A long line snaked down the northern main road of Orario, converging on tables filled with, bubbling pots of stew and a trays filled with bread.
Each ti a serving of piping hot stew and bread was handed out, the recipient's face lit up with joy.
Children frolicked in the streets, biting into freshly cut fruits, a sight that ward the hearts of a certain patrolling trio.
“The energy of these people is unbelievable, considering how quiet this place has been for a while,” Ryuu remarked through her mask.
“Hmm, most of these people are grateful, and the helpers are happy to assist too. This is the best Orario has been all year,” Eleni bead with a smile.
“Most? Why not all?” Alise questioned.
“Draco-nii taught us that we should never assu everyone feels the sa way about the sa things,” Eleni replied, with a serious expression.
“Guh! While I find no fault in that statent, it irks when I know that guy said it. Why does he have to be so realistic about everything? He and Kaguya are quite similar in that regard,” Alise complained.
“Sounds like Alise-san is quite fond of Draco-nii, but I have to warn you, there’s a lot of competition,” Eleni teased.
“Wh…” Alise’s words trailed off, stunned by the remark.
“Is that true, Captain?” Ryuu asked, her eyes sparkling at such juicy news.
The other girls in the Astraea familia would go crazy over this information, if it was true.
“Ugh! Why are your eyes sparkling? You know it’s definitely not true. A gorgeous one in a million beauty like has extrely high standards,” Alise defended herself.
“Sounds like you want to be single until you’re an old lady,” Eleni replied with a smirk.
“What do you know? I know my Prince Charming is out there sowhere,” Alise retorted.
“Aren’t you a bit old to still be having such fantasies?” Eleni asked, her expression innocent.
“Guh!” Alise grunted, clutching her heart in an exaggerated manner.
“Are you really twelve years old? Shouldn’t girls your age be having fantasies?” she asked.
Eleni just stared at Alise as if she were an alien, making Alise extrely uncomfortable.
Eleni’s life experiences hadn’t given her the chance to entertain much of such childlike dreams.
Ryuu, listening to the two, struggled to restrain her laughter at Alise.
Just then, a single old dwarf suddenly approached them.
“I thought it sounded lively around here. If it isn’t the Astraea familia. You are as boisterous as ever, Alise Lovell,” the dwarf said.
“Ah, old man Gareth!” Alise exclaid, her face lighting up upon seeing him.
“Hmm, this is a face I’ve seen before,” Gareth muttered, examining Eleni as he tried to recall where he had seen her.
“Oi, old man, I didn't know you were into kids" Alise teased, but Gareth ignored her.
“It’s nice to see you again, Gareth-san,” Eleni greeted.
“Eh, you know the old man?” Alise asked in surprise.
“We t twice during an incident with the Loki familia,” Eleni briefly explained.
“Ah, I rember now. You were with that dragon boy from the Bahamut familia,” Gareth said, finally recalling her face.
“Yes, thank you for helping us then,” Eleni replied.
Gareth nodded, his mind drifting to other matters.
“By the way, old man, are you here to help out too?” Alise asked.
She was curious about the event between the Loki and Bahamut familias, but she knew better than to pry.
“Yup, and all the young ones are here. I’m mainly security, though,” Gareth replied, stroking his thick, long beard.
“I’m sure these poor people would be more satisfied receiving their food from lively young girls like you instead of a dusty old dwarf like .” he added, after seeing Alise's expression subtly asking why.
“Oh my, Gareth! I can’t believe you called that,” Alise said, putting a hand on her cheek and waving bashfully.
“A super cutie whose staggering beauty charms all? Isn’t that a bit much?” Alise added.
“I didn’t say that” Gareth retorted, his smile fading quickly.
Gareth was used to dealing with Alise’s antics and was not easily flustered.
Ryuu, however, felt embarrassed for her captain, while Eleni busily took notes.
“Alise, since when did you know Elgarm?” Ryuu finally mustered the courage to ask.
Elgarm was Gareth’s alias.
“Not really, but we always have fun together, and he can’t get rid of because I’m soooo annoying,” Alise cheerfully replied.
“And here I thought it was just blissful ignorance,” Gareth added.
Alise ignored this, immune to the thinly veiled scolding in Gareth’s words.
“You’re an amazing person, old man! Whether it’s monsters or evildoers, you beat them black and blue. I want to be like you one day,” Alise praised.
“Ehhhh…” Ryuu made a disgruntled sound, her expression odd.
Gareth noticed but chose to remain silent, aware that elves and dwarves historically didn’t get along.
“Noted: to be friends with the top brass of other familias, one must be as annoying as possible so they can’t get rid of you,” Eleni muttered, jotting down her observation.
“Baaah!, what the hell are you teaching this kid?” Gareth asked, his attention diverted to Eleni.
“Little girl, please don’t beco another Alise,” Gareth pleaded.
“What do you an? Is there anything wrong with ?” Alise protested.
“Hmm,” Eleni nodded in understanding.
“This is my note on what not to learn from her,” she said.
“Eh!” Alise exclaid, feigning a hurt expression.
“Why are you suddenly being an to ? I thought we were friends!”
“Draco-nii said friends can be an to each other sotis,” Eleni replied, nodding sagely.
“What the hell is your brother teaching you all?” Alise muttered, her gaze briefly landing on Ryuu.
“Ah, that expression! You’re definitely thinking sothing weird right now,” Alise exclaid.
“Ah!” Ryuu was startled, having been caught.
She had never heard Alise praise soone so unreservedly, so she worried that Alise might harbor romantic feelings for the old musty dwarf.
“I’ve told you so many tis that race doesn’t matter. There are ugly bad guys among the elves, and there are proud, upstanding dwarf gentlen like Gareth here,” Alise scolded.
“I… well, you know it takes ti to accept,” Ryuu flustered replied.
“Ryuu-san, are you racist?” Eleni couldn’t help but ask.
“I…” Ryuu’s words got stuck in her throat; she wasn’t sure how to answer.
“Well, I can sowhat understand what Gale feels, though I don’t agree with it. At least she doesn’t treat thoughtlessly like a certain soone,” Gareth interjected, glancing at Alise.
“Well, it’s because I always wanted to be born a dwarf,” Alise revealed.
Those words shocked Ryuu, while Eleni had a perplexed expression.
“Now that’s quite a face you’re making, young lady,” Gareth said, staring at Ryuu.
“I didn’t… m… an!” Ryuu struggled to reply, unable to wrap her head around a dwarf-like Alise.
She knew there were cute female dwarves, like her companion Asta, but any attempt to fit Alise into that mold only resulted in a strange stout creature in her mind.
“Dwarves are stout and strong. They can protect a lot of people,” Alise said, unconcerned with Ryuu’s thoughts.
“Of course, the whole world would weep at the loss of my gorgeous figure, but what can I say? Sacrifices have to be made.”
“…!” Gareth was at a loss for words, but Ryuu finally began to understand what Alise was trying to convey.
“There are already loads of beautiful people in the world besides anyway. So yeah, it wouldn’t be a problem. That’s why I wanted to be a dwarf,” Alise said.
“Alise…” Ryuu called out.
“But can humans not save people with their quick feet? Can elves not soothe others with their beautiful songs?” Gareth corrected.
“What about beast-kin? Are we being discriminated against?” Eleni interjected, her cheeks puffed in a pout.
“Ah, of course, the beast-kin are also included,” Gareth hastily said to sooth her.
“I guess you’re right. Forget it then; I guess I don’t need to be a dwarf,” Alise said, recognizing the aning behind Gareth’s words.
‘Ugh, she changed her mind so fast,’ Ryuu thought.
“Hah, haah,” the old dwarf chuckled.
“What a funny person you are. You have all the confidence in the world but no commitnt,” Gareth remarked.
Eleni nodded in agreent.
“That’s not true! I just change my mind when I make a mistake. That’s totally different,” Alise defended herself, adopting a more defiant expression than an embarrassed one.
“Well said. Still, as sorry as it is to admit, I was really happy to hear that you would rather be born a dwarf. It brought a smile to my face, just as you do to many others. There’s nothing I can fault with that… now I will let you three get back to your work,” Gareth said.
“And you too, Gareth! See you later!” the three girls waved at the retreating dwarf.
‘Oh, I forgot to ask about that Draco fellow. Well, I think we will et eventually,’ Gareth thought, continuing on his patrol route.
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