As the waitress shouted those words, my eyes went to the entrance of the pub. It wasn't every day you could see one of the most powerful familia. For me to be here only for a couple of days, I have next to no knowledge about Orario and its whereabouts. While that is true, I am pretty familiar with each Gods and Goddesses with familias.

The door opened, and the people who entered were, without a doubt, the most powerful adventurers of the familia. By their presence, I could see just how weak I am compared to those warriors. I'm sure they ventured deep into the dungeons and returned unscathed. The comparison was as clear as day and night, but that didn't mean I would give up!

My body shivered with excitement; I wanted to go over there and talk to them so badly. But something inside told me this was a bad idea, a very bad one at that. As they sat down at a table, I was about to finish my bowl of pasta – perhaps I could talk to them...

"By the way Loki, you know where Ais-san is? She went ahead of us when we were deep in the dungeon" A yellow-haired guy asked their God, who I assume was this woman with red hair and quite the slender body type…

Upon hearing the name Ais, I turned towards her, as she seemed somewhat guilty about something, but she wouldn't look at them, not even a glance. She continued to eat as if nothing had happened, her eyes often turning to me. I was surprised that her familia hadn't noticed her yet, but for some reason, I was glad they hadn't…

Turning my body toward our table, I walked over and began eating the rest of my meal. Ais, meanwhile, continued to munch on her fried mashed potatoes. We both ate in the silence surrounding us, despite the loud atmosphere of the pub.

While we were finishing our meal, the green-haired elf who had assisted us earlier sat with us. She placed her wooden plate on the table and removed her apron. I was surprised at first, but then she sighed to herself, before sitting up straight, her eyes fixed on me.

"Cranel-san, was it?"

"Y-yes?" Her sudden voice surprised me, and I nearly choked on my food. Luckily, I was able to gulp it down before it happened. Her eyes stared at me; I put the bowl aside as my focus was now on her. At first glance, she seemed like a cold individual and unapproachable, but I could see from the way she spoke in a subtle manner, she had a great heart for the people around her. Maybe she witnessed a traumatic event that changed her. But even so, she couldn't change her core, the source of her true self.

"Is there something wrong Ryuu-san?" But she shook her head as footsteps soon approach us as a hand went on my shirt. The next thing I knew, I was pulled in the air as a grey-haired wolf-man was staring daggers at me…

I just knew that I should have just left this place sooner, curse me…

"Oi! What do you think you're doing with Ais-san huh?!" It was clear by the scowl on his face that he was mad at me to be with Ais, was he someone related to her? Probably a familia member. Even so, I don't understand why he would be so upset about her being with other people.

His grip tightened on my shirt as I couldn't move myself out of the situation I was in. He looked impatiently from where I stood, as I still tried to find a way to get away from him as quickly as possible. I wanted to look back, I wanted to see what Ais looked like in this situation; would she care? We had only just met, so it was unlikely. Even so, a part of me hoped that she didn't accept the situation I was in...

"Come on and answer me!!!" His voice sounded more desperate now, as his anger seemed to be rising. If I didn't say something soon, things were likely to take a turn that I wanted to avoid. With my hands, I reached for his wrist and grabbed it, meeting his gaze. He was undoubtedly much more powerful than I was, but what other choice did I have?

And so, I took a deep breath. My body slightly trembled in fear, but I found resolve and stared at him, my hands gripping his wrist.

"What does it… matter anyway?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly. "She can do what she wants!" The room fell silent for a moment, the tension and pressure building in the air weighing heavily on me as the outcome of this interaction would be even worse than I had imagined.

"This kid's doomed."

"You said it, Bete will not get him unscathed…"

"Let's just see what will come of this, I'm sure that this kid has something to prevent this." Has a green elf that was a part of the Loki familia said this, I was flabbergasted, speechless even.

'Something to prevent?! Like hell I am! I'm so dead!!' As I was panicking inside, the wolf guy gritted his teeth as he was seething in anger. I knew this was the end of me, but what he said next…

"What does it matter?! Certainly not a weakling as you would know!! She wants nothing to do with you, I bet you don't even have a familia! Weaks little shit like yourself don't even have your place next to us! Ais was just pitying you, nothing else!"

Pitying me…? No, he's wrong…

He's wrong…

So wrong…

So why… why does it feel like his words carry some sense of truth?

As I repeated those words to myself, tears rolled down my cheeks, but it wasn't sadness or even guilt. As they streamed off my face, my scared face slowly morphed into one of anger.

My eyebrows furrowed, and my grip on his hand tightened. I knew I didn't have the strength to break free from him, but that wasn't my intention.

"Enough!"

"What? Say it again, I couldn't hear you through your pathetic whimpering."

"I said…" Contorting my body, I moved my leg upward, placing it on his torso. He was confused, which gave me just enough time to push with all my strength, tearing my shirt off in the process. I finally managed to get free, but this wasn't remotely over yet.

The wolf guy, along with pretty much everyone else in the pub, looked surprised by the turn of events. The wolf guy, Bete, looked at my shirt and then at me, chuckling as he seemed amused.

"Well, looks like wimpy boy still has some fight in him!" He grinned, significantly wanting to toy with me, but I had no intention to do so.

"I've had enough of people pitying me for my weak frame, or that I don't have what it takes to be an adventurer!" Clenching my right fist, I held it for a moment before releasing it.

"The weak will always be weak, no matter how hard they train! In the dungeon, it's survival of the fittest. People like you constantly die on the early floors! Just give up while you can." The wolf smirked at me, feeling proud of his feats and probably flexing on how strong he was. It irritated me, but anger would only get me into more trouble than I already was in.

"You're wrong about that. It never was a question of survival for your own benefit. The strong protect the weak. Then the weak get stronger and help those who are even weaker than them. That is the law of nature. It's only natural that the weak become stronger if they train; that's why strong people like you need to ensure they don't end up dying!"

"Another thing, it doesn't matter what Ais-san does, right? She's not an object you can control or try to know everything about; she's her own person! And so what if she was talking to me? That's her decision to make, not yours!"

Many people in the room remained silent as I spoke, their gazes fixed upon me, while others smiled at my words; the green-haired elf among them. But Bete was consumed by anger, having been lectured by someone as weak as myself must have taken a toll on his ego.

Driven by this anger, he launched at me, but as he was about to get me, Ryuu pinned the boy to the ground, forcing his head down, her hand gripping his hair.

"Mutts are not allowed in this establishment," she said sternly. "You better behave yourself or I'll personally make sure that you never return here." I took a step back, though I stumbled; Ais-san caught me before I hit the ground, her hands on my shoulders.

"Thank you." That was all she said, but it was oddly enough for me. Meanwhile, Ryuu was dealing with the Loki familia, which they reluctantly apologized for the behavior of their comrade. Some didn't want to apologize much but in the end, they all did as the situation was getting back to normal.

The Loki familia were told that they couldn't stay here tonight, but that they were welcome to come the next day. It didn't seem to faze their Goddess Loki, which looked at me strangely. Her eyes were closed so I had no idea but all this can't be good…

After all of this, Ais-san paid for the food, even though I wanted to pay my part; she reminded me how broke I was, and she was… completely right about it. I'm broke as heck and can't even afford food at this point.

While she was doing so, Ryuu-san approached me, holding a piece of paper. She handed it to me and had a look of hope in her eyes. With a small smile on her lips, she seemed much more relaxed than she had been earlier.

"Cranel-san, please take this. When you are alone, go to the address that is written on it. I heard that you were searching for a familia and, I think this would help you. Please take it…" She was looking down and I could see her wet cheeks from where I stood. Without saying another word, I gently took the piece of paper and place it in my back pocket.

Thank you, Ryuu-san, this is so kind of you!" Her nod was the only answer I received, before she went back to the kitchen of the pub while Ais-san came to my side.

"Are you going to be okay for the night?" She asked me as she place some strands of hair behind her ear. Her golden irises looked at me with empathy and kindness, I nodded my head.

"You've done so much Ais-san, I'll never forget it! Thank you so much for today! I hope we can see each other soon." She nodded her lips forming a slight smile, showing how much she enjoyed today. It really brought warmth to me.

As she walked away, joining her familia, I was alone again. Walking through the illuminated streets of Orario while it was nighttime, I took the paper that Ryuu-0san gave me earlier.

"She said this would help me?" I wondered as I opened the folded paper, seeing a few words written on it. My eyes widened as my heart raced, what was written on the paper gave me the little hope I needed as a smile curved on my lips.

The Astrea Familia Household: Stardust Garden, located in the southeast of Orario.