Ahead—
Watching the dark-haired youth approach in the morning sunlight, Anya and Chloe were already excitedly hopping in place.
"The handsome guy is here, meow meow meow!"
"If we could meet a handsome guy every day, waking up early to clean wouldn't be so bad, meow! Totally worth it!"
Chloe eagerly took the initiative, her ears perked straight up, and bounded forward with a dazzling smile:
"Hi there, handsome young man! You've arrived at the perfect time, meow!"
She gazed at Ryota with sparkling eyes, her voice soft and sweet with a feline lilt, and gestured gently toward the shop entrance:
"Would you like to come in for a drink? We're not open yet, but you're getting special treatment, meow~!"
Ryota blinked, looking at her earnest, expectant smile, then glanced behind her to see Anya enthusiastically holding her broom and forming a heart gesture with her hands.
He showed a helpless smile:
"Actually... I just came by to take a quick look."
"Wow, you're so polite!"
Chloe directly ignored his second sentence, nodding seriously as she said,
"For ordering, just ask us, meow~!"
"No, I mean..."
"Our service is very attentive, meow!"
At this moment, Anya had also quickly moved forward, boldly grabbing Ryota's arm without hesitation.
"Come on, come on, handsome guy, let's chat while we drink, meow~!"
Ryota had originally planned to visit "The Hostess of Fertility" after returning from the Dungeon, completing the exploration side quest at a more suitable time, and trying their famous beef dish along the way.
But he never imagined—
Why were these two catgirls so strong?!!
"Eh? Wait—wait a second—I really wasn't planning to drink right now..."
Before he could finish, his other arm was grabbed happily by Chloe. Working seamlessly together with Anya's push-and-pull strategy, the two catgirls forcibly dragged him into the restaurant.
"Hey, wait, wait... Listen to me..."
"You're already here, meow~!"
Ryuu Lion sighed helplessly, gently rubbing her forehead. She picked up the poor abandoned brooms left behind by these two energetic catgirls, then followed them into the tavern.
The wooden door clicked shut, and immediately soft background music began to play—a gentle, wandering melody from a wooden guitar, a soothing prelude perfectly suited to the early morning.
Ryota paused for a moment, his gaze following the catgirls as he took in the interior of the tavern.
It was much more spacious than he had imagined.
The smooth wooden floor gleamed warmly underfoot, wicker lanterns hung from the ceiling, and the clever blend of metal and wood created a cozy, inviting vintage atmosphere.
The restaurant was divided into two floors. Seats by the windows were clearly popular among adventurers, and three semicircular tables occupied a cozy corner.
Ryota was gently but insistently seated by the catgirls, curiously surveying the establishment.
If he hadn't clearly remembered his side quest City Exploration progress, he might have truly believed he'd come here purely to have an early morning drink...
Just as the atmosphere finally relaxed, Ryota suddenly realized a serious problem:
He didn't have a single Valis on him!
Ryota stiffened for a split second. Although his backpack was filled with Magic Stones, he'd originally intended to visit the Adventurer's Guild today, exchanging the stones for Valis and officially registering as an adventurer.
Based on his vague impressions of "The Hostess of Fertility," although it had a casual atmosphere, its prices weren't exactly cheap.
Most importantly, the place only accepted cash Valis transactions. Magic Stones? Sorry, even handing them to the kitchen wouldn't earn him a single plate of beef stew.
Ryota felt his heart sink.
Should he... look for a chance to slip away?
But a quick glance revealed Chloe and Anya already busily preparing with delighted expressions, clearly set on thoroughly entertaining their handsome guest—he even overheard them debating whether to whip up their signature desserts.
Suddenly, Ryota realized that escaping might prove somewhat difficult.
While he was silently agonizing, Ryuu Lion quietly approached, placing a glass of clear water gently on the table.
"You are...?"
Ryuu's voice was calm, her blue-green eyes as clear and serene as a forest lake.
Ryota paused briefly, quickly regaining his composure and politely responding:
"My name is Ryota."
Hearing his reply, the elf girl gave a slight nod. Tapping the table lightly with her slender finger, she spoke softly:
"If you're a newcomer... I can offer you this first drink on the house."
Ryota couldn't help but inwardly marvel at her sharp perception.
She truly lived up to her reputation as the Gale...
Could she tell his status merely from his aura and demeanor?
She was incredibly perceptive.
Still, Ryota didn't intend to take undue advantage of her kindness. Smiling, he said:
"Then... please bring me your cheapest drink, whatever it is."
Ryuu didn't say anything more, merely nodded and walked back toward the bar.
Moments later, she returned carrying a glass filled with a pale blue liquid. The drink shimmered gently, resembling the morning sky illuminated by sunlight:
"Blue Flower Dew Sake," Ryuu explained quietly, "It's one of our cheapest regular drinks."
"Thank you."
Ryota nodded in gratitude. Without further ado, he lifted the glass and took a cautious sip. Surprisingly refreshing, with a subtle fruity aroma and barely any alcohol taste, it was perfect for the early morning.
In no time, he finished the entire glass, carefully wiping away the moisture from the rim with his thumb.
Then, decisively, he stood up.
Time to leave.
He genuinely feared that if he stayed any longer, the two catgirls might enthusiastically serve him some "Today's Limited Special Set." He really couldn't afford that!
Ryuu Lion watched him quietly and spoke softly:
"Are you heading to the Guild?"
"Yeah."
Ryota replied lightly.
Ryuu paused thoughtfully before continuing:
"When entering the Dungeon for the first time—even if just the upper floors—be sure to stay safe."
"Remain vigilant, and always keep an eye out for retreat routes."
Ryota was slightly startled. Looking into the elf girl's calm gaze, he nodded solemnly:
"Thanks, I'll remember that."
Strange...
Wasn't it said elves generally kept their distance from other races?
Pushing open the door, Ryota stepped out onto the bustling street, now brightening in the morning sunlight.
He lightly furrowed his brows.
He couldn't help but feel there were more and more things he didn't quite understand.
Forget it... At least he had asked for directions and gotten a free, delicious drink.
Inside the tavern, Ryuu Lion remained standing quietly, watching the figure gradually fade away.
She, too, had many questions swirling in her mind.