Note: There are some spoilers for Light Novel Volume 6
It was the night after the attack of the Demon King's army on the capitol, a celebration for Kazuma's Party memebers for helping defeat the army with minimal losses which would've been great if Kazuma wasn't so obviously shunned and ridiculed by everyone in the Castle except his party members and Iris. Kazuma was fighting pretty well until he got cocky and got beaten to death by a couple of low level monsters. His dead body was put aside like a trash bag in the battle until Aqua ressurected him. If this humiliating defeat wasn't enough to add insult to injury Eris told him to be more careful while also warning him not to sexually harass others anymore (which was fair enough thought Kazuma). The worst part of the battle came however, when he realised that his usual sandbag teammates who would screw up the most basic tasks were the MVPs of the fight. Darkness acted as an amazing shield, Aqua casted buffs on everyone as well as healing or resurrecting any of those who needed it and while the enemies were retreating Megumin nailed them with her explosion.
'I suffer everytime when they're around but this is the time they choose to be competent? When I'm looking my worst?' Kazuma thought to himself while trying to gather courage to face the ridicule of Claire in the castle whom he had so openly challenged that he would be more than capable of handling this situation.
In honour of the heroes who had fought for the capital a huge banquet was thrown. Everything was over the top expensive shit that even Nobles in the country would seldom buy. Of course there were many expensive and premium looking drinks there and the usually useless and air-headed Goddess who never had the slightest sense of spacial awareness suddenly rushed to the bar with lightning speed as if on instinct.
'She really has the most useless instincts and talents doesn't she" thought Kazuma. Megumin who was splurging on the delicious looking buffet and stuffed her mouth like a squirrel.
'How is she able to move so quickly without being given Mana after casting an explosion after a few hours?'
Darkness was engaged in conversation with the other Nobles who were asking her for her hand in marriage while she was blushing endlessly and politely declining their offers.
'At least this is going how I expected'. Kazuma's thoughts while sulking in a corner were interrupted as soon as he saw a familiar looking Noble approaching him with the most smug looking grin on her face.
"My, my are you not going to join the celebration for the task where you contributed absolutely nothing Mr. Beaten-to-Death-by-Kobloids? As I thought, you are nothing but an elaborate showman." Claire said some pretty insensitive things that made Kazuma want to use Steal right then and there but then he remembered Lady Eris' warning about a certain act and how he could face Divine Retribution.
"What do you want Claire? Don't you have somewhere private to go and fantasize about bathing with Iris you lolicon Noble?" Said Kazuma. Claire had obviously not expected such an immediate and insulting response from an Adventurer but she forgot this was Kazuma, the Man who belived in True Gender Equality.
Trying to regain her composure and stop her blushing face Claire snapped and said "I want no such thing from Lady Iris you Brute! I still don't know why Lady Lalatina puts up with your nonsense, in fact I don't know why none of your party members haven't you left you yet! You are nothing but a useless pervert who cannot even deal with a thief or a bunch of low level monsters."
'Take those girls away. I seriously would like to take you up on that offer. The Toilet Goddess does nothing but rack up debt and get drunk. The explosion loli keeps blowing stuff up and not only do I have to carry her everyday back to the Mansion but also have to face the angry complaints due the disturbances caused by her. That Masochist always gets me in awkward situations, even the Demon King Generals were uncomfortable around her, I swear Beldia and Vanir were borderline willing to ask me to take her away' were some of the things that Kazuma was thinking he should say but all that came out was
"You're wrong. I may be a bit perverted but I'm still their leader who managed impressive feats. I'm pretty sure you don't know half of the problems those three have."
"I'm well aware of them. All they need is a strong leader with good judgement and they can defeat the Devil King himself, a leader like that Swordsman Misturugi. He's brave, heroic, smart, powerful, NOT perverted and incredibly handsome"Claire spoke in a condescending tone.
'Did you really have to say handsome in the end? Everyone of these nobles except Rain and Iris are some form of creep' Kazuma thought and said "You do know that I beat Kyouya in a staight up duel right?"
"Blind luck on your part and mercy on Mitsurugi Dono's part. Honestly you do not even deserve to stand anywhere near the Capitol, let alone attend a Banquet in the Royal Castle. Attend this party, don't steal anything and leave the first thing in the morning. Your teammates are more than welcome to stay here in the castle for as long as they wish but having you around is just polluting the environment here, not to mention how much you have polluted Lady Iris with your filth. LEAVE. No one needs you, your party will be much better off without you or your antics. I hope they find a better 'leader' than you. Besides you somehow have enough riches to sustain a lavish life. Retire as an adventurer and become a merchant or something" With those words Claire left Kazuma to his own.
'Although I'm glad Iris isn't here to hear all that but I wish she was so she could tell Claire off' thought Kazuma.
A voice shouted "And to thank our brave adventuring party here today due to which we were able to score a major victory, we would like to thank Lady Dustiness Lalatina, the great Archpriest Aqua Dono and the Crimson Demon Archmage Megumin Dono who destroyed the enemies in one shot. We thank you three for your contribution" said the announcer.
'Hey asshole aren't you forgetting someone, like their leader? The guy without whom these idiots manage to get folded by a single Giant Frog. Can my treatment get any worse?' as he was thinking that he saw Claire pass him a cheeky taunt from the announcer's stage. Overcome by rage he was preparing for some Steal action disregarding any punishment from Eris when he bumped into one of the servers there and had drinks spilled on him.
The server practically turned red and said"I'm extremely sorry sir I would like to... who are you buddy? I thought you were someone important. Go clean yourself off you clumsy oaf." The server left with a monotone expression. This little scuffle had gained everyone's attention around Kazuma's little sulking corner and the Nobles around him started to chat,
"Isn't that the guy who got done by a bunch of Kobloids?"
"He is in Lady Lalatina's party, probably some poor boy she hired to carry the party's bags"
'It just got worse. Isn't my high luck the only thing I have going for me or is this some Divine Retribution Lady Eris sent me for thinking about using Steal on an Eris Cultist. Well it's a good thing Iris isn't here to see all this'. Kazuma was chatting to himself while he tried to clean himself off and it got him thinking, is his party really better off without him around? He certainly wished multiple times that he would be rid of this cursed party but he had somewhat fond of everyone and their antics. He also thought that he contibuted something indisepensible to the group but is he really just a liability?
'Why am I talking to myself so much today? Just because I feel lonely and don't have anybody to talk to? Probably. Am I going to go outside and cry because I'm the most useless in our party, after all that has happened? Definitely' Kazuma at this point started to go move towards the balcony of the castle which was empty for some reason after giving up trying to clean his still wet shirt. He was beyond being saved by his own self confidence at this point after all those events that transpired along with the Nobles' and Claire's jabs at him.
While Kazuma thought the water dams on his tear ducts were about to be destroyed by his overwhelming sadness he went outside to avoid a scene. While this was going on Aqua was beyond drunk and performing party tricks for everyone, Darkness was swarmed by the Nobles but Megumin was the only one who was now starting to notice his absence. She saw him going out the balcony so she grabbed another plate, put some food on it and went outside to meet him.
Kazuma was staring at the Moon, not noticing Megumin who had practically crept up behind him.
"Why are you here alone? Did the Kobloids hit you on the head so hard that you forgot where you were? " Said Megumin trying to break the aura of sadness around Kazuma.
"Megumin! When did you get here?!" Kazuma shouted as he just noticed Megumin. 'Something is definitely gone wrong with him' Thought Megumin. "I didn't see you in the banquet neither did I see you eating anything but your suit is telling me another story. Still I brought you this amazing food. Now thank me the Greatest Archwizard and Crimson Demon Megumin" Declared Megumin as she handed him a plate full of food. "By the way I was just joking but really what happened to your suit?"
"Nothing really happened. I'm not hungry but thanks for the food Megumin Sama, Greatest Archwizard who was once a Destroyer God." Said Kazuma while taking the plate and started to stare once again at the Moon, this time while eating some food. He could not taste the food however as he felt his stomach churning due to how he was feeling.
"I don't know what happened to you but there is definitely something wrong here. You would never just freely acknowledge my claims like that. Are you making fun of me? Do you want to be kicked Kazuma? My stats are much higher than yours." Megumin said as she prepped a fighting pose.
"Megumin, can I ask you a question?" hearing Kazuma's genuine tone of greif Megumin quickly dropped her pose as she knew he was not joking around like he usually did. This was something she had never seen from him and only from Yunyun, pure grief and loneliness.
"Sure, you can ask me anything Kazuma, we are friends and party members after all" said Megumin in sweet and reassuring tone.
Kazuma knowing she was genuine asked "Would you guys really be better off without me? I mean if someone like Kyouya asked you to join his party would you? More importantly do you think I'm meaningless to this party?" asked Kazuma as tears had nearly started to form in his eyes.
Megumin quickly answered while trying to wipe his tears with a napkin " What are you going on about?! Of course we would never just ditch you for that lame swordsman or anyone else for that matter!" After wiping his tears Megumin calmed both herself and Kazuma down and continued "Like I said before when we went to my village, you took in a worthless mage who knew nothing but a single use spell but you still took me in. I mean sure I blackmailed you into taking me into your party but you are surprisingly thick-skinned against rumours,nicknames and you could have just ditched me any other day after I casted my Explosion magic."
"Oi, what kind of a man do you think I am? And what are these rumors you are talking about? What are you saying?" Kazuma said as he recovered and ate his food.
"I was just thanking you. And I just want clarify that none of us would ever leave your party. Especially me, I have been with you even when were debt-ridden, foul mouthed, perverted and a sexual predator and I'll still be with you, though the only thing that has changed is the debt-ridden part. Besides you are not getting rid of me this easily and I do not trust any other person to carry me after my daily routine, who knows what that creep with the sword would do to such a beautiful helpless girl who is unable to move."Megumin said all this with a genuine smile while Kazuma couldn't help but notice the small and not-so-subtle jabs she had in there.
'I wouldn't mind if you made a small move though Kazuma' Megumin thought to herself.
"As for your role, you are our leader and the party's greatest strength. Without you who would carry me after my routines and clean up after our mess? Your weird outlandish plans along with your underhanded stratergies are the reason for our progress." hearing this Kazuma chimed in and said "At this point I think you are just saying those things to hurt me. How are any of my plans underhanded? You make me look like some hoodlum."
"That is what I think anyways. Can't you be a bit more confident in your abilities? Who put these strange ideas in your head anyways?" Megumin chuckled a bit as she said.
"Well, thank you so much Megumin. For both the food and your confidence in me, it means a lot. You really are a great friend." Kazuma said as he thanked her.
"Now cheer up, we can't have our leader be the only one who is sulking here while on an empty stomach." Megumin didn't know how much her words meant to Kazuma (the kind ones anyways) and he gave her a quick thumbs up with a smile.
"By the way you look extremely pretty in that dress Megumin." Said Kazuma while pointing at her black dress to which Megumin responded with a blush on her face "As do you Mr. Wine Shirt , would you like to walk with me around the castle? Just to explore and all, it's a beautiful night" Said Megumin while she turned her blushing face away from Kazuma while Kazuma was now cool and collected like usual.
"Sure, let me finished this food and then we can take a stroll. Besides I have some things I want to take your opinion on." Kazuma said while Megumin tilted her head in a yes motion while wondering what he may may ask.
After finishing his food, Kazuma now looked ready for a stroll invited Megumin for it with his hand. While he did so, he was thinking of a way to get back at Claire and prove to everyone what he was truly capable of.