-Rules of the Benevolent Mistress.
The evening of their return.
Syr guided Ryuu and Bell through the streets and told them what happened in Orario while they were away. She really wanted to ask about the journey, but everyone at the pub would ask them too and there was no need to tell everything twice.
"The most things were pretty normal in the city, we had a few rude customers and Anya set up a new record for Libertine throwing, she nearly reached the other side of the street with him."
"Not bad."
Bell looked schocked. "Does these things happen often?"
Syr shook her head. "Normally once a week, sometimes twice."
"Aha..."
"Perhaps some were encouraged by the absence of the fearsome elf."
"Syr...you let me sound like a ruffian again..."
Syr looked to Bell. "Ryuu hold the record for Libertine throwing until now."
"Syr!" Ryuu looked embarassed.
"Tee-Hee!"
As they got closer to the pub, Bell noticed that it seemed to be unusually calm.
"Are you not open today?"
"Mama Mia closed earlier today, she grumbled something about "These girls won´t work anyway when they return..", so we will open tomorrow again."
Before they could knock, the door was opened and they were greeted by a cheerful voice. "´Bout time Nya! Come in, the food gets cold! Took you long enough Ryuu."
Anya stood in front of them, a wide grin on her face, while she scolded Ryuu lightly.
"A white hair, you´re here too, come in!"
"Welcome back Nyaa!"
"Oh welcome back."
"Finally back from your vacation?"
"Ah Ryuu, welcome back."
As soon as they entered, they were greeted by Chloe, Runoa, Mama Mia and May the head chef.
"Thank you everyone."
Ryuu smiled lightly, she was happy to see her friends again.
She stepped in front of Mia and bowed lightly. "Thank you for letting me go."
"Ah it´s okay, starting tomorrow you will work like never before to make up for it."
"Of course."
Mia turned to Bell. "Ah boy, good to see you again, I hope you took care of Ryuu."
Syr excused herself to the bathroom.
"I helped, but Ryuu is strong enough to protect herself."
Every single member of the pub immediately registered what he had called Ryuu.
And then...the worst possible thing happened to Bell.
"Hey Ryuu, what are these strange stains on your clothes?" Runoa took a look at Ryuu.
"Oh I was hit by a white cloudy liquid, I hope I can remove the stains here."
""""Huh?""""
The girls instantly got a strange expression.
"W-What exactly do you mean?"
"Bell and I were moving very fast, he was behind me, I noticed it too late, but when the (dragons) head swung around, I was hit by a large amount of white liquid."
Anya looked confused, the others gazed at Bell, shocked.
"By a large amount?"
"Yes, it hit my upper body, my face and some even got in my hair, it had too much force so I lost balance and fell to the ground."
More stares went to Bell.
"So he is a true bunny..."
"He´s hiding such a thing behind that cute and innocent face Nya..."
"Ah Ryuu you.." Bell tried to correct Ryuu.
"I was just relieved, that nothing hit my goddess."
""She was there too?""
"Yes, she tried to give us an important advice."
More shocked faces.
"R-Ryuu you forgot-" Bell really tried to interrupt her.
"I had to shower for hours to get rid of the smell. Lady Astrea drew my attention to it, when I wanted to look after Bell, who layed exhausted on the grass."
"""Outside?!"""
"A monster..."
"What did he do to our innocent elf?"
"I think I don´t get it." Anya still looked confused.
"Ho...quite bold of you boy..."
"Ah no, you don´t understand! I-"
"Hawawa...first Ryuu...who will be the next one Nya?!"
The girls backed away from Bell.
"It´s a missunderstanding!"
"What are you talking Nyabout?"
Chloe leaned to Anya and whispered in her ear.
After a few moments Anya´s eyes became big and she squealed.
"Nya!" She backed away too. "White hair surely plans to go after the nyautiful Anya next!"
"N-No, you don´t understand!"
"So boy...you layed your hands on my staff hm?"
"Ah no, I..."
Meanwhile in the bathroom.
Syr...or rather Freya leaned against the door and grinned. Her plan worked perfectly...as expected from her. She didn't need to ask either of them, the souls of Ryuu and Bell gave her every information she needed.
Both souls were clearer than ever before and were drawn to each other so closely, that they touched lightly. Some of Bell´s white soul energy flowed into Ryuu´s green one and vice versa.
That meant only one thing, they were in love and knew about the other, but since they already flowed into each other meant, they weren´t only in love. They wouldn´t have realized it at this point, but their souls were drawn to each other...a love like that would never break. Was it fate? In any case, Freya was sure that she had made the right choice. Ryuu soul light was literally shining, it wasn´t perfect but Freya could see what a beautiful soul she would become.
Syr´s face darkened. Now was the time...time to ensure that no one dared to interfere with the couple and broke them apart. Freya had brought them together and both held a place in her heart...so they were hers...from her point of view. And no one was allowed to toy with what was hers...only herself.
I will make those two happy and see how beautiful their souls will become...
After all no one knew better than her about love.
If this little girl from Loki´s Familia will interfere...I will crush her.
She opened the door lightly and heard how the huge misunderstanding downstairs only got worse.
Poor little Bell...time to rescue him.
Syr grinned again and walked downstairs.
"Ah Ryuu, are you telling the rest about your fight with the dragon?"
Bell praised all gods on earth and in heaven that Syr returned.
"""Dragon?"""
"Ahm yes? I just told you about our fight with it."
"""Oh...a fight..."""
"What did you think I was talking about?" It was Ryuu´s turn to look confused
"""Nothing!"""
"Well it´s time we eat before it gets cold."
"Oh and I expect from you boy, that you will help us from time to time, I mean you eloped with one of my staff."
"W-We didn´t elope!"
"Are you contradicting me in my house?"
All the girls gazed at Bell and shook their heads vehementely as if they wanted to say "Don´t do that!".
"Hey boy, did I ever tell you about the rules of my house?"
"Ah...not all the rules..."
"Fine, then open your ears and listen."
The rules of the pub were quite simple. The first was that Mama Mia was always right.
The next rules were...
At Heart Mansion.
"My cute little Bell has finally come back to meeeee!" Hestia still clung onto Bell´s arm.
All the members of the three Familias were present in the big living room.
His heart became warm when he was greeted like that by everyone.
"Thank you everyone, I´m happy to be back."
"And how did your journey with that elf go?"
"We found the village and her goddess."
"So Astrea is still around hm." Miach sat on a couch with Naza right next to him, maybe something happened between these two, because Naza leaned against him and looked very happy.
"It is good, that these two could met again...Astrea lost so much." Takemikazuchi sat with his Familia on the other couches.
"Hmm Astrea...I think I never met her." Hestia looked like she was in thoughts.
"How was her goddess Master Bell?"
"Very friendly...and extremely happy to see Miss Ryuu again."
"Lily can understand that, a goddess and her lost child together again...you did something great this time master Bell."
"I-I just accompanied her."
"Don´t make yourself small Bell, you helped a maiden in distress, truly heroic." Welf grinned.
Hestia looked into Bell´s eyes. "But nothing inappropriate happened between you two?"
"O-Of course not!"
Staaaaaare...Lily, Haruhime and Hestia eyed Bell.
"Besides we had to fight two strong monsters in that village."
"Monsters?"
"Yes, the first one was a wingless dragon."
"And you defeated it?"
"No, we tried but nothing worked, it was killed when the other monster arrived in one hit."
"Another monster killing a dragon with one hit? It must have been a fearsome beast!"
"Right..."
"What happened then Bell?"
"Ahm...the monster demanded a duell with me..."
"Why that?"
"I´m not completely sure...it seems to had something to do with Miss Ryuu and her goddess."
Mikoto leaned back on the couch. "And you won Sir Bell?"
"Yes, but I didn´t kill it. They said it was the villages guardian."
Bell leaned down to his backpack and loosened the antlers from it.
"I got this drop item, lady Astrea said that this monster is pretty rare, Welf do you have any idea what we could do with that?"
Welf took the antlers that Bell reached him. "Hmmm."
As a high smith, Welf could estimate how valuable this item was.
"The quality is incredible, it is definetely a high tier drop item, I can´t even see how much this can do. Bell if it´s okay with you, I would like to show this to Tsubaki and Lady Hephaistos.
They might be able to tell us something. Whatever it can do, it´s way above a unicorn horn."
So if it would be forged into a weapon, this weapon would be stronger than !
"It pains me to say this, but I don´t think I have the skill to forge something out of this, that does justice to the materials."
"""Wow.."""
Many of the rest were amazed.
Bell was in thoughts.
"Oh right, before I forgot..." Bell saw through his backpack.
"Lord Miach, Miss Ryuu gave me this letter for you, she said it is from her goddess."
"Oh from Astrea? I haven´t talked to her in years."
"Does he even charm goddesses?..." Lily mumbled.
Naza leaned closer to Miach. "Is something wrong my dear?"
"No..."
Miach opened the letter and read it, while Naza looked in the other direction.
"Hmm...hmmm...hmm...I understand...Naza?"
"Y-Yes?"
He showed her the letter, she read for a while, then she looked somewhat...proud.
"May we ask what the letter is about?"
"Astrea has a special request for me...or rather for Naza. She is sure, that Miss Lyon will go to the dungeon sometimes in the future or something similar, so she wants to hire Naza as a potion maker."
He turned the letter around, at the bottom were the sigil of the goddess Astrea and some runes that only the gods could read.
"With this we are entitled to access the funds of the Astrea Familia that are still with the guild. She wants us to use them to buy ingredients and help Miss Lyon with it...and Bell...and his party."
"But why did she wrote that to you Miach? Do you know her?" Hestia looked curious.
"Yes, in the dark times we had a good relationship, I often made potions for the Astrea Familia."
Naza pouted lightly and looked a bit jealous.
Miach chuckled, then he put an finger tip under Naza´s chin and slowly lifted her head, so that he could look in her face. She started to blush.
"You don´t have to worry my dear...you´re the woman in my heart."
"Hiii!" Naza´s tail hit against the backrest of the couch rapidly.
His face got a little closer to Naza.
"Ahem! We are still here Miach." Hestia cleared her throat.
"Ah sorry." The friendly god just smiled while he put an arm around Naza.
Naza looked more than happy.
Okay, something definetely happend between those two while I was away.
Bell seemed to be the only one who didn´t know that yet.
Haruhime turned to Bell. "Master Bell, what do you have planned for the next days?"
"I think I will take tomorrow off and rest, then I would like to go to the dungeon. I was away long enough."
They continued their talk for an hour, until Hestia waved Bell over.
"Bell, I would like to update your status if it is not to late for you."
"No of course not, do you want to do it now?"
Hestia nodded. "Excuse us for a while."
The rest still talked, some watched the goddess and Bell leave.
Around five minutes later.
"My little Bell´s level five is here!" Hestia voice boomed through the mansion.
A god could read the runes on the update sheet to read what had triggered the level up, that was a good thing...most of the time.
Around two minutes later.
"Bell?! Why are you crying?!...What! A bunny?"
Bell cried for the rest of the evening...and the next morning...
A week later.
Orario was in turmoil.
Something incredible...unbelievable happened. The captain of the Freya Familia, Ottar the Warlord...or Ottar the king did it...he reached level eight.
By defeating the Monster Rex of the 49th Floor, Balror...alone.
This turned the city upside down.
A level eight adventurer...something like that didn´t happen since the time of the Zeus and Hera Familias.
At level eight, Ottar might be stronger than all level six adventurers of the Loki Familia...combined.
The gods called for an emergency Denatus, no other subjects were discussed there, only Ottar.
This changed the power situation in Orario again, the Loki Familia had seven level six adventurers, the wolf man Bete and the Hiryute sisters had leveled up a while ago.
The Freya Familia had three level six adventurers, Mia Grand wasn´t counted, a few level five...and a level eight with Ottar.
The result of the Denatus was a new title for Ottar and a planned event.
Freya made a suggestion for Ottar´s new title and the rest of the gods agreed. He was now kown as, Ottar the Emperor. An idea that came to Freya after thinking about the former strongest adventurer in the continent, the level nine "Empress" of the Hera Familia.
To celebrate it all, Freya announced that, in cooperation with the Ganesha Familia, a festival would be held. All around the big arena and in the arena itself there would be a tournament.
The only rules so far were that all level four and those who were level five for not more than two months could participate and not only adventurers. More rules would follow.
The price was sponsored by Freya herself. A price money of 100.000.000 vals or a weapon personally forged by god Goibniu, paid by the Freya Familia.
People in the city praised the goddess of beauty and love for her generosity.
Bell heard about this the evening when the Denatus was held, he helped in the pub as the message spread.
Level eight...by the gods...
But Bell wasn´t hesitating, a new flame of incentive awakened in him. So it was possible to reach such heights, he had to get there, this way he would come closer to his goal...to become a hero.
Somewhere in Orario...or maybe under Orario?
Two figures in black robes talked to each other.
"How are the preparations progressing?"
"A bit slower than hoped mylord...but we will finish it."
The figure that had spoken first took something out of his robe, a short staff, made from bone, with a skull as a tip.
"Good...good...I can´t wait for our...for Evilus time of revenge!"
The staff started to glow.
"Ah! Ouch, Ouch! Not now you stupid thing!"
The figure hit the staff and the glowing stopped.
"Damit...sometimes I hate curse items..."
A few days later.
Bell was helping at the Benevolent Mistress again, on one side he still helped to pay Mia back, on another side Hestia said it was good for Bell to do something beside fighting. And the last point...
he could spend time with Ryuu. Yes they were working and Ryuu was a professional at work, but when they were on break, they had time together. For a reason Mia had arranged the break time so that Bell and Ryuu had their break together. Sometimes Syr kept them company, he really enjoyed spending time with them. In the morning he would train with Ryuu, he hadn´t seen Ais for a nearly two months now, he didn´t know why, Bell just hoped she was okay. On other days he spend times with his Familia, even when no dungeon crawling was on the plan. And he went on a "date" with Hestia, he had promised to spend more time with her. When they returned in the evening Hestia was in an excellent mood. Her mood got only better when she saw Naza.
Naza sat in silence on the couch and looked at her hand. A ring glittered on her left ring finger.
"What? No way! Miach did it?" Hestia threw herself excitedly on the couch next to Naza.
The chienthrope only nodded, fascinated from the ring.
"This calls for a ladies night! Gather everyone! No guys allowed!" declared Hestia loudly.
She drummed up all the women of the three Familias and organized a big girls party with the motto "Alliance of love!"
Bell was astonished how fast that happened, his goddess really was amazing.
Before he was kicked out, Bell heard some last sentences.
"So Naza, tell us, how did you do it."
"I...I thought I would wait forever so...when§ he gave me the ring I...pushed him down and..."
"""Kyaaa!"""
The rest was not meant for Bell´s ears.
This all happened yesterday and most of the women of the Familias had a hangover.
So today he had all the time in the world to help out. Mama Mia was pleased with his decision to help so much, but before he could start to work she came over and whispered something to him.
"Listen boy, no flirting with Ryuu at work just because you two are a couple now."
"Ah eh..we are..I mean...huh?"
"What? Thought I wouldn´t notice?"
Bell gulped.
"Hahahah! You still have much to learn boy!" Mia clapped him on the shoulder laughing, while the girls watched, confused about her outbreak.
"Say boy, you have experience with shopping for ingredients do you?"
"Yes, I often buy them for our Familia."
"Good good, then you will go and buy our stuff today."
"Ahm...wouldn´t it be better if one of the girls would go or at least accompany me?"
Mia grinned conspiratorially and lowered her voice.
"See it as husband training."
Bell went red. "Ah..I..."
"And you need the experience...after all...when Ryuu gets a big belly and can no longer work...someone has to take over her shifts her...you get what I mean?"
"Th-Th-Thats way t-too e-early!"
"Then better learn now."
The girls gazed from time to time and wondered why Bell looked so flustered.
"So then...hurry boy, we have much to do later...and you don´t want to miss your break hmmmm?"
Bell grabbed himself a basket and went to the backdoor.
Ryuu whispered to him when he passed her.
"Bell...is everything alright?"
"Y-Yes! No problem!"
For a second his eyes flashed down to her stomach, before he left.
Ryuu stood there perplexed.
"Oy Ryuu! No slacking off!"
"Yes Ma´am!"
Tiona took a day off and strolled across the market square, arms crossed behind her head. No one from her Familia had time today, so she went alone.
What to do...what to do...
She looked at the goods from some stalls, bought herself a snack and continued to wander around, then she saw an familiar white haired head.
Ah, thats Argonaut!
He was talking to a vegetable dealer.
I should say hello!
Right when Bell left the stall and went on, Tiona came from behind.
"Heyyy, Argonaut!"
Without thinking, Tiona just hugged him from behind.
"Wah?!"
When she heard a squeal something came to her mind.
Oops, I accidentely hugged him like I always do for Ais and the others..well...doesn´t matter!.
"Hey, now...Argonaut, you´re shopping for food?"
"Oho, what are you shopping so much for?"
"Hm? Whats the matter? Why are you so quiet? Your face is all red, are you sick?!"
"N-No...Miss T-Tiona...y-your breasts are.."
"Huh?"
Hmm I can feel his hard back...
Tiona rememberred some not so nice words from her sister and Loki about her chest...her being flat-chested and so on...but if he felt them...and it made him embarassed...that made her somewhat happy.
She giggled.
"S-Stop pressing your breasts without saying something...why are you smirking?!"
"Tee-hee-hee..."
"S-Sto...Please Stooooooop!"
Bell tried to escape from her, but she just followed him grinning.
After a while he gave up, but at least she didn´t hugged him anymore.
"Come to think of it Miss Tiona."
"Hm?"
Since Tiona had nothing else to do she just kept him company.
"I haven´t seen Miss Ais in a while...is she okay?"
"Ais? Ah don´t worry, she hits the dungeon nonstop and even more since the news about this Ottar guy made the round."
"I´m relieved...I feared the worst."
"Aww you´re such a good guy Argonaut."
For a moment Tiona was in thoughts.
"Hey hey, if you can´t train with Ais right now, how about train with me tomorrow? I want to see your level five strength."
"Arg...b-but you are level six now..."
"Ah don´t worry, I will hold back, I promise."
Her grin said something else.
"Okay then...I guess."
"Yippieh! Something to hi...do!"
"You clearly wanted to say hit right now!"
She grinned. "No I didn´t"
"Yes you did!"
They walked for a while, until Bell had bought everything he needed.
"I have to go back now."
"See you tomorrow morning!" The young Amazoness ran off.
Back at the Loki Mansion.
"Hmmm..Hmmm..Hmmm." Tiona sauntered down the hallways, humming.
Lefiya crossed her way with a pile of books in her arms, she had to help Riveria in the library today.
"Ah Miss Tiona...you seem to be in a good mood, did something happen?"
"Today is just a wonderful day Lefiya. Oh and tomorrow I have a date with Argonaut!"
"Huuuuuuh?!"
At the pub.
Syr helped in the kitchen to prepare the vegetables for the day.
Hmmm...Hmm...I think I´m in the mood for a little prank...
She eyed some bottles in a corner. "Hey May, say what are these bottles?"
"Hmm? Ah this is moonberry juice."
Moonberry juice...it didn´t sound like it...but Syr knew that was alcohol.
Tee-Hee...this is going to be fun...since they are both here today.
"Here is your order Mylady." Bell placed the plate on the table in front of the older woman.
"An this is your order Madam." He placed the other plate down.
""Hihihi..such a handsome young man.""
As always, Bell was well liked by the female customers that came around noon. At some days he got better tips than the girls.
"Tsk...white hair tries to charm our customers too Nya...the nyautiful Anya is the next...I´m sure Nya."
Anya served at another table and pouted about Bell´s tips.
When he returned to the kitchen he talked to Anya.
"Miss Anya, I don´t want these tips...you girls helped me so much, I wanted to buy some snacks for you all with my tips."
"Really? Yahoo!...wait...you try to charm me do you, Nya?"
"N-No I don´t! Believe me!"
"You can´t fool the purrfect sharp Anya Nya!"
"Anya, you´re disturbing Mr. Cranel´s work."
"Nya! I bet he charmed you too Ryuu!"
"Anya...Mama Mia will get mad at you if you don´t hurry."
"Nya!"
Ryuu passed Bell with four plates in her hands, for a split-second she showed him a light smile before serving the customers with her normal calm face.
They were cautious, except Mama Mia, no one had guessed that they were a couple now, the time would come where they would tell everyone.
In the kitchen he saw May the head chef and Mia, both busy with cooking.
"Man boy you sure are worth your money."
Well she didn´t really paid Bell...
"Thank you, I do my best."
"I wouldn´t mind hiring you full time."
"Ahm...not for the moment...but thanks"
"Anytime boy."
The flow of customers continued until the early afternoon. They took a break for an hour, then the preparation for the evening started. Bell was already known as a part timer in the pub. He got better with his work, Mia already trusted him enough to bring drinks to the customers. Thankfully he didn´t had to serve people he knew, that would be kind of embarassing.
The time went by and when the last customer left, it was already two hours before midnight.
Mama Mia looked very pleased. "Ears up girls!...and boy. We broke our record today, you know what that means!"
The stuff of the pub, except Ryuu, cheered loudly. A new record meant a ten percent bonus on their next payment and a little party right now. Ryuu was happy too but she didn´t like to cheer so loud.
"Boy you will party with us yes? It´s not everyday we set up a new record."
"Oh ahm...but its so late.."
"Ah c´mon."
"Please Mr. Bell." Syr looked at him pleading, then she whispered to him. "Ryuu would be happy too."
"Ahm...okay I guess."
"So girls clean up! We have a party!"
"""Yes Ma´am!"""
The mood was lively.
Mia made some late evening snacks and Syr helped May to get some bottles from the kitchen, after that Syr handed out the drinks.
"Now everyone...cheers!"
"""""Cheers!""""""
Bell watched as Runoa and Chloe when they compared their tips.
"It is an old rivalry between these two."
Ryuu stood next to him and sipped her drink.
"What are you drinking?"
"Some juice, I don´t know witch one."
"I really like this pub."
Ryuu smiled. "Yeah...I understand you, I love it here."
Chloe cheered with a loud voice, apparently she had won against Runoa this time.
"Say ahm...when do you have your next day off?" Bell asked softly, so that the others didn´t hear him.
"In eight days."
"Would you...like to.."
It was too risky to let him end the sentence, so Ryuu just nodded with slightly warm cheeks, that would be their first date.
They talked for a while, Syr continued to fill up their drinks, she seemed to be in a good mood.
After half an hour, May and Syr wished them goodbye, May was tired from work and Syr had to walk home.
"Syr...will you be safe this late?"
"Don´t worry Ryuu, an adventurer I know will accompany me."
"Is it...a man?"
"Aaaawww...are you worried about me Ryuu?"
"Of course I am!" Ryuu´s voice rose a bit.
"Aw you´re so sweet...but don´t worry, it is a woman."
When she opened the front door, a woman with long blond hair waited outside.
"Sorry for making you wait Helen!"
"No problem."
Outside of everyones view, another adventurer waited on the rooftop of another building, a dark elf. Whenever Syr...or Freya worked so late, at least one of the members of her Familia waited outside and watched over her and today was Hogni´s turn.
If she wanted or not.
"Until tomorrow everyone!"
They closed the door and chatted for a while longer.
As soon as the door was closed, Syr and Helen vanished in a side street and Helen brought her to Hogni on the rooftop.
"I want to see what is going to happen now."
Hogni and Helen only nodded, if their Lady wanted something, she got it.
Bell noticed that Ryuu behaved somewhat strange, she staggered lightly and spilled some of her drink.
He walked over to her. "R...Miss Ryuu...is everything alright?"
"Ahm...Miss Ryuu?"
"Are you listening to me?"
"Ryuu? Hello?"
"-Bell.."
"Yes." He was relieved.
"Bell."
"Yes...?" Bell looked at bit worried.
"-Mhee-hee-hee." Ryuu smiled at him with flushed cheeks.
"Mhee-Hee-Hee?!" Bell´s facial features slipped.
Ryuu never before made such a noise.
Her eyes were half closed and she had a light smile on her lips. "Bell...You´re a naaaughty, eeevil human..." Her voice slurred.
"What are you talking about? What happened to you?" He looked a little horrified.
"You daaaaared to hold my hand just liiike that...Have you forgottennnn?" Her voice got a little bit louder.
"Wh-Wh-What?! I just..eh...I naturally...I was so happy!"
"Syr and Alise were the only ones before, who took my haaaaand...and you´re a man...you took that first time fromm me!"
"I uh..just.." Bell didn´t know how to handle this situation.
"So..your my third special someone...Tadaaahhh!" She laughed...it was strange...very strange.
"What is happening with you Ryuu?!" He even forgot to call her "Miss Ryuu" in front of the others.
All the other girls were watching.
"By the gods! Who gave Ryuu alcohol?"
"Which maniac did that meow?"
"Run! Save yourself, we can use white hair as a sacrifice Meow!"
"Let boy deal with that, he has to get used to her for the future."
Even Mama Mia withdrew. The girls fled to the stairs and watched in horror...they seemed to know what would be happen.
"I feel like...I´m flyyyyying through the skyyy! *Hic* Bell is Alise...Alise is Syr...*Hic*...Haa-Haa!" She giggled happily and stretched out her arms, as if she were a bird.
She was hard to understand at this point.
"This is not you Ryuu...Hey, tell me this is not happening!"
Ryuu´s look changed, she gazed at him as if she wanted to scold him.
"Bell, you do know...youuu´re bad...Oh...so...bad!" Her voice was getting louder to the end.
"I am? What is with you? You´re very unstable right now!" Bell looked out for help, but all the girls hid themselfs.
"Aaaaanswer my question!...Which *Hic* girl do youuu favor the mosht? Which on ish *Hic* in your miiind all the time?" Ryuu came closer.
"In my mind?!" He blushed, there was no way he could just say that in front of the others. Why did she even ask?
"Tell meeee! *Hich* Which on ish in your mind right now? Which *Hic* giiiirl in your live do you fan-cy Belll?"
"M-M-Must I answer this right now?" Bell took a step back.
"Is it Shyr?..Your goddessh? Mama Mia? Me? Anya? Chloe? Shomeone from *Hic* your Familia?! Tell me!" She didn´t sound angry...just drunk.
"It´s impossible to have a proper conversation with you right now. Girls! Help me! Ryuu is drunk and messing with me!"
But Anya, Chloe and Runoa only watched from behind the corner of the staircase.
"I won´t let you *Hic* run away! Look into my *Hic* eyes and aaaanswer meeee!" Ryuu came closer and closer to his face, she was definetely drunk.
For a moment she had her usual calm face as she stared at him closely. "Giiiiiii..."
Her face were merely centimeters away from Bell´s.
He knew the others were watching, being so close didn´t help so his face got hot. "R-Ryuu...you´re so close!"
"-Uh?!" Ryuu made a shocked face.
"Too cloooooose!" She shouted.
Ryuu grabbed his right arm, turned herself and threw him over her shoulder to the ground.
"Buha!"
"Bell, you shouldn´t stare at me from so close!...With your lips so close to mine..." Ryuu laid her hands on her cheeks and looked bashful.
"Bell? Where are you? Did you run away? You still haven´t answered me!" She looked around, annoyed. But she didn´t look down.
Bell staggered to his feet again. "Uff...that was...a perfect shoulder throw! Thank the gods no one else got drunk..."
On that evening Bell Cranel learned an important rule of the Benevolent Mistress the hard way.
Never...
Ever...
Give Ryuu alcohol...
Outside on the rooftop, Syr had the fun of her live.
"Ahahahaha! How I love seeing Ryuu like that!"
She grinned happily.
Hogni and Helen enjoyed seeing their goddess like that. As long as Freya had fun, they were pleased.
About a week later...
Bell had too much to do over the last week, so today was the first time he visited the pub again after...that evening.
"Kill me..." Ryuu still couldn't handle with how she had acted, she had a depressed, darkened expression on her face.
"I haven´t seen Ryuu sigh so often Meow." Anya tipped with a finger against her chin.
"She´s been acting weird since that evening Nya...does it bother her that much?" Chloe stood with her arms crossed in front of her stomach right next to Anya.
A tiny bell rang when the door was opened and a familiar face entered.
"Good evening." Bell just entered normal.
"?!" Ryuu had a shocked face with pink cheeks as she saw him, nearly too fast for the eye, she dashed into the kitchen.
"Miss Ryuu?" He looked a bit worried.
Chloe stepped over to Bell. "Boy...you´ve done it this time.."
"Huh?"
"Ryuu is depressed meow and she ran away the moment she saw you. She never did that with us after she got drunk meow. What did you do to her? Did you allowed her to have your butt meow?"
"W-What are you talking about? I didn´t do anything!"
Anya walked over to them. "Meow...Chloe you´re completely wrong...let the brillant Anya help you Meow."
"White hair...I knyau you´re guilty, meow."
"Ah..What..?" Bell looked confused.
"You charmed Ryuu didn´t you Meow?
"What?!"
"Ah but don´t worry Meow, this only happens to Ryuu sometimes meow." Anya nodded wisely.
Chloe agreed. "We were lucky, normally the drunk Ryuu makes fare more of a ruckus Meow."
"-Shush!"
Ryuu dashed past Bell, grabbed Anya and Chloe in the neck and dragged them into the kitchen.
""Nya !...Me-oww!""
She looked worried when she returned to him.
"Oh, Ryuu."
"Please don´t take them seriously Bell, they´re spouting nonsense." Her voice got a bit louder to the end, she looked very embarassed.
Bell smiled reassuringly. "It´s okay, I don´t believe them that you´re doing something like that often, even if I wanted to. But then, why did you run away as soon as you saw me? Did I do something? Are you angry at me?"
Her embarassement only rose. "I...uh..I..I don´t know what to say...you saw me...acting like this and..."
"Acting like that? Oh you mean-"
Something snapped in Ryuu.
"Aaaaaargh! The memories of that night are comming back to haunt me again! This is the greatest shame I have ever experienced!" She put her hands over her face and nearly shouted.
Thankfully only a few guests were here and they pretended to not hear anything. It was widely known, that an elf who felt shame...acted a bit off...
"R-Ryuu? What´s wrong? Are you okay?"
Her expression darkened. "I just know it...Alise and the girls will laugh at me...Kaguya and Lyra are going to tease me...Neze will die of laughter...
And Alise...I can already hear her guffawing! I just know it, they absolutely will!"
"Ryuu! There is something wrong with you, thats not you!" Bell panicked a bit.
Suddenly she had a look of determination on her face and turned to the kitchen.
"I must atone for my sins! Before all the girls watching over me from heaven will start to laugh at me...I have to cut my belly and atone!"
When she made a step to the kitchen, Bell jumped forward from behind and clutched Ryuu in his arms.
"Ryuu! Isn´t that taking it a little too far?" He was in panic.
"You were just drunk! Don´t worry, it happens to everyone to act like that when they are drunk. Don´t worry too much!"
She turned lightly in his arms and looked at him over her shoulder.
"Have you ever done something like that?" Ryuu looked at him seriously.
"Huh?"
"Have you ever gotten drunk and made a scene, worse then what you saw that night?"
"Ahm..no, I never got drunk."
She shut her eyes and shouted at him. "You liar! Bell you liar! You won´t understand what I´m going through right now!"
"Ah sorryyyy!"
He continued. "But you have to know, you caused no one trouble, so please let the knives be and leave your stomach intact!"
Ryuu tried to break free. "Let go of me! Let go! Don´t hold me in your arms just because you want to touch me!"
"B-But I have to hug you or you´ll hurt yourself!"
"Kill me! Just kill me!"
"Help! Somebody help me with her!"
But every customer and every waitress averted their eyes and ears. No one dared to interfere with an ashamed elf.
"Urgh..I...I..." Ryuu whimpered...she seemed to be near her tears.
She has gone mad...I have to do something...focus her mind on something else.
"You asked me which girl is in my mind all the time."
"Huh?" She was speechless for a moment and stopped in her lament.
"It´s you! And it will ever be you!"
"Wha-!"
Ryuu didn´t blushed because Bell had said that, he had already confessed his love to her...Ryuu blushed because he had shouted that in the pub...
"B-Bell wha-!"
Syr walked over to them, she had also heard it.
"S-Syr..I.."
"Ah you two making it finally public?"
"Eh?" Ryuu´s face went blank.
Syr grinned. "Anya, I won, I said within two weeks."
"Tsk...just two days more..." The catgirl clicked her tongue and searched for her purse, as did Chloe.
"S-Syr...you knew?"
Syr looked at Ryuu innocently. "From the moment I saw how you acted when you came back...wait was that a secret?"
Bell was as speechless as Ryuu.
They grey haired girl grinned. "Okay then...congratulations you two!"
And like this, their relationship has been revealed to the rest of the stuff.
Well...they knew it anyway...
Only two days later, Syr had a plan to help Ryuu with her shame.
She whispered to herself while she prepared a bottle. "I´m sorry Bell...well to be honest I´m not...I just want to see that."
It was evening and the pub was closed for the day, Bell helped out that day too, they were cleaning up right now.
Syr walked over to him and held a cup for him. "Good work today , it´s good to have you around."
She smiled innocently while he took a sip.
"Thank y-" He stopped.
Bell blinked a few times and hiccuped.
No way...that was one sip!
"Hehe..." He grinned.
"Fuahahaha! Fear nothing lovely maid! The mighty Argonaut is here to save you all!"
"""Huh?""" The other waitresses were cleaning the main room right now and looked up as Bell shouted out.
He threw himself into a...heroic...pose and held his broom like it was a sword.
"Bell? What is wrong?" Ryuu already called him by his first name openly...at least when no customers were here.
His gaze fell on her.
"Ah! My lovely princess! There you are!"
"Huh?" Ryuu looked perplexed.
Syr curled up laughing in her mind.
Bell stepped over to Ryuu, put an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "I will protect you...my princess."
"H-Huh?" Ryuu´s cheeks went hot.
"""Woah...""" The other waitresses watched amazed.
"What´s with this ruckus here, Ryuu I said no flirting while work didn´t I?" Mia came from the kitchen and looked slightly angry.
"Ah Mama Mia..the thing is-"
"An Ogre!" Bell shouted as he saw Mia.
Mia froze...Ryuu froze...everyone except Bell froze...he just said...that.
A vein twitched on her forehead. "Ho...what did you just say?"
Ryuu squealed when Bell pulled her closer. "Don´t worry princess! I will protect you from the beast...we have to flee!"
Bell threw away the broom, Ryuu yelped as he put an arm under her legs and pulled her up into an princess carry.
Ryuu was bright red in the face and looked up to him embarassed. Yes it made her extremely happy to be held like this by Bell...but not in this situation!
"We must flee! Ahahaha!"
He dashed to the stairs and hurried up.
The girls looked at each other...
Mia´s face twitched. "Oh I will make him pay for that...just follow him."
She didn´t need to say it twice, the girls dropped their tools and ran after them. They just had to see what he would do.
Syr was the first upstairs, followed by Anya, Runoa and Chloe.
"Over there!" She saw that Ryuu´s door was open.
They sneaked to the door and peered through the crack.
"We´re save here princess."
"Bell..."
"I´m Argonaut!"
"Can you...put me down now.." Ryuu looked pretty flustered.
Bell staggered lightly as he laid her onto her bed, he was half leaned over her.
"""Kya!""" The four girls tried to be as silent as possible.
"What will he do to Ryuu Meow?"
"Shht!"
Ryuu´s hands were beside her head, her face turned to the side with burning cheeks.
What shall I do...what is he going to do?
"Oh no! The princess is in a magical sleep! What do I do?"
"B-..." Before Ryuu could say somethin, Bell leaned closer.
"I have to wake her up...right a kiss! A kiss will always wake a sleeping princess."
"""Aaah!""" The girls squealed.
Huh? W-Wait...Bell!
Closer and closer he leaned toward Ryuu´s face.
Bell...please...not with the others watching!
Yes, Ryuu was fully aware of her friends.
He closed his eyes, his lips merely centimeters away from hers.
Bell..I´m sorry...but not like this.
Faster than he could react, Ryuu hit his neck with the edge of her hand and he passed out...right on top of her.
"Waah!" Ryuu yelped again as his body pressed on hers.
""""KYAAAH!""""
"Aaaah! Please don´t look at us!" Ryuu burned in shame again.
But at least...now Bell had acted worse than her in his drunk state.
That was worth something...?
When Bell woke up again he layed downstairs on some chairs.
"Wha-" It hit him.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
A shadow towered over him...Mia.
"Awake again...boy?"
"S-S-SOOOOOORRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"
From his lying position, he jumped right into the Takemikazuchi-style apologize pose.
Bell pressed his forehead onto the ground for ten minutes and said sorry over two hundred times to Mia.
