26 Chapter 26

(A/N: I am making an addition to Tenfold Pain Enhancement's effect. It forces the victim to stay conscious, no matter how great or crippling the pain)

I walked into the Hostess of Fertility alongside Fortuna, my eyes scanning the room automatically out of instinct. I already had filled my quota for weird god interactions for today, so I didn't want to have to deal with Freya. However, it seemed like I would be in luck today since it seemed like she wasn't personally present. I smiled as I realized this, already feeling a bit better about eating here. We quickly made our way to a small table halfway to the corner of the room. It was secluded enough not to be overwhelmed by noise but still close enough to be in the thick of things.

I watched as an elf walked toward us, ready to take our drink orders. I instantly recognized her as Ryuu Lion. She wore a green maid outfit with a white frilled headband and a matching white apron. She looked exactly as she did in the anime, which had been the same for everyone else I had met, so it wasn't surprising. I watched her as she approached, she wore a neutral expression as she worked, it wasn't unfriendly, but it wasn't too friendly either. It was an expression that didn't stick out and was completely inoffensive. I had seen her during my previous visit to the Hostess, but I had never interacted with her before.

She quickly arrived at our table and began to take Fortuna's order. The goddess quickly announced what she wanted with a large smile at the elf. Clearly, she was extremely excited to get our party started. Ryuu then turned to me as I ordered water and whatever food she thought was the best on the menu. She nodded and moved off back toward the kitchen, which was already exuding the nice smell that I associated with home cooking. Fortuna gave me an exaggerated pout once Ryuu left.

"So boring, you're just ordering water? I thought this was a party?" She said playfully.

"I have never gained a taste for alcohol," I said truthfully, I had never understood the appeal since everything I tried tasted horrible in the past, "Plus, someone will need to be sober to make sure both of us get home, and that certainly won't be you,"

I liked Fortuna quite a bit, but the one thing that annoyed me about her was that she is a bit of a heavy drinker. Luckily, she wasn't an alcoholic, never drinking in the shop or the apartment. However, she seemed to think whenever we go out is the time to go absolutely wild and drink as much as possible. I had only been out to dinner with her once or twice so far, so I couldn't fully confirm the validity of my theory, but as it turned out, Fortuna did that for me. She was already on her fourth drink by the time the food arrived.

Ryuu subtly turned to me and raised her eyebrow a fraction, but all I could do was shrug in the direction of Fortuna. I reached up and unclasped my earring to fiddle with as I watched the goddess, who had begun to sway slightly. I figured the food would help, especially since it meant she was forced to slow down on the drinks. It wasn't too much longer until my food came out. I placed my earring down on the corner of the table before beginning to dig into my food. Ryuu glanced at my earring in interest for a moment before she shrugged and turned away to go serve some other tables.

I had to give it to Mia, she knew how to cook a mean stew. I dipped my bread into the broth and savored the taste as I took a large bite. Despite being caught up in the good food, I remained vigilant, especially since Fortuna is extremely beautiful and obviously drunk. No matter what world you go to, that isn't an ideal combo, especially if you are the person who has to care for said beautiful woman by yourself. I wasn't concerned about having to deal with anything in the restaurant, but outside would be another matter. I still kept an eye out with Magic Sense, especially as a guy sitting too far away kept glancing at Fortuna.

I sighed as the man got up and began to approach, clearly a little drunk himself. I quickly sized him up and dismissed him as any real threat. From the way he carried himself, he was clearly an adventurer, but my guess was that he was on the lower end of level one. Despite knowing that there was no way this wouldn't lead to trouble, I couldn't help but marvel at the balls of the man. He was clearly approaching a goddess, but he didn't seem perturbed in the slightest. A few of the tables around us seemed to realize what was about to happen, so the conversations dimmed around us, drawing even more attention.

I gave the man a warning look as he approached, but a cocky grin just surfaced on his face as he finally arrived at our table and opened his mouth, "How are you beautiful?" he asked, ignoring me completely.

Fortuna looked up, slightly out of it, then asked, "Who are you?" she slurred her words as he asked the question.

"I'm Henry. How about you and I get out of here?" he asked, causing my eyebrows to raise, I quickly changed my opinion of the man, he wasn't brave, just a massive dumbass.

"No thanks," She said, instantly dismissing the man before her and focusing back on her drink.

I stayed silent during this exchange since there was still an opportunity for the man to walk away, but, of course, he didn't, "Come on," he said, reaching out toward Fortuna.

That was where I drew the line, so I stood and grabbed the man's arm, "I believe she said no, I think it's best you head on your way," I said diplomatically, noticing that we had practically the entire restaurant's attention at this point, I even saw Mia poke her head from the kitchen to access the situation.

"You don't tell me what to do," He said with his same cocky smile, reaching lower to grab the goddess's butt.

Mia was already approaching, but she was across the room. I was much closer and was able to react much faster. I quickly used Tenfold Pain Enhancement for the first time on the man. Then, my foot blurred forward and impacted the man's groin with the force of a freight train. I held nothing back in the blow and was completely certain that having children would no longer be a possibility for this man after this. All at once his face turned ghostly pale as ten times the pain of what would already be a devastating injury assaulted him. He didn't even scream as he fell, it was clear to everyone in the building that he was incapable of the act. He could only produce choked, whining cries and moans as he rolled on the floor, face paler than that of a ghost.

I didn't even look down at him as I simply stepped back and pulled out some money to pay for the meal. Mia arrived a moment later, but she looked less than sympathetic to the man on the floor's predicament. However she did give me a look, but I held up my hands in surrender and held out the money. She took it with a sigh, then grabbed the man on the floor and threw him out of a nearby open window. The room was still silent as I put Fortuna's arm around my shoulders and supported her as I guided her out of the restaurant.

Fortuna seemed lucid enough to understand that we weren't in an ideal situation, so she spoke, but her voice was much too loud, especially since she was practically shouting into my ear, "I'm sorry, Galahad. This was supposed to be your party," she said, her drink addled mind blaming herself for ruining the party.

"It's not your fault, and anyways, I had plenty of fun," I said soothingly.

"You do so much for me, but I bring nothing but trouble," She said, her voice making the atmosphere awkward in the quiet restaurant as I made my way toward the door.

"You got that right," I said comedically as I pushed open the door, getting a squawk of protest from Fortuna.

"Hey, you're supposed to deny it and comfort me," She said indignantly.

"Who gonna comfort me when I comfort you?" I asked, stumping the goddess, her drunkenness making her unable to see any fault in my logic.

By that time, we were out the door, so I flung her over my shoulder in a fireman's carry and began to head toward Babel. However, a voice stopped me in my tracks, "Wait,"

I turned back to the restaurant to see Ryuu making her way toward me, my forgotten earring gripped in one hand. My eyes widened, and I kicked myself for leaving behind something with so much sentimental value to me. They were the very first pair that Fortuna had given me to complete my outfit that first day. They were a memento when I would have been upset to lose a piece of it. Ryuu still wore her natural expression, but I think I saw a glint of respect as she was about to toss the piece of jewelry to me, but in a moment of unexpected moment, I surged forward and grasped her hand with both of my own.

"You have no idea how great of a service you have done for me," I said, looking directly into her large and expressive eyes, which were now full of shock.

I quickly remembered Elf's distaste for touching others, so I backed up with an apology before thanking her one more time, but Fortuna's voice suddenly interrupted me, "Have you been into Elven women this entire time?" she asked.

I shot an apologetic look to Ryuu, who still looked taken off guard by the whole encounter, so I simply waved and began to walk away. I didn't remember much of her from the story, but I knew that she was a reliable friend and person in general, so I didn't mind trying to befriend her.

Ryuu just looked stood as still and silent as a statue, watching the man walk away and chastise his goddess, still processing the interaction. She raised her hand up and looked at it deeply before turning and heading back to her job.

=== === === === ===

The FL will either be Tiona or Ryuu, I haven't decided yet. Fortuna was always meant to fulfill the role of a friend/family member. Riveria would be an interesting choice, but I admittedly don't like the age gap despite the fact that the MC's lifespan is multiple thousands of years.