Estella

Personal Info

The third daughter of the noble Rothsbear family, and the founder of the exploration organization known as the Nightfall Attendants.
Possessing considerable personal strength, Estella has no shortage of attendants at her disposal. Even so, she prefers to operate alone, and will not readily rely on the power of others unless absolutely necessary.

Gifted with striking beauty and impeccable manners, she appears—at first glance—no different from a traditional young lady of high birth.
In temperament, however, she could not be more unlike one.
According to reliable reports, when acting in private, Estella is remarkably free-spirited and unrestrained, with a strong passion for righting wrongs. She openly embraces the role of a "hero of justice," carrying out her deeds by her own hand.
It was precisely this desire—to break free from the constraints of her family and pursue her own ideals—that led her to become an explorer.

Chronicles

I suppose Estella and I could be considered close friends. Our families have long been on familiar terms, and we often played together when we were young.
Even so, I never once realized that beneath her composed and elegant exterior lay such a passionate heart.
It was not due to my own inattentiveness—rather, she carried herself with such flawless poise at all times.
So many nobles who met her would hold her up as an example when educating their own children. That is why, when I learned she had become an explorer, I simply could not believe it.
— A Young Lady of Noble Birth

When the young lady revealed her intention to venture into the Abyss, she was met—quite naturally—with opposition from all sides. The master employed every means at his disposal to dissuade her, yet in the end, her resolve remained unchanged.
Left with no alternative, the master was forced to compromise and grant his consent—on the condition that the former chief steward accompany her.
The young lady raised no objection to this arrangement. In fact, when she finally set out, she also brought along several trusted aides personally selected by the first and second young masters.
— Steward of the Rothsbear Family

Whenever Miss Estella acted in secret, she would do so in disguise. At first, we believed those acts of justice were the work of some unknown outsider—until one day, someone caught a clear glimpse of her face.
Most of us assumed she wished to avoid relying on her family's influence, or perhaps to keep her deeds from becoming too closely tied to the Rothsbear name. And so, we all chose to pretend we knew nothing.
After all, Miss Estella was born into nobility. To be seen doing such things day after day would surely be considered unbecoming by other nobles, would it not?
Many of us have received great kindness from the Rothsbear family. For matters like this—ones that help preserve their good name—we were more than willing to offer our full support.
As for why we speak of it openly now? Why, because Miss Estella has become an explorer, and the Rothsbear family has publicly declared its support! So let us all praise Miss Estella together!
— A Merchant

Record

When it comes to her family background, Estella never avoids the subject. Whenever members of the expedition team ask, she readily satisfies their curiosity.
That said, she wishes no further association—she does not want others to equate her with the Rothsbear family.
Though she may occasionally speak with a hint of noble affectation, her daily habits and manner of action are no different from those of an ordinary explorer.
As she herself has said, "I am who I am—the one and only Estella. When necessary, I can stand for Rothsbear, but in everyday matters, I wish to stand only for myself."
This free-spirited, forthright personality has earned Estella immense popularity within the expedition team.
The members greatly enjoy venturing forth alongside this unrestrained young lady—chatting about curious tales of the Abyss and dreaming together of what the future may hold.

Anecdote

Boom—
The patrol burst into a hidden bunker, only to find that the enemies they had expected were already bound and left in the corner.
Upon seeing the patrol enter, the bandits struggled and let out muffled whimpers, like hostages awaiting rescue.
"Captain, looks like it was that 'Hero of Justice' again."
"Mm. Seems the intel this time was provided by that person as well."
"Damn it, they're completely using us as cleanup."
"You brat—getting credit this easily and you're still not satisfied?"
"Captain, I joined the patrol to protect my homeland with my own strength. Running into this kind of thing all the time leaves me with no sense of accomplishment at all."
"That's enough. Save the complaints for when we're back."
"Judging by the state they're in, they've already suffered plenty at the hands of the 'Hero of Justice.' Let's interrogate them here—right now, they'll surely confess without resistance."
...
The Hero of Justice stood at a vantage point, overlooking the busy patrol, and marked another cross upon her map.
As she stared at the map now filled with crosses, she could not help but furrow her brow.
From the Rothsbear family's lands to the territories of neighboring noble houses, nearly every bandit and thief had already been rooted out.
"Seems there's not much more I can do while staying at home..."
After a moment of contemplation, the Hero of Justice let out a long breath, as though she had reached a decision.
"In that case, I should go farther—see more of the world."
"If I can build my own achievements, just like those legendary figures, it need not disgrace my family's name."
"Yes—exactly!"
"I, too, will create my own story, just like those legends, with my own strength!"
"What they can do, I can do as well—and what they cannot, I can still accomplish!"