Leon had always been acutely aware of exactly what kind of person Ais Wallenstein was.
To the outside world, she maintained a cold, distant attitude, looking for all the world as if no one could guess what she was thinking. In battle, she was exceptionally frigid and ruthless, which was why people had given her titles like the "Sword Princess" or the "War Princess." It was clear how she appeared in the eyes of others.
Of course, those familiar with Ais knew that the girl wasn't cold by nature; she simply lacked the ability to express her emotions. In reality, she was quite innocent—one could even say she was a total airhead.
When others saw her standing there silently with a cold expression, they might assume she had no interest in talking to them. In fact, she was likely just spacing out, lost in thought.
Very few people in the Familia knew Ais's true personality. Even fewer knew that the girl they protected like a princess actually envied how Tiona and Tione could mingle and mess around with the other members without any reservations. Sometimes, watching others being lively and boisterous made her feel lonely and isolated. Deep down, she was like a child, imagining a younger version of herself puffing out her cheeks in a huff.
Perhaps it was precisely because Leon knew the real Ais Wallenstein that he could interact with her normally. He didn't keep his distance or watch over her from afar like everyone else did.
Because of this, the relationship between Leon and Ais had progressed rapidly in just one year. At the very least, a year ago—when Leon had first been brought back by Ais—she certainly wouldn't have been sitting on a bench in the courtyard after dinner, quietly watching the main gate and waiting for him to return.
Even so, Leon hadn't forgotten that the true Ais Wallenstein wasn't just the person she appeared to be now.
As Loki had said, this girl was actually quite reckless.
She would often spend days and nights buried in the Dungeon, killing monsters relentlessly. She was also incredibly stubborn; as a child, she had once insisted on carrying all the luggage of the Familia members just to keep up with the main group, eventually collapsing and sleeping for three days straight from exhaustion.
Because of her origins, she harbored a deep hatred for monsters and believed they should all be eliminated. To slay them, she constantly sought to grow stronger—infinitely stronger. When she first received her Falna and became an adventurer, she frequently argued with Riveria and the others over this, even running away from home on occasion and throwing the entire Familia into chaos.
As a child, she had longed for the heroes of fairy tales and hoped for a hero who could protect her. Now, her heart held only an obsession with strength and a profound hatred for monsters.
Faced with this side of Ais, Leon hadn't considered it before, but it suddenly occurred to him: if his abnormal rate of growth became known to an Ais who was obsessed with getting stronger, it might not be a good thing—
Thinking of this, Leon almost instinctively changed the subject.
"Loki said you often sneak off to the Dungeon by yourself whenever I head there, and that you always make it back just before I do. Is that true?"
The moment he said this, Ais's shoulders gave an imperceptible flinch, and her entire being began to radiate a sense of guilt.
"I... I didn't—"
The girl tried to make a small excuse, but it only made Leon laugh.
"Has anyone ever told you that you're terrible at lying?"
Leon crossed his arms and looked at Ais with a half-smile. His presence completely overwhelmed the first-tier adventurer who was famous in Orario and across the world. If anyone saw this, they might suspect their levels and status had been reversed.
"But you always go into the Dungeon alone, too—"
The girl attempted to protest, but the youth remained unmoved.
"Is that the same thing?" Leon said righteously. "I'm only exploring the relatively safe floors. Unlike you, who always goes looking for danger."
Ais immediately averted her gaze, her ability to argue completely neutralized.
This was the biggest headache for everyone who knew Ais.
If she simply explored the Dungeon normally, even Riveria—who doted on her most—wouldn't have a problem. But Ais rarely explored normally; she consistently lacked a sense of proportion and pushed herself into life-threatening situations.
If Ais hadn't already been a Level 5 first-tier adventurer, the leaders of the Familia certainly wouldn't have allowed her to enter the Dungeon alone. Even if she lacked restraint and pushed deep, she couldn't go too far on a day trip. At most, she would cause a mess in the middle floors (Floors 13–24).
The monsters in the middle floors were only equivalent to Level 2 at most. Even if a Floor Boss—which was usually two levels higher than standard monsters—appeared, it would be no match for a Level 5 like Ais. Knowing she faced no real threat there, the Familia leaders allowed her a bit of freedom, provided she returned by nightfall.
However, even then, Ais would often return battered and bruised, giving the executives a constant headache.
This was why Loki often complained to Leon about Ais being reckless. It wasn't that she wanted to nag; she was genuinely at her wit's end and hoped Leon could talk some sense into her and keep her in line.
Surprisingly, since Leon joined the Loki Familia, Ais had indeed settled down a bit.
Perhaps because she felt that since she was the one who brought him back, she had a duty to look after his well-being. Over the past year, Ais had clearly diverted much of her attention to Leon, which resulted in fewer opportunities for her to be reckless—a fact that pleasantly surprised Loki and the others.
Over time, Leon had truly grown to worry about Ais. He feared her recklessness to the point that he now frequently lectured her, much like the elders of the household.
In doing so, he had completely forgotten that he had become quite reckless himself since becoming an adventurer.
Exploring only "relatively safe floors"?
Unlike Ais, who "goes looking for danger"?
Then who was the person who dived straight to the 7th floor with all basic abilities at 0, and repeatedly faced life-threatening danger over the course of ten days?
If Loki and the others knew of Leon's "glorious" track record, he would likely be scolded every day just like Ais.
Though, Loki and Finn had likely guessed something from the fact that he was already ready to level up—
"It's not that you're forbidden from going to the Dungeon, but you just got back from an expedition recently. Now is the time to rest. Instead of running to the Dungeon every day, why not find something else to do?"
Leon spoke with rare, earnest persuasion.
"For example, why not go shopping with Tiona to relax? Or go on a date with Lefiya or something?"
Leon's words didn't elicit a major reaction from Ais, but for some reason, there seemed to be a slight commotion coming from a corner nearby.
"Hmm?"
Leon sensed something and looked up in confusion toward one of the sky-bridges above the Twilight Manor, but he saw nothing.
At that moment, Ais's voice reached his ears.
"The day after we returned from the expedition, I already went out with Tiona," Ais said with a serious expression. "Lefiya was there too."
The girl seemed to want to tell Leon that she had already completed the "task" he mentioned.
However, the corners of Leon's mouth twitched.
"Don't think I don't know. The day after the expedition, you, Tiona, and the others went to get your weapons repaired and restock on potions," Leon said, speechless. "You call that shopping and a date?"
Ais closed her mouth and went silent again.
Seeing this, Leon couldn't help but lecture her a bit more. Ais's shoulders slumped further and further, making her look as if she were shrinking in front of him.
Neither Leon nor Ais noticed that on one of the sky-bridges, several figures were hiding, peeking down at them.
"That was close! I thought we were spotted for a second." Tiona patted her flat chest and complained to the elven girl beside her. "Honestly, Lefiya, why did you get so excited all of a sudden?"
"Wh—Who told that guy to talk nonsense in front of Miss Ais!" Lefiya's face was beet red—it was unclear if it was from anger or embarrassment. She said sheepishly, "A date with Miss Ais... how could that be possible!"
"Really?" Tiona looked at Lefiya skeptically. "Why do I get the feeling you looked pretty happy when you heard that?"
"I did not!" Lefiya couldn't help but raise her voice in protest. "I'm angry! Not happy!"
"Alright, whether you're angry or happy, keep your voice down, okay?" Tione was watching the interaction between the youth and the girl in the courtyard with great interest. Seeing her silly sister and the clumsy junior getting louder, she rolled her eyes and said crossly, "If you keep getting worked up, we really will be caught."
"Hear that, Lefiya?" Tiona said with a giggle. "You can't get too excited."
Lefiya's face turned red again.
This time, it was definitely out of anger.
"Tiona's voice isn't exactly quiet either—" Lefiya muttered under her breath about the Amazonian "little angel."
"What was that? Say it a bit louder!" Tiona teased her fun junior, though it was unclear if she had actually heard her.
"Hmph, you're the ones who said we have to be quiet." Lefiya turned her head away, her ponytail whipping around to show her indignation.
"Those two are quite interesting. Watching them like this makes me feel like I'm watching my own kids in a puppy love phase," Tione remarked, ignoring the other two. She watched the interaction between Leon and Ais with her arms crossed, looking thoroughly entertained.
"Listen to you, acting like you've ever been in a relationship," Tiona said, unable to stand her sister's posturing. She threw a sharp barb: "Finn hasn't even accepted your fierce pursuit yet."
Thwack. The words were like a sharp dagger piercing Tione's heart.
"What did you say?" Tione's composed attitude shattered instantly as she entered a berserk state. She yelled, "Nonsense! The Captain loves me!"
"Is that so?" Tiona naturally knew how to handle her sister. She turned around with a giggle, making as if to leave. "Then I'll go ask Finn and see if he really loves you."
Tione lost her cool immediately. "Stop right there, you foolish sister!"
"Guilty, aren't you? My foolish sister!"
"—It seems your skin is itching for a beating. It's been a while since we've fought, hasn't it? Don't you dare run!"
"Blehh, I'm not afraid of you."
The twin sisters immediately started bickering, their voices rising, which sent Lefiya into a panic.
"Please stop fighting! We're going to be caught!"
While frantically trying to make peace, Lefiya looked down at Leon and Ais, who were still "chatting happily" in the courtyard. She felt like she was about to turn to the dark side.
"That jerk... just how much longer does he want to chat with Miss Ais?"
The elven girl gritted her teeth and began cursing him in her heart.
"—What is going on?"
In the courtyard, Leon, who was still lecturing Ais, felt like it was getting noisy nearby, which puzzled him.
"I keep feeling like people are around, but I can't spot them."
It seemed he needed to raise his stats to the limit as soon as possible to reach Level 2. After leveling up, his innate abilities and five senses would be greatly enhanced, and he might be able to sense things better then.
On the other hand, Ais—a Level 5 first-tier adventurer—seemed to have noticed nothing at all. She spoke up weakly.
"—I'm sorry."
She began to apologize, her face practically begging for him to stop lecturing.
"Pay more attention in the future." Leon lost the heart to keep nagging. Seeing Ais's vulnerable state, his heart softened for no reason. "Rest when it's time to rest. Work hard after you've rested enough. And you must do it in moderation, understand?"
"—Yes."
The girl nodded obediently, but experience told Leon that she likely wouldn't listen.
When the time came, she would surely engage in some clumsy sneaking around, thinking no one would notice her going to the Dungeon again.
But to Leon's surprise, Ais seemed serious this time.
"Tomorrow... sword practice?"
Ais looked up at Leon and suddenly spoke.
Her expression was essentially telling Leon that if they practiced tomorrow, she wouldn't go to the Dungeon. After all, she had promised to teach him seriously.
The girl's eyes silently conveyed this message.
Leon stared at Ais blankly for a moment, then smiled.
"Alright," Leon said softly. "Let's practice our swordsmanship tomorrow."
Ais nodded with extreme seriousness, as if making a momentous vow.
Little did she know, Leon was already thinking silently to himself:
Tomorrow, I should try not to show my updated abilities...
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