episode_0029

A visitor had arrived—and not just any visitor, but a member of the hero’s party. Given the timing, this was no coincidence.

Leona had come knowing Arina was here. Arina herself, as well as everyone else, understood that.

The atmosphere in the room turned icy in an instant.

“Of all times… Hmm, this is troublesome. Tell her I’ll be out shortly and to wait in the courtyard for a moment.”

“Understood.”

The sound of the maid hurriedly leaving echoed through the door. The walls weren’t particularly thin, yet the sound carried clearly—a testament to how silent the room had become.

No one dared to speak, all of them stealing glances at Arina. Unable to let the tension linger, Daniel was the first to rise.

“Um, I should probably go out first. Will you be coming as well, Noona?”

Arina, who had been maintaining her silence, answered curtly.

“Yeah. I should prepare for a fight.”

As she stood, she gestured to the dress she was wearing.

“This’ll get in the way. I need to change first.”

After changing, Daniel walked at the front of the group. Regardless of Leona’s purpose, she had come to the Hight Trading Company, and Daniel was its current representative.

Given how furious she had been earlier, Arina had expected her to be out for blood—but surprisingly, her reaction was composed.

No, more accurately, she showed no reaction at all. Silent, expressionless, and emotionless, she simply followed behind Daniel.

Lilith, walking behind her, was drenched in cold sweat.

This is even scarier! Just yell, curse, say something—anything!

Meanwhile, Arina was lost in thought, analyzing her own emotions. She had openly expressed hatred and resentment toward them before, yet now, faced with the moment of confrontation, she felt no anger.

No—to be precise, her emotions were so tangled that rage couldn’t surface.

This was the first time she had faced her former party members since the worst day of her life. The ones who had betrayed, trampled, and broken her.

She didn’t remember how she had escaped. When she came to her senses, she was already running barefoot through the forest.

How had she even managed to flee in that state, unable to use magic? If even one of them had tried to stop her, she wouldn’t have gotten away.

Had they let her go because she was useless? Then why come looking for her now?

She didn’t know. She couldn’t remember. Why had the porter caught her only to release her? And why was he trying to find her again?

Was it really just to defeat the Demon King? Did they only need her power?

What kind of reaction was she even supposed to have toward them after what they’d done?

Should she demand answers? Should she rage? Cry? Or just kill them without a word?

Arina’s heart wasn’t calm. It was a swirl of colors, none of them yet fully formed.

“Noona, is it true that you fought the hero’s party?”

Daniel cautiously asked, eyeing Arina’s silence. The mood was too heavy to broach the subject, but he, too, was deeply unsettled.

He had assumed Riel Frost was being pursued as a deserter due to political circumstances—that she had been forced into hiding because of the forces targeting her.

But if the truth was that she had clashed with her party, fought them, and fled, the story changed entirely.

The hero’s party, led by humanity’s champion and the Saintess—the very embodiment of justice in this world. To be their enemy was to be an enemy of humanity itself.

It would mean Riel Frost, a former member, had fallen to corruption. Yet the Arina Daniel knew, while occasionally bending the rules, was fundamentally good.

He wanted to believe in her. So he hoped she would deny it, hoped she would explain the circumstances.

“Yeah.”

But Arina admitted it plainly. No elaboration, no justification—just a simple confirmation.

“Then… is it also true that you ran from the hero’s party?”

“About half true.”

“Will you tell me what happened?”

By the time Daniel managed to ask, they had already reached the door. Seeing Arina remain silent, he stepped outside.

Beyond the gate stood Leona, clad in crimson armor symbolizing flames.

Her brown hair was tied back in a braid, her eyes burning red. In each hand, she carried an absurdly large sword and shield.

Aside from looking slightly more mature, she was much the same as Arina remembered. But the aura she exuded now was entirely different.

Though Leona had undoubtedly come for Arina, Daniel, as the representative of the Hight Trading Company, bowed first.

“I am Daniel Hight, currently leading the Hight Trading Company. It’s an honor to meet you, Leona of the hero’s party.”

“Hello. I’m Leona Pyroite.”

“Forgive my bluntness, but may I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“I assume you already know—I’m here for our party member standing behind you.”

After the obligatory exchange, Leona’s gaze shifted. Her eyes met Arina’s, who had never looked away.

What expression am I making right now? At the very least, Arina didn’t want to appear weak, so she steeled her gaze.

“Hi. Long time no see, Riel.”

“Yeah. It really has been. Leona.”

How long had it been since she’d even called her by name? She had always spat curses like bitch or whore instead.

“How did you find me?”

“Those two beside you. Yuria caught them. She thought they were suspicious and had them watched—and then you showed up. I happened to be nearby, so I came as soon as I got word.”

The two in question—Ian and Millen—flinched.

“You got tailed? And here I thought you came to help. Pathetic.”

Arina didn’t sound angry or cold. It was just an honest assessment, and even Millen hung his head. He hadn’t cared what happened to her, but if his actions had put her in danger, that was another matter.

Meanwhile, Leona, caught off guard by Arina’s unexpected composure, hesitated before speaking.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be? If what you claim is true, then I’m just a delusional traitor who ran away on my own. If anyone should be mad, it’s you.”

“Did you already know? But still…”

Leona trailed off. Was that story really true? The frustrating part was that, upon cooling her head and thinking rationally, it could be.

There was no evidence to disprove it. The only counterpoint was that Durahan hadn’t recognized Arina when they met—but if she had truly been affected by the Demon King’s mental attacks, even his reaction could have been an act.

The corruption of the hero’s party, the claim that she had once been a man—all false memories. She had fled the party because of her delusions.

Ironically, Arina found herself wishing it were true. It would be the most convenient explanation.

What if I was just insane?

What if none of those memories were real, and I never had to hate my party members?

What if I could just go back to my family and friends?

She could have let go of her stubborn pride.

Arina met Leona’s gaze with clear eyes. For this moment, she set aside the deep-rooted betrayal and long-held hatred.

“Leona. I’m asking you because, of everyone in the party, you were the most upright. Even if my memories are false, you were the only one who apologized to me that day. If you say it’s true, I’ll believe you. I’ll return to the party.”

Arina closed her eyes briefly, steadied her breath, and continued.

“Were my memories really false? Was I just insane? Were you always on my side?”

Her gaze was unwavering. For the first time in so long, a glimpse of her past self—the Archmage of the hero’s party—shone through.

The group instinctively recognized it. This must have been what Riel Frost was truly like.

Leona’s eyes wavered at the sight of her old comrade’s former self. She couldn’t meet her gaze.

She shook her head.

Arina let out a cold laugh.

“What’s wrong? Whichever is true, all you have to do is nod.”

Leona’s reaction already told her the answer, but Arina pressed on, needing to hear it outright.

Finally, Leona bowed her head, her face twisted in anguish, and spoke.

“Sorry… It was a lie.”

The moment the words left her mouth, a violent storm of magic swallowed her whole.