Chapter 351: Ais's Self-Doubt

And those Level 6s at the apex of Orario, like Finn, have been stuck at this level for years, unable to inch forward.

Even after experiencing fierce battles and adventures of the same caliber as their fight against "Childe", they still couldn't break through their bottlenecks upon returning.

However, Aiden guessed they should be close.

Although the main force that finally subjugated "Childe" in that battle was Ottar of the Freya Familia, Finn and the others also gained a considerable portion of the Great Feat in the preceding battles.

That final push might just happen during their next Expedition.

When Aiden and his group finally walked out of the Guild's doors, the roaring din behind them seemed to be cut off by an invisible wall.

The sunlight fell upon them, dispelling some of the coldness brought back from the Dungeon, but it couldn't dispel the complex gazes—a mixture of awe, jealousy, and inquiry—that stuck to their backs.

Today, the Focalors Familia is no longer a nameless group in Orario.

Its reputation is like the midday sun, even enough to be mentioned in the same breath as those entrenched A-Rank Familias with First-Class Adventurers.

What this reputation brings is endless trouble.

The ornate doors of the Palais Mermonia have practically become Orario's new tourist attraction.

Every day, newcomers from all over the world harboring dreams of becoming heroes come knocking, hoping to join this Familia that has created countless miracles.

Of course, they are all politely turned away.

Even so, the people coming to try their luck continue in an endless stream.

After all, the precedents of Daphne and Cassandra, the two lucky ones, have given too many people illusory hope.

And this time, once the news of both of them leveling up to Level 3 spreads, the entrance to the Palais Mermonia will probably become even more lively.

I'm glad Astrea and the others are helping out, Aiden rejoiced inwardly. Otherwise, just dealing with these enthusiastic visitors would truly make their patron goddess, with her already understaffed Focalors Familia, cry and throw a tantrum.

Speaking of the Astrea Familia, they have formally returned to Orario and re-registered with the Guild.

However, they are now merely a newly formed Familia, and Ryuu hasn't officially rejoined the Astrea Familia either.

This is mainly to protect Ryuu.

After all, the wanted poster for "Gale" hasn't been revoked, making it unsuitable for her to operate openly with much fanfare.

Moreover, Ryuu offended many people back then. If those former enemies knew she was still alive, they definitely wouldn't let it go and would bring trouble to the reborn Astrea Familia.

Therefore, Ryuu now lives a double life.

On one side, hiding her identity alongside the resurrected Alise, she leads Cecil and other newcomers through Spartan-like rigorous training in the Upper Floors of the Dungeon. On the other side, she remains the green-haired elven waitress at the Hostess of Fertility.

To her, that pub has long since become a second home—a sanctuary she could never easily abandon.

The Astrea Familia has also moved out of the Palais Mermonia and returned to their former headquarters—the Stardust Garden right next door.

The two headquarters are in close proximity, making visits extremely convenient.

This has also led to another problem that gives Furina a headache: Astrea shamelessly brings Alise and the others over to freeload for meals almost every single day.

In response to this, Furina has adopted an unprecedentedly defensive posture.

She is very aware that this Goddess of Justice harbors impure thoughts toward her proudest Captain, her Aiden.

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Palais Mermonia, Training Ground.

The crisp sound of wooden swords clashing, accompanied by sharp whistling through the air, echoed across the empty field.

Pure white slashes of light, like tangible lightning, shot forth from the wooden sword in Aiden's hand, leaving shocking sword marks on the hard, specially made stone floor.

He didn't utilize the Everlasting Flames that could melt all things; using merely pure technique supplemented by the instantaneous boost of his Alpha Inforce, he elevated the physical phenomenon of a mortal swinging a sword into a realm bordering on magic.

Opposite him, Ais's figure was as fast as a phantom.

Emerald green wind wrapped around her, the proof of Ariel's activation.

Time and time again, she tried to compress and condense that flowing wind onto her blade, and then, like Aiden, release it as a flying slash.

But every single time, it ended in failure.

The formed whirlwind would always scatter the moment it left the blade, turning into powerless air currents.

"Ms. Ais, you can do it!"

On the sidelines, the spectating Lefiya clenched her small fists to cheer Ais on, but the depths of her azure eyes were filled with unconcealed worry.

A month had passed since Ais asked Aiden to teach her the Lumina Slash.

This genius, renowned as the Sword Princess, had encountered a bottleneck on the path of swordsmanship for the very first time.

Lefiya could clearly feel that Ais was becoming increasingly eager, her usual well-like calm being replaced by an emotion known as anxiety.

It was another fierce exchange.

Instead of retreating, Aiden advanced, thrusting his wooden sword at a tricky angle to precisely parry Ais's rapid slash that carried the momentum of the wind.

Clang!

With a muffled impact, the wooden swords in their hands trembled violently.

They were both using the most ordinary wooden training swords to prevent accidental injury during sparring.

Though everyone knew that for swordsmen of their caliber, even a dry branch in their hands was no different from a lethal weapon.

But this was always better than letting the blood-drinking Desperate directly collide with the Godslayer: Surtr, which could burn all things to ashes.

"You're rushing it a bit, Ais."

Aiden's voice was very soft, yet it transmitted clearly into Ais's ears, like a pool of clear spring water instantly extinguishing the anxious flame in her heart.

He looked into Ais's beautiful golden eyes, which were currently clouded with a faint layer of confusion.

"The more anxious you are, the less likely you are to succeed."

Hearing this, Ais's body stiffened slightly before she withdrew her sword and stepped back.

The wind wrapping around her also dissipated, as if it had never appeared.

She remained silent for a moment before whispering, "...Sorry."

There was an unconcealable frustration in her voice, and even a hint of self-abandonment.

Aiden had been teaching her so earnestly; even when returning from the perilous Dungeon, bearing fatigue that had yet to fully fade, he still patiently stayed here to practice with her.

But she... she just couldn't grasp it.

She even began to doubt herself. Did she simply lack the aptitude? Would she never be able to learn this technique called the Lumina Slash that surpassed the limits of mortal sword skills?

This intense self-doubt dulled her sword, causing the sword techniques she inherited from her father—which had long since become a part of her very blood and bones—to become sluggish and unsmooth.

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