"I knew you'd react like that."
As if she had expected this all along, Tsubaki took a step forward, blocking Eina's worry-filled line of sight.
She hooked her thumb, pointing behind her.
"However."
"Eina, let's get down to business first."
"This is our harvest for today."
Saying this, Tsubaki snapped her fingers.
"Kyoubou! Load the goods!"
Thud! Thud!
The ground trembled.
The colossal figure that had been hiding in the shadows behind them took heavy steps, squeezing its way to the counter.
The gigantic shadow of the black bear instantly loomed over Eina.
Subconsciously, Eina shrank back.
She watched as the black bear clumsily turned around, aiming the massive, bulging beast-hide package on its back right at the counter.
"Th-this is..."
Eina stared straight at the package, which was emitting a thick scent of blood and wild beast odor.
"A little gift."
Tsubaki interjected at just the right moment.
Reaching out, she untied the thick tendon rope knot on the beast-hide package.
Whoosh—!
Without any warning.
As the knot loosened, countless multicolored Magic Stones poured out instantly like a flood from a burst dam!
Clang! Clatter! Crash—
The crisp, pleasing sound of impact resounded through the entire lobby.
Big and small Magic Stones squeezed and collided against each other, piling up into a small mountain on the counter. Because the pile was too high, quite a few slid directly off the edge of the counter, rolling all over the floor.
This quantity... even if a main force adventurer team of a dozen people went grinding for a day, it would amount to no more than this.
"This..."
Eina looked at the pile of Magic Stones that was about to bury her. Her glasses slid down to the tip of her nose, but she didn't even care to push them back up.
"These... are all... from today's hunt?"
"Not only that."
Tsubaki pointed to the back.
"There are also the materials over there. We won't bring them over; those furs, claws, and fangs will be hauled directly to our Familia's workshop for processing later, so we won't trouble the Guild with them."
...
With that, the mission was accomplished.
After Tsubaki spent a good while bragging inside the Guild, night had completely fallen.
The group finally left the Guild and arrived at the liveliest section of West Main Street.
A two-story building stood tall on the street corner.
Warm yellow light shone through the windows, carrying with it the mouth-watering aroma of roasted meat and the fragrance of ale, hooking the souls of passersby like a fishing hook.
The signboard of the [Hostess of Fertility] tavern was particularly eye-catching in the night.
"We're here, we're here!"
Upon seeing this sign, Hestia's eyes instantly lit up like two light bulbs.
"Finally, we can have a feast!"
She was obviously unable to wait a second longer.
...
Creak—
As the group pushed open the oak doors, a wave of noise—the clinking of tankards, the loud laughter of adventurers, and the clamor of waitresses—instantly washed over their faces.
"Welcome—!"
"Yo! Isn't this Tsubaki?"
"What wind blew you here today? A rare guest indeed!"
Behind the counter, a robust woman with a physique like a small mountain, wearing an apron and wiping a glass, looked up.
——Owner of the [Hostess of Fertility].
——Mia Grand.
Former Captain of the [Freya Familia], a Dwarf, and a Lv. 6 adventurer with the title 「Demi-Ymir」.
Even though she had retired from the scene for many years and her face bore the marks of time, that aura of a big sister boss hadn't changed a bit.
Her gaze first swept over Tsubaki, who was walking in front, revealing a familiar smile.
Then her gaze shifted, pausing slightly on the others.
Finally, it froze on the fully armed Shakti.
The motion of wiping the glass paused clearly for a moment.
"Hoh."
"Isn't this our Military Police Captain?"
Mia raised an eyebrow.
Slapping the rag in her hand onto her shoulder, she opened her mouth, her booming voice instantly penetrating the entire tavern.
"What wind is blowing tonight?"
"What? Could it be that some notorious bandit is hiding in my small shop, requiring you to personally lead a team to make an arrest?"
The moment this seemingly joking remark came out, the originally lively tavern seemed to be hit by a mass silence spell.
Especially a few female staff members in green maid uniforms who were busy shuttling through the hall; their movements noticeably stiffened.
The air pressure inside the tavern dropped frighteningly low.
After all, among them, quite a few were indeed ruthless characters who had carried bounties on their heads in the past.
Especially that Cat Person waitress with black cat ears.
Back in the day, she had accepted a commission to assassinate Shakti Varma.
The result was that she got schooled by the opponent instead, nearly beaten into having psychological trauma.
This instinctive reaction of a mouse meeting a cat was carved into her bones, even if she had washed her hands of that business.
"..."
In that same instant, as the person involved, Shakti obviously noticed the subtle change in the tavern's atmosphere.
As the Military Police Captain who dealt with criminals all year round, she was all too familiar with this shift.
However, today she was only accompanying them as a guard.
The solemn, murderous aura peculiar to the Military Police on her body was obviously somewhat out of place in this tavern full of gathered adventurers.
"..."
Thinking of this, Shakti frowned slightly. After a moment of silence, she couldn't help but turn her head and speak to Haimer in a slightly lowered voice:
"Haimer-sama."
"Since I have already safely escorted you here, I will wait outside the door."
Saying this, Shakti didn't want to ruin this Kami-sama's celebratory mood with her presence and intended to turn and retreat directly.
This way, she could also continue her surveillance mission.
But Haimer, seeing this, helplessly reached out a hand and gently grabbed her.
Shakti was startled and turned her head.
"Captain Shakti, you're already here; there's no logic in sending someone out."
Haimer withdrew his hand and pointed at the diners inside who were curiously looking their way.
"Remember the agreement between us."
"Tonight is to celebrate the safe return of my children from their first expedition."
"Since we said tonight is a celebration, for such a happy occasion, naturally, we can't be missing anyone."
"Haimer-sama..."
Shakti opened her mouth, just about to say something.
"This is a God's opinion, Captain Shakti."
Haimer decisively interrupted Shakti.
"Even the tightest bowstring will snap if it never has a moment to relax."
"So tonight, Captain Shakti cannot refuse me."
Haimer's attitude became rarely forceful.
Hearing this, a trace of helplessness appeared on Shakti's stern face. She couldn't help but step back to stand half a step behind Haimer again.
"As you command."
"Haimer-sama."
"Since this is your Oracle."
"That's the right way."
Haimer nodded with satisfaction and withdrew his hand.
"..."
Following this, this scene of subtle interaction was seen by everyone in the tavern.
Even Mia, behind the counter, had a flash of surprise in her eyes.
...
"Hehe! It's only lively with more people!"
Tsubaki, seeing this, loved watching this kind of rule-breaking scene the most.
Subsequently, Tsubaki turned around and waved a big hand at Mia behind the counter.
"Alright, Boss Mia!"
"Stop just watching the show!"
"Push a few of the biggest tables together for us!"
"Serve up all the good wine and meat tonight! Just keep it coming!"
"We are the big customers tonight!"
"Hah! No problem."
Mia let out a hearty laugh, and the atmosphere of swords drawn and bows bent from earlier vanished in an instant.
"Since you are esteemed guests, then what is there to be polite about!"
Mia waved her large hand, immediately roaring at the few staff members who had long since turned into shrinking turtles.
"Lunoire! Chloe! What are you standing there dazed for!"
"Didn't you hear the customer? Hurry up and put together the biggest tables!"
"N-no way, meow—?!!"
Hearing this, the Cat Person Chloe felt guilty to the extreme on the spot.
____
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