Sword Princess's Worries

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

Inside the captain's office.

Finn sat behind the broad desk, lightly tapping the application Ais had just handed in.

Clearly written on the paper were "Application for Seven Days of Special Training," the participants, Ais and Lefiya, and the training location: [Thor Familia's Headquarters].

He looked up, glanced at Ais standing before him, then turned toward the dwarf Gareth and the elf Riveria seated on the office sofa. His eyes held a questioning look, as if seeking confirmation.

"Seven days of special training?" Finn repeated quietly.

Ais nodded, her blond hair swaying gently, and added simply,

"Mm. I'll start the night training tonight. I might not come back to the headquarters for these seven days."

Not coming back for seven days.

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

She was counting on them to help keep it from their god, Loki.

Not returning to the headquarters for seven days—and spending the nights at the home of a god who even Loki feared?

Finn could almost picture Loki crying and throwing a fit if she learned that her favorite, Ais, was going to spend the nights at another god's place.

Finn's gaze returned to the application. His fingertips gently rubbed the Captain's Badge.

There was no doubt about Ais's determination to break through her bottleneck. The "natural phenomenon"-level methods Thor had displayed were mysterious and unfathomable, but Ais wasn't reckless.

There might be risks, but the opportunities were just as great.

As captain, he had to seek out ways for his Familia members to grow stronger.

"Understood." Finn's voice broke the silence. He picked up the badge and firmly stamped the approval section at the bottom of the application.

The stamp came down. He looked up at Ais, his eyes full of encouragement and trust. "It's a rare opportunity. Since you've made your decision, give it everything you've got. Make sure you seize it."

Finn handed the stamped application back to Ais. "As for Loki... I'll figure out how to handle her."

He was already rapidly working out how to soothe their troublesome goddess.

It might take a few white lies and some careful arrangements.

Ais stepped forward and accepted the permission slip.

Her eyes briefly paused on Finn's badge imprint. After confirming it was in order, she looked up at the captain and gave a slight nod, saying just two words: "Thank you."

There were no unnecessary words. Beneath that resolute calm lay a solemn promise to make the most of this chance to grow stronger.

She carefully put away the application.

With it in hand, if Loki found out afterward and tried to punish her, Ais could rightly say she'd gotten permission.

After Ais put away the permission slip,

Finn leaned slightly forward, folded his hands on the desk, and asked what concerned him more.

"Ais, after spending time with Lord Thor, what do you think of him?"

Ais met Finn's gaze with her golden eyes and answered clearly, almost without pausing: "Unfathomable."

Memories flashed through her mind: Thor's instruction in the Dungeon, his unbelievable displays of ability, and the composure with which he seemed to control everything.

"He feels like he can do anything." She paused, then added what struck her most directly. "After just one day of training, I feel like I've gotten much stronger."

The weight of having her strength suppressed and her fundamentals reforged made her feel a long-missed sense of progress.

"Forcefully suppressing someone's strength back to Level 1?" The dwarf Gareth, seated on the sofa, stroked his thick beard and couldn't help but marvel. "I've never seen anything like it! It's hard to believe he could do such a thing."

It had completely overturned his understanding of the rules governing strength.

Finn nodded.

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

Loki's terror the night before last had been no act. Now Ais's firsthand experience had confirmed it too: Thor really was as Loki had said, something "great" or a "phenomenon" beyond the bounds of comprehension.

His assessment of Thor rose another level, and with it came even greater caution and wariness.

"Still," Finn said, changing the subject with a hint of amusement, "no matter how strong Lord Thor is, don't let yourself be charmed by him and join his Familia."

He spoke half in jest, but his gaze remained serious as he looked at Ais. "You're the Sword Princess of our Loki Familia. If you left, Loki might really be heartbroken enough to return to Heaven."

Ais tilted her head, a faintly puzzled expression on her face, as if she didn't understand why Finn had brought that up so suddenly.

Thor hadn't shown any intention of inviting her to join his Familia. She was sure of that.

Besides, she was already a member of the Loki Familia. She'd never considered changing her allegiance.

She had no doubts about where she belonged.

Seeing the unadulterated puzzlement in Ais's clear eyes, Finn understood and nodded in relief.

That pure lack of ulterior motives was just like Ais, and it was the one thing he never had to worry about.

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

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

She turned slightly and looked toward the tall elven princess who had been sitting quietly on the sofa. Then she called out clearly,

"Riveria..."

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

Riveria looked at Ais and couldn't help letting out a soft exclamation. It was the first time she'd seen such a troubled expression in Ais's eyes.

As if a doll who'd never had a care had finally developed feelings...

The corridor of the Loki Familia's headquarters at night.

The lights cast warm halos on the walls, but they couldn't dispel the confusion Ais felt.

Riveria listened quietly as Ais explained what was troubling her.

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

Understanding at once, Riveria repeated her words softly, as if helping Ais untangle the knot in her thoughts.

"So... you feel that Lord 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 immediately nodded, a hint of urgency in the movement.

That gratitude weighed heavily on her heart, to the point that she was beginning to feel troubled by it.

In her eyes, slaying the rampaging Minotaur had merely made up for the trouble caused by her Familia's mistake. It had been her duty, nothing more, and certainly not worth any praise.

She had only done what she was supposed to do.

And after observing him for the past two days, she'd confirmed that even if she hadn't stepped in to help, Thor's unfathomable abilities would have let him deal with the Minotaur with ease.

Yet Thor had treated it as a good turn and generously promised to teach her, even passing on the exquisite Wind-Riding Sword Art.

His generosity far exceeded the value of the small favor she'd done him. The enormous disparity left her uneasy and at a loss.

Ais looked to her for help. "Riveria, what should I do?"

Riveria gazed at the faint light in Ais's eyes, clouded by gratitude and uncertainty.

Of course she knew Ais wanted to return that kindness. The desire was so strong that she had actively sought help.

However...

"I don't know either..."

Riveria's answer took Ais by surprise. She admitted,

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

A rare weariness colored her tone—the reverence of an ordinary being facing a transcendent existence, and the mental exhaustion of having the limits of her understanding brushed against.

"Just understanding that he exists is already beyond me, let alone trying to guess the thoughts of a being on the level of a 'phenomenon'..."