Hey, Dman4869!
Thank you so much for always commenting on the chapters! I really appreciate your thoughts and feedback.
Alfia definitely left a lasting mark on Orario—after all, she was the terror of many. Meteria, on the other hand, strongly resembles her grandmother, from whom she got her name. And since her grandmother was Alfia's twin sister, it's only natural that she would bear some resemblance to her as well… Of course, some of the physical traits she inherited from Shalltear don't help much in changing that impression either xD
Preparations and Rivals
It was late at night, and for once, the Loki mansion was unusually quiet. Only the faint murmur of the last remaining people in the grand dining hall could be heard. Lefiya stood at the entrance of the house, at the foot of the main staircase, waiting for Ais to arrive. Since leaving the twenty-fourth floor, she hadn't stopped reflecting on herself—she was still too weak, and the adversary on that floor had reminded her of it. The elf leaned on her staff, her feet aching from the long wait. Quickly shaking her head to dispel those thoughts, she straightened up again.
"Tonight is the night, I have to ask her," she told herself. She knew that the deeper levels would have even stronger opponents than the one on the twenty-fourth floor. She had to stop being a burden and start getting stronger, no matter what it took.
In her mind, she once again rehearsed the monologue she had prepared for her conversation with Ais. As usual, in Lefiya's fantasies, the two girls stood in a green meadow, surrounded by flowers, at the foot of a great windmill.
"Do you want to learn swordsmanship?" the imaginary Ais asked.
"Yes!" The elf looked at her with eyes filled with determination. "So I can use it with concurrent chanting! Please!" Ais nodded with a smile.
"That's the spirit, Lefiya. Very well." The blonde girl placed a hand on her head, gently stroking it. Lefiya blushed and giggled sweetly.
Back in reality, the elf girl was getting excited by the images in her mind when suddenly, the swordswoman appeared.
"Lefiya..."
The girl jumped in place, snapping out of her fantasies.
"A-Ais..." She hadn't noticed when she had arrived.
"Is something wrong?"
"Eh? N-no, nothing..." With her cheeks flushed a soft pink, Lefiya turned her face away.
By the time she realized her mistake, it was too late—Ais was already walking up the grand staircase. The orange-haired girl clenched her staff tightly, holding back her frustration and sadness. "Once again, I couldn't say it..." She didn't dare look at Ais's back as she walked away.
-] [-
Lefiya had barely slept that night. Her mind wouldn't stop thinking about what she would say when she met Ais, rehearsing her plan over and over again. Finally, she decided to take advantage of her insomnia and get up before everyone else.
It was still dark when she reached the mansion's entrance, hiding behind a tree in the courtyard, waiting for the right moment.
"What a coincidence! I'm training too!" she murmured to herself, practicing her excuse to approach Ais.
However, when she lifted her gaze, she noticed a shadow moving swiftly across the rooftops of the mansion. Squinting her eyes, her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the agile figure jumping effortlessly.
"Where is she going so early…?"
Without thinking twice, she dashed out of the mansion, trying to keep up. But Ais was too fast, and Lefiya could only guess her trajectory.
Rounding a corner hastily, she was so distracted that she collided head-on with someone.
"Ah!"
"Watch out!" exclaimed the other person, but it was too late. Lefiya ended up on the ground, rubbing her head.
"I'm sorry..." she murmured as she looked up and saw a young man with white hair offering his hand to help her up.
"Don't worry," he responded kindly, waiting for her to regain her balance.
Bell recognized her immediately—she was the elf who had helped fight the Violas during the monster feria. But he couldn't show any sign of knowing her, so he pretended not to recognize her.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes, it was just a stumble..." Lefiya dusted off her robe and then remembered why she was there. "Excuse me, but... have you seen Ais Wallenstein pass through here?"
Bell blinked, feigning surprise.
"Ais Wallenstein? Oh... Are you her companion?"
"Yes, we're from the same familia, the Loki Familia."
"Ah, I see." Bell smiled calmly, showing no discomfort. "Sorry, but I haven't seen her pass through here."
"Oh… I understand."
"I hope you find her." Bell gave a slight nod. "Be careful where you run."
"I will. Thank you."
Without further delay, Bell continued on his way at a normal pace, showing no hurry or signs of suspicion. Lefiya watched him go for just a moment before resuming her search for Ais, without questioning the encounter any further.
-] [-
On top of Orario's wall, Ais stood gazing at the horizon, waiting for Bell while contemplating how quickly he was progressing. The curiosity about how he managed to advance at such an astonishing pace still lingered in her mind. The golden-haired girl closed her eyes and shook her head slightly, trying to dismiss the thought.
At that moment, she heard someone arriving beside her. Bell was breathing heavily, leaning on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.
"G-Good morning..."
"What happened? You're a little late..."
"A forest fairy chased me..." he said between ragged breaths after straightening up. Ais raised an eyebrow in confusion. "A member of the Loki Familia."
Ais frowned but decided to ignore the comment for now and focus on their training. They couldn't afford to waste any more time.
Meanwhile, Lefiya continued searching for her idol, asking the first passersby she encountered that early in the morning, but no one had seen her. The sun was beginning to shine more intensely over the city, and with her aching feet and exhaustion from walking so much, she eventually reached the northwestern wall.
"Ais... where could she have gone?" she muttered, lifting her head to wipe the sweat from her forehead. That's when her eyes locked onto the person she had been searching for all morning.
Up on the wall, her beautiful Ais was carrying the white-haired human she had seen earlier that morning on her strong yet delicate shoulders.
"Is... is that even possible?"
Her eyes welled up with tears, her vision blurred, and her mind began to spiral into fantasies.
But this time, it wasn't a dream—it was a nightmare. She imagined the two of them surrounded by flowers, bathed in a romantic glow. What was that aura of intimacy? Could it be that they…?
Overwhelmed, Lefiya fled, rubbing the tears from her eyes as she ran.
-] [-
That same night, at the Twilight Manor, the Loki Familia was having dinner as usual, though this time, the atmosphere felt strange. The various members of the familia kept glancing at a certain elven girl. The Hiryute sisters exchanged concerned looks, noticing that Lefiya hadn't even touched her plate.
"Hey… do you know what's going on?" Tione asked her sister.
"No idea..." Neither of them even bothered to be discreet—Lefiya's level of apathy was so intense that a carriage could crash through the dining hall and she wouldn't flinch.
"Lefiya..." The girl turned upon hearing that familiar voice.
"Ais..." The swordswoman took a seat beside her.
"What is your relationship with that human you met this morning?!" Lefiya demanded, leaning so close that their noses almost touched, her eyebrows furrowed and her face filled with distress.
"Lefiya..." Ais sighed, clearly expecting this after her conversation with Bell.
"It's a secret..."
That was the final straw. Lefiya couldn't hold back her tears any longer and fled from the dining hall, letting her cries flow freely.
"L-Lefiya!" Ais stood up and ran after her.
The rest of the diners were left in stunned silence, completely baffled by what had just happened. The Hiryute sisters were the most shocked of all—Tiona even dropped her drink from sheer surprise.
Ais chased Lefiya to the courtyard, where the elf girl had taken a seat on the edge of a fountain, staring blankly at the ground. The swordswoman sighed upon seeing her looking so miserable. Since Lefiya had already seen her with Bell, there wasn't much point in keeping their training a secret. So, she proceeded to explain the situation, hoping Lefiya would understand.
"So, in short, you're teaching that human how to fight before we leave for the expedition, right?" Lefiya's expression looked more at ease. "But… why were you carrying him?! You two were so close!"
"Well… he could barely walk after training, so I was helping him."
"Ah! So that's what it was..." The elf girl smiled sweetly, feeling relieved by the explanation.
However, her peace of mind was short-lived. Almost immediately, indignation took over. "He's from another familia, yet he asks Ais for help?! How insolent!" Her cheeks flushed red with frustration.
That indignation quickly turned into envy. He had asked so effortlessly, while she had struggled so much to muster the courage... and yet, he had gotten Ais's help so easily.
"Please, Lefiya, don't tell anyone about this."
Lefiya saw her golden opportunity.
"On one condition!" She abruptly stood up, her ears and cheeks flushed red. "I want you to train me the same way you train that human! The two of us together!" She squeezed her eyes shut, afraid of rejection, thinking that if she didn't see it coming, it might hurt less.
"If my help is useful to you..."
"R-really?!"
"I don't mind."
To Ais's surprise, Lefiya started hopping around her excitedly, letting out high-pitched squeals of joy.
"I'm going to train with Ais! We're going to train together!"
-] [-
A new day began. In her room, Lefiya already had her eyes wide open, having barely slept due to the excitement of training alongside her beloved Ais. As soon as the first light of day broke, the elf girl jumped out of bed, careful not to wake anyone. Today, my training with Ais begins! she thought to herself, bringing both hands to her face to suppress her dreamy giggle. Although... she's probably with that human right now...
She proceeded to take off her nightgown and start changing. She couldn't help but wonder how their training was going, as she hadn't actually seen them fight the day before.
On the other side of the city, atop the wall, Bell took a flying kick straight to the face, sending him several meters away from his trainer. Ais approached with a worried expression—she always forgot to control her strength and feared that one of these days, she might end up seriously injuring him.
Meanwhile, without realizing it, Lefiya had made her way toward their training ground. She stood at the base of the high wall, debating whether or not to take a peek.
"It's not like I care too much, I'm not even that curious, but..."
In the middle of her internal struggle, an idea struck her.
"I know! I'll tell her to be stricter with me, that way she'll..."
And once again, she started fantasizing. She would be sore and bruised from the training but would insist that Ais show no mercy. Ais would recognize her determination to improve and, as a reward, offer her lap to rest.
"Perfect! Hehe... although that's not going to happen..."
Just imagining it made her cheeks turn red, but she quickly snapped back to reality.
Now determined, she climbed up the wall—only to stumble upon a compromising scene. The human was lying in Ais's lap! Just like in her unrealistic fantasy! But for him, it was real—not just a dream.
Her face twisted in anger, but she chose not to interrupt.
-] [-
Lefiya and Ais entered the dungeon, where their training would take place. The elf girl's face showed determination.
"Go ahead, please!"
"L-Lefiya?"
"I'll chant simultaneously! Attack with all your strength, no mercy!"
Ais nodded at the firmness in Lefiya's voice.
"Here I go!"
Unfortunately, Lefiya's bravery didn't last long. In an instant, she was knocked unconscious on the ground.
The golden-haired swordswoman approached her with regret.
"Sorry, Lefiya, I hit you too hard... I was thinking I was training with him..."
That was enough to make the elf girl spring back to her feet.
"Don't worry! Keep going, please!"
And so, the cycle repeated. One strike, and she was on the ground again. The difference this time was that Ais didn't even need to approach her—Lefiya got up on her own, ready to continue.
"Let's keep going... please!"
And so their training continued—Lefiya falling over and over, only to get back up, demanding more.
After a while, Ais, worried that Lefiya was overexerting herself, suggested, "Shall we rest a little?"
Lefiya sat on a small rock in the dungeon. After taking a sip of water, she handed the flask to Ais.
"By the way… how is that boy's training going?"
"Eh? Well… he takes it very seriously, gives it his all, works as hard as he can, and progresses very quickly. I think he has a lot of potential..."
Lefiya watched Ais's profile—the golden-haired girl's eyes reflected the sincerity in her words.
A bitter feeling swelled inside her. She couldn't even take a hit from Ais, yet that human was progressing alongside her?
She imagined the white-haired boy growing stronger with Ais by his side, and her blood boiled. Clenching her fist, she slammed it against the ground and stood up.
"I won't let him surpass me..."
"Please, Ais, let's continue!"
-] [-
"Riveria, what has Lefiya been doing these days?"
Up in the city, at the Loki Familia mansion, Riveria was having tea while chatting with the twins.
"That's what I should be asking you…" She took a sip before setting the delicate porcelain cup on the small table.
"We've been training techniques," Tiona answered first.
"It annoys us that Ais leveled up before we did."
"I assume Lefiya is training as well."
"I don't really know, but…" The familia's vice-captain paused briefly, recalling a recent memory with the smaller girl. "I believe she's found a rival to compete against. What about you two?"
As the conversation continued, Riveria somehow ended up brushing Tione's long hair.
"You're really good at this, Riveria." Tiona's voice carried clear surprise.
"I learned when I used to take care of Ais. She was a handful as a child."
"Are you talking about when Ais first joined the familia?" the other twin asked. The elf woman nodded.
"What was she like as a child?" The interest in the swordswoman was palpable. "Oh, do you know about Aria?"
Riveria suddenly stopped what she was doing.
"Aria…"
"Yep, Lefiya said that's what they called Ais."
"Could the strange events lately have something to do with her?"
The twins were deeply intrigued, hoping for some information from their senior.
"The 59th floor…" It was barely a murmur, but it echoed in the room. "That's where things should become clear."
More than a statement, it was a hope.
-] [-
Meanwhile, in the streets of the city, Loki and Deimne were heading towards the shop of the captain of the Hephaestus Familia.
"Excuse me!" The goddess entered excitedly, ready to run into Tsubaki's arms, but she was surprised to find that the woman was not alone.
Standing in front of the blacksmith, arms crossed, was a figure unrecognizable at first glance. He wore a dull black armor that fit his body perfectly, outlining his slender figure. The breastplate was adorned with fine silver engravings—long and elegant feathers on one side, silhouettes of ravens on the other. A deep hood covered his head, and a dark mask concealed the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of intense red eyes exposed, calmly observing them.
Loki narrowed her eyes before a mocking smile appeared on her face.
"Well, well, if this isn't a coincidence. What is someone as elusive as you doing in a place like this, Fluder?"
Tsubaki, who had remained focused on her forging, turned to see the newcomers. Meanwhile, the hooded man tilted his head slightly before responding in a nonchalant tone:
"Oh? Have you already discovered something about me? I'm flattered."
Loki scoffed, placing her hands on her hips like a pitcher.
"You're talented at disappearing without a trace, I'll give you that. But I'm also very good at chasing secrets."
"Is that so?" His tone was amused, and then he let out a chuckle. "Then tell me, goddess, what have you discovered?"
"Mhm… Even after going to the Guild, I couldn't find anything about you, except…" Loki maintained eye contact for a long time, trying to build suspense to unnerve him, but he didn't seem disturbed in the slightest. Before answering his question, she gave him a mischievous smile. "That you're one hell of a nuisance."
As the two conversed, Deimne observed them in silence, his gaze fixed on Fluder. Up until then, he had only heard rumors about the mysterious adventurer from his goddess, Ais, the Hiryute twins, and Lefiya. They had all mentioned how Fluder had lent them a hand during the Monster Feria attack by the violas, with the younger ones speaking of him in fascination. However, beyond his intervention in that event, the man remained a mystery. He himself had accompanied Loki to the Guild to look for information and found absolutely nothing. Finn knew how much his goddess loved solving enigmas, but to him, this man could be dangerous. It was strange for an adventurer like this to appear out of nowhere.
"So tell me, Fluder, since we've had the pleasure of meeting again, which familia do you belong to?" Loki continued pressing. If the Guild couldn't give her information, she would get it herself. He let out a light, almost mocking laugh before replying.
"Who says I belong to one?"
"All adventurers need a Falna," the goddess countered with a sly smile. "Or are you telling me that a loner like you has reached a decent level without a divine blessing?"
Fluder shrugged casually.
"There are many ways to become strong. Besides, during the era of heroes, there was no Falna, yet there were still people of great power."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"But it's not a lie either."
The goddess clicked her tongue in frustration. She knew she was going in circles with her questions, but she didn't want to waste her chance to extract something useful. However, Fluder didn't seem inclined to make it easy for her. Tsubaki, who had remained a patient spectator until now, finally decided to intervene, striking the ground with the handle of a hammer she held.
"Enough with the games and riddles," she interrupted firmly. "You came here to talk about the expedition, didn't you? Let's focus on what's really important."
Loki turned her attention to the blacksmith with feigned indignation.
"Hey! I was in the middle of a very serious investigation, I almost had him."
"That was nothing but a round of unanswered questions," Tsubaki retorted with a smirk. "Let's talk about what actually matters."
"Ugh, such a buzzkill… I thought you were more fun," Loki murmured under her breath before sighing and turning back to Fluder. "Since Tsubaki wants to ruin my fun, I have one last question: what is someone like you doing here?"
"Hephaestus hired me to accompany and protect her familia during the expedition."
Loki blinked repeatedly, while Finn furrowed his brow.
"W-what? Hephaestus hired you to protect her own?"
"That's right," the man nodded calmly. "If you're worried… I don't intend to harm your familia, nor will I be a burden, if that's what concerns you. On the contrary, I'll help however I can. If they need me, I'll be at their disposal."
Finn couldn't help but narrow his eyes at that statement. Not only was it unusual for someone as covert as Fluder to accept a job like this… it was far too suspicious.
"I can confirm he's not lying." Loki was now looking at Fluder with wide eyes, analyzing him with renewed interest.
Then the man spoke again with ease.
"By the way, I'm level five."
The goddess was caught off guard once more.
"That's true…"
Unlike the goddess, Finn maintained the same stoic expression he had since the beginning, but internally, he was resolving one of his many doubts about the mysterious adventurer—while even more questions arose, ones he knew wouldn't be answered so easily.
"Mmm, I suppose I can't complain about having more strength on our side," admitted the captain with a slight nod, his first time speaking since they arrived. "Besides, I should thank you for what you did during the festival."
Fluder turned his gaze toward him.
"During the attack by the violas, you helped members of my familia—Ais, Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya," Finn explained. "Now that I have the opportunity, I'd like to thank you as the captain of the Loki Familia."
The hooded man shrugged.
"I only did what had to be done."
Deimne noticed that Fluder's tone was indifferent, but not uninterested.
"Regardless, we appreciate it," he concluded.
With that topic settled, the conversation shifted to the expedition, the challenges, and the difficulties they would face. Finn commented on how advantageous it was to have a master blacksmith like Tsubaki.
"Are you sure you don't need magic swords?"
"Why do you ask?" the Pallum replied with a question of his own.
"The truth is, I have a rather peculiar blacksmith." That piqued the interest of both the goddess and Finn. "He makes extraordinary quality magic weapons, but he has his quirks—he refuses to forge them despite being offered a very generous sum."
"A real oddball, huh?"
"That's right. His weapons are impressive, but the guy himself is quite a character," Tsubaki replied with a mix of admiration and exasperation.
"Sounds interesting," Finn commented. "Might be worth meeting him."
"As long as he doesn't get us into trouble, we already have enough," Loki added with a sigh.
The meeting continued, covering more details about the expedition. However, Loki never stopped observing Fluder with interest. Despite his evasive attitude, he had accepted such a conspicuous job. There was something about him that intrigued her immensely—something that didn't quite fit in this adventurer.
He was a walking mystery, and Loki hated unsolved mysteries.
-] [-
By the time the sun began to set, Lefiya and Ais arrived at the Twilight Manor after their grueling day of training.
"Thank you so much for today, Ais!" The elven girl bowed politely.
"Is training with me really helping you?"
The abrupt question from the blonde swordswoman made Lefiya's smile waver.
"All you do is lose consciousness..." Ais furrowed her brow slightly, concern evident in her expression.
"O-of course it helps! I'll keep giving it my all tomorrow!"
Her smile had faded completely, replaced by sheer determination.
"I won't let that human surpass me!"
Ais hesitated for a moment before speaking again.
"Sorry, Lefiya... but can we take tomorrow off?"
Lefiya was caught completely off guard by the request, but she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
She simply nodded, though she didn't quite understand why Ais was asking for a break.
-] [-
The next day, Lefiya walked briskly through the streets of Orario, her mood foul. She kept replaying her conversation with Ais from the day before, convinced that right now, Ais was with him—that white-haired human.
"That intruder! That outsider! He monopolized Ais all to himself!" Her face was twisted in frustration; she couldn't stand the thought of Ais spending so much time so close to that boy.
"I should be the one with Ais right now! I won't forgive him! That shameless...!"
"Viridis?"
Lefiya halted her steps at the sound of her name. Standing in front of her were the god Dionysus and the elf Filvis Challia.
They invited her to tea with a selection of exquisite pastries as a token of gratitude for what had happened on the twenty-fourth floor. Lefiya stared in fascination at the table full of delicious treats. The god chuckled at her distracted expression and cleared his throat before speaking.
"I wanted to express my gratitude once again. Thank you for looking after Filvis, Lefiya." His tone was solemn.
"Oh no, no! I should be the one thanking her for saving me so many times."
"Please, help yourself," he encouraged her to try the pastries.
"This is amazing!" Her cheeks flushed pink from the delight of the flavors. Filvis smiled warmly at the sight, which only deepened Lefiya's blush.
"Honestly, Filvis has been quite fond of you since then."
Filvis tensed in surprise at her god's words.
"She always speaks about you with a smile."
"T-that was because of my report..." she muttered, staring at the ground, avoiding Lefiya's gaze.
"Oh, my apologies," Dionysus smiled. "By the way, were you headed somewhere?"
"Eh?" Lefiya was still processing his earlier words. "I had an important plan, but it was canceled... so I was thinking of heading to the dungeon to train."
"That's a great idea," he praised sincerely. "Filvis, why don't you go with her?"
"B-but Lord Dionysus..."
"Don't worry. Go together." With that, the god stood up, and before leaving, he added, "Lefiya Viridis, I hope you and Filvis get along well."
Left alone, the two elf girls exchanged shy glances. After finishing their pastries, they set off toward the dungeon. As they walked, their initial awkwardness faded, and Lefiya eventually confided in Filvis about her failed plans with Ais and her frustration toward that greedy human. The conversation continued until they reached the depths of the dungeon.
"I understand how you feel," Filvis said suddenly. "I think I might be able to help."
Lefiya stopped walking and turned to look at her.
"I don't have the skill of the Sword Princess..."
"That's not true!" Lefiya quickly interrupted, not wanting her to think any less of herself. "That concurrent chant was spectacular! In fact, I wanted to train to be as good at it as you..."
"Don't underestimate yourself. Besides, I'm a battle mage, whereas you are solely a mage. Our abilities are different." Filvis stepped ahead of her. "I want to help you..."
Both stopped walking as the warrior elf pondered something.
"With your abilities, you're not meant for direct attacks."
"B-but..."
"You should focus on evading while chanting. You need to protect yourself until the moment you release your magic."
Lefiya thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Alright!"
"Good. Let's practice, then."
-] [-
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Bell and Ais were finishing their training for the day. This time, they had an observer—Meteria—who watched them from a spot near the wall, far enough not to interfere but close enough to see their progress.
Bell lay sprawled on the ground, gazing at the bright blue sky above him, when Ais's face suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
"I have a question. How did you become so strong in such a short time?"
Bell quickly sat up, now facing her.
"Eh? I-I… I'm not strong…"
Ais narrowed her eyes slightly, unconvinced. Bell decided to continue.
"It's just that… there's someone really strong I want to reach."
In his mind, the image of her surfaced—the vampire who had taught him so much.
"And there's a place I want to reach. To get there, I have to surpass incredibly powerful beings."
Not just people—his opponents were far beyond that description.
"I see…"
Ais turned her gaze toward the sky, her thoughts drifting to the past.
She recalled the moment when her parents were taken away, the overwhelming helplessness she had felt, unable to do anything to stop it.
For the first time, she found herself resonating with Bell's words.
They weren't so different after all.
-] [-
Back in the depths of the dungeon, Lefiya was finishing her training. This time, she successfully completed her chant while skillfully dodging Filvis's attacks.
"You're improving," Filvis praised her.
"Thank you so much! And it's all thanks to you."
"No, you already had the foundation. This is the result of your own effort, Viridis."
"Mhm… Filvis, you can call me Lefiya..." the orange-haired girl requested.
"I can't."
"Please! At least try!"
"I-I…" The black-haired elf averted her gaze, her cheeks flushed. After a great deal of effort, she finally managed to murmur her name.
"Le-Lefiya..."
"Yes!"
After spending so many hours together, Lefiya felt they had grown closer. At the very least, they should address each other more informally.
"You can invoke and use magic, right?" Lefiya nodded.
Before leaving the dungeon, Filvis decided to teach her one last thing. The elven warrior pulled out her small wand, White Torch of the Guardian.
"Become a shield, chalice that destroys evil—Dio Grail."
A circular barrier shimmered into existence in front of her, glowing with a radiant white light.
"It's beautiful..." Lefiya murmured, mesmerized. It wasn't the first time she had seen it, but the sight still captivated her.
"It's a barrier spell. It protects allies from any attack, whether physical or magical," Filvis explained before turning toward her.
"Lefiya, I want to entrust this magic to you."
Lefiya's eyes welled with tears, overwhelmed by emotion. With a radiant smile and enthusiastic nods, she accepted the gift, her heart swelling with gratitude.
-] [-
The streets of Orario were calm, the night breeze blowing gently as Bell, Ais, Hestia, and Meteria walked back to their respective homes.
Without warning, five masked figures emerged from the shadows, blocking their path. The tension in the air became palpable.
Ais reacted instantly, unsheathing her sword and positioning herself in front of the others.
"Stay back!" she ordered firmly, never taking her eyes off the attackers.
The Cranel duo and Hestia remained behind her. Hestia took a cautious step back, visibly concerned.
But Meteria remained calm. It wasn't blind faith in Ais—it was because her father was there. Still, she remained alert, ready to get Hestia out of there if the situation escalated.
One of the attackers lunged at Ais with impressive speed, his sword descending with force, aiming for a decisive blow.
But just before it could connect, something invisible pushed him aside.
His weapon missed its mark, diverted by a force he couldn't see. Ais seized the opening and delivered a precise slash to his arm, forcing him to retreat.
"Tsk!" the masked man clicked his tongue in frustration.
Bell, without moving a single muscle or changing his expression, activated his magic once more.
Regnum Mentis.
Another attacker tried to flank Ais, moving swiftly. He leaped over a barrel to strike from a blind spot, but just as he was about to land…
His body froze in midair for a split second, as if something had grabbed him.
It wasn't long—just a fraction of a second—but it was enough. Ais turned on her heel and delivered a powerful kick to his stomach, sending him crashing violently to the ground.
"What the hell…?" the attacker murmured, clearly bewildered.
The remaining three launched their attacks simultaneously from different angles.
One of them attempted to stab Ais in the back, but at the last second, his wrist twisted unnaturally, making him miss his mark. Another lunged at her from the side with a spear, but as he landed, his left leg refused to move, as if an invisible weight had pinned it down.
"Something's wrong!" one of them exclaimed, stepping back.
"Someone is sabotaging us!"
Ais gave them no time to react. Seizing the moment of confusion, she swiftly took down the fourth attacker with a clean thrust and swept the legs out from under the fifth, sending him tumbling to the ground.
Bell exhaled silently. He had managed to tilt the battle in Ais's favor without anyone noticing.
Realizing that something was amiss, the five masked assailants jumped onto the rooftops, seeking distance.
From above, their leader issued a warning:
"This is a warning, Sword Princess. From now on, don't do anything foolish."
Ais took a step forward, her gaze sharp.
"What do you mean?"
"Stay out of matters that don't concern you. Keep to the Dungeon and away from my lady's territory, or I'll kill you."
And with that, they vanished into the night.
Hestia let out a sigh of relief.
"For a moment, I feared what might happen..." she murmured. "But it was strange how they retreated without doing much..."
Meteria, who had been silent until now, glanced at her father out of the corner of her eye.
Bell simply maintained his neutral expression.
"The important thing is that we're all safe," he said with a light smile.
"Well, this is where we part ways. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," Ais replied, watching as Bell, Hestia, and Meteria walked away.
But something about the encounter unsettled her.
The fight had been quick, but those attackers didn't seem weak. They had demonstrated advanced combat skills, yet their movements had been clumsy at key moments.
"It was as if... something was interfering with them."
She reached her familia's mansion soon after. Seeking out Riveria, she gathered with her, Tiona, and Loki in the main hall to discuss the incident.
As Ais recounted what had happened, Loki and Tiona played around in the background, mimicking bizarre exercises.
"You said they were Vana Freya and Bringar, correct?" Riveria asked.
Ais nodded.
"There's something bothering me. Ottar was spotted on an intermediate floor, hunting monsters."
"The King?" Ais was surprised.
"I didn't think he would pose an obstacle to our expedition, but the situation has changed."
"Does that mean the Freya Familia is involved in this attack?" Tiona asked while attempting strange stretches alongside Loki.
"I doubt it. Freya must have another goal in mind," Loki responded.
"Another goal?"
"Someone must be in contact with the enemy from the surface. It would've been good to know this before the expedition."
Riveria and Ais fell into deep thought, while in the background, Loki and Tiona continued their ridiculous "pectoral exercise" routine.
-] [-
In the depths beneath the Guild, in that completely dark chamber, Ouranos sat on his throne as usual, waiting for Fels to arrive.
"You called for me?" the hooded mage stepped forward.
"Bring Bell."
With that simple command, the mage disappeared into the shadows.
After a short while, Fels returned, now accompanied by the white-haired boy.
"How are the preparations for the Loki Familia's expedition?" Ouranos asked as soon as Bell arrived.
"Going well. I met with the goddess and her captain today myself."
"Good, good." Ouranos nodded repeatedly. "I have a request for you, Bell. I want you to be my eyes on the journey to the fifty-ninth floor."
"Your eyes?"
"I cannot lose track of this expedition, Bell."
"Understood. Whatever you command." Bell bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
"Enough with the formalities," the god said with a friendly smile, his expression easing. "Tell me, how is Meteria?"
"She's doing well. Honestly, we've been a bit distant, but I think we'll resolve things soon."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that…" Ouranos responded with genuine concern. "And Hestia?"
"She's doing well, working a lot… I don't even know how many jobs she has or if she keeps changing them…" That comment made the god chuckle. "Oh, right, I almost forgot—I've reached Level Five."
"Really?"
"Yes, I've been hunting in the deeper floors."
"That news has made my day. Congratulations." And he meant it. Their journey to the fifty-ninth floor would be much easier now.
"Next year, I'll find an excuse to reach Level Two. Hopefully, no unexpected problems arise."
"That seems like the right approach. Don't rush your progress."
Fels, who had been standing at a distance, now stepped forward and handed something to Bell.
"What is this?" Bell asked the mage, but it was Ouranos who answered.
"It's a special item. Carry it with you throughout the expedition. It will allow Fels and me to stay informed about everything."
"Understood."
With that, the god and the young adventurer exchanged farewells. After another respectful bow, Bell departed alone.
Left alone with the god, Fels spoke.
"Everything will be on the right track as long as Bell is there. Now, it all depends on whether they make it to the fifty-ninth floor or not."
"They will," Ouranos said with conviction. "I am certain of it."
-] [-
The next morning, Lefiya and Ais went to train in the dungeon. Thanks to the intense training of the past few days, Lefiya felt more confident in battle.
"You are a master of the bow," the elven girl said as she dodged Ais's rapid thrusts. "Shoot, archer of arrows. Pierce, true arrow." She cast her magic through her staff, but Ais swiftly evaded it.
"Impressive, Lefiya."
The mage scratched her head shyly.
"I learned simultaneous chanting."
"That's thanks to your training. I learned a lot from you and Filvis."
The blonde girl smiled.
"Shall we head back?"
"Ais…" Lefiya turned her face to the side. "How is that human's training going?"
"He works very hard, just like you."
"Really?" Her good mood noticeably dropped until an idea crossed her mind.
"I'll stay and train a little longer on my own!"
"Don't overdo it, okay?"
Her spirits lifted again upon receiving Ais's approval.
"I will surpass that human no matter what," she thought as she watched the Sword Princess leave the dungeon.
-] [-
Late at night, in the Loki Familia's base, adventurers stood in line, waiting for their turn with the goddess. Loki, visibly exasperated, was rushing through a marathon session of status updates for her members.
"Next! The next one!" Loki shouted as one adventurer stood up to leave, and another immediately sat down in their place. The line seemed endless. "I barely have any time! I told you all to update your statuses earlier! I hate expeditions!"
Her frustrated complaint echoed throughout the mansion, even reaching Finn's room, where he was meeting with Gareth and Riveria to finalize preparations before the grand expedition.
"The atmosphere feels like an expedition already, perhaps more than usual," the pallum commented.
"Everyone wants to prove how much they've trained," the elf surmised. "Ais's level-up has motivated them all."
"I was worried they might overdo it, but that hasn't happened."
"They're all very focused," Gareth added, the only one seated. "And we've got fresh talent. Raul and Lefiya have made a lot of progress lately. It reminds me of when it was just the three of us."
Finn let out a sigh, which soon turned into a smile.
"We've come a long way." His expression turned serious, his blue eyes fixed on a point in the distance. "We're venturing into unexplored territory once left behind by Zeus and Hera. If we succeed, we'll be the talk of Orario again."
"We're already well-known, aren't we? There's no pallum who doesn't know your name," Riveria pointed out.
"It doesn't matter—I have to keep pushing forward."
"You're the same as when we first met. That small body of yours holds a giant ambition."
"Funny, considering how badly we got along back then, and now here we are, leading a major dungeon exploration together."
The three top executives of the Loki Familia laughed. Gareth stood up, and the three of them brought their fists together in the center. With a shared wish for the success of the expedition—set to begin in four days—they concluded their meeting.
-] [-
As Bell and Meteria walked through the streets of Orario on their way to the abandoned church, they passed by the Hostess of Fertility. Before they could continue, they were abruptly stopped by Syr, who approached them with an unusual request.
"You want us to wash the dishes?!" Bell exclaimed, exasperated. Both Cranel stood inside the tavern, Meteria frowning at the pile of dirty dishes before her.
"Sorry, I snuck— I mean, I was taking a break, and as punishment, they gave me this task..."
"And what does that have to do with us?!" they both shouted in unison.
"Sorry! I'm counting on you two." The waitress playfully stuck out her tongue and walked away. Bell had to grab Meteria by the wrist to stop her from chasing after Syr.
"I guess this is payment for all those free meals..."
"More like for increasing our poison resistance," his daughter corrected him. "Do you hear that? I think Mia Grand is calling me—good luck!"
Bell sighed as he watched Meteria make her escape.
Since he had no choice, he started washing the dishes. At that moment, Ryuu, one of the other waitresses, approached him. She had felt bad seeing the white-haired boy struggling with the mountain of dirty plates and decided to help.
They worked in silence until Bell finally gathered the courage to ask:
"Ryuu, you were an adventurer, right?"
"Yes, in the past. Why?"
"What does it take to level up?"
It was normal for a low-level adventurer to not know, so it made sense for him to ask.
"It's not enough to just kill monsters if that's what you mean. You have to achieve feats of merit—in particular, you need to defeat a powerful opponent."
"Is that really possible?"
"It's difficult, but with skill and strategy, it can be done."
That made Bell recall what Ais had told him during one of their training sessions on the city wall—she had said he lacked both.
"But that alone isn't enough to win. You need to form a party; together, you can compensate for each other's weaknesses and defeat stronger opponents."
Ryuu placed one of the dishes she was washing onto the drying rack.
"Cranel, if you want to level up, you need an adventure. After all, you are an adventurer."
Bell was surprised by her words, and the short-haired elf gave him a small smile.
Unbeknownst to them, Syr was hiding nearby, eavesdropping on their conversation. Her gray eyes shimmered slightly, her brows furrowed in quiet concern.
A little later, after they had finished washing all the dishes, the two waitresses stood outside the tavern with the Cranel duo.
Suddenly, an orange-haired elven girl approached them. To everyone's surprise, she spoke directly to Bell:
"You won't surpass me."
Then, without another word, Lefiya ran off, continuing on her way.
"Huh?!"
Everyone stood frozen in confusion.
"What just happened?" Bell muttered, scratching his head.
But his confusion didn't last long.
A shiver ran down his spine as he felt an intense gaze bore into him.
He swallowed hard, slowly turning his head, already knowing what he would find.
Meteria was watching him, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in a completely neutral expression, but the sheer pressure emanating from her made him break into a cold sweat.
Before he could even begin to process the situation, Ryuu, with her usual calm but sharp tone, decided to add fuel to the fire:
"You shouldn't deceive Syr if you're going to be her future husband."
"Huh?! W-what are you saying, Ryuu?!"
Bell felt his body temperature plummet. He hadn't even defended himself from the first accusation, and now he had to deal with something even worse.
Meteria's stare grew even more intense, and Bell began mentally reciting prayers.
"It's not right to toy with a lady's feelings," Ryuu continued. "Syr deserves respect."
"But I haven't done anything!" Bell cried, exasperated, raising his hands in surrender.
But fate—and the two women—were not on his side.
Because Syr, with a sweet and innocent smile hiding imminent danger, decided to add even more fuel to the fire.
"Ryuu is right," she said, gently taking Bell's hands, which were drenched in nervous sweat. "As your future wife, I can't allow you to cheat on me with other women."
"WHAT?!"
Bell yanked his hands away, staring at Syr as if she had suddenly grown another head.
"There's nothing between us! Where did you all get this nonsense about us being engaged?!"
Syr looked at him with fake sadness, her eyes slowly narrowing as if he had just betrayed her.
"A-are you abandoning me? After everything we've been through together?"
Bell felt his soul leave his body.
"Just let the Supreme Beings take me now..." he thought in despair.
Meanwhile, Meteria still hadn't moved or spoken, but the pressure in the air continued to rise.
If her stare had been intense before, now it was capable of piercing through his very soul.
Bell took a deep breath, wondering if these were his final moments.
"I-I... Wait a second...!" he stammered, desperate for a way out.
But all he got was Syr sighing dramatically, feigning heartbreak.
"How cruel... after all this time together..."
"WHAT TIME TOGETHER?!"
Bell wanted to pull his hair out.
Ryuu nodded solemnly at Syr's words.
"That would be cruel indeed."
"WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE THIS?!"
Syr smiled sweetly, Ryuu remained as composed as ever, and Meteria…
Well, she just narrowed her eyes even more.
Taking a slow, patient breath, she finally spoke:
"You have five seconds to explain yourself."
Her tone was calm, but to Bell, it sounded like a death sentence.
"If you don't, there will be consequences."
Bell's heart skipped a beat—no, it nearly stopped.
For a second, he thought he was experiencing cardiac arrest.
"WHAT CONSEQUENCES?!"
"Five."
"Wait, wait, wait!"
"Four."
"I swear, it's not what it looks like!"
"Three."
"Syr is making things up! I never—!"
"Two."
A heavy drop of sweat slid down Bell's back.
His instincts screamed that if he didn't convince Meteria in the next second, his fate would be worse than that of a rookie adventurer surrounded by Minotaurs.
"ONE!"
"IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING, I SWEAR!!!"
The last thing Bell heard before accepting his fate was Syr's charming and melodious laughter.