Part 3
After hearing Simmone's words, Thalindra stepped forward, gripping her hammer's handle tightly.
"That just makes me want to fight her more… I want to see if she's anything more than a loudmouth with an eye patch."
Eliza raised an eyebrow, turning her gaze calmly toward the dwarf.
"Being ignored is one thing… but being underestimated? That's another matter entirely."
"Yuna, stop Thalindra. This is completely unnecessary," Simmone interjected.
But before anyone could react, Eliza brought her left hand to the patch over her eye and struck a dramatic pose, as if she were at the climax of a manga scene.
"Fear…" she murmured softly.
A faint glint flashed from beneath the patch—like a shooting star streaking across the night.
In that instant, a chill ran down Thalindra's spine, from head to toe.
Her hammer fell to the ground with a dull thud.
For a moment, no one said a word.
Thalindra stared at her own hands in disbelief… they were trembling.
"Wh-what's happening to me?" she murmured, her brows furrowed as she tried to still the shaking.
"It's one of my most basic skills. It instills fear in any opponent below my level… and it's my weakest power," Eliza replied with a self-satisfied smile.
A heavy silence followed.
Since the group had met Thalindra, not once had they seen her falter.
Yuna tried to speak, but no words came out.
Haruto remained serious, watching Thalindra carefully.
At last, the dwarf closed her eyes and let out a huff.
"Fine, I give up," she admitted, with a mix of resignation and frustration.
Eliza snapped her fingers with refined flair.
"Wise choice."
In an instant, the oppressive pressure around Thalindra vanished, and her body returned to normal.
She blinked a few times, slowly flexing her fingers, as if checking to make sure everything was still in place.
But the weight of what had just happened lingered in the air—clear proof that Eliza Tepes was not someone to be trifled with.
"With this, I passed the test, right? I'm officially part of your group," Eliza said confidently, arms crossed.
Yuna sighed, her expression a storm of conflicting thoughts.
"Simmone's right… you'd be a great asset—but also a major problem."
Haruto nodded in agreement.
"I get what you mean. If we let her stay, they might come after your village…" he murmured.
"And we can't guarantee she won't betray us."
"That's what I'm thinking," Yuna said, arms crossed. "She can suppress her presence like Rina… but she's far more unpredictable."
Seeing the conversation shift without her, Eliza stepped forward with complete composure.
"You don't have to worry about any of that. If my presence is a threat to your village, I can keep my distance."
Her tone was firm, as if she had already considered that outcome.
But then, a smile curved her lips.
"Besides, I don't need to eat or sleep…" Her crimson eye narrowed with a mischievous gleam.
"I only need to drink blood from time to time."
Without warning, her gaze slid slowly toward Haruto's neck.
"And yours looks particularly… tempting."
The chill that shot through Haruto was instant.
Simmone stepped toward Eliza slowly. Her expression remained neutral—but this time, her eyes carried a hint of annoyance.
"I'm warning you…"
Simmone's voice was firm—colder than usual.
"Don't mess with my big brother."
Eliza blinked a couple of times, then raised her hands in an innocent gesture.
"Alright, alright. It was just a joke. No need to get violent."
Thalindra, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward calmly, her hammer vanishing in a blink.
"If you want, I can make a suggestion." Her tone was as direct as always.
"We shouldn't waste the chance to have a top-tier member join the group."
"Doesn't matter what race they are—us dwarves value strength above all else."
Haruto glanced over at her with interest, while Rina began to circle around Eliza, sniffing her in short bursts like a curious animal.
"And what's this suggestion of yours?" Haruto asked.
Thalindra crossed her arms and looked at Yuna before continuing.
"According to what Simmone said, she was already spying on us in Molgaroth and didn't cause any trouble. So the best option is to have her stay at my forge."
Yuna furrowed her brow, thinking.
"Your forge?"
"With the amount of people in the city, no one will notice her there. She won't draw attention, and if something goes wrong, at least she'll be within reach."
Haruto considered the idea, eyes drifting to Eliza—who still wore her usual proud and carefree expression.
"Sounds like a solid solution, but…" he turned to the dwarf, "Are you really okay with her staying in your forge?"
Thalindra scoffed, as if the question were unnecessary.
"If I'm the one suggesting it, obviously I don't mind."
Then she raised a finger and added seriously,
"In fact, especially if it solves the issue.
I'd just need to craft a new bracelet for her. That way we gain a strong ally without putting the village at risk."
Everyone exchanged glances.
It was an unexpected solution… but an effective one.
"That's my proposal, and I think she should join. But the final call's yours, Yuna."
The elf sighed, then turned her eyes to Haruto.
"Before I decide… what do you think?"
He crossed his arms, thinking.
"I don't see her being a problem. Plus, she'd really help with higher-level dungeons."
He paused briefly, shrugging a little.
"Given our party composition, if she were a healer, I wouldn't have hesitated at all."
Yuna nodded, understanding his point.
"I see what you're getting at… and you're right."
She brought a hand to her chin.
"Someone that strong would definitely be an asset. Generally, in RPGs I've played, the bigger the party, the better—so long as the members synergize."
Simmone, who had remained silent with arms crossed, let out a sigh.
"You're all missing the real issue."
"And what would that be?" Thalindra asked, raising a brow.
"I'm guessing after Cherri's next assignment, we'll be heading to the human kingdom of Estelaris."
Simmone glanced sideways at Eliza.
"She can guide us through the other kingdoms."
"That's a good point," Yuna said, arms folded.
"None of us know much beyond Mythara and Molgaroth."
Rina, who had been quiet the whole time, perked up and tapped her palm—like a spark had lit in her mind.
"Rina remember! Estelaris is where Mama lives!"
Her golden eyes lit up with excitement.
"Rina want go see how she is… and tell her Rina has made friends!"
Yuna closed her eyes for a moment, gathering everyone's thoughts.
If they were going to venture beyond known lands, Eliza was a powerful card to play.
Finally, she opened her eyes—wearing a calm, measured smile.
"Elizabeth Tepes, in the name of the wind elves and as leader of this group…"
Yuna stepped forward.
"I, Yuna Kazeharu, humbly welcome you."
Eliza gave a sly smile and, without missing a beat, struck a pose worthy of a manga villain.
"I, Elizabeth Tepes! Daughter of darkness and bearer of the Eclipse Eye…"
She elegantly raised her dark parasol.
"Pledge to aid you to the fullest of my abilities. I am grateful for this opportunity."
Kizuna snickered midair.
"Haruto-kyun, now we've got a villainess in the party! Kizu~!"
Haruto let out a sigh—but a crooked smile tugged at his lips.
"Well… at least this 'villainess' is on our side."
He watched Eliza, now surrounded by the others, who were bombarding her with questions.
Rina was sniffing her with shameless curiosity.
Simmone eyed her with quiet suspicion.
Yuna tried to maintain composure.
And Thalindra was already issuing disguised challenges, cloaked as playful banter.
But instead of looking uncomfortable, Eliza seemed to be thriving under the attention answering with exaggerated drama and theatrical poses.
Haruto smiled faintly at the scene… but deep down, his mind was elsewhere.
Once again, he recalled the albino girl from his memories.
Something similar had happened back at school… but the details were hazy.
"Why… why can't I remember her?"
He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus.
"I can't have forgotten her name…"
His fists clenched, a faint throb blooming in his head.
"Is this tied to my past? Or my present?"
He wasn't sure.
But each day… each day it became harder to remember her.
He let out a quiet sigh and opened his eyes again.
His companions' laughter filled the night air.
Despite the confusion swirling within him, he couldn't deny the warmth that spread in his chest.
The future was more uncertain than ever…
But the wheel of fate was already turning
And he was right at its center.