Love Letter From The Future

Neoris is a monster of rationality.

For a long time, she had never lost her composure, and it was rare for her to be swept up in emotions that would cloud her judgment. If she had any weakness, it would be her susceptibility to pain.

However, since Ian’s arrival, that weakness had gradually been improving. The previously discontinued torture resistance training had resumed. Of course, the intelligence department members often wore sorrowful expressions.

It was an unavoidable situation.

Neoris was secretly encouraged by the results of the torture resistance training. The thrill of erasing what she had believed to be her imperfection was only heightened for someone with strong self-esteem.

Moreover, surprisingly, the pain from the torture resistance training wasn’t as severe as she had expected.

The history of the Empire was long. Naturally, the intelligence department was the same, and the intensity of the training that had been systematically established over hundreds of years was indeed exquisite.

It didn’t push her to the brink of death, but it made her wish she were dead.

It wasn’t so unbearable that she would quit, yet she found herself wanting to give up.

It was a true tightrope walk—a continuous struggle that was just bearable.

A fine sword is born at the end of an arduous process. With the last of her weaknesses conquered through training, Neoris no longer worried about losing her composure.

At least, she thought so.

Until that day came.

“Recently, there has been strange behavior among the academy students.”

Tap, tap, tap.

On that day, Neoris was feeling uneasy and kept tapping her fingers on the desk.

What was it?

Was it because she didn’t like how the intelligence department members were acting? Was it because she had restless sleep the night before? Or was it simply that she wasn’t feeling well that day?

No matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t find an answer.

Even in the midst of her thoughts, the intelligence department member’s report continued.

“There have been unusually high instances of extreme actions driven by emotion. Fortunately, the intelligence agents seem to be well-prepared for mental manipulation, so the impact isn’t significant, but…”

“Not significant?”

“Pardon?”

The person from the intelligence department was surprised by Neoris’s irritated response.

He blinked his eyes, clearly not understanding the intent behind her question. Realizing her somewhat awkward reaction, Neoris cleared her throat and mumbled the end of her sentence.

“No, forget it… continue with the report.”

The intelligence officer tilted his head in confusion, but a superior’s orders are absolute.

He soon shook off his doubts and refocused on his duties.

“In any case, the atmosphere within the academy regarding this is quite tumultuous. Particularly, there has been a flood of love letters directed at Ian…”

“Love letters?”

“Yes, romantic letters.”

Upon hearing this, Neoris couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Who was Ian Fercurus?

A notorious psychopath who would cut off fingers for not following orders, a cold-blooded individual who wouldn’t even bleed from a pinprick.

Love letters to him?

It was an act that bordered on delusional.

Of course, Ian wasn’t solely a bad superior.

At times he was kind, and the last time he had saved her life, she felt a brief flutter in her heart.

However, upon reflection, she felt increasingly irritable.

Who do they think they are?

How much do they really know about Ian, to be writing letters filled with love and interest? The very thought made Neoris uncomfortably outraged.

The woman’s body trembled.

Seeing the unusual atmosphere, the intelligence officer lowered his voice slightly and continued his report.

“Perhaps, it’s that those who had feelings for Ian have had those emotions amplified…”

“Stop that.”

A concise, curt command.

It was as clear an instruction as could be. Yet, the intelligence officer reporting faltered for a moment.

His face reflected questioning confusion.

Before he could even utter a sound…

Boom!

Neoris slammed her hand down on the desk, rustling the papers stacked on either side.

“Mobilize all personnel from the branch to stop this. Who do they think they are… are they insane? Does Ian have the time to waste on such trivial matters when he’s busy with work?”

I’ve heard he’s been engaging in those trivial matters for quite some time.

The intelligence officer barely swallowed the words that rose to his throat. Neoris’s demeanor indicated just how upset she was, and speaking out would certainly result in a torrent of reprimands.

Instead, he selected the most rational argument to voice.

“Um, Director? As you know, most of our personnel are currently busy attending to His Majesty the Emperor and his entourage. To move them based on personal emotions…”

“Personal emotions?”

Oh no.

The intelligence officer realized he had stepped on a landmine. Anyone would react under that cold, sharp, dark green gaze.

A bead of cold sweat formed on the man’s forehead. Neoris’s fierce expression was something he had never witnessed before.

“Are you saying that I’m mobilizing the branch’s personnel based on personal feelings? What exactly do you think I feel? Do you think I am in love with Ian?”

“Um, that isn’t…”

“Ah, so I’m jealous of those women? And throwing a tantrum like a girl in love… is that it?”

“U-uh, there’s been a misunderstanding.”

The intelligence officer hastily attempted to rectify the situation, but it was already too late.

Boom!

Neoris slammed her hand down on the desk again and slowly stood up. The blaze in her eyes was so fearsome that the intelligence officer instinctively took a step back.

Grinding his teeth.

“Our direct superior is Ian! Not only that, but Ian is a hero renowned across the continent! Can we just let a valuable talent of the Empire be trifled with?”

“However, the possibility of Ian suffering significant damage due to mere students’ romantic feelings or jealousy…”

“Hey.”

Her tone carried no formalities.

It wasn’t just as her position as director; it was Neoris, the individual, expressing anger. Of course, the intelligence officer was well aware of this.

It would have been better had he simply acquiesced.

That incessant ‘loyalty’ kept dragging him back. The fate of a minister who speaks out in front of a tyrant is typically predictable.

“Are you trying to trap a fly?”

“Of course not…”

“You got that? Shut up and drive away those pests.”

It was clear that persuasion would not work on this individual.

In the end, the intelligence officer abandoned his forthrightness and bowed his head.

Even after he left, the woman continued to simmer angrily, grinding her teeth.

“How dare they….”

Of course, it was a natural sentiment, but looking back now.

One could say she had truly become a woman madly in love.

Bang, bang, bang!

This was the hidden context behind the woman’s incessant headbanging.

“I’m crazy, I’m crazy, I’m crazy!”

It was lethal.

To anyone else, it would seem like an odd reaction, but those who knew the backstory could easily guess.

The woman had finally come to realize her uncontrollable feelings.

But did she know?

That this was just the beginning.

From that day on, Neoris began dreaming of Ian every night.

The dreams varied; some were sweet while others were bittersweet, but they had one commonality.

Ian stood at the center of every dream.

Neoris found it hard to accept this fact. How could she have fallen in love with such a cold-blooded individual?

Though she exhibited moments of jealousy, which might have led to some outbursts, it was just a temporary phenomenon. At least, she thought so until she faced the man again.

Then one day.

“Could you look into the hidden stories related to the Haster Clan?”

The man she had tried so hard to forget came with a sudden, seemingly impractical request.

Neoris was about to scoff as usual.

“Ian, this matter involves a very complicated power dynamic. If our minor branch meddles in it, we might…”

It was then.

Ian looked dejected, with eyes filled with sorrow.

Faced with that gaze, Neoris inadvertently cursed under her breath.

She was losing it.

“Is it really impossible?”

“Well, uh…”

Of course, it was impossible.

That was the reasonable response, but words simply wouldn’t come out in front of Ian.

He was so handsome.

She felt foolish. Each time he looked at her, she found herself getting lost in a foggy daze.

She had defined herself as a monster of rationality all this time, swearing that she would never be swept away by emotions.

Before long, the woman was speaking through her barely stifled tears.

“I-I will do my best. Since it’s none other than Ian’s request…”

“Thank you! Neoris (Senior)!”

And then the man took her hand and shook it.

What a fool.

Neoris thought so and tried to calm her racing heart, but she couldn’t suppress the creeping smile on her face.

But she had a sudden realization.

It’s bad.

The beast of rationality had been bested by her first love.

It was just that simple.

Thus, night fell.

A maiden from a distant future swallowed hard. She had only come to see her first love, but she knew that he might not want to see her.

However, the tragedy didn’t last long.

The drunken man suddenly turned around, and the woman managed to grab his arm.

The maiden asked.

“…Hey.”

With tears brimming, she posed an undeniable question.

“Am I… dull to you…?”

It was a question that even the forcibly summoned man couldn’t help but pause at.

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