The voice was so soft that Irene, who had just turned away to make room, didn’t catch what was said.
Curious, she turned back to look at Rita and asked, “What did you just say, Rita?”
“N-nothing! Really!” Rita replied quickly, flashing a bright smile. “Oh right—Miss Irene, are you an adventurer? Could you tell me some of your stories?”
She shut the door behind her and walked further into the room.
Irene sat cross-legged by the bed, cleared her throat, and struck a pose like a seasoned “legendary adventurer.” To someone who knew her—like Helga—that expression and stance meant not a single word she’s about to say can be trusted!
Hmph! Back when they traveled together, Irene once told her that far, far away, there was something called the “Internet” that let people communicate instantly, that there were iron birds flying in the sky carrying humans, and that the world beneath their feet was round!
Helga had almost believed her! As if such things could possibly exist!
Sure enough, Irene started spinning tales again:
“Rita, have you ever heard of the Abyssal Evil Eye? That thing was as tall as a mountain, and it could melt anyone it stared at! I charged in all by myself and shouted, ‘You ugly freak! Dare to have a staring contest with me?’ And guess what? It got scared and slunk back underground!”
She lowered her voice, adding dramatically, “Of course, that’s because I accidentally dropped a flash scroll and it hates light.”
She gestured wildly as she spoke, nearly tumbling off the bed—only to be saved at the last moment by Helga, who quietly cast a levitation spell.
Rita covered her mouth, giggling. “Miss Irene, are you for real or for fake?”
Helga smirked. “Don’t listen to her nonsense. That kind of monster only appears in the Depthless Abyss, the number one forbidden zone on the entire continent. We haven’t even been there.”
“Excuse me?” Irene said indignantly. “This is called artistic storytelling! We even stormed through Endymion City—what’s the big deal about the Abyss? I’m totally going to conquer that place someday!”
“And then there was this one time…”
“Have you ever fought the Black Fang Mercenaries?” Rita suddenly asked, blinking innocently.
Irene slapped her white-stockinged thigh.
“Those guys? Please! Their leader—called himself the ‘Black Whirlwind’—challenged me to an arm wrestling match! I even gave him a handicap and used only one hand. In the end, he went flying out the door, table and all!”
She leaned closer and whispered with a grin, “He changed professions after that. Sells roasted potatoes now. Even wrote me a letter thanking me for helping him find a new purpose in life!”
Rita burst into laughter, tears brimming in her eyes.
Seeing her so cheerful, Irene took the opportunity to scoot closer and whisper in her ear: “By the way, Rita, your grandpa looks like a priest or something, right? You must know healing magic too?”
Rita paused, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. “I-I only learned a little bit from Grandpa…”
“Perfect!” Irene clapped her hands. “My new party’s in need of a healer! Full meals and lodging included! Excellent benefits!”
She kept chattering on, oblivious to the subtle change in Rita’s expression.
“Don’t be fooled by how Helga and I look—we were members of an S-rank party, you know! If you join us, that dream of becoming a real adventurer might not be so far away!”
“Rainbow Bond, right?” There was only one S-rank party in the entire kingdom.
Irene nodded proudly—only for Rita’s next words to leave her dumbfounded.
“I heard they disbanded. Just a couple days ago, after returning from Endymion City, they officially announced their retirement to everyone in the capital.”
“Disbanded?” Irene and Helga exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other’s eyes.
“That’s right, disbanded. I heard it was because of the marquis’ oppression. There used to be a really terrible woman in Rainbow Bond, but she got kicked out. Apparently, she held a grudge and used her power in the government to suppress the S-rank party. I also heard she used despicable means to poach the party’s mage. Rainbow Bond just couldn’t keep going as an adventurer team…”
Rita’s innocent voice echoed in the room, and Irene’s expression turned ugly.
Serena! That’s going too far!
You see that I still have value, but instead of calling me back, you spread more rumors, don’t you?
This disbandment must be fake too—just pretending to be the victim to earn sympathy from the world.
Great. I’m probably being painted as the villain again…
“Irene, you were part of Rainbow Bond, right? Don’t tell me…”
At that, the slightly ditzy Rita immediately realized something was wrong. She trailed off mid-sentence, and a thin sheen of sweat began to form on her forehead.
She had heard the rumors—this former S-rank party’s toxic noblewoman was terrifying! She committed every imaginable evil, lived a life of luxury and vice, and even the Demon King seemed saintly in comparison.
But the scariest part?
She was a terrifying lesbian!!
Rita’s face went pale as she looked at Irene, who was now staring back at her. Those golden eyes… were they glowing green?!
The room fell silent.
Irene coughed lightly and tried to explain. “Um, Rita, do you really think I look like a bad person? There’s actually a reason behind everything, please let me explain—”
“No need to explain.”
Damn it, rumors are destructive!
Irene bit her thumb in frustration. She was utterly furious at her childhood friend Serena.
But then—
“More than the rumors, I believe in what I see with my own eyes.”
Rita looked up at her with those watery eyes and smiled gently. “Irene isn’t a bad person. I believe in you.”
Those words nearly brought Irene to tears. She’d been misunderstood so many times along the way, and now, finally, someone she’d just met was willing to trust her.
She lunged forward and hugged Rita tightly.
“So then, Rita, what’s your answer?”
Rita lowered her head, her voice as soft as a feather. “I’m sorry, Irene… I can’t join you.”
“Why? Are you afraid I can’t afford to support you?”
“No, that’s not it…” Rita bit her lip. “Everyone who stays with me… ends up suffering. Grandpa says that both he and I are cursed—followed by misfortune.”
When she looked up again, there was a sorrow in her eyes far beyond her years. “You already saved us, and I’m truly grateful… but I can’t drag you down too.”
“Misfortune?”
Irene was stunned at first, then chuckled, a mischievous smile on her lips. “Then all the more reason to join us. As long as you’re with me, good luck will follow. Misfortune will never touch you again.”
But unfortunately, Rita didn’t believe her. “Irene, I’m not joking. Grandpa and I really are cursed. Please don’t get too involved with us—for your own good.”
Of course, Irene didn’t believe that nonsense either. The two of them went back and forth with no progress. Eventually, Helga had to change the subject. Then Rita asked a bit about Rosewessa—she seemed quite interested in the girl who looked exactly like her.
The three of them chatted until quite late before reluctantly parting ways. After Helga and Rita left, Irene hugged her pillow and rolled around on her bed.
“She said she believes in what she sees… said I’m not a bad person… but she probably just said that to spare my feelings. Misfortune, curses—it’s clearly just an excuse to reject me…”
Thinking that made Irene feel worse, and somehow made her even more resentful toward Serena.
*****
The next morning, Irene planned to continue her journey. She wanted to say goodbye to Rita before leaving, but when she knocked on the door, the innkeeper told her that the granddaughter and grandfather had left early in the morning.
That only confirmed Irene’s belief—Rita must really dislike her.
“Oh, right, Miss Irene. Someone left this letter for you earlier and asked me to give it to you.”
A message from Rita?
Irene opened the letter—and her eyes widened in shock.
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