In one of the well-known familias on the surface, a love-struck elven girl gazed out the window at the sky, letting out a weary, longing sigh.
"Miss Ais..."
Three months had passed.
For three whole months, Ais had vanished from the Loki Familia. Outsiders knew nothing, and within the familia the rumor was simply that Ais had gone to the Deep Floors of the Dungeon for training.
This sort of thing wasn't unusual in Loki Familia. Ais often trained alone in the Dungeon.
But this time was different. In the past, she would be gone for only three or four days. This time it had been three months—and she still hadn't returned.
"Ahh…"
"Still thinking about the 'Sword Princess'?"
"Huh?"
Startled by the voice behind her, the elf girl jerked upright and turned around in a fluster.
"N-no, I wasn't…"
"Lefiya, has no one ever told you that you're terrible at lying?"
The one in the room with her was Filvis, who had formally converted and joined the Loki Familia three months ago.
She was no longer the captain of the Dionysus Familia—now she was simply an ordinary member of Loki Familia.
Filvis had seen Lefiya sighing like this many times. And the reason was, without doubt, Orario's shining star: the "Sword Princess," Ais Wallenstein.
She walked slowly up beside Lefiya.
"It's already been three months since I converted to Loki Familia and we started living together, hasn't it?"
"Mm."
"Time really does fly."
For the first time, Filvis felt time pass so quickly. Before, she had only felt that way when she was at Dionysus's side, but now simply being with Fiya gave her the same feeling.
"That 'Sword Princess' left before I joined, didn't she? Lefiya, do you have any idea where she went?"
"Mm…"
Being asked so directly, the answer sprang immediately to Lefiya's mind.
"I think Miss Ais is with that person."
"That person?"
Filvis didn't understand right away who Lefiya meant.
"You know… that person… the one with the white cloak."
Lefiya tried to explain in a hurry, but she didn't dare say his name aloud. Instead, she used the strongest impression he left on anyone.
Filvis instantly understood who "that person" referred to.
"Him."
The Godslayer who engineered the fall three months ago, the man who killed the god Dionysus—she would never forget him.
"If she's with him, you don't have to worry. He's far more dangerous than a Level 7. With his strength, what situation could possibly threaten him?"
Lefiya understood what Filvis meant.
If Ais was with that man, she wouldn't encounter any danger. And yet, Lefiya couldn't suppress the unwillingness rising in her chest. It wasn't aimed at him—but whenever that man was mentioned, a deep, instinctive displeasure always welled up inside her.
"Maybe… it's jealousy."
Lefiya didn't want to admit it, but that was the only answer she could reach.
"Jealousy, huh."
Filvis nodded knowingly. No wonder Lefiya had been acting like this lately.
Ever since she joined the familia and started living with Lefiya, Filvis had often heard her talk about the "Sword Princess," always with admiration and respect shining in her eyes.
It was easy to imagine how Lefiya had always idolized the "Sword Princess."
And now, seeing the Sword Princess interacting closely with someone else, of course she would feel jealous.
"So, Lefiya, do you like the 'Sword Princess'?"
"Eh?"
The sudden, straightforward question stunned Lefiya into silence. Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she looked utterly flustered.
"Like… I don't know."
"I just know she always shone so brightly. On every expedition, she was always at the very front. Sometimes, it felt like she had wings on her back. Facing the raging 'Monster Feast,' she never showed fear or hesitation."
"Back then, I was just an ordinary mage, only able to learn under Miss Riveria. She never said it outright, but I could feel I was being acknowledged back then."
As she spoke, the admiration in Lefiya's eyes dimmed, replaced by the reflection of her former self—clutching her staff, unable to chant in front of monsters.
"But at that time, I couldn't Chant at all when facing monsters. I could only shrink back in fear. And the one who saved me… was Miss Ais."
From those simple words, Filvis fully understood where Lefiya's admiration for the Sword Princess came from.
It wasn't strange at all. The weak longing for the strong was natural.
Seeing someone so dazzling made you want to become like them—made you want to grow and keep moving forward.
"Lefiya, you're no longer that timid adventurer who trembled before monsters."
Filvis's tone made clear how much Lefiya had changed.
"Yeah… I know."
Lefiya was proud of her growth. She was no longer that cowardly girl—she had the strength to protect herself, and even protect others.
But…
Thinking about Ais again, Lefiya's expression drooped once more.
"But after getting stronger, I feel like I'm drifting even farther away from Miss Ais."
The person she admired was still running far ahead. Even though she chased with all her effort, the distance between them felt as if it only continued to widen.
It made Lefiya feel lost.
And anxious.
"Filvis… am I becoming… unimportant?"
She feared her growth was too slow—that she wouldn't be able to keep up with Ais, and would eventually be left behind.
"Pfft~"
Filvis couldn't help bursting into laughter.
"Pfft…!"
Lefiya's cute, pink cheeks puffed up in indignation. She had been serious! How could this person laugh at her?
"Hahaha—sorry, Lefiya, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just… what you said was way too funny."
To Filvis, Lefiya's worry was completely unnecessary.
"If you think you're not growing fast enough to keep up with others, then you're very mistaken."
"The magic you wield, and the Skills you possess—are exceptionally rare."
"And the power of the magic you use now is already on par with Lady Riveria."
"Your Status may still be far from hers, but your Skills bridge that gap."
Filvis steadied her expression and spoke seriously.
"Someone like you won't be abandoned, nor will you ever become unimportant."
"It's just… the person you're comparing yourself to—that star—probably has her own goals. Her rapid growth definitely has reasons you don't know about."
"Reasons… I don't know?"
Lefiya wanted to say there weren't any reasons she didn't know—but could she really be certain?
She hesitated.
She wasn't sure.
Perhaps only Riveria would know.