Truly interesting.
—[Gale]
The super rookie of the Astrea Familia who once flashed briefly in Orario and then quickly disappeared.
To actually appear here.
And appearing in such a nervous state?
Tsubaki bit into a large piece of meat on the bone, her gaze scanning back and forth between the elf, who wanted nothing more than to bury her head in her chest, and Heimer, who was sitting in the main seat drinking tea.
"Heh..."
Especially Ryu's look of being caught red-handed after doing something wrong made a playful smile curl at the corner of Tsubaki's mouth, and the fire of gossip began to burn fiercely in her heart.
There's something fishy.
There's definitely something fishy here.
However...
As a veteran who had been through the chaotic melting pot of Orario for so many years.
Tsubaki also knew very well what it meant to see through something without speaking it out.
Since the person didn't want to say, and this was clearly a private matter between the two of them, if she, an outsider, were to rashly expose it, it would not only make the scene extremely awkward.
So...
Tsubaki thought for a moment, swallowed the meat in her mouth, and spoke very naturally:
"When I came in, I was just busy looking at these little monsters; I didn't notice a big beauty was hidden in the corner."
"Speaking of which, isn't this the very capable elf shop assistant from The Hostess of Fertility?"
"I've seen you several times when I went for a drink before."
"I didn't expect you to be here too; what a coincidence."
Hearing this...
Ryu, who had been keeping her head down firmly, suddenly trembled in her shoulders.
She raised her head somewhat stiffly.
And happened to meet Tsubaki's eyes.
That feeling of having her entire background seen through, yet being let off lightly by the other party...
Made the heart that had been hanging in Ryu's throat finally drop back into her stomach.
Phew...
Ryu let out a long sigh of relief in her heart.
Fortunately.
Fortunately, this Captain wasn't thick-headed.
Otherwise, if her former identity were really called out here...
She would really have to flee Orario overnight tonight.
But even so...
The heat on Ryu's face didn't fade at all; instead, it became even hotter because of Tsubaki's "big beauty" teasing.
"Captain... Captain Tsubaki, good evening."
She could only awkwardly purse her lips and nod slightly to Tsubaki, trying her best to maintain a surface-level composure as a response.
"Eh? Does Senior Tsubaki know this Miss Elf?"
Kikakujuo Mary, who was on the side, caught the eye contact between the two and asked with some curiosity.
Rin and the others also cast curious glances.
After all.
After these past two days of breakfast contact, they could also feel it.
This Miss Elf was clearly not just an ordinary shop assistant.
A powerful person who could fight Kirukiru Amou back and forth while suppressing her strength.
She must have been a very formidable Adventurer before, perhaps even a famous High-level Adventurer.
They were just curious.
Why would such a powerful person be willing to be a shop assistant in a pub?
"Well, you could say we know each other."
Tsubaki picked up the fruit wine by her hand, took a casual sip, waved her hand, and naturally helped Ryu smooth things over, changing the subject.
"That pub is not simple."
"It's one of the places in all of Orario that you absolutely shouldn't mess with. Even many primary gods have to show some respect. After all, the manager of that pub—Mama Mia—was once the captain of the Freya Familia, the Lv.6 little giant. Moreover, the employees in the shop are all hidden experts."
"Not only that, the food there is indeed delicious, with large portions that fill you up, right?"
After Tsubaki finished speaking simply, she naturally turned the topic to the rich spread of food on the table, nodding toward a large plate of roasted meat.
"Speaking of which, Lord Heimdall's Familia is really interesting."
"It's not strictly hierarchical like other Familias, and there aren't all those messy rules."
"Even a god can sit at the same table and eat with everyone, and even invite outsiders along."
"This kind of family-like atmosphere is truly rare in today's Orario."
"Since you've come across it, you shouldn't keep shrinking back. Just enjoy yourself."
"Times like these are quite precious."
After Tsubaki said this, she gave Ryu a meaningful look.
It was obvious.
That last sentence.
Was something Tsubaki said specifically for Ryu to hear.
After hearing it, Ryu was also slightly stunned.
She looked at this group of noisy yet energetic girls, and at Heimer, who was bickering with Hestia without any divine pretense.
Her originally tense shoulders also gradually relaxed.
Yes.
This kind of atmosphere.
Indeed, it had been a long time.
...
"Mmph... Tsubaki, what did you say?"
At this time.
Hestia finally lifted her head from the pile of food.
Her cheeks were stuffed full, like a hamster, and she struggled to swallow the meat in her mouth before completing that muffled sentence.
"Mmph... Speaking of which."
"Since you're here, Tsubaki, why didn't that girl Hephaestus come?"
"I haven't seen her for several days!"
"I went to find her last time to borrow some money... ah no, I mean to chat with her, but I couldn't even get through the door. I was stopped by a wooden sign!"
"It said something about being in seclusion and not seeing anyone!"
"I've moved from there to Heimer's place for several days now and haven't gone back. Could it be that she still hasn't come out and realized I'm not living there anymore?"
"In the past, if I didn't go back for two days, she would have sent you guys all over the streets to find me!"
Hestia had a look of dissatisfaction.
After all.
As a long-time divine friend of Hephaestus.
She knew that although Hephaestus was famously obsessed with forging, she was very loyal to her friends and loved to worry about them.
Therefore, no matter how busy Hephaestus usually was, as long as she went there to throw a tantrum.
Hephaestus would always come out for a meeting and scold her a few times while she was at it.
This time, she couldn't even see a shadow of her, and it seemed like there was no reaction at all even though she had moved house.
This made Hestia feel a tiny bit lost.
"Well..."
Hearing Hestia's question.
Tsubaki's expression became a bit strange.
"As for Lady Hephaestus..."
"It's a long story. Her current state, how should I put it..."
"It's like she's possessed."
"Ever since that day when Lady Hephaestus and Lord Heimdall finished their private chat in the workshop and she told me to handle Lord Heimdall's matters properly."
"Lady Hephaestus turned around and locked herself in that exclusive forging room where she never lets us enter."
"Except for occasionally having people send in some top-quality materials, she sees no one. Even her meals are left at the door."
"When I went back last night, I also heard the sound of hammering coming from inside through the walls."
"Truly day and night!"
"I don't know what Lady Hephaestus is forging in there to be so obsessed!"
"Looking at this posture..."
"I suspect she hasn't even eaten much of the food sent over these past few days!"
"I don't know if she'll even make it to the Denatus in a few days."
...
However.
Despite this little interlude.
As for the Denatus.
It's just a gathering of the gods once every three months; it's fine even if she doesn't go.
At least that's what Tsubaki thought. She picked up her wine glass, took a large gulp of fruit wine, exhaled comfortably, and didn't dwell on it for long.
Instead, she looked around at the table full of meat and fish, and those crates of obviously expensive fruit wine.
Then she looked at the room full of girls who looked a bit tired but were extremely high-spirited.
She asked somewhat curiously.
"By the way."
"This setup tonight."
"Are you eating so well tonight to celebrate something?"
"Although I know you've made quite a stir in the Dungeon these past few days, it shouldn't be this extravagant, right?"
"Just the cost of this meal alone is probably enough for an ordinary Adventurer to eat for a long time."
"Hehe."
Hearing this question.
Hanasaka Warabi, who was battling a large piece of meat on the bone, was the first who couldn't help herself. She looked up triumphantly, sauce on her face, and puffed out her chest.
That "ask me quickly, praise me quickly" expression couldn't be hidden at all.
"Of course, it's to celebrate our level up!"
"Level up?"
Tsubaki's movements paused, not quite reacting.
"What level up?"
"Lv.2!"
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