From the back came a sudden shout.
"Anya! What are you doing? Can't you see there are guests here?"
The cat-girl waitress—ears twitching as she relished a bite of grilled fish—let out a satisfied "meow".
Then, she suddenly looked up in surprise. She hurriedly gulped down the food in her mouth, stood up, and practically scampered to the bar with an energy only a cat-person could manage.
"What would the customers like to eat?" Anya asked cheerfully, walking over while holding a wooden menu board almost half her size.
Akira scanned the board for a moment before responding smoothly, "Let's see… I'll have a plate of fried noodles, a fruit salad, an egg dish, two loaves of buttered bread, and a glass of juice."
He passed the menu to Ais, who took it with practiced ease. Judging by her calm expression and fluid gestures as she selected her meal, it was clear the Loki Familia frequented this tavern often—this wasn't her first time ordering here.
Anya watched them for a moment, then blinked her big amber eyes and flashed a mischievous grin.
"Got it, meow! I'll go prepare it right away!" She chirped, and with that, the short-haired waitress vanished like a puff of smoke, leaving behind only a blur and the faint swish of her tail.
Left alone for a moment, Akira and Ais sat quietly at the bar.
That was when Mia—arms crossed, apron tied neatly over her chest—sauntered up and loomed over them with amused curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
Then, with a hearty laugh, she flashed a grin that made Akira tense slightly. "Boy, do you want to try some beer?"
The question caught him off guard.
Wine?
His curiosity piqued. This was another world, after all—who knew what their alcohol tasted like?
After thinking for a moment, Akira nodded. "Can I try a glass?"
Mia let out a thunderous laugh, the kind that shook the wooden beams above. Her robust, energetic laughter was the embodiment of her dwarf heritage, even if her towering height defied expectations.
"You've got guts, kid!" She said, spinning around with practiced grace.
She grabbed a glass, turned the tap on a wooden barrel, and filled it to the brim with a golden, frothy liquid. The foam bubbled gently at the top.
"Here. This one's on me." She said, sliding the drink across the counter toward him.
"How can a man grow up if he doesn't even taste beer?"
She reached out and gave Akira a firm pat on the head—surprisingly gentle for someone with hands that could shatter bones.
Then her gaze shifted to the quiet girl sitting beside him. "And you, Blondie." Mia said, eyes narrowing in warning.
"Don't think I've forgotten what happened the last time you had a drink. If you lose control again, I won't go easy on you."
The air around them seemed to chill slightly as a memory flashed through the tavern like an ominous shadow.
Once, during a celebration long past, a drunken swordswoman had erupted into a frenzy. In a haze of crimson, she had unsheathed her blade and cut loose with terrifying speed.
Screams echoed. Tables shattered. Blood spattered like ink across the floor.
The smiling adventurers had no time to react before they collapsed, one after another, under the fury of her attacks.
It had taken one punch from Mia—stronger than even Riveria's best magic—to finally put an end to the madness.
Ais had crumpled instantly, knocked unconscious and left sprawled on the wooden floor like a ragdoll.
After waking up and hearing the description of the events that had unfolded, she had vowed to behave while sober… and to never touch alcohol again.
Now, faced with Mia's teasing threat, Ais simply nodded obediently, as if she were a child caught stealing cookies. She didn't say a word, only sat straighter and kept her hands folded politely on her lap.
Akira watched all this with growing curiosity. For Ais to be this quiet, this… well-behaved, something truly terrible must've happened. He couldn't help but wonder just how terrifying the dwarf tavern owner had been in that moment.
His attention then drifted back to the glass in front of him. The beer sparkled like liquid gold in the midday sun, its bubbles rising to the top. A faint scent of wheat, yeast, and something fruity wafted toward his nose.
Under Mia's expectant gaze, Akira reached for the glass and took a steady sip.
At first, a refreshing coolness washed across his tongue—like a breeze brushing past in summer. Then came a burst of sweetness, followed by a mellow bitterness. Hints of yeast, fruit, and barley swirled together in a complex harmony that danced across his palate.
The flavor shifted subtly with every moment—sweet, then sour, then bitter again, until he couldn't tell which dominated.
His eyes widened. "…Whoa."
He tilted his head, trying to process it all.
"This… beer is weird." He murmured. "It's like a festival in my mouth. My tongue doesn't know what to do."
Mia burst into laughter again, this time louder than before. "Hahaha! See? Told ya! That stuff's got a flavor no one can quite describe. But some fool back there didn't believe me!"
Akira chuckled awkwardly.
'So I was the test subject all along.' He thought, taking another sip.
"Weird… but tasty. I think I like it."
"Hah, kid, your taste is one of a kind!" Mia leaned against the bar, her elbows resting on the countertop.
"Most people can't handle that flavor, let alone enjoy it."
She tilted her head and looked at him with a glint of curiosity. "What's your name, kid?"
Akira set down the glass and answered, "I'm Akira. From the Astraea Familia."
"Astraea, huh? And how old are you?"
"…Thirteen?" He muttered.
Ignoring Akira's uncertainty, Mia crossed her arms and smiled, saying, "Thirteen and drinking already? You're braver than most. I'm Mia Grand—the big boss around here. Everyone calls me Aunt Mia. If you've got the coin and the appetite, feel free to come by anytime. I'll even toss in a few extra portions if you behave."
She wanted to continue to trick the two and ask them if they wanted another, but then she thought about the fact that one of them couldn't drink and the other, although he could drink, was not yet 14 years old, so she gave up.
Akira smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Mia."
Then he turned to Ais and said, "So, Ais, do you want a taste too? Just a tiny sip?"
(End of Chapter)
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