Chapter 28: But I Believe in You

Outside the Adventurer’s Guild, Ina took a deep breath and turned to Lorena, now in casual attire.
“You remember what I told you on the way, right?”

“Don’t worry, Ina-ka—er, Miss Ina.”

Lorena, catching herself mid-slip, answered confidently.
“But… why can’t we mention you’re a Saint?”

“Shh!”

Ina clamped a hand over Lorena’s mouth, gesturing for silence.
“Because… uh, she doesn’t like how some of us act, especially this time.”

“Mmph…”

Lorena nodded frantically, and Ina cautiously released her.
Cynthia might not hear from inside, but Ina wasn’t taking chances.

If she wasn’t careful, her journey could end here.

Why’s my life so exhausting?

“Didn’t expect us to be the same height without that bulky armor. This light armor makes you look sharp.”

Lorena couldn’t wear her heavy Paladin gear, so she’d swapped it for lighter armor—still protective, just less clunky.
Sturdy yet stylish, it gleamed silver in the sunset.

“My father left me this set. Dwarven craftsmanship, they say. I don’t wear it often.”

Lorena’s choice to don it showed how seriously she took this mission.
She was curious about the person Ina treated so cautiously.

“Alright, let’s head in.”

Ina pushed open the Guild’s door, the lively noise hitting them instantly.

Her eyes landed on Cynthia, surrounded by a crowd at a table on the left.
Cynthia propped her chin with one hand, pinning a young adventurer’s arm with the other.
His face was red from effort, but he couldn’t budge her.

“Give up. You can’t win.”

Cynthia’s voice was bored.

“Damn it… I surrender…”

Defeated, the adventurer slapped a few Nar coins in front of her.

“Cynthia-chan… what’re you doing?”

Ina, with Lorena in tow, approached, utterly confused.

Cynthia hadn’t noticed Ina’s return.
Her eyes lit up, her tone gaining energy.
“Oh, welcome back, Ina. I’m arm wrestling.”

“…Arm wrestling?”

Cynthia pocketed the coins, tossing them casually.
“You were gone forever, so I wandered out. These guys wanted to test my strength, so we started arm wrestling.”

“…Seriously?”

Arm wrestling with Cynthia? Are they insane?

Ina stared at the crowd, recognizing some from Sarunda’s morning fiasco.
Were they challenging her because of that?

“Oh my… Miss Cynthia’s a vanguard adventurer. So petite and cute, I thought she’d be a mage or archer…”

The defeated adventurer, catching Ina’s incredulous look, tried to explain.
“Lots of folks here didn’t believe she’s that strong and lost to her.”

They all lost to… Cynthia?

Not Ina’s thought—Lorena’s, trailing behind.

Some in the crowd were no weaklings; even Lorena, a Paladin, wasn’t sure she could outmuscle them.
Yet they’d all fallen to this unassuming gray-haired girl?

Ina’s companion?

It made sense.
Ina, likely a spellcaster, needed a vanguard for protection.
Cynthia fit the bill.

Lorena resolved to prove her own worth as a vanguard.

“Good thing it’s just arm wrestling.”

Ina sighed, grabbing Cynthia’s wrist and pulling her through the crowd.
“Sorry, folks, I need to borrow her.”

“Hey, what’s this about?”

Cynthia didn’t resist, letting Ina drag her back to their private room.

Only when they sat on the sofa did she notice Lorena.
“…Who’s she?”

“I’m—”

“She helped us out for the sewer mission,” Ina cut in.
“Her name’s Lorena, an adventurer. We met years ago, didn’t expect to run into her here.”

“…Yeah, Miss Ina’s right.”

Lorena, unsure why Ina hid her Paladin status, played along.

Cynthia stayed silent, her usual reserved self with strangers, studying Lorena calmly.
“And this relates to the mission how?”

“Lorena’s also investigating the sewers and knows the area well.”

Ina leaned close, whispering, “Especially near the Bazerolle branch church.”

“She could be a big help if we let her join.”

“What do you think?”

Ina braced for rejection, ready with counterarguments.
Cynthia’s identity was sensitive here—excluding outsiders made sense.

“Fine, she’s in.”

Ina blinked, caught off guard.
“Huh? You’re not saying no?”

“Why would I? If you think she’s useful, she joins. But I’m only responsible for your safety, not hers.”

Cynthia’s trust in Ina, built over days together, was unwavering.
“You’re no fool—well, sometimes you are, but mostly you’re sharp.”

“That last part wasn’t necessary!”

Ina turned away, huffing, but Cynthia’s earnest trust stung her conscience.

She trusts me so much, and I’m lying to her. I’m awful.

But for her own safety, she had no choice.

Cynthia stood, approaching Lorena.
“Still, for the mission, I need to see what you’re capable of.”

She looked up into Lorena’s eyes.
“You don’t mind, right?”