Chapter 03.
Market days in Axel was getting more and more colorful as the time went by recently. Some worried this was temporal and the recession will be harder as they prospered. But no one took that seriously as they simply enjoyed this rare holiday.
Cactus-shaped poles and many flags fluttered along with the wind. Red, yellow and blue tents over the stalls and booths. At the head of the square was the Merchant Guild house with its many gables. And many ancient columns depicting the forgotten big-bellied god of wealth held up the house.
Little kids dared one another to climb on the god's belly. And then a guild clerk came out with a broom and shooed them away like a grouchy neighbor and one's cat. The god just laughed at the silly kids and laughed at his patron children for being themselves; a merchant; men and women sold and bought. cheated and stole. told the truth and got the suspicious eye. It was like a legal casino, a giant playground with no darkness smeared on to it.
And among those players and dealers, A lich and her new employee (via adviser) was taking their time looking at all the pleasantries it had to offer.
Kazuma waved to the bearded mohawk adventurer working a grill and got a proud smile and a thumbs up. Kazuma shook his head in denial but he just gave him an understanding smile and two thumbs up. Kazuma just gave him an awkward laugh and ran to catch up with his boss.
"Well, you said shopping. So, anything on your mind?"
"Hmm, No. I don't have a list with me. I plan to browse and find something that would sell."
"Step right up folks, step right up! Delicious Karaage on sale, Karaage~! Fresh Karaage! Fresh Karaage on full half price!"
It was then when they heard the too familiar voice of a certain goddess. Wiz looked up from the display of various blue textures. And Kazuma looked down from staring at the bird sitting on top of the pole.
There she was. The goddess herself. Wearing a white bandana and a green apron. Frying Karaage. And she had a small line waiting for her food. Wiz looked at this scene with fascination, Kazuma looked at this with worry; knowing all of Aqua's part-time jobs never ended well.
Gurgle~ "Wiz...?" "...Yes, Kazuma-san?" "Are you hungry?"
Wiz quickly wiped her mouth, but she couldn't stop her stomach. Surprising really, that her stomach could still growl for food when it was dead.
"Let's go, Wiz. I'll buy you a cup." "N, no. Kazuma-san, I can't possibly waste your money on me." "It's just a cup of Karaage, nothing big. I did ruin your lunch today. Think of it as... a payback." "...Thank you very much."
Wiz blushed hard as she tried to keep her tummy from growling again. Kazuma laughed at this and pulled her toward the Karaage stand.
"There you go. Karaage for three. Thank you. Come again. -Urgh. Why is an 'undead' walking the street in daylight? Among the 'living'?"
Wiz flinched at her savage remarks and unpleasant glares of Aqua.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Bowing her head and apologizing for her existence didn't help the said goddess size down her swollen head. As she made an obnoxious smirk and jerked her head toward Kazuma.
"And you have guts to use my loyal servant and a prize acolyte of the Axis church with you."
At this Kazuma was already boiling at the fact that the useless goddess was bullying Wiz again. And drawing unwanted attention,
"I'm not your servant and I'm not an acolyte to your crazy cult, you useless goddess!" Aqua grumbled at this and rubbed her head over the hairnet.
"Hmph. Whatever. Just go. I don't sell anything to traitors and the undead." At this point, she glared down at the already shivering Wiz and made her grovel in fear.
Irked off, Kazuma banged his palm on the counter and cried out in a loud voice.
"Aqua. Are you refusing to serve your customer? Without any particular reason? Oh, just think of the image and the money this stall is going to lose~."
'That Kazuma! He's trying to ruin me! well, two can play at that game!'
"S, so what? I'll explain everything to the corps. It'll be about time too!"
"Oh, Aqua. Can't you think of the consequences to come? You'll lose more ground in this party for ratting out a friend. And you'll face the wrath of Vanir and you have no real power or your followers to save you from his true wrath. And if you think that's enough, think again. We'll all be arrested for harboring an actual commander of the Demon King's army. We'll get a real trial and get executed or be imprisoned for life. No backings from Darkness this time too."
Aqua trembled as Kazuma rapted all this to her trembling head. She never expected him to be this serious. Why didn't he see this lich for what it was? A criminal who opposed the laws of heavens. It was something unnatural and disgusting and inhumane; like a giant toad. Just looking at it made her skin crawl and She looked at him, terrified. Still smiling and talking nonchalantly as if talking about the weather, delivered the final blow.
"And Aqua? Remember I can always bail out on paying your booze debt-"
That did it. Aqua stamped her feet impatiently and puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.
"Alright! Alright! I'll give you two something. Just stay right there."
"…Kazuma-san, was that necessary?"
"What? An eye for an eye Wiz, she threatened you, I threaten her. Simple."
"So- Why are you doing with a Lich anyway?"
"I'm helping her out with her buying. Lifting and carrying, you know."
Aqua stopped her chopping and looked at him with incredulity. Something he saw every time when he got in 'associated' with Wiz.
"Wait, you're helping 'this' out- with no payment?"
"Yep. Seems like it."
"No way. You never help anyone without equal payment. Look at me for example."
"Eh, that's because that's just you."
"What?"
"Think about it. Since we started adventuring, you kept loading debt and stress on me. You've been more trouble to me than the times you've been helpful. I won't deny that there's something similar to a friendship between us, but that's it. I have no reason to help you out with no compensations. Instead, you should be helping me out with no payment. But Wiz has helped us out more and I owe some favors to her. Considering this, I have plenty of reason to help her out. Savvy?"
"Oh, come on. I have done some good things too you know?"
Kazuma rolled his eyes in irritation. As usual, Aqua didn't listen or didn't get what he had just said. She was like wet cement; no matter how much you punched at it, you never can reach into its core.
"If you had one it must be hidden behind all those debts you caused!"
"W, well. Everyone makes mistakes you know?"
"Yes well, you outnumber me by that plenty, so suck on that!"
"Urgh, whatever. Just take your fries and go."
She half-slammed two paper cups of her karaage on the counter. She slapped Wiz's unconscious grabby-hands. She gazed at her with her eyebrows raised.
"Before you can, just pay up for these fries."
"Wow~ this smells so divine! And it tastes divine too!"
"Wait, you didn't put any holy water here, did you?"
Aqua's hand froze as she put the coins into her money box. She actually paled and got a void expression on her face. Then she started banging her head on the table.
"…Oh, I knew I knew I forgot something! It's all your fault Kazuma! You got me distracted by your small talk!"
"Yeah, well. Good luck with your job Aqua."
"Yes! Good-bye and good luck Aqua-Sama!"
"By the way, Kazuma? I'm going to be late tonight. There's a trainee orientation I have to carry out after we close. Tell the others not to worry, okay? -Hey, lich, what are you doing?"
Kazuma grabbed Wiz before she could stand in her offensive pose again. Though he wasn't sure himself. Aqua in charge of something? Darkness would become a Mistress of an SM club before that happens.
"Hey, Kazuma. It's not my fault that I'm so talented at making and selling Karage. Although it can't be helped since I'm the perfect goddess of the Axis cult, Aqua-."
"Okay then see you later."
Leaving off the self-deluded goddess behind, Kazuma pulled Wiz along. They could hear Aqua humming and puffing behind but who'd care about her? They were too absorbed in the Karaage to care.
A/N 2019, Project Augustus. In courtesy of Sammo909.
Chapter 03.5.
Aqua watched them as she waved them away. They were laughing and talking while eating. They looked like old friends or a couple.
'If that doesn't look like a date, I don't know what is.'
Then she snapped out of it. Shaking her head in denial. Kazuma and others were starting to get to her. She mustn't see that lich as a human being or give it too much affection. While she had no real intention of killing her, she still couldn't treat her like a friend or an equal being. She knew the consequences of befriending an immortal enemy of the gods. ...Especially if they had no chance of saving them.
...Every life had an end. Even immortal ones. When their story ended and had no more pages or will to fill the pages were gone, it was a mercy to judge them and make them move on. Like Kir. He was an undead and once also an enemy to the gods, but while giving him judgment she knew and felt that Kir's life was filled with nothing but kindness and happy memories with his wife. In and after his death. And every day was filled thanks and apologies to their goddess; her.
She always had a soft spot for her children. And wanted to save them from Eris's Judgment. So she had pardoned them. -Though if they had gone on well to the next life was a mystery, she knew she had made the right choice. But Wiz?
She wasn't at the end of her journey. And thus her judgment was impossible to give. And when she was able to receive her judgment, she wouldn't be here to give it. Aqua sighed. Eris was an absolute figure in this world and do nothing more than give out severe punishments to those who didn't follow the rule of heaven. She wished she could do something to help her, but there was nothing she could do. Was there? ...Was there?
All of these thoughts went through her innermost thoughts and never reached the surface. With a frustrative groan, Aqua clutched her head. Her head felt numb and cold. As if a dead hand was gripping her brain. She was too dumb to think of this rationalized reason for distancing herself from Wiz. But she knew as an instinct. An instinct that will forever make her feel only contempt and disgust toward the lich, not her natural feelings of pity and remorse.
With a last glare, she turned around and resumed touting in her inviting voice.
"Step right up folks, step right up! Delicious Karaage on sale, Karaage~! Fresh Karaage! Fresh Karaage on full half price!"
A/N 2019, Project Augustus. In courtesy of Sammo909.
