Heracles did not leave immediately after finishing his grilled meat.
Once he had set down his bowl and utensils, he looked across the counter at Yuto.
"Boss, could I trouble you to give this gemstone to Illya for me?"
He took out a gem with an old-fashioned design. Its dull gray color was not especially eye-catching, but the mysterious power surrounding it made it clear that this was no ordinary stone.
As a great hero who had traveled throughout Greece, Heracles had encountered and collected countless treasures.
Naturally, anything he considered worth keeping was far from ordinary.
This gemstone had once been enshrined in a temple of Athena before falling into his hands through an unexpected series of events.
t held remarkable power, though Heracles had never once needed to use it.
He was already strong enough to defeat his enemies without relying on weapons or divine artifacts.
Something that ordinary people might treasure as a sacred relic had little practical value to him.
As a gift, however, it was perfect.
"Of course."
Yuto nodded and accepted the gemstone.
The moment his fingers touched it, a sudden feeling of clarity swept through his mind.
It was as refreshing as taking a long drink of ice-cold cola on the hottest day of summer.
The sensation disappeared almost immediately.
It had happened so quickly that Yuto wondered whether he had imagined it.
He looked down at the gemstone with growing curiosity.
"Thank you, Boss. I should be leaving as well."
With his request taken care of, Heracles rose from his seat. He had no other reason to remain and was ready to return home.
"Goodbye."
Yuto nodded as the great hero's massive figure moved toward the door.
Once Heracles had left, Yuto placed the gemstone in his palm and examined it more carefully.
He turned it over several times, but the strange clarity he had felt earlier did not return.
"There's an incredibly strong divine aura around it."
Tohru had wandered over while he was inspecting the gem.
Dragons had fought against the gods' faction for countless years, making them exceptionally sensitive to divine power.
To Tohru, the energy surrounding the gemstone was as obvious as a lamp shining in the darkness.
"I see..."
Yuto murmured as he studied it again.
Tohru took the gemstone from him and brought it closer to her face.
Her pupils narrowed into thin slits as she examined every detail.
"It looks like an ornament that once belonged to a god. Humans must have worshipped it for a very long time afterward, which strengthened the power it already had."
She offered her conclusion with an unusually serious expression.
Tohru had seen plenty of divine artifacts before. T
he dragons' treasure vaults contained many similar objects, and as the most beloved princess of her people, she had grown up playing with almost any treasure she pleased.
Over the years, she had developed an excellent eye for identifying them.
"You can tell all that just by looking at it?"
Yuto was genuinely impressed.
Tohru planted her hands on her hips and proudly lifted her chin.
"Hehe! Don't underestimate me, Boss!"
A single compliment from Yuto was enough to send her confidence soaring.
"Yes, yes. Tohru is amazing."
Yuto laughed and casually played along before placing the gemstone beneath the counter.
Ainz's and the others' handheld consoles were stored there as well. It was where he usually kept small items that did not belong anywhere else.
...
Time passed, and the hands of the restaurant clock slowly approached three in the morning.
The warm lights inside stood out against the stillness of the night.
Outside the entrance, the glowing tree shimmered softly like a cluster of stars.
A gentle breeze passed through its canopy, setting the leaves rustling together.
For a moment, the quiet beauty of the summer night felt almost dreamlike.
Inside the kitchen, Yuto was teaching Erina and Hisako more about cooking.
These lessons had become a regular part of life at the restaurant.
After all, Yuto had promised Senzaemon that he would teach the two girls, and he took that responsibility seriously.
Thanks to his guidance over the past several weeks, Erina and Hisako had improved at a speed that left many people speechless.
Even several instructors at Tōtsuki had been astonished by their progress.
While demonstrating a technique, Yuto noticed the exhaustion on their faces from the corner of his eye.
Both girls were clearly struggling to stay focused.
His brows drew together briefly before his expression softened.
Erina and Hisako were ordinary humans.
Staying awake through the night already placed considerable strain on bodies accustomed to a normal schedule.
Tonight, they had also endured the enormous workload of cooking for Goku.
It was only natural that they were exhausted.
Yuto stopped both his demonstration and explanation.
The sudden silence caught the girls off guard.
Erina looked at him in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"We'll stop here for tonight."
Yuto's answer was calm but final.
Both girls stared at him in surprise.
"This is my fault. I should have noticed sooner that you'd already reached your limit."
A trace of apology appeared in his voice.
Erina and Hisako looked stunned.
"We haven't. We can still keep going. We're not that tired—"
"That's enough. I've already noticed, so there's no point pretending. We're stopping for tonight. Don't force yourselves."
The firmness in Yuto's voice left no room for argument.
Under his serious gaze, neither girl dared continue protesting.
Yuto motioned for them to follow him into the main room.
Tohru was wiping down the counters and tables when he called her name.
The dragon girl immediately turned around, curiosity and excitement appearing on her face.
"Boss, what is it?"
"Tohru, I need to ask you for a favor."
"A favor? Is there something you need me to do? Just say the word! Nothing you ask could ever be a bother!"
Tohru proudly slapped her chest.
Her generous figure certainly made the gesture look impressive.
Yuto smiled before turning toward Erina and Hisako, who still looked confused.
What he said next made their expressions even more complicated.
"Please take Nakiri and Arato home so they can rest."
Erina's and Hisako's faces immediately changed.
Even Tohru's enthusiasm visibly dropped.
She had expected Yuto to entrust her with some important mission. She had not imagined he merely wanted her to escort Erina and Hisako home.
"There's really no need..."
Erina tried to protest, but her voice gradually weakened beneath Yuto's serious stare.
Yuto placed one hand on Tohru's shoulder.
"Tohru, you're the only person I trust with this. I'll only be able to relax if you take them home safely. I'm counting on you."
The trust and encouragement in his voice instantly restored Tohru's enthusiasm.
"Mm! Don't worry, Boss! I absolutely won't let you down!"
Tohru really was remarkably easy to motivate.
The three girls soon left the restaurant together. Before going, Tohru repeatedly promised that she would guarantee Erina's and Hisako's safety.
Her solemn, determined expression made Yuto laugh.
She really was wonderfully innocent.
After they had gone, Yuto began seriously considering the strain Erina and Hisako were placing on their bodies by spending so many nights at the restaurant.
Continuing to stay awake until morning would inevitably damage their health.
He had thought about the problem before, but seeing them so exhausted tonight made it feel far more urgent.
He needed to find a solution soon.
Their condition had served as a clear warning that things could not continue like this forever.
While he was lost in thought, the restaurant door slid open.
Yuto looked up.
It was not Tohru returning.
By coincidence, the new arrival was someone they had been talking about only recently.