Bete clearly had no shame. He aggressively pressed Wallenstein, practically forcing a choice.
Though he shamelessly used himself as an example, he didn't expect Wallenstein to accept his confession. He wanted her to choose between strength and weakness.
He, Bete, could tolerate Wallenstein liking someone stronger, but he wouldn't allow someone far weaker to steal her heart.
Wallenstein, who had been silently eating with an indifferent expression, seemed annoyed by Bete's words. She frowned slightly and said without looking up,
"Bete, are you drunk?"
"So annoying. Ais, choose. Which male will you wag your tail for? Which male will you let play with you?"
Bete's words caused laughter in the tavern. People watched with amusement; jokes about the Loki Familia were rare.
"…I… no matter who I choose, I wouldn't choose someone who says things like that, Bete!"
Wallenstein said angrily. Riveria Ljos Alf frowned.
"Are you finished? You're shameless!"
"Shut up, old hag. Don't act so righteous. If that kid said he liked you, loved you, would you accept it?"
"…!"
Riveria Ljos Alf fell silent, and Bete laughed triumphantly.
"So… seeing you hugging that kid earlier, I thought our old maid finally woke up and found a man."
"Ha, it's impossible, right? He's just a weak Level 1 adventurer. He ran away from a Minotaur. Such a weakling has no place by your side. Your silence proves you don't approve."
"Likewise, such a weakling has no place by Ais Wallenstein's side!"
Slamming his fist on the table, Bete shouted. Then, he was slapped hard across the face.
It wasn't Riveria Ljos Alf or Ais Wallenstein, though both wanted to do it. Someone beat them to it.
"You can insult me, but you have no right to insult Riveria Ljos Alf."
Arthas, who had somehow appeared at the Loki Familia's table, said coldly, his emotionless eyes fixed on the stunned Bete.
He'd been slapped?! In public, by the weakling he'd just insulted?!
Enraged, Bete was about to tear the audacious fellow to pieces, but a bone-chilling cold spread through his body, assaulting his soul.
What?! My body… it won't obey me?!
Unable to speak, Bete swayed, then collapsed.
He looked like he'd gotten drunk, been slapped, and passed out.
Without looking at Bete, Arthas turned to Riveria Ljos Alf, speaking solemnly and seriously amidst her awkward gaze.
"I love you. Be my woman."
Syr, who had been watching nervously, gasped in surprise.
So… Arthas was the reason for the Loki Familia's argument?
He was the man from the story?! The adventurer Ais Wallenstein couldn't let go of?!
And now he was confessing to Riveria Ljos Alf, one of the Nine, the strongest mage! What a bizarre turn of events?!
The adventurers in the tavern were stunned. They hadn't recovered from the shocking slap when Arthas did something even more surprising.
He confessed to Riveria Ljos Alf, one of the Nine!
This was explosive news. They might not see anything more shocking in the next hundred years, nor a bolder young man.
He slapped a Loki Familia member into silence and then publicly stole another's potential partner, the strongest mage in Orario!
While admiring the weakling's courage in defying humiliation, the patrons began to cheer.
"Accept him! Accept him!"
"Go for it! I support you, man!"
"Riveria-sama, aren't you moved by his sincerity?!"
"Quiet! Do you want to see the Loki Familia's humiliation?!"
Slightly annoyed, a dwarf with a large beard slammed his mug on the table. The cheering adventurers fell silent.
Their goal was achieved. Riveria Ljos Alf, already taken aback by Arthas's confession, became even more nervous.
The ageless elf looked like a helpless girl, seeking help from her companions.
"Riveria-sama, aren't you moved? It's a confession! A romantic confession in front of everyone! We'd say yes!"
Seeing Riveria Ljos Alf's flustered state, a pair of sisters with healthy, tanned skin said playfully, making Riveria Ljos Alf blush even more.
"Tiona, Tione. Stop teasing me!"
Riveria Ljos Alf said helplessly. Arthas's gaze remained fixed on her, awaiting her reply.
"You don't want to? Is it for the same reason as this guy?"
Arthas glanced at Bete, lying on the floor like a drunken pig.
"N-no… don't misunderstand. I don't look down on you. Everyone here started as weak Level 1."
"Weakness isn't scary. What's scary is being weak and complacent, content with remaining weak."
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