This is a tale from the future—a future not so far away.
"It would have been better if I had never met you—Al Cranel."
She deactivated her "Body Separation" magic. Fueled by the power of countless devoured magic stones and absorbed jewels, her body—which had already reached the peak of Level 7—shattered the boundaries of logic. She reached a state equivalent to Level 9, perhaps even ascending beyond that realm to completely overwhelm Al Cranel.
Her beauty, once celebrated under the title of the "White Priestess," had transformed into a hideous distortion of writhing green flesh and mournful wails. She wore a vortex of magic power, stained an abyssal black, like a funereal wedding gown.
This appearance was her truth, her original essence. The power she now gripped rivaled even the Black Beast of the Three Great Quests.
She shed tears of blood, not from the wounds tearing her body apart due to the raging overflow of magic, but from the sheer intensity of her grief. No trace of her former self remained. She had become a Monster.
Yet, despite everything, the radiance of the boy who saved her that day remained etched deep within her heart. Her feelings of sorrow before the one she considered her "Hero" were the only things that stayed unchanged.
So, she wished. She prayed that he would kill her—that Al would end her life. An instinct within told her that dying by his hand was the end she desired. She hoped her departure would leave a crack in his heart that would never heal.
The violent conflict tore through ten full floors of the Tower, ignoring physical boundaries. The Labyrinth walls shattered, and the ceiling disintegrated, revealing the sky of the outside world. Under a star-studded sky, the two stood face to face.
In a single instant, they lunged and collided.
Sword struck sword. With every clash, the earth trembled from the impact. The spirit who had turned into a Monster let out a cry that echoed through the surroundings. It was a scream laden with sincere emotions never heard before, her face etched with despair and eyes overflowing with tears, as if she were pleading with him.
However, Al gazed at her in silent calm. His eyes carried a rock-solid resolve—the determination of one who had decided to move forward.
As he stared at the girl who remained noble and beautiful despite her transformation, he spoke his words. Because he had decided to fight for a wish that could not be compromised, he smiled at his former partner.
"I... am happy that I met you."
●○●○●
Ais was searching for Bell Cranel, Al's younger brother, relying on his description: white hair and crimson eyes. However, the search was not going well.
In Central Park—the path leading to the Tower of Babel—she questioned passing adventurers, but received no helpful leads. Feeling like she was wasting time, Ais realized that heading straight into the Dungeon would be more effective. She sped toward the stairs leading into the depths.
It was natural to start searching the "Upper Floors." Unlike the "Middle Floors," these shallow levels were crowded with low-level adventurers who had yet to develop their abilities. Ais asked adventurers and struck down monsters in her path as she advanced.
"A human with white hair... yes, I think I saw someone like that."
"Really?"
"As I recall, he was with a Supporter on the 8th Floor..."
Upon hearing the information, she thanked the man and dashed off again. She moved through the floors rapidly until she reached the 8th Floor. There too, she found witnesses who had seen him. She continued her descent but tilted her head in confusion. Ais was looking for a novice who had just become an adventurer. A boy with no exceptional physical skills or advanced equipment, someone supposed to be at the bottom of the rankings when she saved him from the Minotaur only twenty days ago.
Ais intended to descend to the 10th Floor, deep within the "Upper Floors." Even Ais, with her extraordinary talent, had not reached this floor alone until six months after receiving her Falna. It was impossible for a boy who was practically an amateur to reach the 10th Floor in just twenty days. Only one explanation remained: he had achieved explosive growth in this short period.
(But, could such a thing really happen?)
It was hard for her to believe, but since witnesses confirmed seeing him, it had to be true. There was no use overthinking it; she just needed to find him. Furthermore, Ais knew only one adventurer capable of such a feat.
"Al's brother..."
Ais hadn't known Al had a younger brother until the banquet held at the Hostess of Fertility after the expedition. Al wasn't the type to talk about himself, and Ais hesitated to pry into other people's affairs due to her own past.
The only thing she knew about Al's family was that his parents—just like hers—had left this world. This gave her a sense of kinship with him. She would be lying if she said she didn't feel a hint of jealousy or the bitterness of betrayal when she discovered that Al, whom she thought was lonely like her, had family.
But the feelings of joy were much stronger. She felt both relief and pity—relief that Al still had family, and pity for Bell, whom Al had left four years ago. Although the weight of losing someone to death—as in Ais's case—differs from an absence, she understood the pain of a young child left behind by their only remaining family member, even if a grandfather had raised him.
In fact, Ais currently felt Al moving away from her in terms of power and skill. Whenever she thought that she might be left alone one day, a pang of sorrow gripped her chest.
It might be one-sided or inappropriate, but Ais felt a strong affinity for Bell Cranel, whom she had only met twice. For that exact reason, she was worried. If Bell was heading toward the 10th Floor, he was throwing himself toward destruction.
Safety lies in building a foundation first, rather than rushing recklessly as she or Al had done in the past. Only then can one stand at the starting line. His failure to realize this meant he was either in a desperate situation or not thinking at all.
(If it's the former, perhaps it's fine, but the latter is extremely dangerous—if Riveria knew what Ais was thinking right now, she would reply: "You're the last person who should be saying that.")
Often, not even a corpse remains of those who die in the Dungeon, leaving no way to search. For this reason, she had to hurry. Ais carried only one sword, but her strength sufficed to annihilate the monsters of these floors without effort. She intended to save the boy, and perhaps...
"..I.. might.. train him.. a little.."
She muttered these words as she struck down the monsters blocking her way, dodging their spraying blood while maintaining her rapid pace.
Ais secretly looked up to Riveria as she provided Lefiya with magic techniques and knowledge, and to Finn as he placed his hopes in Raul as a successor. Yet, Ais had no disciple or novice adventurer to raise. Those outside the Familia were excluded, and Lefiya worked the backlines unlike Ais. As for the novices in the Familia, they trembled in awe of Ais, who combined divine beauty with the ferocity of the strongest warrior; none of them dared to ask for her teaching.
In this regard, if he was Al's brother, he undoubtedly possessed the talent and resolve, and no one would object to teaching a member of another Familia. With these thoughts in her head, Ais couldn't help but take an interest in Bell.
She decided to protect the boy as soon as she found him and dashed forward.
Well, people tended to forget it due to her massive power, but Ais was still a sixteen-year-old girl. Inside, a childish side made her want to play the role of the "Big Sister." Perhaps, at times, she could even teach alongside Al.
"..Joint.. work.."
Loki says that a man and a woman with a good relationship strengthen their bonds and deepen them by doing the same things together. She remembered words she didn't understand, like "They say some people don't cut the cake together these days, but in our case, we definitely will," or "Ais's groom is obviously me," but she ignored them completely.
While thinking about these things, Ais descended to the 10th Floor.
There, a thick mist as white as sheep's milk covered the area. This mist is one of the maze's traps on the 10th Floor, where even adventurers with enhanced vision thanks to their Falna find it difficult to see what lies ahead. It requires significantly enhancing one's Status to sharpen the five senses and adapt to this foggy vision; otherwise, an adventurer falls victim to a surprise attack without sensing the monsters' approach. Although adaptation is necessary for fighting in the Labyrinth, caution remains a duty, as countless monsters pounce from the walls and ceilings amidst this mist.
They are known as "Evil Bats."
These bat-like monsters can perceive their surroundings without relying on sight and possess high flight capabilities—a rarity in the Upper Floors. Their combat abilities are not extraordinary; in normal conditions, Imps would be more troublesome.
However, the situation changes entirely within this thick fog. They do not rely on sight but blend with the mist and pounce on their prey. Once they attack, there is no way to escape their sharp fangs. The worst part is their release of strange sound waves that shatter the hearing of anyone in range, leading the victim to lose balance and scattering their senses, making them an easy meal.
This is the 10th Floor, a dangerous place where even combat-hardened adventurers can die in the blink of an eye.
Now, a golden shadow cut through this dangerous place like a gust of wind. It was none other than Ais, roaming through the mist in every direction. The thick fog and annoying flying monsters posed no obstacle to her as a first-tier adventurer.
"Is someone fighting?"
As she ran, her hearing—enhanced by her Status—picked up the sounds of combat. Based on the sound and presence, there were more than twenty monsters. Considering the floor's depth, any Level 1 novice would be crushed without a chance to resist. Yet, the sounds of battle suggested the other party was still resisting despite the overwhelming numbers.
Ais increased her speed and headed toward the source of the sound. Because of the mist, the view was not clear, but as she approached, figures began to appear gradually. She saw a boy fighting alone against more than ten monsters. He looked thirteen or fourteen years old, with childish features, white hair, and red eyes that matched Al's description. Anxiety was clear on his face.
But she didn't think of intervening immediately.
"Firebolt!!"
He released a rapid attack magic unmatched except by Al, though its power was much lower. He was using a knife capable of tearing through thick Orc skin easily thanks to a "Power" attribute. He possessed "Endurance" that made him unaffected by small Imp attacks, and "Dexterity" enabling him to dodge all attacks with extreme precision. All these traits made him completely different from what he was twenty days ago; he must have gone through a genuine hell to reach this level.
It seems this boy continued fighting to the point where he could move in this mist without problems. His "Agility" was most prominent, as if he possessed a special skill giving him speed equivalent to Level 2 despite being Level 1. Seeing him toy with heavy Orc monsters and finish them off one by one gave Ais a strong sense of déjà vu.
This style... it resembles... not Al. It resembles Bete Loga, one of the leaders of the Loki Familia and Ais's colleague.
(Why? Mr. Bete?)
This question was the first thing that crossed her mind. If it were a slight resemblance, she wouldn't have cared, but the "Dual Blades," the "Speed Style," the "Silver Leg Guards," and even the "Kicking Techniques" he used occasionally—all reminded her of the "Ferocious Wolf." In fact, they were identical.
The boy looked like a carbon copy of Bete's fighting style. She didn't understand why; it went beyond mere coincidence. Even if the boy admired Bete and imitated him, the style was too refined, suggesting actual training. It wasn't blind imitation; the fingerprints of guidance and instruction were perfectly clear.
Then she remembered a rumor that Bete had taken a disciple. In the Loki Familia, everyone mocked the rumor as an unrealistic lie. Even Ais herself hadn't believed it. But if it were true...?
(What is this? This isn't fair!)
(Even though he scolded him at the pub? And even though I knew him first?)
These questions and the fires of jealousy swirled in Ais's heart.
"The Thieving Wolf."
She muttered these words, which—had the Bete currently sitting in a pub heard them—would have made him choke on his drink. Then she refocused on the boy's battle. The situation was not promising; although his agility surpassed ordinary adventurers, he was still Level 1.
The boy appeared rushed, causing him to take several hits from monsters he could have defeated calmly. Perhaps there was a reason behind his haste. While he would likely win in the end, this recklessness might hinder his ultimate goal.
"Fff ──"
With a lightning-fast dash that monsters of the Upper Floors couldn't even perceive, Ais lunged forward, her beautiful golden hair fluttering behind her as she entered the battlefield.
Bell didn't realize what happened. Suddenly, the intruder appeared. He was stunned and stopped moving for a moment. The monsters seized this gap and pounced on him mercilessly, but their attacks never reached him.
Because a golden flash had sliced through them all in the blink of an eye. From behind the distracted Bell came the steady, beautiful voice of a girl—a voice he felt he had heard somewhere. When he turned, he saw an incredibly beautiful girl.
Bright golden hair, almond-shaped eyes, and a delicate nose, with translucent white skin and crimson lips. Her beauty was the embodiment of perfection, to the point that in this difficult situation, he could only catch his breath at her elegance.
"─────"
Her thin lips moved. But Bell's heartbeat was so loud he didn't hear her words, and her moving mouth appeared silent to him.
It was her, the owner of the golden sword Bell aspired to reach. The "Sword Princess" known to every adventurer, and the Level 6 adventurer, Ais Wallenstein.
Ais stood before the monsters as if protecting Bell. Dozens of monsters lunged at her, and in the next moment, the unbelievable happened.
Ais brandished her rapier as if performing a dance, annihilating all the monsters in the blink of an eye. Bell was stunned by this sight; those monsters he had struggled against fell before her without the slightest effort. What kind of power enabled her to do that?
No, now is not the time for shock. I have to go to Lili!! Bell wanted to thank Ais calmly, but the situation was urgent. He muttered a quick thanks and apologized before dashing away.
"He's gone.."
Ais muttered these words. In truth, half of her day was almost wasted. She started with a fruitless search in the Upper Floors, then discovered the boy she came to save already had the ability to clear the 10th Floor. And the position of "Mentor" she had hoped for had been snatched by the "Thieving Wolf."
"..Let's return."
She tried to comfort herself with the fact that she had lightened the boy's burden. She no longer had the desire to go deeper and prepared to return to the Upper Floors──
(Is someone watching me?)
She felt someone's gaze. It wasn't the gaze of a monster, but one indicating human intelligence, coming from the mist where no one was supposed to be.
"── Who's there?"
She drew her sword again and took a combat stance. That presence moved, and when Ais looked, she saw someone wrapping their entire body in a light-proof black cloak.
"..So I've been discovered. I applaud your alertness."
"What do you want from me?"
"Yes, that's right. But before I tell you my purpose, please lower your sword. I have no intention of harming you."
Indeed, Ais felt no hostile intent. Nevertheless, she didn't drop her guard, but she lowered her sword slightly and asked.
"..Who are you?"
"I am merely a mage of no consequence. Perhaps you would recognize me if I said I am the one who previously contacted Lulune Louie."
"Ais Wallenstein.. I want to entrust you with an Adventurer's quest."
The words hit Ais's ears suddenly, and she caught her breath.
"There is a monster outbreak and an abnormal situation occurring on the 24th and 32nd Floors. I want you to investigate the 24th Floor and bring the situation there under control."
"We have an idea about the cause. Likely, it is located at the deepest point of the floor.. the Food Pantry."
His facial features were not clear behind the hood, but his tone reflected extreme seriousness. As Ais listened in silence, considering a question, the mage spoke first.
"In fact, a very similar phenomenon occurred on the 30th Floor—the place where we previously sent Hashana."
"─────!!"
"There is a high probability of a connection between the person who attacked Rivera and those famous Jewels."
"── And by the way, the 32nd Floor is where the Sword Saint you know well is currently heading."
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