This is a fan-fic between KonoSuba and Many series(Mainly KonoSuba itself, Kara no Kyoukai, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and many other things). Disclaimer : I don't own any. This project is for fun only and if you had complain or suggestion, you can post it on review so that I can use it for reference and learning material. Note : spaming or flaming review will be ignored(regular review is fine though).
-o-
Chapter 9 : Sad Stories and New Ally
"Hey Aqua, you've healed him right?"
I asked while tying up the bandits on the tree.
Not far from me, Aqua and the others are circling around the unconscious body of Yoshikage Shidou.
Looks like he's badly injured from my attacks as his healing took quite a while and he hasn't regain his consciousness.
Allow me to sum up the situation leading to this.
We helped Shigeki, fighting a Stand user, I almost dead, I got a Stand, and beat him with said Stand.
All in all, the situation was resolved peacefully.
But...
Holding the 「Arrow」 in my hand, I'm thinking hard.
I discussed about it with Shigeki.
The possibility that Yoshikage Shidou wasn't from our world, but a person who gained a Stand using that 「Arrow」which brings a second problem. Who is the one requesting to brought this 「Arrow」to this world and are there many others Stand user born from this 「Arrow」?
Damn...
"Hey Kazuma! He's starting to regain his consciousness."
Megumin called out to me.
While I'm walking toward Yoshikage's body, I can see that Shigeki took a stance as if Yoshikage going to attack us at any moment.
"Ugh..."
Yoshikage groaned as his eyes slowly opened.
"Am I dead?"
He muttered while massaging his temple.
"Apparently not."
I responded.
"Oh, it's just you."
He said after taking a glance to me.
"..."
A moment of silence.
"啊啊啊啊啊啊啊! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !"
He exclaimed while backing away till he's cornered to a tree behind him.
"What do you want to do!? Are you going to kill me!?"
Wow, talk about a great change of attitude.
No longer he act arrogant or prideful.
In fact, he looks pitiful.
"No, if they want to, you shouldn't woke up by now. In fact, this Aqua over here healed you. Personally, I prefer you being crippled instead of being healed like this."
Shigeki sounds pissed.
Well, considering his dog got killed...
But still... Crippling someone to take revenge of said person killing your pet is too much.
"Enough of that, Shigeki. Don't terrify him any further lest he'll be unable to talk."
"Tch, fine. You're lucky Kazuma told me to do so. If you try any suspicious shit, my spear ain't gonna stay still."
"So, my question is simple, Yoshikage-san. Why did you order to bring this 「Arrow」 to this world? Why don't you just request for a Stand with similar power instead of choosing this 「Arrow」that could potentially mess with this world?"
"Hiii... W-W-What are you talking about!?"
"Hey, hey, don't you fucking play dumb on us now!"
Shigeki grabbed his collar and shakes him.
That's obvious, his gesture screams out lies.
Then, Aqua tugged my sleeve and gesturing me to lean down.
'Nee, Kazuma. I don't think he's lying.'
She whispered.
Huh?
Did this goddess really dumb?
That gesture screams out lies and she failed to notice that!?
'Haa... What makes you think so?'
I sighed.
Seriously this godde-
'Because, I don't even have a faint bits of recollection about a man named Yoshikage Shidou or anyone who request what you guys called 「Arrow」.'
What...
Wait...
Looking at Yoshikage, I can see that he looks like someone around our age.
That means he must be recently came here.
But that theory is impossible since Aqua didn't even know him.
She might forget many people she sent here, but she can recall them should she heard the person's name and the power/artifact they brought here.
Yoshikage here wasn't in her memory.
This could only means...
"Wait Shigeki, let him go. He might be telling the truth!"
"What?! Kazuma, don't you see that he's blatantly lied!?"
He retorts.
"Good grief, just trust me on this. If he dares to lie, my 「The Void : Initiation」will beat the crap out of him... Again."
Materializing my Stand behind, I intimidate him.
"Hii..."
Seems like my intimidation worked.
"Hey, if you dare to touch aniki, I'll beat you to death!"
"Yeah!"
"Don't you dare doing something bad to him!"
The bandits who seems to regain their consciousness yelled at me.
Seriously, say that when you're not pathetically tied on a tree.
"Now I want to ask other question. How did you get your Stan- No, how did you get the 「Arrow」?"
"T-That 「Arrow」 is my father's memento."
He said that while frowning a bit.
! ! !
ゴゴゴゴゴ
[Menacing]
Both me and Shigeki tensed at the notion.
'Hey Aqua, since when did you gods and goddesses sent people and granted them powers?'
'Why do you ask?'
'It's important in our situation right now.'
'Well, it's been around a century I guess...'
!?
That means.
"Yoshikage! Did you know how your father got that 「Arrow」?"
"N-No, he never said anything about it even until his death. Besides, I was a mere toddler at that time, so even if he did say something, I probably forgot about it."
"Your father's name, who is he?"
"Akira Shidou."
Hmm...
'Hey Aqua, did you know anyone named Akira Shidou who brought the 「Arrow」 to this world around decades ago?'
'How should I know? There's too many people I sent here every year, you can't expect me to remember them all.'
'Then, is there a way to know about it?'
'Well, let me try...'
Then, she closed her eyes and thinking about something.
After a few seconds, she opened her eyes again.
'It's better if I show you than explain it myself.'
Then, she promptly chanting something.
Right in front of her, a small prism of light materialized.
Above that prism, a monitor made of light was projected.
Everyone looked at it.
On the screen, I can only see statics.
Then, an image of a well endowed woman appeared.
Turns out it was...
"Ah, it's Aqua-senpai, what did you call me again for?"
"Eris, I want you to tell them about what I discuss with you earlier."
"!" x4
Shigeki, Yoshikage, Megumin, and Darkness look visibly surprised.
No, I am not surprised since I've met her before, but it seems like they haven't.
Or more likely the fact that Aqua casually talked to goddess Eris like she's her equal.
Well, they ARE equals. It's just that Eris is better fit to be a goddess than Aqua does.
"!"
The bandits was rendered speechless and in awe, seeing the goddess.
"I-I-Is that the goddess Eris herself?"
Yoshikage muttered in awe.
"Heh, never once I thought that I'm going to see two goddesses in my life. This one's even more beautiful than the previous one!"
Shigeki whistled.
Meanwhile, I can see Aqua twitching her brows.
"I am not exactly following any believes, but she exudes great amount of power even when I merely looking at her."
Megumin muttered.
"Goddess Eris-sama! It's an honor to see you!"
Darkness said while kneeling with her head down.
Oh yeah, it seems like Darkness is the follower of Eris' religion.
To her, this meeting is obviously a surprising and something she never even thought.
Aqua frowned.
"Ah, it's Lalatina. Are you doing well?"
Eris smiled gracefully while asking that.
"Y-Y-Yes!"
"HEY! I'M NOT CALLING YOU HERE TO BE PRAISED, YOU PAD-USING GODDESS!"
"S-S-Senpai! Please don't call me that in front of my follower!"
Aqua snapped, causing Eris to tremble from that words.
"Aqua! How could you be rude to Eris-sama!"
Darkness reprimands her.
Err, Darkness, what you did is rude too. Besides, I catch something about that conversation. Lalatina? Is that Darkness' surname or real name? Well, I'll inquire about that later.
"Um, Lalatina-san. It's okay and please don't be rude to senpai..."
"Senpai?"
"Yes, actually Aqua is my senpai as a goddess."
A total silence.
Then...
"EH!?" x10
As expected.
They were shocked.
"Nee, Kazuma. Why are they seems so surprised? They should know that I am a goddess, right?"
She asked me.
...
Please figure that on your own, you should know the reason why.
"You are the goddess of a nutjob that is Axel religion!?"
Yoshikage exclaimed.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAID ABOUT MY FOLLOWERS!?"
She snapped and strangles Yoshikage.
It seems like insulting her followers is a berserk button to her like Josuke's pompadour.
"Hey! How dare you strangle aniki!"
"Stop it!"
"You may be a goddess, but I won't hesitate to hit you if you don't stop strangling him!"
"Scumbag!"
"No wonder Axis are full of nutjobs!"
Now it makes me wonder about people of Axis cult.
Well, gotta stop her lest she's going to kill Yoshikage and his band.
"I thought your name and looks were merely a coincidence, but I never thought that you are the real deal of someone who sent me here."
Shigeki joined.
"Well, that means I am destined for a great things for being in the same party with a goddess. But somehow, why can't I accept her being a goddess I wonder?"
Megumin tilts her head.
"Ah, I see. I'm sorry, Aqua-sama and Eris-sama too, for my rude behavior."
Darkness said while bowing to both of them.
Wow, she looks like a proper knight in these kind of times.
"Ah yes, it's fine, Lalatina-san."
"Hmm... I feel kinda weird for you to finally call me with -sama now, but nevertheless, I forgive you. Though, I prefer for you not to call me with -sama, considering your personality, it creeps me out if you call me with -sama."
"Well, Aqua. Let's get back to the main topic."
I said.
We've gotten sidetracked from our main topic.
"Ah yes, HikiNEET is right. Then, can you show them about it."
Restraining myself not to smack Aqua for her insult to me, I can see that Eris took out a paper.
"This is Akira's biography. Though, the only thing listed in here is who he is in the previous world."
Eris said.
She read about it.
Akira Shidou, born from the couple named Ichiro Shidou and Manaka Shidou.
Known to always be a number one in most of the things he did.
Although, despite being a genius youth, his personality contradicts his achievement.
He died at 17 years of age during a fight against delinquents.
The artifact chosen by him : The 「Arrow」
ゴゴゴゴゴ
[Menacing]
Yare yare daze
It seems my prediction is correct.
"Did you catch something Kazuma?"
Aqua asked.
"Yeah, I got the gist of things."
"Well, if that's all, can I go now, senpai? There's many other souls coming here."
Eris said that.
Aqua just disperse the prism of light in response.
"Ah what a shame, I wanna see her a bit longer."
Shigeki muttered.
Ignoring his remark, I asked Yoshikage.
"Then, can I ask you the whereabouts of your father, Yoshikage-san."
"Tch, I don't know or even want to know where he is, I even prefer that bastard to die."
Yoshikage spat in disgust.
What?
Did he has a bad history with his father?
"What happened between you two? You seems like hating him with all your heart."
Darkness asked.
Well, I heard Darkness has a good relationship with her father, so she must be surprised seeing how Yoshikage called his own father a bastard and even wanting him to die.
"The asshole made my mother madly fell in love with him. After she conceived me when she's still sixteen years old, that bastard left my mom and this 「Arrow」. Despite all of that, my mother didn't abort me nor resent me for being that bastard's offspring and almost killing her during her delivery!"
! ! !
That's-
"Our life isn't bad until many fucking nobles wants to make my mother as their concubine. She rejects them all, clinging to the hope that my father would one day returns and keeping this 「Arrow」. Did you know what fate has in store for us!?"
He yelled while expressing his anger and held out the 「Arrow」 in his left hand.
"One of the noble sent a group of mercenaries to kill us! That time, I was a mere ten years old brat! When they came, my mother hides me down in the floor compartment of my house and telling me to go away while giving me the 「Arrow」 and that bastard's diary before she ask me to find that bastard. But, I can't even move, I watched my mother being slapped, punched, and shamed by those mercenaries while I can't do a thing! Intending to end my life due to my uselessness, I stabbed myself with the 「Arrow」. As I bleed out to death, my last thought was to kill them all, kill all those who shamed my mother. The next thing I know, my wounds have disappeared and a Stand that I called ghost at that time appeared behind me. My thought at that time... 'Kill them all'. By the time I came out from the basement, I can see my mother barely alive on the floor while the mercenaries were reduced to many messy limbs scattered across the house. Then, the doctor who took care of my mother told me that my mother suffered a permanent paralysis due to her spine being crushed and her mind screwed up by those mercenaries that she suffered a great trauma to the point that she keeps calling me by that bastard's name up until now!"
"That's..."
Aqua muttered.
"How cruel..."
Megumin joined.
Darkness just looked down while grimacing every time noble was mentioned, I wonder why.
"You all don't know what he's gone through!"
One of the bandits yelled at us. It's the girl one.
"Tsk."
Shigeki only clicked his tongue and averts his gaze.
Even if that guy killed his dog, listening to such story, even Shigeki felt unpleasant and disgusted.
Though, I have an important that needs to be answered.
"So, up until now, that 「Arrow」 is always with you?"
"Yeah, the only people who used it probably that bastard, me, and recently, you."
Phew, at least the fear of fighting another Stand user disappeared.
Then, he proceed to stand up.
"What are you doing!?"
Shigeki yelled at him.
Sighing, Yoshikage looks at him before walking to his bandits friends.
"Freeing them before I'm going home, I don't get anything today and I don't want to make my mother worried."
He didn't even call out his Stand or interested in us anymore.
But...
In the first place, our main objective of coming here is...
"Wait, are you going to keep extorting anyone passes by here?"
Shigeki asked.
"You people? No. Other people? Yes."
"What!? And here I thought I could sympathize you due to your past!"
Shigeki took a stance.
"I don't need your sympathy!"
With that, Yoshikage proceeds to untie his friends despite Shigeki taking a stance against him.
"Akira! Where did you go, Akira?"
The voice of a women from the forest brought our attention.
"Kaa-san!?"
Yoshikage looks visibly surprised.
Is that!?
Looking at the source of that voice, we saw a blonde haired woman in her early twenties dragging her wheelchair while yelling that out.
Now I see why the nobles want her so bad that one of them went crazy to do such wretched thing.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I spot something nearby her.
A giant black sabertooth tiger-like beast eyeing her.
"Hey! What is that thing nearby her!?"
I yelled that out while pointing at the spot I saw the sabertooth tiger like beast.
"That's!"
Shigeki looks surprised.
"What's a Rookie Killer doing here!?"
Yoshikage exclaimed.
"Rookie Killer?"
"Yeah, it's a creature that hangs around creatures like goblins and kobolds, weaker monsters that are easier for rookie adventurers to handle, and preys on the weak adventurers. This means the goblins are bait to lure the adventurer. And in order to keep the goblins from settling at one place, it will herd the goblins to change its hunting grounds. A cunning and dangerous monster. But there no weak monster around this parts, so why is it coming here?"
One of the bandit explained.
I see.
That thing is certainly dangerous.
More importantly, Yoshikage's mother is being targeted by that thing!
Then, without any warning, the Rookie Killer leaped toward her.
Miraculously, it only knocked her down from the wheelchair.
"Akira!? Akira!? Help me..."
She muttered in fear.
The Rookie Killer who landed few meters away turned back it's attention to her.
Looking at the others, I can see they're frozen in fear to do anything.
Seriously!?
Damn, at this rate she'll die!
I should-
[Stay here, the distance is too far and I might die fighting that beast]
[Save her]
[Stay here, the distance is too far and I might die fighting that beast]
[Save her]
[Stay here, the distance is too far and I might die fighting that beast]
[Save her]
That's right, I should save her. She might be the mother of my enemy, but she wasn't involved with what her son does. Besides, it'd leave a bad taste in my mouth to let someone die in front of me while I could do something about it.
Summoning part of my Stand on my legs and boost my boots with Ehwaz, I dashed forward.
"Kazuma!?" x4
30 m
The beast took a stance to sprint forward.
20 m
It sprints toward Yoshikage's mother.
10 m
It leaps forward.
The distance between them is a mere 10 m and that thing will kill her before I reached her!
Damn it!
Wait! How foolish I am for forgetting something important!
"「The Void : Initiation」!"
I stopped my sprint and fully summon my Stand behind.
"「Void's Phase」!"
My Stand promptly swipe its hand forward, creating a portal which I entered.
Quickly pointing at the spot between Yoshikage's mother and Rookie Killer, I was teleported there.
Greeted by the sight of Rookie Killer pouncing toward me, I greet back-
"ORA!"
-with a punch to its head with my Stand.
Probably due to the average power over my Stand, it was merely knocked back a few meters, it then shook its head before glaring at me.
Standing in front of Yoshikage's mother to shield her, I unsheathe my sword and activate my Mystic Eyes.
There's no time to use my rune.
Avoiding its leap will doom the woman behind me, standing here will mean that I have to precisely cut its death line.
Staring at each other for a second, it suddenly sprints at me.
But...
"'Create Earth'-'Wind Breath'!"
Creating a lump of soil in my left hand, a small gust of wind blew the dust to the Rookie Killer's eyes, disorienting it.
Now's my chance!
Slash!
The Rookie Killer's body was split into two different parts as I cut the death line on its stomach's side, severing the front and back part of its body.
Still alive and writhing after being cut in two, I land a killing blow to its head.
"Ah, thank you for saving me. If only Akira here, he'd easily defeat that thing."
She said to me.
"Kaa-san!"
Yoshikage ran toward us.
Behind him, Aqua and the others along with the bandits followed. Seems like they've regained their consciousness.
"Ah, Akira. Where have you been? I'm worried about you."
"Kaa-san, I told you that I'm not Akira, I'm your son, Yoshikage."
He said while raising his mother up.
Meanwhile, the bandits are picking up the broken part of the wheelchair and stood behind Yoshikage.
"Don't be like that, Akira. What's Yoshikage going to say when he met his father who denies himself?"
She smiled.
Damn...
Listening to his story is bad enough and now this...
"Haa... I'm just going to go back soon. Let's just go home now, Kaa-san."
Then, he turned to us.
"Let me say this, I won't change my job. If you want to stop me, do it after this. I'm going to take my mother home first."
He leaves while his friends followed from behind.
"Wait!"
I yelled at him.
"What is it? Are you going to force me to fight here? Even if you are the one who defeated me and saved my mother, I won't be scared to fight you if it means to prevent my mother from harm's way."
"No, I'm asking you, why did you team up with these bandits and doing such things?"
"...What did you just call my friend?"
"Huh?"
He promptly summoned his Stand behind him.
!
Everyone took a stance except Aqua.
"That's enough, Yoshikage-san."
"It's fine if they call us bandits."
"Boss, you shouldn't get angry for such things."
"Yeah, you shouldn't fight him again."
"We should focus on Erica-san's safety first, aniki."
The bandits said together.
"Tch, fine."
Withdrawing his Stand, he turned back.
"Wait!"
This time, it's Aqua.
What the heck are you trying to do?
Don't make him fight us here, Aqua.
As I was thinking some stupid thing Aqua probably going to do, she said something impossible.
"Let me see your mother. I might be able to help."
"!?" x10
Aqua, who is usually spouting nonsense, doing stupid things, being careless said something like that!?
That Aqua!?
"What..."
He was surprised.
That's to be expected.
Unfitting she might be, she's still a goddess nonetheless.
To be told like that by one should be enough of a surprise.
"You are the son of someone I sent here and since that guy abandoned you and letting your mother and you suffer, it's partly my responsibility. That's why this is the least I can do."
"What are you planning behind this?"
He asked warily.
"Nothing. Honestly, I don't care if you are going to extort again after this or anything, I'm just fulfilling my duty. Though, I would prefer if you quit doing that."
Hey, hey, should you say something like that, goddess-sama?
"..."
"Aniki, be careful!"
"Yeah, it might be a trap."
His friends expressed their worry.
That's to be expected.
For an enemy to offer something like that, one would normally think it's a trap.
"...Can you really heal her?"
He asked.
"!?"
His friends look visibly surprised.
"I'll try the best I can. But I need her to be unconscious during the process."
"Understood, but you won't do something bad to my mother, right?"
"I promise as the Goddess of Axis cult."
She declared.
"Then, if you can heal her, I promise you this; I'll stop extorting people passing around here and find a proper job."
"?!" x10
Everyone, including me surprised at his declaration.
"But know this, if you do something weird to her, I'll kill you regardless being a goddess or not."
Hearing that, Aqua glares at him.
Then, he knock his mother unconscious in the less painful way(light chop to her nape) before he put down his mother on the ground.
Seeing that, Aqua stood next to Yoshikage's mother's body and inspect it.
"Hmm... Her disability is one thing, but her mental damage is quite severe. Restoring her legs is possible, but I can't guarantee the mental ones."
She can deduce that with a mere glance?
Seems like I've underestimated her too much due to her usual attitude.
"...I see... Then, please proceed anyway. Even if the chance is small, I want you to try to do it, seeing my mother like this..."
He looked down while clenching his fists.
Aqua merely nodded before starting to chant.
Slowly, Yoshikage's mother's body was engulfed in a light.
After a few second passed, the light fades away.
"Did it work?"
Yoshikage asked.
"We'll see. I've done all I can to heal her, now we need to wait and see."
Aqua replied.
I wonder what kind of spell did Aqua used.
Few minutes later, we saw Yoshikage's mother's body twitching.
"Uhh..."
Then, Yoshikage's mother slowly opened her eyes.
"Kaa-san, are you alright?"
"Ah, Yoshikage."
"I told you, it's Yosh- Wait, what did you just call me!?"
He exclaimed.
"Yoshikage, what's wrong with you?"
She asked in puzzlement.
"Aaahhh...ahhh..."
He cried.
"Eh!? Why are you crying, Yoshikage? Is something bad happening to you?"
Wiping away his tears despite it keeps flowing down, he managed to said.
"I'm glad... I'm glad you're back to normal, Kaa-san."
...
"Nee stupid Kazuma, why are you crying *sniff*sniff*?"
Aqua said while sobbing.
"..." x2
Megumin and Darkness tearing up a little too while Shigeki just scratches the back of his head, flustered on how should he reacts.
Meanwhile, Yoshikage's friend seems to be crying too.
"Fool, you are also crying."
I said while wiping away my tears.
She replied.
"Stupid! Who wouldn't cry seeing this."
Few sobbings later...
"Kaa-san, just try it slowly."
Yoshikage said as he holds his mother's hand, guiding her to slowly get used to walking.
It's been seven years since she lost her mobility, muscle atrophy should be something to be expected.
After that crying fest, we found out that Erica Shidou, Yoshikage's mother still madly in love with Akira Shidou. Aqua did say that love is something she can't heal since it isn't something evil or an illness. Though, at least most of her mental trauma and disability were cured.
Then, Yoshikage lets his mother helped by his friends to walk before walking to us.
"As I promised, I'll quit extorting people passed by here. Though, now me and my friends have to think a way of living beside extorting."
He suddenly said.
Oh yeah, he did say something like that.
"Why don't you and your friends become an adventurer or work in the town?"
Shigeki suggested.
That's right.
Seeing that his friend is well equipped(despite as a bandit) and his power, being an adventurer or working normally won't be difficult for them.
"Hmm, I'll think about it later. But I need to take care of my mother until she can walks normally again first."
"I see... Then, take this."
I offered him a bag contained some money I, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness put inside.
It's not much compared to our party's saving, but that might be enough to sustain them for a while.
"2,000,000 Eris? Are you sure giving this much to me!? I almost killed you and your friend before, but-"
"No buts, just use those money to sustain you until you get a job."
Meanwhile, the latter three who donate their money nodded. While Shigeki...
"Don't kill dog again please."
"..." x5
Everyone went speechless.
"What?"
"Nothing."
I replied.
He really does trying to live up being a Cu Chulainn eh?
"W-W-Well, I'll accept this kindly and keep that in mind."
He smiled wryly in response.
Phew, it seems like everything ends in a good note.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot.
"Hey, Yoshikage."
"Hmm?"
"Can you keep a secret about the fact that Aqua here is the goddess? The last thing I want is a chaos created from the fact that she was here."
"Oh? Well, sure. Though, be careful that despite your effort of hiding her existence, high ranking demon might recognize her through her power."
"That's true. Oh yeah, I forgot to ask."
"What is it?"
"Why are your friends don't have a Stand of their own?"
Yeah, this question bugs me real bad.
The fact that he possess the 「Arrow」 and what he can do with it is frightening.
"Well, from that guy's diary, I found out that using the 「Arrow」 on someone is risky. He even describe in detail on how he almost died in the process of awakening his Stand and from the looks of it, you suffered the similar treatment right? The last thing I want is to risk my friend's life with that 「Arrow」."
?!
Crap, I forgot about that fact.
"Well then, if that's all, we're going to go back to my house. It's going to be evening soon. Wanna come to my house? At least I can offer a tea."
"Ah, not today, but when we got a time, we'll visit later. By the way, why don't you just come and live in the town?"
"Well, I'll discuss about it with the others since we've already used to live in this forest. Though, we're going now. If you need any assistance, I'll provide you with all I can as a gratitude for what you did."
As we nodded, he leaves us and joined back to his group.
"Well, let us go home. The problem was resolved peacefully already."
I said to the others.
They all nodded.
Then, we proceed to return to the town.
But...
"Hey Shigeki-san, why are you going there?"
I yelled to Shigeki who walks away from us.
"Just return back to the town, I'm not coming with you! I told you that the reason I ask your help so that I may continue my journey! May our path crosses again later man!"
Yare yare... Well it's indeed him to be like that.
"Yeah, take care of yourself!"
After that, we went separate ways.
Shigeki goes to continue his journey.
Me and my party go back to the town to build our power with the goal to defeat the Demon King.
One day, I believe our path might cross again.
An hour later...
Returning back to the town's main gate, Megumin spoke.
"Hmm, somehow I feel like we're forgetting something."
"Yeah, me too."
Darkness joined.
"Ah!"
"What is it Aqua?"
I asked.
"We haven't ask him for the reward!"
Ah.
That's right.
The mission we did from him actually is a mission that's going to be posted on the guild, so technically we should be rewarded!
But...
"Well, just let it be this time. At least we indirectly helped the townspeople and Yoshikage at the same time. Besides, our savings are still more than 200 Million Eris."
"True, but somehow I feel dissatisfied for not being able to cast my 'Explosion'."
"Well, at least I am able to get the honor of meeting Eris-sama myself."
"Geh, from this mission, I think Kazuma is the one who got the most benefit. He got another weird power again."
Well, if you put it that way, that's kinda true.
Also the fact that I've finally found the reason behind what my Mystic Eyes did when I see undeads. Though, now I face another thing to investigate; my Stand!
-o-
The Next Day...
"ORA!"
My Stand's fist connected to one of the undead, sending it flying back to knock its fellow undeads behind.
Before they could react, I charged ahead with my Mystic Eyes.
?
Somehow my Mystic Eyes didn't generate too much killing intent. Is it because of these undead being a low level mobs?
Whatever.
SLASH
Followed by my quick slash while they're disoriented, the undeads finally 'dead'.
"'Turn Undead'!"
Behind me, Aqua cast 'Turn Undead', purifying several undeads appearing from my blindsides or behind her.
"Are those in the guild sure that this place is an 'easy' dungeon or beginner's dungeon? These amount of undead aren't something a newbie can handle!"
I complained while cutting down several incoming undead.
"How should I know? This is the first time I've gone here either."
Aqua retorts.
Yeah, we're currently at a dungeon.
A day after the problem with Yoshikage, we got bored again.
But luckily, some adventurers suggested us to go explore a dungeon.
They told me this dungeon called 'Keele's Dungeon', the dungeon specially for a newbie out of the fact that we've never gone to any dungeon before and try something new to alleviate our boredom without risking our lives. Bonus point that I wants to try my Stand power.
Though, only me and Aqua going here. Megumin is useless and wait outside with Darkness(despite the latter wanting to explore) due to her(Megumin) being scared alone.
Entering the dungeon, the mobs we've encountered were too easy. Even without my Mystic Eyes, I can easily dispatch them all. That is until we're going deeper where either because of my source of light(Berkano inscribed on rock floating in front of me) or Aqua who exudes holy aura behind me.
From a mere one or two undeads, we've encountered around five to seven now.
After clearing many of them, we take a break and inspect the map of this dungeon.
Apparently, we're close to the end.
"Nee Kazuma, how close are we till the end? I'm getting creepy just by being here."
"We're close. But wait, aren't you a goddess!? How could you afraid of such things? Your 'Turn Undead' annihilate them like it's nothing!"
"Stupid Kazuma! Who wouldn't be scared in this kind of situation!?"
I do.
Though, it's more like alerted.
After storming our way through, we've finally reached the end of the dungeon.
"Seriously, what the heck?"
I muttered.
It's nothing but a dead end in front of us.
Nothing more, nothing less, just a plain old dead end wall.
"Are you sure we aren't just getting lost instead of reached a dead end?"
"No, this is the dead end. In the first place, this dungeon is easy because it has a straight path instead of a complicated labyrinth."
I explained.
Then...
"Someone there? I can feel someone is there..."
A voice came from the other side of the wall.
"What?" x2
After muttering that, the wall turned sideways, revealing some sort of secret entrance.
This is suspicious.
Too suspicious!
"Nee, Kazuma. Should we go?"
"This screams trap, but even if it is, let's just hope since it's a novice dungeon, it won't be dangerous."
I said nervously.
After some pondering, we proceed to enter it anyway.
There was a simple bed, cabinet, a table and a chair in the room.
As we walked closer, my Berkano illuminate the room and found a figure sitting on the chair besides the bed.
An oil lamp was placed on the table.
"Morning, first time we met. I don't know what time it is outside, should I say 'good evening' instead?"
The person who greeted us wore a long cloak, he was a skeleton covered in dried skin.
"I am Keele, creator of this dungeon. I kidnapped the daughter of a noble, an evil wizard."
— A long time ago, there was an arch wizard named Keele who fell in love with a daughter of a noble clan during a stroll through the streets.
Keele who knew this love won't bear fruit, devoted himself in his magic training and research.
As the years went by, he eventually became the strongest arch wizard in the nation.
He didn't hold back in bringing happiness to the country through his use of spells, and was praised by all.
And so, the wizard was invited into the castle, to a banquet that was held in his honor.
The king said to the wizard:
He wanted to reward the wizard, and was willing to fulfil one wish of the wizard, with no restriction.
The wizard said he had a wish that would never be fulfilled.
And that was the happiness of the one he loved, who had suffered so much.
"After making this wish, I kidnapped that lady."
Keele said proudly.
"… Which means you are not an evil wizard, but a good one? In order to get on the good side of the king, the daughter was offered to the king as a concubine. But she wasn't loved, and didn't have a good relationship with the queen and the other concubine, and had a hard time. And you said something like 'since you don't want her, give her to me' right?"
After hearing this, the bones in Keele's throat area rattled, as if he was laughing.
"That's the gist of it. After I proposed to the lady I kidnapped, she accepted me. After that, I brought her along in an elopement of love while fighting the army of the kingdom… Ara, those were happy times. Oh, by the way, the one on the bed is her. How does she looked, the curve of her collar bone is beautiful right?"
I looked in the direction Keele pointed at and found a skeleton placed on the small bed.
… What was with that?
Aqua who was beside me looked at Keele with shining eyes.
She probably couldn't wait to purify him.
"And so, I have a request for that lady over there," Keele suddenly said.
"Request?"
Hearing my words, Keele nodded–
"Could you send me to the other world? This lady should have the power to do so."
-o-
Aqua chanted every line of her spell clearly.
The great arch wizard placed his 'hand' on the 'hand' of the lady lying on the bed.
Aqua said that lady had no regrets and had moved on.
Although the magic circle just need to fit in Keele alone. But because Aqua was really into it, the circle not only encompassed the bones of the lady, but the entire room as well.
Keele was heavily injured in a fight to protect the lady. In order to guard her till the very end, he abandoned his humanity and became a lich.
It might be wrong to say this, but I felt that turning into a lich that way was really cool.
Maybe after seeing Aqua bully Wiz earlier, I felt this lich here was really manly.
I wonder if there's many more liches like Wiz or Keele since the lich I've met until now aren't as bad as they're described.
After becoming the concubine of the king, the lady didn't have many chance to go outside. She was suddenly the enemy of the state and toured the entire world to escape capture, and spent the last moment of her life in this dungeon.
Despite the lack of freedom while on the run, she didn't had any complaints, and smiled happily instead– That's what Keele said.
"Did I made her happy?"– That's the question he keep asking himself.
"Yare yare, that's a big help. A lich such as myself can't do something as ridiculous as suicide after all. I was waiting for my end quietly here when I felt a powerful holy aura. So I woke from my long slumber."
In the gentle magic circle that covered the entire room, Keele said amidst laughter.
Aqua finally finished her chanting.
And using a gentle expression I had never seen before, she smiled at Keele.
… Just who was she.
As I was wondering if I saw it wrong, Aqua said gently to Keele.
"Arch wizard Keele, you abandon your humanity and became a lich by your own conviction. In the name of the goddess of water Aqua, I absolve you of your sin… When you wake up, you will be before a goddess with unnaturally large breasts named Eris. If you don't mind the age difference between you and the one you love, or if your relations are not between a man and a woman, and if you wish to meet her no matter what form it may be in… You can try asking Eris. She will make your wish come true."
What the heck with that little bit of an insult she added? In the first place, why did she became as serious as when she healed Yoshikage's mother?
As I was feeling uneasy about Aqua's uncharacteristic behaviour, Keele bowed his head deeply in the room illuminated by light while saying his last gratitude.
"Thank you."
"Sacred turn undead!"
— The light dissipated, and the room was enveloped by darkness once again.
I saw a glimpse before he was engulfed in a light.
A peaceful smile.
That lich and the remains of that lady (for some reason) had disappeared without a trace.
Aqua and I were silent in the heavy atmosphere.
I slowly told her:
"… Let us go back."
She just nodded.
Though, the tense atmosphere soon disappeared when Aqua screamed as I carry her and charging through the groups of undeads blocking our way.
"What the hell happened?"
That's the first thing Megumin said to us when we got out of the dungeon.
"Wahhhh! Kazuma he! Kazuma he wahhhh!"
She stroke the head of Aqua who was sobbing behind me and consoled her.
"Good grief, don't blame me like that, you told me to get out of that dungeon as fast as possible and I did just that."
I deadpanned.
I didn't do anything wrong.
She said 'let's quickly leave this place as fast as we can, I don't like facing the undeads.'
What I just did is carrying her and run forward with my Stand punched everything in our way(thanks to the mobs being very weak that is).
Though, that didn't make her less scared as we're chased by many undeads from behind, re-enacting what happened to us when Beldia attacked. Bonus point that my 「Void's Phase」 can't bring anyone but me into that space.
Well, at least I got some insight about my Stand after exploring the dungeon. So, it's a profitable exploration despite the crap we've gone through(swarmed by undeads, I'm glad that I got a Stand so that I won't need to use my Mystic Eyes extensively).
"Can't you be more subtle about it!?"
She retorts.
"The lady didn't complain when that lich turned her life into a runaway ones, why should you be complaining about such thing?"
"You damn HikiNEET, how dare you comparing a goddess to a lich!"
I pushed Aqua who wanted to strangle me aside. At this time, Darkness asked:
"… The lich and the lady?"
I summon my Stand to restrain the wailing Aqua who was trying to attack me as I explained the gist of our trip.
"From what Aqua said, that lady had no regrets and passed on perfectly. What was the hard life on the run to her? That lich was still wondering if he gifted the lady happiness. But from the way I see it, she was undoubtedly blessed."
Hearing my casual comment–
"… Of course she was happy, it's obvious that she was blessed. I dare say her life on the run was one of the happiest times of her life."
Darkness said something that seemed to have hidden meanings, and squeezed out a smile that had a hint of loneliness.
Hmm? What's up with her expression like that?
Well, let's ask about it later.