Truly interesting.
—[Gale]
The super rookie of the Astrea Familia who once flashed briefly in Orario and then quickly disappeared.
To actually appear here.
And appearing in such a nervous state?
Tsubaki bit into a large piece of meat on the bone, her gaze scanning back and forth between the elf, who wanted nothing more than to bury her head in her chest, and Heimer, who was sitting in the main seat drinking tea.
"Heh..."
Especially Ryu's look of being caught red-handed after doing something wrong made a playful smile curl at the corner of Tsubaki's mouth, and the fire of gossip began to burn fiercely in her heart.
There's something fishy.
There's definitely something fishy here.
However...
As a veteran who had been through the chaotic melting pot of Orario for so many years.
Tsubaki also knew very well what it meant to see through something without speaking it out.
Since the person didn't want to say, and this was clearly a private matter between the two of them, if she, an outsider, were to rashly expose it, it would not only make the scene extremely awkward.
So...
Tsubaki thought for a moment, swallowed the meat in her mouth, and spoke very naturally:
"When I came in, I was just busy looking at these little monsters; I didn't notice a big beauty was hidden in the corner."
"Speaking of which, isn't this the very capable elf shop assistant from The Hostess of Fertility?"
"I've seen you several times when I went for a drink before."
"I didn't expect you to be here too; what a coincidence."
Hearing this...
Ryu, who had been keeping her head down firmly, suddenly trembled in her shoulders.
She raised her head somewhat stiffly.
And happened to meet Tsubaki's eyes.
That feeling of having her entire background seen through, yet being let off lightly by the other party...
Made the heart that had been hanging in Ryu's throat finally drop back into her stomach.
Phew...
Ryu let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, this Captain wasn't thick-headed.
Otherwise, if her former identity were really called out here...
She would really have to flee Orario overnight tonight.
But even so...
The heat on Ryu's face didn't fade at all; instead, it became even hotter because of Tsubaki's "big beauty" teasing.
"Captain... Captain Tsubaki, good evening."
She could only awkwardly purse her lips and nod slightly to Tsubaki, trying her best to maintain a surface-level composure as a response.
"Eh? Does Senior Tsubaki know this Miss Elf?"
Kikakujuo Mary, who was on the side, caught the eye contact between the two and asked with some curiosity.
Rin and the others also cast curious glances.
After all.
After these past two days of breakfast contact, they could also feel it.
This Miss Elf was clearly not just an ordinary shop assistant.
A powerful person who could fight Kirukiru Amou back and forth while suppressing her strength.
She must have been a very formidable Adventurer before, perhaps even a famous High-level Adventurer.
They were just curious.
Why would such a powerful person be willing to be a shop assistant in a pub?
"Well, you could say we know each other."
Tsubaki picked up the fruit wine by her hand, took a casual sip, waved her hand, and naturally helped Ryu smooth things over, changing the subject.
"That pub is not simple."
"It's one of the places in all of Orario that you absolutely shouldn't mess with. Even many primary gods have to show some respect. After all, the manager of that pub—Mama Mia—was once the captain of the Freya Familia, the Lv.6 little giant. Moreover, the employees in the shop are all hidden experts."
"Not only that, the food there is indeed delicious, with large portions that fill you up, right?"
After Tsubaki finished speaking simply, she naturally turned the topic to the rich spread of food on the table, nodding toward a large plate of roasted meat.
"Speaking of which, Lord Heimdall's Familia is really interesting."
"It's not strictly hierarchical like other Familias, and there aren't all those messy rules."
"Even a god can sit at the same table and eat with everyone, and even invite outsiders along."
"This kind of family-like atmosphere is truly rare in today's Orario."
"Since you've come across it, you shouldn't keep shrinking back. Just enjoy yourself."
"Times like these are quite precious."
After Tsubaki said this, she gave Ryu a meaningful look.
It was obvious.
That last sentence.
Was something Tsubaki said specifically for Ryu to hear.
After hearing it, Ryu was also slightly stunned.
She looked at this group of noisy yet energetic girls, and at Heimer, who was bickering with Hestia without any divine pretense.
Her originally tense shoulders also gradually relaxed.
Yes.
This kind of atmosphere.
Indeed, it had been a long time.
...
"Mmph... Tsubaki, what did you say?"
At this time.
Hestia finally lifted her head from the pile of food.
Her cheeks were stuffed full, like a hamster, and she struggled to swallow the meat in her mouth before completing that muffled sentence.
"Mmph... Speaking of which."
"Since you're here, Tsubaki, why didn't that girl Hephaestus come?"
"I haven't seen her for several days!"
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