31. Finally, a Letter

31. Finally, a Letter

Sometimes in life, you completely forget to do things you’re supposed to.

If it’s something really important, you might remember it by taking notes or repeating it in your head… but for things that aren’t, things that are important but not critically important, you often forget them.

In that sense, I was now heading to a general store somewhere in the academy early in the morning to buy stationery.

“I can’t believe there’s a time limit for sending letters, only on weekends….”

That’s right. I thought I could send letters anytime, but it turns out the academy only accepts and delivers letters on weekends.

On top of forgetting to write the letter, I had also delayed the sending time, which was quite troublesome.

“Why on earth can you only send them on weekends….”

They said there was some complex reason. Priscilla explained it with gestures and actions, but I couldn’t understand it, so I just had to memorize it as it is.

Thanks to that, I had to get up so early in the morning.

Even this was only possible because I pleaded with the delivery person right before they were about to leave, so I had to hurry and write the letter. I don’t want to cause trouble for others due to my mistake.

As I walked for a while, I muttered to myself, looking at the complexly intertwined alleys.

“… Where is this place?”

I was following the path Priscilla had shown me, but at some point, the path started to twist and turn.

Eventually, I forgot the path Priscilla had shown me and ended up moving in a direction that felt right, and as a result, I got lost.

Why doesn’t this world have GPS?

It was a moment of genuine lament.

Time was still flowing, even at this hour. I could probably return by running across the rooftops of buildings, so finding a store that sells stationery was the priority.

Anywhere is fine, just please appear before me, store.

I ran through the complex streets, looking around.

And fortunately, after not long, I found a general store.

It was a slightly worn-looking building. It wasn’t the place Priscilla had told me about, but since it was also a general store, it must surely sell stationery.

Perhaps because it was in a secluded area, or perhaps because it was morning, there were no customers. I entered without hesitation and began searching for stationery among the densely packed items.

However….

“… Where on earth is it?”

This general store had so many items for sale that I couldn’t find any stationery. The more I tried to find stationery, the deeper into a mire I felt I was falling.

Did I look here? Or was it over there?

As I searched for items, the shelves became disordered, and when they became disordered, I couldn’t remember if I had looked here before, creating a vicious cycle. In this hopeless situation, I let out a deep sigh.

Time was still flowing even as I couldn’t find the stationery. The delivery man must be waiting for me too. I had to hurry.

My heart grew anxious. My tail swayed unhappily and puffed up.

Tap, tap, my tail impatiently hit the shelves behind me.

The thought of cutting through all these items blocking my view and finding the stationery began to surface in my mind.

-Skadi.

-Yes.

-If your head isn’t working, at least use your body.

At the same time, my father’s advice, which was meant to be bone and flesh, flashed in my mind.

Yes, there’s no need to hesitate. I began to prepare to cut through everything around me in half.

I placed my hand on the sword hilt and assumed a drawing stance. In the frozen time, a chill filled the surroundings, and as white mist flowed out with my momentarily frozen breath….

In my sight, I saw a man with golden hair… no, a woman.

“Golden Sun?”

“Huh?”

Golden Sun turned towards me, perhaps hearing my voice. Her eyes-or where I assumed her eyes were-met mine.

“Fancy meeting you here?”

Golden Sun greeted me. I awkwardly removed my hand from the sword and returned the greeting. Of course, despite my natural actions, cold sweat was flowing from my forehead.

… I can’t believe there was someone in the store. That was a close call.

Golden Sun, unaware of her near-death experience, asked me.

“What did you come here to buy?”

“I came to buy some stationery. I need to send a letter to my sister. But I can’t find it anywhere, do you happen to know where it is?”

“If you don’t know, ask the owner.”

Then Golden Sun shouted “Uncle!” towards somewhere.

As a result, there was a slight rattling from the tall shelves, and then a man with messy hair, a plump and portly appearance, suddenly emerged. He was characterized by a thick nose and small glasses.

The man shouted.

“You already took my money, why are you calling me again this time!”

“My friend is looking for stationery. Where is it?”

“Friend?”

The man pushed up his glasses, looked intently at me, and said.

“What’s this beastkin? Are there beastkin in the Empire?”

“Watch your mouth, uncle. She’s a Grand Duchess, a person far higher than you.”

“What….”

Hearing Golden Sun’s words, the man’s eyes widened. His glasses had a high prescription, so even though they were bigger, his eyes were still as small as beans.

I stared at him intently. If he came any closer, I intended to send him flying with a burst of energy.

It’s not good to comment on someone’s appearance, but I couldn’t help but feel annoyed by his plumpness.

“Oh my! Such a distinguished guest has come all the way here!”

However, contrary to my worries, the man clasped his hands together and began to smile brightly. With an expression that anyone could tell was for business, he continued.

“What are you looking for! Ah, yes, you said stationery! We have all the stationery in the world right here. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll bring it all to you!”

“Hmm….”

The 180-degree change in his attitude made me feel awkward just watching it. But since I didn’t have time to say anything, I asked him to just give me a suitable piece of stationery.

Soon, he brought stationery from somewhere and said.

“Yes! Here you go. This is a premium… made by scraping the inside of an Elder Treant and drying it….”

“Never mind the explanation, just give it to me.”

I snatched the stationery from him, threw some gold coins in return, and started writing the letter on the spot.

A letter starting with, “Freya, how have you been?”

After writing a simple greeting, I wrote about what happened at the academy. As I was writing, Golden Sun, who was watching from the side, asked.

“… What exactly did you write?”

“Just a greeting. Why?”

“No, your handwriting is quite….”

“My handwriting? My sister could read it perfectly fine.”

I know my handwriting isn’t the best, but it’s not illegible. I replied, thinking of my sister who could read my writing instantly. My hands were still in the process of writing the letter.

After hearing my answer, Golden Sun asked.

“Are you close with your sister?”

“Yes. I practically raised her, so we’re very close.”

“Oh ho.”

“We hug all the time, kiss each other, wash each other… Yes, we’re probably closer than most sisters.”

“What?”

Golden Sun asked back with a blank expression. I tilted my head.

“Why? It’s a normal thing.”

“… No, it’s nothing. Your sister, um, she doesn’t mind?”

“No.”

It was common sense that my sister had taught me. Common sense that only I didn’t know. Golden Sun asked me again.

“… Your sister told you that?”

“Yes. Since I don’t know many things, I often get help from my sister.”

Seizing the opportunity, I started boasting about my sister. Everything my sister had done to help me, everything she had taught me… I told Golden Sun as if I were showing off my precious daughter.

“Oh ho…. Hmm, you said you’re writing a letter to your sister now?”

“Yes.”

“Then how about including this content?”

“Huh?”

Golden Sun pointed to my letter and said. Hearing her words, I asked her back.

“Should I write more details about what happened?”

“Yes. Close sisters shouldn’t hide anything from each other. Right?”

“Hmm, that’s true.”

True sisters should share their innermost thoughts without hiding anything. No lies.

“Then you should also write in detail about what happened at the academy, shouldn’t you?”

“Well, yes… but time is…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. No one will mind if you’re a little late to depart. Anyway, it takes several days for the letter to arrive, so who cares if you’re a few hours late?”

“… Is that so?”

It was a surprisingly plausible statement.

Soon, I decided to invest more time and began adding content to the letter. For some reason, Golden Sun took on the role of editor beside me.

“No, shouldn’t you write more explicitly?”

“More than this?”

“You’re sisters. You shouldn’t hide anything.”

“… Mmm.”

It felt like I was writing an essay detailing my experiences with Priscilla, rather than a letter. Let’s see, “I washed Priscilla’s chest clean in the bathroom….”

Hmm.

“Is it done now?”

“Yes, this should be enough. If you get a reply later, show it to me too. I need to see if it went well… I mean, if it was interesting.”

Golden Sun wore a satisfied expression. I smiled along with her, carefully folded the letter, sealed it, and then went to find the letter delivery person and handed it over.

Freya, my sister. Wait a little longer. The letter is on its way.