"W-wait, Nia! Where are you going!"
The flustered voice of Lady Istarot came from behind me, but I paid it no mind.
Instead, I tightened my grip on her hand and pushed forward through the crowd.
There was only one destination. The tavern every adventurer in Orario knew: the Hostess of Fertility.
I had wanted to visit it at least once, and when I first came to Orario, I had looked at it from afar, thinking that even if I had no money then, maybe someday I would.
"Th-this is... the place adventurers often go to, isn't it?"
When we arrived in front of the tavern, Lady Istarot murmured at the huge signboard. It seemed she had heard the rumors too.
"Yes. We're eating dinner here tonight."
"But, Nia, is that all right? That's money you worked so hard to earn..."
"This is exactly what first earnings are for. Besides, I'll make more tomorrow, so it's fine. And I wanted to properly treat you to a real meal, Goddess."
I said it with confidence.
In truth, this place wasn't absurdly expensive. It was famous as a kind and reliable tavern that filled adventurers' hungry stomachs with delicious food and generous portions.
The 6,000 valis I earned today would be more than enough for the two of us to eat our fill.
With a cheerful ding of the bell, we stepped inside, and the delicious aroma and lively bustle welcomed us.
The tavern was packed with adventurers of every race.
Dwarves with massive axes at their sides, sharp-eyed elves, energetic beastfolk.
All of them were washing away the day's fatigue with good food and alcohol.
"Oh my, welcome! Welcome to the Hostess of Fertility!"
The beautiful waitress with gray hair and a faintly alluring charm, Syr Flova, smiled at us kindly.
Thinking about who she really was, I did wonder if she might be a little dangerous, but since she hadn't even approached me during the time I'd been in Orario, I figured I didn't need to worry too much.
More than that, seeing one of the original story's heroines in person, this close, felt strangely unreal.
I didn't let myself get intimidated and said, "A table for two. And bring us your best dishes."
Syr looked briefly surprised, then smiled as if amused and led us to a quiet seat in the corner.
Soon, the table was covered with steaming spaghetti, warm bread, roasted sausages, salad, and all sorts of mouthwatering dishes that made my stomach rumble just looking at them.
"Wow...!"
Lady Istarot's eyes sparkled as she let out an awed exclamation.
Her innocent reaction made me smile before I even realized it.
"Eat as much as you like, Goddess."
"Thank you, Nia. You should eat plenty too."
We focused on the meal without saying much. As if repaying the days of hunger we'd endured, the food seemed to melt in our mouths.
Especially the spaghetti here was by far the best thing I'd eaten since coming to this other world.
I couldn't resist alcohol!
"One beer, please!"
"Yeees~!"
"Huh? Wait, Nia, you're a child. Are you allowed to drink?"
Lady Istarot asked me in confusion.
Even if I looked like this, I was twenty. I could handle a drink just fine.
Sure, I'd gotten smaller after becoming a Pallum, but that didn't change the years I'd lived, did it?
"Goddess, I may look like this, but I'm twenty!"
"Eh...?!?!"
She froze like she'd been struck by lightning.
Why was that so shocking?!
"Uuu... Then does that mean I can't hug you to sleep..."
Lady Istarot suddenly looked dejected.
"..."
You're getting that upset over something like that?!
"Your beer is here~!"
As we ate for a while longer, rough conversation from the next table caught my ear.
"Damn it, I nearly died because of the supporter we hired today! The moment a few killer ants showed up, he freaked out, threw down the entire potion pouch, and ran!"
"That's nothing! Our supporter definitely pocketed a few Magic Stones. The pouch felt way too light when we came out of the Dungeon."
"Tch. That's why the only people you can trust are your own Familia members. For small-time Familias like ours, finding even one reliable supporter is harder than plucking a star from the sky."
I pretended to eat my spaghetti while listening to their conversation.
Supporter trust issues. The importance of a Familia.
It was the living reality of adventurers, different from what I'd read in books.
In the end, it meant that the size and unity of a Familia were directly tied to survival.
Our Familia, though... was just me.
Someday, I would need other companions too.
But when that day came, I couldn't just let anyone in.
Anyone who could threaten the little Familia that Lady Istarot and I shared was absolutely not welcome.
And, well... I still wanted to monopolize the Goddess a little. No, a lot.
After finishing our meal and leaving the tavern, a bulletin board attached to one wall caught my eye.
It was covered with recruitment notices for various Familias in Orario, each posted alongside their emblems.
Most of them required a certain level or were looking for specific positions.
"What's wrong, Nia?"
"No, nothing."
Looking at the board, I thought to myself.
Right now, our Familia had no members, no funds, and no reputation.
Everything had to be handled by me alone.
But someday, would there come a day when I could proudly post a recruitment notice under the name of the Istarot Familia?
When we returned to the clock tower, we were both wrapped in a satisfying fullness.
Lady Istarot was lying on the bed with a happy expression, patting her stomach.
"That was truly delicious, Nia. Thanks to you, I got to enjoy such luxury."
"I'll buy you even more delicious things from now on."
"Fufu, I'll look forward to it."
She came over and patted my back.
Feeling her warmth, I整理ed the day's harvest in my mind.
I had earned 6,000 valis and spent 3,000 on food.
The money left was 3,000 valis.
And I still had four enchanted daggers to take into the Dungeon tomorrow.
"Goddess. Could you update my Status tonight?"
"Of course. Come here."
I lay down before her again.
With a warm, ticklish sensation, new information was etched into my back.
────────────────
Nia
Race: Pallum
LV1
Strength I 0 → I 12
Endurance I 0 → I 9
Agility I 0 → I 21
Dexterity I 0 → I 94
Magic I 0 → I 45
Development Ability
[Magic]
[Enchant]
• Chant: "Let fate be bestowed."
• Enchantment magic
• Permanently bestows random effects on equipment
• By consuming additional Mind, a desired effect can be bestowed with certainty
[Skill]
[Master of Arms]
• Rules over weapons
────────────────
Thanks to Master of Arms, my stats had somehow gone up even though I had barely moved my body myself.
Dexterity and Magic had risen especially a lot.
It made sense that Dexterity would increase from controlling the skill, but as for Magic... I wasn't sure.
Maybe [Enchant] was boosting it more than I expected?
"Amazing, Nia! To grow this much in just one day!"
Lady Istarot was truly happy for me.
I felt proud too.
Tomorrow, let's go deeper.
More monsters, more Magic Stones.
And higher Excelia.
As I planned tomorrow's hunt, I welcomed the end of a satisfying day.
"Uuu... I can't hold back anymore! Come here!"
Thump—!
"Eh...?! Ugyah?!"
"Mmm~! I knew I couldn't give this up after all!"
Of course, I had no idea whether I'd actually be able to sleep properly tonight either...
You shouldn't resist Nia, let yourself be a body pillow for your lovely goddess.
Nia, you're wrong, Hostess of Fertility's food is definitely expensive but they're worth the valis. In fact, hostess of Fertility is famous for its affordability and quality