Disclaimer, it's been quite some time since we made a chapter like this, the most recent one can be said to have been Hestia's, but even then, if we could the number of such chapters in the series...
Anyway, it was bound to come, drama isn't something I am inclined to do, but I am aware of its importance in due time.
And now's the time.
But don't be distressed, this chapter isn't only drama, its meant to be character development... For Freya.
Yes, Freya.
Freya is could be said to be suffering from success, be it in heaven or earth, she has to pose as a perfect being when in truth, what she enjoys is just being the silly waitress in the pub.
If she comes to understand that first, then some things are bound to happen.
It's difficult to explain, anyway, enough spoilers from me and to the chapter!
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/The hours passed…/
'As the moon rose to the skies, the shops started to close down and the excitement in everyone's hearts started to die down as they went to bed.'
'Mothers called their kids and sang them lullabies while others clumped to bet, either drunk or tired, maybe both.'
'Even though Orario was as bright as in the day with their many shimmering lights, the streets were as silent as the Dungeon.'
'Tomorrow would be a big day, the Gods would gather again and discuss the War game, the debts would be settled and the victor would be fully proclaimed.'
'Finally, the truth of this matter would be revealed to the city and the common people who even now, understood little of what was going on or even at stake.'
'And most importantly the perpetrator behind the fire in the sky would be revealed, or at least, the one they all agreed was the cause of it, and with it, they would finally have someone to blame for their previous concerns and fears.'
'Some, of course, wouldn't be able to sleep today, for whatever reasons they held in their hearts.'
'Be it work, their responsibilities, or the mirage of a boy challenging the impossible, the excitement of a great accomplishment like none other.'
'As such, many wondered, what did the future hold for him and those around him?'
…
/Back in the Hostess of Fertility…/
/Creak!.../
'With the swinging of the wooden doors, the last customer left the pub, allowing silence to take over the previously busy restaurant.'
/Thud!/
"Aren't you going to leave? We're about to close." Mia said with great displeasure as she looked at Silver drinking some water calmly as if he did not care about the time
'The man raised his head to look at Mia.'
"Just a few more minutes… Yawn..." He replied dismissively
'Mia looked at him with a twisted expression, crossing her arms with resolution, dark energy rising from her shoulders into the air.'
"Look, I don't care about your personal problems or if you're trying to hide from others, you can stay as long as you wish… As long as we are open!"
"After we close down, you're on your own, that's the rule."
"So get your ass up and move! Before I force you out kid… And bring that drunk Elf with you." She said as she turned around
"If I see you here by the time I'm back, I'm going to kick you out myself."
/Creak.../
'Mia entered a side door beside the stairs to the second floor, and a scream echoed from within not so long after.'
"Don't look at me like that! Back to work!"
"..."
"Some people just won't change, no matter what huh." Silver chuckled as he chugged his water all at once
I wonder what kind of stories she could share... Though I doubt she would ever tell me those... At least not under normal circumstances.
If I win a drinking bet, she might share something...
'The Hostess was a big place, composed of many buildings built around a small plaza exclusive for the ladies that lived in this establishment.'
'One building was their dormitories, another one was where the food and supplements were stored, a warehouse that held Mia's wine, beer, and alcohol collection.'
'And lastly, the restaurant itself, where they were right now, it can be taken as an Inn due to its second floor containing many rooms, but it was more of a private Inn than anything else.'
"Sigh…" Silver exhaled as he took a last sip of the water
I'm not really trying to escape or anything, I'm just a bit tired.
In the last 3 or so days, I dived into the Dungeon and faced a great challenge, then I went with the Loki Familia to the 28th floor, likely the longest time I ever spent in the Dungeon at once.
Upon climbing back to the surface, I had little time to rest as not only did I have to do the usual such as claiming the rewards for my pending commissions, selling part of my loot, and dealing with some things in the Familia, but I also had to enter a very dangerous place and collect…
That very thing was what led to all of this... That dammed wine inside that wolf's cave.
Haruhime has been freed from Ishtar's divinity, and now can move more freely without the need for the special magic item to hide her, that was great progress.
I even brought her to the Dungeon and showed her some things, but due to the actions I took, I couldn't afford to be with her for long...
I saw all of the nauseating things Phryne did, and ended up blasting the top of Ishtar's home.
Then the Denatus came and I had to explain myself in front of many Gods.
I'm not a machine, and even if I try to stay cool most of the time, standing in front of close to 100 Gods releasing their divinity together with the judgmental gazes of their children is more than tiring enough…
'Silver smiled as he remembered the very very distant past.'
In fact, I used to be pretty bothered of being the center of attention… A time when I was too shy to do so… Haa.
And after the Denatus, I spent an entire day locked up indoors and refusing most of my friends in order to bait Ishtar.
Feeling guilty about leaving them in the dark even when they came to me out of concern and care...
In the War game, I fought their best one after the other and lost both my eyes and arms in the process.
I'm tired.
/Snoore!/
"..."
'Silver looked at his drunk friend, snoring away with his eyes closed as he drooled onto the wooden counter.'
He sure is relaxed…
But he has the right to do so, he's rich, and he could hang the boots and call an end to his many years of hard work.
'Silver wondered what he would do now, perhaps he would finally man up and seek a girl?'
/Chuckle…/
'It was an odd sight, a Human and an Elf, one drunk and one sober sitting by a counter in the middle of the night under the faint light of a bar.'
'One laughed from time to time, the other snored loudly from time to time...'
"For someone with such a dark mood, your face looks as if nothing has happened." Someone said from behind them
'Silver didn't have to turn around to tell who it was, if her voice wasn't enough, the scent of her perfume said enough.'
"Do I look like that to you all?" He asked without turning back
"I won't reply until you turn to me~" Syr teased
"..."
'Closing his eyes in defeat, he turned to face her, Syr, the white-haired girl with great beauty, the only "normal" girl out of all workers of this pub.'
"You look troubled, why don't you share it with me?" She asked with a slight smile as she pulled a chair near
"Hum? You're being oddly kind today."
'She became a bit distressed.'
"Am I like that to you?"
'Silver smiled at her hopelessness as he waved his hands.'
"Of course not, I'm just messing with you..."
"Your kindness is often... Blinding."
"What was that?" Syr asked as she failed to hear what he said
"Nothing." He said with a slight smile
'She pouted a little, curious about his words, but Silver ignored her.'
'Stretching his arms, he looked around the now empty pub, seeing the other girls cleaning the tables all around, even capturing Anya red-handed as she stared right at him.'
'It seemed Syr wasn't the only one "interested" in him right now.'
'Rolling his eyes, he said:'
"It seems I made you all worry, I apologize." He said as he looked at Syr, but his voice was loud enough for all to hear
"Don't say that too loud, Ryuu is going to get embarrassed." Syr said teasingly
/THUD!/
'From behind Silver at the back of the shop, a sound echoed... And Syr smiled.'
'Silver could only shake his head as he said out loud:'
"Thank you... And watch out."
/Snap/
'Using his well know finger snap, he controlled and washed all of the tables, floor, walls, cups, plates, and more in one fell swoop, impressing all of the girls present.'
'They knew his abilities, but as always, seeing them like this was still a shock, especially since he rarely did so.'
"Sigh, now all of my efforts seem meawingless." Chloe mumbled on the side as she watched an entire set of 1 table and 6 chairs be cleaned in the time it took for her to scrub a cup, falling onto the ground without as much as a sound, sparking clean
'It seemed even offensive, its great sparkling sheen seemed to be making fun of her...'
'Her eyelids twitched.'
"Isn't that right?" Lunoire added as she saw everything be organized
I would kill to have that ability, Mia would never be able to punish me with cleaning the dishes anymore...
"..."
'Even Ryuu, who was cleaning the cutlery on the side, watched in dismay as the massive pile of plates, cups, forks, and knives was cleaned and neatly stored before she could even utter a single sound of protest.'
"Sigh..."
'Breathing slightly was the only thing she could do, it wasn't like she would dirty everything again so she could clean it herself.'
'Her pride slightly wounded in a strange way, she took out her apron.'
"Can't we ask Mia to contract him, Nya?" Anya asked with a tired expression as she rested her wet mop on her shoulders as if it was a spear
'She very much wanted to take a breather, and the Gods were kind to her this time by sending her a savior... A Hero.'
'The legendary Do-all!'
'Her tiredness came not from her work itself... But to the amount of it.'
'Today had been very busy, so much so she felt that she had worked for an entire week, even though only half a day had passed.'
'The cause for this was very clear, all adventurers, men and woman alike were very excited to gossip with each other over some nice food and drinks after the War game came to its explosive end.'
'They wondered about many things, with Silver and Hestia being at the center of most such conversations, and what better place to have those talks if not here?'
"You think Mia would ever accept him?" Lunoire asked as she sat at a chair, looking directly at Syr and Silver
'They were talking, completely ignoring his presence.'
"Fufu! If we ask her nicely enough, she might bend a little, nya, and with that, our days of cleaning plates and mopping the floor will be over Nyahaho!" Chloe said excitedly as she thought of the future
"I'm not a washing machine…" Silver said slowly on the side
'But they all ignored him, even Ryuu passed through him without saying much, resting her head on the wall as she took a break'
'Even she needed a rest, her fingers and hands were a bit numb after cleaning so many plates.'
"Knowing her, wouldn't she just deduct our pay?" Ryuu suddenly said
"She wouldn't nya!... Right? Right?!" Anya questioned with great distress
"It seems everyone has agreed to it." Syr said with a sly smile as she covered her mouth with her hand
"So my reliable magic has been reduced to a mere mopping apparatus..."
"Don't underestimate the effort it takes to clean this place." Lunoire claimed as she rested her back on the chair
/Chuckle/
"..."
'Seeing these beautiful ladies laugh a little and have fun made Silver exhale a little.'
'His mood eased as he felt energy return to his body.'
'There was no point in being so heavy with himself, wasn't that the entire reason he came here in the first place?'
'So he smiled also, getting ready to move out.'
…
/Get up.../
"Come on buddy, let's get you home." Silver muttered in a low tone as he tried to shake Loiju awake
"Mnn... 5 more minutes... I still... SNOOOOOOOORE!"
"..."
'His struggle attracted the attention of the girls...'
"Where are you going? What about my question?" Syr said as she saw Silver grab Loiju's shoulder
"Your question?..."
'It then came to him.'
"Ah, I forgot about it."
'She seemed a bit frustrated, but Silver sneakily ignored it.'
'So he sat down on his seat again, thinking.'
'Honestly, if he wanted to, he could just leave and let the matter end at that.'
'But considering their strange friendship and the kindness Syr had shown him, why not talk about himself a little?'
'It was honestly something few had asked him, someone, that had the will and intent to genuinely ask that wasn't someone he should push away.'
"I wouldn't say I'm troubled, but I can't deny there is something going on in my mind regardless."
Most of it is due to Ishtar herself, if she wants to, she may have Haruhime's power revealed…
'Silver's tired eyes closed before reopening with great determination.'
But, I've decided to protect her.
Even if the world extends its hands to capture her, I'll…
/Bonk…/
'Syr suddenly knocked her fist against his head, it was light, but it echoed throughout his body, making him wake up.'
"What are you doing getting all worked up?" She asked with her big gray eyes
'They pierced into his soul... Or so it seemed.'
"Wh…?"
'Silver closed his mouth, and his mouth twisted into a cheerful smile.'
"Thank you." He said, almost sparkling in a way to those girls
"Huh, for what?" Syr asked, greatly surprised
"To ask that question, most of the people I met, even people I knew, would often stare at me with many emotions instead of speaking."
"Fear... Confusion... And others. I think it's great to see someone just genuinely concerned... And as you can see, this guy's already out cold, can't really talk with him anymore." Silver said with a smile
"..."
"Really, in a sense, I think I just needed to hear that, even though I received help multiple times today..."
My friends showed me their concern...
My Familia companions asked me if I was okay, crying and laughing with me as they told me how cool I looked...
The people I loved hugged me and scolded me...
So perhaps, I guess I was just seeking the things from before, the time before the change, even when I know everything will slowly die down and return to normalcy.
It's something hard to explain in words.
"I guess coming here, having Mia ask me to pay up with that serious gaze of hers as she throws the bill at my face was everything I was looking for."
"That's a strange thing to seek." Syr said with a puzzled smile
"... I guess it is... Haa..."
'It was then Silver raised his head, gazing at all the girls in the pub, all looking at him with a mix of emotions.'
'Perhaps they realized something, or they were still trying to understand who he was…'
'The adventurer boy that went to the Dungeon every day, passing by to get some food…'
'Or the berserker that threw himself to the flames just this morning.'
'And this thought made him…'
"Ha… Haha… Hahahaha!"
'Silver started to laugh indiscriminately.'
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Notes
Night talk 2 will continue in 2 days, see ya.