"Why are you all making those faces?"
Looking at the strange expressions on the others' faces, Ulag scratched his messy hair.
"Did that little girl not pour your drinks enthusiastically enough?"
"Dammit, next time I'll give her a proper scolding... No, wait," Ulag said, as though suddenly remembering something. "Didn't Bruno's place run out of alcohol?"
"Did she think I didn't leave enough money when I left? That shouldn't be it... I left twenty Gold Shields there!"
Watching this bleary-eyed drunkard fall into deep thought, He Xi no longer had the strength to complain.
"Listen, Ulag. There was no maid at all."
"The one pouring you drinks was Bruno's eldest daughter, Signey. I called you over because this young gnome lady asked me to."
"She has always admired dwarves and wants to marry one."
Before he could finish, the dwarf, who had still been somewhat drunk just moments ago, had already gaped wide. "Mar... marry?"
He Xi continued, "Anyway, I asked. The girl is quite satisfied with you, and her father Bruno doesn't object either. So what do you say?"
"Wha... what kind of joke is this... I... I..."
The dwarf backed away again and again in fright, desperately waving his hands as he stammered. Though he did not make himself clear, his meaning was obvious enough.
Kazmir, standing nearby, could not stand it any longer.
"Shorty, with that face of yours, if their family is willing to take a liking to you, you should be secretly celebrating!"
"I'm even wondering whether that girl has something wrong with her eyes, or whether that old gnome set this trap to lure you over and sell you."
"But I heard from He Xi that the old man is a proper magical pet instructor at the Magic Academy."
"His family has status, money,