Hostess of Fertility

[4:00 PM]

Babel Tower, Lobby...

A part of the tower that is still managed and is still under the Guild's jurisdiction. With its facilities and staff which functions the same as the Guild's Main Building.

"Haaa~... Fresh air at last! Woohoo!~ I surely need a drink after this!"

Raul heaved a sigh of absolute relief and satisfaction and suddenly yelled his lungs out while putting up his hands in the air doing a slight stretching.

He was oddly too cheerful despite the dents and tears on his armor and clothes and the exhaustion that was clearly written on his face.

"R-Raul-san, keep it down would you?..." said Lefiya who was walking side by side with Ash just a few steps behind Raul.

She was quite flustered when she noticed that all the eyes of the people around were on them as if they were at the center of an attraction.

She could clearly see their eyes with a hint of mockery. Others were murmuring something while looking at them.

"Hahaha... Alright, let's sell the magic crystals we gathered today..."

Laughed Ash and said when he noticed the flustered Lefiya and Raul who was still shouting his heart out acting like a fool...

"Hmm?..."

Upon realizing the stares and hearing the ridicule from the people around him and hearing the words of his companions, Raul finally turned towards them and said...

"...Ah, hehe~ sorry." before striding towards the both of them and continued...

"Here, let's gather all of our loots and sell it all at once." while stretching out his hand with his pouch that contains all the magic crystals in it.

Lefiya nodded and took the pouch Raul handed and said, "Right... then we'll divide it equally."

She looked at Ash though... in fact, not only her but Raul as well and were hesitating to ask him if he wanted to sell his loot together with them-

since compared to them, he might have the biggest haul.

Finally, she looked at Raul and saw him shaking his head lightly so she made up her mind and decided against it and strode towards where the monetary transactions take place when...

"Hold on... don't you want to take mine?" Ash suddenly called out to her, held her shoulder, halting her steps.

And when she felt his hand on her, she almost, instinctively flinched and was about to step away from his touch.

In fact, not only her but even if any of her would be in her shoes, their reaction would be the same since, in the Danmachi world,-

Elves were known to be susceptible to body contact with any other races.

It was due to most of them having the 'being superior among others' mentality being engraved in their minds throughout their lives.

However, oddly enough, and when it finally sinks in, she oddly felt that she didn't dislike it. Although, she was quite flustered by his sudden move.

"W-w-what is i-it, Ash-san?" she asked while feeling her face heating up, revealing a tinge of blush on her cheeks.

"...Well, we're kind of in a party together aren't we?" Ash asked while eyeing both Lefiya and Raul.

"Y-yes..."

"..."

She responded while stuttering while Raul just repeatedly nodded his head.

Seeing their acknowledgment, he slightly nodded his head as well before saying, "Then there's no reason for you to treat me like this isn't it?"

"Y-yes... I'm sorry."

"We're sorry, Ash-san..."

Hearing his words, both of them couldn't help but bow their heads lightly and apologize since it was indeed rude of them to treat him like he wasn't part of the team.

And seeing their expressions, he kind of already knew that they felt bad about it but from Ash's point of view though, he really didn't mind and just treated it as nothing.

"Alright, no need to feel bad and apologize..." he said at the same time patting both of their heads before proceeding...

"I will take out mine and give it to you to sell but... not here though."

Raising their heads upon hearing what he said, Raul and Lefiya couldn't help but show a questioning look as if asking what he meant.

Lefiya though didn't take long enough to realize something.

She suddenly remembered what happened inside the dungeon and had already changed her facial expression showing that she got what he meant.

And upon seeing Lefiya's 'Oh, I know' kind of look, he could only sigh and said, "Judging by your expression, you already know what I meant, right?"

"...Yes. I... I accidentally saw you when you're collecting the drops from the Kobolds." she responded in a low tone and was expecting him to reprimand her... which didn't happen.

Raul on the other hand had shown that he was confused and couldn't help but ask, "Uh... what do you mean?"

"... Well, let's go to the Guild's Main Building first. Let's talk about it there."

---

After having their business at the Guild which left Eina, Raul, and Lefiya quite shocked by revealing to them about his storage ring and how it works but didn't talk more about it,-

The trio agreed to have a meal and drink together to celebrate their bountiful gains from selling the magic crystals they looted, which earned them quite a sum.

When they went out of the Guild though, they didn't talk about the treasure Ash had that can store things since they didn't want to attract any unnecessary and unwanted attention.

Although, Ash could see that they wanted to learn more about it and probably if it's possible to have one themselves.

They were currently on their way towards a pub called 'Hostess of Fertility' which Ash easily recognized since he passed by that place before he went to the Guild.

It didn't take them too long before they arrived at the pub's entrance which they were immediately greeted by a waitress...

"Nya~ Welcome dear guests to the Hostess of Fertility Nya~"

They were happily welcomed by a petite, exceedingly cheerful, and beautiful young lady on her green waitress outfit with a white apron and a maid headband.

Standing at 158 centimeters in height with black shoulder-length hair and deep green eyes, she's quite the charmer herself along with her beaming smile.

Ash, although he had already seen most if not all races in the Danmachi world, a young lady with cat ears and tail would still catch his attention and would often have the urge to touch them.

Often times when he sees these demi-human races if you want to call them, especially when they go 'Nya~', he couldn't help but think they're too adorable.

"Hello, Chloe-san!" beamed Lefiya.

Raul on the other hand, as always, had that cheeky smile and praised, "As expected, Mama Mia's business is booming as usual huh..."

"Can't be helped Nya~ A good food, cold drink, and a lively atmosphere after dungeon-crawling is quite desirable Nya~" replied the beautiful cat waitress and proceeded...

"Anyaway~ there are still vacant tables in there. Would you like a table for three Nya?~"

Chloe, the cat waitress asked and looked at them. Her eyes stops at Ash and were instantly mesmerized by his eyes and his hair.

Although, she couldn't help but be curious why he was covering his face with a scarf.

"Oh... this is Ash-san, we met him on the way to the dungeon and made a party with him." Lefiya introduced him when she noticed Chloe's gaze towards Ash and continued...

"Ash-san, this is Chloe-san. As you can already guess, she's a waiter here working under Mia-san."