Ais obediently turned around and brushed aside her golden hair, revealing the porcelain skin of her back that wasn't covered by clothing or armor. A few faint red marks marred her otherwise flawless back.
"Roland, my back is a little itchy," Ais said, her face as expressionless as ever.
Sometimes Roland truly wondered why Ais was so fond of backless outfits. He wasn't sure if it was Loki's twisted sense of humor or some other specific reason.
Pouring some Elixir onto his palm, Roland reached out and applied it to the wounds on Ais's back. Once he finished, Ais picked up the bottle, seemingly intending to return the favor. However, after scanning him several times, she couldn't find a single wound.
Roland stopped her and explained, "My recovery speed is quite high; these minor scratches heal in no time."
Ais nodded in conviction. By now, she had ceased to be surprised by any strange phenomenon occurring around Roland.
"Well then, let's eat. Let's see what we have... do you want this?" Roland picked up a piece of fried meat and held it out to her.
"I do! Ah—" Ais opened her mouth with anticipation.
This girl is definitely a bit too lively around me, Roland thought. It's not a bad thing, and Riveria and the others would probably be happy to see her like this, but what's the reason?
Watching Ais enjoy her food, Roland voiced the question on his mind. "Ais, we haven't actually met that many times, yet you trust me so much. Why is that?"
Ais's expression made it clear she didn't quite understand the question. Roland decided to be more direct. "Does Ais like me?" he asked, feeding her another bite.
"I like Roland very much," she replied seriously after swallowing.
"Why?"
Ais began counting on her fingers. "Roland gives me fried potato puffs. You encountered an Evil God just like I did. You kill the same monsters. You use 'Wind,' and you give me gifts. Also, Roland is very strong, and you're going to teach me 'Wind.'"
You're basically just listing everything that's happened, Roland thought. But I get it. You're strong and want to know how I became strong.
"Alright, I get it. You don't have to say anymore, Ais," Roland said, patting her head to stop her mumbling. "Both of us will definitely get stronger. I promise."
Though Ais felt Roland might have misinterpreted something, she was happy at the mention of getting stronger. "Mm! I believe in Roland!"
After their meal, the two began a new round of adventure.
The 21st Floor.
Beneath the earth, a creature resembling a prehistoric mammoth lumbered forward, crushing everything in its path. The "Colossal Idiot" or "Dummy Mammoth"—the largest common monster of the middle floors. Upon spotting them, it charged.
The monster lived up to its nickname. It trampled through thickets only to crash straight into a tree trunk even larger than itself, getting its tusks firmly lodged.
Roland let out a speechless laugh. He leapt onto the monster's back and split its forehead, claiming the Magic Stone. Nearby, Ais was engaged with a pack of Lizardmen. Her small frame dodged nimbly before her pace exploded like lightning, her rapier leaving fatal silver trails across their bodies.
To a Level 3 like Ais, these monsters were no threat. If Roland hadn't needed to adapt to his sword, Ais could have reached the 26th floor alone. She couldn't pass the 27th only because she couldn't swim—a fear born from the time Riveria tossed her into the water for calling her an "old lady."
Roland jumped down and asked, "Ais, do you want to go deeper, or go to a safe floor to practice wind magic?"
Ais pointed toward the exit. "I want to know Roland's way of becoming stronger."
"Then let's go. Get on my back, it's faster." Ais climbed on and held tight.