DanMachi: Heroic Epic of Emiya the Great Hero

It seemed like the exclamation of a girl.

With the demonic sword in hand, Emiya raised the tip of the sword and pointed it at the labyrinth wall behind him.

In the dungeon, humans might be more terrifying than monsters. At least the monsters on each floor have detailed information, but with humans, you never know who you might encounter.

A delicate figure peeked out from behind the wall. She had beautiful golden hair, carried an oversized backpack that didn't match her size, and was munching on fried potato balls. Because she was leaning against the wall to peek, her cute little face was smudged with dust, making her appearance even more vivid.

The girl was a few centimeters shorter than Emiya, looking no more than twelve or thirteen years old. She gazed at Emiya.

"You're amazing!",the girl said expressionlessly, but her gem-like beautiful eyes sparkled.

———

The golden-haired girl was Ais, the genius swordsman of the Loki Familia.

The Minotaurs from the 13th to the 16th floors of the dungeon were slaughtered by her, their heads rolling and blood flowing like a river. Her backpack was almost full, so Ais thought of trying her luck on the 12th floor.

She wanted to see if she could luckily find a Infant Dragon on the 12th floor.

Rarity makes things precious. Infant Dragons are so rare that their drops are no longer considered materials but rather collectibles, with prices even higher than the drops of the Labyrinth King Goliath, a Lv.4 monster.

After all, Goliath respawns every ten days or so and is then defeated. Over time, [Goliath's Fang] is no longer considered a rare material.

If she was lucky enough to encounter a Infant Dragon and then luckily obtain its drop, she might earn millions of valis in one go.

Millions of valis could buy a full hundred thousand fried potato balls. Little Ais thought excitedly as she came to the 12th floor to search for the Infant Dragon.

However, she didn't find the Infant Dragon but instead found that boy.

"Emiya Shirou, the one Lefiya mentioned…",Little Ais immediately remembered. Red hair, projection, archery, swordsmanship… very distinctive features, the person the elf girl mentioned.

Lefiya's comment at the time was,"I feel like Shirou's swordsmanship is as good as Miss Ais's."

However, the sharp Ais immediately realized that Lefiya's perspective might be influenced by their shared membership in the Loki Familia. Since Ais and Lefiya were closer, Lefiya would think that Shirou's swordsmanship was on par with hers.

'Emiya Shirou might possess swordsmanship stronger than mine.',Ais, who might be a bit scatterbrained in other areas, was particularly sensitive at this moment, and her intuition was frighteningly accurate.

And truly, having witnessed Emiya Shirou's swordsmanship firsthand, even if it was just a simple slaying of a few weak and fragile orcs, Ais immediately realized.

This boy's skill with the sword was stronger than hers.

It should be said that he might be stronger than anyone in this world, except for those gods who have sealed their divine power. Emiya Shirou, in the realm of swordsmanship, has surpassed the rank of [human].

His swordsmanship is like that of a [god]… no, it seems not to have reached that realm yet, but rather, it is the realm of a [Heroic Spirit].

The reason Ais earned the title of [Sword Princess] was partly because her outward personality was as cold as a sword, and partly because, in swordsmanship, Ais stood at the pinnacle of this world.

Even though she was only Lv.5, and there were several adventurers above Lv.6 in the city, those people were only stronger than Ais in terms of physical strength and abilities.

In terms of the level and realm of swordsmanship, whether it was the Lv.6 [Black Fairy's Demon Sword] or the Lv.7 [Brave], they were all beneath Ais.

It was precisely because they saw through this that the gods bestowed upon Ais the title of [Sword Princess].

Therefore, Ais immediately realized the essence of Emiya's swordsmanship. Unlike Lefiya's confusion or Raul's ambiguity, little Ais, with her understanding of the sword, instantly grasped this matter.

'Compared to me, this boy is the one beloved by the 'sword,' or rather, he is the very concept of 'sword' itself.'

The girl felt genuine joy, and the troubles of debt were all thrown to the back of her mind. Looking at the boy walking up to her, she had only one thought at this moment: to immediately perform a secret technique—a 720-degree front flip and prostrate herself before him, shouting,'Master, I want to learn swordsmanship.'

As long as she could learn Emiya Shirou's sword skills, she could become stronger and be one step closer to fulfilling her long-cherished wish.

However, just as the girl was about to perform a flying prostrate like a fierce tiger, Riveria's voice appeared in her ear.

"To ask someone about their abilities or techniques without permission is extremely rude. You will bring shame to the Loki Familia and to me."

Little Ais forcibly held back, surprising even herself—'why, when becoming stronger is the most important thing to me.

'

'Riveria, don't interfere with me at this moment…'

At this moment, Emiya, who had already approached Ais, put away his demonic sword.

The other party looked like just a little girl, and Emiya didn't sense any malice. Moreover, judging by her attire, she seemed to be a supporter.

Ais carried a large backpack that almost symbolized the identity of a supporter. She wasn't holding a sword at the moment but was instead holding fried potato balls. The sharp aura of the [Sword Princess] was completely hidden, making her look like an ordinary cute girl, leading Emiya to misjudge her situation.

In reality, Ais was similar to Emiya, both adventuring alone. However, Ais's level was high enough that she could also handle the work of a supporter, while Emiya, not lacking in money, didn't need the spoils of battle and thus didn't need a supporter.

Emiya also didn't recognize her identity. He knew that in the labyrinth city, there was a genius with the title [Sword Princess], who reached Lv.2 in one year and broke through to Lv.5 in six years, a super genius. But he subconsciously thought that the [Sword Princess] should already be an adult.

After all, even if one became an adventurer at 12, six years later, they should be 18.

Who would have thought that Ais started adventuring at 7 and was now only 13, even looking younger than her actual age due to her baby face.

A little over ten years old, this is a very delicate age, sometimes so cute that people want to hold her in their hands, and sometimes so willful that parents want to whip her.

Ais's situation was: the cute side was shown to everyone, while the torment was left to Riveria.

'Supporters are usually the weakest members of a team, that's common sense. And this little supporter in front of me seems to be alone?',Emiya thought,'Probably one of those despicable adventurers who abandon their supporters in danger. Moreover, to let such a young child be a supporter is really too much.'

Although he had already decided not to be a [Hero of Justice], Emiya was still an upright person. Seeing such a thing, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Hello, did you get separated from your teammates?",Emiya asked,"Why are you alone?"

"Mmm." Ais nodded. The members of the Loki Familia were indeed not here, most should be at the Twilight Manor headquarters.

At the same time, Ais suddenly had an idea.

'Riveria told me not to approach Emiya, saying it would affect the familia's reputation. But now, it's Mr. Emiya who came to me, so Riveria can't say anything, right?'

"I made a mistake and was punished…",Ais replied, still expressionless, but her dust-smudged little face showed a hint of sadness.

She also realized that her actions had caused great trouble for her familia companions, not only the failure of the expedition and the loss of property but also putting her companions in danger.

However, when a black dragon-type enemy appeared, little Ais couldn't control herself. By the time she regained her senses, her body had already subconsciously charged into the vertical hole.

'So she was abandoned by her companions…',Emiya thought. He walked up to the girl and asked in the gentlest tone possible.

"My name is Emiya Shirou, from the Hephaestus Familia. May I know your name?"

'He doesn't recognize me?',Little Ais, used to being a big star, was stunned,'There are people in the labyrinth city who don't know me?'

Then, she immediately had a flash of inspiration.

'Riveria said that challenging or asking Shirou for advice would bring shame to the Loki Familia. So, if I disguise myself and don't let Shirou know that I'm Ais from the Loki Familia, wouldn't that work?'

Actually, with a bit of serious thought, this approach is completely unreliable. But Ais, who is single-minded and currently hot-headed, has already given up thinking.

What she's thinking now is: 'This way, Riveria can't say anything, right?'

'I'm such a little genius, not the idiot Riveria says I am.'

'Riveria always says I'm not obedient, but I'm actually very obedient.'

'I've grown up, and Riveria doesn't need to control me so much.'

'Next time Riveria scolds me, I must retort!'

Ais thought these things in her head, and at the same time, she spoke,"My name is Riveria…"

SLAP!

Little Ais slapped herself in the face.

Ais's inner voice,'Oh no, I wanted to use a fake name, but I kept thinking about Riveria, repeating the name too many times, and accidentally blurted it out.'

'Using this name, the disguise will definitely not hold, unless the other person has just arrived in Orario and doesn't know much about the labyrinth city…'

Ais's mental activity was very active, while her face remained expressionless, only her eyes becoming more guilty, and a drop of cold sweat appeared on the back of her neck.

Seeing the girl's sudden strange action, Emiya's eyes were full of concern.

He took out a handkerchief from his satchel, held Ais's cheek with one hand, and used the other to wipe the dust off her hair and face.

After tidying up the slightly messy golden bangs on the girl's forehead, Emiya gently rubbed the small red handprint on her right cheek.

He politely asked,"Miss Riveria, are you okay?"

Ais raised her slightly red pretty face,"I… I'm fine."

"Mmm.",Emiya said, taking the fried potato balls from little Ais's hands. He glanced down at the girl's not-so-clean gauntlets and sighed softly.

"At least wipe your hands before eating.",He handed the handkerchief to her,"Miss Riveria, take off your gauntlets first and wipe your hands yourself."

Under Emiya's gaze, Ais subconsciously nodded obediently,"Yes."

.

.

.

.

Today was a nightmare for the strongest monster on the 16th floor of the dungeon, the Minotaur.

As the dominant monster on this level, the Minotaur possessed top-tier Lv.2 strength and endurance. Although it had the disadvantage of low agility, it only needed simple and brutal movements to pose a fatal threat to adventurers active on this level.

With immense strength, a head as hard as copper, and iron bones, just a battle cry could paralyze Lv.1 adventurers with fear, rendering them immobile. This was the Minotaur, a nightmare existence for low-level adventurers.

Then today, the Minotaurs were slaughtered by a high-level adventurer who didn't play by the rules.

One sword strike killed one, the magic stone and drop [Minotaur's Horn] thrown into the bag, then another sword strike killed the next one. The white-gold figure wandered through the labyrinth like the Grim Reaper, harvesting the lives of the Minotaurs.

The Minotaurs could only curse humans for not playing by the rules,'Lv.2 adventurers, no matter how many, I'm not afraid of you. We fight at the same level, tearing you to pieces is my skill, and you chopping me into beef is your skill. A head lost is just a bowl-sized scar, and in eighteen years, I'll be a good cow again.'

But a high-level adventurer coming to commit species extinction, isn't that a bit too much? Moving through the map as fast as the wind, killing cows more efficiently than harvesting wheat.

Not going to the deep levels to fight Udeaus[1] and make a name for yourself, but staying here to bully Minotaurs?

And the Minotaurs slaughtered by Ais also learned to be smart. One of them saw Ais and ran, sacrificing all its companions, finally barely escaping.

The smart Minotaur realized that the Grim Reaper was coming for them, so it should do the opposite.

Head to the upper levels to survive.

Charge up and kill the low-level human adventurers.

Then, on the 12th floor, Shirou, leading Ais, encountered the Minotaur.

"A Minotaur? Why would a mid-level monster appear here?",Emiya Shirou immediately projected a longsword, maintaining a vigilant stance.

Monsters in the dungeon occasionally break through level restrictions and come to adjacent levels, but the Minotaur is a monster from around the 15th floor, and this is the 12th floor.

For the Minotaur to run all the way here is definitely an [abnormal situation].

"Riveria, hide behind me.",Emiya Shirou stood in front of Ais.

The girl claimed to be Riveria from the Demeter Familia: the truly famous Riveria in the city was the respected Lv.6 adventurer, the elven royalty, and vice-captain of the Loki Familia [Nine Hell's].

However, Emiya, who hadn't been an adventurer for long, didn't know this person.

He knew about the [Sword Princess] because the goddess mentioned the [Sword Princess]'s fastest leveling record.

As for the Demeter Familia, Emiya Shirou did know about this faction because he and Ryuu had bought groceries at their shop.

Demeter is the goddess of agriculture, grain, and harvest in Greek mythology. The Demeter Familia is also a production-type familia engaged in growing food and vegetables.

If the Ganesha Familia is the faction with the most adventurers, the Demeter Familia is the one with the most members, although most of them are farmers who might never enter the dungeon even once in their lives. The Demeter Familia also has many adventurers, but their levels are generally not high.

The Demeter Familia maintains good relations with almost all other familias, as they are responsible for more than half of Orario's food supply. In a sense, this is the most important familia in the labyrinth city.

Originally planning to take "Miss Riveria" back to the surface, who would have thought they would encounter such a dangerous and powerful monster as the Minotaur.

Ais's first reaction upon seeing the Minotaur was to draw her sword, but Emiya immediately stood in front of her, making her subconsciously stop her hand.

At this moment, the Minotaur in front of the boy and girl was extremely angry.

Minotaur: 'Why is it you again? I've run all the way to the 12th floor, and you still won't let me go? Are you trying to exterminate us?

'Damn it, I'll fight you to the death!'

The Minotaur let out a deafening roar, then charged forward with the determination to die.

Then, it immediately ate a magical sword attack.

Throwing away the frost magical sword taken from his satchel, Emiya glanced at the expressionless girl behind him who was tense. He took a deep breath and stared at the Minotaur.

「Skill [Oath under the Snow] activated」

「When acting to protect others, attack power and endurance increase, magic and skill effects increase.」

At this moment, facing the Minotaur, as Emiya's fighting spirit reached its peak, a name flashed in his mind—

Theseus[2], the legendary king of Athens, also a hero in Greek mythology, whose name often reminds people of the philosophical concept of the Ship of Theseus.

[[1] Udeaus: The Monster Rex of the 37th Floor. It has a black body and is a large version of a Spartoi. It spawns every three months. It has no lower body due to it being able to spread its attacks through the ground and also has the ability to summon Spartoi. It is Level 6. If it is fought by one person alone, like Ais did, it will summon a huge black sword. The Guild theorized it may also summon its sword if fought by a small party.]

[2] Theseus: Theseus was a divine hero in Greek mythology, famous for slaying the Minotaur.]

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