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

Since that's the case, let's help him achieve his stated goal.

This is not enough to atone for one's sins; it's just wishful thinking.

But Ais still vowed in her aching chest to pay the price she could for the boy.

She recalled those rabbit-like, deep red (rubellite) eyes, touched the hilt of her beloved sword (the Sword of Despair), and raised her head with a tense expression.

Yes, she couldn't let guilt overwhelm her. She'd gotten up early this morning to instruct Bell on how to fight—

We arrived at this city wall where we shouldn't be discovered!

"I need to work harder..."

Just like before, her inner child (Ais) cheered her on, and she regained her energy.

The northwestern part of the city wall where Ais chose to train was a "secret base" she had found before. She discovered an entrance inside the city wall, which should have been sealed off, when she first joined the Loki Familia. Back then, whenever the young Ais had a conflict with her fellow members—mainly a one-sided argument with Riveria—she would run out of headquarters and hide inside this city wall.

Inside the city walls, there are traces of someone's living quarters, even living spaces such as a shower room and stone rooms. Ais had heard that in Orario, a goddess insisted on living in an unused church, and perhaps some unknown god or vagrant also lived in these city walls for a period of time.

As a member of the Loki Familia, I must not let anyone know that I have been in contact with people from other factions, not even my companions like Tiona.

You will immediately be stopped, scolded and lectured, and you will not be able to help the boy anymore.

Apart from the skyscraper (Tower of Babel), this massive city wall is taller than almost any other urban building, so a secret rendezvous should be hard to detect.

"……But……"

In return for Bell, Ais clearly arrived too early, full of enthusiasm.

A feeling of tension made her heart pound and kept her awake. Even though she was snuggled under the covers, Ais's eyes were bright and she just couldn't close them.

Ais was still feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, waiting for that moment to arrive, but...

She turned her gaze to the paved ground of the city wall and murmured softly:

"If I were to teach someone, what should I teach them...?"

She was full of enthusiasm, but had no clue about the most important guidance.

Ais has been constantly studying and training on her own, always thinking only of herself and never teaching others how to fight; until a few years ago, it was actually her seniors from the [Familia]—Finn, Grace, and Riveria—who were teaching her.

Someone like me is now expected to instruct others.

Even though she said it herself, Ais still felt a strong sense of unease.

Specifically, what should we teach?

She couldn't ask anyone about this question, not even the younger version of herself (Ais) knew the answer and hid under the covers. Ais's gaze darted left and right, unsure of what to do.

She has been wandering in the labyrinth of her heart since yesterday, and there is still no sign of a breakthrough.

The workout was about to begin, and the blonde, golden-eyed girl was at a loss. The cold wind that blew between morning and night seemed to laugh as it passed by her.

Not long after, a "cough" was heard.

Ais, lost in her own thoughts and troubles, sneezed softly.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 4 - Part 1: Then the Boy...

In the dead of night in the city.

In the Twilight Mansion, the headquarters of the Loki Familia, all the lights in every room were turned off.

This mansion, also known as the "Elder's Residence," was shrouded in the deep darkness of night. Despite the chief god's decree that it wasn't needed, two members of the guild were still assigned to guard the main gate on a rotating basis. This time was no exception; a human man and a human woman had taken their shift from the elven and orc girls. Inside the mansion, the magic stone lamps lit in the corridors flickered erratically, like candlesticks.

Inside the headquarters, where the spire, like a forest of guns, complemented each other perfectly.

Beautiful maidens, seduced by the lustful god, reside in a women's tower.

A figure suddenly sat up.

The figure propped themselves up on the bed, placing their slender legs, encased in a cute, wrinkled nightgown, on the floor. The room, as dark as the outside through the drawn curtains, echoed with the rustling of clothing.

Afraid of waking the female group members who were sleeping soundly in the room, the figure quietly changed his clothes, gently opened the door, and left the room.

"I got up too early..."

Lefia, her long, thick, golden hair tightly tied up, walked out of her room, muttering to herself.

Four days have passed since the fierce battle with the strange people, including Revis, on the 24th floor.

Having been mentally exhausted from the battle, Lefia had been lying in her room for about three days. Now, she was fully awake and in good physical condition, and could no longer lie still. Her pointed elven ears twitched as she quietly made her way down the narrow corridor.

(It's rare for me to get up this early... I'll take this opportunity to do some training!)

Lefia clenched her fists tightly in front of her chest, full of energy.

After the events on the 24th floor, Lefia once again realized her own incompetence. In order not to hold back her [Familia] seniors, and for her own sake, she made a new resolution to become stronger.

Her azure eyes burned with fighting spirit.

(Besides... if I go now, I might be able to train with Miss Ais!)

But the elf's handsome and dignified appearance was accompanied by a soft, gentle smile.

Lefia's idol, the blond, golden-eyed swordsman, got up very early every day, practicing his sword and training without fail. Lefia thought that if she went now, she might be able to spend her mornings with Ais, and with a slightly wicked thought... no, she took a delighted step with ulterior motives.

Lefia, you're up so early! That's amazing! Oh, Miss Ais, I still have a lot to improve, so this is only natural. Hehe, please praise me more! The girl was immersed in her fantasies, and her expression in reality also showed the same relaxed silly smile.

In a cheerful mood, she walked toward the courtyard where Ais usually practiced her swordsmanship.

"Uh...it seems like it's still too early."

She first went to the sky corridor connecting the spires, looking down at the courtyard from there, but didn't see the blonde, golden-eyed girl. Lefia glanced around the dark lawn courtyard where the magic stone lamps had been extinguished, and tilted her head. The short hand of the clock hadn't even pointed to three yet, so Ais probably hadn't gotten up this early either.

Lefia fell into deep thought on the stone arcade, just as she returned to her original intention, intending to begin training alone...

"Huh... Miss Ais?"

Lefia's eyes caught sight of Ais.

Not in the courtyard, but some distance between the towers, inside the headquarters. She was lightly dressed, carrying a sword, and after looking around, she silently leaped into the air, soaring over the high walls surrounding the mansion.

「!?」

Ais's unexpected escape from the headquarters without going through the main gate surprised the blue-eyed observer.

Lefia witnessed the entire suspicious activity and thought, "Could she be going to explore the labyrinth?" She quickly followed after the blonde, golden-eyed girl.

She leaped down from the skywalk and landed in the headquarters courtyard.

Lefia didn't even bother to get her wand; she ran a short distance as a running start and then jumped over the wall herself.

◆

She ran through the streets, which were shrouded in darkness and filled with cold air.

Lefia chased after Ais, but soon realized that she was not heading towards the skyscraper facility (Tower of Babel) in the center of the city that blocked the underground cavern.

The figure with long golden hair seemed to be heading towards the northwest region, and Lefia was about to lose her.

(Where is she going so early in the morning...?)

The thin white mist she exhaled dissolved into the darkness of the night as Lefia ran desperately.

While trying her best to get information from the few demi-humans walking on the road and the drunken adventurers lying on the road, she continued to follow Ais's footsteps.

However, her efforts were in vain, and she eventually lost track of Ais.

Lefia, panting, stopped near the city wall in the northwest of the city.

"She should be heading this way..."

Here, on a stone-paved road surrounded by houses, Lefia glanced around at the unique columnar magic stone streetlights standing at equal intervals, and began running again.

She left the main street, entered the spacious and well-organized back street, and then stepped into the more complex alleyways.

Lefia had been searching aimlessly for several minutes, navigating a maze of branching paths. She didn't understand what she was doing, but she just couldn't stop looking for Ais.

Then even more time passed.

Lefia, preoccupied with looking around for the girl, bumped into a figure running out from around the corner.

“Ahh!?”

“Wow!?”

Bang! Rafia and the figure collided head to head, and both of them fell to the ground.

One of them pressed their head down, while the other had tears in their eyes, enduring the pain for a few seconds.

"W-I was so careless...!? I'm already Lv.3 and I still made a fool of myself like this. All I can think about is the girl (Ais). I feel so ashamed."

"I'm so sorry—"

"I'm so sorry!?"

The person in front of him shouted, interrupting his apology, and hurriedly stood up.

She looked up and saw a white-haired boy in front of her.

Humans with deep red eyes.

The boy's appearance was still somewhat childlike, and his pure white hair reminded Lefia of the winter forests of her homeland, dotting the snow-covered landscape of the elven realm. Compared to the male members of his faction (familia), his appearance was more androgynous, with a slender face and body.

Lefia thought the man was probably around her age when the boy reached out his hand to her.

"Are you alright...? Ah!"

The outstretched hand suddenly stopped.

He saw Lefia's face and was startled, his eyes reflecting the elf's twitching pointed ears.

Like Philvis, a maiden of the Dionysian Familia, proud elves only allow those they acknowledge to touch their skin. While not all elves are like this, many are indeed unable to break this habit.

The boy, perhaps aware of this custom among the elves, hesitated, wondering whether he should retract his outstretched hand.

Seeing his confused expression, Lefia sighed softly.

Not wanting her compatriots to be misunderstood, she took the initiative to shake their hand.

(illustration)

The boy was startled, and Raphia stood up with his help.

She brushed the dust off her clothes and then met his gaze with those deep red eyes.

"Thank you, and I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"No...no way!? I should be apologizing for suddenly running out like that...!"

Seeing Lefia smiling and apologizing, the boy stammered in response.

He seemed unaccustomed to being around women; Lefia's beautiful elven features made him blush and appear somewhat uneasy.

The boy was humble and seemed quite simple and honest. Judging from his light attire, he must be an adventurer.

Lefia noticed this and exclaimed, "That's right!" She suddenly remembered that she was looking for someone.

She leaned out and described Ais's features to the boy, asking if he had seen Ais.

"Blonde hair, golden eyes...?"

"Yes! It's the Sword Princess! Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein!! If you're an adventurer too, you should know her, right!? Have you seen her!?"

Rafia couldn't help but say excitedly.

Upon hearing this, the boy silently broke out in a cold sweat.

"Excuse me... are you a member of the Loki Familia?"

"...? Yes, it's me. What's wrong?"

Why are you suddenly asking this? Lefia looked at him suspiciously, noticing the boy's lips twitching.

It was as if he had a secret he couldn't let anyone know... He started sweating.

Could it be...? This is too suspicious! Lefia's expression changed drastically, and her eyebrows shot up in anger.

This adventurer is hiding something!

"Hey, do you know something about Miss Ais?!"

"Lefia shouted angrily, the next moment."

The boy turned his back to Lefia and ran away.

"Huh!?"