Rayish
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Chapter 140
🕑 Added 2025-06-03 06:32:22 +0000 UTCAiz and Shirou slowly approached the spot where Lefiya stood, right in the middle of the ashes left behind by the battle. Thin steam still r
Aiz and Shirou slowly approached the spot where Lefiya stood, right in the middle of the ashes left behind by the battle. Thin steam still rose from the ground, freshly shaken by roars and attacks. Around them, purple magic stones—remnants of the fallen Orcs and Silverbacks—were scattered among the cracks in the rocks and the faintly glowing white grass characteristic of the 10th floor.
"Not a bad haul," Shirou murmured as he bent down to pick up a magic stone half-buried in the damp soil. A soft click sounded each time he dropped one into the leather pouch at his waist.
Aiz crouched as well, gathering several stones with graceful yet efficient movements. She placed them into Shirou's supporter bag without a word, her eyes occasionally glancing at Lefiya, who stood with her chest puffed up proudly.
As they collected the stones, Shirou turned to them curiously. "By the way, when did you two start training together?"
Aiz, still picking up the last magic stone, answered flatly but honestly. "A few months ago. I had just finished training Bell at the time. But Lefiya caught me sneaking back..."
She paused for a moment, tilting her head slightly before adding, "...and she begged me to train her too. With pleading eyes and a little... threat. She said if I refused, she'd report me to Finn and Riveria... for training someone outside our Familia."
Lefiya, who was wiping the blood of monsters off her spear, immediately looked up. "Well, yeah, but you didn't outright refuse either! I was just... well... a little annoyed. What's so special about that human anyway? Why do you care so much about him, Aiz?"
Her tone carried a mix of complaint and unmistakable envy.
Aiz fell silent for a moment. Her usually expressionless face now seemed slightly... awkward. Her eyes darted to the side, as if searching for an answer that didn't exist in her emotional vocabulary.
Shirou quickly lightened the mood with a casual tone. "Well, at least it's good that you got to train too. But I'm curious, Lefiya... what exactly did Aiz teach you?"
They began walking again, following a corridor lined with white grass swaying gently in the underground breeze. Their breaths formed faint puffs in the air as the temperature gradually dropped, signaling their approach to the 11th floor.
Lefiya answered while twirling her spear in her hand, showing off the newfound skill she had acquired. "Aiz attacked me with her sword's scabbard during training. To avoid serious injuries... though it still hurt when it hit."
Shirou glanced at her, suppressing a chuckle. "And the purpose?"
This time, Aiz answered, her steps light but her voice firm. "To train her concurrent chanting. The ability to chant spells while moving and evading."
Shirou nodded thoughtfully, recalling the information in his mind. Concurrent chanting—a crucial technique possessed by only a handful of mages in this world, as it demanded a balance between spell focus and physical reflexes.
Lefiya spun her spear once more before lightly swinging it forward, creating a small gust of wind at its tip. "But... there was another benefit too. At least now I can dodge monster attacks while keeping a clear head."
Shirou smiled at her. "That's incredible progress, Lefiya."
Lefiya blushed faintly, her eyes sparkling at the direct praise from Shirou. Behind her, Aiz walked calmly, though her gaze held a hint of quiet pride.
Their footsteps led them further down the corridor toward the 11th floor, the sound of their steps blending with the rustling of the wind slipping through the cracks in the rocks. The thin mist from the previous floor slowly dissipated, replaced by a slightly warmer yet still silent atmosphere. The light from the crystal walls illuminated their path, casting long shadows behind them.
Lefiya walked slightly ahead, still twirling her spear in her right hand, and said casually, "Besides training with Aiz, I also trained with Filvis once."
Shirou, who was adjusting the strap of his supporter bag, immediately turned to her with a raised eyebrow. "Oh, you mean the time you practiced dodging Frog Shooter saliva?" he asked with an amused expression. "I still remember your story in the manor's lounge. You looked absolutely disgusted."
Lefiya's face turned red instantly. "I wasn't disgusted... just... well, grossed out! That monster's saliva was sticky and smelled like—ugh." She waved her hands as if trying to shake off the unpleasant memory.
Aiz looked ahead, then spoke with a slightly puzzled tone. "But... Filvis is a member of the Dionysus Familia, right? Didn't she get scolded by her god for training you? I thought... training someone from another Familia could be considered a violation."
Lefiya nodded lightly and answered confidently, "Filvis must have gotten permission from God Dionysus. She's not the type to do things secretly like that. If she trained me, she must have discussed it properly with her god."
Aiz flinched slightly, as if struck by the statement. Her lips parted for a moment, but no words came out. Her face remained blank... but upon closer inspection, a trace of doubt flickered in her eyes.
She glanced to the side, then lowered her head slightly.
"...I never asked Finn... or Riveria... let alone Loki... for permission..." she thought. "Did I... do something wrong?"
Yet Aiz didn't utter a single word. She simply continued walking, calm as ever, though her steps were now slightly slower, as if weighed down by something troubling. Shirou, on the other hand, noticed but chose not to press further, silently filing the observation away.
Their footsteps eventually led them down to the 11th floor. The moment their feet touched the ground, the atmosphere shifted. The soft mist that had vanished earlier now crept back from the cracks in the rocks, enveloping their legs and ankles like a thin morning fog. The faintly glowing white grass covered the floor once more, swaying gently in the unseen underground wind. The blue light from the crystal walls merged with the mist, creating a magical yet quietly dangerous ambiance.
Lefiya quickened her pace, turning back briefly with a determined expression. Her grip on the spear was firm, steadier than before.
"From now on, let me handle the monsters alone," she declared confidently. "Until my quest is complete, I want to face them by myself."
Aiz and Shirou didn't argue. They simply exchanged a glance before letting the elf girl step forward, advancing through the mist of the 11th floor with an air of confidence unlike her usual self.
The journey continued, and one by one, level-one monsters emerged from the bushes or cave walls—Orcs, Silverbacks, even Hard Armoreds, giant armadillo-like creatures with steel-hard backs that rolled and rammed their prey.
Like before, Lefiya didn't rely on her magic.
Her movements were agile, her feet barely touching the ground. She danced between the monsters' attacks, letting them miss before driving her spear into their weak points—joints, necks, unarmored stomachs.
SCHINK!—KRRTCH!—WHOOSH!
Monsters turned to ashes around her, leaving behind purple magic stones scattered across the white grass.
Shirou crouched, carefully picking up one of the magic stones while the distant sounds of clashing spears and short roars echoed. He placed the stone into the partially open large bag on his back.
Beside him, Aiz picked up another magic stone and handed it over silently.
"Until she completes her quest," she said softly, "it seems I'll just be acting as a supporter alongside you, Shirou."
Shirou accepted the stone and tucked it into the leather pouch inside the bag. He glanced at Aiz and nodded. "Sounds good. Let her focus on adjusting to her new spear."
The two of them stood quietly in the mist, watching from a distance as Lefiya spun, leaped, and slashed. A mage learning to become a close-range fighter. And she was doing it... fairly well.
Their footsteps eventually carried them past the 12th floor and down the final steps to the 13th floor, entering the true territory of the Middle Floors.
The change in atmosphere was drastic.
The mist and white grass that had covered the previous floors disappeared entirely. Instead, the corridor they entered now resembled the dark belly of the world. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all made of rough, dense stone, damp and cold to the touch. No longer just a flat path, the route now branched upward and downward, forming a three-dimensional labyrinth of interconnected tunnels.
The light from the crystal walls grew dimmer, leaving long shadows that stretched and shifted with their movements. The air was humid, clinging to their skin and making each breath heavier.
Shirou looked ahead, his eyes scanning the corridor that split into multiple directions.
"Now, Lefiya," he said seriously, "you need to be prepared. Minotaurs usually start appearing on this floor. They're the main target of our quest."
Lefiya, standing not far ahead, swallowed hard. Her palms gripped the spear's handle so tightly her knuckles turned white. She took a deep breath, then nodded firmly.
"Alright. I'll... finish this," she said quietly but resolutely.
Aiz, standing beside Shirou, glanced at the elf girl and offered a short encouragement. "Good luck, Lefiya."
Lefiya turned and flashed a brief smile before stepping forward first, navigating the dim and silent stone corridor. The sound of their footsteps echoed faintly, accompanied only by the dripping of water from the ceiling and their increasingly labored breaths under the underground pressure.
A few meters later, around a bend in the corridor, a heavy snort echoed.
Shirou immediately stopped, raising a hand in warning. Three large silhouettes slowly emerged from the mist—tall, muscular bodies with bull-like heads, complete with massive curved horns.
Three Minotaurs stood there, sniffing the air, their rough breaths rumbling like deep growls. One of them stomped its foot, sending a shockwave that kicked up dust.
Lefiya straightened her posture and raised her spear.
"Alright... they're mine."
With determined steps, she advanced into the battlefield.
This battle was clearly different from the previous ones.
One Minotaur charged immediately, its movements swift and powerful. Lefiya dodged to the side, but the attack was strong enough to crack the ground where she had stood. She spun and tried to stab the monster's side, but her spear only grazed its thick hide, not deep enough to wound seriously.
The other two Minotaurs closed in from the left and right, attempting to flank her. Lefiya jumped back, swinging her spear to block a strike from the right—clang!—then twisting to evade a claw swipe from the second Minotaur. Her breathing grew ragged.
Sweat dripped from her forehead. But her gaze remained steady.
With a shout, she counterattacked. Using a rapid combo, she targeted one Minotaur's leg joints, destabilizing it before driving her spear into its neck with a sharp twist. The monster roared—BRAAHH!—before its body exploded into ash.
The remaining Minotaur tried to gore her with its horns, but Lefiya leaped onto its shoulder and plunged her spear into the back of its neck—KRRAAK!—and once again, the body crumbled into dust.
Finally, the third Minotaur barreled toward her like an unstoppable train. Lefiya braced with her spear's shaft but was pushed back until she slammed into the stone wall. A loud thud! echoed. But she didn't give up. With a final cry, she pushed back, stabbing straight into its chest between the ribs.
The Minotaur howled before turning to dust like its companions.
Lefiya panted heavily, her body trembling from exhaustion and tension. But a triumphant smile appeared on her lips. She stood tall and raised her spear overhead, posing like a hero on a battlefield.
However, hurried footsteps approached.
Shirou and Aiz rushed over. Shirou's expression was slightly tense. He stopped right in front of Lefiya, who was still holding her pose, and looked at her with concern.
"Lefiya..." he said softly. "You were amazing. But... we need the blood of an enraged Minotaur. They..." he glanced at the ashes on the ground, "...are all dust now."
The smile on Lefiya's face vanished instantly. Her gaze slowly dropped to the ashes around her.
"...Huh?"
Seeing the disappointment on Lefiya's face, which had just moments ago been glowing with pride, Shirou stepped closer and patted her shoulder lightly. A gentle smile crossed his face.
"Don't worry, Lefiya," he said soothingly. "There'll be another chance. This time, let me find a Minotaur for you, okay?"
Lefiya nodded slowly, her eyes still fixed on the remnants of ash being carried away by the damp 13th-floor breeze. "Yeah... Thanks, Shirou."
Without a word, Aiz, standing to their left, bent down and picked up three purple magic stones from the Minotaur ashes. She handed them silently to Shirou, who quietly slipped them into the inner pocket of his supporter bag.
Once everything was settled, the three of them continued their journey through the narrow, naturally formed passages between the tall, dark stone walls. Their footsteps were nearly silent, accompanied only by soft breaths and the constant dripping of water from the ceiling.
In the silence, Shirou activated Reinforcement in his eyes. The world around him sharpened—the rough edges of the rocks, the flow of the wind, even the faintest sounds of movement in the distance became clearer. He narrowed his eyes toward the left side of the corridor and...
"...There," he whispered. Behind that large boulder, a single Minotaur. Alone."
Lefiya immediately straightened up. The dimmed fire in her eyes reignited. She gripped her spear tightly and declared with determination, "Perfect! I'll take care of it!"
With quick steps—almost a jog—she moved toward the direction Shirou had indicated. Her brown hair swayed with her light movements.
From behind, Aiz called out briefly, "Don't forget to make it angry first..."
"Got it!" Lefiya replied loudly without turning back, her voice echoing through the damp stone corridor.
When she reached the Minotaur, Lefiya didn't go for a fatal strike immediately. Instead, she aimed for its legs and shoulders, deliberately avoiding vital spots.
ZRAKK!
BRUKK!
Her spear slashed the Minotaur's left thigh, then struck its right ribs.
The Minotaur roared—BRROOOAAHHHH!—its eyes burning red with fury. It swung its massive arm at Lefiya, creating a sharp gust of wind from the sheer force. Its attacks grew wilder, more brutal. Lefiya had to spin, leap, and roll backward to evade.
"Ugh... It's really mad now," she muttered, her breathing growing heavier.
Shirou, watching from a distance, began to worry. He moved forward silently, positioning himself closer in case something went wrong. His eyes never left the Minotaur or Lefiya.
The Minotaur swung its arm again, but this time Lefiya dodged to the side and thrust her spear forward into its left chest, right between the thick muscle and ribcage. The spear pierced deep, and...
FWSHHHH!
Blood gushed violently from the wound in the monster's chest—thick, dark-red liquid, frothing and steaming, arced through the air toward Lefiya.
Lefiya's eyes widened, her body freezing reflexively. She knew she couldn't dodge in time. Quickly, she shut her eyes, bracing for the disgusting spray to hit her face and body.
But then...
WHUMP!
A shadow appeared in front of her.
Shirou.
In a movement as swift as a shadow materializing from thin air, he stood before Lefiya, one hand holding up a large cloth projected from his prana. The fabric billowed, shielding Lefiya completely like a barrier.
PLAAASHHH!
The spray of blood slammed into the cloth with full force, bubbling and steaming as it made contact. Shirou held the fabric firmly, his body protecting Lefiya from all sides. A few drops managed to slip past the edges and stain his sleeve, but he didn't flinch.
Lefiya, behind him, could only stand frozen.
Slowly, she opened her eyes and found Shirou's back before her. Straight, unwavering, and filled with calm. His broad shoulders bore the brunt of the horror that should have struck her.
"...Lady Riveria..." she thought, her eyes unblinking as she gazed at Shirou's profile, his face resolute and heroic under the faint crystal light.
"...This is bad... Instead of me making Shirou fall for me... It's me who's... falling deeper for him..."
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Hidden Skill: Harem Protagonist EX Activated!
