The Sword Princess's Troubles

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Inside the office of the Loki Familia captain.

Finn sat behind his expansive desk, his fingers tapping lightly against the application form Ais had just submitted.

The paper clearly read "Seven-Day Special Training Application," with Ais and Lefiya listed as the participants, and the [Thor Familia] residence as the training location.

He looked up, his gaze sweeping over Ais standing before him before shifting to Gareth and Riveria, who were seated on the office sofa, his eyes carrying a questioning look of confirmation.

"Seven days of special training?" Finn repeated in a low voice.

Ais nodded, her golden hair swaying slightly as she added concisely.

"Yes, the night training starts tonight. I may not return to the residence for these seven days."

Seven days without returning.

Finn immediately understood why Ais had submitted this application so formally.

She was preparing for them to help her keep it a secret from their goddess, Loki.

Seven days away from the residence, and to spend the nights at the home of a deity who even made Loki feel fear?

Finn could almost imagine how Loki would wail and throw a tantrum if she found out her favorite, Ais, was spending the night with another god.

Finn's gaze fell back onto the application, his fingertips gently rubbing against the Captain's Badge.

Ais's will to break through her bottleneck was beyond doubt, and while the "natural phenomenon" level of power displayed by Thor was mysterious and unfathomable, Ais was not a reckless person.

Risks might exist, but the opportunities were equally immense.

As captain, he had to seek paths for his members to grow stronger.

"Understood." Finn's voice broke the silence as he picked up the badge and pressed it firmly onto the approval section at the bottom of the application.

With the seal set, he looked up at Ais, his eyes filled with encouragement and trust: "This is a rare opportunity. Since you've decided, give it your all and be sure to seize it."

Finn handed the stamped application back to Ais: "As for Loki... I will find a way to handle her."

He was already quickly formulating a plan in his mind on how to appease that troublesome goddess.

It would likely require some white lies and careful arrangements.

Ais stepped forward and took the permit.

Her gaze lingered briefly on the imprint of the Captain's Badge, and after confirming it was correct, she looked up at the captain and nodded slightly, saying only two words: "Thank you."

There were no unnecessary words; beneath that resolute calm lay a solemn commitment to the opportunity to grow stronger.

She tucked the application away carefully.

With this document in hand, if Loki discovered the truth later and tried to punish her, she could rightfully claim that she had received approval.

Seeing that Ais had put the permit away, Finn leaned forward slightly, resting his crossed hands on the desk, and asked a question he was more concerned about.

"Ais, after your contact with Lord Thor, how do you... feel about him?"

Ais's golden eyes met Finn's directly, and without a moment's hesitation, she said clearly: "Unfathomable."

In her mind, she recalled the guidance within the Dungeon, the mind-bending display of power, and that sense of composure as if he controlled everything.

"It feels like he is omnipotent." She paused and added, this being her most intuitive impression, "After just one day of training, I feel like I've become much stronger."

That heavy sensation of having her foundations re-forged under suppression gave her a long-lost sense of improvement.

"Forcibly suppressing strength back to Level 1?" Gareth, the dwarf sitting on the sofa, stroked his thick beard and couldn't help but sigh, "A power I've never seen before! It's hard to believe how he managed it."

This completely overturned his understanding of the rules of power.

Finn nodded.

He had asked Ais not because he doubted her judgment, but because he wanted to confirm it once more.

Loki's terrified appearance the night before last was certainly not feigned, and now Ais's personal experience confirmed that the existence of Thor was indeed, as Loki had said, a "greatness" or "phenomenon" beyond the scope of comprehension.

His assessment of Thor rose another level in his mind, while simultaneously adding a layer of vigilance and caution.

"However," Finn shifted his tone, a hint of playfulness appearing on his face, "no matter how strong Lord Thor is, you cannot let yourself be swayed into joining his Familia."

He said it half-jokingly, but his gaze was serious as he looked at Ais: "You are the Sword Princess of our Loki Familia. If you were to leave, Loki would likely be so heartbroken she'd send herself back to the heavens."

Ais tilted her head, a faint look of confusion on her face, as if she didn't understand why Finn had brought this up so suddenly.

Thor had no intention of inviting her to join his Familia; she was certain of that.

Moreover, she was already a member of the Loki Familia and had never thought of changing her allegiance.

She was not at all lost regarding where she belonged.

Seeing the pure confusion in Ais's clear eyes, Finn understood and nodded with relief.

This pure "lack of intent" was exactly Ais's style, and it was the part he needed to worry about the least.

Ais turned to leave the captain's office, her steps light.

However, just as her hand was about to touch the doorknob, she suddenly stopped.

She turned slightly, casting her gaze toward the tall elven royalty who had been sitting quietly on the sofa, and called out in a clear voice.

"Riveria..."

It seemed she had something she needed to discuss privately with the vice-captain, who was like a mother to her.

Riveria looked at Ais and couldn't help but let out a soft sound of surprise; it was the first time she had seen such a troubled expression in Ais's eyes.

It was as if a heartless doll had finally developed emotions...

The corridors of the Loki Familia headquarters at night.

The lamps cast a warm glow upon the walls, yet they could not illuminate the confusion currently clouding Ais's mind.

Riveria listened quietly as Ais finished pouring out her troubles.

Riveria looked at the rare, troubled expression on Ais's face.

She understood in an instant, repeating the words softly as if to help Ais untangle the mess of her thoughts.

"So... you feel that Mr. Thor has helped you a great deal, and you want to do something to repay him, but you don't know where to start?"

Ais nodded immediately, her movements tinged with a hint of urgency.

That sense of gratitude weighed heavily on her heart, to the point where it was beginning to bother her.

To her, slaying the rampaging Minotaur was merely rectifying a problem caused by the Familia's own oversight; it was a matter of duty, insignificant and unworthy of any praise.

She had simply done what she was supposed to do.

Furthermore, through her observations over the past two days, she had confirmed that even if she hadn't stepped in to help, Thor's unfathomable strength would have allowed him to deal with that Minotaur with ease.

Yet, Thor viewed it as a bond of kindness, generously promising to mentor her and even teaching her that exquisite [Wind-Riding Sword Art].

This contribution far exceeded the value of her own small effort, and the massive disparity left her feeling uneasy and at a loss.

Ais looked at her for help: "Riveria, what should I do?"

Riveria gazed into the glimmer of helplessness born from gratitude in Ais's eyes.

She certainly knew that Ais wanted to reciprocate this kindness, a desire so strong that it had even driven her to seek help.

However...

"I don't know either..."

Riveria's answer caught Ais off guard, as Riveria confessed.

"Ais, that is a 'phenomenon' that even our goddess Loki fears."

Her tone carried a hint of rare exhaustion—a weariness born from the awe of a mortal facing a transcendent being, and the mental fatigue of having the boundaries of one's cognition touched.

"Merely trying to comprehend his existence leaves me feeling inadequate, let alone trying to fathom the thoughts of a 'phenomenon'-class entity..."