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

She believed it was because the dark flames hidden in her heart were burning fiercely, causing her to recall things that had happened in the past.

But then she suddenly realized...

(Ah... no, that's not right.)

I feel lonely.

Suddenly, Ais realized the real reason for the emptiness in her heart.

(Lefia, Tiona, and Tione are all gone... Riveria and the others aren't here either; it's just me.)

Moreover, there were strange monster scales here. This terrified Ais.

Having learned the reason for the village's founding and heard Kam's explanation, Ais felt her footing was crumbling, causing her to lose herself.

So, that feeling has lingered to this day. In the bustling festival, only Ais, her emotions unsettled, is unable to blend in. Still wearing the [Sword Maiden] mask, Ais is an anomaly.

Only at this moment is Ais "alone".

She recalled the year after she met Riveria and the others, and the loneliness she often felt.

Bell and Hestia, the only people she could rely on, also left... leaving her bewildered.

(I feel so strange being here.)

Ais kept her eyes fixed on Bell and Hestia dancing, and quietly left the spot.

(No... I can't stay here.)

Ais distanced herself from the villagers, hiding by the walls of houses, becoming a wallflower.

The laughter of the crowd, the bright, flickering flames, the human girl holding hands with her father, the orc boy being scolded by his mother for playing too wildly. What a tender scene! To Ais now, it was like a world from a book. The cold, shadowy side of the house embraced her.

No one spoke to Ais. Ais even concealed her presence, afraid of disturbing their happy time.

She has always been good at keeping herself hidden from everyone.

Even the "hero" couldn't find her.

Just as these words, which were, for her own sake, remarkably cleverly self-deprecating, surfaced in Ais's mind...

"—Miss Ais?"

Suddenly a voice called her name, making her heart skip a beat, which surprised even herself.

Upon discovering that the boy had finished dancing with Hestia sometime earlier and had found her, Ais insisted on pressing the [Sword Princess] mask onto her face to prevent the boy from noticing her wavering.

Ais pretended to be nonchalant and answered after a while:

"……Um."

She glanced at the boy, then looked towards the center of the square.

"Everyone looks so happy..."

As if drawn by the smiles blooming everywhere in the village, Ais suddenly uttered these words.

She refused to admit it honestly, only revealing the envy hidden in her heart.

It's all Bell's fault.

Bell made me notice.

I noticed this feeling of envy.

All this time I've been deceiving myself.

Ais seemed to see a world from the book, squinting as if looking at something dazzling, refusing to look at Bell no matter what... She couldn't help but say, a little sullenly:

"...You danced very well."

"Eh... Th-thank you."

"...Yes, you jumped very well."

"Uh, yes..."

"..."

"..."

The conversation was interrupted.

Ais didn't quite understand why she had suddenly said such a thing.

At this moment, I seemed to have become a little strange.

"Um, aren't you going to dance?"

"Everyone seems to be having a lot of fun... I feel like I shouldn't have gone and caused trouble..."

"H-How could this be!"

"And... no one dances with me."

--How childish.

The other girl in her heart (Ais) murmured to herself.

But that's how it is.

Just as Ais lowered her gaze, silently retorting in her heart...

"No... if you don't mind, I can..."

Hearing this tense voice, Ais opened her eyes wide and finally looked at Bell.

She saw that the boy's cheeks were as red as could be.

"...Would you like to dance with me?"

Someone like me?

Accompanying someone like myself who can't fit into the world, like a puppet?

Ais looked at him questioningly, only to see the boy's face turn completely red, and his behavior was so strange it was almost comical.

"Ah—no! I meant if Miss Ais doesn't mind...!?"

After swaying his gaze from side to side, Bell first looked at Ais, and then, just like at a ball in the past, extended his hand to her.

Ais looked back into his deep red eyes, timidly and hesitantly about to grasp his hand—

"—I crashed—!!"

"ah."

"Whoa!?"

The goddess suddenly appeared from the side and used a grab, hitting Bell directly in the side abdomen.

"What's wrong, Miss Warren? Nobody's dancing with you?! Then I'll dance with you!!"

"……Thanks?"

Ais blinked repeatedly, and Hestia grabbed her hand almost by force and pulled her away.

Ignoring Bell, who was being thrown into the air and was secretly crying out in pain, Hestia led Ai to the campfire, which was warmly lit by the firelight.

"Really! You're really shrewd, Miss Warren...! I won't allow you to take my Belle away without my permission!"

"I'm...sorry...?"

After being aggressively confronted by Hestia, Ais couldn't help but apologize.

They held hands and joined the dance circle.

"So, what's bothering you?"

“Eh…”

"You've had something on your mind ever since you took over taking care of me from Belle, haven't you? I'm a goddess, after all, you can tell even from something like this."

Ais had never been so surprised today.

Hestia danced with a sullen expression.

"I didn't want to say anything to avoid being harassed by Loki, but..."

"..."

"Right now, you look like a lost child. Unfortunately, I can't just leave a child like that alone. Don't get me wrong! I'm not trying to help you!"

Ais was pulled by Hestia's hand and almost fell forward, but managed to hold on.

Looking up, she saw the goddess gazing at Ais, waiting for her.

"……I……"

Ais timidly opened her lips.

"I'm thinking, maybe I really am all alone..."

"..."

"After getting to know this village... I had this thought, and I felt very scared..."

Even Ais knew that her speech was too brief and illogical.

However, upon seeing those blue eyes, she couldn't stop herself from speaking, as if in a monologue.

"Goddess Hestia... Aren't you afraid? Afraid of being abandoned by someone..."

"Abandoned by someone?"

"...afraid that something precious will disappear before my eyes..."

This was the first time Ais had asked God such a question.

But this is also the question she has always wanted to ask the gods.

Kam's face flashed through his mind. The face of an old man, like Ais, grieving over a loss.

That's right.

Because the gods who live in "eternity" are destined to face "separation".

Hestia is the one who is about to be lost. She is the one who will be abandoned.

Ais and the others are the ones who have already lost. They are the ones who have been abandoned.

That inner emptiness is somewhat like a permanent loneliness.

Ais asked Hestia if she was afraid of the eternal pain and sorrow that was to come.

"...If I said I wasn't afraid, that would be a lie. No, I should say I'd be lonely. The interactions with the children of the lower realm...and the love we share with them are fleeting."

Hestia replied while continuing her gentle, swaying dance.

The love of the gods is fleeting. Ais's eyes widened when she heard Hestia tell her this.

"However, the gods (us) are actually quite shameless, so they want to make the bond between themselves and their children eternal."

"what?"

Hestia blushed and broke into a big smile, like a mischievous child.

"Besides, you can also make your bond with someone eternal, right?"

Hestia, as if to tell the astonished Ais a treasured "magic," spoke earnestly:

"Think back to all those memories that began with that encounter. As long as there's someone you cherish who's willing to smile at you, see, that's your eternal bond."

"this……"

Hestia's "magic" was far too simple, leaving Ais feeling both disappointed and frustrated.

Moreover, it is filled with sadness and pain.

"Miss Warren, I think memories are alive."

"...?"

"Memories that you haven't forgotten are a blessing. To live forever in your hearts, to be by your side. To leave you with something precious."

"!"

"When you are sad and upset, it can embrace you until you stop crying. It can also encourage you and cheer you up. ... And when you feel lost, it can remind you of precious things."