Love Letter From The Future

The ‘boundary’ is an unclear space.

It was a place where most people were unaware of its existence. Since it was literally a location that was no different from the boundary between reality and unreality, the possibilities generated from it were infinite.

For example, the past and future could intertwine.

Common sense-defying phenomena could occur.

Causality could be twisted.

Moreover, it was even possible to physically destroy the conceptual. It was no exaggeration to say that the moment one glimpsed the ‘boundary’, a new world opened up.

However, with such power comes a price.

There was not a single person who could fully understand and manipulate the ‘boundary’. Rather, there were likely more who, swept away by that unprecedented flow, would never regain their consciousness.

Even the great being, the ‘Master’, who claimed to have seen the end of martial and magical paths, could not fully comprehend all the anomalies the ‘boundary’ brought forth. Just look at the ‘Great Witch’.

Strange memories intertwine.

I could not understand the reason. In fact, looking back, it started at some point.

Was it when I first met the brat named ‘Ian Fercurus’?

Or was it after he numbed the pain gnawing at the Great Witch’s whole body?

There was a woman occupying a corner of the Great Witch’s unconsciousness. It was a strangely familiar yet not entirely unfamiliar feeling.

It wasn’t that I could not guess the cause.

It was probably the influence of the ‘boundary’.

The vampire opened the gate of the boundary, which manifested in the middle of the Academy. Naturally, it wouldn’t be surprising if an event occurred that could not be understood in ordinary terms.

For example, even if memories that did not exist crawled into my mind.

Even if emotions uncontrollably surged within me, I could do nothing. That strange sense of familiarity towards a fresh face I had never seen before must also stem from such exceptional phenomena.

However, words like ‘by chance’ do not exist in this world.

Even coincidence is born from some seed of likelihood. The Great Witch had always doubted this point, but now I felt as if I might finally understand the reason.

“First.”

It was a brief call.

It was a title that had come to stick to my mouth without myself realizing it. A word directed at a certain man during a strange memory.

Another future was encroaching from beyond the ‘boundary’.

It wasn’t only the ‘Great Witch’. I do not know what Ian had done, but he was also strongly influenced by the ‘boundary’. One could tell that just from his previous rampaging state.

‘Invasion’.

The reason why Ian’s body, which rightly should have perished, was still maintained, and why he could not control his own emotions, were related to this.

He could not distinguish his own memories from those of others.

So, he was overlapping a strange memory onto the current scenery.

Of course, it wasn’t just about possessing flaws. As the man’s spirit gradually became stained with strange memories, so too did his power steadily grow.

Perhaps that was Ian’s goal.

To sacrifice his body to accept memories far too burdensome, and through this, to overwhelm the vampire.

It was an act of suicide.

The Great Witch realized this fact immediately. It was as if a personality from beyond the ‘boundary’ was crying out.

That it should be stopped soon.

The Great Witch decided to willingly heed the inner voice.

“Teacher…”

The man’s voice, which spoke weakly, was clouded. In a situation where he could not even recognize who he was, it signified that he had absorbed as many memories from beyond the boundary.

Perhaps it belonged to that ‘Arrogance’.

The term ‘Teacher’ also likely originated from his memory.

Thus, the current Ian was more like the ‘Arrogance’ from beyond the boundary than the ‘Ian’ of this world.

It was a typical phrase from someone who had drawn upon an unbearable power.

If things went on like this, the body, unable to endure the imbalance between body and mind, would surely collapse on its own.

However, a temporary remedy was possible.

“…You did well.”

Though the details were unknown, it was clear that the Great Witch and the man had formed some kind of relationship in the world beyond the boundary.

That was why my heart felt so heavy. The thin humidity in my tone bore the same meaning.

The main cause of the rampage was due to an inability to control the emotions contained within the memories of ‘Arrogance’.

If that were the case, then it was necessary to quell that intense resentment. Namely, by borrowing the memories from beyond the boundary.

The Great Witch began to separate the emotions that were gradually filling her heart. Memories, recollections, and pains all originated from that strange appearance.

Yet there was one point that remained bothersome. The Great Witch’s mental state was solid, thus it was resistant to external influences. Nevertheless, why did memories and emotions intrude so freely?

“You’ve worked hard during this time… You’ve tried a lot.”

The man’s ragged breaths began to settle.

It was a sign that the rampaging emotions were subsiding. Meanwhile, the Great Witch’s emotions remained precarious, like a stormy sea.

From the man who had been wandering through a past that did not even exist, a soft breath escaped.

“I need to take revenge… revenge…”

What could that mean?

There was no time to understand. The Great Witch allowed his moving lips to remain as they were.

Yes, now it was understandable.

How could the mind of a being who had reached the level of Master be so unstable?

“Why do you need to? I’ve already done that.”

“In the end, I couldn’t protect anything.”

“As long as you’re okay… I always told you, didn’t I?”

It was that much of a desperate desire.

The wish of the ‘Great Witch’ from beyond the boundary lingered and flowed into the consciousness that still remained in the boundary.

I could not fathom why she so desperately wanted to converse with this man.

However, some image briefly flashed before my eyes.

It was of a different kind than the strange memories that had been piercing my brain until now. If that brought ecstasy in happiness, now it was closer to a sharp pang of sorrow stabbing the heart.

The burning Great Forest.

In that place, the woman stretched out her hand to wipe the man’s tears.

Out of pity for the one who was crying?

I was not sure, but the memory of the ‘Great Witch’ who had come from beyond the boundary seemed to desperately long for a reunion with the man.

“A priest’s bond is like that between parent and child; a brother’s bond is like that between siblings. So it is we who are most important.”

“But…”

“You were the most precious to me.”

The flicker of tremor in the man’s pupils came to a halt around that time.

“It wasn’t just me; it was the second as well… Did we ever want your sorrow?”

Silence.

The ragged breaths began to calm, and the overflowing blood diminished. It was a signal that his blood pressure was stabilizing.

“You can forget it now.”

“How?”

“Are you trying to make your teacher regret their decision?”

It was a common story.

The man’s life turned into a funeral because he could not forget death, and the teacher, feeling pity for this, wanted to put an end to that sorrow by any means.

I have no regrets about my choice to die for you.

As the fog cleared, light returned to the man’s vacant eyes. The fleeting glimpse of the golden pupils in the last moment was piercingly tired.

“…You’re still the same.”

That bitter remark stayed particularly deep in my heart.

Thus, it was over.

At last, the Great Witch’s mind, which had shaken off the lingering feelings from beyond the boundary, felt a momentary dizziness. It was understandable, given that this memory had disturbed her personality and emotions for several days.

Could it have been the influence of that intense wish?

Before long, a white light seeped from the man’s empty shoulders. This place was the ‘boundary’, a location strongly influenced by one’s inner images.

The last appearance remnants from the ‘Great Witch’ who had come from beyond the boundary were being recreated. This too must have been a byproduct of the desire to recreate that scene from then.

Either way, there was no loss.

Now the man had escaped the brink of death, and after briefly closing and opening his eyes, Ian had finally regained his senses.

“…Great Witch?”

It was a dazed voice from someone who had just come back to life before death.

Upon hearing that voice, the Great Witch could only swallow a laugh. Finally, she let out a sigh of relief.

A small hand sharply struck the man’s forehead. Though it didn’t carry much strength, it did not inflict meaningful pain on the robust knight’s body.

Before Ian could even say anything.

The Great Witch burst into a smile.

“Have you finally woken up? Silly child, there’s still work to do…”

And then, suddenly.

Time stops. A crimson spear pierces the woman’s small body, and the Great Witch’s figure twists in the direction of the spear’s trajectory.

Fortunately, the magic shield altered its course at the last moment. The barrier hastily conjured by Elsi from afar prevented the worst-case scenario of having her heart pierced.

But that was all it could do.

Like leaves swept away by a gale, the Great Witch’s body vanished in an instant. Only bloodstains remained where the woman had been, leaving no trace behind.

Ian gasped, scrambling to the ground as he got up.

The surprise attack aimed at the Great Witch was not over yet. At last, an amorphous crimson tidal wave surged towards the Great Witch.

There was no time to ponder. Following the judgment of the remaining memories, Ian hastily swung his sword down.

Crack!

The surrounding blood split apart, losing its momentum. However, at that point, the crimson wave was but moments away from reaching the Great Witch.

A long-forgotten laughter erupted.

“Puhahaha, ahaha, ahahahahaha!”

It was a laugh that had become far too familiar.

The woman, whose half was torn apart, now wore a fresh blue smile as she miraculously regenerated her body.

“…Why did you end it on your own? We still have accounts to settle, don’t we, brat?”

The monster took a staggering step forward.

No matter how you looked at it, it was abnormal. Yet it did not seem like an easily defeated opponent either.

Ian narrowed his eyes for a moment but did not respond adequately. He had just regained his senses and wasn’t in a clear state of mind yet.

Who would have expected such a grueling fight?

“Now, let’s bring this to an end…!”

Only one figure was prepared for the possibility.

The sky splits open.

No, in fact, the sky had been torn for quite some time now. It hadn’t been long since Naejin’s wrath poured down.

Bang!

The storm of the brain crashed down from beyond the unhealed wounds. The shockwave burst the ground apart, but Ian had no time to be dazed before that.

“What are you doing?! Run right now!”

At the sound of a familiar voice echoing from afar, Ian’s body instinctively pounded the ground.

The rampage had ended, but the memories from that time still remained.

The man, whose body had finally healed, was terrifying in his intoxication. He could easily send the woman’s body, which had been unable to move under the torrent of Naejin, flying away instantly.

For now, the culmination.

The condensed starlight pierced through the wave of lightning pouring down, aiming for the woman’s heart.

The sound of the sword exploding rang out as it halted just before her heart. Even jolted by the downpour, it meant that the vampire had forcibly squeezed out his muscles to block it.

At last, with Naejin’s descent over.

The vampire forced a quiver in his trembling lips as he managed to suppress his humor.

“…I’m a bit late, huh?”

Ian’s response was succinct.

“Resolution.”

An application of the dissolution learned from the Great Witch.

What would happen if the widely dispersed aura was suddenly concentrated and shot out?

Boom! The condensed aura exploded, tracing a line of light.

The vampire’s body vanished.

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