The blonde girl was none other than Ais Wallenstein, the prodigy swordswoman of the Loki Familia.
She had massacred hordes of Minotaurs from the dungeon's 13th to 16th floors. Blood and bull heads rolled across the ground, magic stones and drop items had nearly filled her backpack.
On her way back, she wanted to try her luck on the 12th floor in search of the elusive Infant Dragon.
Due to its rarity, the Infant Dragon's drop items were no longer considered materials but collectibles, with prices exceeding those of even the drops from the Monster Rex Goliath, on the 17th floor. After all, the Goliath respawned every couple of weeks and was regularly killed, making its tooth less valuable over time.
Ais was excited at the prospect-if she found an Infant Dragon and secured its drop items, she could earn several million valis in one go. That would buy her a whopping a hundred thousand fried potato snacks! So with the dream of slaining the Infant Dragon in hand, she excitedly returned to the 12th floor.
But instead of finding the Infant Dragon, she found a young boy.
"Shirou Emiya," Ais recalled. The distinctive red hair, the projection magic, the archery, and swordsmanship-this was the person Lefiya had mentioned.
At that time, Lefiya said, "I think Shirou's sword skills are just as amazing as Ais."
However, the sensitive Ais immediately sensed that Lefiya's view might have been influenced by their close bond as fellow members of the Loki Familia. Given that Lefiya was much closer to Ais, her judgment could have been swayed.
Ais, on the other hand, instinctively felt that Shirou Emiya might possess sword skills that surpassed her own.
"Shirou Emiya could very well be a swordsman stronger than me!"
Despite Ais sometimes lacking common sense, when it came to gaining strength, her intuition was frighteningly sharp. And in that moment, as she witnessed Shirou's swordsmanship-even if it was just killing a few relatively weak Orcs-she immediately recognized something profound.
This boy's swordsmanship was better than her.
In fact, Ais thought that he might be the most skilled swordsman in this world— except, perhaps, for the gods themselves, who had sealed away their divine powers.
Shirou's swordsmanship, to her, seemed to transcend the limits of ordinary humans.
His techniques seemed to rival that of the Gods, no…he's not quite there yet, to be more precise, his swordsmanship had reached the domain of Hero.
Ais had earned the title of "Sword Princess" for two reasons. First, her cold, unapproachable demeanor was reminiscent of a sword. Second, she stood at the pinnacle of swordsmanship in the world. Even though she was only Level 5, and Orario had adventurers at Level 6 or higher, few could match her in terms of sheer sword skill and technique.
Not even the likes of the Level 6 "Dainsleif [Black Fairy's Demon Sword]" or the Level 7 "King [Formidable One]" possessed swordsmanship that far surpassed her, despite their far superior stats.
That was why the gods had granted her the alias of "Sword Princess."
So, when Ais watched Shirou fight, she instantly understood the truth behind his swordsmanship-something Lefiya couldn't grasped, and something Raul could only vaguely sense. Ais, with her keen insight into the sword, realized it at once.
"Compared to me, this boy... he's loved by the 'swords' no, you can even say he's the embodiment of the very concept of 'sword' itself.
A wave of joy washed over her as she realized this.
For a moment, all the troubles of her debts vanished from her mind. Now, standing before her was someone who could truly make her stronger, someone who could help her get closer to achieving her long-aspire goal.
Ais had a sudden, almost overwhelming urge to drop to the ground, perform a seven-hundred-twenty-degree flip, and cry out, "Master, please teach me your swordsmanship!"
If she could learn Shirou Emiya's techniques, she would become much stronger, inching closer to fulfilling her lifelong dream.
However, just as she was about to throw herself into the air and knee in respect, Riveria's voice echoed in her mind.
"It's extremely impolite to ask someone about their abilities or techniques without their permission. You'll disgrace both the Loki Familia and myself."
Ais stopped herself just in time, astonished at her own restraint. Why am I holding back? she wondered. For her, isn't getting stronger the most important thing?
"Riveria, why are you interfering with me at a time like this?"
Meanwhile, Shirou had already walked over to Ais, putting away his magic sword.
He looked at the girl before him, who seemed harmless enough, just a small girl, with no ill intents. Judging by her appearance, she might be a supporter.
Ais was carrying an oversized backpack that practically symbolized her role as a supporter. At that moment, she wasn't holding a sword but rather a fried potato snack, and her aura as the fearsome "Sword Princess" was completely subdued, making her seem like an ordinary, cute girl. This misled Shirou, causing him to misjudge her.
In reality, Ais was similar to Shirou in that both were adventuring solo. However, Ais, with her higher level, could handle the supporter's duties herself, while Shirou, who didn't need money, could forgo loot and thus had no need for a supporter.
Shirou didn't recognize her. He knew of a genius in the dungeon city called the "Sword Princess," a prodigy who had reached level 2 in a year and level 5 in six. But Shirou assumed that the "Sword Princess" must be an adult by now. After all, even if she started adventuring at 12, six years later, she should be 18.
Who would have thought that Ais had started her adventures at 7 years old and was now only 13, looking even younger due to her baby face.
At just over ten years old, it was an awkward age—sometimes so cute that you'd want to hugged them in your arms, and sometimes so mischievous that you want to teach them a lesson.
In Ais' case, her cuteness was shown to everyone, while her moments of being troublesome were reserved for Riveria.
"Supporters are usually the weakest members of the party. That's common knowledge. And this little supporter seems to be on her own?" Shirou thought. "It's probably another one of those horrible adventurers who abandoned their supporter at the first sign of danger. And letting such a small child take on the role of a supporter is just too much."
Even though he'd resolved not to become a "hero of justice," Shirou was still a righteous person. Seeing such a situation left him feeling worried.
"Hello, did you get separated from your party?" Shirou asked gently. "Are you alone?"
"Umm." Ais nodded.
In fact, her companions from the Loki Familia were indeed not here. Most of them were likely back at their base, Twilight Manor.
At the same time, Ais had an idea.
Riveria had told her not to seek out Shirou because it might tarnish the Familia's reputation. But now, Shirou was approaching her on his own.
Riveria couldn't complain about this now, could she?
"I was punished for making a mistake," Ais replied, still expressionless, though the dust on her face made her look even more dejected.
She realized that her actions had caused great trouble for her comrades. Not only had they failed their expedition, leading to financial losses, but her companions had also been put in danger.
It all started when she spotted a black dragon monster, little Ais just couldn't control herself, losing her mind. By the time she regained her senses, she had already leap into the vertical hole.
"So she was abandoned by her team…" Shirou thought as he stepped closer to the girl, using his softest tone he said.
"My name is Shirou Emiya, I'm from the Hephaestus Familia. Could you tell me your name?"
"He doesn't recognize me?" Ais was momentarily stunned. "There are still people in Orario who don't recognize who I am?" Then, a light bulb went off in her head.
Riveria said that asking Shirou for a duel or training would put the Loki Familia to shame.
But if she disguised herself, preventing Shirou from knowing she was Ais from the Loki Familia, that wouldn't be a problem anymore, right?
If she had thought more carefully, she'd realize that this plan was entirely unreliable. But being stubborn, lacking common sense, and her mind being clouded by excitement, Ais didn't think too deeply.
Her current thoughts were:
This way, Riveria can't complain!
I'm such a genius, not the "fool" Riveria always calls me!
Riveria always scolds me, but I'm actually very obedient!
I'm grown up now. I don't need Riveria to meddle in my affairs!
The next time Riveria scolds me, I'll definitely talk back!
Ais was thinking all of this as she spoke, "My name is Riveria."
Smack—Ais slapped herself.
In her mind, Ais thought: Oh no! I meant to use a fake name, but I've been thinking about Riveria so much that I accidentally said her name! Now there's no way this disguise will work, unless this guy is new to Orario and doesn't know the city's major figures.
Though Ais' internal monologue was intense, her expression remained flat, except for a faint guilty look in her eyes and a bead of sweat on her forehead.
Watching this strange behavior from the girl, Shirou's eyes were filled with concern.
He took a handkerchief out of his bag, gently lifting Ais's face with one hand while using the other to wipe the dust from her hair and cheeks.
After tidying her slightly disheveled blonde hair, Shirou softly rubbed the faint red mark left on her right cheek from her own slap.
In a polite voice he asked, "Miss Riveria, are you alright?"
Ais lifted her now slightly flushed face. "I… I'm fine."
"Good," Shirou said. He then took the fried potato snack from her hands, glancing down at the dirt-streaked gauntlets she wore, and sighed softly.
"Before eating, at least clean your hands." He handed her the handkerchief. "Miss Riveria, take off your gloves and wipe your hands first."
Under his watchful gaze, Ais instinctively nodded obediently. "Ok."
————
(Fun Fact:Riveria JP voice actor also voice Artoria/Saber.)
(TN:Danmachi adult Ais's sword skill is probably best comparable to Saber Artoria at best, both golden hair, have connections to spirit, use sword and wind, one want to killed a black dragon, another killed a white dragon, both peak human level but incomparable to those whose skills ascend to Personal Skills or Noble Phantasm territory, like Sasaki Kojiro [Knowledge of the Sowa] and [Tsubame Gaeshi], who almost killed Saber who had higher Parameters and more Noble Phantasm compared to his zero, the only reason Saber survived was mainly due to a combination of her Rank A [Instinct] and A+ Luck which even dodge Gáe Bolg a Noble Phantasm that can reverse"cause and effect", an attack that can't be dodge even with EX agility, a spear that attack destiny itself. A Mad Enhancement Heracles, who lost many combat techniques and skills, including his Noble Phantasm Nine Lives and part of his Personal Skills, dominated the fight against Saber.)
Saber vs Assassin With Lower Parameters
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pQIQs9vVpYQ&pp=ygURc2FiZXIgdnMgYXNzYXNzaW4%3D
Saber Vs Berserker Heracles
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jsXp4zdhtyU&pp=ygUSc2FiZXIgdnMgYmVyc2Vya2Vy