บท 5: [5] Nya~
The labyrinth city of Orario, built atop a vast dungeon, is one of the largest cities in this world, serving as the central hub where the entire story unfolds.
Under the management of the Guild, presided over by Ouranos, the first-generation god-king from Greek mythology and the first eunuch god in Aiden's recollection, all races live harmoniously together. Various races, blessed by the gods, join different familias, meet companions, and engage in adventures, trade, entertainment, and conflicts. This is the city where the dungeon resides, the gathering place of the gods.
Aiden, with his left hand holding his sword, walked down the street. Despite his striking appearance, he wore the hood of his coat, revealing only his tightly pressed lips, giving off the impression of a lone, cool adventurer.
Thus, he neither attracted the flirtatious attention of passing ladies nor the nuisance of trouble-seeking fools. Everyone was engrossed in their own business.
Aiden strolled leisurely, observing the ancient city's architecture and its bustling inhabitants: neatly paved streets lined with a variety of European-style buildings, and housing shops that sold an assortment of goods.
Though an ancient city, it was unexpectedly clean and orderly. There was little to no trash on the streets, and it lacked the distinctive aroma typical of ancient cities.
Looking up at the sky, he saw a clear, unpolluted blue expanse, with the imposing gray-white Babel Tower standing at the city's center, reaching into the clouds. "So this is the Babel Tower? Truly magnificent."
Looking down, the streets were equally clean, free of the grime and filth characteristic of ancient cities. "With the Babel Tower at its core, the entire city is well-planned and impeccably maintained. There's no squalor or waste on the streets, nor have I seen anyone relieving themselves in public. It's indeed a city under the management and residence of gods."
Although it was just after dawn, the streets were already bustling with activity.
"Freshly baked bread~"
"Freshly fried potato balls with a variety of flavors: cream, strawberry, egg yolk, tomato sauce~"
"Would you like some fresh fruit, Miss Elf?"
"Grand opening discount, 20% off everything, don't miss out~"
"Silver scale breastplate, only 50,000 valis."
The sounds of vendors hawking their wares filled the air.
Apart from the architecture, what captivated this country bumpkin, Aiden the most were the various demi-human races.
Beastmen with various animal ears and fluffy tails: cat girls, bunny girls, donkey girls, and fox girls.
Elves, producing handsome men and beautiful women with long ears, all possessing high attractiveness and slender figures.
The diminutive pallum race, dwarfed even by halflings, with their slender builds, and the ubiquitous bearded dwarves seen in every fantasy world.
And the scantily clad, healthy, bronzed-skinned Amazons.
Aiden leisurely walked, observing the streets and its denizens. It was the break of dawn, and adventurers were heading towards the dungeon, either alone or in groups of three or five. Shopkeepers and street vendors were beginning their day's business.
As he wandered, Aiden, embodying a tourist's curiosity, passed fruit stands, blacksmith shops, clothing stores, and potato ball stalls. With ample funds from the system, he indulged his foodie nature, stopping at every food stall and shop he encountered, sampling a wide variety of fruits, unique drinks, and exotic world delicacies.
Strolling and eating, with a tourist's mindset, Aiden roamed for a long while. He particularly noted the potato ball stalls, hoping to spot a certain goddess with her blue ribbon and mesmerizing presence from the anime, but to no avail.
He finally paused at the entrance of a tavern. The tavern before him was the Hostess of Fertility, the most famous tavern in Orario and a frequent setting in the anime.
Most importantly, despite eating along the way, Aiden was still hungry.
It was midday, and just standing at the entrance, Aiden understood why this tavern was renowned. The aroma of various delicacies wafted out, tantalizing his senses.
Unfettered by time or society, the bliss of filling one's belly, becoming briefly carefree, and feeling free without interruption... this solitary act was something that could heal a modern soul.
"My intuition tells me my body and mind need healing here."
A young human girl, having just served a meal, approached with a sweet smile as she noticed Aiden, who, despite his understated yet tasteful attire and a magnificent sword, stood motionless at the entrance.
"Welcome~"
She wore a white blouse with a green knee-length skirt, exposing her slender calves wrapped in sheer black stockings... a classic touch. Over her skirt was the standard white apron of a server, and her grayish, lustrous hair was adorned with a maid's headpiece. Her eyes sparkled with a bright smile, her skin flawless, and her face was cute and charming.
The faint fragrance of a young girl drifted towards Aiden, making his face flush slightly.
"This way, adventurer-san."
Her sweet laughter and sparkling eyes were mesmerizing. In such close proximity, Aiden, a lifelong bachelor, couldn't help but turn his face aside.
"You're a new face here, adventurer-san?"
"Yes... It's my first time in Orario, and I'm not an adventurer yet." Aiden instinctively stepping back a bit, feeling slightly shy.
"You will definitely become a great adventurer~"
"No, no, you're too kind."
Following the young girl into the tavern, Aiden was immediately struck by the stark contrast in atmosphere compared to outside. The air was filled with voices chatting, arguing, laughing, and shouting, creating a lively and bustling environment.
Noticing Aiden's shyness, the girl giggled softly and led him to a quieter corner of the tavern.
"Please wait here for a moment, I'll get the menu."
"Alright." As the girl walked away with a spring in her step, Aiden breathed a sigh of relief and began to take in his surroundings with great interest.
The tavern had a simple yet vintage décor, with tables laden with a variety of dishes. Waitresses, some with cat ears and others with greenish-yellow hair, moved gracefully between tables, serving customers.
The most striking figure, however, was the tavern's owner behind the bar... a robust and sturdy dwarf woman who was anything but short. Aiden mused to himself, "She hardly looks like a dwarf. Eight feet tall and eight feet around... that part at least fits."
At that moment, the girl returned with the menu. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
Aiden took the menu from her, staring at the unfamiliar dishes.
"What should I eat?" He pondered deeply.
Raising his head, he looked around at the other patrons' meals, searching for inspiration.
The girl, smiling and attentive, noticed his hesitation. "Our recommended dishes for today are grilled Angus steak, salted baked lobster, and fish soup~"
"Australian beef in another world? How impressive. Lobster and fish soup sounds good."
Caught in his indecision, Aiden decided to let go. After all, hesitation leads to defeat.
"I'll have the filet mignon and the salted baked lobster."
"Alright, I'll also bring you a beer. Please wait a moment." The girl was about to leave when Aiden interrupted her.
"Um..."
"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Syr Flova. Just call me Syr. Is there anything else you need?" She smiled warmly.
"Alright, Syr-san. I'm Aiden Sparda. Just call me Aiden. Thank you for the offer, but I don't drink alcohol. Could I have an orange juice instead, and also a beef stir-fry?"
Syr quickly bowed. "I apologize."
"There's no need to apologize, Syr-san. It's my fault for not mentioning it earlier."
"Aiden-san, you're very kind. Please wait a moment." Syr bowed again and walked towards the kitchen with the menu.
"Syr Flova, one of the girls who shows interest in the protagonist in the anime. She's about the same height as Bell, around 160 cm. If Syr is here now, then Bell must also be in Orario. The story must be about to start, if it hasn't already."
Watching Syr head to the kitchen, Aiden stroked his chin in thought. While the tavern was indeed a good place to gather information, it would be better to visit the Guild afterward for more comprehensive data and intel.
As Aiden anticipated the upcoming meal, he reminisced about the anime series from 2015.
This anime, based on a light novel, cleverly combined gods from various mythologies with traditional RPG elements like dungeons, experience points, leveling up, equipment, and skills to create this magical world. Gods walked among mortals, and their familias ventured into the dungeon to fight monsters and level up. Despite its clichés, it was quite watchable.
Having seen the adorable cat-eared girl with her "nya~" speech quirk, the aloof elven beauty, and Syr herself, Aiden was even more convinced of this.
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