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

Become stronger.

To say goodbye to my current weak self.

"...[Wake up]."

Ais spoke these words in a weak but clear voice.

She donned her wind armor and turned around.

Facing the massive, black skeleton that had lost both arms and was screaming in agony, she gripped the hilt of her sword tightly.

Ais took a step.

*

The ensuing battle lasted for an hour.

Under the watchful eye of Riveria, who was in charge of dealing with the minions (earthlings), the girl and the King of the Labyrinth fought each other, engaging in a back-and-forth battle of offense and defense, and continuing to stage a deadly struggle.

At the end.

The girl's slash drew a silver light, delivering a fatal blow to the monster.

"Ooh o ...

A broken jaw, several shattered ribs, and broken horns on the head.

Udeus, his body riddled with cracks, let out hoarse screams from inside his exposed mouth as he slowly collapsed to the ground.

"..."

The pitch-black behemoth tilted backward from its finally severed lumbar vertebrae, kicking up a cloud of dust as it crashed to the ground.

With her face congealed by blood, as still as the waves at night, Ais walked toward Udeos.

The monster had separated from the skeletal pelvis connecting to the earth, and could no longer drive in any more pillars. Several black tombstones, seemingly recounting the fierce battle or a tribute to the fallen skeletal warriors, protruded tilted from the ground. Ais leaped through the countless black pillars onto the monster's chest.

Udeos, having lost both arms, had his strange fire (eyes) on the verge of being extinguished. Deep within his dark eye sockets, the crimson flame flickered slightly, gazing helplessly at Ais on his chest. The sturdy sternum upon which Ais stood was already cracked, and the massive "magic stone" beneath it had forgotten its dazzling brilliance, now glowing with a faint light that was about to fade.

Ais silently gripped the Sword of Despair with both hands, the tip of the blade pointing upwards as if soaring into the sky.

The silver sword stirred up a strong vortex of air. The strike, raised high overhead, silently pierced down to the feet.

“——————”

The cracked sternum was shattered, and the wind slash reached the "magic stone".

The large, blue-purple crystals on the surface cracked, revealing a wide fissure, and then shattered and scattered with a sharp sound.

The next instant, Udeos's entire body disintegrated. His black bones turned into dust and spread across the ground like waves with a "whoosh".

The surrounding black tombstones also collapsed and disappeared.

"..."

On the battlefield, where everything was coming to an end, Ais helplessly lowered the sword in her right hand.

In the dim light that enveloped the hall, the dreamlike golden light and the ever-shining silver blades of the swords gleamed.

Standing atop a mountain of dust and monster corpses, she slowly looked up at the sky.

His forehead was bleeding, and his chest was covered in blood.

Silent and speechless, she seemed lost in thought, simply gazing up at the dark ceiling.

"...Rivia."

Ais sheathed her sword and stepped onto the ground, at which point Riveria approached.

Like a scolded child, Ais glanced slightly to the side. Riveria, who had stopped walking, said nothing, but simply placed her hand on Ais's injured forehead.

"Do not move."

Just as Ais was about to say something, Riveria's chanting silenced her.

The healing spell activated. A green light appeared centered on the hand that was stroking her forehead, gradually healing Ais's wounds. The fingers touching her forehead and the light caused Ais to temporarily close her eyes.

Once the wounds had healed, Riveria tore off a piece of her top-grade armor, the Holy Cloth, and pressed it against Ais's face, wiping away the blood and sweat.

Faced with the rather... no, rather forceful wiping of Saint Cloth, Ais closed one eye, letting the other press and rub her soft cheek as she pleased. "..."

"..."

After roughly wiping her face, Rivera lowered her hands and met Ais's gaze.

Ais silently raised her eyes and looked into the eyes of the elf who was taller than her.

"What happened?"

She neither reprimanded nor blamed her, but was simply questioning herself, which made Ais's eyes widen.

Faced with those clear eyes that seemed to want to tell a story, Ais felt a pang of heartache, then lowered her head and quietly began to explain.

She recounted the "Riviera town" incident, which she had refused to comment on when asked before.

She recounted everything that had happened with the red-haired animal tamer.

"That person called me... 'Arya'."

The moment Rivera was told, her eyes widened.

She couldn't speak, covered her mouth with her right hand to hide her hesitation, and made a thoughtful gesture.

After some time, Rivera finally let go. She seemed to finally understand the reason for Ais's drastic change in temperament and sighed softly.

Then she looked at the girl.

"Ais, am I unreliable?"

"!"

Ais looked up, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopped. Riveria took another step closer to her and stroked her blonde hair.

The gaze was so close, so motherly, so warm. Ais couldn't bear it and lowered her eyes.

"I...no, Tione and Lefia, they all consider you family too."

That warmth permeated Ais's heart.

The stubborn chains that bound us tightly have been broken, and a heart has been embraced. The black flames that burned deep within have been quietly extinguished.

The gentle touch of her fingers as she combed Ais's hair touched her heart.

"You're not alone anymore. Don't forget that."

"……Um."

Touched by Riveria's tenderness, which could be described as love, Ais hid her swaying eyes and nodded.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked up at her face with trepidation.

"Rivia..."

"What's up?"

"……sorry."

Silently.

A smile bloomed on Riveria's lips.

Ais was gently patted by her, and stood there stunned, pressing her hands to her head.

Because aside from being punched several times, Riveria never did such things.

Looking at Ais's wide-eyed expression, Rivera smiled again.

"I already have enough magic stones, and a lot of items have dropped too. Ais, come help me."

"I see."

Riveria walked toward the magic stone buried in the dust that Udeos had turned into, and Ais followed.

The two of them spent a lot of effort sorting out their spoils, dismantling the monster and stuffing it into the backpacks left behind by Lefia and the others.

Rivera shouldered her bag, and the two of them left the hall.

They swayed their emerald green and golden hair.

Like mother and daughter, they walked side by side on their journey home.

Sword Oratoria 2: The Final Chapter - A Sudden Reunion

After defeating Udeus and leaving the 37th floor, Ais and her companions spent about three days reaching the "upper level" of the dungeon.

Because the two chose the shortest route, and with Riveria providing cover while Ais, who had exhausted her strength, fought tactfully, their journey from the "deep layer" to the "lower layer" and then to the "middle layer" was relatively quick. Furthermore, they had a good rest in "Rivera Town" on the 18th floor, so they weren't particularly tired.

Ais and the others are now advancing on the 6th floor.

"Ais, is it really okay to leave that dropped item there?"

"Hmm... I'm not very good at using greatswords anyway."

Ais answered Riveria's question.

They were talking about "Udeos' Black Sword" which was placed in "Rivera Town".

Among the loot left behind after defeating the monster, along with the magic stones, the long, large black greatsword that had caused Ais so much trouble didn't turn to dust; it became spoils of war that the two of them picked up. However, after the intense battle, various parts, including the blade, were damaged, turning it into a usable blade for adventurers.

After Ais and her friends entered Rivera Town with this loot, the town was swept up in a frenzy. Upon hearing the news that the floor owner had dropped an unconfirmed item—obtained only by cornering a player in a one-on-one (minority) situation—the town was in an uproar.

Upon seeing this monster-sharp weapon (dropped weapon) that rivals even the best-quality equipment from a top-tier blacksmith, Perth, who once aspired to be a blacksmith, was moved to tears.

After this weapon fanatic repeatedly begged and swore that he would definitely turn the dropped item into a weapon, Ais entrusted the item to him for safekeeping as a backup for the next exploration.

"Besides, that beast tamer might attack again... He said he would feel more at ease with powerful weapons."

"Easier said than done..."

That phrase was now perfectly applicable to himself. Riveria let out a sigh, muttering a line that Perth had once uttered.

She could almost picture him stroking the black greatsword, grinning from ear to ear.

"What's wrong, Ais?"

The two soon arrived at the 5th floor and walked around for a while.

Ais discovered an adventurer lying alone in the hall (cave).

"Someone has fallen to the ground."

"Were you defeated by the monster?"

Just as Rivera's expression turned worried, Ais approached the adventurer. In the center of the spacious "cave" with its walls painted a pale green, the figure lay sprawled on the floor.

The closer they got, the more surprised Ais became in her eyes.

She was dressed in light armor like a novice adventurer, with a slender, immature body and white hair like the first snow.

The fallen adventurer was none other than the white rabbit (boy) that Ais longed to see again.

"There are no external injuries, and no treatment or detoxification is needed... It's typical of mental exhaustion."

Rivera knelt down to examine the boy and came to a conclusion that made people feel less tense.

Ais stared blankly or intently at the white hair behind her, and couldn't help but murmur softly.

"This child..."

"What, do you know him, Ais?"

"No, I didn't speak to him directly, but... he's the Minotaur I mentioned before..."

"...I see. So it's that idiot boy who mocked you."

Ais had previously confessed to Riveria about what happened at the tavern.

She sighed at Bert's actions, then suddenly realized what was happening and turned her gaze back to the boy.

As for Ais, she had long wanted to apologize to the boy, and seeing his current state, she whispered her true feelings.

"Rivia. I want to atone for this child."

"...Isn't there any other way to put it?"

Rivera had once asked herself, "What do you want to do?" Ais felt she had answered clearly back then, but she sighed and said, "That's too rigid."

Strange? Ais blinked.