I was lazing around, as most of the work for debris clearing was over, my head resting on a big rock, eyes closed, the sun was shining brightly overhead, the wind was blowing, cooling down the heat. All in all, it was a good time to take a nap.
Last day, huh, I thought I would finally be able to see them.
These seven days have been hell, but I guess it also kind of trained me on how to remain sane without seeing them.
As I was thinking that, a shadow was cast over me.
"Arin-san?" A voice that felt familiar called out. I opened my eyes to see who it was.
As my eyes opened, I saw ruby eyes staring back into my black ones. Her black hair rained down from her shoulder, her hand tucking it back. The sun was shining behind her like a halo.
"Filvis?" I called out the woman's name, "Are you on patrol?" I asked, looking around to see other members of Astraea familia, but found none.
"No, I already completed my shift." She explained.
"I see. Then what brings you here?" I got up to face her.
"Actually, I want to thank you for you." I tilted my head, trying to remember something I may have done that warranted her gratitude, but nothing came to mind.
"Sorry, I don't remember doing anything that would require your gratitude." I sighed in defeat, my memories failing me, and decided to ask her.
She shook her head. "I wanted to thank you for your encouragement during the conflict; it helped me overcome my trauma regarding fighting humans."
"Ah, so it's about that, huh?" I said, now remembering something like that. But…"But I don't think my word helped that much, in fact, I am more than sure enough, Astraea or your familia members, and even Lefiya already encourage you a lot. So I think they deserved that gratitude more than I."
Filvis nodded her head, her hair soft, fluttering. "I have already thanked them, but I did not get the chance to express my gratitude to you, Arin-san. Since you have been busy with your… things right after the main battle."
Don't know why she stressed that word, but… "Sure, though I still don't think I have done anything big, but if it's put her mind at ease, I wholeheartedly accept your thanks."
A very small smile crept up on her lips, "Thank you, and I am sorry it seems I interpreted your break time."
"No worries, I can take all the time I need to rest. And—"
"AAHHH!!" A yell interrupted our conversation as a girl, a head shorter than me, stood in front of Filvis, seemingly trying to protect her from something. "You brute! Pervert! As if Ais-san and Lady Riveria were not enough, now you are trying to corrupt Filvis-san as well! I will—"
"Blah blah blah, did you never get tired of screaming all the time, Lefiya? And besides, are you sure you are not projecting yourself on me, You perverted Elf." I interrupted her like she did and started to mock her. Her face turned red. As she stared a dagger at me.
"Y-Y-You! How can you say that to an Elf?! I am a pure being, unlike you!"
Man, it's so much fun, poking her like that. "Yeah, sure, delude yourself as much as you want. But deep down, you know that you are a lewd elf."
Her face turned even redder. "C-Calm down, Lefiya, Arin-san hasn't done anything! I just wanted to express my gratitude to him for his encouragement, that's all!"
Filvis' words, instead of calming Lefiya, fueled her. "Express gratitude?! I knew it! He was going to force you to do this and that! Weren't you!?"
I gave her dead eyes. "Your head is filled with trash and nothing else," I said. "Seriously, what kind of person am I in your head?"
"I am sorry, Arin-san, I will try to talk some sense into her," Filvis said, with an apologetic look on her face.
"Don't worry about it, Filvis, Lefiya just has a trashy mind."
"What did you say?!" Lefiya screamed as Filvis straight up dragged her away.
She sure is annoying, but fun to tease as well. Though I will appreciate it if she stops screaming whenever she sees me.
"Yaa! You sure are popular, Arin. Don't you agree, everyone?!" One of the guys working with me for the past few days said, enticing the others, and they all yelled.
"Yeah! I am so jealous!" said one.
"Must be nice having elves fight over you!" another added.
"Die, you handsome bastard!" one guy shouted from the middle of the group.
"Seriously, teach us your secrets!" came another voice.
Wait, I just heard something dangerous! I thought, glancing at the group of workers who were all grinning and laughing good-naturedly. Who the heck was that?
"By the way, Arin, since the work for clearing debris is completed today, we were planning on going to a nice tavern to celebrate, do you wanna come with?" the first guy asked again… You know what, I will just call them Mob A, B, C, and so on.
"You know, Mob A, I don't drink."
"Who the heck is mob A?! My name is Xandor!" He shouted.
"No! Why do you have such a cool name?!" I shouted back.
He turns his face to the side, scratching his cheeks. "Well, despite how I look, I am from a knight family. Also, how the heck do you not know my name? We had been working together all this time…." He said, his shoulder falling down, but the next moment he straightened up again. "Anyway, you don't have to drink; their food is also very good, so? Do you want to go with us?"
"Sure. But is there even a pub that remained intact right now?" I asked, since pretty much all the buildings, where most of the pubs were located, are completely obliterated.
"Yes, there sure is," he simply smiled and got back to work.
I was also not in the mood to think deeply as I lay back down to take a nap. Telling him to wake me up when it's time.
____________________________________________________________________________
We were making our way to the pub, and to my surprise, or lack thereof, it was Hostess of Fertility.
Should have guessed. I thought, looking at the building. It seemed new, or at least some pieces of plywood do, it was most likely, was not completely saved from the destruction. But that was not my main issue. It was that Freya would most likely be here as well.
Now, if it were me, from when I newly arrived here, I would have avoided Freya as much as possible, since I don't think my soul is anything interesting, but she simply might have wanted me because of my lineage.
But now I was a level 3, and with my magic, I was practically a level 5 adventurer, not to mention I saved Ottarl's a*s from Zald.
So, I don't think she will try anything funny with me, or so I hope.
"Oye Arin! Are you not coming or what?" Mob A called out to me, standing at the gate of the pub.
"Calm down. Mob A, I was just spacing out." I said and walked inside.
"I see. Also, stop calling me Mob A! You bastard!" he shouted from behind me.
"You are loud, just shut up and sit down, you too, Raul."
"Yes, Arin," Raul said and sat down, and spoke again. "Still, thanks for inviting me, Arin, and you to Xander-san."
"Oh! I knew it! You are a good kid, Raul, unlike a certain someone. Also, call me by my name, no need to be stiff," Xander said, sitting beside Raul. who nodded at him.
"Don't worry about it, Raul. You also deserve a little break. You were working hard after all." The other guys also took their seats. "Though I didn't see Anaktity with you?" I asked about her, since both of them are practically stuck together all the time.
"You mean, Raul's girlfriend?" Said Xander, Enter the conversation.
"She has some work pending, that's why she was not with me. Also, she is not my girlfriend, Xander."
"Didn't seem like it." Xander quietly said, As a cat girl, wearing a white apron and headband, approached us.
"Seriously, nya, I have to do all the work nya…" She started muttering under her breath as she stopped at our table.
"Oye! You stupid cat, do you work seriously!" Mia yelled from the kitchen, Anya, jump in fright and strengthen up.
"Good evening, meow! What would you like to order meow?" She said, though her lines seem rehearsed.
"I will take steak and ale," Xander said.
"Oh, I will get some chicken and ale as well." Next was Raul, as Anya kept repeating the orders.
"I will just get some vegetable soup, and no ale for me." I also ordered my food items, since I was not that hungry.
"Yes, nya, order coming right up!" Anya said and rushed back into the kitchen.
I didn't see Syr in the pub, maybe she was on a break? I thought, but didn't think deeply about it
We talked for a while, waiting for our food to come in, then I remembered, Raul wanted to talk about something.
"Here's your order, nya."
But before I could ask, our Anya arrived with our order.
Following behind her was Mia, carrying a big lunch box in each of her hands.
"Anya, I am going to deliver the food at the church, since Syr only took half of it, you can close the pub after the guests leave."
"Yes nya!"
And just after Mia left, Anya's serious face turned into a smile.
"Finally, I can relax nya, you can eat and leave nya" she said, and went back into the kitchen.
"Wait, is she serious?" Said Raul, looking at the retreating figure of Anya.
"Seems like it." Mentioned Xander.
"Doesn't matter, we will just eat and leave," I said, although I am kind of familiar with Anya's personality. But right now she seems even more carefree than what was shown in the Anime.
Oh well, it doesn't matter. The food seems good. Tomorrow I will be able to see the girls as well. Today is such a good day.
I thought, then remembered.
"Oh! By the way, Raul, you said you wanted to talk to me?"
Ciiiinnnnggg!
But before Raul could answer the question, I saw a small knife cutting through the air, hurling towards me.
I used the spoon to parry it away and looked at the person who had thrown it. Only to find a figure wearing a cloak, their face hidden.
Before I could observe them carefully, the hair at the back of my neck stood up, and without thinking further, I rolled to the side, and another hooded figure struck the dagger at the place I was sitting on.
"Wha!" cried Raul.
"I am folding!" Xander said and hurried towards the exit, dragging Raul with him. The rest of the guys are running out of the pub as well.
"What the heck! Weren't you from a knight family?!" I shouted at his retreating figure.
F*ck you, Xander! And here I was thinking of calling him by his name!
"Oh? You dodged a sneak attack." The hooded figure who had thrown the knife called out to me.
I stopped my useless thoughts and looked at them carefully. They seem too short for a male, though there is a chance they might be prums, but the body structure, at least from what I have seen, suggests otherwise.
Most likely, they are women; her voice seemed feminine as well.
"What do you need? Why are you attacking me? Are you one of the Evilius members?" I asked, but they just scoffed.
"We need your head." The one who seems like a monk(?) Said.
Both of them lunged at me. I kicked the table in their direction. They both dodged it easily.
The one wielding daggers approached first, aiming straight for my neck. I twisted my body, barely dodging the attack.
And threw a punch towards her face, which the monk caught, buying enough time for the other to back off.
They seem strong. Level 4 or thereabouts.
I thought, and backed off as well. Drawing my knife out as well. Since my sword might restrict my moment in this enclosed space.
We stood against each other, ready to start the second round.
"Nya! What are you doing, nya!" Before the second round starts, though, Anya comes out to see the destruction the short altercation had caused. The two hooded figures also stared at the new arrival.
"Nice timing." I said, "Help me out now, will you?"
"What are you talking about, nya?! Mama Mia is going to kill me, nya!" she said, her voice filled with despair.
"Well, she will only be able to kill you if we are alive. Besides, if we defeat them, then we can blame everything on them." Hearing my words, her eyes light up, and she also brought a pair of knives from who-know-where. And entered the fray.
"You are going to pay nya!" she said and lunged at the monk.
So easy.
I thought, bringing my attention back to the other hooded woman, who had not spoken even once during the whole altercation.
"So, should we start round two?" I said, and both of us moved at the same time, throwing ourselves back into the battle.