“I’m terribly sorry!” In the Hostess of Fertility’s kitchen, Mama Mia and several senior waitresses stood in a row.
Across from them, the pale-green-haired elf bowed deeply at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
“This is the truth I’ve been hiding all this time.
I’m truly sorry.” After thinking deeply on her way back, Ryuu decided to confess her identity to Mama Mia.
She also revealed her past and true identity to the other employees.
As the only survivor of the Astraea Familia, Ryuu had been placed on the Guild’s wanted list for killing too many people during her revenge.
After being rescued while gravely injured by Syr, she joined the Hostess of Fertility with Syr’s help and became a waitress.
Throughout that time, Ryuu concealed her identity.
She cut her long golden hair short and dyed it pale green.
Had nothing unexpected happened, she intended to continue living under that disguise.
However, her junior had appeared and planned to visit the Hostess of Fertility to find her.
Hiding her identity was no longer possible, so she chose to reveal it first.
“You mean you’re actually a wanted criminal, Ryuu?!” “And you’re the legendary hero known as Gale!” Syr stared at Ryuu in apparent ‘shock,’ while Chloe and Lunoire exchanged glances before sighing in amazement.
“When we accepted that job to capture you, we thought you were only an ordinary adventurer.
Who knew you were such an important figure?” “Should we thank you for sparing our lives?
You must’ve hidden your true strength back then.
Otherwise, defeating us would’ve been effortless.” Chloe and Lunoire were both adventurers with aliases.
One was known as Black Cat, while the other was called Black Fist.
Together, they had once been known as the Double Black duo.
They had accepted a job to cause trouble for Ryuu at the tavern, but failed to capture her even after a lengthy battle.
After damaging the tavern’s property, Mama Mia forcibly detained them and issued an outrageous bill of one hundred million valis.
Unable to repay the debt, the two joined the tavern as waitresses.
As they had guessed, Ryuu had concealed her true strength during their fight.
She could not use any of her unique magic without exposing her identity.
Had she used it, she could have defeated both women instantly.
The three women reacted in their own ways, but Mama Mia and the catgirl Anya showed no surprise whatsoever.
Their strange reactions left Chloe and Lunoire confused.
“Mama Mia, Anya, aren’t either of you surprised?” “Well…
I actually knew already, nya.” Anya scratched one of her cat ears and answered with a smile.
“You already knew?!” Chloe, a fellow catgirl, stared at Anya in disbelief.
She could not believe Anya had known all along without telling her.
Then she turned toward Mama Mia.
“You knew too?” Mama Mia crossed her arms and snorted.
“Hmph.
I would never let someone with an unknown identity work in my tavern.” “Does that mean only the three of us didn’t know?” The three Chloe referred to were herself, Lunoire, and Syr.
In reality, only Chloe and Lunoire had been unaware.
Syr was Goddess Freya’s mortal identity, so she naturally knew who Ryuu was.
She had not discovered the truth herself.
Mama Mia and Anya were both members of the Freya Familia, and Mama Mia had once served as its captain.
When Syr first brought Ryuu to the Hostess of Fertility, Mama Mia investigated Ryuu’s identity and informed Syr.
Therefore, Syr had known from the beginning.
She merely had to pretend to be an ordinary girl who knew nothing.
Ryuu was surprised that Anya and Mama Mia already knew, but that surprise quickly turned into gratitude.
She had worried they might throw her out after learning the truth, only to discover her identity had been exposed from the day she arrived.
“Mama Mia…
Thank you for taking me in despite knowing who I was.” When Ryuu became wanted, no one in Orario dared shelter her.
Only the Hostess of Fertility accepted her.
Taking her in without knowing the truth would have been kind enough, but Mama Mia had known everything.
That kindness carried an enormous weight.
The employees who had only just learned the truth also showed no fear or disgust toward her.
“None of that matters.
The Guild is the one hunting you, not me.
I only care whether you do your job properly.” Mama Mia gave an obviously awkward excuse before changing the subject.
“So why did you suddenly reveal your identity today?” “Does it have something to do with that new member of the Astraea Familia?” The reborn Astraea Familia’s newcomer had been the main topic among the tavern’s customers all day.
Even Mama Mia had heard the conversations from the kitchen.
Since she knew Ryuu’s identity, it was easy to guess why Ryuu had left earlier.
Her sudden confession was undoubtedly connected to that newcomer.
“Well…
it does have something to do with him.” The scolding Ryuu expected never came.
Instead, the conversation immediately shifted toward her current problem, leaving her somewhat embarrassed.
“Tell us what happened, Ryuu, nya.” Anya was also curious.
They had heard endless rumors about the Astraea Familia’s return today.
Now they wanted to know what had happened between Ryuu and the newcomer to make her reveal everything.
“Well…
this is what happened.” An embarrassed Ryuu recounted her encounter with Fujimaru Ritsuka in the Dungeon.
By the time she finished, everyone stared at her in speechless disbelief.
“So…
you lied to your own junior and even gave him a false identity?” Ryuu shrank into herself.
“Yes.
At the time, I thought he didn’t know I existed.” “But Astraea-sama told him about me and even revealed that I was here.
He’ll probably visit after leaving the Dungeon, so…” “So you rushed back to confess your identity first.” “Yes.” Ryuu nodded awkwardly.
“Ryuu, what were you thinking?
You actually gave your own junior a fake identity?
Hahaha!” Chloe pointed at Ryuu and burst into laughter.
Syr also found the situation amusing and smiled as she questioned her.
“So when your junior arrives, are you planning to admit who you really are?” “No!
Absolutely not!” Ryuu rejected the idea without hesitation.
“Why?” Syr looked genuinely curious.
“Didn’t you reveal your identity to us because he’s coming here?
I thought you wanted to prepare before facing him honestly.” “That is why I confessed, but I don’t intend to reveal myself to him.” “I need all of you to cooperate and help me continue hiding my identity.” “Huh?” Everyone looked at her in confusion.
Ryuu’s expression became serious as she explained.
“I’m a wanted criminal, and the Guild specifically considers me a high-priority target.” “Fujimaru Ritsuka is a newcomer whom Astraea-sama values greatly.
I must protect him.” “If he becomes involved with a wanted criminal immediately after arriving in Orario, it will cause endless trouble.” Even if the Guild did nothing, bounty hunters seeking Ryuu’s reward would target Ritsuka to draw her out.
Those hunters would never hesitate to harm him if it helped them capture her.
“Couldn’t you simply make sure no one else finds out?” “No.
He’s far too trusting.” “When we first met, he immediately revealed his identity and abilities.
He even told me he intended to visit the Hostess of Fertility to find me.” “I don’t know who else he may have told.
For his safety, I can’t take that risk.” Ryuu clenched her fists.
“He may be incredibly talented, but ruthless bounty hunters could still hurt him.
I cannot allow that.” “You have a point.” Mama Mia nodded in agreement.
As a veteran adventurer, no one there understood Orario better than she did.
“So what do you want us to do?” “If he asks about me, please tell him that no one by that name works here.” Ryuu looked pleadingly at Mama Mia.
“As for me, please follow the story I already gave him.” “I’m merely a rookie adventurer named Noel.” …