Author: sorry, forgot to post again
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— You don't know the local language?
The question caught Hestia by surprise.
— What? Of course he does! I mean… he knows the basics… more or less… — She averted her gaze, crossing her arms. — Okay, fine, he's still learning, so what?
Lyu ignored her defensive tone and looked at Luki with subtle interest.
— That's unexpected. Where you came from, don't they teach the common tongue there?
— Uh… no? — He resplied, somewhat uncertainly.
Lyu slightly furrowed her brow.
— How strange. I thought all elven villages had already accepted that. But it seems your homeland is even more traditional than mine. Where exactly are you from?
Hestia narrowed her eyes, her lips curling into a pout.
— And why are you asking him that with so much interest, huh? Planning to recruit him for your fancy little elf club? Or maybe you just like sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!
She crossed her arms with a huff, leaning closer to Luki as if to shield him.
— Just so you know, he's my child, and you don't get to interrogate him like you own the place!
Lyu, as always, kept an impassive expression, but gave the goddess a brief glance before returning her eyes to Luki, ignoring the provocation.
Luki, on the other hand, felt a chill run down his spine.
— (B-Brazil?)
— …Burasilo? — Lyu repeated, stumbling over the word.
— Yeaaah… it's a plaCe reaLLY far aWaY. — He let out a nervous laugh.
Hestia kept looking back and forth between them, her foot tapping impatiently against the floor.
— Hmph, I've never heard of that place, and I know the world better than anyone here!
— Never heard of it. — Lyu ignored Hestia's interruption and crossed her arms. — Must be really far. But even so… traveling all the way to Orario without even knowing the local language? You're an idiot.
— Hah! Finally something we agree on! — Hestia said, smiling victoriously.
Luki looked embarrassed. He might not have understood every word, but that last part… oh, that one he understood perfectly.
He turned his eyes away, sulking, but before he could protest, Lyu continued, her tone shifting.
— (But surely you understand elfic, don't you?) — She asked in a different language.
Instead of the expected reaction, Luki just frowned, even more confused.
— (Don't bother, I already tested it. He doesn't recognize any of the common tongues.) — Hestia replied in elfic, surprising Lyu with her fluency.
The elf raised an eyebrow and turned her attention to the goddess.
— (You know elfic?)
— (I'm a goddess, remember? I can speak almost every language in the world, except for a few that belong to smaller groups…) — Hestia explained, scratching her cheek with a sheepish smile. — (Apparently, his is one of those.)
Luki, who didn't understand a thing, narrowed his eyes, spending a few seconds trying to process Hestia's words without grasping a single one in that unknown tongue.
Realizing his confusion, Hestia set aside a few moments to explain what was going on.
Meanwhile, Lyu observed them with slightly widened eyes. An elf who couldn't speak the common tongue was already strange, but one who didn't even know elfic? How old was he? Fifty?
Out of pure curiosity, her eyes analyzed Luki's ears, measuring their length and angle, a rudimentary but effective method of estimating an elf's age.
That's when it hit her.
'Less than twenty years old?!!!'
The shock didn't reach her face, but her mind was in chaos. What was a child like that doing in Orario?!
'This makes no sense… No elven village would let someone that young wander around here. Where are his parents?'
— Miss waitress? — The goddess's voice, with a slightly bitter tone, pulled her back to reality.
The elf blinked a few times, returning to the present. Her gaze fell on Luki again, and for a brief instant, something like pity crossed her face.
But only for an instant.
— I'll be right back with your order. — She said simply, spinning on her heels and disappearing among the tables.
Hestia watched her walk away, then turned her eyes to Luki, who was still sulking, scratching his head, clearly confused about what had just happened.
She sighed and rested her cheek on her hand.
— You really are a hopeless case, huh, Luki-kun?
He frowned.
— Me…?
— Yes, completely your fault.
Luki huffed, not really understanding what Hestia meant, but decided not to ask.
It didn't take long before Lyu returned with the orders. With precise movements, she set the plates and the wine jug on the table. Before leaving, however, she paused, her eyes lingering on Luki.
— If you need help, don't hesitate to call me.
Luki blinked a few times, processing her words.
— What? Oh… sHure. Thanks. — He answered a bit hesitantly.
To his surprise, Lyu leaned forward slightly, her hand reaching out to ruffle his hair in a slow, gentle motion. Her usually impassive face softened, and for the first time, she offered something close to a smile.
— You're still just a child, after all… — she said in a quiet, almost maternal tone.
Luki froze, unsure of how to react.
— Kid?… H-Hey, I'm not a kid! — he protested weakly, his cheeks heating up.
Without realizing it, his long ears twitched in agitation, betraying his embarrassment.
The moment, however, didn't last.
— WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! — Hestia's voice erupted like thunder. She shot up from her seat, fists clenched and face red with indignation. — Don't you dare pat his head like he's some lost puppy! He's mine, you hear me?! MINE!
She leaned over the table, practically shielding Luki with her whole body, glaring daggers at the elf.
— Touch him again and I swear, I'll… I'll-!
Her outrage was cut off only by the smug calmness in Lyu's eyes as she straightened her posture, withdrawing her hand without a hint of guilt.
— Relax. I was only being kind.
— Kind?! — Hestia stomped her foot so hard the table rattled. — That didn't look like kindness to me, that looked like shameless flirting!
Lyu showed no reaction to the goddess's hostility. She simply confirmed that Luki had understood her words and turned away without another comment.
Hestia, on the other hand, puffed her cheeks, glaring at the elf's back with irritation.
— Hmph, meddling elf… We don't need her help. We're doing just fine on our own, aren't we, Luki?
Expecting confirmation, Hestia turned, only to find Luki focused entirely on his food, completely oblivious to what had just happened. He chewed absentmindedly, eyes fixed on his plate as if nothing else mattered.
Noticing Hestia staring at him, he looked up, still chewing.
— Heshhtia-shama?
The goddess puffed her cheeks in frustration. He clearly wasn't paying attention to her.
Before she could scold him, the tavern door swung open with a loud bang, momentarily quieting the background noise. A rowdy group entered the establishment, bringing with them an air of celebration and confidence.
— Hahaha! Come on in, folks! First round's on me! — The loud, energetic voice of a woman echoed through the hall.
Luki turned his head instinctively, spotting the figure at the front of the group. His gaze passed over her quickly before returning to his food, but something inside him faltered. A strange feeling, like a distant echo in his mind, a déjà vu. He knew this person… but how? He'd only been in this world for just over a month.
Curious, he looked up again to study her more closely.
The woman was short, her slender frame and mischievous face resembling that of a cheeky teenager, but there was something in her sharp eyes that radiated experience and cunning. Her short, messy hair was a vivid red, matching the roguish smile on her face.
She wore a black long-sleeved, high-collared shirt that hugged her body, over which she had a short blue vest that didn't quite cover her torso, not that there was much to cover. Below, she wore dark leather shorts that barely covered her rear, giving her a daring look without much sensuality.
'Not much on the plate, but as a man of culture, I'd still dig in. After all, rich folks always serve small portions for a reason.' He thought.
Her outfit was completed with long dark stockings and simple boots, all in matching shades of blue and black. Her attire stood out from Orario's usual style, looking more modern and practical.
The discomfort lingered. The more he looked, the stronger the feeling grew. Until suddenly, like a spark, the memory surfaced. He knew exactly who she was!
But before he could open his mouth—
— EEEHHHHH!!! — Hestia suddenly stood up, pointing at the newcomer with pure shock on her face.
The scream rang through the tavern, making other patrons turn their heads curiously.
The redhead stopped in her tracks, blinking a few times as if trying to process what she saw. For a few seconds, time seemed frozen. Then, mirroring Hestia's gesture, she widened her eyes and pointed back.
— EEEHHHHH!!! — She yelled, her expression a mix of disbelief and disgust.
The two stood there, pointing at each other like kids about to fight over the last slice of cake.
Luki blinked, looking from one to the other, pretending to be confused since he wasn't supposed to know this yet.
— Uh… youU tCHo knoW eaCH otHer?
The answer came simultaneously, as both of them shouted at once:
— WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, YOU BIG-BOOBED COW?!— WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, YOU FLAT IRONING BOARD?!
Luki almost choked on his food.