Revelations and Rumbles at the Hostess of Fertility

As the feast continued, the members of the Familia merrily conversed with each other, enjoying the lively atmosphere. Amidst the laughter and clinking of glasses, Ais suddenly posed a question.

"That dwarf... Do you know her?" Ais inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Finn, wearing a wry smile, responded, "You could say that. We can't escape her, that might be more accurate..."

"Mia, the owner, used to be an adventurer. She's currently half-retired from her Familia, but until a little while ago, we worked with her a lot," Riveria explained.

Althea, who had been listening intently, found herself intrigued by Mia's backstory. The idea of a retired adventurer running a tavern added an air of mystery to the lively establishment.

"Hmph, she's just a loose cannon. She only knew how to brute-force her way through things," Gareth remarked with a hint of disdain in his voice.

Finn couldn't resist teasing Gareth, adding, "Hehe, feeling a bit lonely now that you don't have her to argue with all the time, Gareth?"

Gareth shot Finn a reproachful look and retorted, "Don't be stupid, Finn."

After hearing the answers, Althea pieced together the information given by the Familia. She figured that Mia, the store owner, was more than meets the eye.

"So, the dwarf was an adventurer, huh? Yet she retired and opened a bar," Althea mused aloud, her curiosity piqued.

Finn nodded in agreement. "That's right. Mia had her fair share of adventures back in the day. But as time went on, she decided to hang up her sword and pursue a different path. Opening this bar seemed to be her way of finding a new adventure, in a sense."

Althea leaned back in her chair, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "I must say, it's quite the career change. From battling monsters to serving drinks. It's not something you see every day."

Riveria smiled softly, adding her own perspective. "Mia always had a knack for creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Even during our adventures, she would often be the one to lift our spirits and provide a sense of comfort. It's no surprise that she found success in this new endeavor."

Gareth grumbles, not fully convinced. "Well, she may have been strong, but I still think she relied too much on brute force."

Meanwhile, the owner suddenly shouted her catchphrase and the bar's motto, "A place to laugh and eat, no matter how terrible the times."

Hearing that, Althea took a moment to look around.

Beyond the members of Loki Familia, the bar was filled with a diverse crowd of demi-humans. There were average workers, craftsmen-like blacksmiths, and of course, adventurers.

Laughter filled the air, mingling with the clinking of glasses and the aroma of delicious food.

Althea couldn't help but be captivated by the lively atmosphere. It was a true reflection of Mia's vision, where people from all walks of life could come together, forget their troubles, and enjoy the simple pleasures of laughter, good company, and hearty meals.

However, as she continued to soak in the ambiance, something peculiar stirred within her mind. Memories from the past started resurfacing, like shattered fragments of a forgotten dream.

Images of a familiar swordsman worrying about the bill while his friends drank, sang, and danced flashed before her eyes. Not only that, Ais and a lovely blonde woman were also present, sharing in the laughter and merriment.

A pang of discomfort washed over Althea as she questioned the origin of these memories.

'Were these truly my own memories, or did they belong to someone else?' Althea asked herself in utter confusion.

The lines between her own experiences and those of others seemed to blur, leaving her with a sense of unease.

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to these memories than met the eye, but for now, she pushed the thoughts aside, determined to enjoy the festivities unfolding before her.

-----------------------------------------------------

Moments later, Riveria noticed that the two sisters were only drinking juice, so she decided to prompt them to eat some food, not wanting them to starve.

"Althea, Ais, don't just drink juice. Here, give me your plates. Have something to eat as well," Riveria said, encouraging them.

"You sure have gotten used to that, haven't you, Riveria?" Finn remarked with a playful smile.

"Ga-ha-ha!! She sure has," Gareth chimed in, joining in on the teasing.

Althea, catching onto the playful banter, decided to play along. She smiled mischievously and said, "Thanks for the food, mom~"

Riveria blushed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Stop it, Althea. I'm not your mom!" she replied, trying to maintain her composure.

The lighthearted exchange brought laughter to the table, and even Ais couldn't help but crack a smile.

The camaraderie within the Familia was evident as they shared these light moments amidst the lively atmosphere of the bar.

However, the heartwarming atmosphere was interrupted when all of a sudden, some of the other Familia members burst over to the table.

"Ais! Althea! Why don't you hang out with us instead of the captain and those guys for once?" one of them exclaimed.

The two sisters were taken aback by the sudden invitation.

"Go for it, Kevin!" another member encouraged.

The others didn't normally talk to the two sisters since Ais always seemed so cold, and Althea preferred to talk with someone she liked.

However, thanks to the power of alcohol, they apparently drummed up the courage to try tonight. Well and truly buzzed, they gathered around the two sisters' seats for the party.

Ais and Althea had been almost like mascots of the Loki Familia. A pair of rare human beings, so much so that the other Familia members had been curious about them since long before.

"Oi, Kevin. Leave me and my sister alone, you drunk bastards," Althea firmly asserted, not appreciating the pushy approach of the other Familia members.

"Oh, come on, Althea. We just want you two to try my delicious magic drink," Kevin persisted, trying to convince them.

"Hey! You guys! What are you trying to get them to drink?!" Riveria interjected, stepping in to protect the sisters.

"Yeah, she's right! Do you expect me and Ais, a pair of seven-year-olds, to drink alcohol?!" Althea exclaimed, trying to emphasize their age.

"Relax, one small sip is fine every once in a while," Kevin insisted, seemingly oblivious to the gravity of his actions.

"No, it's not. We are not drinking that stupid thing. Is that right, Ais? Ais?"

Not hearing her sister's response, Althea turns around, only to find Ais drinking a whole glass of fruity-smelling wine.

She was bewildered, her eyes widening in surprise as she watched her sister consuming the alcohol.

As the others got carried away with their conversation, Ais seemed to lose her usual composure. Holding the empty glass in both hands, she placed it on the table with a loud thunk.

"....Ais?"

"Aisuu?"

"Um, Ais. Are you alright?"

Althea, Riveria, and Loki all looked at Ais with suspicion, wondering what had caused this sudden change in her behavior.

But before they could get any answers, something unexpected happened.

*Slash*

-------------------------------------------------------

"Guaaaaaaaaaaah?!"

"K-Kevin?!"

"Crap, she got Kevin!"

The jovial atmosphere had quickly turned into a tense and chaotic scene.

Ais, fueled by a combination of alcohol and her instincts as an adventurer, swiftly unsheathed her trusted sword and slashed through one of the Familia members who had been crowding around her.

Althea and the others were shocked and taken aback by the sudden outburst of violence from Ais. They became cautious and wary of her erratic behavior, realizing that she was too drunk to comprehend their words.

"Ais... Please put down the sword," Althea cautiously pleaded with her sister, trying to break through the haze of drunkenness that had enveloped Ais.

However, Ais was too far gone to understand Althea's plea, and she continued her rampage, slashing through anyone who approached her.

"....Hic...."

"Kyaaa?!"

".....Hic....."

"Noooooooo?!"

"Oh god, she's drunk?!"

"Someone grab her sword!"

"....Hic....."

"Waaaaaah?!"

"She got someone else!"

Hiccupping cutely as she went, Ais unleashed a series of swift and precise slashes, cutting down one adventurer after another. The power of alcohol had transformed her, stripping away her usual composure and leaving behind only pure swordsmanship.

Amidst the chaos unfolding in the bar, Althea realized that she needed to take action to bring an end to her sister's rampage. With a mixture of concern and determination, she stepped forward, carefully avoiding Ais's swinging sword.

"All right, Ais. That's enough," Althea called out firmly, her voice cutting through the clamor.

Ais momentarily paused, her drunken haze faltering as she recognized her sister's voice. However, the confusion in her eyes quickly gave way to determination, and she continued her assault.

But then Althea saw Ais knocking down an elf with silver hair who tried to fight back but failed to do so. She saw her sister was about to plunge the sword to her poor victim.

Undeterred, Althea moved with agility, swiftly closing the distance between her and Ais. With a sudden burst of strength, she saved the elf by tackling her sister and pinned her to the ground, desperately trying to restrain her.

"Ais, I want you to snap out of it, please!" Althea pleaded, her voice filled with both love and desperation as she struggled to keep Ais under control.

However, Ais's physical superiority proved too much for Althea to handle. With a surge of strength, she broke free from Althea's restraints, turning the tables on the situation.

Now, it was Ais who was on top of Althea, looking down at her sister with drunken eyes.

Fear and worry gripped Althea's heart as she found herself at Ais's mercy. She had to think quickly and find a way to reach her sister's rational mind amidst the drunken chaos.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she mustered all her courage and reached out to her sister once more.

"Ais, listen to me! You're not yourself right now. This isn't who you are. Please, I need you to come back to me," Althea pleaded, her voice filled with emotion.

Still clouded by her drunkenness, Ais did not listen to her sister's words. Instead, she raised her sword once again, ready to strike Althea down.

Seeing this, Althea closed her eyes in terror, preparing for the worst.

"Oi, stop it, Ais! That's your sister!" Loki's voice rang out in a mix of anger and concern.

"Gareth, Finn, do something! Quick!" Riveria urgently called out to the other members of the Familia.

Both Loki and Riveria panicked after seeing Ais about to strike Althea while Gareth and Finn quickly dashed forward, trying to stop Ais.

"YOU STUPID GIRL!"

But before anyone could comprehend what's happening, someone somehow appeared behind the girl and grabbed the raised sword with bare hands—just two fingers were enough to stop the weapon in its tracks.

".....Hic...?"

"Drink all ya want, but don't get carried away.... That's the rule in here. Remember it."

Hearing the familiar voice, Althea opened her eyes and saw the dwarf owner, Mama Mia, standing behind Ais.

Unable to move the sword at all, Ais looked behind her in a drunken wonder. After the dwarf owner gave the warning with deathly cool voice, her eyes snapped open.

"Don't break store property, YOU DUMBASS!!"

"Ugyuuuu?!"

An iron fist of anger cracked across the back of the little girl's head.

It was far stronger than the one Riveria had unleashed on her, and Ais went down in one hit, lying unconscious on top of Althea.

The sword clattered lifelessly to the ground. The danger finally quelled.

Althea lay there, breathing heavily, her heart filled with a mix of relief and worry for her sister. The chaotic scene had come to an abrupt halt, and silence descended upon the bar as everyone processed what had just transpired.

Loki, Gareth, Finn, and Riveria rushed to Althea's side, concern etched on their faces. They carefully lifted Ais off her sister and ensured that both of them were safe.

The dwarf owner stood tall and imposing, her gaze shifting from Ais to the rest of the bar's patrons. Her voice, filled with a rare mix of sternness and concern, reverberated through the room.

"Get her out of here. And take care of your sister," Mia commanded, her words leaving no room for argument.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Althea, supported by her Familia members, carried Ais out of the bar and into the night, leaving behind the shattered remnants of the once joyous evening.

-------------------------------------------------

From that day onward, a new cardinal rule was etched into the minds of every member of Loki Familia: Never let Ais have alcohol again.

Simultaneously, the unspoken understanding among the patrons of the Hostess of Fertility grew stronger. They witnessed firsthand the consequences of losing control and vowed to respect the establishment's unwritten rule of not getting carried away.

The incident served as a stark reminder of the consequences that could arise from excessive drinking.

Ais and Althea's bond grew even stronger as they faced the aftermath together, learning valuable lessons from the experience.

In the end, the Familia members embraced a new sense of responsibility, ensuring the safety and well-being of one another, and the Hostess of Fertility remained a lively and welcoming place for adventurers to gather.