Leo continued to thread the path back to the hill where Ranna's office stood. His mind was still reeling from the encounter in the dungeon and the power he had just discovered within himself. He got past the office and ran towards their house, eager to process everything that had happened.

As he ran down the hill, he saw people walking towards the other side of the hill but didn't pay much attention to them, his focus solely on reaching home. When he reached the back of their house, he carefully scanned the area, making sure no one was around. He tip-toed towards their door, trying to remain unnoticed.

He was almost at the side of their house, just a few steps away from the stairs when he heard a shout. "Hey, why are you still here?!" Joe's voice rang out, filled with shock.

Leo turned to see Joe staring at him, eyes wide. People who remained working at the farm started gathering around, drawn by the commotion. Leo's heart raced as he realized there were women among them, their curious gazes making him uncomfortable. He looked around frantically, searching for something to cover himself with, but finding nothing, he bolted towards their house.

Amanda, who had been working a bit farther away, noticed the movement. She saw someone hurriedly entering their house and decided to check on the situation. With a concerned look on her face, she murmured, "Recall," and in an instant, she was transported back to their home.

Leo, now inside the house, shut the door firmly behind him. He paused for a second, catching his breath. He started to walk towards the center of the house, his eyes scanning for a place to hide or at least catch his breath.

Just as he reached the middle of the room, Amanda appeared in a flash of light, the magic of her recall spell bringing her there instantly. In his haste, Leo bumped into her, and they both tumbled to the ground, with Leo landing on top of Amanda. The shock of the sudden collision left them momentarily stunned. Amanda's eyes widened as she looked up at Leo, her face a mixture of surprise and concern.

Both of them were panting, Amanda from her hard work outside and Leo from his frantic run. The close proximity made the situation even more awkward, their sweaty bodies pressed against each other.

Amanda was caught off guard. Looking up, she saw Leo on top of her, his bare chest glistening with sweat from the exertion. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and his body was vastly different from what it had been over the past seven years. His physique was now well-built, like that of a seasoned adventurer. Broad shoulders, chiseled muscles, and a form that seemed sculpted to perfection. Seeing this transformation up close made her weak to her core; she was stunned.

Leo, noticing Amanda's widened eyes and the flush creeping up her cheeks, felt a surge of embarrassment. "S-sorry, Amanda!" he managed to stammer, struggling to find the right words as he immediately scrambled off her.

Amanda, still trying to process what she was seeing, took a deep breath, her face also flushed. She leaned on her elbows, trying to prop herself up, her eyes never leaving Leo. The room was thick with an awkward tension, both of them reddened and were lost in the moment.

She was about to say something when the door suddenly opened. It was Ranna, panting as well. When she saw the scene inside the house, she couldn't help but tease the two of them. The sudden interruption only made the situation more embarrassing, causing Leo and Amanda to feel their faces burn even hotter.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Ranna teased with a grin.

Amanda, eyes wide, scrambled to explain, "Ranna, it's not what it looks like!"

Leo immediately stood up and echoed her, "Yeah, really! We just bumped into each other!"

Ranna laughed heartily but then her expression turned serious. "I'm sorry for interrupting, but I have important news," she said, gently grabbing Amanda by the shoulders. "Someone defeated the Orc Lord."

Amanda's eyes filled with tears as she looked at Ranna, searching for confirmation. Ranna nodded, and Amanda's relief was palpable. She quickly composed herself, thanked Ranna, and ran out of the house, saying, "I'll be back soon."

Leo, confused and concerned, asked, "What happened?"

Ranna sighed and gestured for Leo to sit down. "Has Amanda ever told you how we met?" she asked.

Leo nodded. "Yeah, she told me about how they saw your party almost defeated by a field boss."

Ranna nodded, "That's right," she said, "but there's more you need to know." She took a deep breath before continuing. "There is a dungeon behind the hill that is called the Orc Dominion, where Amanda's party was caught years ago. They were on a quest to exterminate goblins, but they stumbled upon a Dominion instead. Her party, with your parents, Claire and Samuel, was obliterated by the Orc Lord and its minions. Amanda was the only one who survived, thanks to her race skill."

Leo listened intently, his heart heavy with the weight of the story. "Amanda reported it to the Guild Center, and they promised to send an extermination team, but years passed and no one came. She went to the guild every day, pleading for help, but no one was willing to take the risk. Powerful adventurers were always off on high-level quests, and no one wanted to face the Dominion."

Ranna's voice softened as she continued, "Despite all that, Amanda never gave up. She visited the area regularly, hoping someone would come and destroy the Dominion. But no one ever did."

Leo felt a surge of empathy for Amanda. He could hardly imagine the pain and determination it took for her to keep going back. Ranna looked at him, her eyes reflecting a mix of sadness and relief. "Until today. Someone strong enough finally killed the Dominion Lord and ended her years of suffering."

Leo felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he processed what Ranna had told him. Amanda never mentioned anything about this. Despite the years they had spent together, he realized how little he truly knew about her past and the pain she carried. The shock mingled with bittersweet happiness; he had unintentionally avenged his parents and ended Amanda's suffering.

As he sat there, the weight of Ranna's words settled in. He recalled the numerous times he had asked Amanda about moving to the capital. Each time, her expression would darken, a shadow passing over her eyes. She usually told him that even if they wanted to, they could not afford to live there. It was as if there was an invisible shackle, binding her to this place, a burden she silently bore.

Ranna broke the seriousness of their talk with a sudden mischievous grin. She looked Leo up and down, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "You know, Leo," she said, her voice light and teasing, "you really do look like a seasoned adventurer now. A strong one at that."

Leo's embarrassment resurfaced, his face flushing as he realized he had been talking to Ranna in his half-naked state. He hadn't noticed it in the intensity of the conversation. "I... uh... I didn't realize..." he stammered, his voice trailing off as he quickly stood up.

Ranna's laughter echoed through the room. "No wonder Amanda was so shocked when she saw your muscular body," she teased, her laughter only growing louder as Leo scrambled to their bedside to grab some clothing.

He quickly pulled on a shirt, his face still burning with embarrassment. Ranna couldn't contain her laughter, clutching her stomach as she watched him.