Arthur wanted to visit that tavern partly out of curiosity. After all, several important people connected to the story worked there, and he thought it would be useful to establish relationships with them early. However, what he didn't know was that someone inside the city had already become completely obsessed with him long before their meeting could naturally occur.
At the very top of Babel Tower, inside a lavish chamber illuminated by moonlight, the goddess Freya gazed down upon the city with half-lidded silver eyes filled with dangerous fascination.
From the moment Arthur had appeared outside Orario's walls, Freya's attention had locked onto him completely.
To her divine sight, souls were far more beautiful than appearances, and Arthur's soul was unlike anything she had ever witnessed before in all her endless years. It shone like a miniature golden sun wrapped in layers of divine radiance, illuminating everything around it with overwhelming brilliance. Even the souls of heroes blessed by fate looked dull and insignificant beside his.
And Freya…
Loved beautiful things more than anything.
Her own appearance reflected that obsession perfectly.
Freya possessed beauty so overwhelming that it almost felt unnatural. Her long silver hair flowed down her body like liquid moonlight, soft and flawless to the point where even the finest silk in the world would seem rough in comparison. Each strand shimmered gently beneath the dim light of her chambers, framing a face so breathtaking that Arthur genuinely believed no actress or celebrity from his previous world could ever compare to her.
Her skin was impossibly smooth and pale, carrying a soft glow untouched by imperfection. Her eyes alone could enchant entire kingdoms—deep silver irises capable of appearing gentle one moment and terrifyingly possessive the next. Her lips were soft and naturally pink, curving into a smile filled with teasing affection that concealed dangerous obsession beneath it.
And then there was her body.
Every inch of her figure seemed sculpted according to the fantasies of mankind itself. Her chest was generous without appearing excessive, her waist slender enough to fit perfectly beneath a pair of hands, while her hips curved beautifully beneath the thin fabric of her dress. The mature elegance of her body contrasted dangerously with the playful charm in her expressions, creating an allure capable of driving ordinary men insane from a single glance alone.
Freya herself understood exactly how attractive she was.
And she weaponized it constantly.
Yet beneath her teasing onee-san demeanor and seductive smiles hid the true nature of the Goddess of Beauty: a terrifyingly possessive woman willing to destroy anything standing between herself and what she desired.
And right now…
What she desired was Arthur.
The moment she saw the direction he was walking in, a delighted smile spread across her beautiful face.
"Oh my…" Freya whispered softly while leaning against the balcony rail. "You're finally coming to me."
Far below, Arthur felt that obsessive gaze settle onto him once more. Even without looking up, he immediately recognized who it belonged to.
Instead of feeling bothered, however, he almost found it amusing.
"With Hestia and Freya both interested in me already, Bell's original route is basically gone," Arthur thought calmly.
He had complete confidence in both his radiant soul fragment and his soul cultivation technique. At least in this world, he genuinely doubted anyone possessed a soul more attractive or powerful than his own.
Soon, Arthur spotted the tavern sign he had been searching for.
However, just as he started walking toward it, another presence suddenly entered his senses.
A girl hurried around the corner and "accidentally" collided directly into him.
With Arthur's current reflexes and perception, avoiding her would have been effortless. Even so, he immediately realized who she was and decided it would be far more entertaining to play along.
So instead of dodging, he relaxed his body intentionally and allowed both of them to tumble onto the ground together.
Once they landed, Arthur looked down at the girl sprawled partially atop him.
She appeared to be a cute human waitress with bluish-gray hair tied into a small ponytail and soft blue-gray eyes filled with panic. Her face carried an innocent charm completely different from Freya's overwhelming divine beauty. As Syr, she looked approachable, gentle, and almost shy.
Yet Arthur knew perfectly well that behind that innocent face hid one of the most dangerous women in Orario.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Syr exclaimed quickly while sitting upright. "I wasn't paying attention at all!"
Arthur almost laughed internally at how convincing her acting was.
"Don't worry," he replied smoothly while looking directly into her eyes. "More importantly… are you alright, pretty girl?"
Syr blinked in surprise.
"Huh…? P-pretty girl?"
A faint blush immediately spread across her cheeks. Whether it was genuine embarrassment or simply excellent acting, even Arthur wasn't entirely sure.
Before she could continue speaking, Arthur casually activated [Ruler's Authority]. Both of their bodies gently floated upward off the ground as invisible force lifted them effortlessly back onto their feet.
Syr's eyes widened dramatically.
"Eh?! W-what was that?!" she exclaimed while grabbing his sleeve excitedly. "That's amazing!"
Arthur pretended to look modest.
"It's just a small ability I have," he answered casually. "Nothing too special."
Syr stared at him with sparkling eyes, though internally Freya's obsession only deepened further.
He was handsome
Mysterious.
And powerful maybe
And his soul was unbearably beautiful.
Every second spent near him only intensified her desire to make him hers.
"In any case," Syr said softly while stepping closer, "I really am sorry for knocking you down."
As she spoke, she deliberately pressed herself lightly against his chest. Her soft body leaned into him naturally while her face drew closer, allowing him to catch the faint sweet scent clinging to her skin.
Arthur noticed the move immediately.
Rather than retreating, however, he counterattacked just as boldly.
"It's fine," he said while smiling faintly. "Anyone would forgive a beautiful woman after something like that."
Syr's expression froze for the briefest moment before her cheeks reddened again.
"Mou~" she complained playfully while lightly poking his chest. "You really shouldn't tease girls like that, adventurer."
"You can call me Arthur," he replied smoothly. "I'm a novice adventurer. And I'm not teasing you."
For some reason, hearing him casually say her name made Syr's heart beat slightly faster.
"I'm Syr," she introduced herself softly. "I work at the tavern over there."
Arthur glanced toward the building nearby as though just noticing it.
"What a coincidence," he said. "I was actually looking for somewhere to eat."
Immediately, Syr grabbed his hand enthusiastically and began pulling him toward the tavern.
"In that case," she declared brightly, "let me take care of you tonight~"
Arthur felt an odd sense of déjà vu at how often beautiful women kept dragging him around lately.
The moment they entered the tavern, they discovered it completely packed with adventurers. Loud laughter, clinking mugs, and the smell of food filled the lively establishment.
And yet…
Almost miraculously…
A single empty table remained open in the far corner.
Syr immediately guided Arthur toward it without hesitation, almost as though she had planned it beforehand.
Arthur narrowed his eyes slightly while following her.
"Isn't this goddess a little too cunning?" he thought internally.
The system immediately answered him.
[Her seduction techniques are currently superior to yours, host.]
Arthur almost rolled his eyes.
"That woman seems very interested in my husband~"
Lilith's teasing voice suddenly echoed inside Arthur's mind, her tone dripping with amusement as she observed the situation through the crest connected to him.
Arthur almost smiled.
'Lilith, you're awake.'
"Hehe~ I sensed something suspicious happening around you, so of course I had to wake up and take a look. Honestly, husband, you attract troublesome women no matter what world you go to."
Her voice carried playful jealousy, though Arthur could tell she was more entertained than annoyed.
'Good. I'll let you out later.'
"Mmm~ I'll be waiting for that eagerly."
For the past several days, Lilith had entered a semi-hibernating state inside the crest because of sheer boredom. Remaining sealed all day with nothing interesting to do had apparently exhausted even her patience.
"Arthur~?"
Syr's voice suddenly pulled him back to reality.
The silver-haired waitress waved a hand gently in front of his face while tilting her head slightly. The movement caused her small ponytail to sway softly behind her, while her blue-gray eyes looked at him with playful curiosity.
"I'm sorry," Arthur said smoothly. "I got distracted thinking about something."
Syr narrowed her eyes slightly at him, though her smile never disappeared.
"Well then, mysterious adventurer," she said teasingly while leaning slightly over the table, "what would you like to order?"
Arthur picked up the menu casually before looking back toward her.
"What do you recommend, Syr?" he asked. "You work here, so you probably know the best dishes better than anyone."
The girl looked unexpectedly happy at being asked for her opinion. She spent several seconds carefully pointing out different meals on the menu, enthusiastically explaining which dishes were most popular and which ones she personally liked the most.
"This one is especially good," Syr explained while pointing toward a grilled meat platter. "And the cream stew here is amazing too. Oh, and if you like spicy food, then you should definitely try—"
"Then I'll order everything."
Syr froze instantly.
"…Eh?"
Arthur looked completely serious.
"Wait, Arthur," she said quickly while leaning closer in concern, "the portions here are designed for adventurers. They're huge. Even experienced people usually can't finish that much food alone."
Arthur rested his chin lightly against his hand as though seriously considering the problem.
"Hm… then what should I do?" he asked thoughtfully. "I really want to try everything you recommended."
Syr opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Arthur smiled faintly at her.
"How about you eat with me?"
"…Huh?"
"If there are two of us," Arthur continued casually, "then finishing everything should be much easier."
For a brief moment, Syr completely forgot how to respond.
Freya's countless years of experience around men told her instantly what Arthur was doing. He wasn't flirting awkwardly or trying too hard to impress her. Instead, he spoke naturally, confidently, and with a warmth that made refusing him unexpectedly difficult.
Combined with that smile of his…
It was lethal.
Syr quickly looked away before her expression betrayed too much.
"Haaa…" she sighed softly while pretending to sound troubled. "Fine. But only if my boss allows it."
Arthur smiled victoriously.
"Then I'll leave it in your hands."
Syr soon hurried away to place the order while also searching for Mia Grand. However, before she could approach, she suddenly noticed the tavern owner herself walking directly toward Arthur's table.
The massive dwarf woman crossed her arms while studying Arthur with sharp eyes.
Syr instinctively became nervous.
She knew Mia better than almost anyone. The tavern owner rarely paid special attention to customers unless something unusual was happening.
And Arthur…
Was definitely unusual.
Syr briefly considered secretly listening to their conversation with her divine senses, but instinct warned her against it. For some reason, she felt completely certain Arthur would notice immediately if she tried.
So instead, she forced herself to continue working while stealing occasional glances toward the corner table.
After several minutes of conversation, Mia suddenly burst into loud laughter.
Arthur then calmly placed a heavy pouch filled with money onto the table between them.
Syr nearly choked from shock.
"…No way."
From her perspective, it genuinely looked as though Mia was negotiating her price.
The two exchanged a few more words before eventually shaking hands. Mia picked up the pouch casually before walking back toward the counter with an amused grin on her face.
Meanwhile, Syr stood frozen in place.
Soon afterward, Mia stopped beside her and smacked her firmly across the back.
"Syr," the dwarf woman announced loudly, "you're taking the rest of the night off."
"…Eh?"
"And besides," Mia added while grinning mischievously, "looks like you caught yourself something good today."
Syr's face immediately turned bright red.
Mia Grand knew Freya's true identity better than almost anyone. Because of that, she tended to treat Syr slightly differently than the other waitresses—not because she feared her, but because she understood just how abnormal it was for Freya herself to become interested in someone.
And now…
That interest looked downright dangerous.
"Y-yes…" Syr answered quietly while trying to compose herself. "Thank you."
Nearby, one of the other waitresses suddenly poked her head out from the kitchen carrying a tray of food.
"Syr found herself a rich boyfriend, nya~" the cheerful catgirl teased playfully. "I'm so jealous!"
Almost immediately, Mia smacked the back of her head.
"Stop gossiping and get back to work!"
"Ow! Mean, nya!"
The surrounding adventurers had already begun whispering amongst themselves as well. Some grumbled openly that flirting with the waitresses of the Hostess of Fertility was supposed to be prohibited. Others looked jealous after seeing Mia personally approve Syr spending the evening with Arthur.
Meanwhile, Arthur simply sat calmly in the corner, watching the entire scene unfold with amusement.
-
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