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

The pterosaur slowly opened its mouth. It was probably preparing to deliver a fatal blow. It intended to burn the labyrinthine land, along with Ais, to ashes with an enormous fireball.

Unable to stand, Ais's mind went blank as she was about to be engulfed by the brilliant flames.

"Ais!"

at this time.

With the sound of an explosion, a corner of the cave entrance was blown open, and Ais heard a voice calling her name.

"────"

The moment Ais recognized the elven royalty—Riveria—time seemed to stand still for her.

Unlike the despair she had felt before, a strange emotion surged through her body in an instant. Light illuminated the little girl (Ais) curled up in the darkness. Emerald radiance pierced her chest.

Guided by the upper-level monsters attracted by the Grim Reaper "Kamui", Riveria arrived here and used "magic" to blast away the barrier at the entrance. The moment she stepped inside, she was speechless as she faced the cavern that had turned into scorching earth—the little girl trapped in the fiery space.

Then, the pterosaur ruthlessly unleashed a large fireball at the little girl.

"Ais! Speak up! Call out to her!!"

Before the pterosaur could unleash its fireball, Riveria had already screamed.

Ais heard the cry as her vision was being burned by the crimson flames that were pressing in on her.

"Say 'Wake up (Tempest)'!"

Then, just before the flames unleashed their full power.

Ais uttered that sound.

"【Awaken! (Tempest)!!"

The next moment.

The "magic" existing within Ais was unleashed.

"!!"

「!?」

A huge explosion occurred.

The roar of "magic" reached Riveria and the pterosaur.

The fireball that hit its target scattered sparks as it revealed the scene.

It revealed the little girl's figure, which was clearly hit directly by the fireball but was spared from being burned to ashes.

"This is……"

Ais, kneeling on the ground, was protected by the "wind".

Attached to her petite body was a flow of air. It was a "wind armor" that was more powerful than anything, more graceful than anything, and more sublime than anything.

It is the "magic" engraved on Ais herself.

It is the protection of the wind that guards lonely girls.

“Ah—”

Seeing the "wind" embracing her and dancing, Ais knew what it was without anyone having to explain it to her.

"It's Mom's... wind."

It was the wind that Aisle always witnessed.

"……Always……"

It was the gentle warmth of her mother that she could always feel back then.

"...You've always...been by my side...!"

It is the "Fairy Spirit Wind" that accompanies you anytime and anywhere.

“──!!”

Power surged forth.

It was a powerful longing that accompanied her tears, so strong it made her tremble all over.

As if echoing Ais, who was encouraging her to stand up, the sound of "wind" gradually grew louder.

"...!?"

Witnessing the raging winds below, the pterosaur clearly showed astonishment and fear.

The wind pressure was strong enough to withstand his own fireball. The "magic" was so powerful that it terrified him, a dragon. Stripped of his royal dignity, the dragon disregarded everything and decided that this time he must burn the little girl to ashes.

It caused the next, extra-large shell to condense in its mouth, emitting a bright red glow.

"call!!"

Ais didn't let this "golden opportunity" slip by.

She unleashed the full power of the "wind force" attached to herself, transforming herself into a fierce storm.

The whirlwind, so powerful that Riveria hurriedly covered her face with her arms, blew away the swaying walls of fire around her and destroyed the crimson barrier that had been imprisoning the little girl.

Then came a rapid drive.

「!?」

Using the powerful acceleration generated by her wind armor, she charged towards the pterosaur.

Ignoring the monster that had lost her, Ais rushed up the surviving tree in one step, kicked the tree in the next step, and flew into the sky.

With the power of the "wind," Ais became a hurricane arrow.

"Ughh ...

The massive breath attack that entered the preparation phase turned out to be a disaster.

Because it must charge up for high-output attacks, the pterosaur cannot leave its original position, nor can it defend, dodge, or counterattack. Everything stems from Ais's judgment in approaching the enemy with a speed beyond the dragon's prediction, and her "wind."

The dragon's eyes were bloodshot with anxiety, and the bright light in its mouth swelled up.

Ais roared repeatedly as she channeled her inner energy into the swords she held in her hands.

My back is burning hot.

His back was on fire.

The black flames blazed fiercely, shouting that they would slay the dragon.

But what's even more intense than these is...

The "wind" that embraced Ais is unleashing its power.

Like protecting a little girl, like tightly embracing one's own child.

It murmured: It will be alright.

As tears streamed down Ais's face, she channeled all her strength into creating a "tornado" on the sword she held high above her head.

"--Roarooooo ...

The distance between the two is reduced to zero.

The breath has finished accumulating power and is about to be released outwards.

Facing the explosive flames that blazed brightly in the sky...

Ais brought the Divine Wind Sword down on her head.

"【Mother's Wind (Wind Spirit Dash)】!!"

Lingchi (death by a thousand cuts)

"────────────────────────Ahhh!?"

As the sword slashed down from the dragon's face, the power of the wind was unleashed.

A massive tornado that came crashing down shredded the mouth and palate together, and the unvented torrent of flames caused a huge explosion.

"Ais!?"

Riveria screamed as she saw the flames bursting overhead.

As the force of the explosion shattered everything, even cracking the ceiling, Riveria leaned out to look and saw the little girl's body piercing through sparks and black smoke, plummeting down the building.

Ais managed to control the "magic" as it landed on the ground while scattering fragments of air currents.

Her body, battered and bruised from the impact, nearly collapsed, but she managed to keep her balance.

When Riveria arrived, Ais's hand seemed to have reached its limit, and she threw the sword to the ground.

However, the "wind" still enveloped the little girl's body.

"Ah, ahh..."

Looking down at her hands, which were being gently caressed by the breeze, Ais hugged the shoulders kissed by the breeze, tears streaming down her face.

She had thought she had nothing left.

I firmly believe that I have always been alone.

They believed they would forever carry the pain and suffering within them.

However, she was wrong.

The aura of "mother"... the bond between myself and her has never been lost.

It wasn't somewhere else; it resided within Ais, always by her side.

The sword at her feet also shone brightly, telling Ais something she didn't know before.

Her father's swordsmanship lives on in Ais's heart.

The mother's "wind" accompanied Ais.

"Ugh... Aa ...

I……

I……

I am never alone.

"Ais..."

Ais let out a suppressed sob and turned her head to look. Riveria stopped in front of her.

Her eyes were constantly conveying what Ais was currently noticing.

He said: You are not alone.

Before the battered and bruised Ais, her emerald eyes, moist with regret, revealed a tenderness that had been hidden until now.

"Ais, I can't be your mother... but I want to stay by your side."

Water droplets dripped from her eyes.

I wish I could love you.

Seeing that her mother's former appearance overlapped with Riveria's, Ais no longer refused this time.

Two hands gently wrapped around Ais's head and back, embracing her tightly.

The warm hands resting on her body brought more tears to Ais's eyes.

She pressed her face against Riveria's stomach, letting out what she thought were tears that had dried up.

"Rivia, Riveria...! I'm so sorry...!"

"Ah, it's okay, it's okay...it's alright..."

The tears that welled up prevented Ais's voice from conveying any apology; Rivera, who had become mute, also smiled through her tears.

Instead, Riveria hugged her even tighter.

Ais opened her throat and began to cry loudly.

On the scorched earth, two figures overlapped.

The little girl's sobs continued, lingering in the elf's ears and stirring her emotions.

The little girl's remaining magic created a gentle breeze that nestled between the two of them.