"Anyway… thank you for saving me. Your weapon."
Arthas said, handing Wallenstein her fallen sword.
As she touched her sword, Wallenstein's hand trembled slightly; a thin layer of frost covered the blade.
But like when holding Arthas's hand, she felt no cold, only a refreshing coolness.
Sheathed her sword, Wallenstein shook her head slightly.
"I didn't save you. You killed the Minotaur."
Looking at the ice sculpture beside them, Wallenstein couldn't help but admire it.
Such magic was both beautiful and cruel.
Wallenstein now considered Arthas a powerful ice mage, though she wondered which Familia he belonged to.
Such a powerful adventurer should be famous; she couldn't have missed him.
"Um… I killed it?"
Looking at Wallenstein's serious gaze, Arthas muttered, then looked at the frozen Minotaur.
He seemed to have been momentarily stunned during the monster's attack. When he came to, the creature was frozen solid.
Magic?
Using magic was pleasant, though Arthas didn't know how he'd done it and couldn't repeat it.
Oh well, it was his power, and he'd use it again someday.
"Are you heading to a lower floor? Which Familia are you from? I don't recognize your name."
Dungeon monsters turn to dust shortly after being killed. As Wallenstein spoke, the Minotaur's ice sculpture shattered, falling to the ground.
Wallenstein sighed regretfully at the destruction of the beautiful, art-like ice sculpture.
"Here, your spoils."
Wallenstein handed Arthas a large purple crystal among the ice shards.
"Is this a monster's magic crystal? How much is this worth?"
Looking at the unusually large magic crystal, Arthas murmured. He'd seen adventurers exchanging crystals for gold at the Adventurer's Guild, but theirs were only small fragments.
Wallenstein tilted her head, puzzled. Why would such a powerful adventurer speak like a newbie?
"Hey, Ais, are you alright? Did you take care of it?"
As Wallenstein pondered this, a voice called from behind her, and a man with ears and a tail rushed over.
Seeing Arthas standing before Ais, the man paused, then raised his chin arrogantly, questioning Arthas.
"Who are you? Why are you with Ais?!"
His arrogant attitude annoyed Wallenstein. She apologized to Arthas with a slight bow.
"Sorry, Bete Loga is like that."
"Why are you apologizing to him, Ais? Standing with such a low-level adventurer is an insult to you! He's just a newbie who ran away from a Minotaur!"
Bete Loga exclaimed, then stiffened upon seeing Aisha turn around.
"You… you…"
The young beastman stared, his trembling fingers pointing.
"Eh?"
Wallenstein noticed their hands were still clasped together, like an intimate couple.
Arthas hadn't been taking advantage; Wallenstein simply found his hand comforting and didn't want to let go.
The initial terrifying cold had left a psychological impact, and holding Arthas's hand now gave her a sense of security.
Wallenstein, somewhat naive, didn't see a problem with their actions, but Bete couldn't accept what he saw.
Ais Wallenstein, Orario's strongest female adventurer, the strongest female swordsman, with beauty rivaling the Goddesses—the woman he admired and loved, the princess in his heart—was holding hands with a mysterious young man!
Unforgivable!
"You… you… let go of Ais! I challenge you to a duel!"
"Um… she's holding my hand, not the other way around."
The sudden turn of events startled Arthas. He raised their clasped hands, speaking innocently.
To Bete, this was a provocation, enraging the already short-tempered beastman.
"You dare defile the noble Ais Wallenstein, you trash! Die!"
Losing his reason, Bete roared and charged at Arthas, his werewolf speed at its peak.
Ais Wallenstein was a Level 4 adventurer, as was Bete. Facing Bete's enraged attack, Ais felt immense pressure.
Without a word, she pushed Arthas aside and drew her sword.
"Get out of the way, Ais! You, you coward, don't hide behind a woman! Fight me like a man! The victor gets to pursue Aisha!"
So… what's going on?
Arthas touched his nose, completely baffled by the beastman's anger.
Pursue?
This girl's name is Ais? It's a nice name.
"You… you… are you looking down on me?!"
Seeing Arthas's unfazed expression, Bete roared, pushing Aisha aside and lunging at him.
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