Southshore Tavern.
"Boss! Two large mugs of Black Lager!"
"I'd like a bowl of Turtle Soup!"
"Coming, coming!"
Monica, the tavern owner, recalled that the last time she had been this overwhelmed was probably the day Southshore's harbor first opened.
After that, though, she had hired more servers.
One. Two. Three. Now there were four.
So although business at the Southshore Tavern had remained good, she usually wasn't especially busy.
Today, however, was a little unusual.
Too many people had poured into the tavern, leaving her and her staff struggling to keep up.
"Bring out the barrels from the storeroom! All of them!"
The alcohol was disappearing fastest, so Monica shouted to a server as she brought food to the customers.
In fact, many people hadn't come today for food or drink. Most of their gazes were fixed on the table in the middle.
But so many people already surrounded that table that the others could only sit elsewhere, waiting for someone to leave so they could take their place.
And while they waited, they might as well have a drink.
But that wait often lasted a very long time.
The people around the table seemed bewitched, so deeply captivated by what was on it that they simply wouldn't leave.
Hearthstone!
The "automatic card-playing robot" on the table-which could now truly be called a "game console"-was projecting images above it.
On either side of the table, two players sat ready for battle.
One was Millhouse Manastorm, and the other was the teacher, Stalvan.
Normally, they were busy teaching their respective students, but today was a holiday, and everyone had come to relax.
Lilia had already played plenty at home, so this time Rhode had brought it to the tavern for everyone to take turns.
Having different people play was the