Chapter 11: Hestia is Envious
"It's the blonde one! Both her strength and beauty are seriously amazing!"
Ignoring the chatter among the adventurers, Finn, walking at the front of the procession, began talking with the tavern manager.
Throwing a grand banquet after an expedition was a custom of the [Loki Familia].
Under the guise of rewarding the familia, Loki—who loved alcohol above all else—took the lead in throwing a massive feast, and this was the only day the members could cut loose and play to their hearts' content.
The members of the familia were all extremely lively.
"Mama Mia~ We're here~!"
Tiona was the first to call out the name of the tavern's female owner.
Waitress-attired staff members immediately walked over to welcome Ais and the others.
"The Hostess of Fertility," the largest tavern on this West Avenue, was Loki's absolute favorite spot. No doubt it was the all-female staff and those waitress uniforms that had struck a chord in her heart—a fact Ais and the rest of them had understood long ago.
"Everyone's seating is divided into indoor tables and the terrace seats over here. Please bear with us."
"Ah, understood. Thank you."
The tavern featured terrace seating.
It was likely arranged this way because the indoor space couldn't accommodate all of Ais and her group. Finn signaled his understanding to the polite elven waitress and had half of the familia members take their seats in the terrace section before entering the tavern.
The remaining members, including Ais, were led toward the entrance of the establishment.
"Welcome!"
The interior of the tavern was packed to capacity. People of many different races were drinking and making merry; by comparison, the empty tables reserved for Ais and her group stood out rather unnaturally.
Many of the customers, just like Loki, had come specifically for the waitstaff, gazing at that group of beautiful young waitresses with fantasies running wild in their heads.
However, those waitresses didn't seem quite the same as ordinary tavern beauties; when hit on, they would sometimes effortlessly deflect the advances with a soft touch, and other times counterattack so fiercely that the guys ended up in deep trouble.
Loki herself fell victim to a cat-girl waitress's counter-assault in a split second.
The interior was constructed entirely of wood, giving the decor a much more subdued and grounded feel than other taverns.
The magic stone lamps on the ceiling were dimmed as well, lending the space a somewhat stylish atmosphere.
"The food here is so good, every time I come I end up accidentally eating way too much~"
"When is there a time you don't eat endlessly, you monster..."
Seeing the [Loki Familia] arrive, the adventurer customers changed their expressions as usual and began whispering among themselves, but Tiona and the others paid it no mind and took their seats.
Ais also felt numerous gazes fixed on her face, but she made no reaction and simply ignored them.
Whether in terms of beauty or strength, the absolute top members of the [Loki Familia] were gathered here right now, so drawing attention was the most normal thing in the world.
Everyone was already used to it.
Only Lefiya remained somewhat unaccustomed to other people's stares, nervously pinching the hem of her skirt with both hands, feeling as though the surrounding gazes were covered in prickles and making her whole body uncomfortable.
At that moment, Lefiya suddenly noticed the red-haired boy and the goddess sitting by the window in the tavern.
"Ah-are?! Isn't that...!"
"What's wrong, Lefiya? Did you find your prey for tonight~?"
Tione, sitting beside her, looked at the easily embarrassed girl with a teasing smile.
Lefiya's face instantly flushed red, and she hurriedly waved her hands, explaining in a panic:
"N-No, it's not like that! Look over there!"
Hearing this, Tione looked over in that direction with a hint of curiosity.
Before long, an expression of astonishment also surfaced on her face.
"Whoa! It's Mr. Orihara, wait, shouldn't it be God—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Riveria, quick-handed and fast-acting, quickly covered her mouth.
Riveria figured that since Shirou was sitting in this tavern with another goddess, he probably didn't want to draw too much attention, which was why she stopped Tione's actions.
However, while she managed to cover Tione's mouth just in time, she failed to stop Tiona's.
"Waaah! It's the god from another world!"
Following Tiona's out-loud exclamation, the other familia members and the rest of the customers in the tavern all had their attention caught, turning their gazes toward Shirou's table.
Those adventurers who had been spewing taunts at Shirou earlier were now practically wishing they could shrink their heads back into their chests, sitting there in absolute silence as the entire tavern grew noticeably quieter.
At that moment, Loki spoke up.
"Alright, alright everyone, stop bothering them! You've all worked hard on this 'expedition,' today is a banquet, so eat up, drink up, and enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"
Loki stood up and took the lead in proposing a toast, followed by everyone clinking their beer mugs together. The atmosphere among the members gradually warmed up, and Ais also raised her beer glass slightly, clinking it with Tiona and the others.
The tables where the waitresses led Ais and the group were located in the corner of the interior.
Separated only by a window right beside them was the terrace seating, allowing free movement back and forth through the open door.
The dishes and drinks served were all delicious, and the members naturally accelerated the pace at which they reached for food. In particular, the refreshing fruit wine and herb-roasted chicken were peerless masterpieces.
"Captain, let me pour you a drink. Please."
"Ah, thank you, Tione. Though you've been pouring drinks down my throat at an abnormal speed since a moment ago—are you trying to watch me get drunk and make a fool of myself?"
"Hehe, I don't mean anything by it~ Come on, have another glass."
"This one really stays the same no matter when..."
"Whoa there, Gareth! Compete in drinking with me!"
"Oh? How bold of you, let me show you just what you're made of!"
Amidst her companions who had turned into a rowdy cluster, Ais maintained her own pace while eating, though naturally, she couldn't escape being caught up in the commotion.
Perhaps getting a little tipsy and losing their self-restraint, her usually polite junior members seemed to want Ais to join in the fun too. Seizing the opportunity, they handed her a cup, driving her to the verge of a headache and causing her to let out a helpless, quiet bitter smile.
"Now, you guys! Stop trying to force alcohol on Ais."
"...Eh? Does Ais-san not drink?"
Fortunately, Riveria stepped in to rescue her, though Lefiya, sitting on her left, asked in confusion.
Just as Ais was wondering how to explain, Tiona, who had been constantly shoving the served dishes into her mouth with her right hand, tilted her head back and took a gulp of alcohol.
"Mngu... Puhah! Making Ais drink gets really troublesome, you know?"
"..."
"Eh, what do you mean?"
"Should I call it an inability to hold her liquor, or say that getting drunk is an understatement... Loki almost got iced by her once, you know."
"Tiona, please... stop talking."
"Oooooh! Ais, you're blushing~!"
Lowering her head with flushed cheeks, she was leaned against closely by Tiona from the side.
The flustered Lefiya and the endlessly giggling Tiona coaxed a soft smile onto Ais's face as well, her cheeks glowing red, though the corner of her eye still stealthily drifted toward Shirou's table on the other side.
Whether indoors or out on the terrace, everyone's voices grew increasingly cheerful and unrestrained.
The drinks and dishes were swept away in the blink of an eye, and the waitresses' movements grew even more nimble.
Laughter constantly bubbled up from the surrounding customers as everyone spent what could only be described as a wonderful time.
Meanwhile, Shirou, sitting by the window, watched this scene and exchanged a smiling nod with Finn and Riveria, who were both in the midst of the merriment.
"Do you know them?"
Hestia wore an expression of faint envy as she looked at the harmonious, lively scene of the [Loki Familia].
"I got to know them through a few circumstances."
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