A Letter from Chloe and an Unexpected Encounter with Elena
A cheerful chirping sound filled the air. Was it morning...? Wait, no. We hadn't camped out on the roadside yesterday, yet why was the bird's cry so clear and distinct?
“What is that...?”
Something felt off. I sat up and spotted a small bird pecking at the window with its beak. I carefully got up to not disturb Celine, who was still soundly asleep beside me.
“...A bird?”
“Chirp! Are you the hero, Lord Abel?”
“Huh!?”
I jolted backward in surprise. Why is it talking!?
“U-um... Hero...?”
I had tried so hard not to wake her, but my own startled shout woke Celine instead. I felt a little guilty as I said to her.
“C-Celine. This bird is talking.”
“The bird can talk...?”
Celine rolled up the blanket and stood from the bed. She yawned with a stretch—“Haaah”—and nodded as if she had known it all along.
“It’s a familiars.”
“Eh?”
Familiar... the one I know? A summoned beast of a mage?
“You mean the familiars called by mages?”
“Yes. I don’t know whose familiar it is, but it seems to have something to say to you. It’s carrying a note tied to its foot.”
“Really?”
Sure enough. I cautiously extended my hand; the little blue bird didn’t flee but waited for me to untie the note.
“?”
When I opened the note, my head went blank.
“Why are you surprised, Lord Abel?”
“Uh... huh... no, it’s just that...”
“From whom?”
“I guess... an acquaintance...”
The first line of the note read:
{To the beloved hero. Hello, hero. It’s Chloe!}
Chloe. The girl I had saved from turning into a monster, then returned to the Royal Magic Academy. The letter had come from her.
It seemed the owner of this familiar was probably Chloe too. When we had traveled together before, I hadn’t seen her summoning a familiar, but she must have grown a lot in the meantime.
“An acquaintance?”
“The girl I briefly traveled with before Celine joined us. She suffered a mutation accident, but thanks to Estelle’s power, she was purified and safely sent back to where she belonged.”
“Ah, that’s her? The woman who likes you, Lord Abel... Chloe, right?”
Yeah, Celine had told me Estelle heard stories about Chloe.
“Yes. I never expected her to send a letter like this. How did you know I was here to begin with?”
“The familiar probably tracked it on its own. Once it returns, it will likely tell its owner your location.”
“Got it.”
What a convenient familiar that finds its own way. I looked at Celine while holding the note.
“Rest well, Lord Abel.”
“...It’s okay?”
“Didn’t I tell you when I confessed? There’s no big difference between two or three. I already knew you had Chloe’s place.”
...Yeah, that’s what you said.
“But I’m curious about what kind of person Chloe is, so could we take a look together?”
“...Do as you like.”
The content probably wasn’t anything strange.
I read the letter together with Celine.
=================================== To the beloved hero.
Hello, hero. It’s Chloe!
It’s already been three months since I said goodbye to you and the saint. Thanks to your help and the saint’s, I’ve been able to attend school safely.
The school I returned to after a long time was a bit tough at first, but thankfully I’ve adapted perfectly now. I’ve made friends who understand me, and no one bullies me anymore for being a commoner.
My grades are excellent! Professors say I might even graduate early if I keep going like this!
I also helped with the investigation into the mutation stone distribution by the Solaria Church and the school side. It even made the newspaper! I wonder if you’ve seen it? If you have, you should be proud—ehem.
I keep hearing about you at school. When I heard you and the other heroes combined your strength to defeat an Amon-class monster, I was really shocked! But at the same time, I thought: our hero is definitely strong and cool.
Every time I hear about you, my eyes wander because I want to see your face. I still vividly remember the look on your face when you were kissed by me and startled. You were really cute then. You’re so busy, so I wish I could come find you, but I can’t leave school. It makes me so sad.
If you ever come to Athens, please visit the school. I may not be able to help with much, but I can definitely do one thing for you~!
I have so many things to say that this letter has gotten really long. It’s still not done, but it would be too long if I kept going, so I’ll cut it off here.
Then, hero. I’ll return to your side someday looking wonderful. Just wait a little longer?
Always loving you, Chloe.
P.S. Oh, hero. How far have you and the saint gotten with your relationship? You’re not still not dating, are you? ===================================
“Hahaha.”
Did she have to add all those unnecessary stories, Chloe?
“...Chloe is such a cute person. By the way, if she already knew about the saint’s heart... just how much is the saint showing off?”
...I don’t know. I didn’t know until she told me.
Celine glanced at the letter, narrowed her eyes at me.
“By the way, kissing... you did that before even going out with her?”
“No, I was just ambushed!?”
Don’t misunderstand me!
I shook my head in slight surprise, and Celine giggled.
“Fufu, why the rush to explain? I know it anyway.”
...Don’t tease me.
“Should I write back?”
“It might be hard.”
“Eh?”
Celine pointed at the window. The familiar was already gone.
“Familiars only obey their owner’s commands. Probably Chloe forgot to tell it to come back for the reply.”
“...Sloppy.”
“Fufu. Chloe probably won’t be able to hold back her frustration.”
...I can imagine Chloe slamming her desk.
Imagining that, I chuckled softly, and Celine smiled too.
“...As expected, you’re too seductive with women.”
When did I...
#
I had taken a beating from Elfride yesterday, but I hadn’t gained nothing from the sparring. She had promised to teach me swordsmanship for a while.
While staying at the Bathory ducal residence, I got a chance to learn. I thought it was too good an opportunity to miss, so I decided right away.
I wasn’t sure how to tell Estelle staying at the inn, but Celine had said she’d return after the banquet.
And today, on my way to the training ground for what would be our first lesson. I had left Celine resting in the room because she was a bit tired, and was walking alone when...
“Hello?”
“?”
I met her on the way. A woman with golden hair and blue eyes like Elfride’s, yet she looked so young, with a petite frame.
She wore a frilly, flowing dress that Elfride probably wouldn’t, and greeted me first.
So I replied with a bow.
“Hello.”
“Are you going to the training ground?”
“Yes... but are you Elfride’s little sister?”
“You know?”
...Was it that obvious? Anyone could tell she was Elfride 2.0. Her skin was a bit pale, though.
She gently lifted the hem of her dress and bowed politely.
“I am Elena Bathory of the Bathory family. It is an honor to meet you, Lord Abel.”
“Abel the hero. The honor is mine, Lady Bathory.”
I returned her greeting with respect, and Elena smiled, satisfied.
“If it’s sister, she should already be at the training ground.”
“Ah, thank you. But where are you headed, Lady?”
“I’m going to my father. He said an important matter will be decided at tomorrow’s banquet.”
An important matter? The banquet tomorrow is to celebrate Elfride’s birthday. What could it be?
“Do you know what it is, hero?”
“Eh?”
“Eldest sister inviting another man ‘directly’ for the first time.”
...Well, of course. Elfride had said I was her first friend.
I nodded lightly.
“I know.”
“You know... surprising. Did only sister have a close friend?”
Close friend?
I was puzzled, but Elena smiled.
“I should go now. Nice to meet you, Lord Abel.”
“Ah, the honor is mine.”
Elena and her maid passed by, and I watched her go quietly.
Something... she seems so mature for her age. Her aura isn’t childish at all. Because of her looks?
Perhaps because of her resemblance to Elfride, she looks even more mature.
“...She probably doesn’t think it’s weird that her sister is gone.”
I headed to the training ground to see Elfride. As she had said, she was waiting there first.
Her outfit was much more comfortable than usual, and her hair was tied up neatly. For some reason, she looked different from the Elfride I knew.
“Elfride.”
“Ah, Abel. You came?”
“I met your sister on the way.”
Elfride’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Elena?”
Why the shock?
“Yes. She was going to her father.”
“...She went to Father?”
“Yes.”
Was there some problem? Elfride looked troubled and said to me.
“Abel, sorry, but can you wait just a moment? I’ll be back soon.”
“Yes?... Yes, of course.”
Elfride quickly left the training ground.
...Something felt off. I had never seen Elfride’s expression look this displeased.
“...Why is she like that?”
#
Elfride walked quickly as if she had urgent business. She walked straight to the duke’s study without stopping, stopped in front of the door, took a breath, and knocked.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Father.”
“Elfride?... I’m talking with Elena right now. Wait, and come later...”
“Father!”
Elfride flung open the study door. The duke narrowed his brows in irritation.
“Elfride! What rude thing are you doing?”
The duke and even Elena looked shocked and stared at her.
“...Sister?”
She was sitting normally in front of the duke, but the desk between them held unusual documents.
A beautifully decorated letter envelope and a bouquet of flowers. And a reply full of love. Elfride frowned upon seeing it.
“Where are you sending Elena?”
The duke’s face twisted.