Looking at her own status sheet, Ais' expression shifted into astonishment.
'What is this?'
An increase of 102 status points... it might seem low, but it was actually far higher than her previous updates in the past year, where she usually gained only fifteen to twenty points.
It was no wonder she was surprised.
This was the reality for most adventurers in the Lower World... such growth might seem slow, but it was perfectly normal.
'My magic grew so much... by forty-two points.'
For Ais Wallenstein, who chased strength harder than anyone else, this was a great piece of news.
"What happened?..."
She murmured under her breath, almost inaudible.
Loki caught it anyway.
"Will you look at that! It seems our princess is happy."
"You've been complaining about your slow growth for a while, even though you've been improving faster than anyone else at your level already."
The goddess leaned back on her bed, arms behind her head, a knowing smirk forming on her lips.
But her words fell on deaf ears, as Ais was lost in her own thoughts.
'I defeated many enemies during the expedition, but I didn't do anything special... except for that giant unknown monster species I fought, it was strong but not difficult to kill.'
'This is abnormal. Last time, my abilities only grew by thirty-five points... and that was when I took down the Monster Rex, Amphisbaena, on the 27th floor.'
Loki, noticing her confusion, let out a small sigh.
The teasing expression faded, replaced by something softer.
"I wasn't planning to tell you this."
She began slowly, her voice losing its usual playfulness.
Ais turned to look at her.
Loki met her gaze, her eyes gleaming faintly in the dim room.
"But more than half of those status points didn't come from the expedition."
A pause.
"They came from your sparring match against Judas."
Ais blinked once. Twice.
"...What?"
Loki tilted her head.
"You heard me. The growth surge in your parameters... especially your Magic... it all spiked right after that duel. My divine blood doesn't lie, you know?"
Silence filled the room.
Ais stared at the paper again, her thoughts clouded.
Her battle with Judas... she remembered it vividly.
It wasn't a desperate struggle for survival, nor a life-or-death match that forced her to surpass her limits.
In fact, compared to the battles she'd faced deep within the Dungeon... against floor bosses, monster hordes, and even high-level adventurers from other factions like Evilus... it was tame.
Even though she had lost, she had felt no despair.
If anything, there was a quiet certainty in her heart that if she had been fully recovered, if her body hadn't still been aching from the expedition, then her chances of victory might have tilted in her favor.
And yet...
'Just from fighting him... I grew this much?'
A faint tremor ran through her fingertips as she recalled his eyes... calm yet terrifyingly focused.
She looked up again, confusion flickering into something else... curiosity.
If she was already curious before, then now... that curiosity burned brighter, almost feverish.
There was a spark in her golden eyes now...not frustration, but something else entirely.
Resolve.
'I want to fight him again.'
The thought formed quietly, naturally, like a promise to herself.
When she finally rose from the bed, Loki watched her with an irritated click of her tongue.
'Did I just help Judas win over my Ais?'
The more she thought about it, the deeper her frown became.
'But compared to when she threw herself to the dungeon, risking her life desperate for even a slither of growth, this is much better.'
Although she didn't like it, for the sake of Ais' well-being, she didn't regret her decision.
But just thinking about it made her want to pull her hair out in frustration.
'Right... Judas, from what I see, he seems to be the type who is not interested in stuff like that.'
She consoled herself as she watched Ais made her way to the door.
When she opened it, the dim hallway light spilled in... and Judas was still there, waiting patiently.
"Done already?"
He looked up from where he was leaning against the wall.
"It's your turn."
Ais nodded, stepping aside.
"Thanks."
Judas said with a small smile, brushing past her into the room.
As the door closed behind him, Ais paused for a moment, her hand still on the knob.
She glanced back toward the faint glow seeping from under the door, her eyes unreadable.
'Should I tell him about my past?'
The thought echoed faintly in her mind as Ais lingered in the dim corridor outside Loki's room.
When they first met, she had a faint feeling that he was like her.
But after seeing him control her wind during their duel, that feeling turned into certainty.
And even if she was wrong... even if he wasn't the same as her... Ais was convinced that Judas had some kind of connection to the spirits.
Just then, a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Ais? What are you doing standing around for?"
Turning her head, Ais saw Tiona and Tione walking toward her with their usual energy, a few younger members of the Familia trailing behind them.
"You must want to get your status updated too, huh?"
Tiona said with her usual cheerful grin.
"Everyone, I've already finished mine. I was just about to go back to my room and rest."
Ais shook her head lightly.
"Ah, really?"
"That was fast!"
Tiona blinked, surprised.
The golden-haired girl gave a small, polite nod before walking past them, her expression calm but her steps faintly lighter than before.
Watching her leave, Tiona leaned toward her sister.
"Hey... is it just me, or does Ais seem like she's in a good mood?"
Tione crossed her arms and nodded.
"Yeah... she must've been happy with the results of her update."
...
Back in her room, Ais quietly pushed open the door.
The soft glow of the lamp bathed the walls in gold as she placed her sword down beside the bed and sank into the sheets.
Her mind, however, refused to rest.
'I don't know... telling him about my past might be too soon right now.'
She rolled onto her side and reached into her pocket, pulling out the folded status sheet.
The parchment crinkled softly as she unfolded it, eyes tracing the neatly written numbers.
For a moment, the stoic swordswoman allowed herself a small, satisfied smile.
'It's been three years since I became a Level 5... and all this time, I never had any significant growth.'
Her golden eyes softened.
'Until today.'
In the first two years, her growth had been decent, but it was only in the past year that it began to slow down.
She was nearing the limits of a level 5, and the frustration of that realization weighed heavily on her.
She folded the paper again and set it gently on the nightstand.
'I want to become stronger.'
Her arm rose, reaching toward the flickering lamp above as her thoughts drifted.
A face surfaced in her mind... dark hair, purple eyes, that composed yet unreadable expression.
'The only difference is the color of their eyes.'
For a brief moment, Ais felt a strange pang in her chest.
Judas reminded her of her father... the same black hair and a similar presence.
There was a quiet steadiness about him, the kind that drew others in without effort.
And the way he carried himself, calm and composed, much like the man she once looked up to.
'If I want to get stronger... if I want to surpass the current me... then he's the key.'
Ais let her arm fall back to her side, her eyelids growing heavy.
'Judas... I'm glad I met you.'
With that thought, her breathing steadied, and the quiet room was filled only by the soft hum of the lamp as she finally drifted into sleep.
---
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