Kopii followed Raven, and the more he followed him, the more he understood where he was being led. It was a two-story stone building, resembling a cozy tavern in appearance. But in his eyes, it was not a cozy tavern.
– The Benevolent Mistress?
– Yes, let's go faster, while there are still free seats.
Kopii sighed but still followed Raven. Kopii had always avoided this establishment because of Syr. Kopii did not understand why he felt this way about her; he simply did not like her, that was all.
Entering the tavern, he immediately felt the pleasant smell of various dishes.
– There are quite a lot of people here; I thought there would be fewer, it's daytime after all. – He said in surprise, seeing such a large number of people during the day for the first time.
– Kopii, it's always crowded here; let's hurry, while there's a free spot, – Raven said, approaching a free seat.
Without thinking long, he sat down opposite Raven. He carefully scanned the establishment once more, but he could not find Syr anywhere.
«Maybe she took a day off to go to the orphanage?»
– Kopii, Kopii. Hey.
– What? – he returned his gaze to Raven.
– You're daydreaming again. – Kicking him under the table. – Come on, order, she's waiting.
Kopii looked at the waitress he had not noticed; it was a girl with black hair, and she also had cat ears and a tail of the same color. She wore the uniform of the Benevolent Mistress.
– What will you order? – she asked for what was already the umpteenth time.
– ... I'll have noodles, please.
– Will you be ordering drinks?
– No, thank you.
Kopii's gaze lingered on the departing waitress.
«Are there only women here?»
Kopii did not see a single man in uniform.
– What did you want to talk about, Raven? – returning his gaze to Raven.
– What, did you like her? – Raven asked with a sly smile.
– Ah, well, she's beautiful, but nothing more. I just noticed that only women work here.
– Is this your first time here; you don't know about that?
– Yes. Alright, enough on that topic. Don't dodge the question. So, what do you want to talk about, Raven?
– Well, – making a thoughtful face, – about a lot of things, for example, how you've settled into Orario. – Kopii narrowed his eyes at his words.
– Everything is fine. I've been living here, I can't say exactly, well, more than five months. – At Kopii's words, Raven's face twisted in confusion.
– What? Kopii, what do you mean? Didn't you say you'd never been to Orario? Didn't you?
– Well, when we first met, I didn't trust you, that's all. Judge for yourself, Raven, I was seeing you for the first time and simply decided to hide information about myself for my own safety. Anyone would have done that. – Kopii looked at Raven's face; he seemed to ponder his words and quickly returned to his former state.
– Well, that's quite logical, Kopii. I understand why you lied to me. I see nothing terrible in it. I probably would have done the same in your place. – His smile appeared again; crossing his legs, he straightened up. He became more serious, but the smile remained the same. – Kopii, so you're already an adventurer. You talked about how you wanted to become an adventurer; was that also a lie or not?
– No, that wasn't a lie. It was once my desire, but I fulfilled it long ago.
– Oh, really? Then which familia are you in?
– I... – he fell silent, peering into his face, and decided that enough lies. – Miach. In the Miach Familia.
– Oh, really! – making a solemn face. – I've never heard of such a familia.
Kopii smirked at his words.
– Well, my familia is low-class. So it's understandable that you've never heard of them.
– And what does your familia do?
– Well, my familia brews potions. In other words, my familia are not dungeon explorers.
– Ah, I see, I see.
– And how are things with you? Did you find a familia during this time?
– No, not yet, – he said, turning his head. – I haven't tried yet; I'm slowly settling into Orario for now. I'm in no rush. But actually, Kopii, I planned to start looking for a familia next week. Do you think I'll succeed?
– Well, I don't know... You know, since you saved me... – But before Kopii could finish, Raven interrupted him.
– No, no, – he shook his head, – Kopii, I understand what you want to say. That you could ask your god to let me join your familia. First of all, Kopii, forget that I saved you; for a future hero, that's nothing. So I don't want to hear it again… I just don't want any favors. I want a path of great difficulties, so that I can handle everything, granting everyone hope.
– I see. Then good luck on your path; you just need to believe in yourself, and that's all. And you have plenty of that, so I think you'll manage this task. – Looking at his smiling face, he could not help but smile as well. – Probably. – Raven's smile grew smaller after these words, but still did not disappear.
– It's not your thing, Kopii, supporting people. Don't support anyone else. – After that, an awkward silence fell. Raven wanted to speak, but the arriving waitress interrupted him.
– Here is your order. Enjoy your meal.
– Thank you.
– Thank you.
Raven and Kopii said in unison. After standing there a little longer, the girl went to serve others.
They ate in silence; no one wanted to start a conversation during the meal. Having eaten everything they had ordered, Raven could no longer bear the silence.
– That was simply perfect; I'm always amazed, as if it were the first time! Do you agree, Kopii, do you like it? – raising his gaze from the plate, looking into Kopii's eyes.
Kopii looked into Raven's eyes in silence.
– Well, why are you silent, Kopii? Was it so delicious that you bit your tongue without noticing?
– No, I just think it would be more correct to evaluate the dish... I agree, it's very tasty.
– Yes, I'm of the same opinion; it's simply impossible to properly evaluate this dish. – Silence fell again; they had not known each other for long, so there were no common topics for conversation.
– What a pity she's not here today, – looking around the establishment, Raven said, slumping his shoulders.
– Who's not here? – Kopii quickly scanned the whole establishment. There were many races here, but for the most part, there were ordinary citizens. But at night, it was the complete opposite. There were more adventurers than ordinary citizens.
– Syr isn't here. – Glancing at Raven, Kopii had expected to hear that.
– Syr. Kh! – Kopii choked, raising shocked eyes to his companion.
– Yes, her. – Not noticing his reaction, he spoke. – Syr, she's so kind, so beautiful, simply an angel in the flesh. – Kopii listened as Raven described Syr more and more. And he could not help but be surprised, and at the same time wondered.
«Is she really like that?»
Of course, he knew she was kind and sweet. But Raven's description was as if he were describing a goddess, not an ordinary person. So he asked the following question.
– Do you like her?
– Who doesn't like her? – he said at once, without a drop of doubt. – You simply haven't seen her yet.
– Yes, perhaps. – Kopii focused on one table, which no one had sat at the whole time; everyone ignored this table, as if it weren't there. He could not help but wonder.
– Raven, why does no one take that table?
– Which one? – looking in the same direction as Kopii. – Ah, that one; well, it's the Loki Familia's table, as far as I know. So no one dares to take it. I'd like to see the Loki Familia or the Freya Familia in reality. And especially the top class, – looking at those I want to reach and even surpass.
Kopii frowned at Raven's words.
«The Loki Familia.» – thinking about them, the name Ais Wallenstein immediately flared in his head. Kopii had long understood that he envied her, and very strongly. He remembered what Miach had told him, that he could break Ais's record, but even so, the residue remained. The fact that she had leveled up in a year, as a child, struck Kopii's self-esteem very hard.
He had always asked himself: "What could he have done at seven years old?" Kopii knew the answer to this question. He could only have run away and hidden. From these thoughts, Kopii's mood worsened.
– I see, Raven. Simply put, it's their exclusive table?
– Yes, you could say that.
– ... Well, I have to go, Raven. Shall we split the bill?
– No, Kopii, I invited you, so don't worry, I can pay for both of us. Good luck.
– Thank you. Bye, – Raven waved his hand at him in response.
Leaving the Benevolent Mistress, Kopii immediately headed back home. He had been at the Benevolent Mistress for about two hours. He no longer wanted to go to the dungeon. He would rather go back to the Blue Pharmacy and help Naaza, even if she didn't need help.
Entering the Blue Pharmacy, a familiar scene greeted him.
– I see today there are as few customers as always, – approaching Naaza, looking into those sleepy eyes. And unconsciously, his gaze fell on her tail.
– Yes, Kopii, with us it's as always, nothing new. You were going to the dungeon, weren't you?
– Yes, but I changed my mind. So, so the day doesn't go to waste, I decided to help you; do you have work? – continuing to look into those sleepy eyes.
– You can be sure of that.