Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka Gaiden – Sword Oratoria - Volume 9 - Chapter 3.2

RECOLLECTIONS CHAPTER 3 GODS AND PEOPLE FROM DAYS GONE PAST 

Aiz entered Loki Familia during Orario’s Dark Ages. 
It could all be traced back to the fall of the two familias hailed as the strongest and their failure to fulfill the world’s wish to complete the Three Great Quests. The latent evil in Orario reared its head and destroyed the public order of the city that lay at the center of the world. 
Amid all that, the most powerful group was the Evils. 
“Fu-ha-ha-ha! Do it! Sink the city into chaos!” 
Even in broad daylight, the sounds of explosions and wails of grief joined one man’s raucous laughter. 
Standing on the roof of a half-destroyed building, a human man looked down at the struggle unfolding before his eyes. Known as Vendetta, one of the leaders of the Evils with a bounty on his head, Olivas Act howled with delight. 
“Tch, Olivas, you bastard. You sure started it off with a bang…Oi! We aren’t gonna lose to those shitheads! Don’t let them get ahead of us!” 
Seeing smoke rising in the distance, another leader of the Evils, known to some as Arachnia and to others as Valletta Grede, scoffed in annoyance as a lurid grin appeared on her face. She had been entrusted with leading an attack on the home of a familia supporting the Guild as well as aiming to steal supplies from the corporation, and she laughed in ecstasy as smoke and flames rose in the skies while the screams of fleeing residents and blades clashing to create sprays of blood and sparks wove together into a music to accompany the sight. 
“All right! Bring it, you Guild dogs! Get out here, Fiiinnnnn! We’re gonna have a fuuun party today, too!” 
That was what Orario was like back then. 
Pure chaos where public order was all but broken, where the battle between good and evil adventurers continued day in and day out. 
 
“Everyone gather up at the front gate! Split into three groups around Riveria, Gareth, and me!” 
Finn’s orders flew as the manor filled with the sound of footsteps. As everyone started rushing around, Aiz ran to Finn. 
“I’m going…too!” 
“Absolutely not. You stay here. It’s too soon for you to come.” 
Riveria firmly rejected Aiz’s request. 
The familia was headed into a fight against people. There was a chance they would have to kill someone. The little girl didn’t need to experience this sort of battlefield yet, and they had no intention of bringing her with them. 
Eight months after she’d joined, Aiz was told that she wouldn’t be part of the combat unit and should remain on alert with the reserves at the manor. 
“We’ll finish this in a flash and be back before you know it. Take it easy.” 
“Okay, Loki, I’m leaving the rest to you.” 
“Mm-hmm, see ya later. Do your best.” 
Leaving Loki in charge, they headed out. 
“Well then, seems like they’ve gone out. Whatcha doin’, Aizuu? Wanna try acting your age a bit and play doctor together?! Heh-heh.” 
“…Practice swings…in the courtyard.” 
“Bah, no way!” 
“Also…don’t call me weird names.” 
Even though she was showing more emotion when she was around Finn and the others—particularly Riveria—she was still usually stiff and doll-like. She curtly turned her back on the perverted goddess. 
However, Loki could see through her. 
Aiz herself didn’t fully realize how much she was feeling alienated and separated from everyone else. The dissatisfaction and loneliness of a withdrawn child was housed in those small hunched shoulders. 
The next day. 
Aiz was swinging her sword in the central yard again. 
Her trusted Sword Air cut the air beneath blue sky that afternoon. 
The custom sword that Goibniu Familia had made for her fit her hands perfectly. The weapon was made of Damascus, imported from outside the city. As its other moniker “rippled steel” implied, there was a light wave or ripple visible on the sword’s blade. Harder than normal steel, the tough blade had not chipped once despite cutting down countless monsters. It had a bit of heft to it, and that force let it pierce through even an adventurer’s heavy armor with ease. To avoid being thrown off-balance by the momentum of the heavier sword, she constantly practiced swinging. 
The people driving back the Evils attack hadn’t returned yet, so instead of the practice fights she had planned, she was crossing blades with an imaginary opponent. As if trying to brush aside idle thoughts, she unleashed her sword techniques into the void. 
“…” 
Loki had come into the courtyard and was watching her from the shade of a tree. 
The sharp attacks were at odds with the young girl’s appearance, but the sword’s melody was beautiful. 
The crisp techniques were another reason behind all the talk about the Doll Princess. She was still unpolished, but from time to time, the golden-eyed, golden-haired girl would display a technique that would catch the attention of even the elites. 
“…Loki?” 
Aiz finally noticed the goddess as she stopped swinging, breathing heavily after her stamina had given out. 
Watching with a serious look on her face, Loki finally smiled and said, “Nice work!” as she handed Aiz a towel. “Hey, Aiz, did anyone ever teach ya how to use a sword?” 
“…?” 
“Finn and the others were talking about how good you are. From time to time, you do things they’ve never seen before, and ya don’t even have a teacher.” 
“Huh…?” 
“Same goes for me. Just now I couldn’t take my eyes off ya.” 
Aiz looked down at her sword and her hands as Loki smiled and praised her. 
She had gotten here just by frantically pushing forward, so she hadn’t been aware of it. Techniques that could astonish Finn and Gareth, who were training her in the fundamentals…Did she really have something like that? 
The gallant image of her father who she looked up to crossed her mind. A lone swordsman who silently swung his sword like Aiz was doing now. The hero Aiz had dreamed of when she was younger. 
“It sounds like they’ve nipped the incident in the bud. There’s some cleanup left, but Riveria and the others should be back in the evening.” 
As Aiz sank into thought, Loki shared the news she had come to say, smiling in satisfaction. 
“It’s nice they’re all safe.” 
“…Not like I was worried.” 
“Oh? Are ya sulkin’ ’cause ya didn’t get invited?” 
“Of course…not.” 
Aiz turned away in a huff at Loki’s teasing. 
Loki smiled wanly. Aiz had been angry since yesterday. As the girl got ready to start training again, the goddess attempted to smooth her feathers a little. 
“Aizuu, how ’bout a change’a pace? Let’s head out for a bit.” 
Aiz sheathed Sword Air in a scabbard strapped to her back. 
Since she was still so small, if she hung the sword at her waist, it would drag along the ground, so she wore a sword belt diagonally over her shoulder. After Aiz had finished getting ready for her guard duty, Loki absentmindedly said, “All right, shall we?” 
“Why are you…taking me with you?” 
“Mm, because if I left ya alone, you’d just keep fightin’. If someone didn’t force you, ya might go your whole life without takin’ a break.” 
“I’m taking breaks…when Riveria and the others tell me to.” 
Aiz also told her again not to call her weird names, but Loki paid her no mind as she continued. 
“We’re headed for a place on East Main Street eventually, but let’s just wander a bit first.” 
They walked along countless small side streets instead of the main thoroughfare, following the whims of a goddess with no sense of planning. No matter how annoyed Aiz got, Loki wouldn’t stop calling her “Aizuu,” so she finally gave up. 
They were on a city street totally different from the Adventurers Way she often went to. Fruits and sundries were being sold on the corners as horse-drawn carts slowly rolled along. But what surprised Aiz most of all were the demolished buildings and damaged roads they walked past. 
Aiz had never really understood what was happening in Orario. Once she had been allowed to go Dungeon crawling, she had not really ventured much beyond the manor, Babel, and Central Park connecting the two. Because she spent time only in the Dungeon and the manor, she had no way to really grasp how the city was faring. However, by taking a different path like this, she could understand just by looking around. There was a darkness clouding people’s faces. 
“There was an incident yesterday, after all. So the children are scared something else might happen.” 
Like Loki said, in addition to the tension among the residents, there were Guild members and adventurers out patrolling. There was a red-haired girl wearing an emblem with a sword and wings alongside a masked adventurer; an old god was somewhat overbearingly handing out items and saying, “I’ll give ya potions!” and a graceful long-haired god was taking care of injured people along with his followers. They passed an array of people from all races and walks of life. 
Looking around, Aiz realized that all of this was brought on by the sudden clashes and confrontations—by the emergence of evil. This was the doing of the Evils who Riveria, Finn, and Gareth were fighting. 
According to Loki, lots of people were considering leaving Orario because of the crisis. 
“Why are people…fighting each other?” 
Loki didn’t respond immediately to Aiz’s whispered question. 
After putting her hands behind her head and looking up at the blue sky, she responded. 
“It’s got a lot to do with us gods, too, but…it’s also just in the nature of children.” 
“Nature…?” 
“Creation and destruction, order and chaos. Violence is just one side of children that can’t be denied.” 
“…” 
Aiz remained silent. Was her desire to fight not also part of that? Didn’t they come from the same root? 
“But even so, everyone wants a brighter tomorrow. They do all they can to make it happen.” 
“…?” 
“For example, look over there.” 
Loki pointed to a single food stall. 
The smell of savory potatoes wafted from the stall as the girl working it cut and prepared the food. JYAGA MARU KUN was written in Koine on the sign. 
“‘Let everyone have delicious food so that they can smile! The bundle of joy that makes every mouth in the city water, Jyaga Maru Kun!’…was how that jingle went, I think.” 
“Jyaga Maru Kun…?” 
“Apparently, it just started up recently. You don’t know about it, right, Aizuu? Let’s have a bit,” she said as she led Aiz to the stall. 
After Loki put in her order, two servings came out in short order. Loki handed over a gold coin and took the two sets of potatoes with a smile and a “thanks.” Aiz looked in wonder at the one she was handed. 
It was some kind of flattened potato snack that had been coated in breading and fried. Because it was freshly made, the outside was piping hot, and the scent of potato mixed with oil reached Aiz’s nose. 
Staring intently at the food in her hands, she bit into it with a crunch. 
“—!!” 
The next instant, the flavor hit. 
The taste of the oil and potato spread through her mouth. Opening her eyes in shock, Aiz was instantly won over. 
That was Aiz’s introduction to Jyaga Maru Kun. 
“You like it, Aizuu…?” 
Before she realized it, Loki had to buy a third Jyaga Maru Kun for her. 
She grabbed the wrapper with both hands and chowed down wholeheartedly. But her mouth was so small that she looked like a squirrel as she nibbled at it. 
Loki bought one last puff to eat as they walked into Central Park. 
Aiz always cut through here, so she knew the path well. Finishing up her potato puff, Aiz looked around the familiar scenery when— 
“—I am Ganeeeeeeeeeeeeeesha!!!” 
“?!” 
A mind-bogglingly loud voice reverberated in the air. 
Aiz wildly looked around as the voice shattered the peaceful afternoon calm. She noticed a crowd on the east side of the plaza. The throng of people surrounded a vehicle much larger than a carriage, and standing atop it was an suspicious-looking elephant-faced god striking a pose. However, mysteriously, when the lavishly decorated vehicle approached with him atop it, the crowd broke into cheers. 
Aiz was the one who ended up acting suspiciously in her confusion. 
“Ganesha, you idiot…Buyin’ a damn float in order to cheer up the scared kids? How much did that thing cost?! He’s some special kinda stupid,” Loki whispered to herself, watching his followers pull the float with tears streaming down their faces, forcing themselves to smile and think about the long-term view. Their familia’s savings? It was hard to imagine they had enough cash on hand to cover something like that. 
“What…is that? A monster…?” 
Aiz’s confusion was understandable, but Loki desperately tried to calm her down nonetheless, since she was about to draw her sword. The girl was clearly confused by the bizarre scene playing out in front of her. 
The float with the god atop it was pivoting around Babel as it traversed the plaza. The crowd and commotion gradually arrived at Loki and Aiz, who was still unable to escape her confusion. 
“—I! Am! Ganeshaaaaaa!!!—Hmm?!” 
The twenty-seventh time he introduced himself, the elephant god noticed them and leaped out. 
“Hup!” 
“?!” 
The odd god—er, Ganesha—landed in front of the pair as the crowd cheered. 
“Loki! Good work yesterday! I was delighted by the results! Allow me to thank you!” 
“Don’t tell me that—tell Finn and the others. And yer too excitable, so go someplace else. Yer scarin’ Aizuu.” 
“Ohhh. You’re the rumored Doll Princess, huh?!” 
The overly excited god looked down at her. 
He was swarthy and muscle-bound, wearing his trademark elephant mask on his face. Aiz was petrified as the hot-blooded god gave her a thumbs-up and smiled. 
“I am Ganesha! Nice to meet you!” 
“…” 
Without waiting for Aiz to respond, he hopped back atop the float with a “hup.” 
Ganesha and his companions started heading toward the Pleasure District like a passing storm, leaving Aiz without a clue as to what had just happened. 
“Aizuuuu, let’s go now.” 
“Ah…O-okay.” 
Snapping out of it, the pair started to move through Central Park, when— 
“Oh? Isn’t that Loki?” 
“So it is. Long time no see.” 
“Oh? Fei-Fei! And Demeter!” 
They ran into two goddesses who had just left Babel. 
Of course, it was Aiz’s first time meeting them. One had crimson hair; the other had bouncy honey-colored hair. The former had an eye patch over her right eye, while the latter’s distinguishing characteristic was her shockingly well-endowed bosom. 
“What are y’all doing?” 
“I’m headed back to my shop. Demeter’s distributing food.” 
“Hey, Loki, is that child there part of your familia?” 
“Sure is. Allow me to introduce ya! This here’s Aizuu, our new member! She’s a super rookie with a bright future ahead of her! Aizuu, this is Fei-Fei and Demeter!” 
“Come on—at least tell her my actual name,” the crimson-haired, crimson-eyed goddess complained as she looked down at Aiz. “You’re Aiz Wallenstein, right?…I heard about you from Tsubaki.” 
“…! Tsubaki? That…” 
“Yes, Tsubaki Collbrande is one of my followers. I’m Hephaistos. Pleasure to meet you.” 
On hearing Hephaistos’s name, Aiz felt embarrassed. She didn’t expect this to be Tsubaki’s patron goddess. She had thought the eye patch looked vaguely familiar. Sort of like children taking after their parents, she guessed. 
“It sounded like she meddled in your business a bit, so I should apologize,” Hephaistos said as she held out her hand. Aiz hesitated for a second before nervously reaching out with her own. 
“Aiz Wallenstein…the Doll Princess? You’re…” 
Demeter looked closer, seemingly having heard of Aiz’s exploits as an adventurer. 
The goddess crouched down and looked at her for a little bit. Aiz started to get confused when all of a sudden—fwap—Demeter wrapped her in a hug. 
“?!” 
“Awww, so cuuute~! She’s much prettier than any doll!” 
“Ah, yeah…D-Demeter? Aizuu’s gonna suffocate, so maybe…Wait, my energy’s really fadin’ fast. At this rate, I’m gonna die…!” 
Caught between those giant breasts, Aiz was bewildered. The picture they painted together was too much for Loki, sending her staggering back with blood trickling from her mouth and leaving her unable to intervene effectively. Hephaistos just smiled wryly. 
Unable to escape those mountains despite her best efforts, Aiz could only be confused. 
“I’ll bring you the next batch of vegetables and fruits, Loki. As thanks for always protecting the city.” 
“Oh really? Thanks! But Aizuu doesn’t really like a lot of vegetables.” 
“If you don’t eat everything, you won’t get bigger, you know?” 
“~~~~~?!” 
Aiz wasn’t in a position to think about vegetables she didn’t like, since she was being smothered by Demeter’s bosom while the goddesses chatted. 
Gods are mysterious beings. 
Aiz’s nostrils filled with a somewhat nostalgic smell. Because of that, she couldn’t put up much resistance. 

So many gods she didn’t know. Weird, strange, pretty, affectionate. There was a myriad of deusdea. 
And they were all gathered here, in Orario, the center of the world. 
Aiz learned that by experiencing it firsthand. 
 
“Huh…Is that the new girl at Loki’s place?” 
There was a golden-haired, golden-eyed girl playing with some goddesses. 
A silver-haired goddess looked down on them from the highest floor of the giant white tower as she elegantly raised a glass of wine to her lips. 
“A blindingly golden spirit…and also incredibly sharp. Almost like a blade. She’s the first I’ve seen who shines like that.” 
The lovely deity, who boasted a beauty unmatched by anyone, was sporting a smile that could charm anyone who caught a glimpse of it. A smile of deep interest. 
However, the vermilion-haired goddess peered up as if she had noticed her gaze. 
The bright color of her hair matched the narrow slits of her eyes—she was warning the bewitching deity that she knew what was going on. 
If ya try anything funny, ya won’t get away with it. 
“I won’t steal her.” 
The silver-haired goddess shrugged and smiled again in response to the goddess she had known for so long. 
“I’ve no interest in a mere sword.” 
And so the girl met one more deity. 
 
“Here we go…Here we go.” 
After Demeter and Hephaistos were done treating Aiz as their toy, the girl and Loki exited Central Park and arrived at one corner of East Main Street. 
Raising her face in exhaustion, Aiz saw a large tavern along the street. 
It was built using brand-new materials from the doors up, so she could tell that it had recently been finished. 
“Aiz, remember this place. Now and in the future, this shop’ll always take care of ya. I guarantee it.” 
Aiz tilted her head, not really comprehending Loki, who seemed to be in a good mood for some reason. 
As if responding to her doubt, Loki continued. 
“It was just built, though. This shop is the one and only place where you can relax and enjoy delicious alcohol in the hustle and bustle around here.” She flashed an “okay” sign. “I guarantee it.” 
Aiz had no clue what proof she had that made her so sure. 
Since she had no interest in alcohol, Aiz peered up at the shop’s sign instead. 
It read: THE BENEVOLENT MISTRESS. 
“Barkeep! Ya got company!” 
She entered with Loki, but the place was dark and deserted. 
One person, a female dwarf so big Aiz couldn’t believe her eyes, was at the counter polishing a glass. 
“I told ya we’re only open at night. How many times do I have to tell ya before ya get it, nincompoop?” 
“Nah, nah, I wasn’t plannin’ to start day drinkin’!” 
Aiz could sense a certain aura around the surly dwarf. 
That’s an adventurer, someone with real strength. Incredible. She has a presence like Finn or Gareth. Or maybe even stronger than theirs. 
Not backing down, Loki switched to a soft, honey-tongued plea. 
“Can you let us use yer place tonight? I’m beggin’ ya, Mama Mia~.” 
“Yer making me sick. The first time was way better.” 
“But yer the mama here now. And our familia’ll be regular customers for ya! So it’ll be fiiine. Throw us a little somethin’, pleeeeeease.” 
“Sheesh, I’ve barely got any employees, and we’re up to our eyes in stuff to do.” 
The dwarf just snorted in response to Loki’s flirty act that made even Aiz uncomfortable. 
Suddenly, Aiz noticed someone else’s presence. A staff member wearing a uniform came through the door behind the counter that looked like it went to the kitchen. It was a catgirl older than Aiz. She had gloomy eyes and a doll-like expression that seemed vaguely familiar. 
“Ahnya! Bring all the alcohol we have. We’ve got a couple of troublemakers!” 
After addressing the waitress who just came in, the dwarf came back to the pair. 
“So, a new member?” 
“That’s right! This is our Aizuu!” 
“Hmph, the Doll Princess, huh?” 
The owner stared down at her. Apparently, rumors of her had even made it to this tavern. 
“You shouldn’t be adventurin’ when yer that small. I’ll let ya eat lots of delicious stuff today. Prepare yourself!” she said with a laugh, totally overpowering Aiz. 
Gradually understanding why they had come here, she glanced over at Loki. 
The vermilion-haired goddess smiled serenely. 
“Today’s a feast for Finn and the others, Aizuu. A celebration of everyone’s hard work!” 
“All right, then, as thanks for all your hard work—cheers!” 
““Cheers!”” 
The clink of mugs resounded as Loki toasted the group. 
After the sun had finished setting that night, the banquet that the goddess had promised began at The Benevolent Mistress. 
“For goodness’ sake, holding a party as soon as we get back…Let us know beforehand, at least.” 
“It’s fine, Riveria! I just wanted to show my thanks for everything you kids have done! This is all I can really do!” 
“Ha-ha! You sure you didn’t just want to drink some yourself, Loki?” Finn joked. 
“Hmph, it woulda been better if ye’d picked a different place to have it, though.” 
After heading back for a bit with Aiz, Loki had met up with the group returning to the manor after they took care of the incident in the city. She had dragged them back out, saying, “We’re goin’ to a bar!” in order to start the feast she had arranged. 
The goddess had talked about how her cute little followers needed a chance to decompress after fighting day and night, but Aiz suspected that Finn’s comment was probably accurate, too. It was common knowledge that she liked to drink, and she often had the smell of booze on her breath at the manor. 
Aiz was sipping some fresh-squeezed juice at the same table as Finn and the others. 
“I heard that, ya prune-faced dwarf! I can just toss ya out on yer ass if ya want.” 
Bang! A huge roast pig slammed down on the table in front of them. 
Aiz jumped in surprise as the dwarf owner responded contemptuously to Gareth’s whining. 
“Oi, see if ye can, ya crappy barkeep. All ye did was get a little tall; don’t go gettin’ cocky!” 
“Quit it, Gareth. The others are watching.” 
“Hey, Mia. Sorry for imposing on you at the last minute like this. Thank you.” 
“Yer damn straight. I’m not gonna hold back on the bill, either.” 
“I know. You started this shop with the money you made from being an adventurer, after all. We’ll drink and eat to our hearts’ content.” 
Aiz was shocked to see Gareth itching for a fight, but Riveria was just watching from the side like this was normal, and Finn shot the breeze with the owner like they were old friends. 
“…That dwarf…Do you know her?” 
“You could say that. We can’t escape her might be more accurate…” 
“Mia, the owner, used to be an adventurer. She’s currently half-retired from her familia, but until just a little while ago, we worked with her a lot.” 
“Hmph, she’s just a loose cannon. She only knew how to brute-force her way through things.” 
“Heh-heh, lonely now that you don’t have her to argue with all the time, Gareth?” 
“Don’t be stupid, Finn.” 
Sensing some connection between them, Aiz decided to ask, but she was even more surprised by the answer. 
“She was an adventurer…but she opened a bar…?” 
“Yes…When we first heard it, our jaws dropped.” 
Gareth smiled wryly as he started to down his entire mug and Finn’s blue eyes narrowed. 
“I think her intentions were wonderful, though.” 
“…?” 
“The reason she opened this bar. She wanted a place where anyone could laugh and drink despite all the unrest in Orario. She stepped away from her familia in order to make that place possible.” 
“A place to laugh and eat, no matter how shitty the times.” After hearing the owner’s catchphrase and this bar’s motto, Aiz looked around. 
Other than the members of Loki Familia, there were lots of other demi-humans. And there were people who looked like average workers and a group of craftsmanlike blacksmiths in addition to the adventurers. Laughing aloud, drinking beer, savoring delicious food. 
The gloomy atmosphere she’d noticed in the city during the day was nowhere to be found. Everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves without a care. It was a stereotypical lively bar scene. 
…Warm. 
Honestly, Aiz didn’t really care much about the feast, but she did think that this was a comfortable place. 
The scene before her eyes overlapped with one from her past. 
Her father’s concern as he got stuck with the bill while his friends drank and sang and danced. Aiz and her mom laughing as they watched. Memories of bygone days and a sense of nostalgia pierced deep into her chest…but Loki started making a big commotion, having a drinking competition with the lower-tier familia members, and the thoughts were swept away. 
Because just like the sign said, this was The Benevolent Mistress. 
“Aiz, don’t just drink—have something to eat, too. Give me your plate.” 
“You’ve really gotten used to that, haven’t you, Riveria?” 
“Ga-ha-ha! She sure has.” 
“Don’t tease me, you two.” 
Aiz was slowly picking away at her plate full of salad and steamed fish as the elites continued their conversation when all of a sudden, some of the other familia members burst over to the table. 
“Aiiiiiiz! Why don’t you hang out with us instead of the captain and those guys for once?” 
“?!” 
“Go for it, Kevin!” 
The others didn’t normally talk to Aiz, since she always seemed so cold, but thanks to the power of alcohol, they had apparently drummed up the courage to try tonight. Well and truly buzzed, they gathered around Aiz’s seat for the party. The mysterious new member of the familia had been almost like a mascot, a sort of rare human, so they had been curious about her since long before. 
Aiz was overwhelmed by the storm of attention. 
“Aizuu, I mean Aiz! Want to try my delicious magic drink?” “Hey! You guys! What are you trying to get her to drink?!” “Relax, Riveria, every once in a while is fine.” “If you drink this amazing little thing, you’ll get stronger!” 
“Stronger?” 
She couldn’t follow everything as all their conversations overlapped, but she perked up when she heard the words you’ll get stronger. Naive, or perhaps a bit airheaded, she took the glass that was handed to her. 
Finn winced and turned a blind eye while Gareth stroked his beard, seeming to enjoy himself as Aiz raised the fruity-smelling mystery drink (fruit wine) to her lips and drank it. 
“………” 
“How is it, Aiz?! Delicious, right?!” 
“It feels good, right? So talk with us some!” 
“…Huh? Aiiiz?” 
“You okay…?” 
As they got carried away, Aiz stopped responding. Holding the empty glass in both hands, she placed it on the table with a thunk. 
“…Aiz?” 
“Aizuu?” 
Riveria and Loki both looked suspiciously at her, but the next moment— 
Slash. 
“Guaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!” 
“K-Kevin?!” 
“She got Kevin!” 
Holding her trusted sword, the tiny girl cut down one of the familia members crowding around her. 
“Whoa, Aiz?!” 
“…Hic…” 
“Kyaaa?!” 
“…Hic…” 
“Noooooooooo?!” 
“She’s drunk?!” 
“Someone grab her sword!” 
“…Hic…” 
“Waaaaaaaah?!” 
“She got someone else?!” 
Hiccupping cutely as she went, she unleashed a scathing slash. 
The red-faced little girl cut down one adventurer from the city’s largest familia after another. 
The power of alcohol transformed her. Her golden eyes were drowsy and droopy, and there was no consciousness visible in them. There was only pure swordsmanship. 
The lively bar descended into chaos because of the drunken young swordswoman. Blood literally flew amid the shrieking and yelling, and familia members collapsed one after the other. Chairs and tables were cut to pieces, and fragments soared through the air. Screams started to spread to the other customers when they noticed the extraordinary turn of events. It was like a vision of hell. 
At the sight, time stopped for Finn, Gareth, Riveria, and Loki. 
“Th-that’s…Drunken Blade!” 
“Ye’ve heard of this, Loki?!” 
“I just made up the name, but it’s definitely that! It’s a forbidden technique where ya start slicin’ things at random!” 
“You can tell that just by looking?! Stop her, Gareth!” 
Riveria lost her cool and shouted at Gareth and Loki’s stupid jokes as she jumped up, sending her chair flying. Sweating nervously, Finn and Gareth stood and started to close in on the little girl who was swinging her sword all around. 
“You stupid girl!” 
But before they could move, the dwarf owner somehow appeared behind the girl and grabbed the raised sword with her bare hand. 
With just two fingers. 
“…Hic…?” 
“Drink all ya want, but don’t get carried away…That’s the rule in here. Remember it.” 
Unable to move the sword at all, Aiz looked behind her in a drunken wonder. After the owner, Mia, gave the warning in her deathly cool voice, her eyes snapped open. 
“Don’t break store property—you dumbasssssssssssssssssss!!” 
“Ugyuuuu?!” 
An iron fist of anger cracked across the back of the little girl’s head. 
It was far stronger than the one Riveria had unleashed on her, and Aiz went down in one hit. The sword clattered lifelessly to the ground. 
Loki’s face turned white. Riveria’s cheeks twitched. Finn and Gareth had adopted a thousand-yard stare. The shop fell quiet. The other staff and guests, everyone quivered as the furious ogress stood in the middle of the bar. 
Just before she blacked out, Aiz was sobered up by the tremendous force of the blow, and right before she embraced the floor, she had one thought. 
—I should never misbehave here. 
That day, a new cardinal rule was passed down to the members of Loki Familia: Never let Aiz have alcohol. 
Likewise, the unwritten rule that guests must never get carried away at The Benevolent Mistress spread among its customers.