Her thoughts were so complex and varied that even Ais couldn't make sense of them. The only thing she could grasp clearly was this: It would feel wonderful to sleep cuddled up with Noah tonight.
Lately, Ais had often kicked off her blanket and woken up freezing in the middle of the night. She couldn't help thinking that.
That was what she thought, and before she knew it, she'd said it aloud.
"Noah, could you sleep with me tonight?"
Though young and innocent, Ais was still somewhat aware of the differences between men and women.
But since she was going to be Noah's wife in the future, wasn't it perfectly normal to have him warm her bed and be her living pillow for now?
Besides, Noah smelled nice. She was sure she'd sleep well beside him and recover faster.
Because she'd been overdoing her training these past few days, Riveria had started restricting her again.
If you don't recover properly, you can't keep training like this!
Noah gazed at Ais's earnest expression. He knew it was unlikely, but still reflexively searched the surrounding cavern, afraid he might spot a certain green-haired figure.
If Riveria heard that, she'd probably unleash a combo of punches, staff strikes, and wide-area bombardment magic on him!
Fortunately, he saw neither the Elf Royalty nor a single passing adventurer or monster.
All was quiet around them, as if the Dungeon knew it couldn't deal with Noah in the Middle Floors and had simply isolated and forgotten him.
Otherwise, he might have had to kill her to keep her quiet.
Noah unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, then looked at Ais in confusion.
"Ais, why would you say that?"
"Because it's gotten colder lately, and I keep waking up freezing at night. You should be warm, Noah."
After a few seconds of silence, Noah suddenly smiled and reached out with his big hand.
The rumors Loki had started still hadn't died down. Were you really determined to make sure my reputation as a lolicon was set in stone?
It would've been one thing if you didn't return my feelings, but why keep ruining my reputation over and over?
Oh, Ais. You really are my thoughtful little black cotton jacket.
Seeing the smile on Noah's usually calm, handsome face, Ais stared at him blankly for a few seconds. Then a sense of impending doom suddenly crept over her.
But it was already too late. Noah's hand had closed around her little head, and then his fingers tightened!
"Ah!!"
The little girl's wretched cry echoed through the deep cavern.
As the temperature fell and the days grew shorter, the sky was already completely dark by the time Noah and Ais returned to the surface.
At this hour, Central Square was usually already dark. Now, though, it was brightly lit, with countless stalls laid out in crisscrossing rows. Guild members in uniform directed volunteers bustling between them.
"The festival starts tomorrow. Do you want to go have some fun, Ais? With Riveria and the others?"
Still recovering from Noah's Undying Grip, Ais took a while to come to her senses.
She glanced around the square and reflexively started to shake her head.
"The festival? I don't want to go. I want to—"
"If you're always following me, you'll never surpass me!"
Of all the reasons Ais liked spending time with Noah, one mattered especially: he treated her as an equal instead of like a child, the way everyone else did.
This was the first time he'd suddenly interrupted her while she was speaking.
Ais couldn't help looking up at him.
"The closer you are, the less you can see. Unless you look at that little corner you once lived in from farther away, from the vantage of a broader world, it's hard to see clearly. That goes for people, events, and yourself."
In the dim surroundings, Ais thought a faint purple hue seemed to suffuse Noah's deep blue eyes.
They looked strangely captivating, and she couldn't bear to keep looking. She quickly lowered her head.
"...I understand."
"Come on. Let's head back and get dinner. Riveria and Loki are probably going to complain that we're late again."
They returned to Twilight Manor in time for dinner. After washing up, Noah and Ais went to the Divine Chamber as usual for their status updates.
Noah Cipher Lv1 Strength: S980?SS1170 Endurance: A809?S941 Dexterity: S978?SS1154 Agility: SS1170?SSS1496 Magic: SS1220?SSS1351 Ais Wallenstein Lv1 Strength: SS1080?SS1199 Endurance: S990?S999 Dexterity: S908?SS1121 Agility: SS1129?SSS1320 Magic: i0
"Looks like endurance is still too hard to improve."
Riveria had been staring at the status values, wondering if she should have Ais start learning magic. When she heard that, she reflexively looked around and barely stopped herself from grabbing at empty air.
My staff! Where's my staff?! I'm going to beat this ungrateful disciple who has no consideration for her teacher's feelings!
"The expedition is the day after tomorrow! I'm taking Ais to the festival. You're going to the Dungeon tomorrow, and you're not coming back until your endurance reaches SS!"
Noah peeled the paper off his face and watched Riveria walk away, looking utterly innocent.
*
The night passed. In a room at the Garden of Stars.
"No! I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep!"
The Blonde Elf, who'd barely slept all night, glared at the sun outside her window. She clutched the scarf whose scent had completely faded, and dark circles stood out beneath her eyes.
"I'm going to the Dungeon! I have to forget that human!"
59. Ryu: I'd rather jump off the city wall than ever—
"Huh? Ryu? Aren't you going to the festival?"
At the Astraea Familia breakfast table, Alise lifted her face, glistening with grease, from her plate and looked in surprise at the Blonde Elf beside her.
Her booming voice made the girls at the table—who'd been discussing where to go next or complaining about having to patrol all over the place—turn in unison to look at Ryu.
Alise!
Could you speak any louder?
If you got any louder, you could probably kill monsters with your voice alone in battle!
Ryu had already been in a foul mood from several days without proper rest. Now she wanted to shove her friend's head straight into that plate of stew!
All you do is eat, eat, eat!
But despite the turmoil in her heart, Ryu maintained her composure and took a sip of oatmeal.
"Yeah. I've seen some equipment I'd like to buy, so I'm planning to earn some money in the Dungeon."
It was only an act, but Ryu found that she was doing a remarkably natural job of it this time. She wasn't flustered like before, when even a child could see through her.
That surprised even her.
"Huh? What's the harm in waiting a day or two?"
"It's a rare festival. You should come have some fun with us."
"If you need money, I can lend you some."
Ryu was deeply touched by her friends' concern and offers of help. Then she firmly turned them down.
"Thanks, but the festival will be packed with people. I'd rather not."
Knowing that Ryu had an extreme aversion to skin contact, even by Elf standards, her teammates regretfully looked away.
Kaguya, in particular, wore an expression that said, I knew that useless Elf was up to something.
They didn't know that, besides not wanting to enter a sea of strangers pressed shoulder to shoulder, Ryu was even more afraid of seeing a certain silver-haired boy.
If she tripped in public, her life as an Elf, a member of the Justice Familia, and a member of the city's law enforcement would all be over!
...Still, Kaguya's expression was really irritating!
Ryu clenched her teeth until she could practically hear them grinding in her head, barely suppressing the urge to snap back.
It was better to hurry into the Dungeon and forget her troubles with a satisfying battle.
But even though she was impatient, Ryu finished breakfast first, then looked toward her goddess out of respect.
"Lady Astraea, may I take my leave?"
The goddess with walnut-brown hair paused with her spoon in hand and looked at Ryu with deep blue eyes that seemed to hold a sea of stars.
Ryu had always despised the vulgar tendency to focus on people's looks while ignoring their character and spirit. Yet every time she looked at Lady Astraea, she couldn't help wavering.
Astraea was the virgin goddess who governed justice, integrity, and order. She was also an exceptionally powerful warrior who had carried out divine punishments in Heaven.
Alise had been trained by Lady Astraea ever since she traveled with her to Orario.
Even Kaguya, the Familia's strongest swordswoman, had admitted that when it came to the sword, the goddess was strong enough to make them both cry.
And yet, you'd never know it!
You really couldn't tell!
Ryu couldn't tell, and she was sure no one else could tell at first glance, either!
Her aura was so pure it seemed utterly untainted. Everything about her, including her words and actions, exuded a noble chastity befitting her divine name.
And yet, beneath those immaculate white robes, her body was slender and graceful, without a hint of excess, while still boasting captivating curves and abundant softness—a perfect embodiment of feminine beauty.
Thinking about it that way, perhaps it wasn't so hard to understand why the lewd gods had called Lady Astraea "the embodiment of gentleness and kindness, the goddess among goddesses! The undisputed number one goddess men wanted to rest their heads on and have pat them! A goddess who might become the mother of all gods!"
...Even Ryu herself wasn't sure if all these random thoughts filling her mind were a way of easing the tension from sneaking around in front of her goddess.
Ryu hadn't lied. She really did have equipment she wanted to buy.
But she hadn't told the whole truth, either.
In particular, she hadn't said that she wanted to go to the Dungeon to force herself to forget a certain silver-haired boy through intense battles, or that she wanted to avoid seeing him at the festival.
In any case, Lady Astraea gazed at her quietly before finally giving her a calming smile.
"Then be careful! Ryu, if anything's troubling you or you run into difficulties, you can come to me."
Ryu couldn't tell whether her little scheme had been seen through or not.
A sense of shame urged her to get up and quickly leave the table.
But as she turned, the Elf couldn't help sneaking a few more glances at the goddess's chest, where a deep cleavage formed between her soft, full breasts.
Men really did prefer them bigger, didn't they?
The thought had never occurred to her before. It lingered in her mind, refusing to go away, until Ryu reached the Dungeon entrance and suddenly snapped out of it.
It was all that human's fault!
He'd filled her head with so many strange thoughts lately!
Before you continue