Genjitsushugisha no Oukokukaizouki - Volume 9 - Chapter SS6

Bonus Short Stories 

The “S”s Ride Together 

“She got me,” Excel groused. Well done outwitting me, Juna.” 

In the gondola on the way back to the Kingdom of Friedonia from the Kingdom of Lastania, Excel was muttering to herself. That was because Juna hadn’t gotten aboard the gondola that had come to fetch her. Instead, Juna had snuck back to Souma’s side. 

“Well, Big Sis Juna musta been upset about havin’ to hold down the fort the whole time, don’t ya think?” Roroa offered, trying to mollify her. She was aboard the same gondola. “I’m sure she was beside herself with worry, waitin’ alone for all of us to come back.” 

Excel turned her head to the side peevishly. If that were all, I could have gone, too. But that girl, she drives me off, and then stays herself! It’s not fair!” 

“Wait, what are you upset about, Duchess Walter? You’ve been makin’ passes at Darlin’ ’cause you enjoy seein’ our reactions, but you’re not plannin’ on actually makin’ him yours, right?” 

Silently, Roroa added, If you are actually plannin’ that, we’re gonna have to consider some measures on our side... 

But Excel let out a sigh of resignation. Well, you’re right about that. Your responses are just so delightfully innocent, I can’t help myself.” 

“Is it all right for me to get angry now?” Roroa shot back. 

Excel chuckled. Sorry. For us long-lived races, the thing we hate most is boredom. In order to avoid getting tired of our long lives, the key is to enjoy every day the best we can, but in spending every day feeling compelled to enjoy it, we can get tired of life, too.” 

“Is that how you ended up with such a hedonistic personality?” Roroa asked suspiciously. 

Excel gave her the most lovely smile. Yes. On that point, you reactions are always so innocent, and so much fun.” 

“We ain’t exactly doin’ it for your amusement...” 

“Hmm. I think I can understand that,” said a sudden voice from beside them. 

“Uwah?!” 

Roroa jumped in startlement. 

The one butting into the conversation was the castle’s super sadistic head maid, Serina. She was aboard this gondola to return to the kingdom, too, along with Poncho and Komain. 

“Making earnest girls like Liscia or Carla wear the most humiliating outfits, then watching them squirm, is so much fun,” Serina said pleasantly. 

“What’re you sayin’, out of nowhere like that?!” oroa exclaimed, but Serina was unabashed. 

“It’s the gap I like. The gap.” 

“Oh, my, you really seem to get it.” erina was saying outrageous things, but Excel seemed impressed. The more serious the girl, the better the response she’ll give you.” 

“Yes. The expression they make when caught between their ideal and their current situation is simply exquisite.” 

“When they want to act strong, but they can’t... is that it?” 

The two beauties shared a laugh. 

Roroa was completely put off by the two of them, and retreated closer to the other two passengers. 

“Hey, hey, your name’s Komain, right?” Roroa asked. 

At being addressed by the candidate to become the third primary queen, Komain replied in a tiny voice. Oh, yes. What is it, Lady Roroa?” 

“You’re with that head maid all the time, right? You’re not bein’ bullied, are you?” 

Komain looked at her blankly, cocking her head to the side. Bullied... is it? I’ve experienced no such thing.” 

Roroa’s eyes went wide. Huh? She’s not makin’ you wear frilly maid dresses or nothin’?” 

“Oh, the cute clothes, you mean? I didn’t think they suited me, but Sir Poncho said they were cute, so I do wear them from time to time.” 

“So you’re just honest with your feelings!” oroa retorted despite herself. 

That made sense. Going by what Serina said, seeing serious girls act embarrassed was what tickled her sadistic little heart. Komain was serious, but she wore the costume without resisting, which wouldn’t be satisfying to Serina. 

Komain clapped her hands. Oh, but when I do wear them, I ask Serina to wear them with me.” 

“Huh?! That head maid, wearin’ a frilly maid dress?!” 

Serina, who always wore long skirts that covered her up, in a frilly maid dress? Roroa’s jaw dropped as she was unable to imagine the scene. 

“When we do, Serina has her usual cool expression, but it’s cute the way her cheeks are just a little red,” Komain said gleefully. 

A sudden thought occurred to Roroa. Maybe this girl’s the strongest S of all? And she’s a natural who’s unaware of it, at that? 

The things she imagined made Roroa shudder. 

Incidentally, Poncho was unable to keep up with the conversation, and just spent the time wiping the sweat from his brow. 

I’m Coming to See You Now (Smiles) 

— At the end of the 12th month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar — 

When Hakuya and I entered the audience hall, there was a woman bowing at the bottom of the steps. 

“Sorry for the wait,” I said from the throne. “Please, raise your head.” 

She raised her face and spoke. I will. It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.” 

When I saw her face like this, she certainly resembled Excel or Juna. Her glossy blue hair and glamorous figure spoke to her blood ties to Excel. If there was a difference, it was the single horn growing out of her forehead, and the blue dragon wings on her back. 

“Have you been well, Accela Walter?” I asked. 

“Yes. I’m living well with my son Carl in Red Dragon City.” he woman gave a soft smile. 

Her name was Accela Walter. She was Excel’s daughter with a dragonewt man, the former General of the Army Castor’s wife, and mother to Carla and Carl. Ever since Castor had broken ties with her before rebelling against me, she had been using Excel’s family name. Her son, Carl, had inherited the House of Vargas, but Accela was remaining divorced. 

“Don’t you resent me?” I began. “...Wait, no, what am I asking?” 

Even if I asked her, there was no way she would say she did to my face. It was just that Accela’s smile was so peaceful I couldn’t help but ask. 

Accela giggled at how flustered I was. Not in the least. Castor and Carla made their choice. I’m also aware that you worked hard to spare their lives. Carla made sure to tell me that, so, please, relax.” 

“O-Oh... It’s good to have you say that.” 

What an excellent wife. I could tell she was Excel’s daughter. 

“Now then, sire. I am told you had some business with me today?” she asked. 

I nodded in response. Yes. It’s about the meeting with Castor you requested.” 

She was silent. 

Even after their ties were cut, Accela remained concerned about Castor and Carla. Carla worked in the castle, so when Accela came to the castle in Carl’s place, she might accidentally, yes, just accidentally, meet her. However, for Castor, who was in Excel’s custody, that didn’t work. 

Though there was some room to sympathize with his complicated situation, Castor was a traitor who had rebelled against me. Though I had already punished him, it would be poor form for him to meet with Accela and Carl, who had been spared from punishment by association because of his cutting ties with them. 

That was why I hadn’t allowed them to meet... before now. 

“I obviously can’t let Carl meet him, but if it’s just you, I’ll allow it,” I said. 

“You mean it?!” 

“Yeah. Hakuya, explain please.” 

“Very well.” akuya bowed and took a step forward to speak. The other day, Sir Castor’s efforts succeeded in capturing an armed ship from the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union. We were, as a result, able to receive valuable information about the situation inside the archipelago from the captured crew. In recognition of this deed, we will allow Sir Castor and you to meet.” 

It was less that I’d just decided to accept it, and more that the justification I had been waiting for had arrived. Castor swore loyalty to me now, but he had rebelled once. In order to have the lower retainers accept him being permitted to see his family, I absolutely needed to stress that it was happening only at my grace. 

It seemed Accela understood that, and she knelt down and bowed her head deeply. Thank you. I will never forget the favor you do us.” 

This was to display her understanding that it was a favor, to show admiration, and to demonstrate that she harbored no ill will. 

Now then, that was enough formalities. I had Accela stand. I’ll look into Castor’s days off and let you know. You should go on one of those days.” 

“Oh, about that, I had a request,” ccela, who was now standing, said. 

A request? 

“What might that be?” I asked. 

“Could you not tell Castor I’ve been allowed to meet him? I want to surprise him with a sudden visit.” 

I see, a surprise, huh? What a charming wife. 

“Very well. I’m sure Castor will be surprised.” 

“Hee hee, I’m sure. The more he has to feel guilty about, the more he will.” 

Accela had a very serene smile as she said that... I don’t know, it was supposed to be a smile, but it was strangely intense. Juna made that face sometimes, too. 

“To feel guilty about...?” I repeated. “Has Castor done something?” 

“Nothing of import, but Mother tells me things.” 

“I... I see...” 

Castor... I don’t know what you did, but you have my condolences. I’ve learned how terrifying it is to anger a woman of Excel’s blood. 

Just the Tip! 

“What is this?!” Trill exclaimed. 

Having been lead to the overscientist Genia’s dungeon laboratory, the third imperial princess, Trill Euphoria, let out a shout of surprise at the sight of a certain thing. That which loomed over the whole of the dungeon workshop, Mechadra. 

“You combined a real dragon’s bones with metal and monster parts to create a mechanical dragon!” Trill cried, answering her own question. “That’s the House of Maxwell for you. It’s a creative idea no ordinary person would ever come up with!” 

“It is a crazy idea, yeah,” erula, the high elf who was accompanying her, said. Are we sure she’s an overscientist and not just a mad scientist?” 

Genia shyly scratched her head. Aww, don’t praise me so much. I’m blushing.” 

“Nobody is praising you,” erula said with a sigh. 

“No, I do think this idea is worthy of praise.” rill’s eyes sparkled brighter. It’s when we do the things no one else will that science and technology progress. Now then, Big Sister Genia, can you make this Mechadra move?” 

“Hmm... If the question is whether it can move or not, it can, but...” 

Mechadra had no control system, either internal or external. However, using Souma’s power, Living Poltergeists, it was possible to move it. When she explained as much, concealing only Souma’s name, Trill brought a hand to her chin and nodded. 

“I see. Though it needs a person’s magic, there is a way to move it.” 

“Well, I guess that’s how it is.” 

“Does this Mechadra have any armaments?” 

“No. It was never designed with moving it in mind, after all.” enia said that as if it were obvious. 

Trill seemed dissatisfied. That’s a terrible waste. If you have a way to move it, how can you not put weapons on it?” 

“Please, don’t be unreasonable. Dragon bones are hard to use. If we put them in a weapon, there could be complaints from the Star Dragon Mountain Range, you know? Even the king’s against the idea.” 

“You don’t put weapons on it just to use them!” 

““Say what?”” enia and Merula stared at her blankly. 

“Weapons make a machine cooler!” rill declared, puffing up her chest, which was an okay size for her age, proudly. Armaments are a symbol of power. Like how beautiful things draw people in, so do powerful things. For instance, even if you have no intention to use them, by attaching weapons, you can charm the hearts of the people. Imagine, if you will, a magnificent dragon. If it had no horns or talons, do you think it could maintain the same splendor?” 

“Hmm... There’s some reason to that,” Genia mused. 

Merula grabbed her by the collar and shook her. You’re buying into this?! Wait, you can’t let her drag you in!” 

Trill continued. In the Empire, when we build a statue of a great person, we give them a weapon. You do the same in the kingdom, no? That being the case, I think we should put weapons on this Mechadra that hardly moves. Because it would be awesome!” 

“Oof... Hmm, how cool it is is important,” enia said after getting Merula off of her. So, what kind of weapons did you have in mind? Shoulder cannons, maybe?” 

Trill spoke as if she’d been waiting for this moment all along. 

“Why, a drill, of course!” 

““...”” 

Genia and Merula stared blankly at her for the second time today. 

“Is a drill a weapon?” Genia asked. 

“Of course it is! If you think of it as an attack that can pierce anything, what is that if not a weapon?!” 

“Where were planning to install this, just for reference?” Genia asked hesitantly. 

Trill’s eyes sparkled. How about both hands? If we turn the arms into drills, and have them spin as it punches, it could easily open holes in a castle’s walls. Why, just imagining that scene, it has me excited!” 

The other two nodded. With a shared glance, they spoke in unison. 

““Rejected.”” 

“Wh-Why is that?!” 

“I told you dragon bones are hard to use, didn’t I?” Genia pointed out calmly. “If we made that kind of bizarre modification to one of their kind’s bones, it might upset the dragons of the Star Dragon Mountain Range.” 

Trill gulped. Th-Then, how about we attach it to the end of the tail?!” 

“That sounds the same to me.” 

“The tip! Just the tip!” 

“This girl just want to put a drill on it now,” Merula said with exasperation. 

It was another lively day for the brains of the kingdom. 

The Tomboy from the Steppes 

It was some time before the Union of Eastern Nations was attacked by the demon wave, n the steppe state in the Union of Eastern Nations Malmkhitan, n front of a ger, the common dwelling in this country. 

A twintailed girl, twelve or thirteen years old, was sitting on a bale of hay, swinging her feet. 

“Boooored,” she complained. Bored, bored, bo-o-red.” 

“Telling me that won’t help, Lady Yuriga,” he soldier assigned as Yuriga’s bodyguard said with a sigh. 

The girl’s name was Yuriga Haan. She was the younger sister of the king, Fuuga Haan. Because of that, the soldier could not be too stern with her, and could only weakly attempt to mollify her. 

“Weren’t you supposed to see your sewing teacher for lessons around now?” he asked. 

“Well, that’s boring. I know it’s a skill any woman on the steppes should have, but that repetitive needlework is boring. I’d rather go hunting with my brother and his men.” 

“Lady Yuriga, you’re still only thirteen, right? It’s dangerous,” he soldier said with a worried look. 

But the overenergetic sister of his liege wasn’t hearing it. I can ride a temsbock, and my sword instructor says I have potential.” 

“I’m sure you do, but...” 

Even looking at her without any favoritism, Yuriga’s sense for the martial arts was quite high. It was often said that, if she had been born a man, she’d have been an excellent commander. That only inflated her ego, though. 

“If only I were a man, too,” Yuriga sighed. “Then I could follow my brother.” 

“You had the good fortune to be cute, so why not do more girly things?” 

“I hate them! Earnestly waiting for the men to come home doesn’t suit me.” umping down from the bale of hay, she spread her little wings. The steppes are so vast, and the sky is so high. I want to go wherever I want, freely. That’s what I have wings for.” 

With that said, Yuriga jumped. 

The soldier panicked. Ah! Lady Yuriga?! You can’t do that! You’ll anger Lord Fuuga, you know?!” 

Yuriga stuck her tongue out at him. I’m going to fly around a bit. I’ll be back by evening.” 

With that, Yuriga flew into the sky. Ignoring the soldier’s calls for her to stop, she zoomed away. Her people, the celestial race, had small wings that couldn’t fly far, but Yuriga’s light weight let her quickly fly out of sight of the gers. 

Once she landed on a hill with nothing but grass, Yuriga sat down. 

Well, running away was all well and good, but the scenery’s all the same here. 

The steppe had no large trees that might stand out, and it looked roughly the same wherever you went. Yuriga had never been outside the country before, so this scenery was all she knew. Yuriga lay back on the grass. 

Living a life where I only know this scenery... I’d hate it. I want to see other worlds, and lots of different people. 

It was a worry that would seem like a luxury for most people struggling to live day-to-day. But she was the princess of a country, so her life was peaceful, and boring. 

Yuriga closed her eyes, exhaling. There’s a wide world outside the steppe. It’s a big continent. I’m sure there are interesting countries out there, and interesting people, too. Ohh, I want out... I want to go outside the steppe... 

Embracing her anguish, Yuriga stayed there until the sun stared to go down. LS 

It happened some time later. 

“We’re going to the Duchy of Chima,” er brother Fuuga announced to his gathered followers. 

Had Yuriga’s wishes reached the heavens? 

“We’ve handled the demon wave here, but I hear the Duchy of Chima’s wave has a lot of types of monsters, and it’s dangerous. It’s a good chance to show the other countries in the Union of Eastern Nations what we’re capable of. We couldn’t ask for a better first step onto the world stage. Am I right, comrades?!” 

“““Yeahhhhh!””” 

Fuuga spoke with passion, and his fervor was infectious to those who followed him. His natural charisma led them to go to the Duchy of Chima’s aid without a single objection. 

“Brother!” Yuriga exclaimed as his followers immediately ran off to prepare. 

“Yuriga? What is it?” he asked. 

“Please! Take me with you!” 

Fuuga looked surprised at the sudden request. Huh? We’re not going there to play, you know?” 

“I know! I’m obviously not going to the battlefield! I’ll stay in camp, so take me, please! I want to see the world outside the steppe!” Yuriga said desperately. 

Fuuga eyed her. If I refuse, you’ll probably tag along anyway.” 

“Yes! Even if I have to hide in the luggage!” 

“That would be a hassle in and of itself...” uuga scratched his head then let out a sigh. ...Fine. But only on the condition you stay someplace safe.” 

“Yay! Thank you, Brother!” 

Fuuga could only smile wryly at Yuriga’s beaming smile. 

And so, Yuriga left the steppe for the first time. 

What she didn’t know was that, as a result, she would not be able to return for a while. 

Souma: “Your Name Is” 

— One day in the 1st month, 1,547th year, Continental Calendar — 

“This is... a hard one.” 

I was in the governmental affairs office in Parnam, clutching my head. I hadn’t agonized this much over something since the Lunarian Orthodox Papal State sent a saint to me. Oh, geez, seriously, what was I going to do...? 

“Sire...” eeing me in agony like that, Hakuya raised his paper fan. Please, just do your work already.” 

Fwap! He whacked me on the head. Pressing a hand to the spot, I looked resentfully at him. 

“Can you not see that your liege is grappling with a difficult problem?” 

“I cannot. Only my liege worrying over something trivial.” 

“Like hell it’s trivial! They’ll be stuck with it for life!” 

“It may be an issue for them, but to the country, it’s trivial. And you are in a position to manage the affairs of state. Which to prioritize should be clear.” troking his paper fan, Hakuya sighed and added, Just use whatever you like. It’s your own son’s name.” 

“...Don’t say that like it’s so easy.” 

The question I was grappling with was what to name my newborn son. 

Liscia and I had talked it over, and we’d decided I would name the boy, and she would name the girl. The boy would eventually succeed me, inheriting the throne and the name of the House of Elfrieden. If I named him anything too weird, it would look bad to the people and to foreign countries, too. 

I had no intention of naming him anything too eccentric, but maybe a Japanese style name... 

It seemed there were a lot of names like that in the north of the continent, and in the Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago, but not in this country, so probably not. It was probably safest to borrow a name from a historical king, but that lacked flavor... 

As I was worrying about that, Hakuya whacked me with the paper fan again. Fwap! 

“I said to worry about it later. Do your work first.” 

“Ow... I get it, okay?” reluctantly started looking through the paperwork. 

Hakuya sighed. You’re hitting a dead end because you’re thinking about it alone. Why not ask your vassals who have children?” 

I see... There was some logic in that, yeah. One of the good things about Hakuya was that he wasn’t just tough on me at work; he actually gave advice, too. 

“That makes sense,” I said. “Well, guess I’ll finish this work up quickly so that I can go ask.” 

I desperately worked to make the mountain of paperwork disappear. 

Finally finishing work a little earlier than usual, I headed to the day care set up inside the castle. Tomoe’s real mother, Tomoko, was the first person who came to mind as a person at the castle who had children. 

“How did I chose names for my children?” omoko cocked her head to the side gently. I don’t think I need to explain where Tomoe came from, right?” 

“Right. It comes from your own name, doesn’t it?” 

“Yes. Because when Tomoe was born, my late husband said she looked just like me.” 

A name based on one’s parents’, huh? There seemed to be a lot of those in this world. 

“Then did Rou come from your husband, perhaps?” I asked. 

“Why, yes. His name was Rouga, so we used part of it.” 

“But I feel like Rou looks a lot like Tomoe.” 

Tomoko smiled softly. It’s true, his face is a lot like ours. But my husband died soon after Rou was born, so I wanted him to have that name as proof that he was here.” 

“Oh... Sorry. That was insensitive of me.” Now I felt bad. 

But Tomoko silently shook her head. No. I can reflect fondly on back then because of how fulfilling my life is now. That’s because the people of the kingdom, and you foremost, sire, have treated our family so well. My husband is gone now, but Tomoe and Rou are growing up healthy. I couldn’t be happier.” 

I stood there, unable to say anything. 

Tomoko smiled. My husband also worried a lot about what to name Tomoe before she was born. When he saw her face, he decided instantly. So, please, worry a lot.” 

“Thank you for your insight,” said, bowing to her, and then left the day care. 

Proof that he was here, huh...? pondered. Though the children are mine and Liscia’s, they also bear the blood of the Elfrieden royal family. Between me and the former king, Sir Albert, we’ve had two generations of kings who’ve married into the family, but my son will likely one day bring a wife into Elfrieden’s royal house. 

He had the blood passed down from the former queen, Lady Elisha, and Liscia. wanted a name that reflected that. As proof that they were family. 

“...Okay, I’ve decided.” 

Looking up at the sky from the corridor between buildings, I thought of my son and whispered: 

“Your name is Cian. Cian Elfrieden.” 

Thinking I should tell Liscia right away, I went to the office to write a letter. 

Liscia: “Your Name Is” 

“What should I do?” ooking at my children lying in their crib, I sighed. 

“Liscia?” arla, who was folding the laundry, noticed my distress and called out to me. What’s wrong? You look so troubled.” 

“Carla... What should I call her?” asked, poking the cheek of the girl who was clinging to the boy in her sleep. Being beside her brother must have been reassuring for her, because she showed no sign of waking. 

The question I was grappling with was what to name my newborn daughter. 

Souma and I had talked it over and decided I would name the girl, and he would name the boy. 

“You’re free to do what you want, aren’t you? Why not choose one you like?” arla said in exasperation. 

Well, if I could do that, I wouldn’t be having so much trouble! 

“She’ll have this name for life,” I fretted. “I can’t call her anything weird.” 

“I think that seriousness of yours is a virtue, Liscia, but... don’t you feel bad for your children that this is taking so long? I can call them Prince and Princess, but you’re family, so you can’t do that.” 

“Well, yes... but...” 

It was true, we couldn’t just go on calling them “the boy” and “the girl” forever. 

“Just for reference, who chose your name, Carla?” I asked. 

“My father and mother talked it over and agreed on it. The long-lived races have a hard time conceiving, so I was their first child after a long time trying. That was why they gave me one sound from each of their names.” 

That made sense. They’d taken the “Ca” from “Castor” and the “La” from “Accela” and gone with Carla, huh? Maybe I ought to take a sound from my name and Souma’s name, too. 

Socia, Lima... I don’t know, those were kind of iffy. Besides, Souma’s real name was supposed to be Kazuya. So, Cascia, Liya... Those felt worse. Kasha... Now it was just sounding like Souma’s child with Aisha. 

While I was still agonizing over it, Carla sighed. You’re not going to get any good ideas stewing over it here. I’ll watch the children, so why not go somewhere else for a change of atmosphere?” 

“...Yeah. I’ll take you up on that.” 

Leaving the children to Carla, I went outside the house. 

In the courtyard, this manor had a beautiful garden which my father maintained as a hobby. (Surprisingly, it seemed my Father had a green thumb.) Though, that said, it was winter now, so it wasn’t very colorful. While I was just walking around there... 

“Oh, if it isn’t Liscia.” y father, who was wearing a hand towel like a bandanna, the corners tied together beneath his nose, stuck his head out from behind a hedge. 

For a moment, he looked like an old farmer. I felt like it suited him better than the crown. 

“I’m out for a walk,” I said. “Are you working in the garden, Father?” 

“Yes. Preparing for the spring to come.” 

Taking off his bandanna, Father used it to wipe his brow. 

“Will the children be all right?” he asked. 

“Carla is watching them now.” 

“Hmm. Sorry. It seems I slept through the birth.” 

“Don’t worry about it. You must have been exhausted.” 

I got the feeling Mother might have had something to do with the reason my father had passed out, but... I was going to keep quiet about that. 

“You seem to be moving around, but are you feeling well enough to?” ather asked, scrutinizing me. 

“Yes. I haven’t recovered completely, though.” 

“Rest while you’re here, at least. This is your home, too.” 

I giggled. “It is.” 

My home... huh. I’d never lived here, but just having my mother and father here was comforting. It was a place tied to my family. But Souma, being summoned from another world, didn’t have anything like this, did he? 

“I wish Souma had something that let him feel connected to his relatives, too...” I murmured. 

“He does,” ather responded as if the answer was obvious. My son-in-law has the body his parents gave him. His name, too. That’s why, for as long as he lives, that connection will never break.” 

I was silent. 

His body and name are ties to his family... well, maybe they are. 

But it had been decided that when Souma took the throne, he’d inherit my family name and Roroa’s family name to become Souma Amidonia Elfrieden. Souma’s real name, Kazuya, would disappear. That felt kind of sad. 

Was there some way to keep that connection alive? 

When I returned to the children’s room, I gently stroked the girl’s forehead. 

“I know what I’ll do.” 

Looking at my sleeping daughter’s face, I came to a decision. 

“Your name is Kazuha. Kazuha Elfrieden.” 

Wanting to tell Souma right away, I decided to write a letter.