Sword Oratoria: Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? On the Side Volume 9

shining on the maze of valleys and forests. They escaped
the sea of trees and crossed through a gap in a precipice,
listening to the river’s now peaceful burble as they
descended the Beor Mountains.

“That was a nice place, wasn’t it…?”
“Wouldn’t it be great to visit them again?”
“…If you go, I want to come with…”
“Huh? Are…are you sure that’s okay?!”
“Yes.”
“H-hey, hold on a second there, Wallensomething! Don’t
make promises out of the blue! If you want to go, go with
your own familia!”
As she spoke with them, she smiled.
Looking at them from the side, they seemed refreshed.
What had happened in that village had left several different
emotions in her heart, but she felt like it had shown her
something as well.
That’s what Aiz thought as those images from her
memory remained in her heart.
Let’s go back—
To where everyone is waiting.
To the woman who said she loved me.
Having traveled away from the city, through a bit of the
outside world now, there were so many things she wanted
to say.
Aiz continued down the mountain path to the city, her
eyes twinkling as she saw the giant white tower jutting
high into the sky beyond the southern ridge.

A transparent blue sky stretched out into the distance.
Orario’s sky was so clear that it made the pouring rain

just the other day seem like it had never been. Beneath that

azure sky were the sounds of wagon wheels and haggling
shoppers and the playful laughter of innocent children at
play.

“That dumbass Ares was already caught in the
mountains and dragged to Guild Headquarters. Their god
was captured, so this pain-in-the-ass war should finally be
over now.”

“It’s because we sent so many adventurers into the Beor
Mountains. We managed to pin down their exact location.
Perseus, who got called in for support, will probably get a
special award.”

“Would’ve been nice to bring Aiz and those two back as
part of the bargain.”

The peaceful, everyday bustle of Orario came in through
the window.

They were in the office in Loki Familia’s home, the
Twilight Manor.

The leadership group and Loki were mainly discussing
the resolution of the war with the kingdom. Listening to the
current situation, Finn looked up.

He glanced over at the high elf, who was standing there
without speaking.

“Riveria?”
“Hmm…Ah, sorry. Go ahead.”
“You worried about Aiz?”
“…Aiz isn’t a child anymore. Worrying about her is a
waste of time.”
She responded as if she was surprised by the silliness of
the question.
“You’ve sure seemed lost in thought for a while now,
though.”
“Riveria’s been spacin’ out a lot lately when she’s by
herself, too.”
“Don’t be silly.”
The dwarf and goddess grinned at each other when she
glared at them.

“There’s no need to hide it. If it had been five days with
no news from us, you’d be worried, too.”

“My number of Blessings hasn’t gone down, so I can at
least be sure she’s alive.”

“She runs away from home all the time, but it’s the first
time she’s left the city. Even if ye try to ignore your
parental instincts, it isn’t that strange.”

Riveria sullenly glared as her old friends said what they
wanted.

But she didn’t try to deny what they were saying. A sigh
passed her small lips as she subconsciously fiddled with her
golden hair band.

“…From time to time, I become dreadfully anxious. I
start to wonder whether those black flames that still lurk
inside her might consume her at any moment. Whether
they might take her someplace far away.”

“…”
“Aiz has grown, and now she’s one of our core members.
The familia’s gotten bigger. We should give her some room
to stand on her own. I can hear myself saying it, but…even
so. I am still always watching over her.”
As Riveria quietly opened her heart, they listened in
silence.
You’re not alone. Riveria had let Aiz know, but she
wondered if really she wanted to hear it herself.
She smiled awkwardly, though not quite self-
deprecatingly.
“Even just not seeing her for a little while like this, the
uneasiness grows.”
“That’s just part of bein’ a mother. Nothin’ wrong with
it.”
“Who are you calling a mother?” Riveria smiled as she
turned to Loki.
“—Captain! Captain!!”
Raul burst through the door and into the office without
knocking.

“Aiz’s back! Just now she came in the north gate and is
headed here!”

Before Finn and the others could open their mouths,
even before Raul could finish speaking, her jade hair
moved.

Raul was surprised as Riveria passed him and left the
room. The others glanced at one another, holding in a
chuckle.

She passed through the long hallway and down the stairs
to the main entrance.

There, bathed in a bright light, was a crowd of familia
members and a golden-haired, golden-eyed girl greeting
them.

“Miss Aiz! I was so worried!”
“Ah, Aiz made her cry.”
“Lefiya was really worried without you.”
“I’m sorry…Lefiya.”
“Feh, there wasn’t any damn reason to be worried about
her.”
“That’s rich coming from you, Bete. Your tail was
fidgeting the whole time~.”
“It was not!! Quit spouting crap, you stupid Amazon!”
“What’d you say?!”
Riveria’s eyes softened at the heartwarming scene and
happy voices. That small, beaten-up, lonely little girl was
long gone. She was able to smile and had found a place to
come home to.
That gave her peace of mind and a kind of happiness
that she would hold close to her heart.
Finally, the girl noticed her and walked over.
Aiz looked up nervously, almost like a child waiting to be
scolded, but when she saw the smile on Riveria’s face, she
smiled again.
“I’m home…Riveria.”
“Yes. Welcome home, Aiz.”
They both smiled broadly.

Their hair swayed slightly.
The breeze itself seemed to smile as it flowed between
them.









Afterword

This is the side story’s ninth book, which takes place
behind the scenes of the events in the main series’ eighth
book.

In terms of organization, unfortunately, the present-day
segments have a bit of a feeling of skipping around, but if
you read the main series’ eighth book, I believe you will
enjoy them even more.

With this book, part two is now complete.
Unlike part one, which featured the so-called strongest
faction as they took on the Dungeon and all their various
efforts, part two is mainly about shining a light on the main
characters and their pasts. Since I wanted the final story to
go to the main protagonist of the side story, allow me to
finish this part here. (Though there are still characters here
and there who I haven’t covered yet.)
Personally, I’m always unsure how much of the side
story’s protagonist’s backstory to reveal in the main series
and how much to leave for this series. However, this time,
as I was sketching it out, that past, or perhaps more so her
bond with her familia, turned into the main topic of the
story.
The frivolous goddess, the prum watching over her from
a step removed, the heroic dwarf with his grandfatherly
smile…and the high elf best described as her second
mother. I think the collection of characters around the
protagonist managed to make the main series’ story much
more vibrant.
In particular, the conflicted high elf really carried the

story for me when I wasn’t sure I could put it all into
words. When she said “I love you,” I was honestly
surprised. I’m truly sorry for setting your character to be
unmarried. In any case, it would be nice if there was
another opportunity to write more episodes in the past
where the protagonist and high elf show more emotion and
are constantly bickering.

I’d like to move on to my thanks.
To my editor Takahashi, chief editor Kitamura, thank you
for supporting me when I hit the brakes right before the
goal. To Kiyotaka Haimura, who gave the protagonist a
different sort of cuteness in her past arc and as a village
girl, my deep gratitude for providing such wonderful art
despite the dreadful schedule the author stuck him with. To
everyone who helped make this book happen, I extend my
thanks. And also to all the readers, thank you for picking up
my book.
Until the next book,
Thank you very much.
All the best.

Fujino Omori

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Contents

Cover
Insert
Title Page
Copyright
Prologue: Recollections of an Elf
Chapter 1: A Scene at the Camp
Recollections Chapter 1: The Young Girl’s Beginnings
Chapter 2: A Brief Calm
Recollections Chapter 2: Are You a Sword?
Chapter 3: From the North Mountains
Recollections Chapter 3: Gods and People from Days Gone
Past
Chapter 4: Those Who Remain, Those Left Behind
Recollections Chapter 4: The Wind’s Desired Eternity
Epilogue: The Moment That the Wind Wished For
Afterword
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