Ais slowly stood up, smoothing out her slightly disheveled clothes, but her golden eyes remained fixed on Ryota's face.
Only after the crimson three-tomoe slowly faded away, returning his eyes to their normal calm black, did she softly say:
With that, she turned and left without looking back.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Standing at the doorway was Lefiya, cheeks puffed up angrily. Her usually gentle and shy little face now resembled a pufferfish inflated with indignation.
Ryota scratched his head awkwardly and asked:
"So... did you need something?"
At his question, Lefiya seemed like she'd been poked in some vital spot; her puffed-up momentum instantly deflated, and she wilted on the spot.
Her previously angry expression quickly shifted into embarrassment and shyness, as she softly spoke:
"W-well, um... I heard about you from Lady Riveria..."
After saying this, Lefiya fell silent again.
This shy elf girl truly didn't know how to express her request.
Ryota just quietly looked at her, waiting patiently.
Perhaps recalling Riveria's words, or perhaps finally gathering her resolve, Lefiya continued:
"Your stats have been improving extremely fast, and I... I also want to become stronger..."
"So, if—if you're heading into the Dungeon again today..."
"Could... Could you please take me along?"
By the end, Lefiya's voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, and the tips of her elf ears were secretly tinged with a delicate blush.
Ryota suddenly recalled seeing Lefiya last night when he'd returned to Twilight Manor—she had been standing alone, quietly chanting something repeatedly into the empty air.
At the time, he'd been too preoccupied with quickly updating his Status and collapsing into bed, so he hadn't paid much attention.
Thinking back now... she must have been practicing her magic chants to improve her casting proficiency.
In this world of DanMachi, magic was undeniably powerful, but its lengthy chants created dangerous openings during battle.
For a mage, each casting of a spell was akin to dancing on the edge of a blade.
To grow stronger, one had to constantly refine their chanting and casting speed under real combat conditions.
This blushing little elf standing before him had surely summoned all her courage to make this request for precisely that reason.
Even though he mentally agreed, Ryota still felt a strange sensation inside.
After all, the elf girl in front of him was a Level 3 adventurer.
And himself? He'd only just reached the seventh floor. No matter how you looked at it, wasn't this a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut?
He glanced up at Lefiya, a hint of hesitation between his brows.
Sensing Ryota's hesitation, Lefiya quickly waved her hands frantically to explain:
"I-I know I'm Level 3, but..."
She bit her lip nervously, her elf ears trembling slightly.
"But when I'm chanting magic and monsters appear, I always... I always get scared."
"Even though I chant perfectly during practice, when real battles happen, my feet feel like they're nailed to the ground..."
"That feeling... it's truly terrifying..."
Ryota paused, remembering his own first time accepting a mission in the Trial Space. That sense of dread and hesitation wasn't something mere words like "effort" or "persistence" could easily overcome.
"I see. Alright then, no problem. Let's go to the Dungeon together."
"Th-thank you so much, Mr. Ryota!"
"'Mr. Ryota' sounds weird. Just call me Ryota."
He raised a finger, wagging it gently in front of the elf girl.
"But we'll stick to the upper floors today. I still have a commission to take care of."
Hearing this, Lefiya's eyes flashed with confusion.
"Eh? A commission... already on your second day?"
Ryota smiled knowingly:
"Don't worry, it's nothing bad. You'll see soon enough."
He pointed towards the door:
"I'll meet you downstairs in a bit. After we leave the Dungeon, I'll treat you to a nice meal."
Ryota casually put on his coat and said:
"I earned seventy thousand Valis yesterday. It'd be a waste if I didn't spend some of it on myself, wouldn't it?"
At these words, Lefiya stood rooted to the spot, staring at him as if she'd been struck by lightning:
"Sev... seventy thousand?!"
In a single day, by himself?!
Only after Ryota had already descended the stairs did she finally cover her mouth in delayed shock:
"No wonder Miss Ais came to ask him questions... Wait..."
"That despicable Ryota, getting kabedon'd by Miss Ais! Aaahhhh!!"
At this very moment, upstairs in Twilight Manor, Loki was leaning by a second-floor window, chin resting on her palm, watching the bustling crowd below. She grinned foolishly, chuckling nonstop:
"Hehehe, I've struck gold, struck gold~!"
"Thank goodness I acted quickly, or that pervy goddess might've snatched him away first!"
The "pervy goddess" she spoke of was naturally Freya.
Behind her, the Big Three—Finn, Riveria, and Gareth—exchanged helpless glances.
They could never fully grasp the strange and subtle rivalries between the gods.
But they had to admit, when it came to recruiting talented individuals, Loki possessed truly uncanny luck.
Back then, Riveria had joined Loki Familia after Loki and Finn rescued her during an unexpected encounter.
Gareth's case was similar; a casual offer of strong liquor had been enough to pull him into the fold.
There was no need to elaborate.
Her parents had personally entrusted her care to Loki before they passed away.
And now, they'd gained another monstrous talent: Ryota.
A rising star whose entire existence, from his name to his incredible potential, was filled with uncertainty and promise.
Finn withdrew his gaze, rubbing his nose, and asked curiously:
"I'm also quite puzzled—why hasn't Lady Freya noticed Ryota yet? Isn't she supposed to see through people's souls?"
Loki snorted dismissively:
"That woman? Ha! She's probably still busy picking out which poor kid from her Familia she'll favor tonight!"
"Besides, Ryota's aura isn't her type at all."
A sly grin curled at her lips.
"Even if she had noticed him, he'd still end up in our Familia sooner or later!"
"Someone like Ryota is naturally destined to be part of Loki Familia~!"
As she finished speaking, an uncontrollable joy flickered in Loki's eyes.
Finn smiled gently and didn't press further.
No matter how frivolous or carefree Loki might seem, the love she held for her "children" was unquestionably genuine and profound.