Love Letter From The Future

5. Bread and dagger (92)

As soon as I realized the identity of the other person, I hurriedly adjusted my clothes.

No matter how sick he was, he had to be polite. Because the emperor’s uncle, the only three masters on the continent and the absolute power of the empire, was sitting right in front of me.

Imperial swordsmith.

The first name had no particular meaning. Anyway, everyone calls him ‘Swordsmith’, and he must have known that he couldn’t live the same life as before.

‘Master’ was such a great stage.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve lived for decades or hundreds of years. The moment they ascend to mastery, they experience an evolution in which all previous lives are uprooted.

It wasn’t a joke or a parable.

Literally, the whole body is reconstructed. The body of the master born in that way did not work with common sense.

They were a race of people who could even control aging at will. I wondered if I could call them ‘humans’.

So all the masters throw away my old name.

It was ‘name’ that took its place. A glorious new name honored by all peoples of the continent.

Sword Gong also abandoned the name of the past a long time ago.

He’s still tied to his lineage, but even if he’s not that far, he’s enough to earn my respect.

Because he was a swordsman who reached the highest level on the continent.

As I broke into a cold sweat, the swordsman burst out laughing.

“Have I been too mean? Just kidding, don’t be so embarrassed. And in fact, I really missed it too. How long has it been since I’ve heard of you… I think the last time I heard of it was when my nephew was so unassuming.”

“If you can’t do it, it must have been decades.”

“Yeah, he grabbed me and beat me up, so my nephew calmed down. Tsk tsk, if I had shown grit then, I would have become a great swordsman to succeed me… … .”

It was a casual voice. Actually, the content was close to crazy.

The emperor’s lineage is noble.

Even though the swordsman was his uncle, the collateral was the collateral. But to beat up the enemy who might be the next emperor?

It was not strange even if he was sentenced to death.

Even so, the fact that the swordsman was still alive and breathing, I had no choice but to think of one of two things.

First, there is a possibility that His Majesty’s friendship was strong and he deliberately looked after it.

And secondly, the possibility that the swordsmith at the time was so reckless that even the emperor would not want to touch it.

It couldn’t have been a rude thought. To think that a nobleman, who should be the spear and shield of the empire, was weighing the circumstances of the imperial family.

However, if someone told me to bet all my fortune on one of the two, I wanted to bet on the latter possibility.

Rumors about swordsmithing in my youth were truly terrifying.

It was fortunate that his disposition had become docile now.

I let out a sigh of relief and smiled awkwardly.

“I’m glad you had a short entertainment. The only thing I want to ask is, why is the swordsman here… … ?”

“Because you called me.”

My eyebrows narrowed at the sudden sound.

What? Have I ever called a swordsman?

My mind, which had been blurry, became clear, and countless memories began to flood in. From the images that hit my brain like a tidal wave, I was able to sift out some information.

Only then did I ask in surprise.

“Have you not heard? I decided to subdue that monster… … .”

“I heard you. But what if you fail? Shouldn’t someone take care of that?”

The corners of the mouth of the swordsman who said that drew a faint arc.

It was a satisfied smile.

“Of course, it was unnecessary worry. Well done, Ian Perkus.”

“It is an exaggeration. On the contrary, there was a part where I picked a beehive… … .”

“It is the result that matters.”

It was a soft but powerful word.

Indeed, it was the dignity of an elder in the imperial family. My mouth was immediately shut.

“The cult that spread among the elves was a bomb that could explode at any moment. Even if I and the saint had come, many sacrifices would have been made in the process of dealing with that monster. That’s why I praise your performance.”

It was an embarrassing compliment.

I thought about what to say, but soon bowed my head slightly to express my sincere gratitude.

He said he would rate me highly, but there was no reason to refuse.

Since this happened, I decided to ask all the questions I was curious about.

“Then, what will happen to your relationship with the elves after that? Does His Majesty the Emperor have anything else to do?”

“That issue should be discussed later.”

The answer was neither positive nor negative.

Unlike me, the swordsman was a real ‘dragon blood character’ owner. Given the weight of each word, it was only natural that he reacted so cautiously.

However, as if to be relieved, the swordsman added a few words.

“We’ll have to see how the elves come out, but if the elves don’t attack us right away, the Empire has no incentive to continue the war with the elves. What would be the point of taking away barren land like coniferous forests? In addition, the Empire is willing to give some land in the north to the elves depending on the outcome of the negotiations.”

“Are you giving away the land? Are you serious?”

“How could I lie?”

At my distrustful question, the swordsman smiled brightly.

It was the Empire that drove the Elves and expelled them from the land of mankind. In addition, there was no place in any country that was not sensitive to the borders of the country.

Of course, so did the Empire.

But what about giving away the land?

I couldn’t help but understand. The imperial family did not welcome the reduction of the empire’s territory even by an inch.

At my cryptic reaction, the swordsman giggled and burst into laughter.

“Don’t make it too complicated. There are still vast unexplored lands in the north. Even if we relocate poor elves to some of them, what damage will it do to the Empire?”

“However, the fact that the territory of the empire was handed over to the elves in the first place… ah.”

I was about to raise my objection quietly, but I soon realized one thing.

There was no way the empire would hand over its territory to the elves who were mere defeated soldiers.

There was only one target the Empire showed mercy to.

“Are you planning to incorporate the elves as subjects of the Empire?”

“That is also a matter to be considered later. In fact, the conflict between humans and elves has been entrenched for too long. We also have to settle the remnants of each other… … .”

At first glance, the answer seemed negative, but there was no clear expression of intention.

In other words, it meant that it was being reviewed positively.

I was about to say that it might be a bit dangerous, but then I stopped.

It was right after the Dark Church started its activities.

On the side of humanity, the more a little, the better. Moreover, after the flesh monster’s attack, the power of the elves was further weakened.

There was no jaw to thrust a blade at the empire.

However, the fertility of the elves was not enormous, and by the time they began to point their blades at humans in earnest, hundreds of years would have passed.

Hundreds of years is longer than you can imagine.

It took less than a few weeks for me, who was only an enemy, to be recognized in the elven village. The elves also had no choice but to hope that the day they would be recognized as such by mankind would come soon.

Above all, the coniferous forest was a very difficult environment to survive in.

When I made a complicated look, the swordsman allowed me to relax for a moment.

A few minutes for him to be silent.

A long sigh escaped my mouth.

“Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. In fact, I also had a crush on elves… … .”

“I know.”

The swordsman took my words leisurely and burst out laughing.

“If the results weren’t good, you’d be accused of being a traitor. Then my sword could have got your blood on it, hahahaha!”

It was a joke thrown around, but I wasn’t stupid enough to not know that the blade was hidden in the words.

It was an advice rather than a warning.

A caution mixed with concern that if you are not careful about your actions in the future, you may break at any time.

Still, I wanted to protest.

“I couldn’t help it.”

Maybe it’s because I’m still delirious?

As soon as I said that one word, my mind went blank. Who am I arguing against now?

To the opponent who is not enough even if he quietly nods his head.

However, the swordsman surprisingly did not show any displeasure.

He even glanced at me as if to say something.

Since the water had already been spilled, I had to stutter and add a reason so as not to offend the swordsman’s planting as much as possible.

“A certain force was intervening in the conflict between humans and elves, and it was highly likely that the identity of that force was the Dark Church. I felt that I might regret it later if I did not throw my body to find out the truth.”

“On the contrary, I might have come to regret that choice.”

“I have no regrets.”

A strong tone came out again.

My body flinched and trembled in surprise, but the swordsman still did not show any displeasure.

My mouth, unable to bear the gaze, confessed my honest feelings.

“I realized this opportunity. The fact that the world I knew was so narrow and lacking… If I hadn’t chosen an elf that day, I would have been content with that small world. I no longer wanted to hate or kill my enemies without knowing why.”

“Huh, you’re good at making strange noises. And he’s too weak for a hero to save the world.”

I slightly averted my gaze at the swordsman’s reproachful words.

I just wanted to say something. Someone who was born strong like a swordsman probably didn’t know my heart.

However, the words of the swordsman that followed were the exact opposite of what I expected.

“But it is a good experience for a prosecutor. The process of recognizing the ‘world’… Be sure to remember that feeling. A swordsman must be able to stand tall like a sword in that world. Furthermore, if you can break that world, even better.”

“… … What are you talking about?”

“Someday you will find out. And at that time, you will be able to receive my sword.”

A level where you can share a workshop with the master even once.

It was a long road.

When I burst out laughing like that, the swordsman brushed off his clothes and stood up.

It meant slowly leaving. It hadn’t even been a few minutes since we had a conversation, and I thought that he was such a difficult person to catch.

Before leaving, the swordsman took out a seal from his bosom and handed it to him as if he had just remembered.

The seal made of antique hardwood had a dragon pattern engraved on it. It was an object that symbolized the emperor’s power.

Something similar already existed for me. It was a seal symbolizing the authority to oversee the academy branch of the Imperial Secret Service.

So what is the meaning of this seal?

The swordsman told me as if it was nothing.

“His Majesty the Emperor has decided to entrust all powers to you.”

“What a ticket… … .?”

“The Yurdina family.”

My mouth was immediately shut.

It was because he realized that the meaning of the seal given by the swordsmith was beyond imagination.

“I’ll see how you deal with the traitor to humanity.”

It’s a test.

It’s also close to a trap.

I instinctively realized this and broke out in a cold sweat. It was a self-inflicted act to deal with a magnate of the Yurdina family under my authority.

It was because they had to shoulder that kind of political burden.

At first glance, it might seem that the Emperor trusted me completely, but there was a more grisly meaning behind it.

I’ll try it.

It meant that we would start with loyalty to the imperial family, and see how well he could differentiate public affairs and private affairs.

Even though there’s no way that I, who came from the swordsmanship department, would have such a talent.

The best thing to do was to decline this offer under the guise of modesty.

Having made up my mind at once, I stumbled and stood up. And he stretched out his hand toward the swordsman who was already holding on to the doorknob.

“Hey, old swordsman! No matter how much I think about it, this is too much for me… … .”

But the moment the swordsman pulled the doorknob.

I have to keep my mouth shut after seeing the people pouring in. Everyone had a familiar face.

The saint and Elsie senior, Emma and the princess. In addition to that, even Yuren looks a bit troublesome.

Women quickly started to cling to me. Up until now, he had only endured it because of the swordsman, but he must have dried up more than anyone else.

“Hey, Ian! it’s okay?”

“Master, do you have any uncomfortable places? Perhaps a prostitute from the insidious Holy Land was playing tricks… … .”

I couldn’t bear to catch the swordsman because I was swept away by the waves.

He just smiled and walked away.

“Be careful with your clothes, junior.”

It was a truly bleak feeling.

**

That night, the place I was going to was decided.

It was a room full of the smell of a seductive woman. From dim lighting to half-transparent pajamas.

One day she told me

These pajamas are only shown to one person. In addition, there was only one man who showed even part of the naked body.

Delphine asked me while laughing.

“I’m here?”

I still had work to do.