Chapter 08.
'Well, work is good and all, but it's already noon and there are no customers.' As he was collecting thoughts, Wiz, who had cleaned up the paper and was now at the back of the shop, popped out with a can of tea. "Kazuma-san, would you like to have some tea?"
Kazuma nodded. "Okay, please, take a seat. I'll go and get the teapot ready." Smiling, Wiz went back to the back. As Kazuma set down on the chair beside the front window, he could hear the merry whistling of the teapot coming from the kitchen area in the back. Hmm. Teapots. Maybe he could design a steel teapot with a plastic handle. Maybe not plastic. But anything that had low thermal conductivity.
As he thought about more business ideas, Wiz came out carrying a black wood tray. "Sorry for the delay. But it took time since this is a really good tea. I wanted to get it just right." A light whiff of earl gray. He remembered the scent from Aqua's attempt of making the said tea. He ended up drinking one carton worth of hot water. It looked like he was going to get some after all. "It smells good." "I know, right? Well, then. Care for a sip?"
They sat down by the front display as they sipped their noonday tea. Wiz had brought out one of her best tea sets for the occasion. White and green porcelain with decorative floral designs on them. Kazuma noticed she hadn't taken out the sugar bowl or the milk jug. Or the scones or sandwiches that came with tea. Probably because she didn't have any sugar or milk. Or ingredients for that matter. But his gray tea was good nonetheless.
"Wiz, your tea is good as always." "...Ah, thank you, Kazuma-san." Wiz swallowed her words with the tea and looked down at her teacup as if she was looking for something to pop out of her cup. "Hm?" Is there something wrong, Wiz?" "Ah, well... I'm glad that you're helping and I appreciate it! But... I feel sorry for wasting your valuable time, Kazuma-san." Oh, that again. "I told you, you don't need to worry about that. The choice was on my accord. You do the same if you were in my shoes, right?" "I guess... you have a point." "Alright, that's the end of that! And more tea please." "Yes, of course!"
"Anyway. The weather's nice today, isn't it?" "Yes, it's so peaceful today." "It's a kind of day you just... want to laze out and do nothing." "Yes, that does sound nice." "..." "..."
They sat there for a while. Just sipping tea and enjoying the view outside. It really was a beautiful day. Clear, light blue skies that seemed to go up forever. Emphasized by the high and tall white clouds hiding the gentle sunlight behind them. The didn't feel it, but they could tell a gentle summer breeze was blowing through town. A white and red kite could be seen flying in the distance. Before the sun was hidden by a curtain of clouds, casting a shadow over their sights. Kazuma sipped the fragrant tea again as rays of the sun started to rain down on earth once more. Halo of light softly drifting down to the ground. It was one of these moments that he felt like there really was a god.
As if responding to his thoughts, a slightly bigger ray shined right through the window. And it temporarily blinded him, making Kazuma look away from the window for a second. He wiped his eyes and blinked in surprise when a flash of purple went across his face. He adjusted his focus and gasped once more in awe. Lights. Lights everywhere. Glass bottles and mysterious gems that hung from the ceiling reflected subtle multicolored light around the shop. Raw sunlight joined the garden of light as it showed all the natural colors that once lost their say among the colorful lights. Fresh greens that still showed signs of light from the dried herbs. Old wood and parchment that continued to mature with age burned with as the gentle gleam presented themselves as an English gentleman. And among the gentleman were hooligans. Those cheap scammed bottles strutted around the show of harmony as it flashed its cheap pharmacy bottle brown gleam like a confident yet looser of a show-off at a party.
But that was only a part of a bigger and better background. A small part of the chaos that makes the party more... believable and complete. Chaos withing order. That brown glint did just that; it completed the entire scene like a colored illustration from the cover of a light novel. And with Wiz, slightly cocking her head left, curious about what he was staring at, completed it. With her gentle smile and warm eyes, she was the pretty girl on the cover which made otakus reach for the book. And later make them hooked up by her character and story.
Maybe there will be anime made about it. Yes. Then the new otakus and old ones battling over who the true fan was. And who had the right to make Wiz their waifu! Well, he was going to show them all off. ...Ah, best no to think of that dirty mind-warping insanity. Let's just enjoy the view and-
"...Like hell, I will! Everything is wrong!"
"Eh? Eh? What? What is?" Wiz snapped back into attention and nearly dropped her cup. Kazuma, dropping out of his trance, began to talk in one of his 'slapstick script' tones. "The store is open right now, right!?" "Ah, yes. That's right." "What about the customers!? Huh? Where are the customers!? I haven't seen a single customer since I started work yesterday!" Wiz thought about that over a sip of tea. "Well, that's because... no one never came here." Kazuma did a mental facepalm and started to get that feeling in his gut he was now too familiar with.
"Uh... right. Wiz, I know I'm going to regret what I'm going to say this. But, this is this isn't like this every day, right?" "Of course not." "Oh think god-" "If Vanir-san knew I was having tea time, he would fry me with his near-death ray." "Ah, no. roasting would be more accurate than frying- but that's not the point here!" Ah, yes. The punch line. "It's not? I thought frying without oil was the same as roasting. I'll go get the dictionary-" There are the counter punch line and finally- "No! That's not the point! I asked that question in terms of 'You are usually busy during this hour, right~!?'" Wiz shrugged her shoulders in denial. "Oh no, this is the everyday normality, Kazuma-san. Minus the tea, of course." 'She didn't even bother to hesitate a bit when I asked her!' "Wiz, I have a question. And I want you to answer with complete honesty."
A/N 2019, Project Augustus. In courtesy of Sammo909.
Cliffhanger! And now some apologies. I uploaded some personal scribbles that I wrote for fun as an eighth chapter. Eh, well it was fun but it was not for public eyes. I am sorry for any inconvenience that might've caused.
A correction needs to be made: there will be no KONOSUBA SE3 but there was a movie that released in Japan in August. I hope I get on a subtitled version soon.
Next, for some of those who read the comments and get confused, I am going to upload the revised version of the scribbles I wrote. They have nothing to do with the story so, just think of it as a November version of an April fool's day.
...The final war between the demon race and the human race marked the beginning of the era where humans became solely responsible for the history of humankind and the world. In these uncertain times, the gods blessed us with the three heroes whose name will forever shine as long as humanity lasts. The last hero, Lalatina "Darkness" Ford Dustiness, the great mage Megumin Pendragon of the Crimson Demons and the Mother superior, Saint "Benevolence" Aqua Rainfall "the calm".
...It was only then when the Belzerg dynasty Stylish Sword shed of its dependence on wars for its legitimacy and steadied itself as an absolute ruling house of an independent kingdom that the Kingdom of Belzerg took its first step toward a modern nation and a colonial empire. And was only when Iris the Great took the mantle of King that the ages of heroes came to an end. And every historian agrees that it was only then that the continent of Vicious escaped the stalemated era of the high middle ages that lasted for thousands of years and entered a pre-modern era of reformation and revolutions.
...she said, as books say: Mother Superior Aqua scolded the watchman. "Pardon him and let this poor misguided lamb follow and learn from me, the great benevolence of lady Eris." Shaken but not relented the man tried the rebate her benevolent words, but that moment, Archwizard Megumin proclaimed, "Tis unfair to lay the entire blame on this poor man. Can't ye all see society and prejudice toward the lad drove him to this state we see today?" And when the watch tried to argue with them the second time, the last hero, Dame Ford Dustiness stepped forward. "As a knight serving lady Eris, I cannot let that bold statement pass. I shall see to it that this man reforms. I swear it on my sword and honor!" Being told off thrice, the watch relented and gave the reins to the three women. That was the moment when the local pervert and thief, Satou Kazuma was saved from persecution. And made his small steps in history as an acolyte of Aqua Rainfall, a disciple of Megumin Pendragon and squire to Lalatina"Darkness" Ford Dustiness.
...Historians say that Satou Kazuma was only a burden to the three heroes of humanity. That the only big meaning he had was bringing the three heroes together. He was a perverted and sadistic young man who constantly ignored the pleas and scoldings of his masters. It is still retold how he tried to sell his mistress Aqua's holy relic to pay off his extensive debts. Constantly tricked the Arch Wizard Megumin to earn a bad reputation as an "Explosion addict" out of spite for her magical abilities And tried to rape and sell Dame Ford Dustiness into prostitution for his perverted amusement. It comes to no surprise that the word "Kazuma" has the same meaning of the word "Krampus" or "trash".
...But still, after all these accusations, some people still believe that Satou Kazuma gave worthy advice to his masters. And while many of my colleagues at the Royal Institution scoff at these folklores, I disagree. "Even the wisest sages can learn from the most naive child." Those are the words of the wise arch wizard Megumin Pendragon. And one cannot deny the credit that Satou Kazuma was an excellent bait during the "Divine judgment of Hans", the quest that made Aqua famous in the eyes in the Eris Church for her benevolence of helping out the Eris hating Axis cultists.
-Exerted from the [Noteworthy and mysterious facts and stories for the Citizens of Belzerg, told by the honest and wise historian of the University of New Arcanletia, Bartholomew Mitsurugi, which was published with the help of the honorable and prestigious mayor Alexsai Van Finnian of Axel] by Bartholomew Mitsurugi.
And finally, a foreshadowing content for you to enjoy. Until next time, Chao.
Chapter 08.5.
"Hmm? IS something wrong, Master Vanir?" "Oh, Moi is just fine, moi Don Riccorta." "Well then, let's get back to our contract. These lighters-"
But Vanir wasn't listening to him. He was looking at a certain boy and shopkeep's future. Sometimes it was fun to not look into the future. He could enjoy the process and it progresses.
'Thy better step carefully, moi partner. Thou better not fail this test. If thou art to fail, thy shall lose more than what thou anticipate.'
'A Lich could raze entire villages and raise thousands of legions. Think of all the good a person could do with that kind of power. ...And also the bad.'
A/N 2019, Project Augustus. In courtesy of Sammo909.
