Kazuma thought he hit the jackpot. After all, what more could he want from a new teammate than someone like Archer. It had only been hours since they met the night before but hearing all his exploits as a spy in America and his item of choice, while not exactly combat oriented, sounded pretty useful. Though he was a little freaked out when he pulled out a legit modern gun from the empty bag. And he sounded fairly competent from the way he burned the other adventurers about their point usage. But having woken up first and seeing that his sleeping habits were about the same as Aqua, that is to say sprawled drunk and snoring like a wild animal, he was staying cautious.

Today will be the day they under took their first kill quest since posting their request for party members. Hopefully this will go better than ending covered in slime and getting weird looks from people like the first time. But that was then, and this time is with a presumably awesome spy with loads of skills from other classes.

"I mean seriously, how was nobody a dedicated thief at the guild?" Who was currently complaining about some he wasn't able to acquire. They were walking towards the field outside the city where the giant toads were going to be spawning.

"I get what you mean, but I'm sure you can do the same things with your knowledge from being a spy, right?" Kazuma asked trying to reassure him.

"Obviously. But it's the principle of the matter. Besides with the skills the traps set themselves and you literally turn invisible. I mean, how awesome is that?!" Fortunately the passive skills were technically up for grabs, on the "first one's free" condition. The rest will have to taught by a dedicated thief class. Detect trap is sure to come in handy when situational awareness might fall short. And it still leaves the thief skill tree open for him so 'small miracles'.

"Well, let's focus on the quest. We're almost to the field the toads spawn. And speaking of, how effective do you think the guns you pull out will be?" He and Aqua glanced towards his relic.

"Hopefully effective enough, if these goddamn toads are as big as a garage like you say then I might as well pull out a rocket launcher." Archer emphasized his point by patting his bag.

"Please don't/Please don't." Kazuma and Aqua said at the same time.

"Relax, pretty sure my usual Walther chambered for 32 ACP will be enough for at least one big ass amphibian." His words only confusing them.

"What does that mean?" Kazuma was knowledgeable about many things from earth, but guns weren't his strong suit. Mostly because he was a bit scared of them. And Aqua was... Aqua.

"Let me put it this way: If whatever you are shooting at doesn't die after you pump eight thirty-two caliber slugs into it, it's probably a dragon." That sentence sold the two of them to its efficiency.

"And, given that this is a literal fantasy world, I can finally test that theory."

"Please don't/Please don't!"

QUEST: Kill giant toads in three days!

Said Walther was currently aimed at a toad while Kazuma and Aqua watched from a few feet away, hands over their ears. The gun was held in a onehanded grip with his right hand. Not that he considered onehanded grip more accurate than two handed, or that he was specifically righthanded. As the word's greatest spy back on earth it was natural that he was ambidextrous. He just felt like going for his right hand most of the time. Now was the moment of truth.

*BANG!*

The shot tore through the field towards the toad. While the first shot didn't immediately put the beast down, the damage was definitely affecting the slimy creature. It turned towards Archer with intent to eat him in retaliation.

*BANG! BANG! BANG!*

Unfortunately for the toad the next three shots put it down. His companions were astounded. On the flip side the shots alerted two other toads towards the trio. Archer being who he is unloaded the remaining bullets into the bounding toads. Two in each toad.

"Come on you two, do I have to do everything?" Sterling called out to the young pair. Kazuma having gained a bit of confidence at the damage the toads received charged forward with his short sword, too bad he looked kind of weird wearing a tracksuit while doing so. Aqua decided to wait and observe their handiwork and cast buffs should they need it. Thankfully the three toads were all that appeared to be spawning today. Kazuma was able to dodge the tongue and killed the second toad with a clean slash to its neck.

As for the third...

"I won't be left out so easily! Witness my almighty power as the goddess of water! My fist carries all of my holy rage and sorrow! GOD BLOOO-" Aqua charged straight towards the wounded frog but its tongue was faster.

"OI! DON'T GET EATEN SO EASILY!" Kazuma chased after the toad. Something about this made Archer crack a smile. After some cat and mouse the third toad was killed by the Japanese teen.

The quest was halfway done, but anymore toads wouldn't spawn until tomorrow so they would have to complete it then. The walk back was awkward for Aqua and Kazuma. As both ended up drenched in toad slime, Sterling on the other hand was as clean as can be. All the looks the two got made him chuckle in amusement.

"Alright. Walk of shame is funny and all, but the two of you smell like the ass end of a shit house frog."

"HAH!? How could you describe a lovely goddess as myself in such a way!?"

"No argument here Archer-san." Again something about this new dynamic gave him a good laugh. Aqua doing her best to save face and Kazuma not bothering to hide what was in plain view.

"So having said that: you two wait out here and I'll handle the arrangements to collect the toads. Afterword's we'll all go hit the, surprisingly, nice bathhouse you guys showed me yesterday. Then come back and have a few drinks and chow down on aforementioned toads."

His offer seemed to throw them off a bit. They only just met him yesterday, but they got the vibe he had a pension for being a dick and insulting. Then again he did pay for everybody's drinks when he first got here. So a little column A, little column B.

The very next day the three of them got up for the day and decided to wait a bit and see if anyone would respond to Aqua's recruitment poster. While younger of the trio weren't optimistic, Archer was kicking back at their table with a mug of beer.

"Hey Aqua, are you sure we shouldn't alter the poster? If we only offer spots to advanced jobs no one will bite."

"What are you saying!? Surely some one will be kind enough to approach us. After all we got mister Archer, and he didn't even see our poster!" She proclaimed pointing at the spy finishing his mug.

"I'm not complaining. And whoever these 'crimson demon' guys know how to make a pretty good beer." Sterling complimented the brew craftsmanship. While he was still in the process of discovering which types of alcohol this world had he could definitely appreciate good beer.

"Speak of us we shall indeed arrive." A new voice cut into the conversation. A young cape clad girl wearing an eye patch and wielding a staff approached the three.

"I spotted your poster, and soon realized that I was indeed destined to cross paths with you all." They weren't sure what she was saying but she definitely grabbed their attention. "My name is Megumin! My moniker is that of an archwizard who commands only the most destructive of offensive magics, Explosion magic!"

"...Are you making fun of us?" Kazuma asked with a blank expression.

"N-no that's not it!"

"Well whatever that was I kinda liked it." Archer said to the now named Megumin. Which seemed to delight her greatly.

"Really! Then thou shall be even more impressed when you witness my power, it can destroy all that it comes acro-ahh!" Her words were cut off when she lost all balance and fell forward on her hands and knees.

"Oh shit, she's dying."

"Hey! Are you okay!?" Kazuma knelt down to try and help her up. As he did a loud growl could be heard by everyone.

"Sorry, but I haven't eaten anything in three days. I don't suppose you have something I could eat?" She panted out. Her introduction used up the last of her energy.

"Yeah. We have no problem treating you. By the way about your eye, if you're injured we could have her over there treat you." Kazuma pointed towards Aqua. "Her only strong suit is healing magic." Kazuma said jabbing his thumb in Aqua's direction.

"My 'only' strong suit?!"

Megumin found some strength to stand with his help. "I'm afraid that will not be an option. For you see this is actually a seal, and should I ever remove it a great catastrophe will befall the world."

"Damn, that true?" Archer asked from his seat. Aqua and Kazuma leaned in closer to hear her answer.

"No, not really. I just wear it for looks."

...

"I'm sorry! Please don't pull on it!" Kazuma didn't take to kindly to her reason and yanked her patch to her dismay.

"You know guys, her red eyes are a mark of the crimson demon clan. They are quite well known for producing really strong magic users." The technically goddess informed her adventuring companions.

"Oh really?" He turned back towards Archer and Aqua, letting go in the process.

"MY EYE!"

"They are also known for having weird names and outlandish personalities." Aqua added

"Hey, don't call my name weird! From my perspective everybody else has a weird name." Megumin protested.

"Then what are your parents' names?" Kazuma inquired.

"My mother's is Yuiyui and my father is Hyoizaboro." She said, doing a different pose with both names.

..."So these mages are pretty strong?"

"Hey! Do you have some problem with my parents names!?"

"Well, if it makes you feel better they sound like any other name from Kazuma's country." Archer said.

"Hey, don't compare those names to the ones from my home." That statement brought the teen great offense for some reason.

"You do realize any name the least bit Asian that isn't Kato or Ken is gonna sound weird to me, right?"

"Damn American."

"Well now who's being racist?" The back and forth was cut off by Megumin collapsing once more. Though she managed to sit herself down at their table before hand.

"Can you two do this another time? She should really eat." Logic that somehow came from Aqua.

"On it. HEY, CAN WE GET SOME GODDAMN SERVICE!? YOU'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A GIRL LITERALLY DIE STARVING IF YOU DON'T GET OFF YOUR LAZY ASSES!" A waitress came rushing over at Archers words. When she saw the state Megumin was in she brought over a large platter of meat and vegetable dishes and a large glass of water, all which was on the house. The three of them watched her wolf down what could have been a meal big enough for at least three people.

"And that's how you get a comped meal." As she ate the three of them went over her adventurer's card.

"Adventurer's cards can't be forged. She really is an honest to goodness archwizard, and if this girl can use explosion magic it would be a huge steal for our party!" Aqua exclaimed.

"Please don't just refer to me as 'she' or 'this girl'. My name is Megumin." 'This girl' said while 'she' stuffed her face.

"Well, whatever you want to be called, I want to see this explosion magic in action. So wolf down your free meal and let's finish our goddamn quest." Archer said finishing another beer.

Quest continued! 3/5 Toads killed!

This time Archer and Kazuma were hanging back watching the toads bound around the field as Megumin stepped up to the metaphorical plate.

"So how do think this will go down?" Archer asked Kazuma.

"Well-"

"OOOOORRYAAAAAH!" Aqua yelled bolting towards a toad with her goddess staff.

"Like that."

"This time I will not fail! This ultimate attack carries all of my love and pain and shall demolish anything it strikes! GOD REQUIE-" She was in the toads mouth before she finished her attack.

"Well, that's a goddess for you. Laying her life down for the sake of her party." Kazuma said with a blank face.

"Heh heh. Classic Aqua." Archer chuckled. He had a feeling this would be repeat occurrence for the foreseeable future. Whilst that was going on they saw streams of sparkling magical energy flow around Megumin and fill the sky around the field.

"Darkness blacker than black and darker than dark, I beseech thee, combine with my deep crimson. The time of awakening cometh. Justice, fallen upon the infallible boundary, appear now as an intangible distortion! Dance, Dance, Dance!" Her chant resonated through the area, a fiery crimson magic circle underneath her feet as more streams of magic filled the air around them. Then converging in a single point right above a toad, though not near the one with Aqua in its mouth.

"I desire for my torrent of power a destructive force: a destructive force without equal! Return all creation to cinders, and come from the abyss!"

"How long is this spell?"

"EXPLOOOOOSION!"

The resulting blast all but obliterated the one toad it made direct contact with, leaving behind a smoldering crater, and scattered the rest. Kazuma and Archer somehow managed to not get blown off their feet by the shockwave. They had their arms in front of them to shield themselves, but that didn't stop them from seeing explosion magic was powerful as advertised.

"WHOOOOOOO! HOLY SHIT! DID YOU SEE THAT!?"

"Wow. So this is what an Archwizard is capable of." Kazuma while not as thrilled was definitely in awe of the spell's power. Unfortunately seconds later more toads popped up from the earth. Having been awakened by Megumin's spell.

"Shit. More of them woke up." Archer said pulling a walther from his bag once more. Freshly loaded without having to do it himself. And it even had a silencer so the townsfolk won't freak out over the loud bangs like the first time. God he loved this bag. It knew just what he wanted.

"Oi, Megumin-" Kazuma called for their new companion only to see she had fallen face first to the ground.

"I'm sorry, but could one of you save me? Casting explosion consumes all my magic and leaves me unable to move for some time." Megumin requested from the floor... Right before she too was swallowed by a toad.

"OI! DON'T GET EATEN SO EASILY!" Kazuma rushed towards the toad that had eaten their new wizard while Sterling unload his gun into the one that had eaten Aqua.

QUEST COMPLETE! 6/5 Toads killed

The walk back to town was much the same only with the addition of Kazuma carrying a slime coated Megumin. Aqua trailed behind crying about being swallowed and Archer was as clean as can be, laughing to himself at their unclean state.

"The frogs really stink, but their insides are surprisingly nice and warm." Megumin said from her place on Kazuma's back.

"Thanks for that. I'll remember if we need to use one as an emergency Tauntaun." Archer said amused.

"A what?"

"Don't worry about it. And let's not unless we literally have no other choice." Kazuma said trudging forward. "Speaking of, you're banned from using explosion unless it's an emergency. Make do with some other magic." He ordered looking back at Megumin.

"I'm afraid not. I can only use explosion magic." Her proclamation halted the the party.

"For real?" The Japanese teen asked.

"For real." the crimson demon confirmed.

"But your level must be high enough to learn other magic. Even I didn't acquire all the archpriest skills until I got all of the party trick skills." Aqua piped up. Kazuma gave her a dirty look.

"What would you use 'party trick' skills for!?" He asked with a twitching eye.

"I can think of a few things." Archer said pulling out a flask of bourbon. Most of which were just shits and giggles.

"I only love explosion magic. No other spell in the offensive magic tree will do. It must be explosion magic! Of course other magic would make questing easier but they just won't do. Only explosion magic will suffice!" She said throwing her fist in the air.

"I'm not hearing a downside." Archer said taking a drink from his flask.

"Are you serious, Archer-san!?" Kazuma asked incredulously. Only to receive and index finger raised telling him to wait while the spy finished his drink.

"That's right Kazuma! Inefficient though it may be, I'm inspired by her romantic pursuit of explosions!"

"Even if I can use my spell once per day I will gladly quest for food and to be able to unleash it regularly!" These girls were indeed useless, but there was still one more factor.

"Archer-san?" Kazuma turned towards the spy, still chugging his flask. He let out a content sigh before putting it back in his bag.

"I'm sorry, did you not see the mind shattering awesomeness that was her spell?" His description brought immense joy to the young wizard.

It was then Kazuma realized, Archer wasn't useless like these two, and was even aware of that.

He just didn't care.

Seeing that it was three to one Kazuma relented and said Megumin could stay with their party. While holding her to the emergency only rule from earlier. Megumin was so thrilled she clamped on to Kazuma shouting many 'thank you's to his discomfort. It was quite a sight for the townspeople.

To them it looked to be a touching, if weird and gross, family moment on account of the majority of them being covered in toad slime.

"Now let's get back. You three smell like actual entrails."

Canon omake #1

"Hey Kazuma?"

"Yeah Archer?"

"Longshot, but you wouldn't happen to have a grandpa named Kentaro would you?"

The teen raised an eyebrow curiously. "Yeah, on my mom's side. Why?"

"Eh, no reason."

Meanwhile at a family grave in Takamori an old man was cleaning a tombstone and placing some incense as per custom.

The man in question was first lieutenant Sato Kentaro. The grave in question was the Satou family grave, the family in which his daughter Keiko married into. It was a painful thing to a man when he learned he outlived family. And worse when it was his grandson. From the coroner report it was a three pronged death. A combination of dehydration, physical exhaustion, and brain aneurism. He was nearly home from a trip when neighbors and a classmate saw him stop dead on the side of the street. And then just collapsed in front of a passing tractor. Though his bladder emptied itself as it does with most deaths there was nothing in his bowels to be voided according to the report. So his grandson was saved from that bit of shame. The man operating the tractor was kind enough to "accidently" spill a bucket of water during his attempt to help him. Though they shouldn't have it gave the family a laugh.

It was just like Kazuma to have someone cover for him. It was only thanks to that american that he could get to know his grandson before this tragedy.

It was a shame his grandson never got to play the game he gave his live for. Apparently the lead character saves a young maiden from death and is sent to a magical land to be a hero. Kentaro finished his prayer before leaving something else on the grave. It was the figurine that came with his purchase: a young dark haired hero clad in fantasy garb, standing proudly with a sword in hand.

Perhaps in another life his grandson could be given a chance like that.

Sorry I haven't been updating as I really should be. I like my job but it leaves me wiped out. Anyway i finally have some energy so just be on the look out for more chapters.