon for me to get lost in the coniferous forest.

It was a problem that could not even be blamed in peacetime.

Because it was a kind of force majeure.

However, the reason why the women were excited now was because of the information Seria brought them.

The area where Seria was last located.

In the elf village there, Ian is staying.

Even with memory loss.

Every time they remembered that fact, the women felt like they were burning their throats. No matter how much cold water he drank, his thirst was not quenched.

When Seria couldn’t say anything, Elsie finally turned her head away with a click on her tongue.

“Tsk, so why the fire and damn… what were you doing until the fire started?”

“I did my best!”

Seria, as if feeling unfair, went to the river with water on her eyes.

“The boundaries were flawless. I didn’t miss the tension either… Obviously, there were no signs other than the soldiers.”

“Does that make sense? I must have missed the elf’s presence. Where else are there other guys to set fire to?”

However, Elsie’s demeanor was cold.

Seria also had nothing to refute. No matter what I said, I was in a situation where I could only testify to my incompetence.

However, Seria could not abandon her lingering feelings until the very end.

“No, I’m sure there was no sign…”

“It’s very likely that Sister Yurdina made a mistake.”

It was the saintess’ assertion. Seria eventually lowered her gaze again.

It looked dead.

It didn’t give much inspiration to the saintess, who seemed like her head would explode from worrying about Ian right away.

“If you were attacked in the coniferous forest, the probability of being an elf is overwhelmingly high. If not, then…”

The saintess removed her lips, and suddenly felt a certain doubt pass through her mind.

It wasn’t a very convincing hypothesis.

But what if Ceria is right?

That night, if really no outsiders penetrated.

Then there was only one answer.

“…there must be a traitor.”

An existence that can plant its own people in Yurdina-kun and set fire to it secretly.

There was only one person who could do that.

It was only the traitor to the Yurdina family who said they were blocking information about the elves.

Of course, the reasoning was soon discarded.

It was because no matter how hard he tried, there was no reason for the traitor to burn down the military camp.

At least from the clues given so far, it was.

**

Bloodstains are left on the snowfield.

The moaning boy was held in the thick gauntlet.

His face was bruised and he was coughing up blood, suggesting that he had gone through a fierce battle.

The result is probably the boy’s complete defeat.

As if showing off his teeth, the winner grabbed the scruff of the neck and dragged it. I immediately recalled the identity of the boy.

A scream like a moan came out of my mouth.

“Inspiring Pope…”

He passed me by with wobbly steps.

Even then, I couldn’t even move as if I was frozen. The man who appeared out of nowhere threw old Pope without hesitation.

With a sigh, old Pope piled on top of the elves gathered in the center.

“Pop inspiration!”

A commotion broke out among the elves.

Old Pope, who was the support of the village, had collapsed, so he was frightened.

The man stood with his back to the scenery.

It was as if the howling elves were a symphony orchestra. He smiled proudly and spread his arms.

The corners of his blood-soaked mouth drew a ferocious arc.

As always.

“Bocchan, are you sure you were here? hahahahaha! You’ve had a lot of trouble hanging out with these low-level elves.”

“He has nothing to do with it!”

It was the sound that Ruggett shouted like an outburst.

The man’s eyes glanced back. Even though his hands and feet were bound, Rugget defended me with blood vessels around his neck.

“That person lost his memory! I didn’t betray you humans! So don’t touch me!”

Hmm, the man was silent for a while.

He stroked his chin and glanced at one of the soldiers. Then, the soldier started running towards somewhere.

The man said his chin and put his hand on my forehead.

“I can’t believe it… You have more to report. No way, amnesia.”

right after that.

Pak, a clear blow sound rang out.

It happened in an instant. The man’s kick hit his temple directly, and Ruggett passed out without even screaming.

I had no choice but to call out the man’s name.

“Sir Alex, no!”

At that one word, the man’s eyes slowly moved as if unexpectedly.

He was an old knight with a solid physique.

Her hair had already turned white for a long time, but her sword-like momentum was still there.

After a while, he burst into a peek and laughed.

“That useless soft part is still the same, Bocchan.”

The silence of the Marquis Yurdina, and a loyalist who had been loyal to the family for generations.

He was the culprit who burned down the elven village.