Danmachi: A Despicable Stranger

Chapter 84: Ais's Troubles

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The bright moon gradually disappeared, and the sun began to rise, dyeing the corner of the night sky red. A new day was beginning.

Following her natural rhythm, Ais woke up before dawn, guided by her internal clock.

Her mind still felt a little foggy, but after years of early rising, Ais was used to this sensation.

She raised a hand to cover her lips as her tempting mouth opened slightly, her slender back straightening while her golden eyes narrowed.

A soft yawn escaped her, delicate tears forming at the corners of her eyes, gradually clearing her thoughts.

Almost subconsciously, she placed her hands on her arms, rubbing gently before pinching them lightly.

"Hmm… it doesn't hurt anymore."

The girl began checking her physical condition.

Ever since Izzy began using magic to assist with her training, waking up with sore, uncooperative muscles had become part of Ais's daily life.

In the first few days of adapting to Izzy's magic, her legs felt so weak each morning that even standing had been a struggle.

But it was much better now. After a good night's sleep, the muscle soreness eased significantly.

Thanks to this, Ais's sleep quality had greatly improved recently. She fell asleep quickly and stayed soundly asleep until the morning.

Her stats were also improving at an unprecedented pace.

For the first time, Ais believed she had a real chance of raising her abilities to the elusive S-rank.

And it was all thanks to Izzy.

Recalling the younger member of the familia who had grown stronger so rapidly, Ais lowered her gaze thoughtfully as she started to change her clothes.

She swapped out her pure white, one-piece nightwear for her usual black-and-white combat attire, a form-fitting dress paired with tights.

Headquarters Atrium

The sound of a blade slicing through the air echoed faintly.

The subtle whistle of the wind reacting after the blade moved revealed its speed and precision. Even the shadowy arcs created by a simple wooden sword blurred faintly in the dim morning air.

Before the sun fully emerged, Ais was already in the atrium, immersed in her daily routine of sword practice.

Nobody had instructed her to train this morning—it was entirely her own decision.

To hone her swordsmanship to perfection, Ais practiced tirelessly, day after day, skipping only when absolutely necessary.

Though the results of these sessions couldn't compare to the progress made in the dungeon, Ais never allowed herself to slack off.

In truth, she didn't even want to slack off.

Like so many others, Ais feared stagnation. To her, the inability to move forward was far more terrifying than exhaustion or pain.

Even with her path forward now clearer than ever, the daily ritual of sword practice had become deeply ingrained.

Vertical slashes, horizontal cuts, diagonal strokes—her blade moved fluidly, correcting the tiny imperfections that crept into her technique.

In a quiet corner of the grassy atrium, she swung her wooden sword in deliberate, precise arcs, each motion a faint melody in the crisp morning air.

"If only Izzy were here to help…"

If she could train under Izzy's magic right now, her progress would undoubtedly be even greater.

But Izzy had strict rules about the use of his magic. For the sake of everyone's well-being, he limited each person's magic-enhanced training to just four hours per day.

Any longer, and the risk to their health would outweigh the benefits.

The familia's Big Three and even Loki had agreed with Izzy's approach.

Wanting to grow stronger was admirable, but sacrificing one's body in the process would be counterproductive.

The girl, lost in her insatiable thoughts, swung the wooden sword even faster.

"But we can't keep doing this forever…"

"To repay…"

In Ais's mind, the act of giving and receiving had to be balanced.

She couldn't just be the one benefiting from Izzy's help—she needed to give something back to him as well.

It seemed Finn provided Izzy with a "salary" every month, but Ais felt that was Finn's gesture, not hers.

This left her fretting over how she could personally repay Izzy's kindness.

Distracted by these thoughts, Ais relied on her instincts to guide her movements as she continued swinging the wooden sword.

Time passed, and the red hues of the sunrise painted the eastern sky of the city.

Suddenly, Ais gripped the hilt of the sword tightly, her arm swinging upward with force. The sharp sound of the blade cutting through the air echoed, accompanied by a gust of wind sweeping through the courtyard.

With that, her morning practice came to an end.

Rather than heading straight back to the Twilight Manor to wash off her sweat, she wiped herself down with a towel, put the wooden sword away, and sat on a bench under the shade of a tree.

In the tranquil space adorned with a few trees and well-maintained grass, Ais's golden eyes lingered on the flourishing flowers planted with care by the familia members.

"Maybe I could give him flowers?"

No, that wouldn't work. Boys typically didn't seem to care much for flowers, and besides, these flowers had been carefully nurtured by everyone. She couldn't just take them.

"Red bean cream-flavored fried potato balls?"

That idea felt insincere. They only cost thirty Valis, after all, and the help Ize had given her was worth far more than that.

Perhaps adventurer's gear? But Finn had mentioned that the silver-gray spear Izzy already owned would suffice for years to come.

Ais had even considered armor, but Izzy seemed to possess rare and potent defensive magic, making armor unnecessary.

Completely tangled in her thoughts, Ais found herself at a loss.

In her mind's eye, a smaller version of herself curled up into a ball, hugging her knees, her lips in a pout and an expression of obvious frustration on her face.

"What should I do…?"

At that moment, near the garden entrance leading from the Twilight Manor, an elven woman of ethereal beauty appeared. Her sharp gaze immediately landed on Ais, who was sitting dazedly on the bench.

With the air of a parent concerned for their child, the elf woman approached her.

"Ais," she called softly.

"Riveria…"

Hearing her name, Ais raised her head, meeting Riveria's gentle gaze briefly before her golden eyes drifted back to the lawn in front of her.

Riveria tilted her head slightly, her years of being the familia's "mama-san" allowing her to recognize the signs of a struggle with ease.

"What's wrong? What's bothering you?"

"…," Ais's eyes shifted hesitantly, but it didn't take long for her to decide.

Riveria was perhaps the person closest to her, and maybe asking for her advice would yield a good idea.

With that thought, Ais slowly began to explain her troubles, her words coming out hesitantly.

"For Ize…"

"Mm-hmm."

"I want to repay him…"

Riveria listened patiently as Ais shared her thoughts, her voice soft and sincere. Gradually, she pieced together the situation.

Ais wanted to express her gratitude to Izzy for helping her grow stronger but was completely unsure how to go about it.

"…Pfft…"

Understanding the full picture, Riveria turned her head slightly and let out a quiet chuckle, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

"!!"

Ais, sharp-eyed as ever, caught the amused reaction immediately. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she puffed them out in protest.

Ais stretched out her hands and playfully dropped her small fists on Riveria, as if acting coquettishly. This finally broke Mama-san's composure, and she couldn't hold back her laughter.

"I'm getting so tangled up in this…"

Ais's frustration was akin to that of a child who sees candies scattered all over the floor but is only allowed to take one—and cries because of the "unfairness" of it all.

"Okay, okay, Ais~ I have a way to help you. Stop fighting me…"

Though it was enjoyable to share this lighthearted moment with Ais, Riveria hadn't forgotten the girl's genuine worry. Knowing when to quit while ahead, she decided to shift gears.

Sure enough, upon hearing those words, Ais immediately stopped, lowering her fists and looking at Riveria with anticipation, her golden eyes gleaming with curiosity.

With a gentle smile, Mama-san leaned closer to Ais's ear and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, shared a suggestion.

It was a simple but clever idea, one that Ais might never have considered on her own.

Perhaps Loki would be furious if she found out about this plan—but what did that matter to Riveria?