An Invitation?

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/A few hours later…/

'After the sun went down and a day of teaching and training came to an end, Silver took to the night streets of Orario to find someone, his traveling partner.'

"Tche..."

That damn guy said he would contact me soon, yet the Recruitment ended yesterday and now another day is about to end as well, yet there are no signs of him or his children.

'With an annoyed expression, Silver went in search of Hermes, the playful blond God that always seemed to be scheming something.'

'He had to confirm the time of their investigation so they could coordinate properly.'

'Silver had little to prepare, but he wished to make the journey with Hermes' team, or at the very least, be told whether they would be making the journey first so he could plan out properly.'

'But without many options, not knowing much about his habits or those of his children nor where his home was, he made his way to the Guild.'

'He could ask someone about it but Silver didn't even know the name of his home, and it may be too conspicuous to ask someone about it directly.'

'Whenever he thought about it, Silver remembered hearing about its name, something about traveling?...'1

'As such, given how serious Hermes, Ouranos, and the Guild seemed to be about this issue, Silver didn't want to raise any sort of suspicion by blabbering around.'

'If something were to happen, then it would be due to someone else's mistake and not his.'

'As such, the only one who could tell him what he sought was none other than the Guild's shadow itself.'

'Fels.'

…

/Sniff.../

"Hum?... This smell... Oh yeah, it's already time." Silver said as he looked at a bar

'Crossing from an alley, Silver saw himself in the middle of one of Orario's eight Major Streets, the Western Street connecting the West gate to the center of Orario.'

'And right next to it, Silver saw the Hostess of Fertility lit up with lights together with the faint smell of cooked food and the faint noises and laughs of the patrons within.'

'It wasn't surprising his path led him here, since if he were to draw a line between the Hearth Manor and the Guild, the Hostess would be right in the middle.'

(Image)

'And since Silver decided to walk, he just found himself there.'

/Grumble…/

'The sweet and strong smell of food enticed his body, causing his stomach to protest.'

'It desired sustenance, and it wouldn't take a no for an answer.'

"Heh, fine then, I'm indeed in need of a refill." Silver mumbled to himself as he touched his stomach 

/Shuaa…/

'Silver opened his pocket space, pulling out a large bag full of golden coins and strapping it to his waist just like everybody else, although some adventurers were creative with the way they hid it, like shoving it in a void space inside their boots.'

"This should be enough." He said as he walked to the bar

…

/Chatter chatter!/

/Ding ding ding!/

'Silver pushed the double doors to the pub, being presented with a rather busy scene.'

'Dozens of adventurers all around sitting at dozens of tables talking and laughing with each other as they raised their mugs high in commemoration of yet another successful day of Dungeon diving.'

'Even if not, they still commemorated for yet another day of being alive and well, mostly, and in the hopes the day after would be bountiful.'

'The place was full to the brim with people!'

'Even if the pub was famous, it was unusual to see so many people to the point he could see a few tables being used by far more people than they could usually support.'

"..."

Maybe I came at the wrong time?

Should I just pass by on the way back?

"NYA?! Customer?! Wait a minute! We're being overwhelmed!" Anya exclaimed in fear as she waddled around the tables carrying two large silver plates full of wooden mugs

"H-How many!?" She exclaimed without turning to him

"For one, favorably by the counter." Silver said with a chuckle as he watched the cat girl zoom by

"Nya! This voice…?!"

'After hearing his voice, Anya turned back and saw Silver waving at her, and she almost slipped but managed to get on her feet just nicely, though a few drops of beer fell on one of the adventurers' shoulders.'

'But he only wiped his hand across it before returning to his deep conversation with his friends, not bothered with the situation in the least.'

'It was all too ordinary... And at the same time, no one had the balls to cause trouble in this place.'

'Even when drunk, they would still be reminded of what would happen if they did go over the line... The passed-out men outside of the pub on the street were proof of that.'

'They didn't want to be the next one to kiss the road.'

"There's a spot by the counter!" She said as she ran with the mugs, not looking back as she skedaddled to the kitchen

"..."

Being a server is not easy…

'With a shape gaze, Silver moved carefully to try and not bother the others or collide with the girls walking around frantically as he made his way to the counter.'

'Whenever they did meet, he only waved and greeted them, but that was all.'

'They barely had any time to even look at each other, much less talk.'

'As for the people on the tables, from time to time, someone would recognize Silver, and their expressions would change to that of surprise and something else.'

'But he only gave them a nod, this was a bar where all were equal, and he preferred if things remained as such... Though it wasn't like all gazes were friendly or in awe.'

'He was starting to be seen like the members of the Loki Familia if not above the Executives to some people, it would depend on the individual.'

'And this would only intensify over time.'

/Crunk…/

'Eventually, he sat by one of the empty chairs next to the counter, his favorite spot.'

'It was the perfect location for him to chat around with Mia while also being served without complications.'

'Although he preferred to sit further right on the last seat, this was because he liked to sit closer to the kitchen so he could sometimes talk with the cooks and even give them a thumbs up and praise them for a job well done.'

'They were rather cute too, and it was quite the eye candy to see a dozen pretty girls making food for you.'

/Chatter chatter!/

'He turned around for a moment to gaze at the crowd, it wasn't exactly pleasant but it wasn't bad either.'

'There was a point where too many people just kind of mixed in together to become tolerable, as long as they weren't touching him.'

'Besides, Silver could always just silence the world around him and enjoy his food in his own little world...'

/BAM!/

"Wh…?"

'That was when Mia appeared, slamming a mug of light alcohol on the counter.'

"That was fast, as always, the service in this Pub is superb." Silver joked as he looked at her

"Though... Is it on the house?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow

"HA! Why hold back when you have so much money already?" Mia said as she laughed at his words, taking out a small notebook and a pen, writing the price of the mug on it

"Will you have today's special or something on the Menu?" 

"Sheesh, you're so cruel, by the time my food arrives I'll have to order another drink." Silver said with a small smile as he took a chug of the drink

I like how she's considerate enough to give me something so fast, but she's really ruthless in this regard.

Come on, we're friends here, aren't we?... Although she's old enough to be my mom...

"When will you spend all that fortune if not here and now? Let go of it all and drink to your heart's content! But don't forget to please your stomach too!"

"Either way, what will it be?"

"... Today's special… Make it big, I'm hungry." Silver said as he placed the cup gently

"I'll give you two servings in one plate, the price remains the same." She said as she scribbled on the note

"Oi, don't people usually give a slight discount for ordering more?" He asked as he tapped the table with a smile

"I thought you knew me already boy. This my Pub, and in here, we do things my way." She said with a large and honest smile as she put her hands around her waist

"..."

"Anything else?"

"Nah… At most a drink or two later, and make it light, I just want to refresh myself." He said with a slight cough as he looked at the side

"Good… Also, before I leave, can you tell me the time?" She asked calmly as she pocketed the note

"About… Ten to Seven."

"Hum… Right, it's about time anyway." She said as she gave Silver a nod

"OI! GIRLS! HANG UP THE SIGN! We're done for today." She said as she screamed to Chloe and the others in the distance

""YES!"" They all replied in unison without turning back

"... Closing early today?" Silver asked as he turned to Mia

"We made enough for a night, there's no need to waste the rest of it in this fervor."

"... You're very kind to them." Silver added as he looked at the ceiling

"..."

'Mia did not reply, walking to the end of the counter before she turned to the left, and entered the kitchen.'

"Hum..."

Did I gain some brownie points? I can never tell when that woman is pleased.

As long as I can eat in peace I guess...

…

'For the next few minutes, Silver stood on his spot, waiting, until his food eventually arrived, a massive plate full of ribs and a pot full of sauce.'

'He smiled, bon appetite.'

'As he ate, the bar slowly emptied itself out, with the waitresses waving at them as the clients went on their way, wishing them a good trip back home so they would one day return...'

'And spend more money.'

'From the clamor of before, everyone's voices were slowly contained again, and silence eventually returned to the Bar.'

'After an hour after his arrival, only Silver and a few more could be seen still within the Pub, much to a certain person's annoyance.'

"Can I get some dessert?" Silver asked with a smile as he looked at Mia

"For the second and last time, we already closed, go buy some outside." Mia said as she cleaned a few cups by the counter, exhaling as she shook her head at his insistence

"I can tell there are a few massive cakes in the Kitchen, gimme me one, I'll pay extra." He retorted as he tried to negotiate with Mia

"Those are not for you." She said as she crossed her arms

"Oh? It's someone else's birthday? Can I join? I do have some presents, give me a moment..." He asked with a smile as he turned to look at his pockets

"##!!!"

"... Unfortunately, no boys allowed." Someone replied behind him

"..."

'Silver did not need to turn back to know who it was.'

'It was a sweet voice full of emotion and mystery, a voice impossible to mistake.'

"Can I sit here?" Syr asked as she tapped the seat right of Silver

"... Make yourself home, it is yours anyway."

/Crunk…/

'Syr lazily sat on her seat, and Mia did nothing apart from look at her for a moment before she turned around with a grunt.'

"It's been a little while, but... Shouldn't you be helping the others?" Silver asked as he raised an eyebrow at Syr

"It's just a small break, or do you find me annoying?" She asked as she blinked cutely

"That's not it." He replied as he shook his head

"... How have you been?" He asked as he turned to her

"Thank you for asking, though I should be the one asking you that."

"But I'm fine, albeit a bit upset." She replied with a slight pout as she crossed her arms

"Hum?"

Why is she looking at me? Did I forget anything?

"I'm waiting." She said with her usual light smile

"I don't quite understand, have I done something wrong?"

"Really… It breaks my heart." She said dramatically as she looked down

"My lunchbox, you borrowed it and never returned, I liked it very much, are you going to keep it? If you liked it you can, keep it as a memento." She said with a teasing smile and a chuckle

"Oh!" 

'As she mentioned the box, Silver couldn't help but laugh a little as his hand went to the side of his body, outside of Syr's vision.'

'There, he opened his pocket space and took out the lunchbox together with the small cloth she always used to tie it with, placing it atop the counter with an awkward cough.'

'He remembered what happened to it.'

'On the last days before the start of the Recruitment, Silver entered the Dungeon to train, and when he was done, he went straight to his Familia home.'

'He completely forgot about Syr's box... But he wasn't going to admit to it.'

'Unfortunately...'

"You forgot about it, didn't you?" She asked with a thin smile as she grabbed the box, placing it on her lap

"You made me quite worried, given how you didn't return on the same day I lent it to you... You know what that usually implies?"

'She turned her head to the others, chuckling to herself.'

"I wasn't the only one that thought like that." She said in a dramatically gloomy tone

"Hum... I need some compensation." She added with a teasing expression

"Compensation?... Alright, I made a mistake."

"Is there any…?"

'While Silver replied, Syr turned back and pulled her hair to the front of her body, asking as she interrupted him:'

"I'm tired, can you give me some energy?~" 

"..."

'Silver's expression did not change, whatever she was trying to accomplish with that display went through one ear and left through the other, however, Silver understood she was trying to play with him.'

'But what she was asking for was no problem at all, so he raised his hand, ready to touch her shoulder…'

/FWOOOSH!/

/FINK!/

"..."

'The air in front of his hand was cut as a knife pierced the air at high speeds, lodging itself onto the counter next to him, freezing him in place.'

"Hum? What happened…" Syr asked as she turned around, seeing the knife on the counter

'She then turned to the side, seeing Ryuu far away with a sharp gaze, and she immediately pouted.'

"Ryuu!" She said with a look of frustration

"I apologize Syr, my hand slipped… I guess I'm tired as well." She said in a monotone as her expression remained cynical 

"..."

'Taking this opportunity, while Syr was distracted by Ryuu, Silver used his Plasmids to heal her from far away, causing her to…'

"Kya!..."

""...""

/Silence…/

'To jump in surprise and make a cute noise, much to his complete surprise.'

"..."

'He then looked around to a bunch of people looking at them weirdly and at a very angry Ryuu whose eyes seemed to be piercing daggers onto his very body.'

'Colder than the Northern Mountains, as silent as the moon, the Pale Elf gazed at the adventure as if it was a worm in the dirt...'

'His gaze then turned to Syr whose face was so red steam seemed to be coming out of it.'

'She was completely and utterly unable to say anything right now.'

'Several things crossed his mind as he thought about what to do.'

'Leaving was a choice but it would only leave a bad impression, even if he knew Syr would clear things up.'

'He could act like a panicked little boy and de-escalate things but that requires a whole other personality and reputation already set up, it wasn't quite his deal...'

'So he turned to the side and played it cool, grabbing his almost empty mug, taking a silent sip as he completely ignored everything that had just happened.'

""...""

'Of course, this only caused the others to roll their eyes.'

"... I'll be making a trip to Melen soon." He said calmly as he put his mug down

"Do you want to go to the beach?" Silver asked as he looked forward

"Eh?"

"!"

"Huh?!"

'The reactions were varied but none were silent.'

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Notes