Danmachi: Strongest Familia

Her water skills weren't strong enough to dive into the waterfall and give chase. 

Frustrated, she punched the air, venting her dissatisfaction in the only way she could. 

After fighting for so long, to have the opponent escape like this—and even expose Haruhime's ability—was infuriating. 

If she had known it would turn out like this, it would have been better to let Haruhime strengthen her at the start. 

At LV7, she could have easily subdued the red-haired woman in a short time, avoiding future trouble altogether. 

Sure enough, hesitation leads to failure. 

Now, not only had she failed to capture the enemy, but vital intelligence had been exposed as well. 

It was a complete loss—a situation where nothing was gained and everything was compromised. 

This would undoubtedly bring harsh scolding for them, especially on her. She might even turn into a cautionary tale for her colleagues. 

As the battle ended, the golden light surrounding Ais slowly dissipated. 

The surge of strength she had felt moments ago vanished in an instant. Her wounds throbbed with renewed pain, and her body felt heavy and sluggish again. 

A fleeting sense of loss crossed Ais's mind. 

But as she turned and saw Haruhime, she couldn't help but approach her. Ais's delicate, expressionless face drew close to Haruhime's, her curiosity barely concealed. 

"What was that just now? Your magic is incredible!" Ais asked excitedly, her tone tinged with awe. There was a faint glimmer of desire in her eyes as she stared at Haruhime.

So the people of the Sol Familia were fighting with the aid of such powerful support magic. 

If she had been blessed with this magic earlier, she was certain she wouldn't have lost to the red-haired woman. 

But alas, Haruhime wasn't from her Familia. 

Still, Ais couldn't help but wish for such an ally. 

—

Sure enough, once Haruhime's magic was revealed, it was inevitable that she'd draw attention.

Even someone as composed as Ais, with her relentless drive for strength, was no exception.

Ordinary adventurers, too, often craved the boost offered by the Magic Mallet after experiencing it firsthand.

It was almost addictive—who could resist the thrill of temporarily leveling up and gaining such immense power? 

To her credit, Ais remained polite and reserved despite her obvious eagerness. 

"It's just a stronger type of enhancement magic. I hope you can keep today's events a secret," Irelia interjected on Haruhime's behalf, her tone firm but diplomatic. 

Naturally, she wasn't about to reveal the true nature of the magic mallet's abilities. 

Even with its brief exposure during the battle, its full potential couldn't easily be discerned. 

The effects of the magic were similar to conventional strengthening spells, and Ais seemed to accept Irelia's explanation without question. 

"I see." 

Though Ais promised to keep things a secret, her eyes continued to follow Haruhime. 

She didn't bother hiding it—her gaze was fixed straight on Haruhime. 

Even though Ais was a beauty, her intense stare made Haruhime feel a bit unnerved. 

"Miss Ais's eyes are terrifying... it's like she's going to devour me," Haruhime thought nervously. 

"Well, Ais, shouldn't you return to your teammates? They might be worried about you," Irelia said, striding in front of Haruhime and skillfully blocking Ais's view. 

She couldn't let this child keep staring at Haruhime. Maybe it was just her imagination, but Irelia had a nagging feeling that Ais had some peculiar intentions regarding Haruhime. 

"I just praised you for being reserved earlier, and now you're acting like a completely different person," Irelia thought to herself, exasperated. 

However, Ais showed no intention of giving up. Despite the obvious hint in Irelia's words, she remained oblivious, her stubbornness akin to that of a natural airhead. 

Fortunately, the tension didn't last long. By the time Rivira and the rest of the Loki Familia finished dealing with the monsters in the small town, Irelia had already cleaned up most of the battlefield. 

Though the giant flower had caused a commotion earlier, its offspring left behind plenty of magic stones. 

Irelia didn't know the exact value of these peculiar magic stones, but she still collected them as instructed. 

They were spoils of their hard work, and she had no intention of leaving even one to Rivira's profiteers. 

Once they returned, she planned to report the situation to her God, including the strange events in the dungeon. 

First, there was the deep floor, then the safe floor, and now monsters causing trouble even in Orario itself. 

Someone had to be behind this. Otherwise, how could monsters act so openly and deliberately? 

Though they hadn't managed to capture the red-haired woman, at least they'd gathered some useful information. 

Hopefully, the merits of their actions would offset their failures, and they'd avoid a scolding. 

——

"Are you all right?" 

"An opponent of that level stands no chance against my blades," Irelia replied triumphantly, reveling in her success. 

After all, they had won the battle, and this was her moment to bask in glory. 

"By the way, quickly take that girl back. She's seriously injured and needs treatment immediately," she added, cutting the conversation short. 

She had no intention of lingering. There was a report to deliver to her Familia, and she had no time to waste. 

Finn, noticing Irelia's urgency, hesitated briefly but had no reason to delay them. 

After all, they had assisted in saving a member of his Familia. 

"Thank you for your help this time," Finn said. 

"It was nothing. You're welcome," Irelia replied casually. 

With that, she quickly led Haruhime and the others out of the 18th floor exit. 

——

Back at the Sol Familia, Irelia wasted no time reporting what had happened on the 18th floor. 

She made sure to include details about Haruhime using the Magic Mallet on Ais. 

Riveria was momentarily speechless. 

What could she say? The events on the 18th floor had been an accident. 

There was no way Haruhime could have stood by and done nothing—it simply wasn't in her nature. 

"Well, it's out in the open now. It was bound to happen eventually," Sol said, shrugging as he tried to diffuse the tension. 

Honestly, he was surprised they had managed to keep it a secret for so long. 

Unlike the Isthar Familia, who kept Haruhime almost confined, their Familia had allowed her relative freedom, which naturally came with risks. 

Besides, it wasn't as if her full abilities had been exposed. At most, the Loki Familia would assume Haruhime's support magic was exceptionally strong. 

The true extent of her power—a level-up BUG—was something no one would believe without directly seeing the divine text. 

"As long as you all return safely, don't be so reckless next time," Riveria finally said, taking the opportunity to play the peacemaker. 

For now, she saw no need to play the villain in this situation.