Ais Wallenstein!
Noah's mind reeled as he stared at the young girl before him, his entire body freezing in place.
It really was her!
But something was strange.
The Ais Wallenstein in his memory should have been around 16 years old, not this seemingly immature little girl...
This version of Ais Wallenstein, different from his memories, made him realize something.
'Tch.'
'Am I an idiot?'
'Why did I assume time was on my side?'
The world doesn't revolve around an ordinary mortal like him.
It seemed that while this was indeed the Orario he knew, there were slight differences.
The story he was familiar with hadn't even begun yet.
That rabbit-like protagonist of destiny was probably still listening to his grandfather's stories about harem right now.
Thinking this, Noah... grew even more cautious.
Even though that annoying bastard Hermes had dragged him to Orario, he had always felt he didn't need to panic too much.
Because he believed that by properly utilizing his foreknowledge, it would be easy to avoid getting involved with those people of destiny.
Orario was vast.
So vast that gods could be seen everywhere, yet so vast that ordinary people could spend their entire lives without ever glimpsing the faces of those important figures.
Yes.
Just focus on yourself.
For someone as ordinary as him, getting involved with the protagonists of this world wouldn't be easy anyway.
That's what he had believed until just moments ago.
Now he was suddenly awakened.
He was in a real world now, a world with its own history and development.
Everything he knew combined was merely a drop in the ocean of this world's long history.
At least he had come to his senses in time.
But why! Of all people, why did it have to be this girl who helped him!
Was this really a coincidence?
Or was this another "trial" arranged by that bastard god Hermes?
It seemed he had still underestimated the so-called gods.
Noticing his unpleasant expression and how he had stopped eating, Ais tilted her head and asked.
"Don't you like it? Jagamarukun?"
"Uh..."
Noah examined the little girl before him again, mentally trying to convince himself that she was the future Sword Princess who would become the most dazzling figure in all of Orario.
Though she was still very young now.
Noah said gratefully, "I like it very much, it's especially delicious. Thank you."
"Nee-san..."
"Huh?"
"I don't need your repayment, but I want you to call me Ais-neesan."
The girl had somehow fixated on the "nee-san" title.
Indeed, his current age seemed slightly younger than the girl's, by at most about one year.
But calling this little girl "nee-san"?
What was this, some punishment game or social suicide challenge?
The girl's expectant gaze was firmly locked on him.
Despite her adorable appearance, it made him feel like he was being stared down by a lion.
'This pressure...'
'Gulp'.
"Ais... nee-san."
Noah clenched his fists and spoke the words with humiliation.
The moment Ais heard this address, her fair cheeks quickly flushed red - not from shyness, but from genuine delight!
To the girl's ears, this address sounded so pleasing it made her happier than ever before.
Ais looked at the Jagamarukun in her own hand, hesitated for three seconds, then offered it to him as well.
"Call me... one more time."
"..."
'What kind of bizarre transaction was this?'
Noah's eye twitched several times as he looked at the girl who seemed to have tasted sweetness and wanted to continue the deal.
He silently accepted the Jagamarukun.
No choice, one really wasn't enough to fill him up!
All for survival.
Nothing shameful about it.
"Ais-neesan, could you buy me some yakisoba too?"
...
The young boy and girl sat together on a bench.
When Noah lifted the lid of the yakisoba, the wafting aroma made his mouth water profusely.
Ais showed no particular reaction, just kept watching him.
Being stared at always creates pressure.
For Noah, fortunately, he could distract himself with the food before him.
"Do you have a Familia?" The girl suddenly asked.
Since Noah looked like he was wandering around, that's why she asked.
Noah carefully considered how to answer this question.
He definitely couldn't say he had no Familia.
Otherwise, following this development, he would likely end up joining the Loki Familia like Ais.
That would be quite problematic.
Although it might not be clear at this point in time, the Loki Familia would eventually become one of Orario's two great Familias alongside the Freya Familia.
Because of this, whenever major events affecting all of Orario occurred, the Loki Familia was always at the center of them.
Moreover, the Loki Familia operated purely on meritocracy with clear objectives - conquering the Dungeon.
The waters there were no shallower than Orario's, hiding fearsome enemies.
Getting involved would cost more lives than anyone could afford.
"Well, yes..." Noah lied.
Simultaneously, a flicker of disappointment passed through the girl's eyes.
"I see."
"Mm, I should be heading back soon. Thank you very much for today."
Noah decided to make his escape early.
"..."
The girl seemed somewhat reluctant.
But ultimately, she nodded silently.
Noah walked some distance away, then looked back to find the girl still sitting on that bench.
He could vaguely make out that she was still watching him.
That distant, lonely figure in his sight inexplicably stirred some guilt within him.
Hesitating for a moment, he raised his hand and waved goodbye to the distant Ais, softly murmuring. "Bye."
Having bid farewell to the girl, Noah now had to seriously consider how to survive from here on out.
As the old saying goes, with a skill in hand, you can make a living anywhere.
Thanks to his innate talent in this life, he had already created several pieces of high-performance equipment entirely on his own.
Back in the small village, the things he made had no market, and ordinary farmers and hunters couldn't afford the high prices.
Now it was different.
This was Orario!
The place least lacking for wealthy adventurers!
'Hehehe, for the sake of my comfortable life, please allow me to squeeze every last coin from your hard-earned money!'