@InversePrime

They're not gonna leave behind one of their strongest members when going deeper in the dungeon than ever before. Especially since royman implies ais might help in locating the ice garden somehow.

@Efficient-430

“royman implies ais might help in locating the ice garden somehow.”

in which volume did you read this

It wouldn't make sense to leave some of their most powerful members behind since they head into uncharted territory, however, they don't necessarily have to move through the dungeon as a unified block. Since many of their level 2s and 3s have leveled up recently, it would make sense to spend some time on the lower and deeper floors before the 50th so everyone can try out their new abilities according to their level.

So, the more powerful ones like Ais would hang back in this first phase of the expedition, because they would only get in the way of the third and second class adventurers as they explore their respective floors. After giving them a few days' head start, the elite group that stayed behind would then head out to meet up on the 50th floor for example.

Then, in that way it might be recounted the events of the group left behind in DM20 and continue the deep expedition after meeting up in the dungeon at SO15.

I believe it was mentioned in a tweet that a DM20 chapter is titled "Leon and the Sword Princess", which indicates that Ais will have a lot of involvement during it, and I don't think it will be with Leon accompanying the expedition, so it could be that Ais will stay with Leon for a few days and then head off the dungeon to catch up with her family.

@Leinad91

Your theory would would be fine if we didn't know how loki familia handles expeditions but we've seen them go in 2 now and they only really spit up at the start to not over crowd the upper levels which shouldn't take that long and when they get to the safe zone on the 50th where they leave all the weaker members behind.

All we have from vol 20 is ais being named in 1 chapter that doesn't tell us anything other than she'll be significant in that chapter. She could leave In the very next for all we know.

@Guilo2018

In vol 18 royman says this while talking too finn

“Even Zeus and Hera only managed to bring this little trinket back to the surface. But…if it’s Loki Familia and that famous tomboy of yours, then you might just be able to find the key.”

@Efficient-430

It's natural to change or modify the way things are done when a significant change in circumstances occurs; after the battle of Knossos most of their third-class adventurers became second-class, which now means spending a lot more time than before on the lower and deeper floors if all the levels 3 and 4 are going to be given the chance to fight extensively. But for the young executives that's wasted time, they can even get in the way like in the last expedition where they got excited about the battle of Bell and didn't let the second-class adventurers fight.

Obviously, for practicality the most reasonable thing is to move all together, so I'm not proposing this way of doing things as their general practice from now on; I'm referring to the specific case where for some reason Ais and some others need to fall behind the main group, something that can be done because they are not needed to explore those floors and as I said, their absence can be pertinent for the second string.

In this particular case it would be as simple as Finn telling the young executives: "many members have leveled up, so Gareth, Riveria and I are going to take some time examining and evaluating each other's new capabilities, but you'll get bored and make your colleagues uncomfortable during this process, so it's better if we meet on the 50th floor," for once they do it like that there won't be a problem.

I read somewhere that the sports festival is only open to Level 1 and 2 adventurers. If that's the case, Bell won't be competing, and might instead be going on the expedition with LF by himself or along with Ryu.

We might instead see Nina competing, or the other members of HF.

Keep your expectation low, we have been talking about an expedition with LF for years now & so far Bell have more chance going on expedition with Freya Familia (already done) or Hermes Familia (Bell still needs to repay his debt toward Aisha).

In volume 20, I think aiz will head out later into the dungeon. Actually loki familia is now more stronger. they have three level 7s and absence of aiz for some time is not much of a thing. It's good if aiz will head out with bell and the story will progress from two sides. But I don't think it will happen bcz hestia familia can't go in to deeper floors with those level 2s around.

Full synopsis of DM20 is out: https://www.sbcr.jp/product/4815628697/

So seems like the Orariopiad is not really an event they hold every time School District is back in Orario. I’m guessing Bell will join the student’s side and his identity will be exposed at the end but his reputation in front of the students will be restored.

The SS bundled with the special edition is titled “Days of the new Fertility”.

The 20th installment of the DanMachi main story!

A huge shockwave, Orario vs. the school district competition [City Sports Festival] -- the Orario Piad is about to begin!

"We will not tolerate the tyranny of the guild!"

Student protests break out!

After the hardest metal, Orichalcum, is confiscated, the students of the "School District" explode in discontent.

With all communication with Orario severed and the whole city in uproar, the festival-loving gods would not miss this opportunity!

"Orario vs School District Representative Match!

The city athletic festival is about to begin!"

Funnily enough I just said recently that they could have their next big conflict be surrounding the Guild and now they're doing exactly that.

Also based on the title and the cover that's been going around, the SS most likely will be about Horn and Heith working at the Hostess of Fertility.