Chapter 318: Camp

Asahi boosted his speed and quickly shredded the army. All those who lingered near the party were annihilated, giving them room for breathing. Ais, Ryuu, and Alise charged toward the monster spawn point.

Asahi led the way, shaving the number enough to pose a challenge to the girls.

Tiona, who saw this from far away, tilted her head. "Is he grooming Ais for himself?"

The amazoness had a different set of logic from the people of Orario. A woman grooming a man was a normal scenario in her country. She wasn't sure about the opposite of that.

"Looks like it," Tione agreed. "The other two, he is grooming them as well."

"Nothing wrong with that."

The discussion between the Hiryute Sisters brought a wry smile on Finn's face. Ais wasn't someone who would fall for someone. The quest for her mother had become her priority, for which she trained from a very early age. Asahi's influence won't be able to overcome her desire for her mother. That's what Finn rightfully believed.

Riveria finished casting her spell. Just when she was about to pull the trigger, she found there were no monsters nearby.

'Where?'

She panicked as her magic power swelled. Fortunately, the monsters arrived from the direction opposite Asahi and the gang. Riveria quickly unleashed the inferno to wipe out the monsters.

She wiped her forehead with her sleeve.

'This should do.'

Meanwhile, Ais was struggling against three high-level Fomoire, usually called the leader. The ferocious strikes coming from every direction left little to no room for her to strike back. Any normal level 4 would have long collapsed from exhaustion. She could escape with Ariel but she needed to save magic power for future floors. Her Spirit Healing development ability increased her magic power regeneration, and her spirit blood naturally gave her higher magic power. That put her in a worse position since regaining maximum magic power took a day or two.

Ais grounded her teeth in frustration.

'It's only 49th… I have to reach the depths. I need to be strong. Strong like Onii-san.'

She was about to unleash her magic, when Ryuu stepped in and hacked a leader's head off. Alise stabbed her burning rapier in a monster's chest, letting the scarlet flames burn its inside. Asahi stabbed his wooden spear in the last monster's chest.

"And we're done," Asahi said and walked up to Ais. "You can ask for help, you know? Loki entrusted me to protect you after all."

He ruffled her hair, calming her frustrations in a moment. She couldn't help but close her eyes to indulge in the feeling.

"Yeah. Junior said it right. Even a perfect woman like me doesn't come to the dragon alone. It's too risky," Alise added with a goofy grin. She could understand Ais's craving for strength. Without such desires, there was no way for a twelve-year-old girl to be level 2, much less level 4.

After giving Ais some more pats, Asahi returned to Finn. Everyone had regrouped around the little pallum, talking about the terrifying experience.

Asahi received looks of approval from anyone but Bete. The disgruntled werewolf acted as if someone had stepped on his tail.

He dismissed the numerous notifications of growing respect and affection.

"I'm sorry for doubting you before," Riveria said, lowering her head in apology. "Really sorry. You saved the mission this time."

Finn scratched the back of his head, a cheerful smile on his face. "I knew Loki-sama wouldn't put blind trust in someone. She is too much of a realist for that."

"And you're an idealist," Asahi said.

"Some ideals I have to live up," Finn said with a determined expression. Such a serious expression didn't suit his young face. "For my people."

"I can understand that," Asahi said and grinned at Riveria. "Okay. I forgive you. I can't be mad at Ais's mom."

Riveria's lips twitched. She regretted apologizing, a little bit.

"Well done," Gareth said with a smile. "This wave was pretty troublesome."

Asahi chuckled. "That's what I'm here for."

His XP bar had risen to 89%. Some hundred monsters would make him level 34. He profited immensely from the cleaning up.

"We're going to camp on the next floor," Riveria said with a deep sigh. "We should hurry before the dungeon sends the next wave."

"Alright."

Tiona looked like she wanted to say something. Asahi tilted his head.

"You okay?"

"What was that godly spell? You wrecked everything!"

"Just one of my skills," he replied with a faint smile. "Perks of being a demigod."

Riveria had gotten tired of his smug excuse. She wanted to tear down the mysteries around him and know everything. Alas, she could do nothing but groan. His strength was beyond hers. Nothing like she had ever seen.

***

Asahi gave them the supplies to prepare the tents on the 50th floor. It was unnecessary from Asahi's perspective as he didn't need rest. It was different for others though. Fending the goat demons had taken a lot of toll on them, both physically and mentally.

Asahi collected the magic stones and the horns dropped by the Fomoire before returning to the 50th floor.

Alise and Ryuu had put up a tent for themselves, but Asahi shamelessly barged in. It was really empty inside. He sealed the entrance and asked Klyscha to create a television.

"Let's watch some anime!"

"Anime?"

The elf and human girl marveled at the thin black box standing before them.

Alise poked its screen. "I saw something similar in your store."

"Let me show you something cool."

He booted it up and browsed through the catalog. As expected of Klyscha, she had added every anime he had watched so far.

(I'm good. Ehehe.)

'Good doesn't do you justice, M'lady.'

For a moment, he was tempted to show them "Danmachi." Ryuu's reaction to her future cold self would be cute. The reality of being characters in a story would shake them, more so than the fact Alise and others would've died without his assistance.

'This might be good.'

He chose the Bakemonogatari series. The two were already living in a fantasy world, showing them an easy-to-understand supernatural anime was the way to go!

They fixed their eyes on the television, barely batting an eye. Alise commented about the protagonist being a pervert despite sitting with the guy who harassed her butt not long ago.

After some twists and turns, the bizarre story of Hitagi Senjougahara straight-up sucked the two into the story. He wanted to invite Ais as well, but she was receiving a lecture from Riveria and Finn for acting carelessly on the battlefield.