“‘It’s just the weather getting warmer lately, you see? That’s why my face is flushed,’” Lyasis said with a soft smile, handing two cups to Clara. “‘Could you refill these? Thank you.’”
“‘Now that you mention it, summer’s really close. More guests have been ordering cold drinks too,’” Clara said, taking the cups. “‘No need to thank me—you two won the prize. This is what you deserve~’”
Clara then floated away.
“‘Miss…’” Suran’s face flushed crimson as she chided Lyasis. “‘It might be fine in private, but we’re in public! So many people around—what if someone saw us…?’”
“‘And if they did? What then?’” Lyasis countered with a mischievous grin, chin propped on her hands.
“‘I-I’d be so embarrassed!’”
“‘Then… when you forcefully kissed me right in front of Xiaxia before, why weren’t you embarrassed then?’”
“!?”
Suran’s blush deepened. “‘Th-that’s completely different! Two separate situations! They can’t be compared!’”
“‘I’m just learning from you, Suran~ If it’s wrong, you started it,’” Lyasis said, swinging her slender legs lazily under the table. She gave Suran a knowing look. “‘So… you’ll have to teach me properly, won’t you?’”
“‘Miss… you’re cheating.’”
“‘Hm? Did you say something, Suran?’”
“‘N-nothing! Uh… I’ll teach you properly, Miss.’”
“‘Good~’”
Just as Suran was playfully cornered by Lyasis, a commotion erupted outside the tavern.
“‘Hm? What’s happening?’”
“‘No idea. Someone arrive?’”
Patrons turned toward the entrance. Suran and Lyasis followed their gaze.
A fully armored knight stepped inside, summoned Clara, handed her a notice poster, and left without a word.
“‘Clara-chan, what did that knight bring?’”
“‘Another job? Wait—the Solflare Legion posts bounties at the Adventurers Guild, right? Why here?’”
“‘Everyone, please don’t rush~ Wait till I pin it up—you’ll see!’” Clara said cheerfully.
She walked to the bulletin board, moved the event poster aside, and pinned the knight’s notice dead center.
Crowds gathered. Murmurs swirled after reading it:
“‘Elsa—deputy commander of the Solflare Legion, captain of the Holy Flame Order—betrayed, attacked, slandered comrades… even tried to harm Princess Philoire? Gods, has she lost her mind?’”
“‘Elsa and all involved were expelled from the Solflare Legion and exiled to the kingdom’s border. Vacancies opened—hence this nationwide recruitment notice.’”
“‘It also says a lone assassin uncovered Elsa’s plot, abducted her unharmed from the crowd, later released her deliberately, saved Her Highness, and helped capture Elsa on the spot. Now the Princess searches the kingdom to reward her personally?’”
“‘So one of Elsa’s enemies accidentally did a heroic deed?’”
Suran blinked, slightly stunned—she hadn’t expected to hear gossip about herself here. Back then, Princess Philoire had been wary of her. Now, a kingdom-wide notice sought her out. Perhaps the Princess had only just realized—after the fact—that Suran was on her side.
“‘Suran~’” Lyasis narrowed her eyes slightly, voice dropping to a whisper. “‘Was it you?’”
Suran offered a faint, noncommittal smile and raised a slender finger to her lips. “‘Shh…’”
“‘But… an assassin abducting Elsa unharmed, right in a crowd? Is that even possible? Elsa’s the Second Knight of the Holy Flame Order! Rumor says she joined the Solflare Legion years ago as an A-rank adventurer—she’s only stronger now.’”
“‘Exactly! Eight years ago, maybe. But today? Skilled assassins are all recruited by nations as secret weapons. How could a powerful ‘freelance assassin’ still exist?’”
“‘But… the notice came from the capital. It can’t be fake, right?’”
“‘True… Then who *is* this mysterious assassin?’”
Discussion swiftly shifted from Elsa to the shadowy figure. Understandable—seasoned adventurers in the crowd knew: abducting a knight like Elsa unscathed from a crowd was near-impossible. Curiosity burned hot.
As they said, eight years ago, powerful assassins roamed freely—Suran among them, hunted by many. But after the game’s “shutdown” and time’s passage, today’s elite assassins vanished into secrecy. Some active outsiders might surpass Elsa… but snatching her unharmed from a crowd and vanishing untouched? Impossible.
The capital’s notice had seeded a new rumor across Lobet City.
…
Leaving the tavern, Suran and Lyasis strolled through Lobet City. Notices were posted everywhere—markets, squares. Everywhere, conversations pivoted from Elsa to the mysterious assassin. Recruitment for the Solflare Legion? Barely a mention.
“‘Suran,’" Lyasis tugged lightly on Suran’s sleeve, curiosity bright in her eyes. “‘I listened around—no one cares about joining the Solflare Legion. Why? I thought it was popular.’”
“‘Hmm… Probably because joining either the Solflare Legion or its rival, the Duskmire Legion, is riskier and less free than being an adventurer,’” Suran replied. “‘Adventurers choose their quests. Legions only take orders.’”
“‘And there’s a simpler reason,’” Suran added after a pause. “‘Those without enough strength can’t join legions at all. They must start as adventurers.’”
Though Suran stated plain fact, nearby listeners bristled. One voice cut through the air, sharp with offense:
“‘Maid Miss… would you kindly take back exactly what you just said?’”
