Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

“────!?”

They launched a full-scale attack.

This is the full force I can unleash right now.

My horizontal slash to the right was more than just a bite; it seemed to be tearing the bait to shreds. Miss Ais's eyes widened at the sight.

"call!!"

I approached Miss Ais at lightning speed and swung down "Goddess's Blade".

A discordant "clang!!" was heard. It was a blunt impact that did not produce a spark.

Miss Ais swiftly deployed her defense, completely blocking my attack with her sword sheath.

However—no counterattack occurred!

I forced that Fiora into a defensive stance!

Although the effect was extremely slight, my "tactics" truly exceeded Miss Ais's expectations, and that's proof!!

"Drink it all!"

After successfully overcoming the second test and catching Miss Ais off guard, I pressed on with my attack.

In the instant after the first strike ended, I unleashed a series of continuous slashes almost without interruption.

I recklessly challenged the swordsman before me with my most proficient technique, "direct confrontation," and every strike I unleashed spoke volumes about my current strength.

"—Ugh!!"

Miss Ais accepted my challenge head-on.

With a short exhale, she unleashed a series of rapid counterattacks that left afterimages in her wake.

My fierce attacks were all deflected; this was truly superb swordsmanship.

Despite this, she was unable to switch from defense to offense. Faced with my relentless, raging attacks, she was unable to gain the upper hand.

A look of astonishment returned to those golden eyes.

Attack, attack, and attack again!

Abandon defense! Forget about assessing the situation! Just keep pressing!

Without using my most powerful weapon, it would be a pipe dream to contend with it.

Needless to say, the 'tactics' that only achieved a kill at first sight were lacking, and the gap in 'skill' was also like a chasm.

A trick can only succeed once, so I must give it my all for this first and last great opportunity!

I'm betting everything Bell Craney has accumulated so far on this challenge to the existence I've always longed for.

"!!!"

"!!!"

As if accusing me of becoming increasingly brutal with my slashes, Miss Ais flicked my dagger aside, and I spun around in response.

With his left foot as the axis, his right hand, gripping the dagger, became a centrifugal force accelerator, drawing a vortex.

Miss Ais, who had just deflected the attack, looked as if she were looking in a mirror, her beautiful hair creating a golden whirlwind.

Both of them simultaneously unleashed a high-level spinning kick.

「!?」

The thick heels of the boots collided violently, and in the end, I was the one who prevailed!

If you put all your speed into offense, then all that's left is a pure difference in ability stats!

Compared to Miss Ais at level 6, I, at level 5, am superior in 'strength'!!

I could clearly hear the shock emanating from her pitiful cherry lips.

Miss Ais, who lost the contest, had one foot thrown into the air, but then jumped backward like an acrobat, cutting off my chance to pursue her.

The distance between the two sides was greatly increased.

The wind seemed to have just come to its senses, howling across the city walls.

Miss Ais landed on the battlements, still staring at me with undisguised surprise.

(Even if it was just by luck, I still beat Miss Ais...!)

Even if we take a conservative estimate, this statement should be reasonable.

The premise is that Miss Ais was negligent, no, I caught her off guard.

She also used a sword sheath, which she was not good at, and this shackle was one of the reasons.

Even so, Bell Craney's full power still managed to touch Ais Wallenstein.

Even the close-quarters combat that they had repeatedly lost in the initial training sessions ended in a draw.

While 'strength' is certainly not Miss Ais's forte, her enormous potential stats have truly overturned the level difference.

I'm catching up little by little! I'm catching up with Miss Ais! This unattainable beauty is even more out of reach than I imagined!

"...That's amazing."

I clenched my fist through the screen of "Goddess's Blade," a smile involuntarily spreading across my face. Just then, I heard it.

Miss Ais seemed to murmur this to herself.

A faint smile appeared on her delicate lips.

"..."

Just thought about it.

Miss Ais, who had been kneeling on the ground, stood up and stood on the parapet.

He stood there, then slightly raised his head to look at the sky, and began to think about something.

A playful breeze tousled her long, golden hair. Her skirt fluttered in the wind.

From beneath the gently swaying hem of her skirt, I could glimpse her fair thighs, a sight that made me feel a little uncomfortable for a moment.

Actually, from the moment she stood on the wall above the ground, well, how should I put it, my perspective was almost at the same level as Miss Ais's waist, which means, well, the view under her skirt was bound to enter my eyes no matter what...

Although she was actually wearing light blue leggings, it still gave me a feeling that I couldn't quite describe as immoral, guilty, or something else entirely.

In short, I couldn't help but feel my cheeks burning and I desperately looked away.

I awkwardly turned my gaze to myself, who seemed completely unrelated to the others, and to Miss Ais, who was looking up at the sky. The time that passed between us was probably no more than a few seconds.

"Bell".

Miss Ais finished thinking and turned her gaze back to me.

"Can I get a little more 'real' about it?"

"Eh?"

Then, she made this suggestion to me.

"Ah, okay...no, no problem!"

She must have recognized my current abilities.

That's why I asked you if I could loosen up a bit.

The moment I gradually understood the true meaning behind her question, I immediately nodded vigorously.

That Miss Ais, seriously!

Whether it was during training about eight months ago, or during special training before the war game with the Apollo Familia, or even when I protected Winnie and the others in the battle of Daedalus Street, Miss Ais never used her full strength. But now she's going to take me seriously!

My heart surged with excitement once again.

It felt like the figure you were desperately chasing had turned around and looked at you for the first time.

I desperately suppressed the upward curve of my lips and exaggeratedly raised "Goddess's Blade" which I was holding in a reverse grip.

Miss Ais smiled as if she had witnessed a heartwarming scene, and then closed her eyes.

She quickly switched her consciousness, transforming her aura from that of a young girl into that of an adventurer, and then uttered the words.

"【Awaken (tempest)】"

He uttered the name of that 'magic'.

"【Wind Spirit Swiftness】"

"!!"

A strong wind then swept through.

A violent atmospheric fluctuation, large enough to be seen, enveloped Miss Ais's entire body.

My white bangs were blown back and flew wildly.

The body was also under the heavy pressure of the gale, and the feet almost slipped backward.

I couldn't help but widen my deep red eyes.

(Wind attribute enchantment magic)

The so-called "enchantment" refers to magic that involves wrapping elements such as wind or fire around the body or weapon to achieve effects such as protecting the caster, assisting in attacks, or increasing speed.

Miss Ryu also used Miss Alyssa's Flame-Generating Magic during the "Factional Wars".

However, the additional coverage of that fiery armor was limited to the limbs and weapons.

Miss Ais's "Gale" enveloped her entire body.

Although the attributes are not exactly the same, it does resemble the Thunderous Blessing (Saintess Rezan) that my master bestowed upon me back then.

The range of a spell's effect is not necessarily directly related to its maximum damage output. That being said...

(It is because I have experienced my master's magic that I am able to understand—)

That 'whirlwind' was no less powerful than Master's super-enhancing magic, comparable to a level-up upgrade.

The excitement and joy in my heart vanished instantly, and a cold sweat trickled down my cheek.

"It's about to start."

Miss Ais slowly opened her eyes.

Those golden eyes stared straight at me.

Then, she vanished without a trace.

"──────────────"

With a thud.

The first sound heard was the gentle thud of shoes hitting the wall.

Boom! !

What followed was a sound like a storm tearing through the atmosphere.

The next second, Miss Ais appeared behind me!

“──!?”

Instinctively and unconditionally, without saying a word, I turned around and flashed the dagger.

With great difficulty, he managed to deflect Miss Ais's incoming sword sheath and quickly set up a defense.

The fact that I was flanked in an instant made me break out in a cold sweat—no, I didn't even have time to do that.

Just surviving that one blow completely threw my form off balance.

“Wu!?”

"It's not over yet."

Along with my right hand holding the dagger, I was swept away by the turbulent wind after losing my balance.

The crisscrossing patterns on the scabbard filled my field of vision.

Hang in there, hang in there, hang in there, I can't hold on any longer!

It only blocked the first three attacks.