Chapter 37 – "Syr is Amazing!"
The moon had long set in the west, and the sun was now rising from the east.
Without him realizing it, a new day had begun.
The shadows of night gradually faded as dawn's golden light painted the skies above Orario. The city stirred once more—its cobbled streets filling with life.
Adventurers gathered near the entrance to the Dungeon, ready to dive into the depths in search of glory or gold. Merchants opened their stalls one by one, calling out cheerful greetings as they laid out weapons, potions, and curious trinkets.
"Uwah~ So it's morning already…"
At the massive stone gate of the Dungeon, Shin Akira stepped out into the fresh morning air.
Time meant little inside the Dungeon, especially when one was buried in research. Shin Akira, wholly absorbed in his magical experiments, had lost track of everything. Hours slipped by without notice, and before he knew it—morning had come.
Just like a scholar or alchemist, once he got into "focus mode," time simply disappeared. Pulling all-nighters was just part of the process.
Unlike the adventurers pouring into the Dungeon, Akira walked in the opposite direction.
His destination: Hostess of Fertility.
Despite being a bar, it technically opened its doors in the early morning too—though few customers ever came this early.
As he arrived at the familiar entrance, Akira spotted a figure he had just met the night before. Dressed now in her waitress uniform, the elven woman stood in front of the tavern, quietly sweeping the courtyard.
"Good morning, Miss Ryū."
"Huh? Mister Shin Akira? Are you heading into the Dungeon?"
"Nope, I just came out."
"You were in there all night?"
"Well… I got a little carried away. Next thing I knew, it was morning."
"Then please make sure to take care of your health."
"I'll be fine. Just one sleepless night—it's not a big deal."
From the way he spoke and acted, it was clear that pulling an all-nighter wasn't a rare event for him.
Ryū didn't say much more. They were little more than acquaintances, not quite friends. There wasn't any reason for small talk.
"By the way, does this place serve breakfast?"
"Mister Akira… this is a bar. We don't do breakfast service."
"That's too bad."
He looked mildly disappointed. Honestly, he'd hoped to grab a bite before heading home.
The city's main market was on the other side of town, and after a long night in the Dungeon, he wasn't eager to hike that far. But now, it seemed he had no choice.
"Wait a second. Miss Ryū, would it be okay if I borrowed a piece of paper and a pen from inside?"
"I suppose… but what for?"
"Nothing fancy. I just want to write down a shopping list."
"A shopping list…?"
Ryū looked puzzled.
Still, she nodded and went inside, returning a moment later with a sheet of parchment and a pen.
Akira took them and began jotting down a few simple breakfast items: a couple of meat-stuffed buns, some vegetable rolls, and a bowl of porridge. Nothing extravagant, but enough to fill him up.
As the morning sun stretched across the street, it cast a long shadow behind him.
And from that shadow… a Shadow Warrior silently emerged.
"Here, take this list. And this money."
Akira handed the parchment and a small pouch of coins to the soldier.
The creature gave a brief nod before springing onto the roof, darting away in the direction of the market like a dark blur.
Ryū Lion just stood there, stunned.
A summoned creature… used for grocery shopping?
"Thank you, Miss Ryū."
"Th-That's no problem…"
She had absolutely no idea what to say.
Sending a summon to fetch breakfast? That was… definitely a first.
"What are you doing out here, Ryū?"
A soft voice drifted from behind. Syr stepped out from the tavern, her eyes landing on Akira.
For a second, she seemed to pause—her gaze lingering with mild interest.
"It's nothing," Ryū answered calmly. "This guest was just borrowing some writing tools."
"Writing tools?"
Syr tilted her head and glanced at the pen and paper, then back at Akira with a slightly curious smile.
"Yes. That's all I needed. It helped a lot."
"Well then, Mister Adventurer… how about dropping by the bar tonight? We'd be happy to welcome you."
"Of course. I'd be honored."
"Yay~! I'll be waiting, then~"
Syr flashed him a beaming smile.
Ryū opened her mouth, as if about to say something… but in the end, she chose silence.
All that… over a piece of paper?
The truth was, dinner at the Hostess of Fertility didn't come cheap. It wasn't unusual for guests—especially those "personally invited" by Syr—to spend tens of thousands of valis in one night.
Ryū had seen it time and time again.
There was once a Level 4 adventurer who had completely fallen for Syr. To impress her, he dropped nearly a million valis in a single evening—just to show off. And that didn't even count his previous visits.
Syr's sweet invitation, no matter how casual it seemed, often led to… financially destructive consequences.
"Miss Ryū, Miss Syr… then I'll see you tonight. I'll take my leave for now."
"Take care, Mister Adventurer~"
Akira gave a quick nod and walked away.
The reason for his hasty departure wasn't eagerness to return home… but rather, to avoid getting too entangled with Syr—the hidden boss of this entire establishment.
He knew who she really was: an incarnation of Goddess Freya.
And honestly, who knew what that love-obsessed goddess might be planning next?
Better to keep his distance.
"Ryū, do you know that man?"
"I met him last night on my way back. You could say we're… vaguely acquainted."
"I see… just a brief encounter? But he already seems enchanted by your beauty, Ryū. Otherwise, why else would he stop by so early in the morning just to see someone?"
"That's not it. He just got back from the Dungeon. Besides, you have far more admirers than I do, Syr."
"Well, they're just loyal customers~"
"You almost said wallets, didn't you?"
"Ryū, how rude~ Customers are kings! We must cherish them."
"If someone else said that, I might believe them. But coming from you? Not a chance."
As one of the main waitresses at the Hostess of Fertility, Ryū was all too familiar with how much profit Syr brought into the establishment.
But truthfully… most of those "customers" felt more like prey caught in Syr's honeyed web.
Every man who had fallen for Syr's sweet smile—without exception—had emptied his purse at this bar. Then, they'd return to the Dungeon, fight for more gold… and come right back to spend it all over again.
The scariest part of all?
None of them ever complained.
In fact, they did it happily, believing it was worth every single coin.
If Akira ever learned all of this… he probably wouldn't even be surprised.
Even if Syr was just a vessel, she still retained part of Freya's divine charm. And for a goddess who delighted in toying with mortal hearts, seduction was as effortless as breathing.
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