The Ais who appeared before the boy was the real Ais.
At this moment.
If someone were to enter Isagi's room, they would see snowflakes drifting through the open window into the warm interior, turning into faint water stains on the long table before the sill.
Amidst the fluttering curtains.
The golden-haired girl was lying straight on top of the boy. As for why it turned out this way, time must be rewound a little to shortly before—
After returning from the Dungeon, Ais was extremely satisfied with the gains from this adventure.
Ability Scores: Massive increase!
[Excelia]: Massive increase!
The girl clearly felt that she only needed to continue step-by-step like this, and reaching Level 6, or even higher levels, would just be a matter of time. Moreover, it would obviously be 'very, very fast'—even faster than her previous leveling speed!
Adventuring with Isagi—or rather, just being inside the Dungeon that had changed under the boy's influence—truly allowed for faster and greater improvements than before.
Tione and Bete were proof of this!
The Amazon girl's twin sister had already upgraded to Level 4, while Bete and Alicia had reached the point where they could upgrade to Level 5 at any time, lacking only [Excelia]. The High Elf older sister was even closer; one could say she was just one step away!
This was all because of their adventures fighting Monsters everywhere in the [Goblin Kingdom] over the past few months.
It was just that they hadn't encountered the 'BOSS' Isagi mentioned, so they hadn't gained much [Excelia]. Also, the consumption of 'Elixirs' was too high. This led to Bete and the others having to go into the Dungeon from time to time to earn money for supplies before they could continue adventuring in the [Goblin Kingdom].
Recently, it had been exactly like that. Ais remembered that quite a while ago, Bete and the others had run off to the Great Fall area on the 27th Floor to earn money. That was why they didn't tag along for her adventure with Isagi last time.
The long night dragged on.
The golden-haired girl stood alone before the window in her room. While watching the heavy snow flutter down, she seemed to be trying to locate the Astrea Familia station hidden deep in the streets across the long avenue.
Theoretically speaking, Ais's room should have been able to see the [Stellar Garden].
But perhaps because the Goddess of Justice's Familia station was only two stories high, it was always obscured by the rising and falling bustling high-rises of the first district.
The girl blinked her eyes.
If it were before, she definitely would have kept a straight face, run over to drag Isagi out, and immediately returned to the Dungeon to adventure.
To become stronger.
Not to become stronger than anyone else, but because she had to become strong enough to fight against the 'Darkness' that blotted out the sky—
The [One-Eyed Dragon].
Ais was born with an intensely strong hatred for dragons. Even though she didn't remember her parents' faces very well in her memories, it was as if it were carved into the depths of her soul; the girl was naturally driven almost solely by this one conviction.
For this reason.
The once-young girl, tireless and reckless, had ignored all dissuasion and plunged headfirst into the Dungeon, getting herself covered in cuts and bruises. It was only after being taught a lesson many times that Ais finally understood: even the sharpest sword needs time for rest and maintenance.
Combat is necessary. Therefore, maintaining sufficient energy before combat is an even more indispensable matter.
Now was rest time.
However...
It shouldn't be a problem to go disturb the boy a little. After all, she wasn't going to drag him into training, but rather—
[Chat].
Ais didn't usually talk much. aside from the girl's natural airheaded personality, it was mainly because she didn't know what to talk about. But being with Isagi was different.
Recently, the boy often spoke to her about 'combat,' exchanging ideas on sword skills, pointing out issues in her fighting style, discussing whether switching to a heavier, larger weapon would be better, and so on. This naturally touched upon Ais's interests!
Although in her memories, it was mostly the boy talking while she occasionally replied with a sentence or two, for some reason, Ais really enjoyed this kind of '[Chat]' with him.
Then, let's set off!
She climbed directly out of the window, landing swiftly in the thick snow of the garden. Then she vaulted over the wall, crossed the bustling North Main Street, and skillfully headed towards the depths of the alleyways.
Before long.
Ais silently—using the speed of a Level 5 adventurer and her unique flight ability—appeared outside the window of Isagi's room.
The golden-haired girl peered inside very skillfully, spotting the figure of the boy already asleep in his bed.
Wu—
Even more skillfully, she quietly opened the window and entered the room.
Ais had originally intended to look for Tiona and the others, and incidentally wait for Isagi to wake up so they could chat and kill time together. But it wasn't until she entered the room that she remembered the Amazon girls had gone to the Dungeon to subjugate the Goliath.
Lefiya, Cecil, and Ryuu were all gone as well.
In that case.
Thinking that she wasn't very familiar with Goddess Astrea, Ais decided to pull up a chair and sit by the bed to wait for Isagi to wake up. After all, it was a bit cold outside, and warming herself by the fire in the room was actually quite comfortable.
But just as the girl brought a small stool to the bedside.
For some reason.
Ais noticed the pitch-black ring on the boy's hand.
Then—
"And then you arrived here?"
"Yeah!"
"..."
What the hell. Isagi thought.
Is this [Dark Hall] actually a public area? I can bring other people in? What's the purpose?
No! That's not the main point!!
The main point is, why did you run into my room in the middle of the night?!
Isagi rubbed his temples.
Looking at Ais's calm, pretty face that seemed completely unaware that anything was wrong, he wondered if the girl's natural airheadedness had reached some kind of extreme.
Or perhaps... the Ais before him was just a figment of his dream?
No, no, no...
He couldn't possibly imagine something as outrageous as a beautiful girl climbing through his window in the middle of the night.
So, the Ais before him was definitely real!
Deciding to put that matter aside for the moment, Isagi beckoned to the girl, and the two decided to first see exactly what was in this [Dark Hall].
Following several paths extending from the main hall.
The two soon arrived in a room that looked like a study. On the shelves, which appeared to be from a bygone era, sat one thick book after another. Most were blank, but some contained records of Monsters he had encountered before, just like an encyclopedia.
From Goblins to Kobolds, as well as the 'BOSSes' encountered, and the Golden Miracles, and so on; there was even the plot of the [Goblin Kingdom].
It was Ais's first time seeing these. Although she had heard Tiona talk about it before, the silly Amazon girl's ability to express herself was really somewhat 'abstract'—to the point where one couldn't understand her at all.
But now.
Watching the rise and fall of the [Goblin Kingdom], the girl felt as if she were reading some epic masterpiece.
Isagi wasn't surprised by this. This was just a place for 'Story Recap' and 'Collection Encyclopedia,' wasn't it?
Subsequently.
The two came to a small room. It looked like a bedroom, except the place where the bed should have been was replaced by a pool shrouded in mist.
Isagi thought, This is probably where Ma stays? But why a pool instead of a bed? Does the girl like to take baths?
Next were two locked rooms that couldn't be opened, and after passing through a long, wide corridor, a castle gate towered before them.
This gate, however, could be opened.
Isagi wondered if pushing it open would allow him to leave the [Dark Hall] and wake up from the dream?
The result...
After the great gate slowly opened.
What reflected in his eyes was an incomparably brilliant 'Starry Sky.'
Behind the door was a short section of cliff platform. Walking forward, one could see a massive space so vast its boundaries were completely unknown.
[It was even a bit like the universe.]
Because in every direction, amidst the pitch-black curtain, bright stars twinkled, to the point where it felt surreal.
And beyond the cliff, amidst this boundless sea of stars.
A continent floating in mid-air sat quietly before their eyes.
"?"
What is this for?
Isagi was incredibly confused. On the other hand, Ais seemed to sense something.
The girl lightly took just one step forward.
A large black bird flew from out of nowhere, grabbed her in one swoop, and flew towards the floating continent in the distance.
"?!!"
Isagi discovered that he had also started flying.
Except, unlike Ais, he wasn't grabbed by a bird. Instead, he simply flew up directly, able to move freely 'up, down, left, and right' in this starry space.
It was as if he had become a 'God.'
Isagi watched as the girl was carried by the pitch-black bird to the sky above that floating continent and then dropped directly.
It was only at this moment.
That this incomparably vast continent, pieced together from several floating 'fragments,' gradually revealed itself completely before their eyes.
The first thing Isagi saw was a pitch-black tree, resembling a Golden Tree, located in its center.
But the first thing Ais saw.
Was the Dark Site of Grace not far away after landing, and a Monster that suddenly appeared from nowhere, attacking her.
"?!"
The girl dodged its sword edge almost by instinct.
Looking back.
She saw a Golden Chicken Knight, head held high and chest out, shining brilliantly under the starry night, wielding a golden longsword.
[Golden Miracle · Jack Bird].
Huh?
Why would a Monster the boy once defeated appear here?!
Ais was greatly shocked.
But soon, it turned into excitement. Because if this was the case, didn't it mean she could fight it here?!
This was too great...
Wait! No!
Ais suddenly realized the problem: she didn't have a weapon in her hand right now!
How am I supposed to fight this?
I can't fight at all—
Late at night.
Astrea hadn't slept; she was alone at home waiting for the arrival of a 'guest.'
It was Goddess Demeter who was coming.
The beautiful matron had agreed to come over specifically tonight to learn how to make 'Little Burgers' with Isagi.
It was related to the hamburger shop mentioned before! Since the boy had come up with quite a few 'specialty products' when selling potato snacks, which sold quite hotly, naturally, they had to be put on the menu once the hamburger shop started operating.
Thus.
Using the excuse of "Mama doesn't have anything to do in the winter anyway, so I'll come help," Demeter decided to run the hamburger shop together this winter. Naturally, she had to learn how to make various specialty dishes from Isagi.
The Goddess was absolutely just 'making excuses'!
Astrea understood!!
This was just Goddess Demeter finding a reason to get close to Isagi. She had even used this excuse before, wanting the boy to go to her farm outside the city so the two of them could 'make delicious dishes' together in a warm room amidst the snowy fields.
Just thinking about that scene felt very improper!
Astrea felt she wasn't overthinking it; placing the boy in that kind of environment was indeed very 'dangerous'!!
So, she made Demeter come to her Familia's place instead of letting Isagi go over there.
Start the defense!
The Goddess of Justice had it all planned out. Next was her defensive battle as a Goddess!!
But what Astrea absolutely hadn't expected was...
"Demeter, Isagi is sleeping, so it's better not to wake him up."
Saying so, she pushed open the door to the boy's room.
Astrea originally wanted to prove to the beautiful matron Goddess that the boy had already fallen asleep and tonight was not the time to learn 'Little Burger production.'
The result.
She saw the figures on the bed lying completely together—no, the figure of the boy being pressed underneath the girl.
For the first time since descending to the Lower World, Astrea's brain fell into a state of 'crash.' Meanwhile, on the other side, Demeter revealed a look that was quite worth savoring...
____
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