Fron's face twitched as he raised his wooden mug and clinked it with Welf's.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
Gulp, gulp, gulp—
--------------------------------
"Ha, feels good. The boss was right — after a full day of adventuring, having a good drink is truly a pleasure. This feeling is second only to the sound of hammering iron."
The blacksmith let out a shout that was unique.
Fron picked up a knife, sliced off a big piece of roasted meat, and stuffed it into his mouth with a fork, his cheeks bulging.
Then he mumbled something incomprehensible.
"——?"
"Gulp— I said, how about we try the 'Middle Floors' tomorrow?"
"Hey, if you're looking to die, don't drag me into it. We're both just Lv.1."
He ate too quickly and choked a little. He grabbed his mug of ale and downed it.
"Burp— Miss, more booze!"
Mia's eyes curved like crescent moons — she had a feeling she'd make a fortune off this kid.
"Coming~"
Wiping off the broth from the corner of his mouth, Fron grinned—
"Tomorrow, there's an elf girl from our Familia who wants to come along. She wants to train her casting skills — parallel chanting. Don't let her age fool you; she's only 14, but a genuine Lv.3 — a rear-guard mage."
"As long as we protect her, the 'Middle Floors' shouldn't be too dangerous — well, unless we run into some kind of 'abnormal event'."
Welf paused— then took a sip of his drink.
"Click— Lv.3, huh. That's your Loki Familia for you. In other small or mid-sized Familia, that level would usually be a captain or something."
"Heh, you're underestimating Lefiya. She's not someone you can judge by level alone."
"—What do you mean?"
"Familia secret."
"You, man, always stopping halfway when you talk. It's annoying."
"Hahaha, anyway, she's reliable from every angle. Plus, you've got me, haven't you? Not to brag, but I'm pretty strong, alright?"
Just then, Miss Ryuu brought over the drinks and happened to catch Fron's bragging.
"Mr. Argon, no one truly knows what might happen in the dungeon. That mindset is dangerous."
"Pffft—"
Welf saw him get shut down and burst out laughing.
Fron turned green — was the elf race just naturally incompatible with him? Why did they always counter him?!
"Ahem, Miss Ryuu. Uh... if you could have put it more gently…"
"Honest advice is hard to hear, Mr. Argon. Being an adventurer is a high-risk job. Every day, countless people lose their lives in the dungeon. A companion who laughed with you yesterday might return to the heavens the next day. Even a new adventurer like you should understand that, right?"
As she spoke, she glanced around the tavern at the merry patrons. Maybe she remembered something bitter, for her vacant-colored eyes dimmed slightly, as if she'd lost her soul.
"Hey, Fron. This elf lady's got a story to her."
Welf whispered into Fron's ear—
—Someone's face twisted, lip twitching.
That was "Gale" Ryuu Lion. A top-tier Lv.4 — and you're whispering like she won't hear you?!
Sure enough, Ryuu glanced at Welf — and he instantly backed down.
"Sorry, sorry, Miss Ryuu. My friend's drunk and talking nonsense. Just pretend you didn't hear him."
"—Mr. Argon's eyes are the same color as the 'Sword Princess'. Very rare among humans. And it seems — your eyes feel like they can see right through me."
"N-no, Miss Ryuu, you're definitely overthinking it."
Ryuu remained unfazed, standing upright beside him, her blank-colored eyes staring directly at him.
"No, I couldn't be mistaken. From the way you stood across the street watching the tavern that day, I already had my doubts."
She spoke with certainty, as if stating a fact.
—Fron's stiff face sighed in the end and took a deep gulp from his mug.
"Alright, I do know some things about your past, Miss Ryuu — I swear it's only me who knows."
"But, the past is the past. Time always moves forward. What's gone is just smoke. Everyone's living in the present now, aren't they? I think that's great — don't you?"
"..."
Ryuu fell silent for a moment, then shook her head:
"Some pasts leave scars forever."
"No, you've already found a place to belong."
Fron abruptly interrupted the troubled elf, gesturing subtly at a few curious onlookers.
"U-um, Mr. Argon. Could you please let go of… my hand? Grabbing a lady's hand like that is quite improper… and embarrassing."
"Uh, s-sorry."
The alcohol was getting to Fron — before he knew it, he'd...
For some reason, Ryuu's face turned a bit red, and she awkwardly averted her gaze.
"Major discovery, nya! That blond guy actually— actually did what I couldn't do!"
Anya was in a frenzy —
Four years. Four whole years! And she had never even touched Ryuu's skin!!!
Lunoire pinched her chin, eyes gleaming:
"Ryuu let a man — no, an outsider — touch her? Unbelievable!"
"Heheh, I said it when I first saw Fron — he's a little different, nya."
Only Chloe, detective-like, seemed to see through it all.
"Oh my~ So that's Mr. Fron, huh? The rookie adventurer you were talking about."
"That's right, nya! And he's from the Loki Familia, I heard!"
Anya's cheeks puffed like a bun, one finger to her lips as she cheerfully spoke to the "Witch" Syr with interest.
Syr, full name Syr Flova. The poster girl of the "Hostess of Fertility" tavern.
With her pleasant and sincere nature that could get along with anyone, she was extremely popular among the male clientele.
Even the roughest adventurer would slowly let their guard down under her fearless smile.
And— she possessed a pair of eyes that could easily see into one's heart and soul.
Unfortunately, those eyes seemed to lose their effect when facing the man known as "Fron."
The girl squinted, tilted her head as she looked curiously at the blond youth who had just met Ryuu.
"So strange—"
She blinked and skipped closer, hands behind her back.
"So you're Mr. Fron. To think you and Ryuu—"
She tilted her head playfully, face bashful.
"—Pfft."
Fron almost coughed up blood, barely swallowing it with pure willpower.
"Um, Syr-chan— please don't say weird things."
"I didn't say anything weird, Ryuu. This gentleman just now totally held your hand—"
"Syr!"
"Ehehehe~ Ryuu looks so cute right now! I've never seen her like this before."
At this moment, Ryuu Lion bore no trace of the "Gale" — just a shy girl—
"Ahem, sorry Miss Ryuu, for the trouble."
"It's alright, Mr. Argon. You've already apologized."
Welf stood there bewildered — what was going on with this guy and the elf? Were they filming a soap opera?
"T-then, I still have work to do."
"Got it—"
Ryuu quickly bowed her head and ran off, making the barmaids giggle.
"Mr. Fron actually made that Ryuu— you really are something!"
But it wasn't over.
The witch approached.
Unlike the others, she was the most mysterious figure in the tavern. There was no way Fron didn't feel wary of her.
"In the end, just a rookie, huh. Speaking of special, I do know one person. They're from my hometown too."