The evening after returning from the dungeon expedition, our Loki Familia held our usual post-expedition celebration.
Although we didn't manage to reach a new floor this time, the expedition had been grueling due to fights with new types of monsters.
The celebration was held at"The Hostess of Fertility." a cozy and lively restaurant on the main street in the west. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was joyful.
Glasses and plates quickly emptied, and waitresses bustled about with practiced efficiency. It was a truly fun night.
"Hey, Ais! You gotta tell them your story!"
While Loki was sharing tales of the expedition, Bete Loga, the werewolf member of the Familia, urged Ais to tell her own story.
It was about the fight with the Minotaurs who attacked us on our way back.
According to Bete Loga, the last Minotaur fled all the way down to the fifth floor.
When they defeated it, they also helped two rookie adventurers, but apparently, those two got away this time.
I couldn't help but laugh at that.
Then Bete Loga began speaking poorly of those adventurers. He's a staunch meritocracy and not a bad person, but with a little alcohol in him, his words were harsh.
And then…
"They're weaklings, unworthy of Ais Valenstein."
Right after Bete Loga said that, someone inside the restaurant suddenly rushed out.
"Bel-san!?"
One of the waitresses hurried after them, and Ais also tried to follow. Everyone in the restaurant was confused, unsure what had just happened.
"What? A food-runner?" someone joked.
"Wow, causing trouble at Mia's mom's place… you've got some nerve." another said.
Loki went out to bring Ais back.
I casually glanced at the seat where that person had been sitting.
"Oh."
There, I saw a familiar back. Not just familiar, he's someone who, for the past three years, has helped me think through the mindset of an adventurer. Thanks to him, I had grown into a level 4 adventurer. Without his guidance, I wouldn't have had the confidence to stand proudly as a member of the Loki Familia.
I thought about calling out to him, but since it was the Familia's celebration and he was working tomorrow, I figured I'd catch him later. Just as I was about to look away,
His face came into view. An expression I'd never seen before: raw anger mixed with the hint of tears.
Why? I wondered. Then I remembered something from the day before the expedition.
….
The day before the expedition
"Hey, so you're leaving on the expedition tomorrow?"
"Yeah. I won't be able to come here for a while after that."
"Really? Are you sure it's okay to come out the day before the expedition?"
"I'm done preparing, and I got permission."
"Alright, but still… tomorrow, huh?"
"Hm? Is there something special about tomorrow?"
"Yeah. It's my birthday tomorrow."
"No way!"
"Really. Finally, I'm turning 14."
"Oh, then…"
"Yeah! Hermes-sama's back, and I'm finally debuting as an adventurer!"
"That's great!"
"Even after becoming an adventurer, I'm planning to keep this place going."
"If it disappeared, a lot of people would be in trouble. You should've said so earlier."
"Said what?"
"Your birthday! You have to tell me so I can celebrate!"
"Wait, didn't I tell you?"
"Nope! Not a word! Honestly, you're so clueless sometimes, like a kid…"
"Hey, I am still a kid."
"Is there such a kid like you just hanging around?"
"That's a bit harsh…"
There's no proof. In a place as crowded as Orario, the chance that the Minotaur we fought on the fifth floor, the person in this restaurant at the same time as our celebration, and Bete Loga telling that story would all line up, it's almost zero.
But still, I stood up and caught his sleeve as he tried to leave.
"Wait!"
He stopped and turned around.
"…Lefiya."
His expression hadn't changed.
"What do you want?"
The restaurant murmured again. He looked around and then forced a smile.
"This isn't the place to talk. Let's go outside."
He left the restaurant with me following.
The sun had completely set. I thought Loki said something as we left, but I wasn't in the mood to listen.
"Toki, about what Bete Loga said earlier…"
"Toki? Oh, him, the Ferocious Wolf Vanargand. Yeah, he's as they say."
Toki smiled, but anyone could tell it was forced.
"The adventurers he was talking about were me and the guy who just left."
My heart felt like it was being crushed.
"I'm sorry!!"
I apologized, even though I hadn't known and laughed at the story while the person himself was there.
"That's not something to apologize for."
"But, "
"Besides, I'm not angry at you or the Loki Familia. And definitely not at the Ferocious Wolf Vanargand who told the story."
His smile vanished, and he looked up at the top of Babel.
"I'm angry at myself."
"Huh?"
"I got carried away."
His face looked lonely, as if confessing.
"I got excited because I finally became an adventurer. I thought I was one step closer to my goal."
Toki clenched his fists tightly.
"Toki, your hands…"
His fists were stained with blood from how tightly he'd squeezed them.
"Hearing that story, I wanted to deny it… but I couldn't. So, I should be grateful to that person for making me realize it, not hate him."
"Toki…"
His gaze pierced me. It was the strong gaze of a warrior.
"So, you don't need to apologize, Lefiya."
"…Okay, I understand."
He turned on his heel and walked away, toward Babel.
"Huh?"
"Oh, right! The shop will be open as usual tomorrow. If you want, come by!"
And with that, he ran off.
…..
Back inside the restaurant,
Loki approached.
"You're late, Lefiya. What were you talking about with that boy?"
"It doesn't matter."
"Aw, come on. Hey, wait, was that boy your boyfriend?"
"So what if he was?"
Loki froze. I shifted my gaze to Bete Loga, who was tied up with ropes by Tiona and others, with Lady Riveria stepping on his head. I didn't know how he ended up like that, but I felt an anger toward him I'd never felt before.
I just wanted to vent my uncontrollable fury.
"Ah, Lefiya!"
"What is it? You were talking with someone earlier, weren't you?"
"Yes, I'm fine now."
I smiled at Tiona and Riveria, then,
I stomped hard on Bete Loga's stomach.
"Ughh!"
Despite Riveria stepping on his head, Bete Loga bent in half.
"L-Lefiya…?"
Riveria sounded surprised.
"What the hell!? What're you, "
"What are you complaining about?"
At that moment, everyone in the Loki Familia thought this: Lefiya was scarier than any monster they'd ever seen.
"N-No, it's nothing…"
Ignoring Bete Loga as he suddenly cowered, I returned to my seat.
I was angry because I was scared. If at that time, Toki had rejected me…
I shook my head.
"Tione."
"Yes?"
"Pour me a drink, too."
Tione, who had been pouring drinks for the guild leader Fin earlier, usually hesitant, surprisingly poured one for me without question.
I downed it in one gulp.
"Another, please."
"L-Lefiya? You shouldn't drink so fast, "
"Loki, be quiet."
"…Okay."
I drank that one down as well and asked for another.
I didn't last long after that.
….
"Wow, that Lefiya was really scary."
"Yeah, I've never seen her like that before."
"By the way, Tione?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you pour Lefiya a drink? I thought you'd tell me my drink belongs to the guild leader!"
"Well, you see…"
"Why?"
"Because Lefiya looked like a girl in love."
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Notes: In this work, Lefiya is already level 4, not a typo or misunderstanding, that's the setting.