Afterward. [The Hostess of Fertility]. "Cheers—!"
Dozens of thick wooden mugs, brimming with clear golden ale and freshly squeezed fruit juice, clashed heavily above the tabletop.
The liquor splashed out with the tremendous force, and white foam spilled right over the rims of the mugs.
The proprietress, Mia, stood behind the broad bar counter.
Arms folded across her chest, she watched this crowd of customers who looked about ready to blow the tavern's roof off, and a rugged grin split across her mouth.
In all of Orario, the only place that could gather at a single table the monstrous rising stars of the Haimer Familia—currently riding high—along with the top-tier combat power of the Loki Familia's First Corps, plus those several deep-Dungeon monsters rumored on the outside to be "under control," and still have them sit peacefully together drinking and eating meat, was probably her establishment alone.
Still, Mia was, after all, a veteran who'd knocked around Orario for many years—the iron-fisted captain who had once led the Freya Familia.
Seeing Haimer and Loki show up at the same time, she walked straight to the front door and hung a thick wooden sign reading "Temporarily Closed" on the door handle.
"Gulp, gulp…" On one side of the long table, Tione abruptly tilted her head back and poured the better half of a mug of strong, high-proof fruit wine down her throat in one go, then casually wiped the liquor from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Hah! That hit the spot! This tavern's grilled meat really lives up to the hype!"
As she spoke, Tione reached out and grabbed a fork, about to spear into the platter of grilled hind-leg meat piled up like a little mountain in the center of the table.
But it just so happened that at that very moment, another hand was faster than hers.
Amou Kirukiru leaned more than halfway out of her seat, spread her five fingers, and with her bare hand precisely seized the thick bone of the largest piece of hind-leg meat.
She then brought it straight to her mouth, opened wide, and took a savage, huge bite.
Scalding meat juices ran down the corner of her mouth and dripped onto the tabletop.
But Amou Kirukiru didn't find it hot in the slightest; chewing forcefully on the thoroughly chewy beast-meat, she jerked her chin at Tione across from her.
Tione had been making an effort to maintain a dignified, ladylike posture in front of Captain Finn, forcing herself to eat using only utensils, trying to keep up a sliver of elegance that didn't actually exist.
But then she saw Amou Kirukiru's brazen manner, and her gaze caught sight of the other girl's bare arm.
The large patches of black-and-blue bruises she'd pounded into Amou Kirukiru that afternoon during their live-combat slugfest on the training grounds had, under the Holy Emperor's unreasonable "magic" healing, not left so much as a red mark.
At the thought that Amou Kirukiru—healed up and having forgotten the pain—was now provoking her again.
The corner of Tione's eye couldn't help twitching.
The combative genes in the very bones of the Amazon warrior ultimately tore right through that thin paper of feigned ladylikeness.
"What's it gonna be?"
"Didn't get beaten enough on the training grounds today—you wanna keep going at it with me at the dinner table too?"
Tione slammed the fork in her hand down on the oak table and said through gritted teeth. "You dare?"
Amou Kirukiru, for her part, swallowed the chunk of meat in her mouth that she hadn't fully chewed, stuck out her tongue and licked the coarse grease off her fingers, a provocative glint in her eyes.
"Who's scared of who?! Today this lady's gonna eat your Familia into the poorhouse!"
With that, Tione just went for it—she grabbed the plate in front of her and shoved it aside, then with her bare hands tore over another huge roasted leg still sizzling with grease beside her, opened her mouth, and bit into it ferociously.
Across the long table, the two locked eyes in midair, and even their chewing carried a savage edge, as if they each meant to swallow the other whole.
As for Finn, sitting beside Tione, he had just lifted a mug of clear golden ale; watching Tione gradually let herself go completely, her face all greasy, his hand froze stiff in midair.
He didn't try to stop her—he merely forced out a dry chuckle, silently lifted his chair, and scooted half a meter to the side, to avoid getting splattered all over by the flying meat juices and grease droplets.
At the other end of the long table.
Aihara Enju was sitting with Hiruko Kohina on raised high stools, gnawing blissfully on a huge grilled rib slathered in rich honey.
The two little ones' small hands were greasy and coated in sweet, sticky sauce, and a ring of grease circled their mouths.
Suddenly, a huge shadow loomed over Aihara Enju from above.
Aihara Enju stopped gnawing and looked up in puzzlement.
She saw Mia striding over with a basin of freshly made thick soup.
The mouth of that soup basin was nearly half as wide as Aihara Enju herself, and inside it churned the rich aroma of cream and mushrooms.
Mia set the basin of thick soup down on the table with a heavy "thunk," rattling the ribs on the table.
Then Mia reached out a palm, clapped it onto Aihara Enju's little head with its orange-red twintails, and gave it a vigorous rub.
"Got a good appetite there, little girl."
Mia lowered her head, her gaze sweeping over Aihara Enju's two skinny little legs dangling in midair, and grinned as she spoke.
"Word on the street's been buzzing all over—saying you little ones who've only been here a few days have every single one of you already hit Lv.2."
"At first I figured it was some drunk fool spreading an exaggerated rumor."
"But to my surprise, when I asked around, it actually turned out to be true."
Her hair somewhat mussed from the rubbing, Aihara Enju swallowed the rib meat in her mouth and twisted her neck in mild displeasure, trying to wriggle out from under Mia's broad palm.
"What rumor! We're plenty strong!"
Aihara Enju raised the bone in her hand, protesting to Mia.
"And don't call me little girl! I'm about to turn eleven!"
Watching Aihara Enju bare her claws and fangs, Mia couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Haha, eleven? Even if you are eleven, in my book you're not even weaned yet."
"Still, to achieve the feat of reaching Lv.2 at such a tender age—you little monsters' potential really is an eye-opener."
Mia withdrew her hand and wiped it on her apron in the same motion.
Aihara Enju, for her part, puffed out her cheeks.
"Hmph! Of course! I'm super strong!"
"And I drink milk every single morning, you know!"
"Lord Haimer said, drink lots of milk and you'll grow fast!"
"All right, all right, drink lots of milk."
Mia shook her head with a laugh.
"If drinking milk were enough to make you tall, Orario would've been crawling with giants long ago. Eating more meat is what really matters."
With that, Mia turned her head to look toward the other side.
She saw Haimer, a long-handled wooden ladle in hand, dishing out food to the several monsters beside him.
A deity of the Heavens, so thoughtfully looking after monsters from the Dungeon.
This scene really was an eye-opener.
And not just for Mia.
Even Ais, Lefiya, Riveria, and the others at the same table couldn't help glancing over this way.
Haimer used a fork to bring a slice of soft white bread right up to Rei's mouth.
"It's a bit hot, so eat slowly."
At this, a distinct blush instantly surfaced on Rei's cheeks; then, glancing at the gazes cast her way from all around, she gingerly opened her mouth and took a small bite of the bread—the entire time not daring to look Haimer in the eye at all.
"Th… thank you, Kami-sama."
Fei, sitting beside Rei, had no such reservations whatsoever, and was staring at a plate on the table piled high with golden fried potato balls.
Haimer casually picked up a long skewer, speared two crispy fried potato balls, and passed them over.
"Here, eat up. I hear you've been interested in these for quite a while."
Fei was so delighted that even the tuft of red hair atop her head perked up, and she opened her mouth wide.
Aruru the one-horned rabbit, meanwhile, was clinging to the edge of the table, her two long ears drooping.
After all, apart from meat, there wasn't a single vegetable in front of her that she wanted to eat.
Seeing this, Haimer asked Anya, who was passing by, to scoop out a big, heaping spoonful of vegetables mixed with fruit and set it before Aruru.
Aruru immediately cupped a leaf of vegetable in her two front paws, stuffed it into her mouth, and began chewing rapidly, her three-part lip moving at lightning speed.
After getting all of this done.
Haimer looked around as well, and couldn't help turning to look at Mia, who had just finished delivering the soup and was about to head back to the bar.
"Come to think of it, Mama Mia, how come I don't see Miss Elf and Miss Syr helping out in the shop today?"
Hearing this, Mia stopped in her tracks, turned around, and spread her hands toward Haimer somewhat helplessly.
"They both happen to be off-shift today."
"Ryu said she wasn't feeling too well, and Syr said she wanted to go back to the orphanage to check on things."
"Sure, they've been taking leave without reason a bit more often lately, but I'm not about to dock the few of them their time off over it."
"Mm." Haimer nodded and didn't press the matter further.
But these words, landing in the ears of Hestia, who sat on Haimer's other side, took on a rather different flavor.
Hestia had been holding a roasted potato in her hand.
The instant she heard Haimer bring up other women of his own accord, she pursed her lips, her whole face puffed up with anger.
"Syr, Syr! That Syr again!"
Hestia glared at Haimer. "Just what does that Syr even look like? Worth you caring this much about her?!"
A strong whiff of aged vinegar instantly filled the air.
Watching Hestia bristle like this, Onigawara Rin, Kikakujou Mary, and the others sitting around them were at a loss too, and didn't chime in.
After all, this sort of drama—after spending so long together—they'd already witnessed far too many times.
However. Loki, sitting on Haimer's other side, was the type forever afraid the world wasn't chaotic enough.
"Oh my my, little squirt, you don't even know Syr?"
Loki deliberately drew out her tone, her eyes curving into two slits.
"Miss Syr is the most famous poster girl in Mama Mia's tavern, you know."
"That face, that figure, that aura—tsk tsk, walking down the street she's had plenty of male gods unable to resist courting her."
With that, Loki lifted her cup and took a sip, shooting Hestia a sidelong glance in passing, her gaze deliberately sweeping over her.
"And compared to a certain little squirt who only grows in the chest, not the brain, and has a god-awful temper to boot, the gentle and virtuous Miss Syr is just way more appealing."
"It's only the most natural thing in the world for Haimer to be concerned about her."
Loki's words—putting one down to lift the other up—stomped squarely and precisely on Hestia's landmine.
Hestia's eyes were practically about to spew fire; she clenched both hands into tight fists and glared viciously at Loki, looking as though she'd pounce the next second and tear Loki's mouth apart.
However. The moment Hestia lifted her foot, the warning Haimer had pointedly given her before they left came flooding back into her mind.
If she caused a ruckus in Mama Mia's shop and smashed the tables, then tonight she'd be stripped bare and hung up at the head of the bedroom bed to air out in the draft.
The moment she pictured that scene, Hestia forcibly halted her movement.
She glared resentfully at Loki, and in the end could only grind her teeth hard.
"Loki, you flat-chested washboard! One of these days I'm gonna sew your mouth shut while you sleep!"
With nowhere to vent, Hestia could only grab the food she was holding, treat it as Loki's head, and chomp down on it viciously, her cheeks bulging high as she chewed in a huff.
Loki, for her part, let out a triumphant peal of laughter.
Then. Anya suddenly came over carrying an empty tray and, softly and lightly, squeezed in beside the bench where Haimer sat.
Chloe and Lunor also took advantage of the window while Mia went to the back kitchen to check the storeroom, slipping over from the other end of the long table; the three of them huddled at Haimer's side, piled up like a stack of acrobats.
"Hey, hey, Kami-sama, Kami-sama!"
The cat ears atop Anya's head twitched rapidly twice, and she lowered her voice as she leaned in close to Haimer's shoulder.
"While Ryu's away today, we've got some big gossip to tell you, nya."
Hearing this, Haimer set down the cup in his hand and looked at the suddenly secretive Anya, Chloe, and Lunor.
"What gossip? Let's hear it."
Haimer tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the three who had huddled in extremely close.
Anya's cat ears twitched restlessly.
Chloe, for her part, nudged Anya with her elbow and beat her to leaning in by Haimer's ear.
"Kami-sama, you have no idea, nya."
Chloe lowered her voice, her green cat eyes brimming with excitement.
"Ever since that afternoon when you met with Ryu and Syr at the café, Ryu came back like a completely different person, nya."
"Yeah, yeah, nya nya!"
Anya hurriedly chimed in, gesturing with both hands in midair.
"Normally, when Ryu works in the shop, she's famous for being cold-faced and impartial, nya."
"But these past few days, Ryu's been spacing out on the spot at the drop of a hat, and a few times she nearly tripped and fell while walking, nya."
"How is that gossip?"
Seeing Haimer's bland reaction, Anya got a little anxious and squeezed forward even more.
"Aw, that's not enough, nya? There's something even juicier, nya!"
Anya lowered her voice.
"Last night after the tavern closed, Ryu absolutely insisted on dragging the three of us off to the accessory shops and item shops over on West Avenue."
Lunor nodded again and again, picking up the thread.
"You have no idea—Ryu normally doesn't browse those shops at all."
"Yesterday she practically dragged us around the shops a dozen-some times."
"Pick this up and look it over, decide it's not right and put it down; pick that up and feel it, then shake her head again."
"When we asked her what she wanted to buy, she hemmed and hawed for ages, blushing so hard that even her elf ears turned a bloody red, and finally squeezed out a single line—saying she wanted to pick out a little gift to give you."
The hand with which Haimer held his wooden mug froze in midair. "A gift for me?"
"Right! A gift for you, Kami-sama, nya!"
"She said she still feels bad about misunderstanding you in the alley before, and then smashing the wall in the clothing shop afterward, nya."
Chloe nodded as she spoke.
"But honestly, we all saw right through it—she just wanted an excuse to give you something, nya."
Anya cut right in too.
"So what did she end up picking?"
Having heard all this, Haimer finally grew interested.
Seeing this, Anya gave a "heh heh" grin, baring two little fangs.
"Ryu spent a full two hours picking, until the shops were nearly closing."
"In the end she chose a sword-belt pendant woven from fine leather, set with a very finely polished Magic Stone."
"And after she'd picked it out—that's when the real torment began, nya!"
At this point, Anya let out a sigh.
"Last night after we got back to the tavern dorm, Ryu tossed and turned in bed—Anya here practically couldn't sleep a wink from all her fidgeting."
"One moment Ryu would sit up and stare blankly at the box holding the gift, the next she'd stuff the box back under the covers."
"She'd even sit up and mutter things like, wouldn't this be too abrupt, what if Kami-sama doesn't need something like this, what if Lady Hestia sees it and gets the wrong idea, and so on."
"In the end, the few of us really couldn't take it anymore and urged her from the side to just hand it over and be done with it—but she shook her head desperately, saying she had to be mindful of keeping a proper distance."
"And then, when today rolled around."
"She was supposed to give it to you while cleaning this morning, but when the crucial moment came, Ryu shrank back again—she stubbornly dawdled until after we'd finished cleaning and left, then made an excuse to us, saying she'd forgotten to bring it."
"So you see, nya." "Sigh!" Chloe heaved a sigh and spread her hands.
"Ryu's probably holed up in the dorm sulking right now—with that stubborn streak of hers, once she gets stuck on something, eight oxen couldn't drag her back."
Having listened to Chloe and Anya spill everything in one breath after another.
A picture naturally formed in Haimer's mind—the usually ever-stern, meticulous Miss Ryu, agonizing for two hours in the shops over picking out a single gift, then chickening out at the last moment and locking herself in her room—what an awkward sight.
Still—after all, the elf race has always prided itself on its purity and nobility, and tends to put up high walls of defense against outside emotions.
On top of that, Ryu's rule-abiding, innocent personality was, just as they'd said, extremely stubborn.
So something like this happening was actually quite normal.
"So you all went out of your way to come over and lay out Miss Elf's secret in full."
"You wouldn't happen to be trying to use this gossip to haggle with me—hoping to get out of the punishment where you have to come clean my place every morning, would you?"
"Ohhh!" Their little scheme had been laid bare in a single sentence.
The cat ears atop Anya's head instantly flattened against her hair.
Chloe scratched her cheek awkwardly, her green cat eyes darting guiltily to the side.
Lunor, for her part, just gave two dry coughs, trying to mask the embarrassment of being found out.
"No way, Kami-sama, you must be joking, nya."
Anya immediately put on a fawning smile.
"We just thought Ryu was really too pitiful, and wanted to give you a heads-up, so that the next time you see her, you can help Ryu get the gift handed over, nya."
Hearing this, Haimer found it agreeable too. After all.
Anya and the others were on good terms with Ryu, and this act—seemingly selling her out but actually assisting her—was indeed an expression of care between friends.
"In that case, thank you very much."
"But I'll still have to trouble you to come clean tomorrow."
"Of course." "Once I've received Miss Elf's gift, I'll give you a few days off to rest up properly." "Really?!!"
The moment these words were out, Anya's eyes lit up.
"Of course it's true." "However."
"You mustn't go out of your way to rush Miss Elf."
"After all, it'd be very easy for her to catch on."
"No problem—you can leave it all to me, Kami-sama!"
Anya, full of confidence, patted her chest and assured him.
____
👻🔥Walnut-chan🔥👻
🔥 New history: COTE: Counterattack System
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone