Detesting The System: Sundering Fate

Walking through the streets of Orario, I recalled something important that Hestia and I talked about before Bell arrived last night at the Church. So, hoping to fill the gaps in my knowledge I asked Bell, "So… How long you part of Hestia familia?"

"Me? Only a week..." Listening to his response, I asked, "How much more taxes… left to pay?" This was the goal of my conversation as it would set a precedent for how best we could use the money we earned from today's excursion at the dungeon.

Bell gave me a helpless smile as he said, "Before you came, when only me and Hestia, I only had debt of 1,250 Vali. But now, after familia grows, debt rises to 6,250. But no need worry… I just paid minimum of 500 Vali for today!"

Immediately, a couple red flags caught my attention. So, I pressed on the conversation, "And interest?" Bell shook his head, saying, "My advisor Eina, very nice girl, managed to eliminate interest for first month for Hestia familia." Apparently, my worries were unfounded and Bell hadn't fallen for a financial scheme. That or Hestia helped him through it…

Still, now knowing that, I asked, "Taxes up by 5,000 for each new familia member? Why then did you not finish paying by now?" Even if he had begun his career as an adventurer with weaker stats and had trained over the past week, it was just that; one week. For a Bell that had yet to activate any overpowered protagonist skills, it stood to reason that his growth could at most be considered above average for his first two weeks with Hestia. If yesterday he was making several thousand Vali a day, then from day one he still must have been making at least a thousand.

"About that… Third day into the dungeon, I was hurt badly. Barely escaped alive and needed expensive potion to survive. Hestia's God friend Miach agreed take all my money to save me, even though suffering big financial loss." A glimmer of resolve flashed through Bell's eyes as he spoke which made me smile. 'This kid… At least we share this kind of mindset.'

By now, we had walked pretty far into the Western Main Street and just as Bell was going to speak once more, a girl in working clothes jumped into our conversation, saying, "Oh? Adventurers out this early? If out for lunch look no further, enter the Hostess of Fertility!" My gut reaction to such rudeness was to snear in despise as one of the few things that really got under my skin was being disturbed by bullshit.

However, as I heard the advertis.e.m.e.nt for lunch and then recognized the term "Hostess of Fertility," the tepid malice in my expression died back down to neutrality. I sized up the "rude" girl before me and finally noticed her inhumanity; at least partial inhumanity. She was a short brown-haired… Cat Girl? Then I recalled there were supposed to be various demi-human races in this world.

"Bell, you want eat here?" Looking at our difference in height I looked like his older brother...

"Eh… Ok?" He didn't look like he could refuse anyone. But given that I already expected the outcome and wanted this to happen to take note of the happenings in the pub, I forgoed correcting his pushover attitude for now.

Smiling, presumably in delight for ensnaring two new customers for her establishment, as the Cat Girl led us into the building, she playfully said, "My name's Anya. You want me as waiter, or another?" Completely ignoring her mischievous question, unlike Bell who had gone red in the face out of embarrassment, I said, "Doesn't matter."

Her face froze and struggled to keep up the cutesy act as I wasn't the sort to enjoy this childish treatment. But for Bell, she admirably kept up her whimsical attitude whilst doing her best to not bother me. Handing both of us a copy of the menu, even though I came off a bit overbearing, I didn't give up on this opportunity to hastening my already absurd progress in learning Japanese. I said, "What you recommend?"

Not minding my broken speech or bipolar attitude, Anya smiled as she started listing off a bunch of menu items. Looking over the menu and picking from the recommendation I thought to be the most delicious, I more or less understood the value of the Vali. "I'll have Noodles and Ice Tea please." The cost of my two item meal was 200 Vali, which more or less boiled down to 10 Vali being roughly equal to 100 Japanese Yen or 1 US Dollar; theoretically speaking, of course…

"You sure not want more? How abou..." Hearing her up to here, I completely cut her off by saying, "I'm not rich. Only this for today..." The terminal tone in my voice must have been powerful enough as she no longer brought up the subject. Bell ordered a similarly "light" meal, he opted for steak and potatoes which honestly gave rise to a heartfelt chuckle. Ironically, I, the foreigner, asked for a traditionally Japanese meal and he, the native, chose a dish that could be considered a staple back where I was raised on Earth.

The pub while not empty wasn't exactly pack either, thus Bell and I received our meals very quickly. Not only was my meal delicious, the food quality surpassed anything I'd tasted in my first life, the portions were also large, and the presentation was top-notch. Even if in the future there was nothing else to gain from sticking around, I'd keep coming back if the food stayed this good…

After paying for the bill, I must have caught Anya off guard as I said, "This place very good, I will be returning for future." Bell also gave her a compliment and as we passed through the doors to leave, we were treated with a heartfelt, "Thank you! Please come again!" Turning around for a moment, I could see Anya waving as we departed.