Chapter 127

Orario.

After wiggling around the Tower of Babel for a bit and showing the xenos life on the surface, we went to a rather famous pub called the Mistress of the Horn of Plenty. It was originally found by Morgan, who thought it was a good place, which, please note, is quite a feat, and so our Familia became frequent visitors to the place

While I drank my coffee and Tia devoured the food with a satisfied smile, much like Morgan, but with the etiquette of a noble lady, there was uncertainty and caution on Ray and Let's faces. They too were eating the food we had ordered, though their respective feelings were still evident in their body and eye movements.

The Xenos were bothered by the rather intense stares of the humans, but thanks to Tia spreading a motherly aura around her and smiling at Let and Ray, they were much relieved. The monster that Tia had tamed wasn't with us, though, and as she explained, it had volunteered to protect the house, even though it wasn't necessary due to the enclosed fields.

Back to the pub, there were few visitors at this time of day, and so about two-thirds of the tables were empty. The interior had no particular sophistication, but rather a homely coziness that I suppose made the place so appealing even among the gods.

The establishment was owned by a somewhat well-fed and tall woman named Mia Grand with not particularly distinguished looks, but that didn't touch on her strength. At first glance, I'd call her a level five or six, indicating her background as an adventurer, and a capable one at that. There was also a very familiar and troubled divinity felt from her, and not just from her.

She had several girls working for her, doing the work of the usual waitresses. And they all even wore the same uniform, consisting of a knee-length grass-colored dress, a white bonnet, and an apron. The funny thing was that by the feel of it, each of them was at least a third level, as their energy signatures indicated.

To summarize it all, the place was really interesting, and I suppose that was the reason Morgan had placated it. The food here was actually pretty good, though. Not as good as Archer's, but still not bad.

- "Aaaaaa~" Tia sang out, bringing a fork with a piece of meat strung on it to my mouth.

- "Oh? You're so cute," I smiled and accepted her attempt to feed me, then glanced at the xenos that were watching us, "If you want something, feel free to ask for it."

- "Thank you," Let said.

- "Can I ask you a question, Romani?" Ray asked, to which I nodded briefly, "Why does the goddess Tiamat feel so..."

- "Familiar? Tia is the goddess of Beginning and Life, which is practically the same as 'him'," I grinned and pointed my finger downward, "Him and Tia can be called the same field of berries, but with the adjustment of divinity. Though, that would require more in-depth study."

- "That's... weird..." Ray muttered, "She'd never thought any god would be so close to her."

- "So, your assumptions are confirmed," Morgan commented, "Do you think it has something to do with the reason we're here?"

- "It's possible, but we'll only be able to find out on the lower floors, where the Dungeon's presence is strongest. We have other things to do," I shrugged and looked around our table, where the food had been tripled, "Ms. Lion, shall we repeat as usual."

- "Okay," said an elf named Ryuu Lion, one of the waitresses with blue eyes and medium-length blonde hair.

- "So, what do you think of humans?" I asked, getting Ray and Let's attention, "Your expectations more or less matched reality, I guess?"

- "Surely, it's okay to discuss this... here?" Ray asked with a note of concern, "I mean, you won't get in trouble for us?"

- "Yes, we wouldn't want to inconvenience you," said Let, to which I summoned one of Enkidu's chains and wiggled the tip of it from side to side.

- "No chains in my establishment!" came Mia's loud voice, "I don't want it to turn into another Silverthorn!"

- "I apologize, Ms. Grand," I rolled my eyes, causing my hostess to look annoyed, and then glared at the xenos, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. But I'm still interested in your opinion."

- "The humans... are afraid of us..." after a few seconds of doubt and silence, Ray began. – "Not that we expected anything different, but it's a little uncomfortable with so many eyes pointed directly at us."

- "They're also interested in us, since we're having a peaceful conversation with you without the usual attacks or hostility," Let added, "They fear you more than they fear us, Mr. Archaman. What have you done to accomplish this?"

- "A little thing not worth mentioning," I said, and I heard some loud snorts from some of the staff and a chuckle from Morgan.

Ryu came over to us at this point and put more portions in front of us, which I touched, thanking the waitress. A moment later, the doors to the place opened, revealing Loki's Familia, along with Loki herself. They weren't wearing any battle clothes, and apparently they had come just to eat.

- "Mama Mia, we're here to eat!" Loki shrieked, to which she received a nod from her owner, and then looked around the room, subsequently finding our group. And sending her children to a vacant table, she sat down with us, looking at the xenos with interest. Though judging by their looks, they were worried about their goddess and didn't want to let her go alone.

- "So, the rumors were true, and you did bring the monsters to the surface. I don't know if you're insane or if you just have nothing better to do," she said, which made Ray and Let wary, "More likely the former, since only a madman would take Morgan as his wife."

- "How rude," the Fairy Queen smirked, and Loki's children tensed a little, ready to act, judging by the look in their eyes and their frozen bodies, "What have I done to deserve such an unfounded opinion of myself, Goddess of Deception?"

- "I understand you certainly don't see anything wrong with your actions," Loki smirked as well, "But you wouldn't attack me just because of that, would you?"

- "I'm not a barbarian," Morgan said. I rolled my eyes at that, and Loki grinned.

- "A nearly gutted Ottar would disagree with that," Loki said, and the room was momentarily quiet, focusing only on our table, and then she shifted her gaze to Tia and me, "How on earth did you manage to hide your real level from the Guild, since there's no way a 'first' could crush a seventh?"

- "Aaaa~" Tia sang out in a judgmental tone as she looked at Morgan.

- "So, you didn't kill him? Was it really you?" I added.

- "He was useful," the Fairy Queen grinned, "And I was defending myself, Beast II. It wasn't my fault he turned out to be so weak."

- "Weak? I wonder what strength you're hiding," Loki spoke up, "Anyway, why did you bring monsters here?"

- "Are they a nuisance, Lady Loki? We're having a cultural and peaceful time, aren't we? By the way, this is Loki, the goddess of deception," I shrugged and introduced Loki to the xenos, then pointed her gaze at them, "The siren's name is Ray, and the goblin's name is Let. And as you can see, they don't attack or anything like that."

- "Nice to meet you," Ray and Let bowed their heads.

- "Ahhhhh~" Tia spoke up, defending the xenos.

- "Their presence is disturbing the people of the city," Loki shook her head, "I understand that you can somehow stop the aggression of monsters, and your children are very strong, but because of this, Orario could be in turmoil. One monster, and not in front of everyone? That's tolerable, but not this."

- "What a subtle hint," I grinned, "But it's all right, because Lord Ouranos himself asked us to do it."

- "Huh?" Loki didn't understand.

- "Xenos, that is, such as Ray and Let, have intelligence and even know how to speak human. They are attacked by adventurers and other monsters alike, and all they want is to live peacefully on the surface, avoiding all sorts of conflicts. Lord Ouranos has taken them under his guardianship, protecting and helping them," I said, causing Loki to look genuinely surprised and Tia to hug the xenos softly, who shrank back and lowered her gaze, "I guess there's no point in explaining further, because you've already figured it out, haven't you?"

Now the gazes of the gawkers in the pub that were directed at the xenos were expressions of guilt, shame, pity, and compassion. After all, the scene of Xenos and Tia hugging really made one think about humanity.

- "So that's why Ouranos made such special rules about you," Loki said with a squint of her eyes, "Tch. And this old man kept quiet about it?"

- "Well, you can't blame him, because not all monsters are like that, just xenos."

- "That doesn't change the fact that he kept it from us gods," Loki frowned, to which I shrugged.

- "I'm sorry for looking at you like that," some adventuress said to Ray and Let, walking over to the table, "I didn't realize that..."

- "It's okay," Ray smiled weakly.

- "Yeah, it wasn't your fault, miss," Let added.

After her, others who were being eaten up by conscience began to approach, and I got a snide look from Morgan and took a sip of coffee.

So, the process is set in motion, and all that's left to do is wait for Ouranos' reaction. Let's see what he does in response to it. Uh-huh-uh.

-0-

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