Taming The Villainesses

Episode 244.1

Gracia, the city of the church.

Near its upscale residential area, there was a high-end restaurant that only accepts reservations.

The name of the restaurant was 「Fairy’s Goblet」. It’s among the top three places where visiting nobles and dignitaries want to dine at least once.

It was very expensive at 500,000 coins per person, and even 20,000 coins for just water. I immediately felt burdened as soon as I sat down.

“A Dinner Course for two. Confirmed. I’ll escort you to your seat.”

An elf maitre d’ with slicked-back hair came up to me and confirmed my reservation. I took my seat, responding calmly and confidently.

“My companion hasn’t arrived yet, so please serve the meal when they do.”

“Of course.”

As the elf maitre d’ walked away, I looked around. There was no sign of my ‘companion,’ Stella Bellhawk. She’s late.

Stella Bellhawk, minus 10 points. 

One should be punctual. I heard elves were strict with time, but Stella seems to be an exception. I sat alone for about 30 minutes.

The elf maitre d’ kept coming by to ask if I wanted to add to my order. And people around me started snickering.

━Looks like that person got stood up. Pfft-.

━He seems like a young rookie. Poor guy must be regretting the expensive reservation.

“…….”

She’s really not coming.

Just as I started to feel more embarrassed than angry, thinking I might really have been stood up….

Ttakak, ttakak-. 

Someone approached me with the sound of high heels clicking.

Turning my head, I saw an elf in a sleeveless dress with a deep neckline and a slit up the side of her thigh, sitting across from me.

━Who is that? Was there ever an elf like that around here?

━I don’t know. How did that brat manage to get such a beautiful….

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the elf who had dressed herself up drew a lot of attention, and for a moment, I couldn’t remember the anger from waiting so long.

A young, healthy man would naturally be inclined to have his thoughts and all five senses focus on a beautiful woman.

“Theo-kun, I’m a bit late, aren’t I?”

“You’re very late.”

“You’re supposed to say no at times like this.”

“But you are really late.”

“A woman needs time to get ready, you know. If I dress up nicely, Theo-kun’s shoulders would be raised as well. Don’t you agree?”

She had a point.

Just sitting next to a pretty woman elevated my position in this high-end restaurant. 

Moments ago, I was an amateur sitting in misery and solitude. But now, I felt like a mysterious young nobleman. 

Just then, I heard someone’s voice in my ear.

━Ah, that guy. Now that I see, he’s the mage from that trial by combat a few weeks ago…! 

━Really? The one they call the supernova?

Suddenly, all attention was on me.

I think I’d rather be sitting here alone like a pitiful guy than getting this much attention.

I was thinking of finishing up quickly and leave, but just then, Stella Bellhawk suddenly stood up.

“Theo-kun, how about we change locations?”

“This place takes over a month to get a reservation. I’m fine with it, but isn’t it a waste?”

“It’s fine. Our guild runs this place.”

Ah, so that’s why the restaurant name started with fairy—bla bla bla.

“Wilter, cancel today’s reservation.”

The elf maitre d’ clicked his tongue at Stella’s words.

━Understood, My Lady.

It seemed like there were a lot of ears around here.

In the end, Stella and I left the restaurant.

“I know a good place. How about we go there?”

“…….”

“It’s on me. It’s just as good as the last place, so don’t worry. Plus, there’s no ears.”

“Then, please lead the way.”

Stella, who was much more familiar with this city than I was, walked confidently down the well-maintained streets, her heels clicking.

The evening was dark and dingy. Despite that, the security in the high-end restaurant district was so good that there wasn’t a single drunkard around. It was reassuring. It reminded me of the modern 21st century…. 

However, as Stella kept walking, the clothing and gazes of the people around us became increasingly unsettling. Finally, we reached an area where people were staring at us from the back alleys.

This was the worst to get into an argument.

━Guys, look at that. Looks like a fairy lost her way. Should we guide her?

━Leave it. That’s Stella.

Luckily, no thugs or muggers approached us. From what I overheard, it seemed Stella was quite well-known here.

Why, though?

The turbulent back alley and Stella.

While I was trying to make sense of the incongruous combination of these two elements, we arrived at a noisy, sign-less illegal pub. 

For a moment, I wondered if ‘I might get betrayed and sold off to a fishing boat or something.’ Thinking of such a possibility, I followed her inside. The inside was even more of a mess.

━Taste the sweetness of Punchinoi’s honey fist…! Honey smash-!

━Guaaaaah-!

━Wow, that hit big to the solar plexus!

━I, Punchinoi, train endlessly to fight against the strongest nymph, Yujinoi…!

Inside, people were fighting. They brawled on a makeshift arena without a referee. Bets were being placed here and there, coins scattered on the floor-. 

“It’s chaotic.”

“But isn’t it more romantic than a stiff restaurant?”

I’m not sure about romantic….