Chapter 268 Minerva and Hekate
The Government Office wasn't that far off from our inn, so it didn't take us too long to return. As soon as we entered, I immediately spoke to the owner and asked for an extra twin room. After all, our current room was already filled to the brim. We can't fit the two of them there anymore.
The booking finished quickly, and they were assigned to the room that was right next to the one we were already renting. It was a nice gesture from the owner, letting us stay close to each other.
"Master, Igni's still asleep."
Ember, who checked Igni back into our room, finally returned. However, it seemed like she was still in dreamland. Although it's a pity, we can't help it if she's asleep.
"Let her be. We'll just buy takeout for her to eat tomorrow."
At least that way, she could still experience the same cuisine that we'd be eating.
"So... Should we go to another tavern?"
As I wondered where we could eat, I suggested the tavern last night. Although it was a bit rowdy, their food was delicious after all. However, Ember and Fang quickly shouted "No!" as if repulsed by the idea.
"I don't want to feel that again. Ugh... Recalling it makes my stomach churn again."
"Leader! I don't like to drink beer anymore! Let's not return there, please?"
Although in a different way, both of them expressed the reason why they weren't willing to return there. In short, they learned their lesson from getting a hangover last night.
"Then should we try an expensive-looking restaurant?"
Although they gave up on Beer, I wonder what their thoughts are on wine. I need to try it at least. Looking around, nobody was raising any objections, so I decided that we would go to a fancy restaurant.
After leaving the inn once more, we headed down the now-familiar path and stopped by one of the fancy places that had caught my eye before. It was a two-story restaurant with scary-looking muscular guys standing by the entrance.
"..."
Entering here takes some courage since the two bouncers are pretty strong. Around the 7th stage or even stronger! I took a deep breath and approached them.
"Stop."
As soon as we came into their range, they blocked me from going any further.
"Do you have a reservation?"
"... Ah."
Sh*t, is this the type that requires one to reserve a table beforehand? Although I'm slowly losing hope that we can enter it tonight, trying to ask wouldn't hurt.
"I don't have one. Can we not enter without it?"
Their eyes narrowed, looking me up and down before taking a sidelong glance at the girls behind.
"It's not required, but without one, you'd need to pay 5,000 credits for each member as an entrance fee."
"Five...!"
Just for the entrance fee, five thousand?! What a ripoff! However, backing away right now would make me seem like a cheapskate. So I just took out enough to pay for all, even counting in Judy and Yorm, before passing it to the two bouncers. After confirming the amount, they then opened the door with a faint service smile on their faces.
"Welcome in!"
"Ohhh..."
As soon as I entered, I realized just why the entrance fee was so extravagant. Looking around, everything was shining; some pieces of furniture were even glittering in a golden hue. I realized that this place wasn't something that a lower class would be allowed to enter.
"I should've worn better clothes..."
Even with my usual collared shirt and pants, I look like a beggar who got lost inside a palace. Looking around, everyone else was wearing expensive-looking dresses and accessories.
"Table for eight?"
As I was appreciating the design of the place, a voice echoed from the side. It was a silver-haired butler who was wearing a black-and-white waiter outfit. Even though the design of his suit was simple, he looked stunning. I'm straight, but the thought of "This guy's so handsome" passed through my mind after seeing him.
The girls were quiet for some reason, making me feel unsettled. When I turned around, I saw them whispering to each other while looking at the waiter and me, as if deliberating about something amongst themselves.
While I was still distracted, the butler led us to a vacant table in the corner of the room. Well, I can't really say anything, but I guess he purposely chose this place because our clothes weren't really fitting the venue. At least at the corner, we'll gather less attention.
As we sat down, everyone took a menu and started checking all the items out. One after another, their orders poured like raindrops. The silver-haired waiter's smile was twitching after he wrote the thirtieth item in his little notebook. Well, pardon us, good sir, as these girls have quite the appetite.
After more or less fifty sets of food were ordered, the poor waiter walked away. Since we ordered a lot, it would probably take some time to prepare. As we waited for the first batch of food to come, Ember and the others continued to chat up Minerva and Hekate.
Of course, I didn't participate in their chat. After all, the high tension between girls while chatting was something I couldn't handle. However, I still listened to them, trying to internalize the little bits of important information that they were slowly able to dig up.
First, Hekate was actually the first tamed monster of her previous master. However, since she was extremely weak in terms of battles, he quickly added another one to his team, and that was Minerva.
Hekate acted as support and the command tower; Minerva was the main attacker; and their tamer was the defender. With that formation, they fought a lot of battles and survived.
The three of them soon created a perfect team, making them a little famous in the surrounding parts of the land. They were proud of this achievement.
However, one day, while hunting in the nearby Black Forest, their tamer got hit by a surprise attack. After quickly subduing the attacker, they turned to nurse their master, but the wound on him was poisoned. In a panic, they rushed him to the town and looked for help, but the poison was already spread all over his body. It was too late to save him, even if a god-tamer were to look after him.
"... I was told that our master's state could only be healed by something like the Void Element, so we could only watch as he slowly breathed his last."
The sadness in Minerva's voice was still strong. After all, their tamer was with them for years, and he died more or less a month ago. They probably haven't gotten over his passing yet.
"Actually, our current personalities were the complete opposite while our master was still alive."
As if trying to change the mood, Minerva spoke with a slight hint of amusement.
"Hekate was more forthcoming and strict, but after our master died, she continued to blame herself for it, leading to her current state."
"... Y-Yes... It really is m-my fault after all..."
"See? So, thinking that I needed to watch out for her, I turned to become less shy in the process."
Well, their appearances were really contrasting compared to their attitude, after all. Minerva looked all fluffy and cute, but she was acting strict and cool-headed. Hekate, on the other hand, looked like a Queen at first glance, but her hunched posture and furrowed brows made her look like an abandoned, weak animal.
Before the girls could continue, however, the food we ordered started to get brought in. As if arranged beforehand, the chat was toned down to almost a stop as everyone chomped down on the food like there was no tomorrow. The two newcomers were staring wide-eyed at the voraciousness of the girls.
I thought they were going to hold back, as it was their first meal with us, but as if competing with the others, they were trying to eat at a pace that wouldn't lose to the others.
'How the hell are they able to look so prim and proper while eating an elephant's portion...?' I think this question of mine will remain unanswered for all eternity.
After that, the orders came one after another, making it hard for the girls to continue their little chat. In the end, only after they finished eating everything and were enjoying an after-meal wine were they able to resume their talks.
"We know it's painful to lose your tamer, even though we don't know how painful it truly is. However, now, we are your new companions."
Ember said, her face slightly red from the wine she drank. Is she just that weak against alcohol? Fang and Fina still looked fine, and only Ember was getting a little tipsy.
"And if you can't forget about your previous tamer, Master here can make you forget him in one night~! Master's techniques even improved after I last saw them, so I'm sure that—!"
"E-Ehem...! Sorry about that. Ignore what she just said."
Before she completely made the atmosphere awkward, I quickly blocked Ember's mouth. Ah! No, don't lick my palm!
After that, since we were already done and the takeout I ordered for Igni came, we went out of the restaurant. The cool night breeze was refreshing, especially after our bodies became a little hot from the alcohol intake.
bodies became a little hot from the alcohol intake.
"...?"
However, it seems like... We're not alone.
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