Chapter 3. Excellence is not an art, it's pure habit

The sun was shining over the mansion grounds. There were only harmless clouds in the sky. The temperature, however, was above the usual standard. The rays, unlike the day before, roasted mercilessly. On days like this, no one in their right mind would make the slightest effort. Kazuma, who was resting on a blanket and watching people doing gymnastics in front of him, also came to this conclusion.

On the left stood Otto, Aqua, Garfiel, and Petra. Right: Darkness, Megumin, Emilia and Beatrice. Subaru was standing with his back to Kazuma.

-You really don't want to join us?

-Not! It's too hot.

-That's the best part! We will practice in the burning heat! All sweaty and tired! We will eventually collapse exhausted or from a stroke! Oooooo!

-What's wrong with her?- Garfiel Asked.

-Same as the rest of my team!

-Hey!-Megumin and Aqua replied simultaneously.

-Anyway, exercise doesn't matter. And so you will finally meet a stronger opponent and you will save yourself with a stroke of luck.

Subaru did not know if Kazuma was addressing these words to him, or if he was describing his situation. However, he was sure that he would not persuade the boy to join.

-Okay, we get started! First jumping jacks, then squats and warm-up bends. We'll move on to more serious exercises later. All together: and once and twice ...

-And three and four and five ...

An hour of practice has passed. They were all, as Darkness had predicted, exhausted. Only Garfiel and the aforementioned crusader stood on their feet. Emilia and Megumin were leaning back against each other, Petra was lying on Otto's back, Aqua was trying the same way as Subaru to get up, and Beatrice was sitting on Natsuki's rams.

-I told you it doesn't make sense.

-Y-y-you're just talking ...-Subaru told.

-If only we had some water-said Petra.

-Aqua, you are supposed to be the goddess of water, wouldn't you ...

-YES! I could! The goddess suddenly animated herself. After which she recited a spell and they were all drenched in cold water.

-Oh! How nice!

-I agree. It was refreshing.

-So what? When everyone is in full strength, let's go to the obstacle course!

-OH YEAH! You are such a sadist! Can't wait-Darkness shouted.

-You, as always ... I remember setting me up in front of the whole class!

-Subaru.

-Yes, Emilia-tan?

-Sorry, but we with Megumin and Aqua would like to discuss magic a bit. And I have yet to learn about the history of Lugenica. And...

-Do not say nothing more. I see. So I will go for a walk with Otto, Garfil and Darkness.

-Unfortunately, I also have to go. I have a lot of documents to sign today.

-Oh, maybe you just wanna stay with Aqua?

-I said it was an accident!

-Exactly!-goddess confirmed the words of the merchant.

Kazuma observes this scene with considerable embarrassment. He cannot understand how someone could see a woman in this useless idiot. It doesn't matter that he was drunk. Kazuma could drink a lot too, but it never crossed his mind to kiss Aqua.

-Hmm ... So Kazuma will replace you today. What do you say, friend-NEET?

-I'm not NEET and no, I'm not going to go with you!

-So you will help me prepare dinner-said Ram, who appeared out of nowhere.

-What!? Why...?

-If you thought that you could come to the residence for free, my assessment of you dropped even more.

-Take Megumin, Aqua or Darkness! They ate the most at dinner!

-Aqua helped me water my garden this morning. Darkness brougth the wood. Megumin and Frederica cleaned up after dinner.

-Well, let Subaru help me at least.

-Barusu is an appointed knight of the candidate for the throne of the kingdom and Mathers family. It would be a great disgrace to this position if it were found that Mr. Roswaal was forcing his fiefdoms to do the housework.

The brown-haired boy looks at his colleague with a jealousy that Satella could only compete with. The anger increases even more with what the Subaru looks like. His complacency is truly beyond all scale. It began when Ram said "knight" and grew as she completed "the candidates for the throne of the kingdom."

-In addition, before Barusu became a knight, he himself worked for a month as a valet in his former residence.

-As a butler? And didn't he sometimes save Emilia's life?

-Yes. As a reward, he chose to work in the mansion.

-WHAT!? THIS IS NOT A PRIZE!

-Ha! You are wrong my friend.

Subaru takes a pose where he has one hand on his hip, the other hand stretched upwards, and his stance is slightly tilted. Kazuma is sure he copied her with JOJO. In a second, the other hand goes straight towards the younger friend.

-My job allowed me to be as close to Emilka as possible! I couldn't have dreamed of a better reward then!

I can't believe what I hear. This guy could wish for the same palace, an enormous fortune in gold, or his own land. However, he chose the pathetic role of a butler in order to be close to a pretty girl. This, this, this ... I don't even know how to describe it. I would like to use the words "idiot" or "simp" but I can't. After all, I can see that his feelings for Emilia are mutual. Even after making such a stupid pose, she still sees him as her hero. This is, it is ... Totally unfair!

-It's like Kazuma? Do you prefer to clean or will you train with us?

-I guess I have no choice. Lead.

Together, five of them went to the place where the damn dogs had appeared the day before. Beatrice explained that although these beasts are not as numerous as in the vicinity of the previous residence, the magic of teleportation must have attracted these small amounts. Another great achievement for this useless goddess. Fortunately, Megumin killed most of the monsters, and the rest scattered after they managed to escape. They finally reached the obstacle course. Subaru put the little spirit down on the ground and told us to line up. Beatrice was to give the signal to take off. Kazuma obviously did not want to take part in it and waited with Lolita for the rest to come back. Meanwhile, the four girls went to Emilia's bedroom. There they encountered Frederica and Petra.

-Oh! Hello.

-Good morning Emilia-blonde replied

-Good morning-Petra repeated greeting.

-We came because we thought you might want some tea.

-Thank you. That's really nice of you. Maybe you would like to drink with us?

-Please forgive us, but ...

-Don't be asked! - Aqua broke out from the rank-Instead of discussing magic, we can have a woman's evening!

-But ... It's not evening yet.

-Does not matter! Everyone come to the balcony with this tea!

Just like she said so they did. Even little Petra joined this strange crowd of women of all spacies.

-What we're gonna talk about

-About what? About the boys.

-You meant rather that you want to get more private information from poor Emilia-Megumin criticized the self-proclaimed goddess.

-Not at all! We gods are not interested in such mundane mortal affairs!

Everyone looked at Aqua with the gaze that Kazuma gave her so often that she couldn't help but answer.

-And even if that would rather interest me in Ram's opinion.

-I have nothing to say about such a pathetic thing as mans.

-The same for Mr. Roswaal?-Frederica asked teasingly.

Oni starts looking at the elderly maid. If the eyes could kill the blonde, she would have died long ago from Ram's gaze.

-Mr. Roswaal is a unique individual whose charm cannot be framed by a man or a woman.

-His charm was extremely convincing, especially when he tried to kill us all-Petra commented.

There was an awkward silence. Obviously, the person trying to break it was Aqua.

-Cha Cha Cha. That's funny!

-Ye ... Let's move on. Yesterday you said that Emilia made Subaru her knight.

Suddenly, Petra turned her face in a scowl.

-Yes. Subaru is my knight. I appointed him at the Anne Estate after we managed to liberate the Sanctuary. It was thanks to his help that I managed to find strength after Puck broke our contract - for a moment they could hear the break in the half-elf's voice. This dummy wrote so many wonderful things in the tomb ...

Megumin listens to Emilia's story. She doesn't mind that she has heard the story last night. It's really beautiful what Subaru did. You can see that he cares about the elf. It is a pity that Emilia, having grown up in a remote area, could not develop the ability to express what she really felt. Always mentioning about Subaru uses his first name, calls him a knight or just plain dummy when he does something really romantic. Maybe Kazuma is the same as Emilia? Of course, he stopped treating me like a little girl anymore and finally saw me as a woman in the village. However, I would like him to say something romantic, not just sexual. Perhaps the closest he was to when he carried me on our dates so that I could blow up this undead's castle. But ... Did he treat it like a date at all?

-Give me your hand.

-Already Subaru!

A rope formed from the guys easily pulled the crusader from the bottom. Not to mention that the blonde did most of the work, and Subaru was more for lengthening his arm.

-Thank you for taking me out.

-We wouldn't have to do this if you didn't fall into every trap on purpose.

-But I have to test if it is the right obstacle.

-You can be sure that I have tested it more than once.

-W-w-do you also like to be humiliated and beaten unconscious so that you don't have the strength to lift your finger !?

-Hey lady, calm down. You may have strange fantasies but you shouldn't mix other people with it.

-When I can't!

-Oh my! What must your comrades have with you?

-What are you saying !?

-It is that enjoying self-harm is never the healthiest way to deal with problems. I know something about that-Garfiel pointed to his scar. Subaru was terrified by his words more than the remnants of the wound. Of course, you couldn't tell from him.

-I have no problems! The pain is just extremely exciting!

-Eh ... The captain is better than me at these things, but ... I think you should pay attention to more than just your pleasures.

Darkness stares at the sharp teeth of the blonde. Subaru couldn't tell if she was considering his words or imagining strange things again.

-Okay, let's go. This part of the tour is the easiest one, and at the end we should go back to Beatka and Kazuma.

After a short hurdle run, they meet the two left behind again. As was to be expected, leaving Kazuma and Beatrice on their own must have resulted in an argument. However, it can be seen that this is not a normal quarrel that stemmed from differences in character. If it were so, they would simply sulk at each they stand and wait for the rest to come back, to get away from the other person as quickly as possible. Anyway, they quickly go into action. Beatrice climbs onto Subaru's shoulders while Kazuma stays behind, trying to stay as far away from the spirit as possible.

-What happened Kazuma?

-This little loli called me a soulless bastard and an idiot who can't appreciate someone's kindness.

-What did you do to her?

-You too!? Do not make me angry! I only told the truth!

-What truth?

-That Subaru is lucky to have such a good life unlike me.

-And that's it?

-Yes! She replied that I had no idea what I was talking about, so I started mentioning the palace, beautiful beloved, servants, chivalrous honors. She brushed it off as worthless material goods that could not cover real problems. So I asked what problems this walking perfection might have, and she started to insult me!

-Hm?

-What's the matter Darkness? Do you know something?

-No, but...

-Say it.

-When we were in the woods, Garfiel started to criticize my disposition.

-As if I don't do this every day!

-You pleasantly insult me, he criticized my shortcomings.

Kazuma was silent for a long moment before speaking again. He wondered about the reality around him.

-This world must therefore not tolerate vices. No wonder Subaru has found itself so well here.