Chapter 18: Tensions at the Tavern and Declared Protection

The table Tsubaki chose at the Hostess of Fertility was spacious and offered a good view of the main hall, although Hachiman would have preferred a more discreet corner. While they waited for the substantial meal the Amazon captain had ordered for the three of them, a casual conversation began. Tsubaki, with her usual energy, told funny (and probably exaggerated) stories about the latest blunders of some Hephaestus Familia members in the workshop. Hephaestus listened with a small smile, occasionally reprimanding Tsubaki for revealing "guild secrets," but clearly relaxing a bit outside the forge environment. Hachiman contributed with monosyllabic comments or dry observations, still feeling a bit out of place, but less tense than during the forging lesson.

After a while, the food began to arrive, brought on steaming platters. And, to Hachiman's internal discomfort, the one serving their table again was Ryuu Lion. The green-haired elf approached with her usual efficiency, but her posture was rigid, and she carefully avoided meeting Hachiman's gaze. As she placed the heavy plates of roasted meat, stew, and bread in front of them, her movements were precise, but Hachiman could feel the aura of displeasure emanating from her. She clearly hadn't forgotten or forgiven the incident of the accidental touch days ago.

'Ah, great. What a pleasant evening,' Hachiman thought, feeling an imaginary drop of sweat roll down his forehead as Ryuu walked away without a word.

The tense interaction, however brief, did not go unnoticed by Tsubaki's sharp eyes. As soon as Ryuu was far enough away, the Amazon leaned across the table with a mischievous grin. "Oho? What was that, Hachiman? Heavy atmosphere with our elf waitress? Broke her heart or something?"

Hachiman almost choked on the sip of water he was taking. "Wh-what? Of course not!" he protested, exasperated. "It was just a misunderstanding the last time I was here. An accident."

"An 'accident' that left her looking at you like you were a particularly disgusting Goblin?" Tsubaki laughed, clearly enjoying his embarrassment.

"Tsubaki, leave the boy alone," Hephaestus intervened, casting a disapproving look at her captain, although slight amusement also twinkled in her eye. She turned to Hachiman, changing the subject, perhaps out of genuine curiosity or just to end the teasing. "Speaking of unpleasant things... you mentioned you're a new adventurer. How have things been in the Dungeon for you? Besides the incident with the Minotaur, of course."

Hachiman was a bit surprised by the direct question but answered honestly, perhaps feeling he owed it to her after the gift of the armor and the lesson. He gave a brief summary of his progression: starting from scratch, the initial struggle on the first floors, the difficulty in advancing, the significant improvement after receiving the armor which allowed him to explore up to the ninth floor. And then, he recounted the previous morning's event in more detail.

"...so I was on the fifth floor, heading for the tenth, when I heard the commotion," he explained. "It was that boy, Bell Cranel, being chased by a Minotaur. A Minotaur on the fifth floor. Clearly one that escaped from a lower floor." He paused, his gaze meeting Hephaestus's. "The Loki Familia had just returned from an expedition. It seemed like too much of a coincidence. Anyway, the thing came after me after the boy passed..." He briefly described the fight, the manifestation of the twin swords, being thrown against the wall, and Aiz Wallenstein's intervention. "...I survived thanks to your armor, Hephaestus-sama. But the whole situation was caused because a dangerous monster was where it shouldn't be."

Hephaestus's expression became genuinely concerned as she listened. "A Minotaur... and you fought it, even being Level 1? You could have died!"

"I'm fine," Hachiman reassured her, though the memory still sent a shiver down his spine. "But apparently others weren't so lucky."

Tsubaki, who had stopped smiling during the account, now had a serious expression. "Losing control of a monster during the return from an expedition... That's more than carelessness, it's gross negligence. If other adventurers died because of it..." She shook her head, her gaze hardening. The reputation and safety of all adventurers were taken seriously by the more responsible Familias.

While they were immersed in this serious conversation, the noise at the tavern entrance increased. A large, loud group entered, and the atmosphere of the place changed instantly. Hachiman looked up and saw the main group of the Loki Familia entering in force: the prum leader Finn Deimne, the powerful elf mage Riveria Ljos Alf, the dwarf warrior Gareth Landrock, Aiz Wallenstein (with her usual calm expression), the twins Tiona and Tione, Bete Loga (already looking annoyed about something), the young mage Lefiya Viridis, and even Goddess Loki herself, with her mischievous smile and cunning eyes. They were the royalty of Orario, and their combined presence was impossible to ignore.

They settled at a large table not far from Hachiman, Hephaestus, and Tsubaki, and were soon immersed in their own lively and noisy conversation. After a while, as food and drinks began to flow at their table, Bete Loga's loud, mocking voice stood out.

"Hey, did you guys see that white rabbit earlier today? Hahaha! Running from the Dungeon like Dian Cecht himself was after him, all drenched in Minotaur blood! What a pathetic sight!" Bete laughed, clearly referring to Bell Cranel. A few others at the table laughed with him.

Hachiman saw Aiz frown slightly beside Bete. "It wasn't his fault, Bete," she said calmly.

"Silence, Aiz! It was funny!" retorted the werewolf.

It was Riveria who intervened with authority. "Bete, stop it. Mocking a novice in distress is unworthy. Besides," she added, her voice firm and clear, "it was our fault that Minotaur reached the fifth floor. There was a containment failure during our return." The public admission silenced some of the laughter, although Bete still looked grumpy.

At that exact moment, Hachiman saw Bell Cranel, who must have been elsewhere in the tavern or perhaps had just arrived, stand up abruptly from near the counter. The boy's face was red with humiliation and perhaps anger at Bete's mockery. Without a word, Bell ran out of the Hostess of Fertility.

'And there he goes...' Hachiman thought, recognizing the canonical scene. 'Probably heading straight to the Dungeon to train like crazy to prove Bete wrong.'

But Bell's departure left Bete without his main target. The werewolf's eyes swept the room, looking for other amusement, and landed on Hachiman. Recognition flickered in his eyes, remembering the dead-eyed boy from the incident in the Dungeon earlier that day. A cruel smile formed on his lips.

"Well, well, if it isn't the other piece of trash who almost died today," Bete mocked, loud enough to be heard. "At least the rabbit had the decency to run away. Are you still here, stinking of fear and failure?"

Hachiman sighed internally. He really didn't want to get involved. But being called trash twice in the same day by the same person, especially when that person belonged to the Familia responsible for nearly killing him... something snapped. Maybe it was impulse, maybe it was the accumulated stress, or maybe he simply couldn't stand Bete's arrogance.

He let out a small, sarcastic, almost inaudible hum before replying, his voice calm but laden with cold contempt. "It's impressive, don't you think? A Level 1 like the 'rabbit' managing to survive an encounter with a Minotaur – a monster known as a 'Level 2 killer'. I wonder if you would have survived if you were Level 1 in that situation, Bete Loga." He paused, his gaze fixed on the werewolf. "And honestly, I don't understand why you bother mocking others, when it was your Familia's negligence that created this whole situation in the first place."

Silence fell over the nearby tables. Hachiman's words, spoken bluntly and with accusatory precision, hit Bete with full force. The werewolf shot up abruptly, his chair falling backward with a crash. His red eyes gleamed with murderous fury, fangs bared. He recognized Hachiman now, not just as the boy from the Dungeon, but as the one who had verbally challenged him earlier.

"You... damn...!" Bete snarled, clearly about to leap across the table and attack Hachiman right there. The mood grew heavy, charged with violent intent.

But before Bete could take a step, Tsubaki Collbrande moved. With surprising speed, she rose from her chair and positioned herself fluidly between their table and Bete Loga. She said nothing, but her physical presence – a Level 5 Captain, Master Blacksmith, exuding restrained power – was an insurmountable barrier. Her arms were crossed, and her single eye stared at Bete with a silent warning. Then, she spoke, her voice calm but resonating with authority and a touch of defiance.

"Is there a problem, Bete Loga?" She gestured slightly towards Hachiman, who remained seated, watching the scene with an outward calm that didn't reflect his racing heart. "It's best if there isn't. Because this boy," Tsubaki declared, her voice clear for all around to hear, "has the protection of the Hephaestus Familia."

The declaration hung in the air, heavy with meaning. It was no longer just a low-level adventurer talking back to an elite one. It was the Captain of the Hephaestus Familia placing her protégé under her Familia's aegis, directly against a prominent member of the Loki Familia. The situation had escalated to a whole new level.