After experiencing the attack from Evilus, everyone in the Astraea Familia returned to their normal lives. Those who needed to train trained, and those who needed to explore the Dungeon went to explore the Dungeon.
Under such circumstances, there was one person in the Familia who wasn't very happy.
Ais!
Elise had once instructed Ais: don't hesitate during battle. Whatever questions you have, wait until after the fight to deal with them.
Ais had indeed followed Elise's words, treating battle seriously and without hesitation. However, now that the battle had been over for so long, the confusion in Ais' heart had fully surfaced.
After returning to the Familia, Ais' expression had clearly grown downcast. Anyone with eyes could tell something was wrong with her.
However...
"Is something bothering you, Ais?"
Whenever someone asked her, little Ais would always shake her head, denying it.
There was nothing to be done about that. If she didn't want to talk, no one could force her.
Seeing Ais like this, the members all revealed helpless expressions. Although Ais treated them as companions and would normally communicate well, when it came to important matters, she rarely spoke up—and she likely couldn't express it clearly anyway.
Only when she was alone with Elise would she reveal her true feelings. After all, in Ais' eyes, Elise played the role of a mother.
Some things couldn't be said to companions, but could be said to a mother.
As for why?
Because she's your mom!
That reason alone was enough.
Until Elise arrived, Ais remained in a gloomy mood.
"What's wrong, little cutie?"
Elise came to Ais' side and gently placed her hand on the girl's head.
"Mm..."
With that touch, the gloom on Ais' face immediately dissipated quite a bit. She turned to look at Elise at once.
"Elise!"
The moment that golden figure entered her sight, Ais opened her arms and rushed forward to hug her.
"Elise!"
Ais buried her little head into Elise's ample chest, repeatedly calling her name.
Because they were so close, Elise could even feel Ais' body trembling. What exactly had she been overthinking?
"What happened, Ais?"
"If something's bothering you, you can say it. Everyone can help think of a solution together."
Under Elise's soothing, Ais gradually calmed down, though she still remained curled up in Elise's arms.
Ais was only a little over six years old. She was still a child, so such behavior was completely natural. If it were a man instead, Elise would never be this close.
She would engage in some intimate gestures with women, but that was just playful. She had no intention of pursuing that kind of relationship, nor of marrying anyone.
"Elise... that thing... was it really a spirit?"
After a long while, Ais finally asked such a strange question.
Logically speaking, the moment Ais saw the corrupted spirit, she should have sensed the connection of shared blood. So why would she ask this?
Looking into Ais' eyes, Elise formed a guess... was she afraid?
"Ais, that thing felt very similar to you. There's no doubt—it was a spirit."
Hearing Elise's answer, Ais looked as though she had been struck by lightning. Her little face filled with terror.
"Does that mean... I'll become like that in the future...?"
Ais unconsciously took a step back, her eyes gradually moistening.
At that moment, Elise understood what Ais was worried about.
If that grotesque being was a spirit, then would Ais—who also possessed spirit blood—one day become that horrifying form?
That was her fear.
How did I forget this?
Seeing Ais retreat step by step, Elise finally reacted and quickly rushed forward to pull her into an embrace.
"Listen to me first, Ais."
"That thing was indeed a spirit—but it was a fallen spirit. It's already completely different from what a true spirit should be."
From both the main story and side stories, the difference between fallen spirits and true spirits was enormous. While some people claimed they could still accept their appearance, those were a minority.
Most people simply couldn't accept such a monstrosity.
"A fallen... spirit?"
After hearing Elise's explanation, Ais' expression improved slightly. Seeing something so similar to her own bloodline for the first time had truly frightened her.
"So... I won't turn into a monster?"
"You won't hate me, Elise?"
"You're so adorable, Ais. How could you ever turn into a monster? I like you too much for that."
Spirits were an extremely rare race. Aside from Ais, it was hard to find any others.
They were the subject of countless legends, referred to by the people of the lower world as "the children most beloved by the gods" or even "avatars of the gods."
In a sense, spirits were the race closest to the gods in this world. How could they possibly be associated with monsters?
That was why the existence of fallen spirits had shaken Ais' already fragile heart to its core.
As long as things were properly explained, any problem could be resolved.
Elise disliked people who spoke in riddles—especially in stories, where characters would always say half of what they meant, leading to endless misunderstandings. But...
There was a reason riddles existed.
Some truths were so shocking that they simply couldn't be told casually.
Hating riddlers, understanding riddlers, becoming a riddler.
But for small matters like this, there was no need to hide anything.
"So Ais, you'll definitely grow up to be a great beauty in the future. There's no way you'll turn into that green thing."
"I promise you."
Hearing Elise's words, Ais finally relaxed completely.
"I believe you, Elise..."
Perhaps she was simply tired. Before long, Ais fell asleep in Elise's arms, her breathing gradually becoming steady.
Click—
At that moment, the door to the room opened, and a goddess with hazel hair walked in from outside.
"Has Ais' problem been resolved?"
Astraea walked over to Elise and looked at the sleeping little girl in her arms.
Ais had refused to reveal the truth to anyone except Elise, which had been quite troublesome. In the entire Familia, only Elise could make her listen.
"Yes. She was just worried about whether she would become like that... after receiving a definite answer, she fell asleep."
"I see..." Astraea let out a sigh. "It's been hard on her. She's so young, yet she has to bear so much. We gods bear a great deal of responsibility as well."
"That's not true, Lady Astraea. Compared to those gods who only chase after pleasure, you've already done very well."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Then, Astraea's expression grew slightly more serious.
"Elise, can you tell me what happened in the Dungeon this time? The appearance of a fallen spirit shouldn't be a coincidence. We need to conduct a more thorough investigation."
"Mm!"
...
At the same time, another golden figure wore a similarly troubled expression.
"Everyone is so strong... can I really catch up to them?"
Within the Astraea Familia, the one who felt the least like a senior member was Ryuu.
She had originally been the second person to join the Familia, with only Ais joining after her.
But after just one expedition, Ais had already displayed astonishing combat talent. Even at Level 1, she had been able to contribute in the battle against Amphisbaena.
Unlike Ryuu—despite having reached Level 2, she could only play a supporting role in combat.
"Looking at it this way... I'm the weakest in the Familia, aren't I?"
That was why, during this break after the expedition, Ryuu decided to go out for a walk.
"Sigh!"
"Sigh!"
Hm? Where did that come from?
Just as Ryuu sighed, she noticed something strange—there seemed to be another sigh nearby, just like hers.
She turned toward the direction of the other sigh, and what entered her view was a striking shade of bright blue.
"Hi there!"
"Successfully discovered a melancholic beauty! If I can help resolve her worries, maybe I'll win her heart!"
The blue-haired beauty wore a radiant smile. Ryuu found it hard to believe that the earlier sigh had come from her.
"Um... may I ask what you want?"
Ryuu remained cautious toward strangers—until she noticed the emblem on the other party.
"Oh, you noticed?" The blue-haired girl flashed her white teeth. "I'm a member of the Ganesha Familia, the ultimate blue-themed beauty bearing the title 'Hymn of the Elephant God'—Adi Varma!"
That way of speaking...
It felt strangely similar to Alise?
Ryuu instinctively took a step back, not fully trusting the person before her.
"That's a lie!"
"The Ganesha Familia is an ally of our Astraea Familia, but I've never seen you before! And I've never heard of that title, 'Hymn of the Elephant God'!"
"Ah, that is a bit of a problem."
Ryuu's words made perfect sense, and Adi's tone immediately deflated.
"I only just reached Level 2 recently, and the Denatus has just concluded, so my title hasn't been made public yet."
"But in a couple of days, you'll definitely hear my name throughout the city!"
"Even if you don't know me, I know you—Ryuu Lion of the Astraea Familia, the Gale!"
"Hmm... I think I'll just call you Lion!"
This overly familiar attitude gave Ryuu a headache. Whether it was Alise or this self-proclaimed Adi, she really struggled with people like them.
"Don't just call me by name so casually. We're not that close, are we?"
"No!"
To Ryuu's surprise, Adi directly refuted her.
"We'll have plenty of interaction from now on! I, Adi, have been assigned a special position by the captain of the Ganesha Familia, Shakti Varma, specifically to handle communication with the Astraea Familia!"
"Eh?"
The sudden news left Ryuu stunned.
"If you still don't believe me, I can take you to the Ganesha Familia to confirm!"
The Ganesha Familia was one of Orario's four major Familias. Communication with them was very important.
"Then let's go together."
Ryuu decided to go with her to verify her identity and avoid any potential trouble in the future.
"Hehe! Then let's go, Lion!"
Adi grabbed Ryuu's hand and ran toward the direction of the Ganesha Familia.
Under normal circumstances, Ryuu would have shaken her hand off immediately—she had a very serious aversion to physical contact.
But this time, she stared blankly at the hand Adi was holding.
For some reason...
Being touched by Adi didn't bring that usual sense of disgust. Maybe Adi Varma really was a good person?
Of course, that was only what Ryuu thought at the time. The future might prove otherwise.
At the entrance of the Ganesha Familia.
"See? I told you!"
Standing before Ryuu, Adi proudly puffed out her chest.
After receiving confirmation from the Ganesha Familia members, Ryuu finally believed Adi's identity.
Alise would probably be very happy. After all, Adi's cheerful personality would surely get along well with her.
"Alright, I believe you, Adi. But..." Ryuu took half a step back nervously. "Aren't you standing a bit too close?"
"Hehe, what's the problem? We're both girls, aren't we? What's wrong with being a little close?"
"We're in public!"
Seeing Ryuu's embarrassment, Adi laughed even more happily. She enjoyed teasing others, and meeting someone as serious as Ryuu made it hard for her to hold back.
"That's enough! You there!"
At that moment, a familiar and stern voice came from the side. Ryuu turned her head—and as expected, it was her.
Alise!
Help me!
A hint of shyness appeared in Ryuu's eyes. What she didn't realize was that Alise, upon seeing this scene, also lost her composure.
"You've gone too far, Adi!"
Exactly!
Ryuu quickly broke free from Adi's embrace and moved to Alise's side.
"How could you do something like this to Ryuu?"
Exactly!
Ryuu nodded vigorously in agreement.
Adi scratched her head, looking a bit embarrassed.
"The only one who can easily hold Ryuu's hand is upright and honest me!"
"In other words, the only one who can casually hug Lion and take in her flower-like fragrance is also me! Lion's first time belongs to me!"
Exactly—
Ryuu: ???
She froze instantly, her agreement cut short.
"That's not right, Alise! Even if you were Lion's first, that's just a matter of order! My feelings for Ryuu are sincere!"
Alise stepped in front of Adi. The two of them stood face to face. For a moment, Ryuu felt as though she could see the aura of sworn rivals between them.
"Stop it! What are you two doing? Don't say things like that out in the street!"
But...
"In the end, shouldn't this kind of thing be decided by the person herself?"
"You're absolutely right!"
For some reason, the two who had been at odds instantly became harmonious, leaving Ryuu completely bewildered.
"So, Ryuu..."
"We're here! Lion!"
The red and blue beauties simultaneously pulled Ryuu into an embrace, and the golden elf's face instantly turned bright red.
"Stop it!"
"What are you doing?!"
Just like that, Ryuu's worries were completely swept away by the two of them.
However, judging by her expression...
It seemed she might have gained a new kind of trouble instead.