-Roy Raynolds-
‘’The fuck did you say to me?’’ Those were the words that greeted me as I made my grand entrance.
The entire pub had been silenced. No more cheers or mugs hitting the tables. Nobody was eating, and even the waitresses remained in place.
‘Damn. Think the vibes committed toaster bath.’ I thought. Even the creak of the pub’s doors was deafening as I stepped into the building. ‘Someone should put oil on those hinges, geez…’
Some side glances here and there made me recognize a few faces. There was the cat-lady who made a blind eye to my stealing the other day. I gave her a small wave as I passed by, which she awkwardly replied to.
There were also the three stooges I stole from. They didn’t recognize me, of course. They were too drunk off their minds that night to do so, but their faces were pale and filled with shock for some reason.
My footsteps made the floorboards creak as I passed a table full of… freaking anime characters or something. With a green-haired elf, a red-haired tomboy, and a blonde midget dressed in circus clothing being the most eye-catching.
‘Oh… That’s the Amazon lady, right?’ I wondered, eyes lingering on a flat-chested girl with deep green eyes. ‘Damn. To think that she punched right through that Minotaur, who should be at least two of her. Falnas really are a cheat code.’
Lastly, my slow stride landed me right at the bar. I crossed my arms and tilted my head as I looked up at the unwashed grey mutt that was just one growl away from being put down at the local kennel.
I met furious orange eyes with a casual stare. The dude was tense, like a spring ready to fire, and I had no doubts in my mind that a punch from this bastard would hurt much, much more than the Minotaur.
But mama raised no bitch.
‘’I called you a mutt. A dirty mutt at that.’’ I repeated with a shit-eating grin. Both of the wolf-man’s fists tightened until the point his knuckles turned white. ‘’Look, I don’t know which pound you escaped from, boy. But this place was dead silent long before I stepped onto it.’’ I gestured around me, and the silence was replaced by whispers. ‘’You’re drunk as hell, bitch, so how about you sit down, and we can all go back to our shit?’’
The Beastman’s scowl dropped, morphing into a fanged, cocky grin as he looked down at me with narrowed eyes. ‘’And what if I don’t? What then, trash?’’
Let it be known that I tried de-escalating. May have not given it my best effort, but I tried nonetheless.
‘’Then?’’ I cackled, raising an eyebrow. ‘’Then I fucking humiliate you in front of all your buddies—If you have any. Does anybody claim the mutt?’’
Turning around proved to be effective at finding the douche’s group. However, I didn’t expect the nice Amazon lady to slowly raise her hand. The cast of colorful characters either looked away with some degree of embarrassment, or clutched their temples like the knife-eared of the group.
‘’Wow. So you must be the douchebag outlier, right?’’ I asked, turning back to him while scratching my chin.
The dude had to be two seconds away from caving my face in if the way his entire upper body shook with rage was anything to go by.
Well, that and the stink of alcohol I could smell coming from his mouth certainly didn’t help. Angry drunks and all that.
So, it was very fortunate when one of the waitresses not only spoke up, but literally put herself between the two of us.
‘’I’m afraid I can’t allow that.’’ A silky yet firm voice spoke loudly and clearly.
I, for one, am not a particular fan of Elves. Mostly because in every piece of media, they are racist… Like, the obnoxious kind of racist. Not the funny racist.
But even I couldn’t deny that the Elf in front of me was astonishingly beautiful.
Pale, snow-like skin. Pointy, sharp ears. Locks of silky light-green hair reaching to her neck, and the most blue sky-azure eyes that I’ve ever seen.
The green and white waitress uniform made her look a bit like a strict housemaid, but it definitely suited her.
‘’Oi, you—‘’ I saw the mutt open his mouth, three or four insults already halfway past his lips. However, one look from the sharp elf and he… paused? ‘’Tch…’’
‘Damn. Lady has aura.’ I thought and almost died inside. ‘Fucking doomscroller brain-rot…’
‘’There are no fights allowed inside the Hostess of Fertility.’’ The elf informed us in a stern tone. Though she put herself between us, I could see her gloved hands didn’t even try to touch us. Either more elf racism or a warning sign. ‘’If you wish to fight… as much as I do not recommend such a thing, take it outside. Any further than this, and I’ll be forced to escort you myself.’’
Tensions were still high. I could see Bell behind the wolfman, looking like she was about to jump in as her red eyes frantically looked between the mutt and me.
Midna, for her part, merely had a shit-eating grin while chugging a mug of beer. There was a rosiness on her cheeks, and I could see the shadows around her body shift slightly in the cleavage zone, where her cloak didn’t reach.
However, I broke all the tension with a chuckle.
A chuckle that made both the elf and the mutt turn to me with a raised eyebrow and a scowl, respectively.
‘’Fight? No fucking hell.’’ I snorted. ‘’I just got out of death’s door, and this mutt looks like he would chew on a Minotaur’s bones.’’
My words, however, had the opposite reaction from what I wanted in my soon-to-be victim. The mutt’s scowl turned into a cocky grin I really wanted to smack.
‘’I knew you were big talk—‘’
‘’I’m not done, you flea-ridden creature.’’ I purposely interrupted and paused. Enjoying the way he ground his teeth together. ‘’I’m not fighting you. The fuck’s your level, even?’’
‘’…’’ For a moment, he seemed hesitant to answer. Or maybe confused that I was asking in the first place. If he thought I would recognize him by appearance alone, he was shit out of luck. ‘’Level Five.’’
‘’That’s four more than mine,’’ I whispered to myself, but both people could easily catch it. As did a few patrons around us. I could hear a half-whisper-half-shout of surprise. ‘’But that doesn’t mean shit, ‘cause we ain’t fighting, wolfy. We are settling this shit like men.’’
I didn’t know if it was the alcohol in his veins or the confidence in my voice, but the grey-haired mutt paused. His ears twitched, and his orange eyes narrowed in suspicion. ‘’How’s that, then?’’
‘Oh, you poor idiot.’ I resisted the urge to laugh as I gestured to the bar, where I only just noticed an absolute giant of a woman was watching us like a hawk. ‘’We are in a bar, a pub, the place where you go to forget your shitty everyday job or talk up a chick…!’’
I looked at the table behind me, roaming it with my gaze. Suddenly, the sound of wood scraping against wood made me look at the Amazon of short hair.
She had a small, amused grin on her face as she passed me her mug of beer.
‘I really owe her after this.’ I smiled, taking the drink and putting it to my lips. ‘’Bottoms up!’’
Gulp… Gulp… Gulp…
‘’…Shit, that hits the spot!’’ I laughed, throwing the mug against the ground and turning back to the wolfman. ‘’Figured it out by now, mutt? We are taking them shots—err, beers, until one of us has to be carried out!’’
The wolfman crossed his arms, scoffing. ‘’And why should I agree—’’
‘’You pussy?’’ I interrupted with a smirk.
‘’...What?’’
‘’I asked if you pussy, pussy.’’ I repeated loud and clear, pointing straight at his face. ‘’Pussy, no balls, scared doggy, weak-ass, mutt-ass, cowardly-ass bitch—’’
He growled, cutting me off with a snarl so fierce that I almost flinched. ‘’You piece of trash, smear-on-the-wall rookie. You’re on.’’
The silence stretched… And all of a sudden, it was replaced by excited cheers that made my ears buzz. Or was that the beer?
In any case, damn, these people were really easy to please.
‘What not having T.V. or social media would do to society, I guess.’
-X-x-X-
-Tiona Hyryute-
The entire pub had suddenly come back to life. An excited crowd had started settling bets, of all things. Even the waitresses, once cautious and set in place, started practically running around as one simple challenge had suddenly become the entertainment of the night.
‘Am… Am I going to have to pay for all the beers?’ Tiona asked herself in worry. Covering the expenses of two or three hungry adventurers wasn’t much, but… ‘M-maybe I could ask Tione?’
Slowly turning to her twin sister, however, revealed a deadpan stare. Being siblings, she probably already knew what Tiona was thinking, and if her crossed arms were anything to go by, then the answer was a rotund ‘no’.
However, as Tiona sulked, resting her face on the table, a bit of worry started settling into her gut.
After all, she had seen the brown-haired man near death hours before. When she saw that Minotaur backhand that Roy guy into the wall, her heart dropped all the way to her stomach.
And at that moment, she didn’t think. It was a miracle he was even breathing, or that her… less than gentle carrying hadn’t worsened his situation.
Running all the way to Dian Cecht for an Elixir and force-feeding it to a pile of mashed bones and meat that somewhat resembled a man had been… bad. But she had seen worse. Much, much worse.
Though knowing the man’s name because that rabbit-hume girl—Bell, if she remembered correctly—was shouting his name while shaking his mutilated body, certainly made the event cement in her mind.
But… Tiona was sure that Bell had told her Roy was a Level One. To make a recovery in a week would have been a miracle, even with an Elixir.
So how the heck was he running around?!
‘I think I even saw him passing some Valis to that weird Pallum girl…’ Tiona frowned, watching the girl pass those same Valis to a drunk man with a massive grin and a beard. ‘Is he making her bet on him? Someone sure is confident…’
The chatter at her table made Tiona snap out of her thoughts.
‘’I’m surprised we didn’t have to tie him to the table this time.’’ Gareth, the Familia’s only executive Dwarf, grunted. One gauntlet scratching his beard as his face parted into a grin. ‘’But now this is something I wouldn’t miss for the world, bwahaha!’’
‘’Of course you wouldn’t.’’ Riveria sighed. The ropes that she had pulled out of somewhere lowered into her lap as she clutched her temple. ‘’Seriously. Just one night. One night without Bete getting into trouble…’’
‘’Bah, live a little, Riveria!’’ The dwarf interrupted, taking a long sip of his mug.
‘’Your definition of ‘living’ doesn’t match my standards, Gareth.’’ The Royal elf shot back with a tired sigh.
‘’Well, of course they wouldn’t. People tend to slow down as they age, after all!’’ Gareth rebuked with a smirk.
‘’Why, you—‘’ But the Nine Hell’s sudden fury was stopped by the clapping of someone’s palms.
‘’I think it’s a great idea,’’ Finn commented as he looked around the table. Probably trying to gauge all of the Familia’s reactions. ‘’It’s not all the time that we can turn Bete’s… Beteness into something beneficial. May earn us some favor back with Ms. Mia, after all.’’
‘’If our Captain says so, then it must be the right choice!’’ Tione claimed with a swoon in her tone.
Everyone except Ais, who didn’t react to most things, or Lefya, who was too polite to do so, turned their attention away from Tiona’s… overenthusiastic sister.
‘’I don’t really care, but all the better to me—Doubly so if we get a discount on drinks~!’’ The red-haired tomboy who called herself a Goddess cheered. Her sticky fingers somehow snatched a beer out of a waitress’s tray in a quick, discreet move. And as always, she took no time to start chugging. ‘’Haaa…! Cold beer, beauties to look at, and now a show of all things. Today really was a good day!’’
Yet, just as Tiona was turning her gaze to the Rabbit-hume at the counter…
‘’Though. I’m curious… Where did that brat come from?’’ The Goddess of Trickery asked, and by her almost flat tone, Tiona didn’t need to turn around to acknowledge the red, crimson orbs settling on the back of her head. ‘’Heeeey, Ti-o-na~ Didn’t you get suuuuper mad when Bete was insulting… What was it? ‘A man in a Rabbit-Hume’s party who got almost killed by a Minotaur’? Hey, hey… Didn’t Bete say something about an Elixir, too?’’
As luck would have it, the table turned its gaze to where Loki pointed her mug at. Sure enough, a white-haired girl with huge rabbit ears was frantically fussing over the brown-haired man who just challenged Bete.
‘Why does she have to get smart sometimes?!’ Tiona hid her panic under a tight smile and awkward laughter.
Immediately, Tiona was hit with the strongest, most powerful spell that could even go through the toughest armor, and the most defensive of Development Abilities.
The Nine Hell’s stare. One that Tiona had mostly seen being thrown at Loki to make her instantly back down. Or, if Finn and Gareth’s histories match, the one that Riveria used when Ais got too rowdy years back.
And now, that stare was being thrown her way. And not even Tiona’s dear sister would put her neck on the chopping block for her.
‘’I had a good reason!’’ She immediately excused herself. Riveria’s raised eyebrow made her feel awkward, and she settled back down, scratching the back of her head with a heavy sigh. ‘’That man… Roy. I… You didn’t see what I saw. It was like going to a butcher shop.’’
Immediately, reactions ensued. Lefiya clutched her staff tight as her face turned a light shade of green. People with a bit more stomach, like her sister and Gareth, just winced at the mental image.
As for Tiona, she clutched the table with a perturbed frown. ‘’One Elixir… It's worth that much, right? It was our fault in the first place, after all.’’
Her whispered concerns were met with silence. A few stares were thrown around the table… before a chuckle interrupted the tense silence.
‘’You can ease up now, Riveria,’’ Finn informed with a little smile on his face.
‘’Could have at least gotten something out of the brat…~’’ Loki sighed in mock-defeat, closing her eyes once more. ‘’Haa… Whatever. He at least better put up a good show!’’
‘’He survived,’’ Ais said. Nodding just a second after. Her golden eyes stared at the man with… a gleam of approval? ‘’Tough. Worth it.’’
‘’E-Eh…?’’ Tiona blinked. Her eyes went from her captain to the smirking Loki and the chuckling Gareth. Until finally, they landed back on Riveria. ‘’I… I thought you were mad. Don’t tell me you were just messing around, Riveria…!’’
The only answer from the High-Elf, however, was a non-committal hum as she raised her mug of juice to her lips. Tiona swore that the old woman was hiding the beginnings of a smile behind her drink!
‘’Fine.’’ Tiona pouted, crossing her arms before settling back down with a huff. ‘’Don’t answer, see if I care, hmph!’’
‘’Though, now I’m curious…’’ Tione hummed, turning to her sister. ‘’You talked to his Familia members, right? Did he take Abnormal Resistance?’’
‘’Hm?’’ Tiona frowned. ‘’Of course not, Tione. Level Ones can’t have Development Abilities.’’
Her words brought a pause to the table. Loki suddenly choked on her drink, and Gareth threw his head back, hitting the table with his armored hand, causing it to rock slightly.
Tione stared at her like she was a madwoman. ‘’Level… One?! And he survived the Minotaur long enough until you ran to Cecht and back?!’’
‘’Oi, Tiona.’’ Loki interrupted, lips pressed into a thin line. ‘’What Familia is the brat from, again?’’
‘’Oh, he’s from the Hestia Familia.’’ Tiona said.
And for some reason, Loki’s head hit the table as she groaned. All the while grumbling to herself. ‘’Bete… You better win this thing…!’’
Tiona frowned, shook her head a moment later, and turned her focus to the event as Mia Grand clapped her hands, causing most of the voices inside the pub to quiet down.
-X-x-X-
-Bell Cranel-
‘’We never had a conflict resolved like this here…’’ Syr commented, standing to the side while watching the rowdy group with a tiny smile.
‘’It’s… certainly different.’’ The green-haired elf that seemed ripped straight from a fairy tale nodded in agreement.
‘’Well, that’s ‘cause you probably never had someone like Hoomie to spice things up!’’ Midna cackled. Hands behind her back as she leaned into the bar’s counter, almost tipping over the empty beer mugs in her drunk state. ‘’Gods… I’m gonna drain that man…’’
Bell’s face erupted into a flush, and Syr clasped her own face with a shy grin.
‘’I do not like to comment on patrons’ attitude often, but your companion is… rather rowdy.’’ The green-haired elf, however, nodded, her expression stoic. ‘’Taking away his funds could probably mitigate his impulsivity.’’
Bell choked, and Syr looked at her fellow waitress while trying to hide a chuckle.
‘’Whatever you say, Elfy. Let’s go with that.’’ Midna slurred out. One of her arms lazily reached for another mug, only for her face to drop in disappointment as the wooden container was empty. ‘’Damn…’’
Her companion’s… private activities aside. Bell didn’t know if she should be happy, panicking, trying to shut all of this off, or all of the above.
On one hand, Roy was walking and joking, and being weird, like normal.
On the other hand, he just pissed off one of the Executives of the Loki Familia. The same one that had used their funds to cure his near-death injuries!
…Albeit, Bell would admit, she wouldn’t really mind if Roy won. It isn’t often that she thought this way, but she didn’t… appreciate the Beastman’s comments.
‘But that’s still a Level One against a Level FIVE!’ She panicked internally, ears flat against her skull as her body swayed side to side, as if trying to express her inner panic outwardly. ‘Eina told me that one of the most common Development Abilities for Adventurers to take is Abnormal Resistance; a Skill made to withstand poisons!’
And while Bell wasn’t an expert in poison itself, she sure had heard of alcohol being referred to as such!
Bell’s thoughts vanished as a small hand clasped her shoulder. Turning to the side revealed a smirking Midna who… winked—Bell thinks, as the Pallum had only one eye uncovered at all times.
‘’You look worried, bun-bun…’’ Midna commented with a lazy grin. ‘’Don’t tell me you don’t have faith in your dear party member~?’’
‘’I-it's not that!’’ Bell immediately denied, but deflated right after. Crimson eyes watched in worry as Roy and Bete Loga were seated right in front of each other. ‘’But… Can he really…?’’
The strange Pallum chuckled, licking her lips as her lone eye focused on her brown-haired… lover. ‘’The dough we are about to earn will speak for itself~’’
‘’A level one against a level five? That newbie is getting wrecked!’’ An older Adventurer slammed the table. Laughter slipped past his lips.
‘’Huh?! He’s only level one?! I bet my week’s earnings on him!’’ Another complained.
‘’Nah, trust.’’ A man with blue eyes smirked. ‘’He’ll win.’’
The chatter was interrupted by a loud, booming voice.
‘’Now then!’’ The massive, towering figure of Mia Grand shouted as she clapped to bring the attention of every customer, better, and spectator to her. ‘’Are both of the participants ready?!’’
The wolfman frowned, neck cracking as he moved his head left and right before a cocky smirk took over his features. His posture was confident, his teeth bared, and his orange eyes couldn’t have been filled with more contempt if they wished to be.
‘’Ready.’’ He scoffed.
For his part, Roy merely smirked. A crooked grin so wide that it stretched his whole face. Without breaking eye contact, he extended his hand to the left, and someone in the crowd handed him a bottle of wine.
Roy side-glanced at it before settling it down at his side. The Wolfman raised an eyebrow.
‘’That shit’s going to be my palette-cleanser, doggy.’’ He explained. ‘’For when I see your passed-out ass being dragged back home.’’
The crowd practically roared with excitement.
‘’The kid has balls!’’
‘’Show him who he’s messing with, Vanargand!’’
‘’Someone’s getting shitfaced, and I’m here for it!’’
Bell would have been impressed by the sparks born out of the two men’s pointed stares if the situation weren’t so absurd.
‘’Very well! Now then… The one who taps out first loses. The one who passes out first loses. The one who vomits first loses.’’ Mia Grand explained. For some reason, Bell thought the woman was taking the competition with a bit too much enthusiasm. ‘’Let the competition between Bete Loga and… What’s the madman’s name? Ah, Roy Raynolds, begin!’’
Immediately, mugs of beer were set in front of each contestant. Neither broke eye contact as the alcoholic contents disappeared in a few short gulps.
And as did the second, third, and fourth mugs. Bell felt a drop of nervous sweat down the back of her head.
‘I… I really hope you win, Roy…’ She thought.
The tipsiness of her first drink must have affected her a bit, for the well-meaning words weren’t born out of camaraderie or belief.
But because of what she saw while looking at the Menu earlier.
‘Because I don’t know how we are going to pay otherwise! Each beer is like a hundred valis, and I doubt Lady Tiona’s generosity extended to aiding beat her fellow Familia member!’
-X-x-X-
-Roy Raynolds-
‘’Chug, chug, chug, chug!’’ The voices around us shouted.
The warm lightning and expectant cheers had started making my ears buzz ever since the tenth round.
Gulp… Gulp… Thud!
The wooden mug hit the table as the bitter smell of alcohol exited my mouth. I licked my lips; not ever before had I tasted a beer so… sweet.
It was sweet, but still had a hint of bitterness. Not to mention, the liquid was darker than that usual piss-yellow color, and the smoky aftertaste made me remember whisky more than a beer.
Medieval world shit, probably.
‘’What’s… up?’’ Bete Loga—whose name I only learned because of some of the pussies around me cheering him on—spat. His initial confident smirk much wobblier than before. ‘’Feeling—hic—the burn… rookie? You should quit… before your poor-piss Familia needs to go into debt… just to cure your liver.’’
‘’Cute.’’ I chuckled, waiting patiently for my refill. ‘’Heard that alcohol is poison to dogs… Maybe you should quit before you roll over and die, mutt-boy.’’
The cat-waitresses around the table finished refilling our mugs. Bete immediately grabbed his and swung it back, chugging the entire contents like they were ambrosia. Clumsily dropping some of the beverage into his clothes.
Meanwhile, I gave my mug a tiny kiss, shaking my head and slowly drinking its contents without breathing, taking in every little drop before I slammed the mug back down.
That was the fifteenth—No, sixteenth?
And once more, we glared at each other as the mugs were refilled.
…
Sixteen quickly turned into twenty-five. The lights and colors started blurring together, and the mug in my hand appeared to be endless.
‘’What is it, Loga? The dog ain’t barking so lllloud now, ish it?’’ My voice was slurred, and I couldn’t even feel my face. But I bet I had a thousand-watt smile. ‘’Am already seeing them headlines… bitch wolf-boy curb-shtoomped by Rhokee…!’’
‘’Ffffuck yuuu…’’ The Beastman spat. His ears were flat against his head. For a while now, he had been wincing at every sound around him. His face looked paler, too. ‘’Ah… ANOTHER! Ain’t done heeeeeere!’’
…
‘’I can… Another… I can… shtill…’’ By the time we hit the thirty beers, Bete Loga looked like shit.
His eyes were dilated to hell and back. He had started drooling over the table, and his skin had gone unnaturally pale. Accompanied by shivering and twitching.
I wasn’t that much better. An experienced liver, I may have, but it sure as fuck was being put to the test.
‘Falna is one hell of a booster.’
My drunken mind acknowledged, at some point, that I had gone way past any survivable limits, though trying to think right now was the same as walking through waist-length mud upside down.
Even the cheering and loud, booming voices didn’t make any sense. I could barely see a meter in front of me, and almost fell off my chair like seven times. Get faster updates on g.com.
But my hand was tightly holding the mug. One look, and my stomach churned.
But mama raised no bitch.
Without fanfare, the beer number thirty… something, hit my mouth. My lips and tongue were so numb that I didn’t even register the taste. Only that something cold had gone straight into my already upset stomach, forcing a groan past my lips.
And Bete?
The prideful wolfman stared at his own full mug. His muscled arms shook as he sat straight. His orange eyes landed on me, and I smiled.
Not like he could differentiate me from the damn table. I, too, saw him as one big gray blur unless I narrowed my eyes.
The crowd paused as Bete raised his mug. Some slurred nonsense escaped past his lips as the wooden beaker hit his lips.
One gulp… Two…
And a stop.
Bete’s body shook. The sweet alcoholic nectar started suddenly dripping down the corners of his mouth as he failed to swallow it down. Half of the beer ended up on the floor, table, and even his clothes.
‘’Gotsha… bitch.’’ I cackled absent-mindedly.
Because the next second, it wasn’t only the beer mug that hit the table, but Bete’s forehead. One green blur that had probably been one of the waitresses approached him, and even with my impaired eyesight, I could see the result of the beastman being turned around.
Rolled-back eyes, frothing of beer and saliva at the mouth, and soon enough, retching as Bete Loga passed out.
‘’T-the Vanargand is unable to continue, m-meow!’’
Silence. Absolute silence.
I slammed my hand on the table, reaching for one last thing. The bottle of fruit wine.
I had already won. I didn’t need to keep going. And there’s no way I was going to ‘cleanse my palate’ when I could barely feel half of my face.
But mama raised no bitch, plus that’s how losers think.
And today? I fucking won.
The glass bottle was uncorked. Part of its contents fell on the table, tainting the wood further, but I managed to raise it high in the air before clumsily chugging it down.
One, two, three… It took me fifteen whole seconds.
I looked at the entire room. The alcohol mixing with my stomach acid caused me to vurp. When I got on my own two feet, my face almost met the floor, if it wasn’t for a pair of dark-skinned arms holding me in place.
With a big shit-eating grin, I raised the empty bottle into the air.
‘’…Bich-ashh mhutt.’’ I slurred out.
The crowd roared.
-X-x-X-
-Hestia-
Hestia had to spend more than an hour searching for this so-called ‘Hostess of Fertility’.
It wasn’t her fault, really! When she asked around and was told that the place was ‘near the main street’, she thought closer to the guild, but… the place was nearer Babel’s Tower than the official institution.
…It certainly didn’t help that her stride wasn’t all that big.
But no matter. She was here now. And as many an Adventurer exited the pub, either drunk out of their minds while being carried away, or sober enough to be the ones doing the carrying, Hestia stood on the entrance with crossed arms and very annoyed.
‘I swear on the Hearth, if that man somehow got lost on the way here…’
Yet, just as she was about to step inside, her gaze focused on one of the waitresses outside. A silver-haired girl was waving off a group of customers.
‘’Thank you for eating with us. We hope to see you again—Hm?’’ The girl turned to her, her grey eyes seizing Hestia up and down before realization dawned on her face. ‘’Ah. Excuse me, miss, but we are just about to close.’’
Hestia chuckled dryly, her few months of customer service coming to the forefront of her mind as she put on a smile she didn’t quite feel. ‘’It’s alright. I’m just here for… my Familia members, you see…’’
‘’Oh!’’ The girl… chuckled? ‘’Are you perhaps the Goddess Hestia?’’
‘’Yes?’’ Hestia felt her stomach churn. ‘’…Did my children do something? I apologize profusely; they’re good kids, but—‘’
‘’No, no. You misunderstood!’’ She denied with a shake of her head, gesturing inside with a hand. Hestia raised a curious eyebrow as she followed. ‘’Tonight was quite lively because of them! Mama Mia was so pleased with all the money we made ~!’’
And, as she stepped inside, Hestia’s mood soured further.
Most of the night’s patrons had already retired, but a few key ones remained. It was very difficult to miss the members of the Loki Familia. They were—much to Hestia’s begrudging—one of the strongest inside of Orario.
What she didn’t expect was to see a few of their members either passed out drunk or silently hearing a particular short-haired Amazon and Bunny-Hume talk, while Nine Hells, The Braver, and Elgarm watched over them with easy smiles.
‘’Then, from the eternal damnation, he rose—hic—A-and… he clasped the lightning bolt that same spirit had condemned him to the Underworld with.’’ A timid, slightly slurred voice said excitedly. It was Bell, currently narrating a story with a smile on her face and a drunken flush on her cheeks. ‘’He struck it down. His own father—Only then was the pale ghost satisfied!’’
‘’Waahh…’’ Tiona clapped, cheering Bell on with stars in her eyes. ‘’You have to lend me some of your hero books, Bell! There’s nothing like that which I’ve found in the library!’’
‘’I… I like the Ssshhovel one.’’ A muffled, slurred voice said, coming from a brown-haired man with his head against the table.
‘’That one’s great, too!’’ Bell nodded along, not noticing that Roy had long since passed out and was just talking in his sleep.
Just… Just what happened here?
Hestia’s attention was grabbed by none other than the flat-tomboy herself. Loki approached, causing her to frown and ready herself for their usual confrontations.
Only that the redhead merely looked her up and down and… nodded?
‘’You got yourself one hell of a kid, Hestia.’’ The Goddess stated, eyes open with honest crimson orbs.
And just like that, the Goddess went past her, to the fresher air outside. Not a thinly-veiled insult, not a single comment about her stature, nothing.
‘…Today’s just getting more confusing by the minute!’
‘’Heya, Goddess Hestia~’’
Hestia slowly turned her head around, noticing Midna, who stood just a tad bit shorter than her. Unlike the other spectators, who listened to Bell’s drunken ramblings, she was off to the side on another table with a… giant bag right next to her?
‘’Midna?’’ Hestia asked, approaching with a suspicious frown. ‘’What happened here?’’
‘’Oh, you know…’’ The hidden goblin shrugged, playing with a coin in her hand with a smug grin. ‘’Roy pissed off a level five Adventurer, challenged him to a drinking competition, and then proceeded to rock that shit. The usual, really.’’
‘’…’’ Hestia blinked. ‘’What?’’
She didn’t even have the energy to shout.
‘’Is it really that surprising?’’ Mida asked.
Hestia clutched her temple, mouth opening to answer, and then clicking shut as she groaned. Because, no, being honest, it wasn’t surprising that her newest child would pull off a stunt like that.
‘’…Then what’s all this?’’ Hestia decided to change the theme, gesturing to the bag with a gloved hand.
‘’Oh, that’s our bet money.’’ Midna grinned, a greedy glint in her lone eye. ‘’Could have gotten way more, but there was actually one more dude betting on Roy. Had one hell of a surprise, that one.’’
Hestia was familiar with betting. To her, it was an awful way to waste money, but it fit right through the alley of someone like Midna or Roy.
Tired and at least glad that all of her children were okay, Hestia sat down next to Midna. ‘’So, how much did you guys make?’’
‘’Oh, just a bit over a hundred thousand.’’ Midna shrugged.
Hestia froze. Head snapping back to the goblin, who shot a toothy, amused grin at her.
‘’H-how much?’’ She whispered, now looking at the bag like it was a holy artifact. ‘’Just from betting?! A hundred thousand?!’’
‘’Yu-p.’’ Midna said. ‘’Not bad, right? Bun-bun had her doubts, too, but I knew Hoomie could pull it off~’’
If Hestia’s jaw could hit the floor any further, she would be considered a snake instead of a Goddess. This day just hit her with surprise after surprise, even when it was already ending!
One thing was for sure, though…
‘I’ll have to pamper that man to the Underworld and back!’ The petite Goddess decided, a proud glint in her eye as she patted the valis earned with Roy’s sheer stupidity.
-X-x-X-.
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Author's Note:
Who would win, dog liver, or florida man liver?
You may argue that with Abnormal Resistance, and being a level 5 adventurer, Bete should have aced that. However, I don't know if Abnormal Resistance doesn't work or beer, if Bete is THE biggest lightweight in the history of Orario, or what, but dude got drunk with a single mug in canon, so I'd say I actually buffed him, kekw.
I actually forgot to put Bete's response to Roy's taunt, had to add it just now, smh.
If you're wondering, the ''Hero'' Bell is talking about in her drunken ramblings, it's Kratos from God of War killing ''Zeus'' (the spirit).
Roy saying ''I liked the shovel one'' in his sleep is referencing Shovel Knight
Anyway, with this seventh chapter, the updates galore comes to an end, and Danmachi enters regular fic rotation. I'll probably update once more during the following week, but in any case, I hope you all have been enjoying it up until now!
I also publish on other sites, if you wish to check them out:
FFN: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/15809388/HamsterX42
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