"Is it too late for us to slip away now, meow?"
Chloe's usually spirited black cat ears were currently plastered tightly against her scalp, her tail clamped tight, and her whole body was shaking like a sieve.
This was absolutely the most genuine instinctive reaction of a feline encountering a natural predator.
Beside her.
Lunor's condition wasn't much better.
"I think... it's a long shot."
Lunor kept her voice extremely low, daring not to move her lips too much, deeply afraid of attracting the attention of that baleful star over there.
"Besides... look at her appearance..."
Lunor stole a glance at the fully armed figure at the entrance, then quickly retracted her gaze and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
"She hasn't even taken off her gauntlets..."
"That's a posture ready to strike at any moment!"
"Could it be she's already found out what we look like..."
"Don't say it, meow!"
Hearing these words, the fur all over Chloe's body was about to explode.
After all.
Back in the day.
The two of them were resounding figures in Orario's underground world.
「Black Fist」, 「Black Cat」.
Their mission success rate was almost as high as one hundred percent.
As long as the money was enough, they would dare to pluck two hairs from a Guild official's beard.
But there was that one time...
Chloe was possessed by a ghost of greed and took a sky-high priced order—to assassinate the Captain of the [Ganesha Familia], the 「Staff of Ganesha」 Shakti.
The result?
Forget about the assassination.
Chloe almost lost her own little life.
That night, she was chased by Shakti like a stray dog, finally forced to drill into a stinking sewer and hide for a whole night just to escape the calamity.
That experience had directly become a lingering shadow in her heart.
Even though she had now washed her hands in a golden basin and become a good baby here at Mama Mia's.
But that fear carved into her bones.
It was like a mouse seeing a cat; it couldn't be changed.
"How about... we go out the back door..."
Before Chloe could finish saying "how about slipping out the back door."
Bang!
A crisp sound.
A thick, sturdy arm slapped heavily onto the table in front of the two.
"Ouch!"
"Eek-meow!"
Chloe and Lunor were so scared they shivered, nearly taking flight on the spot.
Looking up.
They saw Mia's face, black as the bottom of a pot, looking down at them.
"I say, you two..."
Mia stood with hands on her hips, fire practically spewing from her eyes.
"What are you whispering about?"
"The guests have been inside for ages, and you're still dawdling here!"
"Want to slack off, huh?"
"Do you need me to loosen your hides for you?"
"N-no, that's not it, meow!"
Chloe waved her hands frantically, those cat ears twitching even more violently, her eyes drifting incessantly toward Shakti.
"That... Mama Mia..."
"That is Shakti, meow..."
"That's the Military Police Captain, meow..."
"Can we..."
"Can you what?"
Mia glared, directly interrupting her nonsense.
"She is a guest today!"
"Since she walked through this door, she is here to eat and drink!"
"As long as there's no trouble!"
"So what if she's the Military Police Captain?"
"Could she eat you alive?"
With that.
Mia directly extended a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan and gave each of them a flick on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
"That hurts, meow!"
"Cut the crap!"
Mia pointed at the few empty tables in the center of the hall.
"Hurry up and get to work!"
"If you neglect the distinguished guests, see how this old lady sorts you out tonight!"
"Y-yes!"
"Going, meow! Going, meow!"
Under Mia's oppression.
Even if the two had ten thousand guts, they wouldn't dare to disobey.
They could only wear bitter faces, brace themselves, and shuffle over, looking back three times with every step.
...
Clatter—
Several heavy oak tables were pushed together.
Forming a gigantic long table in the center of the hall.
There was no helping it.
This group simply had too many people.
Apart from the three big shots—Haimer, Shakti, and Tsubaki.
There were also the five young girls: Amou Kirukiru, Inaba Tsukuyo, Onigawara Rin, Kikakujou Mary, and Nomura Satori.
Plus Hestia, the freeloader.
And this wasn't even what took up the most space.
The biggest space-hog was that black bear.
Kyoubou's massive body lay prone on the floor, looking like a small mountain of meat, directly occupying the space of fully three people.
That small bear also followed suit, lying beside Kyoubou, looking charmingly naive.
Although this scene was a bit bizarre.
In this extremely inclusive tavern, no one said anything; instead, quite a few adventurers cast curious gazes their way.
Everyone took their seats.
Although Shakti was still somewhat reserved, at Haimer's insistence, she still sat on his right hand side.
Tsubaki sat carelessly on the left.
Hestia originally wanted to snatch the seat next to Haimer, but ended up being squeezed by the black bear, finally forced to sit opposite him, puffing her cheeks in anger.
"Order, order!"
Tsubaki got excited as soon as she sat down, waving a big hand.
"Lunor! Bring the menu!"
"O-okay..."
Lunor held the menu, turning her body sideways as much as possible, not wanting to let Shakti see her full face; the movement was as awkward as if she suffered from hemiplegia.
"Bring up all the signature dishes in your shop!"
"Roast meat! Stew! And Mia's special fruit wine!"
"I want the largest portions of everything!"
"Also!"
"For these two little guys..."
Tsubaki pointed to the black bear lying on the floor.
"Prepare a few barrels of the best mead! And bring two large pork ribs!"
"Roar—!"
Kyoubou seemed to understand, immediately lifting his head and letting out an excited low roar.
"Okay, okay..."
Lunor noted it down while retreating quickly, wishing she could vanish into the air immediately.
And on the other side.
Chloe wasn't idle either.
She carried a large platter of bread and appetizers, drifting over like a ghost.
She wanted to run as soon as she put down the plate.
"Excuse me..."
Suddenly.
A cold voice rang out.
"Wait a moment."
"Meow?!"
The fur all over Chloe's body exploded instantly, and she turned around stiffly.
She saw Shakti looking at her, brows slightly furrowed.
"We need... juice."
"This child is likely not of drinking age."
Saying this.
Shakti pointed at Hanasaka Warabi.
Without waiting for Hanasaka Warabi to hurriedly clarify her own age.
"Ah... Y-yes, meow!"
Hearing this, Chloe immediately nodded repeatedly.
"Getting it now! Getting it now, meow!"
With that, she ran off faster than a rabbit.
Watching this scene.
Shakti felt somewhat baffled.
"The waitresses in this shop..."
"Why do they feel a bit strange?"
"Probably just shy with strangers."
Haimer held back his laughter, casually brushing it off with an excuse.
...
Very quickly.
Fine wine and delicacies were served like flowing water.
The table was instantly piled high with fragrant roast meat, golden crispy bread, and rich stew.
"Cheers—!"
Everyone raised their glasses, clinking them together.
Amidst the crisp sound, the atmosphere instantly reached a climax.
"To the first complete victory!"
"Cheers—!"
Tsubaki shouted loudly.
The wine glasses collided, making a crisp sound.
At this point.
The party atmosphere completely peaked.
"Tashty! Tashty!"
Hestia was starving; she held a chicken leg in her left hand and a piece of bread in her right.
"This roast meat tastes so good!"
"Haimer, you eat too!"
Hestia didn't forget to stuff things into Haimer's hand while eating.
Then.
The next second.
Crash!
A crisp sound shattered the joyous atmosphere.
One could see a figure carrying a serving tray stumble.
Several cups of fruit wine spilled out instantly.
Although it didn't splash onto the guests, it was scattered all over the floor.
"Ah..."
That figure flusteredly wanted to clean up.
"I'm sorry! I'm really, very sorry!"
Everyone turned to look.
It was a young girl with pale gray long hair, wearing a white apron.
——Syr Flova.
At this moment.
She was crouching on the ground picking up fragments, a trace of panic on her face.
"Syr?"
"What happened?"
Behind the counter, Mia saw this scene and frowned.
Since just now.
She had noticed Syr was somewhat distracted, her eyes constantly drifting toward that long table, seemingly inadvertently.
"Your state isn't right."
"Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Mia walked over and pulled Syr up.
"N-no..."
Syr lowered her head, her eyes dodging a bit.
"Maybe... it's just that I didn't sleep well last night, I feel a bit dizzy..."
Speaking of this.
Syr gently pressed her temples; that frail appearance made one unable to bear blaming her further.
"I think... could I apply to leave early?"
"I want to go back and rest for a while..."
"..."
Mia stared at her for a moment.
Although her intuition told her things weren't that simple.
But seeing Syr's appearance of indeed being out of sorts, she finally waved her hand.
"Alright, alright."
"Since you're uncomfortable, don't cause trouble here."
"Hurry back and lie down."
"Let Lunor clean up the mess here."
"Thank you, Mama Mia..."
Syr let out a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She stood up, patting the dust off the hem of her skirt.
Then.
Just at the moment she turned to walk toward the kitchen passage.
As if inadvertently looking back.
Her gaze crossed over the crowd, quickly glancing at the long table where Haimer was.
She saw the other party was turning his head to speak to Hestia opposite him, completely unaware of the commotion here.
It seemed.
She had not been noticed by him.
Thinking of this, her originally somewhat tense shoulders finally relaxed a trace.
Thus.
After a trace of lingering fear flashed in the depths of her eyes.
She didn't stay any longer.
She quickly vanished behind the curtain leading to the kitchen.
...
"Really."
"Not a single one saves me any worry."
Mia watched Syr's retreating figure, muttered a sentence, and also walked back to the counter.
Only the green-haired Elf ice beauty in the shop noticed the fluctuation in her eyes before she left.
"..."
____
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