Chapter 334 - Wanna know how I ranked up?
"Isn't that the kid who caused a ruckus at the Guild today?" a harsh voice boomed, deliberately loud enough for the entire tavern to hear.
The din of the Hostess of Fertility softened as patrons turned toward the source.
Syr and Hestia, locked in their silent standoff, paused their rivalry, glancing toward the voice.
Mahiro's brow furrowed slightly as he followed their gaze.
The voice was unmistakable, clearly aimed at them—and specifically at him.
At a nearby table, a group of adventurers, fresh from outside, sprawled in weird postures, their plates half-eaten.
The party—seven or eight strong—mixed orcs, dwarves, and Amazons, clad in armor and leather, weapons at their sides, looking ready for a battlefield.
The speaker was a pallum adventurer, sneering at Mahiro's table with blatant contempt.
Mahiro's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing as he scanned the group.
Since entering the tavern, he'd overheard plenty of whispers about himself, but this was the first overt provocation.
"Checked the Guild's bulletin board today. Nearly fell over," the pallum said, his sneer deepening.
"Hah, same! Felt like a prank," a tablemate chimed in.
"Rank up to Level 2 in three days? Who buys that? Treating us like idiots!" the pallum shouted, egging on his companions.
"Hey, you believe it?" he jeered, his voice dripping with mockery, drawing eyes across the tavern. Patrons hushed, eager for drama.
His comrades played along.
"Gotta be fake. Probably cheated somehow to fool the Guild."
"Right. No alias either? High-class adventurers always have growth records, but this guy's sheet's blank. Shady tricks, too shameful to log."
Their laughter echoed, souring the tavern's mood. Their barbs, though unnamed, were unmistakably aimed at Mahiro, their disdainful glances making it clear.
"Ugh, these jerks…" Hestia growled, her divine patience fraying under their malice.
As a goddess, she typically extended tolerance to mortals, but their targeted hostility sparked her ire.
"You're quite the talk of the town, Mahiro," Syr said, a dangerous glint in her eyes beneath her gentle smile.
"You pulling my leg?" Mahiro quipped, smirking.
"Not at all," Syr said earnestly. "I know how hard you worked those days. These guys are just jealous—can't do it themselves, so they assume you can't either. Pathetic."
"Not bad, Syr!" Hestia said, giving her a grudging nod.
Despite her annoyance at Syr's proximity to Mahiro, she approved of her stance.
"Oh?" Syr smiled, bowing slightly. "Thank you."
"Hmph!" Hestia huffed, still bristling. "Don't think this means I'm okay with you."
Syr chuckled, covering her mouth.
"Mahiro, aren't you mad?" Syr asked.
"If I snapped at every provocation, I'd burn out," Mahiro said, shrugging. "Besides, after dodging goddesses all afternoon, I'm not in the mood to swat flies."
"They're so irritating, though!" Hestia fumed.
"Sure, but they're not worth my attention unless they really cross a line," Mahiro said casually.
"Mia doesn't allow roughhousing here," Syr noted, her eyes twinkling. "You've gotten a lot of help from her since arriving in Orario. Making trouble would put her in a tough spot."
"Mahiro's so considerate," Syr added, her smile playful.
Mahiro's indifference only emboldened the adventurers, who mistook it for guilt.
"Heard the Denatus got shut down because of this guy. What a farce!" one scoffed.
"Those bored gods love stirring up nonsense. Probably their idea of a laugh," another said.
"A no-name Familia led by a unknown goddess? Bet they used dirty tricks for fame. Disgusting!" the pallum spat.
Mahiro's eyes sharpened. He crooked a finger at the pallum. "You. Come here."
"Huh? What's that?" The pallum blinked, then swaggered over, hands on hips, his arrogance palpable.
"Wanna know how I ranked up in three days?" Mahiro asked, his smile deceptively gentle. "I'll tell you."
The pallum's disdain faltered, curiosity piqued.
The tavern's chatter hushed, adventurers leaning in, eager for the secret behind a three-day rank-up.
Before anyone could react, Mahiro's hand lashed out, slapping the pallum's face with a resounding crack.
The force sent the pallum flying from Mahiro's table to the tavern's door, crashing in a heap.
The tavern fell silent, all eyes on the scene, stunned by the swift, brutal rebuke.
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