— Uhg...Why is it taking so long...I won't make it in time for dinner...
— Sere-nya, don't worry, Master Siegfried will be available shortly
— Carina, you work too much...
— Because of you I work more than I need, you know?
— Yeah...ok, sorry.
Carina, dressed in a maid costume, had a tray with stacks of beer, and as she walked around the lobby, the adventurers grabbed the drinks and screamed as if they were in unending joy, the uplifting music seemed to make them drunker then the alcohol.
Serena, seated near the reception, looked around the two floors of the Adventurers' Guild, looking for Siegfried.
— That bald monster should be easy to spot...
— Yes, but too bad you can't go anywhere, huh?
— Silia, why is Carina so mean to me? This is my last day here, you know? can't we...
— Shut up.
So shut up Serena did, the murderous aura coming from the fox beast-kind receptionist contrasted her slim body and innocent looking green eyes.
— I said I was sorry already.
— Shut up.
— Sorry.
— Ok, now shut up and wait.
Sitting and waiting, Serena couldn't stop moving around, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, and every once in a while, she'd hit an adventurer that was just entering the guild.
Serena started realising that most adventurers in the guild now were all familiar faces, some of them would come and greet her, happy and drunk.
— Hey, Silia.
— Shut up.
— Why are all these old men here? Is something happening today?
She looked at Serena, confused, making a face that weirdly fitted herself.
— You really are and odd one, Serena.
The party noises kept growing lowder as the night advanced, Serena's patience had reached it's limit long ago.
Serena was intently observing Silia, waiting for an opening to make her exit, and as an adventurer came to ask something, Serena made her move and slithered into the crowd.
— Now, where is uncle Sieg?
— Oh, Sieg? He's been at the bar serving everyone all night long!
Serena looked at the adventurer who just spoke, he's one of the old men who she knew for a long time.
— Thanks...uhhh...Bau?
— It's Braum, little one, and be safe out there, ok?
— Thanks!
She happly headed towards the bar, being stopped every so often by adventurers who'd compliment her and scrub her in the head.
Arriving near the bar, she was panting and her hair was messy.
— Damn these old men, so annoying...but at least I'm here, and there's Sieg...just too happy for my taste.
At the bar, two beast women dressed as maids were chatting with a tall, strong and bald man, who was pouring beers for them to serve.
Serena was then spotted by the women, they signaled for her to come seat, so she did.
Now close to the man, she waits for him to turn.
His wide and strong back filled Serena's view, and the glimmer on his head distracted anyone around
She sighs and mumbles — I hate how strong this old man is...
— It's Siegfried for you, dumb and irresponsible girl.
As she heard that, she felt his huge hands gripping her skull.
— So, are you sorry for anything?
— I'm sorry, uncle Sieg.
— I just told you, it's Siegfried.
— Ow, ow, ouch! Stop, you're crushing me!
— Why aren't you apologising?
— I'm sorry!
He let go of her head, and with a victorious grin, put stacks of beer onto each of the beast women tray, telling them — Please, head back to work.
— Yessir! — both said, leaving Serena and Siegfried alone.
The music was still as loud as the screaming, but as Serena was standing near the titan named Siegfried, all sound seemed to fade.
The towering man leaned over, his log-sized arm touched the counter, he raised his other arm, motioning it towards Serena's head, who was preparing for the worst.
— Congratulations, Serena.
His hand softly touched her head, gently caressing her hair as if it were the most precious gem in the world.
— You finally did it, huh, the 1000 arrests you promissed capitain Reinard.
Her face became flushed — Y...Yeah...Thanks uncle Sieg...but anyway, I've been waiting way too long here, my mom will kill me if I get home late again, so please just give me my money.
— Nah, I hope you face the wrath of the monster.
— What the hell, I worked hard for that money!
— "Worked hard"? My ass! I heard you've not been doing your job right! Not even once!
— Guh...Who told you that? Was it Silia? Carina? Who was it? They're dead to me!
— Well, you just told me, but honestly I've know you most of your life, no way you were doing paperwork! Hah!
— Ok, you got me, but I also know you uncle Sieg, what do you need?
— I'll let it slide this time, but the condition will be...
— I'll need to beat you on a drinking contest!
— You'll need to beat me on a drinking...no, what? You never drunk anything before, it's just...
— You old men drink this much and you're fine, if I drink I'll be 100% better!
He sighs — I...You wanna know what? I'm in a great mood today, so let's do it.
Siegfried turned and headed to the back of the bar. A few seconds later he appeared with a tiny barrel that looked like the size of a large mug in his huge hands.
— This is a wine I've been brewing for a little while, the grapes are from deep within the great forests of Silbrorae, the water is from the deepest weels in Insulae, and the barrel was made by the legendary dwarves from Braghascud.
He put the barrel in front of Serena.
— This is going to be the greatest wine I'll ever make, it took me a long time to gather all the materials to make it, but in around 6 months, it'll be...
He was gloating about the wine, and didn't pay attention to the problem child.
The barrel, together with Serena, was already on the ground, empty.
Siegfried, together with all adventurers was shocked.
— This girl...it was basicaly grape juice...a very expensive grape juice...and she got drunk with it...she drank...all of my...
He took a deep breath.
— I'll take her to a room upstairs...this dumbass...
Everyone on the, now very quiet, guild were listening to their quarrel, were keeping quiet as if saying "good night" to the sleeping girl.
As Siegfried was going up the stairs, he stopped.
— Hey, everyone, party's over, the dumb main event went to sleep, so drinks are no longer on the house.
After recieving some complaints, Siegfried kept going up, reaching the bedroom.
After laying the unconcious girl onto the bed, he sat next to her.
— You know, everyone here loves you very much, we may not show it well, but know that we mean well...It's just, you're so hopeless that I worry about you going to the Crusaders and they just end up using you as some kind of weapon, you know? — He looks at the girl's face, flushed by what she thought to be alcohol — You're going to do great things for the world one day, you know? You are destined to...
He was stopped by the pool of vomit trown-up on his feet.
— Of course...
He quietly got up and left the room
— You're a lost cause...but I still...yeah...have a great adventure, Serena.