Chapter 36

The evening before setting off for the capital, Shuvarya, two royal alchemists from the Platnovena branch, including Ms. Vilma, came to Anea. Their arrival suggested that the necessary number of soldiers and mages had likely gathered in the city.

Seeing familiar faces other than Ms. Emilianna, I ran up to them, out of breath.

"Ms. Vilma, I'm so relieved to see you safe!"

Ms. Vilma smiled despite the dark circles under her eyes.

"Ah, Laura. You look well, that's good."

Her voice was somewhat hoarse. To hide this, she narrowed her eyes even more and patted my head.

She must have been more exhausted, yet she tried to act composed to avoid worrying the younger girl. I wasn't so foolish as to miss this, but I wasn't so foolish as to point it out either.

A moment of silence. I hesitated to break the current warm atmosphere with my questions, but I couldn't help but ask about "it."

"...So, what's the situation in Platnovena?"

"The city is packed with soldiers and mages."

Ms. Vilma answered with a wry smile, perhaps trying to lighten the mood.

However, seeing my tense face, she deepened her smile and continued in a reassuring tone.

"There's no sign of monster activity. Alek has been working hard to keep the soldiers' spirits up."

I felt relieved by Ms. Vilma's report. My tense body began to relax.

There was no sign of monster activity yet. That alone was significant information for me. Of course, the possibility of future attacks couldn't be ruled out.

Still, why was Mr. Alek so certain about the monster attack? His unwavering tone suggested he had some basis for it—

"Arnold is still the same. ...But he left a letter for you."

Suddenly, a letter was thrust in front of me. Seeing my name written in unexpectedly neat handwriting, I caught my breath.

After a deep breath, I took it. I guessed it contained a report of the current situation, but my fingers trembled slightly. The days here had clearly made me more anxious and weak than I thought.

"Are you heading back to the capital?"

"Yes." I nodded slightly. I had already packed my things.

Arnold was still in a dangerous place, while I was evacuating to a safer one. I understood that I would only be a burden if I stayed, and that I lacked magical talent. However, I couldn't help feeling ashamed of myself and guilty towards Arnold.

"—Emilianna! You have a letter from Alek too!"

Ms. Vilma's sudden voice made me turn around. Emilianna, who had been standing there unnoticed, was clearly hunched over.

However, when Ms. Vilma handed her the letter, she approached us with the agility of a small animal and took it. She opened the envelope without hesitation and quickly read the letter.

I looked at her pale profile. Her blue eyes moved restlessly, and her thin lips trembled slightly.

"...Emilianna, what does Alek's letter say?"

"He wants me to go with Laura."

It was the expected outcome. However, thinking about Emilianna's feelings, my gaze naturally fell to the floor.

But then I reconsidered. Emilianna must be feeling much more pain and anxiety. Her fiancé was staying behind in the war zone, and she had to evacuate to an unfamiliar place.

—If I could support her.

I raised my gaze. Emilianna, who was holding the letter to her chest, was looking down, her expression unreadable.

Even though I knew she couldn't see my face, I forced a smile.

"Emilianna, it's okay. The capital is a wonderful place. I'll introduce you to my friends and reliable seniors."

"Yes." Emilianna nodded slowly and slowly raised her face. I had expected a tense, pale face, but to my surprise, she wore a very calm smile.

Caught off guard by her unexpected expression, I couldn't continue speaking. Emilianna said, "I'll go prepare for tomorrow," and turned to leave.

I watched her retreating back in a daze. Then I realized I hadn't opened Arnold's letter.

I hurriedly took out the letter from the envelope and read it quickly.

"The monsters haven't moved yet. But Alek is certain that Platnovena will be attacked again by monsters. I don't know why. At least, there's no sign of the troops withdrawing, and the stalemate will likely continue for a while."

It was a typical letter from Arnold, stating the facts plainly. I could almost hear his flat voice.

As I continued reading, the last line caught my eye.

"Don't worry."

The short sentence made my hand holding the letter tighten.

The handwriting was different from the neat, evenly spaced letters before it, making the last line stand out even more.

It seemed like he had thought of it at the last moment and scribbled it down hastily.

Arnold must have tried to be considerate. From his perspective, a junior trembling at the sudden monster attack must have seemed pitiful.

Honestly, the words didn't make me feel any better. The logical "me" judged them as mere comfort. But at the same time, the "me" who found his consideration touching was also there.

***

After a few days of traveling by carriage, I finally returned to the capital, Shuvarya—along with Emilianna.

"Laura!"

Chelsea and Senior Rina were there to greet me. Seeing their familiar faces, the tension in me eased, and I felt my eyes well up.

"Chelsea, Senior Rina!"

I ran towards them, and Chelsea ran to me, hugging me tightly.

"Are you okay!? Any injuries!?"

"I'm fine, no injuries at all."

As Chelsea patted me all over without hesitation, I couldn't help but smile wryly. But the warmth of her touch was reassuring.

I clung to her warmth, and I noticed her shoulders trembling slightly. I tightened my embrace around her.

While hugging, I met Senior Rina's gaze. She was smiling warmly.

But then a look of confusion crossed her face. Following her gaze, I saw Emilianna standing there, looking uncomfortable and smiling modestly.

I must have been overly excited about reuniting with my senior and peers. I quickly broke the hug with Chelsea and stood next to Emilianna.

"Let me introduce you. This is Emilianna. She came from Platnovena with me."

I introduced her briefly. The mention of Platnovena made both of them understand the situation, and they exchanged a moment of confusion. But soon, both of them smiled warmly at Emilianna.

"I'm Emilianna. Nice to meet you."

Emilianna bowed deeply. Her expression was unnaturally calm, as if she had closed herself off.

Despite my concerns, Emilianna and Chelsea, Senior Rina exchanged warm greetings. But considering her long journey, Senior Rina suggested we part for now.

I decided to show Emilianna around the capital and parted ways with Chelsea. As I walked, guiding her, I stopped when I noticed Emilianna wasn't moving.

"Emilianna?"

"Be prepared, the letter said."

I didn't understand the meaning of the words that suddenly echoed in my ears.

Emilianna turned around.

"The letter said that Platnovena's future would be entrusted to you."

I finally realized she was talking about the letter from Alek.

—Alek had written to Emilianna, entrusting Platnovena's future to her.

It sounded like a...

I let out a shallow breath. Sometimes, when you're too surprised, your emotions break, and I felt my lips curving into a weak smile.

"Such... such a will-like thing..."

The word "will" was hard to say, but it slipped out before I could stop it.

Emilianna's face crumpled at my words. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Even if it means dying, he will defeat the monsters."

Hearing Emilianna's words about Alek's resolve, I clenched my fists. My nails, which I hadn't been taking care of, dug into my palms.

"There was a monster that spoke human language. It had sharp claws and fangs and killed multiple soldiers in an instant. It was clearly different from other monsters... that's what the letter said."

I was taken aback by Emilianna's calm recitation.

A monster that spoke human language appeared in "Last Brave." Such monsters were always powerful—like the commanders of the demon army.

According to the game's setting, the monster Alek described must be exceptionally strong. Its appearance would be different from other monsters, and it would be immediately recognizable as a "boss."

In other words, Alek's feeling that this monster was different from others was probably correct. And perhaps, the monster had told him it would attack the city again. This would explain Alek's certainty about the monster's return.

—Everything made sense. Alek's words to Emilianna, his resolve, everything.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't bear it alone... I'm sorry."

Emilianna's face crumpled, and tears welled up in her eyes. She covered her face with her hands, ashamed.

Emilianna must have been holding it in. Perhaps she had intended to bear it alone.

I approached her, and she was trembling, about to break down. I naturally pulled her into a hug, resting her head on my chest.

She was still a young girl, not yet an adult. She had left her family and was facing the fear of losing her beloved fiancé—

"No, no...!"

She shook her head vigorously. I could feel Emilianna's anxiety seeping into me through our skin.

A monster that spoke human language. Alek, who was prepared to die.

Alek wouldn't involve others in a battle he knew he couldn't win. If he had decided to die fighting the monster, he wouldn't involve other soldiers. He would choose to die alone. That was the kind of person he was.

Arnold, with his powerful magic, and the many strong soldiers gathered there. And most importantly, Alek Platnovena would appear in "Last Brave"—in the world three years from now.

However, this event was never mentioned in "Last Brave." It was likely an event not set in the game. If so, someone might die in this battle.

Thinking this, I shook my head again.

It will be okay. It will be okay. Alek and Arnold will come back safely. Yes, Arnold said not to worry.

—For a while, Emilianna and I held each other loosely, sharing our anxieties.