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Kira abruptly halted her steps, releasing her grip on Ryan's shoulder. She turned to him fully, amusement glittering sharply in her chestnut eyes. The look was strange—playful, mischievous, almost predatory.
Ryan froze.
A cold chill crept down his spine as Kira continued staring at him with that unreadable smirk.
D‑did I say something wrong? Why is she staring at me like that?!
For a moment, the lively street faded away—the clamor of vendors, the laughter of townsfolk, the clatter of wagon wheels became a distant hum. Between Ryan and Kira, an awkward, heavy silence fell.
Then Kira finally let out a soft snort.
"If you want to learn more about Scarlette," she said, flicking his forehead lightly, "I'll tell you what I know. But first—we seriously need food. We've been outside for hours. It's almost dawn, and we haven't eaten anything."
It took a second for Ryan to register her words.
Then his stomach growled loudly enough for both of them to hear.
"…Yeah." His cheeks reddened. "I guess we skipped lunch. And dinner. And possibly a stable mental state."
Kira laughed and slapped his back hard enough to jolt him forward. "Relax, bro! No need to feel guilty. Anyone would lose their senses after what happened back at the guild. Now c'mon—food first!"
Still mortified by her teasing, Ryan allowed himself to be herded out of the marketplace and toward the tavern district.
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They eventually found a cozy tavern, warm lantern light spilling from the windows. The moment they stepped inside, the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread enveloped them. Conversation buzzed around the room—adventurers sharing tales, merchants drinking away stress, friends laughing over mugs of ale.
Ryan and Kira settled into a wooden booth by the wall.
"So." Ryan clasped his hands together to keep them from fidgeting. "Would you start telling me about her?"
Kira leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. She pressed her fingers thoughtfully to her chin as if browsing through dozens of memories at once.
"Where do I start…?" she muttered. Then her gaze sharpened, landing on Ryan. "Well. For starters, Scarlette Overland's reputation is on an entirely different level. Every adventurer in the Silveria Empire knows her. Even you, an outlander, had heard about her, right?"
Ryan nodded. "I didn't know her face… but the name? It's everywhere."
Kira snorted. "Of course it is. Scarlette's existence alone is practically a myth."
She paused before continuing.
"There are a lot of stories about how she began her life as an adventurer. Years ago—no idea how many—she showed up in this land with nothing but her clothes."
Ryan's brows lifted. "So, she's not originally from this empire?"
"Looks that way," Kira said. "Most people assume she's from some distant land. But honestly? No one really knows. Every rumor contradicts the last. Some say she's from the Northern Territories. Others claim she came from beyond the Miris Continent entirely."
Ryan's curiosity grew. "What about her family?"
"No one's ever seen them. Or heard of them," Kira replied bluntly. "Scarlette Overland is… well, she's Scarlette Overland. Mysterious from day one."
Just then, their food arrived—steaming bowls, slices of bread, roasted meat, and drinks. Kira immediately grabbed her fork and practically devoured a mouthful.
"Finally! I've been starving!" she grumbled.
Ryan laughed under his breath, taking a bite himself. The warmth of the food eased some of the tension he hadn't realized he was still carrying.
After swallowing, Kira continued, "As for Scarlette's origin? No one knows anything solid. People have tried digging around, interviewing folks who were in the guild years ago… but all the leads disappear."
"So, she really is that mysterious," Ryan murmured.
"More than mysterious," Kira corrected. "She's an enigma wrapped in another enigma."
Ryan smiled slightly. "You sound like you're describing a puzzle box."
"That's exactly what she is," Kira said dramatically. "And most adventurers have broken their brains trying to open it."
Ryan chuckled.
Kira took a large gulp of her drink, finishing it in one go. Ryan blinked. "Hey, we can order more—you don't have to chug it like that."
She set the cup down with a loud thud. "Sorry. Habit. Also—I was starving."
Her childlike grumbling made Ryan laugh.
"Anyway," Kira went on, "you know Scarlette does most missions alone, right?"
Ryan nodded, wiping his mouth. "That seems to be the first thing everyone talks about."
"Right. And while doing solo missions isn't forbidden… it's only acceptable at lower ranks, where the tasks aren't dangerous." Kira leaned forward. "Higher‑rank missions require teams. It's guild policy."
Ryan paused. "So, Scarlette breaks guild rules?"
"Constantly," Kira said proudly. "And the Guildmaster lets her."
Ryan nearly spit out his drink. "H‑how does that even work?!"
Kira laughed. "There was a huge commotion a few years ago. Adventurers protested. Some even tried to get her banned."
"And…?"
Kira smirked. "Scarlette walked past them once. They all shut up."
Ryan rubbed his face. "I don't know if that's terrifying or impressive…"
"It's Scarlette," Kira said simply. "Everything she does is both."
Ryan shook his head, overwhelmed. Kira grinned.
"You should've seen the first time I saw her fight," she said suddenly.
Ryan perked up. "You saw her fight?!"
"Just once," Kira said, shaking her head as though still processing it. "A giant wolf monster went berserk near the guild gates. People panicked, started running. Scarlette walked up like she was taking a stroll."
Ryan's jaw dropped. "And?"
"And she knocked the monster out in one hit."
"One hit?!"
"One hit," Kira repeated, raising a finger. "A punch straight to the jaw. Boom. Out. Like a rock."
Ryan blinked rapidly.
"I… don't know what to say."
"You shouldn't say anything," Kira grinned. "Just understand one thing—Scarlette isn't someone you can predict."
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Kira continued eating until the next topic surfaced.
"But did you know," she began, raising her fork, "that Scarlette Overland is recognized by nobles and even the royal family?"
Ryan's ears perked. "I thought those were exaggerated rumors…"
"Nope. Completely true."
"Because she's SSS‑Rank?"
Kira snorted. "Rank is only part of it. The other reason is even more unbelievable."
Ryan braced himself.
"She proved herself far stronger than the Commander of the Imperial Army."
Ryan choked violently on his drink, coughing until his eyes watered. Kira slammed his back to help.
"W‑WHAT?!" he croaked. "T‑the Commander?! How—?!"
"I heard it from nobles themselves," Kira said, shrugging. "Scarlette completed a mission the Imperial Army couldn't handle. Alone. Faster."
Ryan slumped in his seat, stunned.
"Scarlette Overland…" he whispered, "is really on a different level."
Kira nodded solemnly.
"And tomorrow, you're working with her."
Ryan's face turned pale.
He groaned.
Kira laughed loudly.
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