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

Although they'd only known each other for half a year, his teaching style was more ambitious than Finn's and simpler than Riveria's. Most importantly, he wasn't nagging. For Ais, who considered becoming stronger her ultimate goal, this was something to be grateful for.

It seemed the dwarf warrior believed that "suffering" would also help Ais, so he didn't nag on and on like Rivera. This really lightened Ais's mental burden considerably. Lately, Rivera's lecturing had become more frequent—and Ais couldn't help but talk back—this was how he helped Ai maintain her mental balance.

Therefore, Ais tried her best to explore the maze with Grace.

Young people should learn from their failures.

Although Ais didn't understand the deeper meaning of Grace's words, she interpreted them in a positive light and felt that this suited her perfectly.

"Grace, just one more time..."

"No, we should go back."

However, Grace would never allow her to force herself.

Grace rejected Ais before she could finish speaking, causing Ais to show a slight dissatisfaction that only Riveria and the others could see.

"I've worn out so many weapons... Here, this is the last one."

Grace, who was also acting as a supporter, handed Ais a spare weapon. Incidentally, this was the third one they had used during today's dungeon exploration. Grace complained, "Don't you even remember who picked out the weapon shop for you and found the perfect weapon for you?" But Ais ignored him and tilted her head back to drink the potion that had been given to her along with the weapon.

The location is on the 7th floor of the underground city.

They were in a "cave" at the end of the route, which was far from the main path.

The monster hunt, conducted under Grace's supervision, came to an end. Ais reluctantly began her journey home, simultaneously switching her focus and expression. In the passageway reeking of monsters, she let her fighting spirit and killing intent surge through her entire being.

Although Ais usually lacks emotional expression, her expressionless demeanor becomes even more pronounced in the dungeon.

She always slaughtered monsters with a cold, icy expression.

"The Doll Princess".

That was the nickname given to the little girl who, even when splattered with blood, remained expressionless, solely focused on hunting monsters—a nickname born of ridicule and fear from her fellow adventurers. In the past six months, the existence of this new member of the Loki Familia, who ruthlessly slaughters monsters without emotion, has become a hot topic among the guild and novice adventurers. She is also generally considered the strongest candidate to become a heavyweight new adventurer this year.

"Grace".

"What's up?"

"The armor is getting tighter and tighter..."

"Hmm, so fast? No, I forgot, you're at the age where humans are growing. Even though it's newly bought, it's fine, I'll get you some new armor sooner rather than later."

"The weapons too, I want them custom-made. Otherwise they'll break."

"Don't laugh at a novice adventurer (a kid). At least wait until you learn how not to break your weapons."

"...Then, next time let me go to the 10th floor."

"None of them are allowed."

"...Why? I've already been to the 10th floor twice..."

"I heard you got carried away and almost died at the hands of the 'half-orcs.' You'll need Riveria's permission first."

"..."

Throughout the journey, Ais remained vigilant while engaging in a conversation with Grace, ostensibly a discussion. Grace ignored Ais's true request, leaving her visibly displeased.

Lately, Vilia and the others have been keeping a closer eye on Ais, who has completely turned into a rebellious child. Although she's not quite at the point of throwing a tantrum, she'll put on a grumpy face.

(In front of Lao Tzu and us, they can clearly put on the expressions that children would have...)

As for Grace, she muttered to herself.

(Putting aside the title of "Doll Princess," her murderous attitude has never changed since we met... and recently she has become even thinner...)

Grace, standing a step away, glanced at the little girl's limbs—though they were gradually developing muscles—from behind, still incredibly thin; then…

"Wa ...

Suddenly, several screams erupted from the depths of the maze.

Ais suddenly looked up and rushed forward as if she had been electrocuted, while Grace followed quickly to the location of the scream.

The two arrived at the point ahead of the 6th floor passageway on the regular route.

"Whoa ...

"Too many!"

"Someone... please save us! Aa ...

Multiple teams wearing different badges are fighting a massive swarm of ant monsters. Faced with a large-scale enemy force rarely seen in the "Upper Level," the novice adventurers are forced into a bloody battle.

"There's a huge swarm of 'killer ants'! Did some adventurer fail to kill them and instead make a 'monster pass parade'?!"

The first-level adventurer, Grace, immediately understood the situation. Giant ants (killer ants) emit pheromones to call for their companions when they are severely injured or in trouble. It must be that some adventurer failed to completely eliminate the monster, and their failure escalated the problem.

The location was on the main route, but the passageway ahead was blocked, leaving the adventurers with no way to escape. Seeing the monster in a frenzied state, Grace was about to join the battle…

“──!!”

Before they knew it, Ais rushed out without analyzing the situation, allowing Ais to launch her attack.

"Wait! Ais...!?"

Grace's voice trying to stop them was drowned out by the screams of the exploding "killer ants".

To rescue the attacked adventurers, Ais broke the mental and physical restrictions that Riveria and the others had imposed on her. The little girl completely unleashed her abilities (stats), transforming into an apostle of slaughter.

Beneath his emotionless face, his wide golden eyes concealed a fierce killing intent as he wielded the sword as if it were the scythe of death.

"Th-those are from the Loki Familia..."

"Blonde hair and golden eyes...it can't be wrong."

"Ugh, ah..."

Ais's fighting spirit—being torn apart by the monster's claws and bleeding yet continuing to slaughter it—left the adventurers who had been shouting for help speechless and pale-faced.

The monsters' hard shells were shattered, and their severed limbs or heads flew into the air, screaming in shock and horror.

Interspersed with fierce attacks, the brutal sword techniques, one after another, drove the "killer ants" swarm to extinction.

"...Killing Doll".

"Puppet Princess... no, it's 'War Princess'."

Amidst the blood and screams that echoed across the battlefield, someone murmured to himself.

Watching the scene of carnage that was beyond his control, Grace fell into silence.

"……Finish."

In the end, a mountain of corpses was piled up there.

Standing alone at the center of the monsters' tombstones was a blonde, golden-eyed girl covered in blood.

In a corner of the underground city, stained crimson with blood, a deathly stillness, like that of a desolate wasteland, prevailed. Unfortunately, this scene was witnessed by many people because it occurred on a regular route.

The adventurers, upon touching even a fragment of the little girl's body... and a trace of her ferocious killing intent, froze in place.

Ahead of them, a wounded little girl looked up at the labyrinthine ceiling where the sky was nowhere to be seen.

Soon, the cracked blade scattered silver raindrops, which broke and fell to the ground.

*

"I want a durable sword."

Although Ais remained expressionless, she made her request in a firm tone.

"So, the first thing you talk about after you come back is this..."

Rivera rubbed her brow as if she were suffering from a headache.

The location was the headquarters office, which had been transformed into a lecture room. Ais had been summoned to this room immediately after returning from the dungeon. While wounds could be concealed with elixirs, the copious amount of monster blood clinging to her armor could not be completely wiped away. After hearing Grace's account of what had happened, Riveria was furious.

However, the person involved seemed completely indifferent.

"Ais, you should stop now. You've been going too far lately, I really can't stand it anymore!"

"I didn't do anything reckless. I studied hard and listened to Grace and the others."

"That's not what I'm talking about! You need to learn to take better care of your body!"

"That's not important, sword..."

"What do you mean 'it doesn't matter'?! You think I'd agree, you big idiot?!"

Here we go again. Grace, who brought Ais over, was thoroughly annoyed. Finn, who had finished his paperwork, wore a wry smile that he was already used to.

Loki was absent because he had other things to attend to, so Riveria became more and more agitated as she continued to yell.

"Don't become arrogant just because you've grown stronger! Your current level of strength is the easiest time for an adventurer to die! And it seems you've disobeyed our orders by using 'skills'! Haven't I told you several times not to rely on that kind of power and to fight with your normal abilities as much as possible?!"

"...a chattering sprite."

"What did you say!?"

"Calm down, Rivera."

A whisper from Ais infuriated Riveria, but Grace calmed her down.

The elven royal closed his eyes tightly, exhaled deeply, and then opened them, revealing a look of heartache.

"...Besides, you've been so focused on training that you haven't even been eating properly."

Rivera took Ais's right arm.

Even considering a child's slender arms, it was still too thin. Absolutely no fat, just supple muscle and skin, and then just bones. It was practically a thin sword.

Her once beautiful blonde hair has now become dull and rough.

Ais devoted all her time to training. She ate as little as possible, using every spare moment for simulated battles with Finn and the others, and practicing her swordsmanship whenever she had a spare moment. In addition, she got up very early, which probably even compressed her sleep time, and she must have accumulated a lot of fatigue.

Ais abruptly shook off Riveria's arm, an embarrassed expression on her face.

Her cheeks were also a little sunken.

No—she's been sharpened.

It got to the point where it made people hold their breath in fear.

The body, subjected to harsh labor, is indeed gaining strength and increasing power.

But this looks just like—

"I can fight. So, it's alright. Compared to this..."

"Compared to this kind of thing."

The moment she uttered those words, Rivera's face contorted with bitterness—her eyes trembled with sadness, but Ais didn't notice.

Only Finn and Grace noticed their comrade's reaction.

"I want weapons that won't break. I want weapons that can kill the enemy more effectively."

Ais shifted her gaze from Riveria to Captain Finn.

He glanced at the little girl first, then looked at Grace behind her. In the dwarf's burly hand lay the shattered short sword from the final battle.

"I have money, right? It's okay if I spend it all."

The loot left behind by the monsters Ais defeated, after being converted into cash, all became her savings. This deposit was managed by Riveria, and the little girl's weapon and item expenses were all drawn from it.

Even after deducting the costs of the dungeon, Ais had achieved an astonishing score of over three thousand kills in the past six months. Therefore, if she withdrew all her savings, she could surely purchase a top-tier weapon. Ais firmly believed this.

however……

"Ais... I share the same opinion as Riveria. I can't give you a powerful weapon right now."

Finn clearly and explicitly refused.

Ignoring Ais's astonishment, he continued:

"Because your eyes are blinded, you can't even notice the people who always care about you, let alone yourself."

In that instant, Rivera snapped back to reality and turned her face away from Ais.

Ais didn't understand what her action meant, but she didn't have the energy to care right now.

Why don't you understand my feelings? You know perfectly well how much I long for my wish to be fulfilled—these thoughts are upsetting the little girl.

Ais clenched her teeth, her shoulders trembled, and then she turned and rushed out of the office.

"Hey, Ais!...Phew, really."