Lunova wasn't doing much better; the rag in her hand flew out, and she curled into a ball.
The two turned their heads tremblingly.
There they saw.
Less than half a meter behind them.
Mia's face was now dark, and a raging fire burned in her large, bell-like eyes.
The huge wooden mallet in her hand, used for crushing ice, was being slammed heavily onto the bar counter.
That loud bang was where it had come from.
"Have you chatted enough?"
Mia's voice wasn't loud.
It could even be called calm.
But.
To their ears, it was a hundred times more terrifying than the loud bang just now.
—It was the calm before the storm.
"Ah... that..."
"Mama Mia..."
Chloe swallowed hard, feeling her calves spinning, and squeezed out a smile that looked worse than crying.
"This... this is really just a misunderstanding..."
"Misunderstanding?"
Mia gave a cold laugh.
"I see you're so idle your bones have gone soft."
"Since you have so much energy to pry into other people's gossip."
"Then vent all that extra energy on your work!"
"As punishment!"
"Today's toilets, and that pile of firewood in the backyard that's been sitting for a week!"
"They're all yours!"
"Especially you!"
"Chloe!"
"This month's salary, docked completely!"
"As compensation for damaging public property!"
"Nani—?!"
"No way, meow—!!!"
The shrill scream instantly pierced through the entire The Hostess of Fertility tavern, even startling away a few wild pigeons perched on the roof.
...
Meanwhile.
On the spacious street of Northwest Avenue.
The morning sun spilled over the bustling crowd, dispelling the last trace of chill remaining from last night.
"Achoo—!"
Tsubaki, walking at the front of the group, suddenly let out a loud sneeze without any warning.
"Who's talking about me?"
"Could it be that Lady Hephaestus has finished her seclusion and found out I'm gone?"
Tsubaki rubbed her nose and muttered somewhat inexplicably.
"Then I can only wish Miss Tsubaki good luck."
Lord Heimdall, walking alongside her, chuckled lightly, the silver spear in his hand swaying gently with his steps.
"However."
"Compared to Lady Hephaestus's nagging."
"Miss Tsubaki, don't you think the gazes from the surroundings..."
"Are a bit too enthusiastic?"
Lord Heimdall tilted his head slightly, his gaze casually sweeping across both sides of the street.
Indeed.
If the gazes of the people around them when they first entered the city yesterday were just simple curiosity and appraisal.
Then today.
In those gazes, there was an extra layer of undisguisable shock, and even awe.
Adventurers by the roadside gathered in twos and threes, pointing and whispering at Lord Heimdall's strange team.
The murmurs were like flies, buzzing incessantly.
"Look! It's that group!"
"That black-haired male god, and that group of young girls with swords!"
"Is this that rumored Familia from yesterday?"
"Nonsense! Look at that giant bear! Who else could it be but them?"
"Yeah! What a huge bear!"
"I heard that on their first day in the Dungeon yesterday, they slaughtered their way straight to the 12th floor?"
"For real? They must be bragging, right?"
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