"Fine!"
Lunoire gritted her teeth and made the final decision.
"Then it's settled!"
"First thing tomorrow morning, we'll-"
However.
Before their perfect plan could fully take shape.
"BOOM!!!"
A tremendous crash rang out like a sudden thunderclap.
The solid wooden bar counter in front of them jolted violently.
Even the bottles on top bounced up, letting out a crisp clatter.
"Meooow-!!!"
"Oh, mama-!!!"
The two, who had been immersed in their lovely fantasies, were instantly scared out of their wits.
Chloe's fur stood straight on end. Like a startled spring, she jumped half a meter into the air, nearly hanging herself from the ceiling.
Lunoire was hardly any better. The rag in her hand went flying, and she curled up into a ball.
The two turned around, trembling.
They saw.
Less than half a meter behind them.
Mia stood there with a dark expression, raging flames burning in her huge, bell-like eyes.
The enormous wooden mallet she used to crush ice was slammed heavily against the bar counter.
That was where the crash had come from.
"Finished chatting?"
Mia's voice wasn't loud.
It could even be called calm.
But.
To their ears, it was a hundred times more terrifying than that crash.
-It was the calm before the storm.
"Ah... um..."
"Mama Mia..."
Chloe swallowed, feeling her calves tremble, and forced a smile uglier than a grimace.
"Th-this really is just a misunderstanding..."
"A misunderstanding?"
Mia sneered.
"I think you've had so little to do that your bones have gone soft."
"Since you've got so much energy to pry into other people's gossip."
"Put all that excess energy into your work!"
"As punishment!"
"Today's toilets, and the firewood that's piled up in the backyard for a week!"
"They're all yours!"
"Especially you!"
"Chloe!"
"Your entire salary for this month is