"Ohhhhhh!!! The crusade was successful!!"
"It was so easy to succeed!"
"And he defeated the monster rex without receiving any damage at all."
Lyra's voice was full of admiration and praise, her tone echoing the collective awe of the team.
At this moment, looking at the monster rex Amphisbaena, once a towering and seemingly insurmountable threat, now lying motionless on the cold ground, bereft of any breath of life—the companions who had been providing rear support to Alise and the others burst into a thunderous cheer.
As Akira, Alise, and the other three slowly stepped up to the front lines and stood before the lifeless body of Amphisbaena, they shared a quiet glance and smiled at each other.
Ryuu followed behind, running with open arms and joining the others in surrounding the victorious five.
One by one, arms stretched out and embraced each other tightly, a circle of warmth and camaraderie, as if they wished to melt into one another. Bright, jubilant smiles adorned everyone's faces.
Alise made no effort to hide her exhilaration. With a wide grin and arms around Akira, she exclaimed at the top of her lungs, "Everyone did a great job this time! Even I, the captain, think you are super handsome!"
"Hahaha, Alise, what kind of compliment is that?"
Iska, although relegated to rear guard duty, couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment at not participating directly in slaying the monster rex. Still, her naturally cheerful and upbeat nature won out, and she laughed lightheartedly, teasing Alise.
Noin, also part of the rear guard alongside Iska, bounced on her heels and shouted with disbelief, "Wow! We actually defeated the monster rex just like that? I still can't believe what my eyes are seeing!"
Her exaggerated reaction, bubbling with excitement, only made her seem more endearing to those around her.
Listening to the waves of enthusiasm, Lyra grumbled with mock annoyance, "Sure enough, with Akira around, the whole expedition becomes too easy."
Despite her words, as the one who had maintained command of the operation—keeping a constant eye on the battlefield and guiding the team to coordinate with Alise—Lyra finally allowed herself to breathe easier.
On the other side, Ryuu approached Kaguya and gently hugged her.
With a relieved smile, she said softly, "Well done, Kaguya. Your swordsmanship is still as impressive as ever."
Kaguya snorted but raised the corners of her lips slightly, replying, "You did well too, Ryuu. That magic still packs a punch."
Meanwhile, Ais, caught in the center of the joyful atmosphere, looked up at Akira with sparkling eyes and tugged gently at the hem of his clothes. Her small, lovely face was filled with innocent anticipation as she stared up at him, eyes wide and glistening.
Sensing her subtle gesture, Akira shifted his body slightly, using his frame to block Alise, who had been affectionately nuzzling against him.
When he looked down at Ais, her expression full of silent yearning, he immediately understood what she wanted. With a gentle smile, Akira extended a hand and softly patted her on the head.
"Ais, you were amazing out there. You used that move so skillfully. When we get back, everyone will be proud of you."
A faint blush bloomed on Ais's cheeks. Her lips curved into a bright, elated smile, and without warning, she threw herself into Akira's arms, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"Oh, you're so sneaky, Ais-chan! I want to hug Akira too!" Noin exclaimed, full of mischief as she joined in.
Before Alise could react, Ryana had already shoved her aside with her hips and flung her arms around Akira triumphantly. "Hehe, first come, first served! Alise, you've been hogging him for long enough. It's my turn now!"
And just like that, a flurry of playful grabbing and shouting erupted around Akira. A melee of hugs and teasing ensued.
Even Ais, caught in the chaos, was eventually pushed out of the fray. She backed away with a look of quiet defeat, though the blush on her face hadn't faded.
Off to the side, Maryuu crouched down beside Ais and offered her a warm smile. "Ais, you're amazing. That move just now was super cool."
Embarrassed by the sudden praise, Ais lowered her head slightly, her face still tinged red.
She tried her best to smile and replied shyly, "T-thank you... Actually, that move was something Akira taught me."
"Haha, I thought so." Maryuu chuckled knowingly. "Akira must really like you."
Ais blinked, a little stunned by the statement, but soon her expression softened into one of calm determination. "Mhm. I really like Akira, too."
Maryuu couldn't help but laugh again. She gently reached up and gave Ais a reassuring pat on the head. "Then you better keep working hard, Ais. Make your bond with him even stronger."
"Hey, what are you doing!?"
The familiar voice caused both Maryuu and Ais to pause and turn. Moments later, both of them were smiling widely.
Just a few steps away, Akira had been hoisted into the air by several companions. With jubilant shouts, they tossed him skyward like a victory banner.
Each time he fell, their hands caught him perfectly before flinging him back up again. Laughter and cheers erupted from all sides.
Watching the joyful scene unfold, Lyra folded her arms, lips curling into a pleased smirk.
"I have to admit, defeating Amphisbaena so easily this time was entirely thanks to Akira."
In years past, even operations that ended with injuries but no deaths were hailed as success stories when facing the 27th Floor's monster rex.
But this time, it had taken only a few minutes. A feat that forced everyone present to reconsider Akira's strength.
"Yeah..." Ryuu murmured, standing beside Lyra.
A touch of quiet frustration lingered in her eyes. "Honestly, even without us, Akira might've handled Amphisbaena all on his own."
Kaguya adjusted her disheveled headdress, her expression uncharacteristically somber. Lips pursed, she added slowly, "Seriously... It's only been a month or two since he received Astraea-sama's blessing, and he's already overtaken all of us. He's really a monster."