Chapter Thirty-Five

(Hostess of Fertility)

After a few hours, the Hostess of Fertility was buzzing with activity as the evening crowd filled the pub.

The waitresses had returned from their errands, and the jovial atmosphere was a stark contrast to the earlier atmosphere.

"Hai! hai! Right here, right this way." Chloe greeted the new patrons inside while guiding them to a free table.

"More water over here please!"

"I'll be with you in just a moment."

"Chloe, go clear table five, they already finished with their meals," Mama said, noticing that they were leaving.

"On it, Mama, thank you for coming to the Hostess of Fertility. Please do come again~Meow!" Anya said as she quickly said goodbye to the parting customers.

"Two more plates of sereile Fish Mama, and two medium wine cups," Sry said coming up to the bar with the order.

"You heard that May, to more orders of sereile Fish," Mama shouted from the bar window.

"Hai!!!" May shouted from the kitchen as she was preparing another customer's meal and ordering the other chefs on what to make next.

Things were certainly getting busy in the Hostess of Fertility, but to them, this was just a normal day.

....

Muichiro had just completed the final touches on the roof.

He stepped back to admire his work, satisfied that the structure was now sturdy and waterproof.

To test it further, he activated his skill Nature's Blessing, allowing water to cascade down onto the roof.

He listened intently for any telltale signs of leaks but found none. Content with the outcome, he made his way inside the bustling pub.

Amid the laughter and lively conversations, Mama Mia greeted Muichiro with a beaming smile.

"Hey kiddo, how's the roof coming along..." Mama Mia asked as she served two cups of wine and Ryu took them out of her hands.

He informed her of the successful repairs, and she expressed her gratitude. As promised, she extended the offer of complimentary meals and drinks at the pub for the next week as a gesture of thanks.

Muichiro acknowledged the offer with a simple nod, seemingly ready to depart.

"I guess I will be back tomorrow then to finish off the wall, thank you for having me," Muichiro said turning to leave.

However, Mama Mia had other plans. In a maternal gesture, she playfully tugged at his collar and guided him to a chair at the bar.

(Pic)

Muichiro blinked in confusion, his head tilting slightly as he regarded her.

With an affectionate smile, Mama Mia explained that May had prepared some new recipes, and it would be a waste not to try them out.

"I see, well since my goddess knows I'll be late, that's fine as well," Muichiro said getting comfortable in his seat.

Seeing it as an opportunity for a new meal, Muichiro agreed to stay a bit longer. Just as he settled into his seat, a group of men approached the bar, diverting Mama Mia's attention.

Left to himself momentarily, Muichiro was soon approached by Anya Fromel, the chatty brown cat, as he had endearingly categorized her.

Anya's grin was as wide as ever as she greeted Muichiro. Her outgoing and friendly nature contrasted sharply with Muichiro's reserved demeanour.

"Hey there, Mr. Builder!" Anya chirped with her cat-like enthusiasm, pulling up a stool next to him.

Muichiro turned his attention to her, his expression unchanging. "Hello."

Anya's eyes gleamed with curiosity as she leaned in a little closer. "You know, I've always thought you were one of the quiet ones around here. Kinda like Ryuu, that cute elf girl over there."

Ryu who wasn't too far away to eavesdrop on the conversation just gave Anya a deadpan look, before getting back to the customers she was serving.

Muichiro nodded, acknowledging her observation. He didn't seem fazed by the comparison to his coworker.

Anya leaned even closer, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "But hey, you know what they say about the quiet ones, right? They're usually hiding something interesting!" She punctuated her words with a playful wink.

Muichiro merely blinked, his expression remaining stoic. He was getting used to Anya's lively demeanour and took her comments in stride.

After a moment of contemplation, Anya's eyes lit up with an idea. "You know what? There's this really cool bookstore on the east side of Orario. They've got all sorts of interesting books. I was thinking, if you're free in three days, maybe I could take you there?"

Muichiro's interest was piqued, and he considered the offer for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Anya's grin widened, and she clapped her hands together. "Great! It's a date then!"

[Meanwhile, in the kitchen May sneezed, and looked around in confusion. 'Why do I feel so weird, like someone's trying to steal something that's mine.]

With that, Anya bounced off her stool, giving Muichiro an exaggerated wink before making her way to greet incoming customers, leaving him sitting there with his usual composed expression amidst the lively atmosphere of the Hostess of Fertility.

...

As the evening carried on, the Hostess of Fertility continued to thrive with activity. Muichiro found himself engrossed in the delicious array of dishes that May had prepared.

Each bite was a burst of flavour that he savoured with his usual composed demeanour. The conversations around him melded into a pleasant background noise as he focused on his meal.

Anya, the chatty brown cat, was still bustling around the pub, attending to customers with her usual vivacity. After a while, she noticed Muichiro finishing his meal and approached him again.

"How's the food treating you? It's the best right." Anya asked, her grin as bright as ever.

Muichiro glanced up at her, his expression unchanging. "It's good."

Anya laughed, her cat-like chuckle infectious. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it! By the way, did you know that May thinks you're like a mysterious hero who appeared out of nowhere to save the day?"

Muichiro's brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "Hero?" Why did they keep calling him that, he doesn't think any of his actions were heroic.

"I'm nothing special," Muichiro said, and Anya immediately made an X-shape with her arms.

Anya waved her hand dismissively. "Nonsense! You're like the silent hero of the pub now. And speaking of heroes, have you ever heard the legend of the Brave Wolf?"

Muichiro tilted his head, his interest piqued by the mention of a story. "I haven't."

Anya's eyes twinkled as she launched into a tale with animated gestures. "So, there was once a brave adventurer named Eamon the Brave. He was as tough as they come, always charging into danger with his trusty sword! But one day, he came across a wolf pup that was hurt and abandoned."

Muichiro listened attentively as Anya spun the fictional tale. The story told various tales, adventures and heroism, with Eamon the Brave protecting the wolf pup and raising it as his loyal companion.

Anya's expressive storytelling drew Muichiro into the narrative, momentarily capturing his attention.

As the night carried on, Muichiro found himself engaged in light conversations with Mama Mia and if not her he was eating and drinking.

Anya continued to pop by, sharing amusing anecdotes and stories that were both entertaining and lighthearted.

It was a stark contrast to his usual quiet routine, and while he didn't show it, Muichiro found himself not minding the change of pace.