It seems the Loki Familia expedition has returned to the surface.
I see.
It's the Loki Familia.
They've returned from their expedition.
We're finally back!
I feel so relieved now that the expedition's over.
Well, I'm still itching to fight since we had to turn around so early.
You're still going on about that?
I have nothing but regrets this time around.
All I did was slow you down.
You're one to talk, Lefiya. I told you, you'll get used to it soon.
But...
When we were fighting those monsters, I caused so much trouble for everyone.
Especially Miss Ais, who had to rescue me again.
Well then...
Why don't you try to help Ais out whenever we're here on the surface?
M-me?
Me, help out Miss Ais...?
The expedition has returned from the Dungeon.
Open the gates.
Sir! Open the gates!
Welcome hoooome!
Didja make it back safe?!
I've been so lonely, Lefiya!
Loki, zero casualties were suffered on this last expedition.
We weren't able to reach any further levels, but I'll give you a full report on that later.
Gotcha!
S-someone... Help m-
By the way, Lefiya...
Your boobs feel like they've gotten bigger, don'cha think?
N-no they haven't!
Then have they shrunk?
They haven't shrunk either!
Shrinky, dinky, sucks for you!
I said they haven't shrunk!
Welp, time to prepare for dinner! We're all gonna feast tonight!
Yeah!
Shrinky, dinky, apple pie!
Honestly...!
Back to life again!
Ah, this feels so good!
Even if I do want to help out Miss Ais... How do I go about doing that?
Let's just say she has troubles of her own, though different from yours...
I do get the feeling that she might be down about something.
Grrr...
Can I help you?
Miss Tiona?
Lefiya, you traitor...
They haven't shrunk at all!
That's what I told you!
Don't worry, Tiona!
I'll massage 'em til they're nice and big! Yoo-hoo!
Lefiya!
This again?!
I wonder what we're having for dinner. Please, wait! N..not there-! Wa-
I wonder what we're having for dinner. It's fine!
I hope it's something filling. It's fine!
Oh, Ais!
If you want your Status updated, come by after dinner!
I'm callin' it quits after ten people tonight.
Miss Ais really does seem down...
Even if it's none of my business, I want to help her.
Then, just maybe...
Thank you for cheering me up, Lefiya.
You made me feel so much better.
Oh, it was nothing at all!
As thanks...
Want to do it again?
P-petting... my head...?!
Wh-why, you're making me blush-
Lefiya? Are you all right?
Can we use the shower now?
I-I'm sorry!
Okay...!
Time to figure out a way to cheer up Miss Ais!
Come on in!
Hey! I thought you'd come, Ais. You're the first to arrive again.
Maybe the rest of 'em are holdin' back after all.
Don't wanna step on the Sword Princess' toes or nothin'.
Perhaps...
If you're curious, why don'cha try askin' around! You know, communicate and stuff.
You're so gorgeous no matter how many times I look at ya!
Uh-oh, I'm a lil bit tipsy, so there's a chance my hand might just slip and-
Oh, all sobered up now...
Just to remind ya, don't go showin' your back off to just anybody, all right?
I've got your Status locked up,
but if anyone ever sees it, they'll know anything and everything about your Skills and Abilities.
Even if the average guy can't read hieroglyphs, scholarly folk like Riveria are lurking around too.
Oh, you can read some too, right?
A little...
That's my girl!
There, all done!
Looks like Ais is getting pretty restless.
It's been, what, three years since she got to Lv.5?
She'll be hitting the peak of her Status soon.
Well, it's a road we've all traveled before.
No matter how hard you fight, the numbers hardly go up at all.
I get why she charges headfirst into battle.
She seems to be especially worried about it lately. Perhaps even feeling hopeless...
She wants to reach higher levels and grow stronger- more than anyone else.
In that case, the next thing on her mind would be...
A rank up, I'm sure.
So achieving the next big Feat, then.
This is Ais we're talking about. She won't want to wait around for long.
That depends. When the time comes, she might just have to accept it.
But...
Is there anything we can do about that stubbornness, or rather, that brooding personality of hers?
Look who's talking!
I think that Ais is starting to change little by little.
Having Lefiya around will make a big difference.
I think she brings something different to the table that Tione and Tiona can't.
Hm... The realization that people look up to her.
She has to learn to think about others at some point.
It can be a welcome feeling sometimes... Knowing that someone is chasing after you.
Lefiya...
Welcome back, Miss Ais!
What is it?
Um, I thought you might like one of these...
Take one?
Crystal Drops?
Yes. I've been saving them. Would you like one?
But... they're so valuable.
It's fine! Please, help yourself.
How is it?
It's good.
I'm so glad!
Miss Ais... I'll do my best to assist you however I can!
So please, feel better soon!
Okay...
Well, good night then!
I'm so glad she liked it.
Hank you, Lehiya.
Hanks to you ma belly is nih and hull.
Oh, it was nothing at all!
Av hanks...
Come here...
L-l-lay on your lap?!
O-oh dear! I couldn't possibly- It wouldn't be respectful...
But... I-if you'll allow me to!
Allow you to what?
It's late. Get some sleep.
Y-yes, Sir!
Operation: Cheer Up Miss Ais... Time to get to work!
I want to get Miss Ais something like this... But will something so expensive actually scare her away?
How about 10 million valis?
This is an incredibly high quality unicorn horn I picked up on our last expedition.
Surely you jest...
The quality does seem to be decent enough. But that's more than double the market value.
C-come now, Miss Tione.
If you ask for a price like that we won't be able to sell it...
Lefiya. We've come to sell an item as representatives of our Familia.
If we sell this for a pittance, will you still be able to show your face in front of the Boss?
That's your reasoning...?
9.5 million. I won't take anything less.
8.5 million. That's my limit.
I see...
Oh well. Guess I'll try somewhere else.
There are plenty of shops that would love to get their hands on this.
I'll settle for 9.2 million.
I accept your price.
Thanks, Amid! A friend in need is a friend indeed!
She's scary... Thanks, Amid! A friend in need is a friend indeed!
Whaaat?!
You want me to craft you a new weapon AGAIN?!
Yep!
Don't "yep" me! What happened to your Urga?
I spent day and night crafting that with a stupid amount of adamantite! It was my best work!
Mm... It melted.
Nooooo!
You really did a number on this again.
As their name suggests, unbreakable blades cannot be broken.
But if you aren't careful, they can lose their edge.
I've told you this before.
I'm sorry.
What the hell did you fight?
Acid that could melt through anything, and monsters that spewed that acid...
A lot of them...
I'll charge you the usual rate for the repairs, but it's gonna be about five days.
You can use this until it's done.
It's nowhere near an unbreakable blade, but the edge is sharp.
It'll take some time to get used to, though.
Alrighty! I'll come pick it up when it's finished then!
I'm gonna need Urga II pronto, 'kay?
Easy for you to say!
Sounds like they hate us even more now.
How'd things go for you two?
I got us a nice chunk of money!
I feel sorry for Amid...
Don't come crying to me when her God sends us another crazy request!
Miss Ais!
U-um...
It's cute.
It's just something cheap I found at the Dian Cecht Familia shop.
I thought that maybe you could use it as a good luck charm.
But, why...?
Why? Well, it's because... Um...
I'll keep it, then.
Great!
Hey!
Wanna head straight to the tavern for the post-expedition party?
We're meeting at The Hostess of Fertility, right?
Yeah! Loki's favorite!
If we take a look around the marketplace on the way, we should arrive right on time.
That reminds me, I think someone said there's a new potato popper flavor out.
I just got done saying that we're going to the party soon.
Thank goodness... I just got done saying that we're going to the party soon.
It looks like that cheered Miss Ais up a bit. I just got done saying that we're going to the party soon.
It looks like that cheered Miss Ais up a bit.
Everybody, nice work on that Dungeon crawl!
Tonight, we feast! Drink up, people!
YEAH!
These elixirs really are outrageous!
So are the prices...
What are you drinking, Miss Ais?
Water.
Come on, Boss, bottoms up!
I've still got plenty...
Ais!
Miss Tiona?!
All right!
Ais, it's about time you told everyone the story!
The story?
You know!
On the way back, a few minotaurs escaped, and you finished the last one on Level 5, right?
The time with Tomato Guy!
So, anyway, there's some newbie kid running around down there,
Miss Ais...? So, anyway, there's some newbie kid running around down there,
Miss Ais...? and he takes off, with that minotaur on his ass!
And know what happened?
Tomato Guy runs off somewhere, screaming.
I mean, man, what a loser!
I don't think it could have been helped-
Bete, that's enough.
It was our own error that allowed minotaurs from level 17 to escape.
You should be ashamed.
What? Is the trash talking trash to me? What did I do wrong?
Ais, what do you think?
For instance, who would you prefer, me or Tomato Guy? Well?!
Bete, you're drunk.
I asked you a question, Ais.
If that kid tried to woo you, would you accept? 'Cuz I don't think so!
With some lame-ass small fry who's weaker than you? He has no right to stand next to you!
Your own pride would never allow you to do it!
No small fry would suit Ais Wallenstein!
Bell!
What, someone skipping the bill?
Things are always hopping at Mama Mia's place!
Miss Ais...
Ais has been acting really strange ever since that party...
Think it's 'cuz she's just mad at Bete?
Not likely. He did make quite a scene, though.
What's that wolf up to now?
He's pouting because as soon as he sobered up he had to tell Loki about all the things he did last night.
Have you heard anything from Ais, Lefiya?
I haven't spoken to her since the party. I didn't know how to approach her...
I see.
If only we could take her out for a change of pace.
A change of pace...
What'd you have in mind?
Food! Lots of meat!
If only Ais were a simpleton like you.
What the hell's that supposed to mean?! You calling me a simpleton? A simpleton?!
A change of pace... What the hell's that supposed to mean?! You calling me a simpleton? A simpleton?!
Mother Hen has arrived.
It's probably best to trust Riveria with this sort of thing...
Isn't there anything we can do to help?
Um...
It's just an idea, but...
I see...
So that boy who ran out of the tavern was the same one you rescued from that minotaur.
Yes... I didn't notice him there at all.
So that's what got you so down.
I just assumed you had a problem of your own.
Well, I have some of those too...
So what do you want to do now?
I don't know.
But...
I should apologize, I think.
Right. Then that's exactly what you should do.
There's no need to panic.
I'm sure you'll meet again soon.
And when you do, you just have to find the words to say to him.
Ais!
Hey, feel like hanging out with us today?
We thought we might do a little shopping in town.
Well?
Oh, they got some new stuff in.
M-Miss Tiona!
When I suggested that we go shopping, I meant someplace a little more normal!
This IS normal.
Not for the general public!
Hey, I think Ais would look great in this one.
Ooh, I like it!
M-Miss Ais... wearing THAT...?
This place is no good! Let's try a shop that uses a little more cloth.
Hey, what about this one?
What do you think of this dress? It suits you perfectly!
The frills and the lace are just lovely!
It's my favorite one!
Your favorite, huh?
How do people walk in these...
Maybe menswear will be our best bet.
But Miss Ais can't dress like a man-
Hm? Miss Ais in men's attire...?
Might as well try a few different shops while we're at it.
My knight in shining armor... Might as well try a few different shops while we're at it.
True.
No way!
I object!
Absolutely not!
OUT OF THE QUESTION!
Nothing's giving me that wow factor yet.
I wonder why.
The clothes you guys are picking out are super weird!
How do I look...?
Y-you look amazing, Miss Ais!
Those are so perfect!
If Loki were here she'd be all over you!
You think?
I'll go and take care of the bill, then.
What?
It's my thanks to you for always taking such good care of me!
But...
Let Lefiya spoil you just this once.
Lefiya said she wanted cheer you up somehow, if only just a little.
Oops! Sorry, Adventurer! I'm in a bit of a hurry!
It's okay...
That was one of the goddesses, right?
Are you all right, Miss Tiona?
Tiona?
That goddess just now...
She had such a nice rack...!
There seem to be a lot of gods out and about today.
Now that you mention it, yeah...
Let's ask Loki about it later.
Okay.
I'm sorry, Lefiya...
You felt like you had to step on egg shells around me because I was feeling down...
And I didn't even notice...
I'm really sorry.
Ais...
You're wrong.
I wasn't stepping on egg shells around you...
I just wanted to be able to help you in some way.
I wanted to cheer you up.
You see, Ais?
Instead of "sorry," isn't there a better word you could use right now?
Thank you, Lefiya.
You're welcome, Miss Ais!
A carriage?
I wonder what it's for.
Welcome hooooome!
W-wait, help me!
You never learn do you, Lefiya?
Stop it! Hey!
Maybe she's actually waiting for it.
I'm not waiting for it! So soft and squishy! How's that?
Please, help me, Miss Ais! So soft and squishy! How's that?
Sorry, Lefiya.
Don't say sorry now!
I can't take it anymore!
HELP!
"Festivals and Courage"