Chapter 63: From Reunion To Warning - Part 3

"Remember when I said that Liz and I looked into Lynn's background before accepting her request to join our adventurers' party?" To clarify what she had just revealed about Lynn—something that definitely made Arezu doubt what he'd just heard—Hannah shared some of the results from their investigation. Since their party secretly included a hero candidate, a saintess candidate, and a duke's daughter—all working as adventurers to gain achievements for both Alex and Hannah—they were understandably cautious about anyone asking to join their party. Then, there was Lynn. "She was an iron-rank mage adventurer. So for us—who had just recently started and were all copper-rank—having Lynn in our party allowed us to take on more worthwhile quests." What Hannah said was also the same reason Arezu had decided to join Lynn's party in the first place. Yet somehow, remembering their first meeting made Arezu unconsciously smile. Noticing his reaction, a gleam of spark lit up in Hannah's eyes, excited by the thought that Arezu might be feeling romantic remembering his first encounter with Lynn. "But that wasn't the only reason we accepted Lynn into our party," Hannah continued, doing her best to set aside her curiosity. Lynn's audacity, slight arrogance, and overly confident demeanor had been a main concern for both Liz and Hannah. But those traits were nothing compared to her rumored reputation. Known as the infamous "Lady Impaler," she was feared by both rookie and veteran adventurers alike. She had a record of causing multiple trouble not only with guild staff but also with her previous party members. One particularly alarming rumor said that she used her party members as she pleased, only to discard them like worn-out rags once they were no longer useful. "That girl..." Hearing those remarks again, Arezu couldn't help but feel anxious about what he'd gotten himself into. "Pfft..." Meanwhile, Hannah was thoroughly enjoying his reaction, amused by the fact that despite all his worries about Lynn, he had stayed by her side for over a month. Whatever Arezu's reason was for staying with Lynn, Hannah was certain—it had to be love. With her eyes gleaming with what could only be described as blinding romantic sparkles, Hannah resumed the conversation, now focusing more on Lynn's mysterious background. A one-year adventuring record—that was the most Liz and Hannah could uncover about her. Lynn was already an iron-rank adventurer at such a young age. Assuming she wasn't a demi-human, as they initially suspected, and that she was the same age—or a little younger—than Liz, who was only 18, they theorized that Lynn might have graduated from the Adventurers' Training Academy, which would have boosted her rank. But there were no records confirming it. She was a mage—a strong and exceptional one at that. So Liz and Hannah checked the records at the Eileen Kingdom's Magic Academy. Once again, they found nothing. Their last lead was Lynn's self-proclaimed identity as a priestess. But just like before, none of the churches in or around the capital had any record of a priestess—or even a trainee—named Lynn. "It's like she appeared out of nowhere." Arezu's remark sounded like a joke, but the faint, wistful smile on his face didn't escape Hannah's watchful eyes. Uncertain what that reaction meant, Hannah chose to set it aside for now and gave her own response to his comment. "Or maybe, Lynn somehow managed to erase all information about her past." That's even scarier than what I said, Arezu thought, growing more anxious about Lynn's mysterious background. Hannah went on with her explanation. Though they failed to uncover anything beyond Lynn's one-year adventuring record, it wasn't like they had learned nothing. With Liz's family status and connections, they had managed to pressure both the Adventurers' Guild and the church into revealing some things about Lynn. "That's when we learned that Lynn has been donating most—or rather, probably all—of her adventuring earnings to the church, the orphanage, and the Adventurers' Insurance Fund." The church helps locals support themselves as they recover from monster-related destruction in towns and villages. The orphanage cares for children who've lost their families in monster-related incidents. And the Adventurers' Insurance Fund supports the families of those adventurers who lost their lives fighting monsters. Hearing this from Hannah, Arezu could only come to one conclusion. And though he had sensed it from the very first day they went on a quest together—when everything turned into a strange adventure—her audacity had always overshadowed it. But regardless of her rude behavior, her teasing and mischief, her arrogance and high self-esteem, her dramatic flair, and her unreasonable tantrums—Arezu knew that Lynn was actually— "—a good person." Hannah's sudden remark snapped Arezu out of his memories, unaware of the faint smile lingering on his face. That subtle reaction fueled Hannah's excitement. She was eager to see where this romance—at least what she believed to be romance—between Lynn and Arezu might lead. Regardless of her personal curiosity, she had no intention of interfering. She would simply enjoy watching from the sidelines. Continuing their conversation: "Now that Lynn has conquered a dungeon, I'm sure she'll use the profits she continues to earn from it to help even more people." Hearing that, Arezu felt a bit guilty about their previous argument. Still, one question continued to bother him: "—Considering her personality, it's really surprising that she keeps all that kindness and generosity a secret." That remark came from a girl dressed in a rather formal noble outfit—one that didn't highlight her femininity but instead gave her the appearance of a dignified, handsome lady. She wore her reddish-brown hair in a braided high bun that complemented her sharp expression and serious demeanor. "You two are as suspicious as ever... And how dare you treat Hannah like some lowly messenger? But above all, summoning a duke's daughter out of nowhere—are you insane?!" "But you said you were excited to see them too, Liz." "Hannah!"