"Now then, eat to your heart's content! I'm treating you all today!"
After delivering the materials, Bistol had brought Rei and the others to a restaurant called Suishoutei.
The establishment was likely a new one, taking advantage of the increased population from Gilm's current expansion project.
The building itself wasn't particularly elaborate—something like a cross between a regular restaurant and a food stall.
Tables were placed outside as well as inside, and if they ran low, more could be added as needed, provided they stayed within the rented premises.
Seeing this setup, Rei was reminded of the beer gardens he had seen on TV back in Japan. It was probably something similar.
Beer gardens likely had a proper definition, of course, but that was Rei's understanding of them.
Since the restaurant set up tables and chairs outdoors, Set wouldn't have to go inside and crowd the space. That was probably a major factor.
"Well then, I'll gladly take you up on your treat. ...Though Marina and I aren't that hungry," Vihera said, raising a mug of ale to her lips. She had rejoined them before they came to Suishoutei.
Beside Vihera, Byune was single-mindedly shoveling sweet-and-savory simmered meat into her mouth.
Bistol, who had researched Rei and the Crimson Lotus Wings as part of doing business in Gilm, naturally knew about Vihera and Byune as well.
Given that, he couldn't very well exclude those two from the treat.
The fact that the two newcomers were women was probably another reason Bistol accepted Vihera and Byune so readily.
He likely assumed that women wouldn't eat all that much.
...That this was a miscalculation was painfully obvious just by looking at Byune.
Then again, Bistol was a more than capable merchant. Otherwise, someone with his appearance would never have managed to deliver that volume of materials, let alone earn the loyalty of those he worked alongside, starting with his escorts.
"By the way, you're here, Bistol, but what about the others? There's no doubt they took heavy losses in today's attack, right?"
"Ah, everyone, you mean."
Bistol's expression darkened for just a moment at Rei's question, but he quickly shifted back to a smile and spoke.
"The rest are resting. A lot of people were injured, so they need treatment too. I had things I needed to do, so I was waiting at the Guild."
"Then don't you have better things to do than have a meal with us?"
"I'm a merchant, appearances aside. Losing comrades is sad, but delivering the goods I was entrusted with is my top priority. Besides... if they knew we were grieving or that our business had taken a hit because of them, the dear departed would probably scold me."
That was why he was showing his gratitude to Rei and the others for recovering the goods, he said.
Hearing Bistol conclude with those words, Rei accepted it with an understanding nod.
He didn't know if that was a common view among merchants or just Bistol's personal philosophy.
But if Bistol was satisfied with that reasoning, Rei decided to simply enjoy the hospitality to the fullest.
"Hic! Hey, there's a monster here, a monster! And beauties too!"
Suddenly, voices rang out near Rei's table.
Rei was already used to being harassed, but being used to it didn't mean it didn't sour his mood.
With the expansion underway, Gilm's population had swelled, and it wouldn't be strange for some among them to get drunk and pick fights.
...No, if that were all, it wouldn't be particularly strange.
Gilm was a city that gathered large numbers of adventurers to begin with.
But even so, anyone well-versed in Gilm's affairs wouldn't be likely to pick a fight with Rei, even when drunk.
It wasn't completely unheard of, but that was precisely because it was Gilm.
Regardless, it was certain that the ones harassing Rei's party now knew nothing of Gilm's circumstances.
From Rei's perspective, the men had muscles, but not the kind built for fighting. If anything, it was the kind developed through manual labor.
(Carpenters, huh.)
Rei thought this as he looked at the men, and he wasn't mistaken.
"Ahahaha. Look, a monster, a monster! There's a monster here! Hey, are there any adventurers around?! You can make some money!"
They must have been thoroughly drunk. Seeing Bistol's figure, they shouted at the top of their lungs.
At that moment, if the men hadn't been drunk—or even if they had been, had it been a milder buzz—they might have noticed the gazes that a portion of the surrounding customers were directing at them.
People who knew Rei, people who knew Vihera and Marina... and people who knew Set.
But the drunken men were oblivious to the atmosphere around them. They hadn't even noticed Set's presence.
They had finished work, received their day's pay, were pleasantly drinking good alcohol, and were feeling great. Their egos had probably swelled along with their intoxication.
Normally, Rei—with his youthful appearance—would be the one singled out for harassment. But today, Bistol was present.
When Rei was with Marina and Vihera, he naturally stood out.
But Bistol was a presence that stood out even more than Rei.
That was exactly why the drunks had targeted Bistol. But today of all days, it could only be called bad luck.
"WHAT did you say?! Who's a Rank S monster so ghastly that your eyeballs rot from a single glance?!"
Slamming his mug of ale onto the table, Bistol shrieked.
The men who had picked the fight flinched for a moment at his intensity, but emboldened by the alcohol, they quickly fired back.
"Nobody said all that! For starters, if you know you look creepy, then at least dress properly! What the hell is up with your freakishness anyway!"
"Well I never! Of all the things to say, how could you?!"
Normally, Bistol wouldn't have reacted this strongly.
But several of his close comrades had died. The transport of materials he had accepted as a major job had nearly been ruined when the crucial cargo was stolen. He'd had to have the Crimson Lotus Wings clean up his mess through the Guild, and they hadn't just recovered the materials but even held a memorial for his fallen comrades.
So much, truly so much had happened today.
He hadn't let it show, but the bulk of it had been steadily subjecting Bistol to intense stress.
Add to that the intoxication from the ale and the trigger of these men picking a fight with him...
In the next instant, Bistol—who should have been seated—was standing right in front of the men who had harassed him, arms spread wide, and he hugged them with all his might.
"Gyaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!"
No matter how heavily muscled Bistol was—a man, though he called himself a maiden—the men who picked the fight were carpenters too.
They did manual labor daily, so naturally they had confidence in their own strength.
Yet here they were, all three of them caught in a single man's embrace, completely unable to break free.
The carpenters had muscles on their bodies too, and under normal circumstances, one person sustaining a grip on three grown men should have been impossible. But for whatever reason, Bistol was making the impossible possible.
The carpenters were his workmates, but being pressed against him didn't bring them any joy whatsoever.
If they were pressed against a woman, they might have been happy. But the fact that it was a man made it completely out of the question.
"Oh my, what's the matter? Hearing such cries of joy, I'm getting a little flustered myself~"
Carpenter versus merchant. Thinking about it normally, in terms of intellect the merchant clearly had the edge, while in terms of brute strength the carpenter would win.
But today, it was Bistol who won the contest of strength.
"Uwaah... How should I put it... uwaah..."
"Pfft, poor things... pfft!"
"Hmph, serves them right. They've been so noisy for a while now. Look at them."
Hearing those voices from around them, Rei casually cast a look of pity toward the men who had started the trouble.
Naturally, since they were the ones who had harassed his party, if asked whether he felt irritated, the answer would be yes.
But this time, even though they had targeted Rei's group, they hadn't gone after Rei directly.
They had targeted Bistol, who stood out more than Rei.
That was why Rei didn't feel all that offended by the instigators.
...Or rather, before the question of offense even came into play, seeing the men's current predicament made the urge to sympathize with them that much stronger.
"Oh my, this bean dish is delicious. It's just beans simmered in soup, but it has a surprisingly deep flavor... I wonder if it's the broth they used."
Marina averted her gaze from the commotion and brought the dish before her to her lips.
It was an extremely simple dish of beans simmered in soup, but the rich umami of the beans spread through her mouth alongside the flavor of the broth.
It was a dish that was deep precisely because of its simplicity.
Seeing Marina eating the dish, Vihera must have thought it looked delicious, for she too brought the bean dish to her mouth with a hint of curiosity.
"You're right. It's quite delicious. ...I wonder if they turn a profit at this price?"
Lenora had recommended this restaurant as one that was both tasty and affordable.
That was exactly why it was bustling with so many people.
Because of that, Vihera wondered if they could actually turn a profit serving food at these prices. But right beside their table, three men had been choked unconscious by Bistol and were crumpled on the ground.
Had they lost consciousness from being squeezed in Bistol's embrace, or had they simply passed out from making a scene while drunk?
Rei didn't know the reason, nor did he want to know.
Regardless, Rei and the others kept their eyes off their surroundings and focused on savoring the dishes before them.
"Good grief, the nerve of them!"
Looking thoroughly displeased, Bistol returned to his seat.
After glancing at Bistol, Rei shifted his gaze to the presumably unconscious carpenters and watched as the three were dragged away by men who appeared to be the restaurant's bodyguards.
Still, considering the matter already settled, Rei turned back to Bistol and spoke.
"So, what will you do starting tomorrow?"
"Hmm. For now, as long as there are opponents like that out there, I can't exactly take on jobs like this one so easily. At the very least, I'll need to hire more guards."
"...I see."
In response to Bistol's words, Rei replied, sounding slightly apologetic.
It was clear that today's attack wasn't the work of ordinary bandits.
Rei hesitated over whether he should say that to the person in front of him, but since the Guards or the Guild would likely explain the details tomorrow if it was permissible to share, he kept his mouth shut.
Perhaps thinking he had dampened the mood from observing Rei's demeanor, Bistol flashed a smile and spoke.
"Now, now. Regardless, thanks to you, Rei-chan, we were truly saved today, that much is certain. So please, eat to your heart's content. ...Ah, you too, Set-chan."
When he first saw Set, even Bistol froze for a moment.
But since he had been gathering information on Rei, he naturally knew about Set.
Moreover, upon seeing Set's friendly demeanor and round eyes, Bistol had fallen for him in an instant.
"Grrrrwl!"
"Oh, you're just too adorable!"
Called out to, Set tilted his head cutely upon seeing Bistol.
Whether that gesture hit Bistol's sweet spot or not, he broke into a radiant smile and began petting Set.
Bistol, with his lightly applied makeup, certainly had an appearance that could make someone understand why he'd been called a monster.
But even seeing Bistol like that, Set didn't act startled or show any threatening behavior whatsoever.
That meant the world to Bistol.
While petting Set, Bistol placed an additional order with a clerk who happened to be passing by.
"Hey, are you sure? I mean, I'm certainly happy you're treating us, but..."
The table was already packed with plates, leaving no empty space.
Despite having already ordered this much food, Rei asked if it was really alright to order more. Bistol beamed radiantly and nodded.
"It's fine! Besides, starting tomorrow I'll need to pull myself together and get back to working hard, so today let's eat, drink, and rest up to our hearts' content!"
Saying so, Bistol raised his mug of ale and cheered.