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

"Alright, alright, Mr. Bell, how about a drink? This is a rare vintage wine from the warehouse; the best thing to do in a moment like this is to drink to your heart's content."

"Ah, uh, I'm not very good at drinking..."

"Don't be like that, brother. Can't you see Mr. Bell is very troubled?"

The orc half-human sitting to Ais's right poured wine into a wooden cup and urged Bell to drink it. Lina angrily tried to stop him, but her son shrugged, as if he felt sorry for the wine that hadn't been reduced by a drop, and put it back in front of him.

Ais watched their conversation across her, while glancing at the boy.

What should I do? I think I'm being a bit too childish. I really want to make up with him, but I'm still a little angry... These thoughts rise and fall in my mind. Only my little sister (Ais) is still wearing the mask of the Minotaur, sulking.

Ais noticed that Belle was also frequently glancing at her. Feeling quite embarrassed, she buried herself in a bunch of thoughts and picked up the cup that was placed to the side.

It wasn't hers, but rather the cup that was next to Cam's son's.

And the moment you take a sip.

Ais's consciousness went completely dark.

Then—snap!

「!?」

The sensation of water splashing on her face made Ais's eyes widen in surprise.

Ais had no idea what was happening until she realized her face and clothes were completely soaked, and then she understood that she had been doused with a huge amount of water. She could see Lina's shoulders heaving as she panted, holding an empty bucket.

—She splashed water on me? Why?

Ais was initially filled with doubts—but those doubts were quickly replaced by shock.

"What—Bell!?"

Because she saw the boy, who had been beaten to a pulp, lying on the floor, barely alive.

Not only Belle, but all the tables and chairs in the restaurant were overturned, resembling a scene after a typhoon. Ais was in a state of utter chaos.

What exactly is going on!

It only took a moment!

What on earth happened?!

The sons stood by the wall, their faces ashen, holding their trays. Cam slumped on the nearby floor, his unseen soul about to drift from his mouth to heaven. "Dad, Dad—!?" one of the sons cried out, trying to wake him. It was a truly gruesome sight.

Could it be that this is—

"An enemy is attacking...!?"

How could this be! I didn't sense any presence at all, I can't believe it!

Ais was both surprised and frightened, but quickly got into a fighting stance. She raised the "bloodstained wooden stick" that she was holding in her right hand for some reason, and swiftly changed the direction of her body.

"Ai... Ais, little... Guwu..."

Beside Ais, who was looking serious and sweating profusely, Bell let out a groan like a rabbit being trampled.

He gripped a black dagger in his right hand, presumably having put up a desperate fight against the attacker. However, the enemy was cold-blooded and merciless, giving the boy a sound beating, leaving him sprawled on the ground, teeth knocked out.

Who could be so ruthless?! Ais was furious!

(The assassin is a powerful figure who can beat a second-tier adventurer (Bell) to a pulp...!)

Ais's alertness spiked. Her opponent might be afraid and hadn't attacked her, but she couldn't afford to be careless. Ais scanned the uncomfortably quiet restaurant with sharp eyes.

Ais, busy raising her guard, didn't notice anything.

The liquid in the wooden cup was spilled all over the floor.

The glass I mistakenly drank from was now emitting the aroma of wine.

She was completely unaware that the wary gazes of everyone around her were fixed on her.

"...Miss Ais, please take care of Mr. Bell."

"But the enemy...!"

Lina, her shoulders heaving rapidly, spoke with a weary expression on her face.

She glanced at Belle with a look of pity and sympathy, then shook her head helplessly.

"No, it's alright. I should really beg you, please don't do anything rash. Especially, absolutely do not touch the wine that has spilled on the ground."

"But!"

I said it's okay.

"Okay, okay."

Ais initially wanted to stick to her own opinion, but after seeing Lina's powerful expression as she approached, she couldn't help but nod.

Lina and her sons, their faces showing signs of a past tragedy, began cleaning up the mess. Ais, though uneasy, was wary of the attackers who never reappeared. Cam also snapped back to reality with a cry of "Ah!", unharmed.

For some reason, Ais felt very embarrassed, but she did as she was told and began to heal Bell's wounds. After what had happened, her childish tantrums were no longer worth mentioning. Ais decided to let bygones be bygones and take care of the boy without reservation.

After healing all her wounds with the elixir, Ais felt inexplicably lonely, so she let the boy lie on her lap.

He let her gently stroke his white hair.

She didn't understand the exact reason, only that the boy was groaning as if in considerable pain.

(There might be an unseen enemy... I have to protect Bell and the others...!)

Ais gripped the wooden stick she was still holding, her heart filled with determination.

From that day on, Ais never stepped out of the house, even when the rain stopped, taking on the responsibility of "guarding" Bell and the others.

For some reason, Lina and the others refused to let Ais touch alcohol again.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 9 - Reminiscences of the Gods and People of the Past (Chapter 3)

During the time when Ais joined the Loki Familia, Orario was going through a "dark period".

The root of all this lies in the failure of the world's long-cherished "Three Great Adventurers' Requests" and the decline of the two most renowned "Familia." The "evil forces" lurking within Orario have risen, bringing social chaos to the labyrinth city known as the "center of the world."

The most powerful faction among them is the "Dark Faction".

"Hahahaha!! Let's do it! Let's plunge the city into chaos!"

Even in the middle of the day, explosions, screams, and loud laughter from a man could still be heard.

On the roof of the half-ruined building, a human man looked down at the scene of what could be described as a fierce battle. The ecstatic shouts of Olivas Actor, a bounty target nicknamed "Vendetta" and a member of the "Dark Faction," echoed loudly.

"Pah! That bastard Olivas, using such outrageous tactics to start the fight... Guys! We can't lose to them! We can't fall behind the other factions!"

Upon seeing the thick smoke rising in the distance, Valetta Grede, a woman who was also the leader of the "Dark Faction" and had the nickname "Arachnia," first clicked her tongue, then a ruthless smile appeared on her face.

She commanded her subordinates to launch a fierce attack, seizing supplies from the headquarters of the "Guild's" [Families] and the trading company. Amidst the towering smoke and flames, the fleeing city dwellers, and the clash of swords that drew blood and sparks, she couldn't help but smile with pleasure, shouting:

"Hey! Come here, you 'guild' lackeys! Get your grandma over here, Finn!! Another joyous feast is about to begin!"

This is Orario in this era. This is the daily scene of this era.

In this chaotic era of deteriorating public order, adventurers upholding the spirit of justice fight against "evil forces" day and night without ceasing.

*

"Team members, assemble at the main gate! Divide into three teams: mine, Riveria's, and Grace's!"

As the mansion was enveloped in countless footsteps, Finn gave the order.

Upon hearing about the incident caused by the dark faction, everyone quickened their pace and took action; Ais ran past this scene to reach Finn and the others.

"Me too, I want to go!"

"No, you can't stay here. It's too early for you."

Riveria refused her request in a firm tone.

Fighting humans is different from fighting monsters; it even carries the risk of humans turning on each other. Riveria and the others, under no circumstances, were willing to take the little girl to a battlefield she didn't yet know about.

Eight months have passed since Ais joined the group, and she has essentially been excluded from the fighting force, and is required to wait at the mansion with the remaining group members.

"It's nothing, we'll be back soon, don't worry."

"Then, Loki, I'll leave the rest to you."

"Okay, hurry back and good luck!"

Finn and the others asked Loki to watch the house before they set off.

"Alright, Finn and the others are gone. What's Ais supposed to do now? Don't you ever want to act like a little kid and play doctor with me? Hahaha."

"...I'm going to the courtyard to practice my swordsmanship."

"Oh dear, I've been dumped."

"Also, don't call me that weird way."

Although Ais is more emotional when she's with Finn and the others—especially with Riveria—her usual expression is like that of a doll. She coldly rejects the perverted god with her emotionless face and turns away.

However, Loki saw through her thoughts.

She harbored a sense of alienation, a feeling of being excluded, which she herself was unaware of. Loki saw the small figure of her back, revealing a childlike discontent and loneliness.

the next day.

Ais was wielding her sword in the courtyard that day, just like always.

On a cloudless afternoon, she used her beloved sword, the Elwy Sword, to cleave through space time and time again.

The custom-made equipment (custom item) crafted by the [Gubney Familia] fits Ais's hands perfectly. The weapon is made of "Damascus steel," sourced from overseas. This material is also known as wavy steel, and the blade itself exhibits subtle ripples, as the name suggests. Harder and stronger than iron ore, the blade remains undamaged no matter how many times it slays monsters. While somewhat heavy, its power should easily pierce even the heaviest armor of an adventurer.

In order to avoid being manipulated by the heavy weapon given to her by the blacksmith god (Gubernius), Ais swung the sword again and again.

Finn and the others hadn't returned yet. Instead of the originally planned mock battle, Ais faced the imaginary enemy and repeatedly engaged in close combat. She used her sword skills in empty space to clear her mind of distractions.

"..."

Loki came to the courtyard and gazed at the scene from under the shade of the trees.

That kind of sharp slashing was out of place for a young girl, yet it was also a beautiful and moving way of playing the sword and singing.

Her superb swordsmanship explains why the "Doll Princess" has become the talk of the town. Although her swordsmanship is still somewhat crude, the blonde, golden-eyed girl sometimes uses "techniques" that are enough to impress even high-level adventurers.

"...Loki?"

Perhaps exhausted, Ais, her shoulders heaving and panting, stopped swinging her sword and only then noticed Loki's presence.

Loki, who had been watching with a serious expression, smiled after a while and said, "Thank you for your hard work—" and handed her the handkerchief.

"Hey Ais, has anyone taught you how to use a sword?"

"...?"

"Finn and the others are all praising Ais's skills. They say they didn't teach you, but sometimes you can use sword techniques that no one has ever seen before."

"Sword skills..."

"I was also a little engrossed in watching it just now—"

Hearing Loki laugh and praise her, Ais looked down at the sword and her own hand.

She had always practiced swordsmanship relentlessly, without ever realizing this. She actually knew that kind of swordsmanship… even Finn and Grace, who were instructing her, expressed their admiration?

What came to mind was her brave and admired father.

She is like Ais now, a swordsman who silently practices her sword.

He was the hero that young Ais longed for...

"I heard things have been largely resolved—it seems there's still some cleanup to do, but Rivera and the others should be back this evening."

Loki told Ais, who was lost in thought, what she had come here to convey.

The chief god relayed the message from the city truthfully, then grinned.

"Thank goodness—Rivia and the others are all alright."

"...I wasn't worried about them at all."

"Oh? What happened? They wouldn't take you, and that made you throw a tantrum?"

"I didn't!"

Loki's sarcastic tone made Ais turn her face away immediately.

Loki smiled wryly as he called out to the little girl who wanted to go straight back to train.