The female receptionist answered first, voice steady.
"We haven't seen Master Vane this morning, Lady Mina."
Mina opened her mouth—
But the male receptionist spoke before she could continue.
"Mentoring?" His gaze shifted, landing on Viole with quiet curiosity. "And… who is this gentleman?"
Mina turned immediately, as if she had been waiting for that cue.
"This is Viole."
Simple. Direct.
"The one I'll be mentoring."
Clean declaration.
No hesitation. No qualifiers.
Before Viole could respond, both receptionists moved in sync again.
They bowed.
"Good morning. I'm Luke."
"And I'm Misha. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Their voices carried the same professionalism as before, but now with a hint of focus. Assessment layered beneath courtesy.
Viole inclined his head slightly in return.
I took the opportunity to actually look at them properly this time.
Luke stood with a relaxed posture that didn't feel lazy—just efficient. Thirties, maybe. Lean build. The kind shaped by long hours on his feet rather than training fields. His short ash-brown hair was slightly messy, but intentional. Maintained just enough to avoid looking careless. His eyes—gray-brown, calm—tracked details without drawing attention to it.
Light stubble framed his jaw, giving him that perpetually "just finished work" look.
The kind of man people trusted to keep things running without needing recognition.
Misha stood beside him, softer in presence but not in capability. Mid-twenties, composed. Her chestnut-brown hair was tied back loosely, a few strands framing her face in a way that felt natural rather than styled. Her eyes—warm, amber-brown—carried a kind of attentiveness that didn't miss much.
She looked approachable.
But not naive.
The kind of person who remembered things you didn't realize you had said.
I paused.
Then a thought surfaced, uninvited but not unwelcome.
"Yeah. The baseline in this world really is high."
Misha wasn't trying to stand out, and yet—she did. Not in an exaggerated way. Just… naturally put together. Balanced. The kind of appearance that didn't rely on effort to be noticed.
Then my gaze shifted back to Luke.
And it wasn't just her.
He looked like he is in his thirties—maybe mid, if you didn't look too closely. But the structure held. Clean lines. Grounded features. Not flashy. Just… solid.
Handsome in a way that aged well.
So it's not just the women.
Viole spoke then, voice even.
"Viole. Nice to meet you."
Brief. Polite. Redundant, considering Mina had already introduced him.
But necessary.
Names carried weight. Better to confirm them yourself.
Mina, of course, wasn't finished.
"Oh, and he'll be joining the clan in the future."
She said it like she was announcing the weather.
Matter-of-fact. Already decided.
I blinked.
That was news.
Not the idea itself—
The certainty.
I felt it immediately.
A small, almost imperceptible twitch at the edge of Viole's brow.
He didn't speak.
Didn't react outwardly.
But that line had crossed something.
"You're just deciding that for him now?"
Misha caught it—not the twitch, but the implication.
Her expression remained polite, but there was a careful pause before she responded.
"…Future?"
There it was.
Clarification.
Not confrontation.
She knew Mina well enough to double-check.
Mina nodded, unfazed.
"Mm. While I mentor him, he'll also do a probationary run with the clan."
Then, as if asking about something routine—
"That's possible, right?"
Silence.
Luke and Misha exchanged a glance.
Not long. Just enough.
Confusion, quietly shared.
Luke answered this time.
"…Since the clan was established last year, we haven't had anything like a trial period."
His tone remained respectful, but firm in structure.
"Applicants are either accepted or not based on the qualifications. And after that, they become members until they have a reason to leave."
Simple system.
Clean. No gray areas.
A thought surfaced from Viole.
Not spoken.
But clear.
"I half expected that."
It fit.
Efficient organizations didn't usually entertain uncertainty once decisions were made.
Luke continued.
"We can't give a definitive answer on that."
A small pause.
"But you can ask Vane or Our Clan Master Lina."
The name wasn't spoken with weight.
But it carried it anyway.
Authority, distilled into a single point.
Mina didn't seem bothered by the lack of immediate approval.
"Is Lina around?"
Luke nodded. "She should be in her office—"
"Oyah? Lyra is recruiting someone?"
The voice came from above.
Smooth. Unhurried.
It carried down the staircase with an ease that felt… intentional. Not loud. Not forced. Just enough to reach everyone it needed to.
I paused.
That tone—
That familiar archetype.
Calm. Slightly playful. Just enough warmth to blur the line between teasing and observation.
Onee-san energy.
I exhaled quietly.
Alright. Here we go again. Another one.
Mina's reaction was immediate.
"Lina!"
Bright. Almost gleeful.
She turned toward the staircase just as the figure came into view.
Lina descended without rush.
Each step measured. Natural. Like she owned the space without needing to assert it.
Tall. Elegant. Her posture alone set the tone before anything else did. Long chestnut-brown hair flowed behind her, partially gathered, the rest falling freely in soft lines. The movement caught the light subtly with each step.
Her eyes—amber-brown—steady.
Observing.
Not searching.
She didn't need to.
Her expression rested somewhere between gentle and composed, the kind shaped by experience rather than effort. The faint lines along her features didn't detract from her appearance—
They anchored it.
Made it real.
Her clothing followed the same principle.
Structured. Refined. Layers of deep brown and muted charcoal, trimmed with quiet gold accents. Nothing excessive. Nothing wasted. Even the way the fabric moved suggested function beneath elegance.
Authority without display.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and approached the reception.
Luke and Misha bowed again.
Lina's attention didn't linger on them.
It returned to the topic at hand.
"So Lyra is recruiting someone, huh?"
She said it again, softer this time.
But now—
Her gaze shifted.
It landed on Viole.
And stayed.
Not just a glance.
An assessment.
From his face—
Down.
Shoulders. Frame. Posture. Hands. Equipment.
All the way to his feet.
Then back up.
Slow. Uninterrupted.
And once more down again.
Before settling on his face.
I watched the entire process unfold.
"…Yeah. That wasn't casual. That was evaluation."
Thorough. Controlled. Efficient.
And somehow—
Still carried that same relaxed air.
I almost laughed.
She really is that type.
Viole didn't interrupt her.
Didn't shift. Didn't react.
He let her look.
Then, when the silence reached its natural end—
He spoke.
"Viole."
A small pause.
"Nice to meet you."
Simple. Direct.
Lina's gaze didn't break.
But something in it shifted.
Not visibly.
Just—
Acknowledgment.
Then she smiled faintly.
"It's the first time Lyra is recruiting someone."
Casual observation.
But not meaningless.
I caught that immediately.
Lyra.
Not Mina.
Not even her full name.
Mina Lyraenis.
Just—
Lyra.
I paused on that.
Almost everyone here called her Mina.
So why—
I considered it for a second.
Then let it go.
Maybe it's just that.
Lina and Mina.
Too close and too similar.
Names overlapping in sound.
Switching to Lyra avoids confusion.
Simple explanation.
No need to overthink it.
Still—
There was a familiarity in how she said it.
Lina finally stopped inspecting Viole and shifted her attention toward Mina instead.
A faint smile lingered on her face as she approached the counter.
"You know," she began casually, "this is the first time you've ever tried recruiting someone since the clan was founded."
Mina straightened slightly.
Lina continued anyway.
"In fact, this might be the first time we've seen you genuinely interested in someone enough to drag them here personally."
There was no accusation in her tone.
Only amusement.
"Though I suppose part of that is because you barely leave the headquarters unless it's for commissions or restocking supplies."
Mina frowned immediately.
"I go outside."
"Mm," Lina nodded lightly. "Technically."
Luke quietly looked away.
Lina's smile widened.
Then her eyes flicked toward Viole for half a second before returning to Mina.
"So tell me honestly."
Pause.
"Did you pick him because he's handsome?"
Mina choked.
Actually choked.
"T-That's not—"
"Oh? Interesting reaction."
"That's not the reason," she pushed out quickly, though the damage had already been done. "The mentorship is the main reason he's here today."
She pointed toward Viole like evidence in a trial.
"The recruitment part is secondary. Viole was asking whether a probationary period or trial run was possible."
I listened carefully.
"That sounded unbelievably unconvincing… Not entirely false…"
Which somehow made it worse.
Even Misha's expression shifted slightly into that polite neutrality people used when choosing not to comment.
Lina, meanwhile, looked completely unconvinced.
But she let Mina escape with dignity.
Mostly.
Then her attention returned to Viole.
This time her expression softened into something more measured.
"Why not simply join?"
Direct question.
"There's no disadvantage to being part of a clan."
Her tone remained relaxed, but every word carried deliberate structure now.
"And you wouldn't be joining some unknown organization."
A small gesture around the headquarters.
"This is one of the kingdom's top clans."
Then she added calmly—
"And if an adamantite-class adventurer like Lyra is personally recruiting you, then she already believes you can pass the requirements."
A pause.
"You're essentially being recommended before even applying."
Reasonable argument.
Dangerously reasonable, actually.
Lina continued.
"If it's fame or money you're after, joining a clan like ours would be the ideal path."
Silence followed.
Not long.
Just enough for thought to settle.
Viole considered her words carefully.
Not emotionally.
Practically.
Fame. Money. Security. Connections. Training. Resources.
For most adventurers, this would already sound like an easy decision.
Then he answered.
"I'm simply adventuring to provide for myself."
His voice stayed calm.
Measured.
"I could've chosen another type of work."
A slight pause.
"But my father taught me the sword when I was young."
"I figured it would be easier to make use of the skills I already had rather than spend years learning an entirely different profession."
Simple and grounded logic.
No grand ambition behind it.
No hunger for status.
Just practicality.
"I see…"
Lina's reply came quietly.
Not dismissive just thoughtful.
A few seconds passed after that. Calm. Measured.
Then her gaze shifted toward Mina again.
"So," she said lightly, "what exactly changed?"
Mina blinked once.
Lina continued.
"You've never shown interest in mentoring anyone before."
A faint smile appeared.
"So what made you decide Viole was worth your time?"
Mina's expression changed for a moment.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
The usual easygoing energy around her tightened slightly into seriousness.
Then, almost immediately, she answered in the most absurdly casual tone possible.
"He blocked one of my attacks."
Silence.
Not dramatic silence.
The very specific kind where people needed a second to process what they had just heard.
Luke froze.
Misha blinked.
Lina stared.
Mina, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered.
"He reacted to it at full speed," she added casually. "And blocked it."
Like she was talking about someone catching a tossed apple.
Luke's composure cracked first.
"…He what?"
Misha looked genuinely surprised now, her professional calm slipping just enough to show it.
Lina's eyes widened slightly.
Then—
"Heeeh…"
The sound left her slowly, openly intrigued.
"To block an attack from the Crimson Edge…"
There was amusement in her voice now.
And interest.
Real interest.
She looked back toward Viole with renewed attention.
"That's quite a feat."
A brief pause.
"Considering Mina Lyraenis is one of the fastest people in the kingdom."
And somehow the atmosphere shifted slightly the moment it was spoken completely.
Titles mattered.
Reputation mattered.
And apparently Mina's reputation involved moving fast enough to terrify trained adventurers.
Reasonable.
I'd seen it.
Lina's expression softened afterward into something almost entertained.
"I don't know your circumstances," she said to Viole. "And I don't plan to ask why you specifically want a probationary period instead of joining outright."
No pressure. No probing.
Just acknowledgment.
Then—
"I'll allow the exception."
Mina visibly brightened.
Lina raised a hand before she could celebrate too hard.
"However."
Ah.
There it is.
Conditions.
"The Arkhons recently finished clearing a dungeon, so they won't be taking major work for a while."
Her eyes shifted briefly toward Mina.
"Which means Lyra has time to mentor you."
Then back to Viole.
"That same period will also serve as your time limit."
Simple. Clean.
"By the end of it, you'll decide whether you intend to join the clan permanently or not."
Fair.
Actually fairer than expected.
But Lina wasn't finished.
"And probationary status still makes you part of the clan."
Her tone remained calm, though firmer now.
"That means you'll still be expected to follow clan policies."
One finger lifted slightly.
"One of which is party affiliation."
She continued smoothly.
"Long-term teamwork naturally develops trust, coordination, and instinctive understanding between members."
A small pause.
"At higher ranks, dungeon combat becomes increasingly dependent on that."
Reasonable again.
Annoyingly reasonable leadership all around.
Then Lina's gaze dipped briefly toward Viole's chest.
"Hm?"
A slight tilt of her head.
"What adventurer rank are you?"
Viole's eyes lowered as well.
Then I realized it at almost the same time he did.
Right.
The insignia.
He hadn't attached the new one yet.
Viole answered calmly.
"I was recently promoted to Platinum Rank."
That immediately earned another subtle reaction from Luke and Misha.
Platinum already carried weight.
But he continued before anyone interrupted.
"My class proficiency reached its D-Tier ceiling."
His gaze shifted briefly toward Mina.
"That's why she's mentoring me."
Lina fell quiet for a moment.
One hand rose lightly to her chin as she thought things over.
Not for long.
Just enough to organize her conclusions.
"I see."
A few more seconds passed before she spoke again.
"Well, that settles things for now."
Her gaze shifted toward Viole.
"Your party placement can be decided later."
Then, without another word, Lina turned and began walking toward the headquarters entrance.
Mina blinked.
"Where are you going?"
Lina answered without even slowing down.
"To the Adventurer Guild tavern."
A small pause.
"For a drink."
Misha sighed immediately.
Luke covered part of his face with one hand.
Not shocked.
Not even disappointed.
Just deeply familiar with this outcome.
Mina stared.
"What for?!"
Lina glanced back over her shoulder with complete seriousness.
"To celebrate."
I paused.
It was still morning.
Not even noon.
Who drinks this early?
Actually no—
Who casually announces they're going drinking this early while running one of the strongest clans in the kingdom?
Then again…
That explains the aura.
The easygoing onee-san energy wasn't an act.
She genuinely lived like that.
Right before reaching the door, Lina stopped again.
"Oh, Lyra."
Mina looked up.
"Don't forget to tell Vane about the mentorship arrangement and Viole's probationary status."
Then she smiled faintly.
"And tell him to come by the tavern when he has time."
Of course.
Naturally.
With that, she waved lightly and stepped outside.
The door closed behind her.
And the four remaining members of Solari—
Including the newly designated probationary member—
Quietly watched their Clan Master leave for morning alcohol consumption.
I stared internally for a second.
This clan is incredible.
Then another thought surfaced.
Actually…
Maybe Vane's the same.
Would explain a lot already.
Honestly, Lina really did embody that anime onee-san archetype disturbingly well. Relaxed. Attractive. Slightly irresponsible. Probably emotionally intelligent enough to manipulate entire conversations without trying.
I paused.
Wait.
Is she married?
…
No.
Impossible.
There is absolutely no way a baddie like that stayed single into her forties.
Statistically improbable.
Luke quietly resumed working as if none of that had happened.
Professional survival instincts.
He pulled several documents from beneath the counter and neatly organized them on top.
Beside him, Misha began preparing another stack of papers, expression calm again.
Mina suddenly turned toward Viole with renewed energy.
"Alright!"
She pointed dramatically.
"Finish the paperwork while I go tell Vane what Lina said."
Then she added cheerfully—
"After that, we'll start the tour."
Viole gave a small nod.
Mina immediately spun around and headed toward the hall leading to the dorm with enough momentum to suggest she might actually kick open Vane's door if left unsupervised.
Then she disappeared.
Luke watched her leave for a second before looking back at Viole.
"If you would," he said politely, gesturing toward Misha.
"She'll take you to the interview room."
Misha gave a small welcoming nod.
Luke continued while organizing the papers.
"Since Lady Mina already tested your combat ability personally, the standard physical and practical skill examinations will be waived."
Reasonable.
Honestly, if Mina herself vouched for someone's combat capability, forcing them through beginner tests afterward would probably feel insulting.
"The assessment will mostly focus on technical knowledge."
Luke's tone became more administrative now.
"Monster identification. Weakness recognition. Environmental awareness. Survival skills. Combat judgment. General field knowledge."
He adjusted the papers slightly.
"Essentially everything outside direct fighting that still contributes to combat efficiency and survival."
Ah.
That kind of test.
I almost relaxed immediately.
Yeah.
Viole's going to crush this.
Not because he was academically gifted or anything dramatic like that.
But because the man already lived and treat life like survival was a permanent condition rather than a situation.
Misha guided Viole toward one of the rooms along the right side of the headquarters.
The moment the door closed behind them, the atmosphere shifted again.
Quieter.
More focused.
The room itself was simple. Functional table. Several chairs. Shelves along one wall holding records and spare documents. No unnecessary decoration beyond the subtle Solari insignia engraved into the wood near the doorway.
Misha took the seat across from Viole and began the interview.
The questions were mostly standard.
Background.
Place of origin.
Previous work.
General adventuring history.
Nothing overly invasive.
No aggressive probing into personal matters.
Whenever a question approached territory Viole clearly didn't want to elaborate on, Misha adjusted naturally and moved on without forcing it.
Emotionally intelligent indeed.
Honestly, the interview felt less like interrogation and more like someone trying to understand how stable and functional a future member would be.
Reasonable approach.
The entire thing lasted a little over fifteen minutes.
Then Luke entered carrying several sheets of paper neatly stacked together.
The written assessment.
That part was more straightforward.
Monster behavior.
Weakness identification.
Environmental responses.
Survival scenarios.
Resource management.
Tracking.
Field judgment.
Most of it fell squarely into areas Viole already understood naturally.
The dungeon-related questions were the only sections where uncertainty appeared. And even then, not much. He still knew enough through books and secondhand information gathered from the library.
Honestly, for someone who'd only recently entered proper adventuring circles, his foundation was annoyingly solid.
The written portion took around twenty minutes.
Then Misha collected the completed papers carefully and gave them a brief glance.
No visible reaction.
Professional until the end.
"Please follow me," she said gently.
Viole stood and followed her back toward the reception hall.
The moment they returned—
Mina spotted them immediately.
"There you are!"
She waved enthusiastically from near the counter.
And standing beside her—
Was an older man.
Well.
Older-looking.
My first impression was immediate.
This man looked like he had been physically removed from his bed against his will and transported here before his soul fully returned to his body.
Tall enough. Lean build hidden beneath slightly disorganized clothing. Dark hair with faint signs of age beginning to settle in. Not old-old.
Maybe thirties.
But exhausted in a way that artificially added another decade.
His eyes looked half-lidded like he hadn't emotionally accepted consciousness yet.
There was also a very real possibility he hadn't washed his face before being dragged downstairs.
Actually no.
Looking closer—
Definitely dragged.
Viole's first thought surfaced quietly.
Vane.
Simple conclusion.
Mine, however, immediately went somewhere else entirely.
Hold on.
"What are the odds this guy is actually Mina's father and she's about to introduce Viole as her future husband?"
I stared internally for a second.
Because honestly?
If that somehow turned out to be true—
Viole, you lucky bastard.
Beautiful wife.
High-ranking adventurer.
Rich.
Practically set for life already.
The dream.
Jokes aside—
If that man really was Vane, then he absolutely did not radiate the aura of a party leader.
Especially not the leader of the Arkhons.
The man looked one mild inconvenience away from collapsing back into bed.
Then again…
I immediately took that thought back.
There really wasn't anyone else he could be.
Mina had already mentioned "raiding his room" earlier. And before the interview started, she'd gone upstairs specifically to fetch him.
So yes.
This exhausted corpse-like man was apparently Vane Kael.
Which raised another question.
Why drag him here?
To meet Viole?
That was the obvious answer.
But even then, why?
It's not like Viole was officially joining the Arkhons. Or even the clan yet.
So why kidnap your half-conscious party leader just for introductions?
Unless—
Mina planned to introduce him to every member of the Arkhons personally.
Maybe even the entire clan eventually.
Though thinking about it, Mina didn't actually seem close with many people outside Lina, Luke, Misha, and her own party members.
My thoughts stopped there as Viole approached them.
Mina immediately grabbed the exhausted man by the shoulder and physically pulled him upright a little more.
"Vane Kael," she announced proudly.
Then with slightly more flourish—
"Rune Blade. Party leader of the Arkhons. One of the founding members of Solari."
The man in question looked moments away from spiritually ascending.
Mina continued anyway.
"Most of the time you can find him either in the tavern or the brothel."
Absolute slander.
Probably.
"So if you need anything from him, you know where to look."
Vane did not deny this.
Did not defend himself.
Did not react at all, actually.
He simply scratched the side of his head slowly while trying to regain basic human consciousness.
Honestly, his silence was somehow more incriminating.
Viole answered out of courtesy.
"Viole. Platinum Rank adventurer."
A short pause.
Vane gave a low groan that vaguely resembled acknowledgment.
Then he nodded once.
Slowly turned around.
And started walking toward the right-side exit leading toward the dormitory building.
Not walking confidently.
Not even normally.
The man moved like a corpse temporarily permitted autonomy.
Misha noticed immediately.
Without saying anything, she walked over and lightly supported him before he accidentally drifted into a wall or another dimension.
Viole watched him for a moment.
Then a quiet thought surfaced.
Even like that… his guard is still up.
And he was right.
It was subtle.
Easy to miss beneath the exhaustion.
But the awareness was there.
The way Vane's posture shifted slightly when people moved nearby. The way his balance adjusted naturally. The way his hand remained unconsciously positioned near where a weapon would normally rest.
Instinct.
Deeply ingrained.
The kind that didn't disappear just because someone got dragged out of bed against their will.
Then Mina's voice cut through the moment.
"So!"
Bright again.
Energetic again.
"Should we get going?"
She pointed toward the left side of the headquarters.
Viole's eyes followed the direction automatically.
That side…
Based on the layout, the Scholar's Guild should be there.
Before he could answer, Mina had already started walking.
Naturally.
Waiting for responses was apparently optional for her.
"We'll stop by the Scholar's Guild first," she said casually while leading the way.
Then she added—
"And ask Elara if she wants to become your mage mentor."
Viole followed behind Mina as she led the way outside the headquarters.
Her pace was light.
Unhurried.
Like she had already mentally planned the entire route ahead of time.
Meanwhile, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
Elara.
Another member of the Arkhons.
Their spellcaster.
Which naturally raised an important question.
What kind of title does she have?
Vane was Rune Blade.
That one made sense, at least partially. A swordsman with mage capability. The title implied integration between the two. Not just someone swinging a sword while occasionally casting spells, but someone who had done something significant enough for people to recognize that combination specifically.
Then there was Mina.
Crimson Edge.
That one intrigued me more.
Crimson usually pointed toward blood or flames. Edge clearly referred to her swordsmanship.
But from what I'd seen so far, Mina didn't use blood-based abilities.
Nor fire.
So what exactly had she done to earn that title? Her hair?
Titles in this world weren't decorative.
They were recognition.
Proof.
A summary of accomplishments condensed into a name people remembered.
The knowledge surfaced naturally through Viole's memories.
This world operated under monarchy.
Mostly.
But not rigidly.
Exceptional commoners could rise.
If someone achieved something remarkable enough—something acknowledged by the kingdom, the Adventurer Guild, and the Church alike—they could be granted a title equivalent to noble status.
And once granted—
That title effectively becomes a family name.
A new bloodline.
That was the reality for Adamantite-ranked adventurers.
They weren't merely powerful.
They stood above ordinary social structure.
Which explained why so many adventurers chased that rank despite the death rate attached to it.
Power. Influence. Legacy.
Immortality through name.
My thoughts halted when something surfaced from Viole.
Then he spoke.
"…Mina."
Mina immediately answered before he could finish.
"Hmm? You wanna ask about Vane?"
Absolute confidence.
Like she already knew exactly where his thoughts had gone.
Viole gave a small nod.
Mina's expression softened slightly—not cheerful this time. Just quieter.
"Vane's always been like that. A drunkard."
Direct.
"And the type to visit brothels and stay the night over."
Equally direct.
"Even back when we first started adventuring together."
She kept walking as she spoke.
"The Arkhons were formed a little over three years ago."
A brief pause.
"Back then, me, Aris, Elara, and Nacht were all still Orichalcum Rank."
Then—
"Vane was already Adamantite."
That alone said enough.
The gap between Orichalcum and Adamantite wasn't small.
It was enormous.
Mina continued calmly.
"From what I heard, Vane used to have his own party."
Her tone lowered slightly.
"All Adamantite-ranked adventurers."
And then—
"They were wiped out during a dungeon raid."
Silence followed those words naturally.
No dramatics. No emphasis needed.
"Among them…was his fiancée."
Ah.
Pieces aligned immediately.
Mina looked ahead while speaking.
"After that, he changed."
No elaboration.
Didn't need one.
Mina stayed quiet for a few steps after that.
Then she spoke again.
"The next part came from Lina herself."
Her tone had changed slightly.
Still casual on the surface.
But steadier now.
"After Vane stopped adventuring, he just… wandered."
No destination. No structure.
Just moving from city to city.
"The Adventurer Guild couldn't just leave him alone like that."
Mina glanced ahead as she spoke.
"An active Adamantite-ranked adventurer isn't exactly harmless."
That was putting it lightly.
Even from what little I understood, people at that level had already crossed into something beyond ordinary human standards.
Their bodies. Their instincts. Their proficiency.
Even unarmed, they were dangerous.
Mina continued.
"And someone suffering that badly…"
A small pause.
"No one knows what could happen to him. Or to the people around him."
Right.
Because grief and power together were terrifying combinations.
"So the Guild issued a notice to take him in."
Then—
"Lina got assigned to his case."
Viole finally interrupted.
"…Is it alright to tell me this?"
Reasonable question.
Mina answered immediately.
"It's fine."
Not even a second of hesitation.
"You're part of the clan now."
Then after a beat—
"…Temporarily."
There it is.
The probationary disclaimer.
Mina continued walking.
"When Lina finally found him…"
She slowed slightly, as if searching for the right words.
"…she said she couldn't even properly describe what she saw."
Her brows furrowed faintly.
"She tried to explain it to us once. Tried to summarize it into something understandable."
But then Mina shook her head lightly.
"In the end, the only thing she could say was…"
A brief pause.
"…that he looked like the embodiment of someone who had lost everything."
Silence followed naturally after that.
"She never told us exactly what she did or what happened that helped him recover."
Mina exhaled quietly.
"But part of it involved forcing him back into adventuring."
That sounded very Lina somehow.
"She pushed him into joining our party."
Another pause.
"She told him that continuing to live was probably what his old party would've wanted."
Mina's voice lowered a little.
"And his fiancée too."
Then she added softly—
"Lina once said she knew those words probably sounded hollow coming from her."
Not dramatic. Just honest.
"Because she wasn't the one who lost everything."
Mina looked ahead.
"But even if the words were hollow… she hoped they would still gave him enough push to keep moving."
Viole noticed the shift in her expression immediately.
The slight seriousness.
The quieter tone.
But he didn't comment on it.
Because he understood.
And honestly—
I didn't know what to say either.
The weight of it sat there quietly.
Heavy.
I'd never lost someone like that before.
Never watched friends die in front of me.
Never lost someone I loved.
But even imagining it—
A dungeon.
Your entire party dying one after another.
Your fiancée among them.
And you survive alone.
…
Yeah.
I don't think I could live with that either.
Mina suddenly clapped her hands lightly once, forcing the atmosphere forward again.
"But basically—"
There it is.
The Mina recovery maneuver.
"She forced Vane to lead us for one quest."
Her expression brightened slightly.
"Then another."
"And another."
A small grin appeared.
"Eventually the Arkhons got formed."
The shift in tone wasn't forced.
Just intentional.
Like she understood the story was heavy, but didn't want it to stay there forever.
"Then everyone eventually reached Adamantite Rank."
There was a quiet sense of pride in her voice now.
"And after that, Lina and some people from the Adventurer Guild pushed for the creation of a fourth major clan in the Thaloria Kingdom."
Her smile widened slightly.
"And that's how Solari was born."
Mina stretched her arms lightly behind her head as they continued walking.
"Anyway," she said casually, "despite how Vane looked earlier, he's reliable."
A small pause.
"And really strong."
There was no joking in that part.
"You can trust him as an Adamantite adventurer."
Then she added—
"And as a leader."
Simple statement.
But coming from Mina, it carried weight.
She doesn't look like the type to hand out praise carelessly.
The conversation about Vane settled naturally after that as the two approached another building connected near the headquarters.