Nine people soon enter and the patrons stop to take notice of them. Jonah notices two people amongst them.

Those Elves from that Witch's Shop. Talk about a coincidence. Jonah thought upon being able to connect the races after reading that third book.

Another girl walks in wearing a white dress and has long blond hair, with eyes to match her hair. She walks with a grace and coolness.

Beautiful girl. Jonah thought. Wait! Is she that girl who rescued Bell? She is!

The comments about Ais Wallenstein are soon heard.

". . . Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about . . . !"

". . . Look at the emblem, dummy! That's the Loki Familia! They're the ones that kill giants, man . . . !"

". . . Yeah, you better watch your mouth. That's the Sword Princess . . ."

"Interesting people there," Jonah mused to Bell. "Bell?"

The Good Hunter notices Bell's gaga expression.

"Bell?" Syr said as she waves his hand in front of his face. "Hello?"

"I think he's smitten by that girl with the long blond hair," Jonah whispered with a wry expression.

"Her name is Ais Wallenstein," Syr said as she looks back at the Sword Princess. "She's a Level Five."

There's something about her. Jonah thought as he winces curiously at her, then keens his Insight at Ais. What the? She's clearly not completely human. She must be a hybrid of some sort. Is she part god? No, the gods of this world can't have children as Hestia had told me. Is she half one of those Spirits then?

"So she's strong and skilled with a sword I take it?" Jonah next said in an offhanded manner.

"Yes, very," Syr answered. "She's Loki's favorite."

Jonah looks the Loki Familia over as they sit at a table nearby with their food and drinks already laid out.

They all look strong. Jonah thought. I guess that's why Loki was able to form an alliance with this Freya to overthrow Zeus and Hera after that Black Dragon fiasco.

Loki picks up a mug as do the rest of her Familia.

"All right, guys, you really kicked that Dungeon's ass!" Their goddess proclaimed. "So tonight we feast! Eat! Drink! And get drunken!"

They all whoop and knock mugs together.

"The members of the Loki Familia are some of our best customers," Syr said while staring at them from alongside Bell, with Jonah watching as well. "They're patron goddess, Loki, really likes coming here, like a lot."

As they witness Loki trying to grope Ais from behind, only for Ais to casually bop her on the head.

"Ais dear, that hurts," Loki was heard complaining.

"Well you reap what you sow, I guess," Riveria was heard saying to Loki.

"She seems to be a deviant," Jonah noted. And divinity as well. Just like Hestia. And you too, Syr. Who are you really?

Jonah keens his Insight at Syr while she stares at the Loki Familia and ends up seeing an extraordinarily beautiful woman overlaying her.

It's her! Jonah thought. She's that goddess I saw looking down on me the day I came here! I bet she is the owner of that magic book! Since the first person who reads it gets magic, why would she let him have such? She also knows all about me now, so I am going to have to watch my words with her since she must also be able to detect lies as well.

"Jonah, is something wrong?" Bell asked upon noticing him staring seemingly at him intently, causing Syr to look with a concerned expression.

"Ah, I'm sorry," he sighed with a smile while rubbing his forehead momentarily, then regards Bell with an assured smile. "I'm just not used to an atmosphere such as this."

"Oh, that's too bad," Syr said with concern then looks back over at the crowd. "Oh well, I guess that there are people who are like that; while there are people who thrive on an atmosphere like this."

Which is true actually, as he had used that excuse for a cover upon understanding Syr is an actual goddess in disguise and will discern the truth from him, just like Hestia.

Wait, that also means she can smell me like just like Hestia can! Jonah thought apprehensively. Not only that but that Loki can as well, but she is definitely covering it! Damn it, I'm going to have every god in this city curious about me!

Jonah continues eating while glancing about the room. He starts getting concerned as he notices Ais Wallenstein doing something.

"There's that smell again?" Ais said as she sniffs repeatedly.

"What smell?" Riveria asked.

"Let me guess, that cool sweet bloody smell, right?" Bete asked sarcastically.

"Right," Ais answered.

"Yesterday down in the Dungeon, Ais was claimin' that she was smellin' that," Bete informed the others, "but I didn't smell that. And I still don't. Even though she smelt it a few days ago near our home she was sayin'."

"I don't smell anything like that," Riveria said with a wry expression.

"Neither do I," Lefiya said.

The rest also verify their ignorance.

"There, you see, Ais," Bete sneered. "You must be imagining it. And you know what a Beastfolk's nose is like, especially with a Falna."

"Oh Aisy-poo, he's right," Loki said in affectionate assurance. "Sometimes thoughts can be strong enough that the senses can get affected." Then starts rising. "Listen, I'm goin' over to the bar and hear what's goin' down, okay? Enjoy yourselves, my kiddies."

Loki walks over to the bar, then casually looks back at the others while taking another drink and thinking with a concerned look.

Sorry for the lie, Aisy-poo, but I don't want what I know getting out so casually. Now where is that cool sweet bloody smell that is making me think of the moon coming from? Got you!

After ever so briefly zeroing in on a black haired man sitting at the other end of the bar and next to a white-haired boy.

I can't go making a fuss about that black-haired man without exposing Aisy-poo but there's clearly something about him if he's giving off a smell that only we can smell, and probably the other gods too.

Jonah on the other hand was more perceptive than Loki had given him credit for as he had felt her gaze fall ever so briefly upon himself. He had also heard them talking about his smell.

Must not make a fuss out of this. Jonah thought while staring down at his food and finishing off the last of the spaghetti.

Jonah, Bell, and the Loki Familia continue with their respective actions.

"Hey Ais!" Bete called upon slamming his mug on the table. "It's about time you told everybody about what happened the other day! It was freaking hilarious!"

"And what story was that?" Ais asked flatly.

"Come on!" Bete taunted. "You know what I'm talkin' about! All those damn minotaurs got loose! You told me you went down and finished off the last on the Fifth Floor, right? You had to save that tomato dumbass?"

Bell gasps, of which Jonah notices.

"Anyway," Bete continues, "so there's some little pansy running around in there, and this big ugly sucker starts chasing him, right?! So Ais jumps in and cuts the thing to pieces, and the little wuss gets absolutely covered in blood! Dude looks just like a big old stupid tomato!"

Two girls at the table, both brown-skinned but one with long hair and an endowed chest and the other short-haired and flat-chested, giggle with, let's humor him, expressions.

"And then check this out," Bete continues, "then tomato guy runs out screaming his freaking head off! The dumbass just up and ran away from the one who saved him!" He laughs harder while slapping his own knee. "What a pathetic jackass!"

Arrogant idiot. Jonah thought while scowling at the werewolf.

"I'm not so sure he can be blamed for any of that," Ais casually rebuffed.

"That will be quite enough out of you, Bete," Riveria said in mild rebuke. "The monsters only escaped the Seventeenth Floor because of our mistake. It wasn't the kid's fault. Don't even try-"

"What?!" Bete exclaimed as he rises and slams his hands on the table. "The idiot bit off more than he could chew trying to be a hero!"

Jonah hears Bell's frustration as he notices his clenching fists.

"You can ask Ais! She knows what I'm talking about! Tell her the truth!" Then lunges across the table to get into the Sword Princess' face. "Who's the more big strong and handsome hero? Me or that little scrawny tomato turd?!"

"Um, Bete?" Finn fretted. "I think you might be drunk."

"I asked you a question, Ais!"

"Yep, drunk," Finn concluded.

"What would you do if that kid walked up to you and said he had the hots for you? I'm sure you'd tell him to get lost, right? I mean you wouldn't waste your time with some crybaby you could totally crush! That snivelling snotty infant has no right to even be near you! You're way too good for a loser like that! Can you imagine a crotch sniffer like him as your partner? No, no, not-

"YOU!"

Everyone in the tavern goes silent with stunned expressions.

"Who the hell said that?!" Bete exclaimed as he straightens and darts a look back, then focuses in. "Wait? Was that you over there?"

Syr and Bell stare at Jonah with startled expressions, with Bell standing as he had been in the process of running away. Jonah places some valis on his now empty plate and stands. He stalks past Bell and Syr, who was quick to stand aside.

"What're you doing?!" Bell hissed up at him.

The Moon-scented Hunter stands further out for the patrons to see.

"It's that Human from Miss Lenoa's shop," Lefiya whispered to Riveria.

"I know," Riveria whispered back with a nod.

"What did you just say, stranger?" Bete sneered at Jonah.

"I said, you," Jonah answered firmly.

"You?" Bete sneered curiously as he walks up to the Good Hunter. "And just what do you mean by that?"

"What I meant to say," Jonah announced carefully, "was that Miss Wallestein would not be interested in a crotch-sniffer like you."

An immediate gale of laughter reverberates throughout the tavern, from deep belly laughs to high pitched squealing all mingling together.

"You stepped right into that one, Bete!" Loki squawked from across the room.

Bete looks around at all of the patrons laughing at him, including the members of his own Familia. Lefiya giggles while Riveria snickers in a vain attempt not to laugh. The two dark-skinned girls laugh. Ais even chuckles.

"Whoa! Look! Even Ais finds it funny!" The short-haired girl squealed.

Bete starts shivering and rasping heavily as his face reddens and twists from fury.

"Bete's getting red like a tomato!" The short-haired girl chanted with glee while pointing up at him.

With a shout of fury, Bete lunges for Jonah; only to end up diving into the bottom of the bar since Jonah was no longer standing there. The laughter dies down.

"Meow, that man was fast!" Anya gasped.

Bete gets up while holding his face, then looks around and sees out through the open doors Jonah standing outside in the street looking back in toward the interior.

With an enraged shout, Bete storms out, causing everybody to get up and hurry after him. Outside, they stop in the back while Bete stomps up to Jonah.

"Let them assemble first!" Jonah proclaimed while pointing to the rapidly growing crowd.

"Fine!" Bete snarled gleefully upon stopping. "They can all watch as I mop the street with you!"

So he's the one who smells like that. Ais thought upon realization.

"Meow, he's in trouble!" Anya whispered with a squeak.

"You're talking about Bete right?" Ryu whispered grimly from alongside them.

"No, that man!" Anya corrected.

"Wrong, it's Bete who's in trouble," Ryu corrected.

"She's right," Chloe added.

Syr remains silent as she watches intently.