After going their own ways, Monica seems content. It feels like she had taken a huge burden off her chest. But her entire party is confused.
They didn't ask anything outright and waited until it was evening. When the sun went down, they decided to camp.
Their pace is slow so they haven't even made it to the halfway point. They just set a camp by the road. The merchant they were escorting is a chill person. He wasn't particularly bothered about sharing food with his escorts.
When they were having dinner, the party leader asked Monica.
"Who was that guy Monica? You two have a past or something?"
He is the same guy who asked Clive a few questions.
"You can say that. He is an old classmate." (Monica)
"It didn't feel like that was all. Something more is going on."
A girl, in her teens, said and looked at Monica. She is the tank of the party.
"Well, it's a long story. And I am not really proud of it." (Monica)
"What's the rush? We have the entire night."
Even the merchant pushes her. She also thinks that it should be okay.
"This is a story where that guy saved us all but became a villain to us." (Monica)
Everyone is listening with great interest. Who doesn't love a good gossip?
"He, Clive Belmont, was a classmate. We went to the same academy and were in the same class since early childhood. Back then, he was sick all the time and he couldn't walk properly. But he recovered from his illness and became cheerful.
He is smart and easygoing. So he got along with everyone. Until one day, he got all serious. He stopped smiling and talking to others. The only person he talked with was Gwen. And when we were 10, a certain incident occurred." (Monica)
She takes a break. Everyone is expecting a twist.
"I won't go into details about that incident but Clive killed a man." (Monica)
"Wait wait wait, he killed a man? At the age of 10?"
The merchant shouted. It was sudden.
"Yes. He had. That was the right thing to do. It saved us. But we were too young to understand what he had done. That incident put a damper on our relationship." (Monica)
"What you said sounds like a story!"
The party leader said.
"You aren't wrong. He indeed saved all of us but his way of doing it scared all of us." (Monica)
"How did it end? Is killing a person not a crime?"
The tank girl asked.
"Of course it is. Killing is an act that has been forbidden by the gods."
A man, dressed in a priest's garb said. He is the healer of the party.
"Well, I am not from this world. But yes, killing is a crime. However it was legitimate self defense and he was too young to be held accountable for his actions." (Monica)
Everyone went ahhh like they remembered it. However the merchant became curious.
"Are you really from another world?"
"Yes. We all died and a select few were chosen to be reincarnated in this world. I happen to be one of them. It was our entire class. Only 30 of us were brought here." (Monica)
"Is he also one of them?"
The leader asks.
"No. He was expelled from the academy. That meant that his formal education stopped there. However, he is far more knowledgeable than us. Because he had a hunger for knowledge.
And he earned his own money and paid for himself. He was far more independent than others his age. And his nonchalant attitude scared all of us equally. Only Gwen kept in touch with him." (Monica)
That was the end of it. Until the tank girl decides to ask another question.
"Who is this Gwen person? You mentioned her name a lot."
"Gwen is a year older than us but was our classmate. She also came here with us and is a Paladin. A very strong one at that." (Monica)
"A paladin? Is she that pious?"
The priest asked. He is a bit fanatic about his gods so hearing about a paladin kinda intrigued him.
"No. We all were given our job classes as bonus for reincarnation. She was best suited to become a paladin. Gwen always had a way with her words. And she got along with Clive even after that incident.
It was as if nothing had happened. But it was obvious. Gwen loves Clive. It was obvious. She went out of her way to even warn us girls that we don't mess with him." (Monica)
"That's a person with a strong personality."
The tank girl exclaimed.
"Yeah. But now both Clive and Gwen are abnormal. I knew that Clive was abnormal but Gwen is abnormal as well. That was a shock. The things I have seen in these two years, they are unforgettable. And I have at least talked to Clive. That's a big achievement in itself." (Monica)
"So, where is this Gwen person? Can I meet her?"
The priest asks.
"She lives with Clive now. He proposed to her in front of the king. It was a big conundrum back then. And she moved in with his family. I nearly died that day. But all's well that ends well." (Monica)
"You said that he was an S rank adventurer. Is that true?"
The leader was still hung up on that part.
"Yes. He is the 19th S rank adventurer. He is the fastest to do so. And I hear that he is being considered for a promotion again." (Monica)
"So he is the rumored guy. All his information is handled directly by guild master and Maria. Maria is his in charge. But I have never seen him at the guild."
The leader wonders.
"He is a top secret of the kingdom. His majesty the king has put a gag order on any information related to him. What I told you is also considered secret. So I hope you would keep it to yourselves." (Monica)
"You tricked us."
The tank girl protested lightly. Monica gave a mischievous smile. And their night ended like that.