CH 20 Warning

“…!”

Upon Irene’s words, Felix immediately wrapped his arms around Reyna, shielding her.

“Who are you?”

Felix scrutinized Irene with a sharp gaze, wary of her approach. The reaction was natural for a pair. In her past life, Irene might have been startled by Felix’s swift movement, but not now.

‘Sloppy.’

Having witnessed many knights in her past life and occasionally observing Michael’s movements, Irene found Felix’s response somewhat clumsy.

‘With this level of skill, he’d almost certainly die.’

No matter how grand a raid was organized, survival ultimately depended on each individual’s ability. Given Felix’s current skill level, facing low-level monsters from behind was likely his limit.

‘If the knights at the vanguard are breached and face high-level monsters right away…’

In a previous life, Reyna had held his severed head and cried. It detached from his body in one fell swoop, giving Reyna no opportunity to heal him.

The memory made Irene’s stomach churn. If things continued as they were, the past would surely repeat itself.

“Hey, I said who are you?”

Felix’s voice grew sharper as Irene remained silent.

Irene straightened her posture and bowed to the two.

“Irene Rhodiam. I’m a new purifier who recently arrived at the fortress. And… my pair is none other than the renowned Sir Michael of the Holy Temple.”

She had contemplated whether to mention Michael’s name, but sensing Felix’s menacing aura, she decided to leverage Michael’s fame a bit to ease the tension.

As she predicted, Felix was taken aback hearing Michael’s name but quickly relaxed and straightened his stance.

“Ah, you’re Sir Michael’s purifier.”

He even became polite.

Irene nodded slightly, suddenly realizing how powerful Michael’s name was.

“I apologize for speaking to you so abruptly. I know it must have startled you.”

“No, I apologize for my rudeness. I’m new here, so I suppose I’ve become a bit on edge.”

Felix bowed his head.

Irene found his attitude a little endearing. It was a rare person who could apologize for their mistakes so quickly.

Just then, Reyna, who was behind him, took a step forward and asked Irene a question.

“Why would you say not to go to that dungeon? Do you happen to know something about it?”

“Reyna?”

Felix seemed surprised by Reyna’s sudden assertiveness and attempted to pull her back. However, Reyna firmly pushed away his hand and approached Irene.

“If so, could you please tell us anything you know?”

Reyna’s raised voice drew the attention of the archivists and others in the room.

‘Oh no.’

With many people now looking their way, Irene glanced around and spoke softly enough for only the two of them to hear.

“There are ice wasps in there. Since they fly, blocking their attacks will be challenging. Be careful.”

“…How do you know that?”

Felix looked at Irene with suspicion, glancing at the paper the staff handed him a while ago. The document only displayed the location and grade of the dungeon—there was no information about what awaited them inside, as exploring higher-level dungeons took a considerable amount of time.

“It’s difficult to explain, so please don’t ask me any further. Anyway, I’ve warned you. I’ll be going now.”

Ignoring Felix’s attempts to question her further, Irene hurriedly left the archives. It seemed wise not to linger too long, as her presence might raise suspicions among others. Fortunately, the two didn’t stop her.

“Sigh…”

After swiftly leaving the area and walking for a while, Irene finally let out a breath. She placed the records she had brought on a nearby bench and closed her eyes for a moment.

‘I wonder if I did the right thing.’

After traveling back in time, she tried not to interfere with anything other than her own affairs. That way, the present can unfold as closely to what she experienced in the past.

‘Only then can my knowledge be useful and help me plan accordingly.’

So she had to stay out of other people’s business as much as possible. But she couldn’t help but warn Reyna and Felix not to enter the dungeon.

‘But…’

However, conflicting emotions tugged at Irene. Memories of her past life flooded her mind. There were few people in this vast fortress who would stand by her. No, not few—perhaps it was more accurate to say there were none. Even Michael, though courteous and kind, was so distant in the past. Reyna had been one of the few people who had shown Irene any sort of decency.

‘But most of all…I can’t forget the last time I saw her.’

The family who came to pick up Reyna shoved her into the carriage. Distraught, she cried how she had to find Felix, that she couldn’t leave him behind.

Irene lingered around them with a heavy heart, overhearing her family’s conversation.

“Such foolishness. If she had chosen a knight introduced by Princess Cecilia as her pair, perhaps none of this would have happened.”

“She chose him because she overestimated her own abilities, and look what happened. Perhaps this is for the best…Despite everything, she can still bear children. She will still fetch us a hefty sum.”

“That’s true, and it’s probably more money than Reyna would have made a purifier.”

Sounding rather pleased with themselves, Irene was appalled by their words as they boarded their carriage.

This was their daughter, their sister. But instead of sympathizing with her plight, they were making plans to sell her like she was livestock.

This was a glimpse of the future Irene would face if she couldn’t repay her debt.

‘If the two of them go to the higher-level dungeon again this time…’

The same events would unfold.

But what if they decide not to go? It would be different from her previous life. And Irene was well-aware that these changes might be ultimately to her detriment.

‘Still…’

Irene recalled the image of Reyna handing her fruit to eat in the past. How she had spoken so sweetly to her when she was alone, generously sharing what she had with Irene.

If it meant continuing to see Reyna happy like that…

Irene would have no regrets.

Reyna and Felix stared at the door after Irene had walked away. Although they were meeting her for the first time, they knew who she was. The famous Paladin Michael’s pair, and to add to that, the person for whom Michael himself had chosen as his partner.

There were a lot of rumors circulating around her in the immediate aftermath of their pairing.

‘There are stories claiming that since her purification abilities were lacking, she tried to lure away knights with her face and body instead.’

It was said that even Sir Michael succumbed to her temptations.

However, someone who had been present during Contract Night told everyone what Michael had said. Soon enough, it became known that Michael simply sought out the closest purifier.

This meant that all those previous had been completely unfounded. However, instead of being ashamed from spreading baseless gossip, people pitied Michael for his poor luck to have rushed to a lesser purifier. Regardless of the truth, it was disappointing to see the renowned paladin be stuck with a random purifier who wasn’t on his level.

Reyna couldn’t help but be intrigued about Michael’s pair.

“What an interesting person,” she muttered to herself.

“I know.” Beside her, Felix agreed.

She didn’t even flinch at his harsh demeanor when she gave them a warning and walked away as if she could predict the future.

After a moment lost in thought, Reyna took Felix and headed out of the archives, making their way to a quieter place.

“Felix, I’ll be honest. I think both you and I lack the experience to tackle advanced dungeons.”

“…”

“I’m not just saying this based on what that purifier we met said earlier. Besides, there’s no way you don’t already know this too, so why are you suddenly applying for a high-level dungeon?”

“Well, that’s…”

Felix’s face suddenly turned red at Reyna’s question. Unsure of what to say, he looked away in embarrassment, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Seeing his reaction, Reyna chuckled and held his hand. Her slender fingers firmly entwined with his.

For a moment, Felix flinched, but quickly calmed down. He felt a cool breeze blow through his hair and a warmth like the sunshine on a spring day. He turned calm and at peace.

Reyna wore a contented smile, knowing this was the natural sensation one experienced during purification.

‘Although, there are times when it’s not.’

On the other hand, if one feels intense stimulation…

‘That’s only when the other person is consumed with malevolent energy.’

Not long ago, when they came here and ventured into a lower-level dungeon, Reyna experienced for the first time what that sensation was like. They immediately returned to their lodgings, holding each other tightly, catching their breath.

Purifier or knight, neither side could maintain their composure when confronted with the overwhelming desire that could drive them mad.

‘Felix mentioned feeling an uncontrollable, intense urge.’

Remembering his sobbing, clinging form that day, Reyna let go of his hand. Though he seemed disappointed, Felix also let go without resistance.

“Now, Felix, tell me why you applied for the high-level dungeon.”

In response to Reyna’s gentle voice, he closed his eyes tightly and replied, “W-Well… It’s customary to present the first trinket obtained in the dungeon as a token of your pairing, and I wanted to give you something a little nicer…”

Then, they heard something.

A rustling sound.

There was something moving below.

They were standing on the terrace near the archives. Obviously, it was a place where anyone could come and go as they pleased.

‘But if someone was here, we should have felt their presence.’

Felix put his arm around Reyna as he had done a moment ago and looked down. There stood a figure he hadn’t expected.

“Sir Michael?”

It was Michael, dressed as always in his temple robes.

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