Responsibility

Bell Cranel.

The protagonist of the DanMachi world, possessing a growth skill called 'One True Heart'.

At this moment, he was secretly gazing at Ais.

"Although Bell admires Ais, I recall seeing comments before saying they seemed to have gone their separate ways."

Emiya hadn't read the original light novels in his past life, but he really liked DanMachi fanfiction.

While searching for fanfiction one time, he found the original DanMachi light novel, and in the comments attached below, he saw this information.

"But no matter what the original story is like, I can't hand Ais over to Bell. Although Bell is a true hero, his romantic luck is just too overwhelming."

"As a brother, I definitely have to take good care of Ais and the others."

Thinking nonsensically, Shirou Emiya no longer had the energy to pay attention to others. After all, he was currently a popular figure in the Familia.

The number of people who invited him for a drink was countless.

Whether they admired his strength or coveted his body, they kept pouring him drinks.

Soon, Shirou Emiya, tipsy, slumped onto the table.

"Heh! I knew this would happen!"

Shirou Emiya, who had anticipated this situation before arriving, lay on the table half-asleep and quickly fell asleep.

In a semi-conscious state, he seemed to hear sounds of an argument.

But he couldn't bother with it anymore.

Let's sleep first!

"So, it's because Bete got drunk and acted crazy, arguing with Ais, and that's why Ais looks like this today?"

Standing on the balcony with Tiona and Lefia, Shirou Emiya helplessly held his forehead as he looked at Ais sitting alone in the courtyard.

"Why can't that guy just sleep soundly like me when he's drunk!"

"His drinking manners are terrible!"

"Forget his drinking manners, I think his character is also questionable!"

Tiona, who had always held a grudge against Bete, didn't hide her criticism of Bete's character at all. She then said to Shirou Emiya, "This is where you come in. Aren't you Ais's brother?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Shirou Emiya, who had been forcibly woken up by Tiona barging into his room, yawned and mumbled, "Wait a moment, someone's already going over."

Standing at a high vantage point, they clearly saw Riveria walking towards Ais.

"As expected, we have to rely on the madam at times like these!"

"Indeed, worthy of the madam!"

"I want the madam's love too!"

Hearing their playful remarks, Shirou Emiya smiled and said, "If Riveria heard you, she'd definitely give you all a good scolding!"

"Hehe!"

After Riveria left, Shirou Emiya finally approached and sat on a chair next to Ais.

"What's wrong? I heard you're not feeling well today!"

Seeing that it was her brother, Ais didn't hide anything, as she had already told Riveria earlier.

"So that's how it is. Is the person Bete made fun of also at The Hostess of Fertility?"

Shirou Emiya pretended to suddenly understand, as he already knew all of this.

In the Dungeon before, Ais had saved Bell at the critical moment. However, out of shyness or surprise, Bell, whose face was splattered with monster blood, fled the scene.

Bete had witnessed this entire scene.

So, at yesterday's banquet, after getting drunk, Bete brought this up as a joke.

And he uttered that extremely provocative line.

'Those without strength have no right to stand beside the Sword Princess Ais Wallenstein.'

This sentence was a fatal blow to Bell, who admired Ais. Under Bete's provocation, he fled the tavern.

This made Ais feel very guilty. She felt that she had caused the boy to be implicated.

But Shirou Emiya felt it was more than that.

"Besides that? I don't think mere guilt would make you like this!"

This was what Shirou Emiya wanted to ask.

Hearing Shirou Emiya's question, Ais paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "In him, I saw a shadow of myself when I was young!"

So that's how it is, empathy?

In that case, Bete's words yesterday didn't just provoke Bell, but also made Ais see her past self when she was weak.

No wonder!

Shirou Emiya knew how Ais's childhood experiences had affected her.

"What do you want to do!"

"I want to apologize to him."

"And compensate him?"

"Yeah!"

"Then leave it to me!"

"Huh?"

Seeing Shirou Emiya's serious expression, Ais tilted her head in confusion.

"As a brother, isn't it natural to share the burden for your sister?"

"."

Hearing Shirou Emiya's declaration, Ais's eyes welled up with tears.

Although she had called Shirou Emiya "brother" before, it was just a title. After all, in her eyes, everyone in the Familia was her family.

Finn and Riveria, in particular, had taken care of her like parents.

But Shirou Emiya's words today moved her deeply.

This was an entirely different kind of emotion.

"Yes!"

Ais gently lowered her head, not daring to let Shirou Emiya see her expression.

In response, Shirou Emiya simply reached out and gently stroked her hair. That was enough.

And so, the two savored the warm atmosphere.

Savoring the warmth of this moment.

"Caught Ais sneaking into the Dungeon alone again? It seems she's really feeling a lot better!"

"More than that, I hope she can get some proper rest."

In the underground library, Shirou Emiya, holding a magic book, was discussing Ais with Riveria.

Among the Three Greats of the Loki Familia, Shirou Emiya had the best relationship with Riveria.

Due to their high positions, the three of them were often busy, rarely having opportunities for private conversations.

They only became truly familiar during the expedition.

After all, Shirou Emiya had only joined the Loki Familia for about three months, and he was usually busy improving himself.

But with Riveria, he had become familiar because he had learned the techniques of Parallel Chanting from her before.

After the Dungeon expedition, having witnessed the power of Shirou Emiya's magic and his lack of various magical techniques, she made him come to the underground library every day to study magic.

This also led to their relationship becoming one of both teacher and friend.

"Huh? Why don't I see Lefia today?"

"Today is the Monster Festival. Lefia seems to have gone out with Tiona and Tione. Even Ais was called away by Loki. What, you didn't know?"

"Now that you mention it, I remember Lefia telling me about it a few days ago, but I refused when I thought about going with the four of them. After all, what would I be doing crashing a girls' gathering? Speaking of which, Riveria, weren't you invited by anyone?"

"Loki invited me again, but I refused."

As an elf, she really didn't like noisy places.

"Is that so? The Monster Festival. I haven't experienced a festival in Orario yet. Now that you mention it, I kind of want to go."

Stroking his chin, Shirou Emiya thought for a moment and suddenly said to Riveria, "Why don't we go together!"

"What?"

"The Monster Festival! Let's go together, Riveria!"