"Lil Rafaga!"

  She launched herself forward, tears of blood streaming from her eyes as she drove into a deadly thrust toward Udaeus.

  The monster roared in response and stabbed forward with its massive sword.

  Seeing it coming, Ais twisted her body at the last instant, maneuvering around the blade and using its momentum as a foothold... sliding along the length of the sword itself.

  "This is my win!"

  In the very next second, Ais had already appeared in front of Udaeus.

  "Ahhhhhhh!"

  Her scream tore through the battlefield as she burst straight through the monster's skull, the wind-wrapped blade obliterating it entirely.

  Udaeus was left headless.

  "I... did it!"

  The words escaped her lips... but reality caught up just as fast.

  She was falling.

  Ais tried to adjust her posture mid-air, desperately attempting to land safely, only for a sharp, searing pain to explode throughout her body.

  She lost control.

  Her body crashed into the ground and skidded several meters across the stone floor.

  'I broke my arm... I can't feel anything below my right ankle.'

  'I think... I broke several ribs too.'

  Her vision flickered violently, blurring in and out.

  Even so, she forced herself to lift her head.

  Behind her, Udaeus' massive body finally collapsed with a thunderous thud, dust clouds erupting across the battlefield.

  'It's not over yet...'

  She bit down on her lower lip and, with tremendous effort, pushed herself up.

  'I can still fight.'

  Even without a head, the monster rex Udaeus would not truly die unless its magic stone was destroyed.

  'Push through the pain.'

  Every inch of her body screamed in protest as Ais reached for her sword and shakily forced herself to stand.

  'I want to become stronger.'

  Her legs wobbled beneath her weight, breath ragged and uneven, yet she still advanced... step by step... toward the fallen monster.

  "Haah... haah... haah..."

  When she stood before Udaeus, she raised her sword high above her head and brought it down in a decisive strike against the human-sized magic stone.

  The blade split it cleanly in two.

  The magic stone shattered, breaking apart into countless motes of light as Udaeus' body slowly crumbled into ash... marking the complete defeat of the 37th Floor's monster rex.

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  A near-impossible feat.

  The solo subjugation of a floor boss.

  Accomplished by none other than Ais Wallenstein.

  As the reality of her victory finally sank in, her body gave out.

  Her grip loosened, and her sword slipped from her fingers, hitting the ground with a dull metallic clang.

  The world spun violently in her vision, her legs no longer able to support her.

  Just as she began to collapse, a figure appeared before her.

  An arm caught her mid-fall, stopping her from hitting the ground.

  "Riveria..."

  Ais spoke weakly as Riveria smiled and gently laid her down.

  Reaching into her bag, Riveria took out a potion and carefully helped Ais drink it, then began chanting her healing magic.

  A soft green light enveloped Ais' body, and she let out a faint breath as her shoulders finally relaxed, her eyes slowly closing.

  As the treatment continued, as if having reached a decision, Ais opened her mouth once more.

  "Riveria... that red-haired tamer... Revis... she called me Aria. My mother."

  Riveria flinched, her eyes widening slightly at the revelation.

  "Ais... your secret—"

  Her words trailed off as she turned her head toward Judas, who stood just behind them.

  There was no doubt in her mind that he had heard everything.

  "I trust him..."

  Ais said softly, her gaze shifting to Judas.

  The tension in her eyes eased, replaced with a quiet certainty.

  Riveria let out a small sigh and shook her head.

  In the end, it was Ais' secret.

  Who she chose to share it with was her decision alone.

  "I'm sure you have many questions, but first, we should let Ais rest."

  Riveria said calmly, directing her gaze at Judas,

  'Well... I already knew her secret...'

  That wasn't something he could exactly say, so Judas simply nodded.

  With a snap of his fingers, a dome-shaped barrier formed around them, concealing their presence and ensuring no monsters would wander close.

  "Thank you."

  Riveria said.

  For several minutes, they allowed Ais to rest as the healing magic continued to mend her injuries.

  Sitting atop a nearby rock, Judas turned his head as Riveria approached him.

  "Ahem... I must admit, I'm surprised."

  "I expected you to ask us something."

  "Well... I kind of already knew."

  Judas replied with a shrug.

  "I'm sure you've noticed, but I have some connections to spirits. Her spirit blood... she can't really hide it from me."

  Riveria gave a wry smile.

  "I thought as much. From your lukewarm reaction, it seems I worried too much."

  She then met his gaze directly.

  "As you're likely aware, this is a secret known only to a handful of people... Finn, Gareth, Loki, and myself."

  "Tiona, Tione, Bete, and the others remain unaware."

  "Don't worry, I know how to keep my mouth shut."

  Judas said simply, meeting her gaze.

  "If that's the case, then I'm relieved."

  Riveria replied, nodding.

  Her eyes drifted back to Ais, who was peacefully asleep beside the rock, before returning to Judas.

  'Before I realized it... Ais had already grown close to him.'

  Among everyone in the Loki Familia, Ais was likely the one Judas shared the strongest bond with.

  'Connection to the spirits, huh? Is it because of her spirit bloodline?'

  'Ais and Judas... in some ways, their personalities do resemble each other. Maybe that's why they get along so well.'

  Riveria had noticed it more than once... the gentleness in Ais' gaze whenever she looked at him, something distinctly different from how she regarded everyone else.

  'Ah... youth... I suppose Ais has finally reached the age where she can take interest in a boy other than singlemindedly thinking about getting stronger.'

  As her caretaker, and more than that, a mother figure, Riveria couldn't help but smile faintly.

  For far too long, she had been burdened by worry... by Ais' self-destructive tendencies, her single-minded obsession with growing stronger no matter the cost.

  She genuinely hoped that Judas' presence in her life would continue to be a positive influence.

  As for Ais' romantic life, Riveria had no intention of intervening.

  Whether the two of them would ever become a couple was something only they themselves could decide.

  'Although...'

  Glancing at the two of them now, a sudden idea crossed her mind.

  "Judas, would you do me a favor?"

  Riveria asked, prompting Judas to turn toward her once more.

  ...

  Ais' eyelashes fluttered.

  The first thing she became aware of was the feeling something firm yet gentle beneath her head.

  "...?"

  Her golden eyes slowly opened.

  What greeted her wasn't the ceiling of the dungeon.

  Ais froze.

  Her gaze drifted upward.

  Judas was sitting against the rock behind him.

  His back resting casually as his eyes were closed, his expression calm.

  Her head was resting comfortably on his lap, cradled there as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

  "...!"

  A faint sound escaped her lips before she could stop it.

  Judas' eyes opened immediately.

  "You're awake."

  His voice was low, unhurried.

  For a moment, Ais simply stared at him.

  Then heat rushed to her face.

  ---

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