Why Does Lefiya Danmachi Admire Ais?

Honestly, after bingeing both the anime and a chunk of the light novels, my gut says Ais is on another tier from Lefiya — at least for the way they approach combat. Ais is that quiet, almost flawless blade wielder who has insane battlefield instincts, speed, and endurance; she's repeatedly shown she can solo dangerous dungeon floors and take down high-grade monsters with clean, practiced strikes. Lefiya, by contrast, is a magic user whose power comes in explosive spells and utility — big-area spells, elemental bursts, and support-type casting. When distance and preparation are in her favor she can wreck things, but she tends to lack the battlefield experience and raw close-combat durability Ais has. I also think the writers deliberately set them up that way: Ais excels at solo assassination-style fights, while Lefiya shines in scenarios where spells, planning, and teamwork matter. That said, I love Lefiya’s growth arc. With focused training, better control, and fewer nerves, she could close the gap a lot. But right now? If it’s a straight one-on-one inside a dungeon corridor, I’m putting my money on Ais. If it’s an ambush from range with time to prepare, Lefiya’s magic could turn the tables — which is why this match-up is so fun to debate.

I'm that friend who gushes about character growth while sipping too-strong coffee late at night, and Lefiya's arc in the light novels really scratches that itch. In the early volumes of 'Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?' and especially in the side-story 'Sword Oratoria', she shows up as bright and eager but painfully aware of her limits. She's often overshadowed by the quiet perfection of Ais, which fuels an insecurity that feels painfully human — like watching someone who studies endlessly but still thinks they're not good enough. As the novels progress you see her internal voice change. Instead of just wondering why she isn't Ais, she starts to ask what she can be on her own terms. There are missions and setbacks that force her to make choices under pressure, and those moments do something to her posture — figuratively and literally. She learns to apply her magic more creatively, to rely on comrades, and to accept praise without immediately deflecting it. By later volumes she hasn't become flawless, and I love that. She becomes steadier, takes responsibility, and steps into roles that suit her temperament rather than trying to mimic someone else. Reading that slow burn felt like watching a friend learn to stand taller, which is exactly why I keep going back to these books.