"Hot springs!?"

"That's right! You've seriously never heard of Arcanletia?"

While packing his things, Kazuma was suddenly wrapped up in a conversation about how amazing a place Arcanletia is supposed to be. While he didn't really view this as a vacation per say, why not enjoy some time away from Axel?

"Not since this morning. I was only looking forward to fighting this Hanz guy."

'Buuuut, I wouldn't mind relaxing at some hot springs hehehe'

Every Japanese teen knew what going to a hot springs entailed.

"By the way Kazuma, do you think you'll be alright?"

Megumin actually sounded concerned, which seemed rather odd for the occasion.

"Worried? We beat the destroyer, some dude isn't gonna be an issue."

"That's not what I meant. I'm talking about the other problem we might have. I mean, this would be the first time we actually visit another city, right?"

"Ohhh, yeahhh. that problem."

'She's got a point. Axel might be used to, well...me being who I am, but what about everyone else? I guess I just gotta hope the population isn't some zealot-like cult'

"Aw come on, how bad can some townspeople really be?"

Ding

"Ah good morning- oh it's you, you're up quite early."

Vanir turned off his customer service voice when he noticed it was just the vampire.

"Was just swinging by before we leave for Arcanletia. I remember you asking me yesterday, if there was anything from earth I'd be willing to help you sell. There's a good list of things, but was wondering if you could wait till after I get back."

"Ah I love the confidence, even when you are going to be battling an opponent like Hanz."

"You already told me everything I needed to think up a strategy, so I'm not stressin."

"Yes yes. Enjoy your trip, and the mixed baths you've been looking forward to."

"Hey that's a cheap shot!"

"At least you aren't alone in that desire my dear boy."

"Wait, what do you mean by…why is Wiz on the floor and burnt to a crisp?"

"Ah…this would be why."

Vanir held up a strange wooden…thing. In fact there was entire boxes full of this thing.

"What does it, uh, do?"

Vanir sighed as he prepared to recount the actions of his dimwitted undead friend.

"Yo guys! Over here!"

Kazuma motioned for his party when he saw them across the carriage hub.

"Nice! You found us a carriage. Wait, why are you carrying the lich?"

"Ah, yeah, about that."

To Aqua's confusion, Kazuma held a completely unconscious Wiz on his back. He spent a few seconds explaining their essential baby sitting situation.

"You do know she's fading away right?"

"Aw crap. Give me a second."

While Darkness and Megumin chatted away on a nearby bench, Kazuma suddenly grabbed the crusader by the throat and began draining her energy, passing it along to Wiz as she lightly shrieked in pain.

"There you go Wiz, good as n- GHK! OI! You can't choke a vampire idiot, we don't breathe!"

Kazuma struggled to remove Darkness' hand's from his throat as she throttled him in anger.

"Oh? Where am I? Hello Kazuma."

Aqua jumped inside the wagon, giving herself the best seat she could, until she noticed that with the addition of Wiz, there wouldn't be enough seats due to a small dragon creature having a seat all to itself.

"Hey Kazuma, if you knew we were bringing that undead with us, why would you get a carriage where one of us has to sit in the back?"

"Easy, cause I'll take the back you cry baby. If you had to take it you'd probably complain the whole time."

"Well why shouldn't I complain!? How can I, Aqua, be expected to sit on-"

Kazuma hunched over and exhaled.

'This is gonna be a long trip'

"The caravan to Arcanletia is heading out!"

"Are you sure you're comfortable Kazuma? Me and Darkness can make some room back here I'm sure."

While the idea of sitting squished between Darkness and Megumin was tempting, it would probably get old fast. Besides,

"Nah, this is a lot better than it looks."

With his blood magic, Kazuma formed a miniature couch attached to the back of the carriage that he leisurely laid on.

"It looks like it's made of flesh…"

Aqua felt like she was about to dry heave while looking at it. Not that she wanted to, but it was one of those things that was too weird not to stare at.

"This is the same thing I use for all my manipulation based techniques. Like when I bulk up my arms. I can take a bunch of saved up blood and condense it, manipulating things like how hard or how soft it is."

"Doesn't really change the fact that you're lying in a blood sofa."

"Yeah whatever."

The caravan driver behind them tried his best to pretend there wasn't some unholy work of furniture in front of him.

As the caravans got into formation and left the city walls, a pleasant sense of bliss washed over the party. Even Darkness, who was technically one of the richest girls in the city, was enjoying herself like a kid, pointing at all the sights they passed by.

Kazuma himself wasn't exactly sure how long he was out when he had been awoken in the middle of a grand desert.

'There's either something really big out there, or a big swarm all moving together'

"Yo Megumin, know anything about the types of monsters that live out here?"

"Not really, I've never traveled around this deep into the desert before."

Kazuma opted to get up and move to the front. Realizing the energy signatures were only getting closer.

"Hey driver, there's something moving towards our position. See that dust cloud?"

"Huh, I guess yer right. The only monsters I would know that moves that fast would be running hawk kites, don't you worry though, they're attracted to hard things. Like to run at them ya see. and it's not like we're carrying any adamantite or the like."

'Then why is the dust cloud getting closer?'

Spot on with his warning, only a few more moments went by before the kicked up sand was close enough that the monsters responsible became visible. Something Kazuma could only describe as large eagle ostrich hybrids.

"Oh no! You were right mister! I have to stop the carriage!"

'Hard…hard…wait a minute!'

"Darkness! See what your rock like muscles are getting us into!? You attracted a horde of Hawk kites!"

She ignored the fact that he was using this as an opportunity to hold the sides of her tummy as he rubbed them up and down.

"Hey. Despite the way you may see my body, I am a woman. I'd appreciate if you didn't say I had rock like muscles. If the hawk kites are fixated on anything, it might be my armor, which has adamantite in it."

"Yeah sure, I believe that with all my heart."

Kazuma's voice was dryer than the desert they currently were traversing.

"Don't look at me that way! I do not have rock muscles! I have a femenine body!"

"Tch, whatever, as usual let me deal with this. I've been waiting for an opportunity to use that move anyway. I'll have to thank those Hawk kites for the chance."

Kazuma swished his cloak with his arm as he twirled towards the exit.

"You know I was wondering before, but now I'm sure you are definitely spending too much time with Megumin." Aqua joked.

"Will you shut up! Let me show off every once in a while."

"He is right Aqua, this is the way of the crimson demon."

"Yeahhh, I never said I wanted to join your crazy band."

"Kazuma, the hawk kites are getting closer!"

Darkness warned before their bickering went on longer than needed.

Kazuma took her advice and leapt out of the carriage and got onto the roof.

"H-hey! It's our job to keep you safe, you're my passenger!"

"No need, just sit back and watch."

While the caravan's bodyguards moved into action, Kazuma's hands glowed red, runic circles appearing near his palms that began to rotate as he focused ever harder. Suddenly, as if he was spiking a ball, he tossed his hands into the air and harshly brought them back down, firing a red bolt of sorts into the ground, burrowing deep into the sand.

'Alright, now lets try it out!'

Raising a single fist, he uttered the words "Vampire's domain, field of the dead!"

When the several dozen Hawk kites came into range, several dozens of jagged and strange looking spikes of varying size and shape burst from the ground below, skewering the entire lot within a few seconds time.

"Oh yeah."

'Thank you vampire powers'

Thank ME

'You shut up'

While his party looked on in amazement, the adventurers, passengers and drivers seemed to be stuck in horror. Watching as the boy absorbed all the blood back into himself. While almost everyone from the city heard the growing legend of the vampire of Axel, who defeated some of the strongest foes of the kingdom, seeing it in person was another thing entirely.

When Kazuma sat back down in his spot at the back, Megumin threw up the familiar thumbs up he would always give her in recognition of her explosions.

"I give that an eight out of ten. Pretty good my apprentice."

"When did I ever apprentice under you? And how is that only eight!?"

While wary of the power among them, everyone still enjoyed their evening. All the Hawk Kite corpses were collected and cooked, which made dinner all the more satisfying, and they travelers were even more pleasantly surprised at the fact that Kazuma's attack didn't leave any residue of any sort. To top off the night, Aqua did a great job being entertainment with her party tricks alongside the somewhat unwilling stage hand Wiz.

Meanwhile, Kazuma sat off to the side alongside the other two girls of the party, finishing up his daily needs, wiping his mouth with his sleeve.

"I don't want my dried up blood on your sleeve like that, do you have no sense of cleanliness?"

"Does it hurt, Megumin?"

While Darkness knew how it felt to have blood forcibly drained from you, this looked oddly serene in comparison to what she had to go through. Whenever it was time, Megumin would simply tilt her head and pull down her blouse's collar slightly.

"Ah, yeah, a bit. B-but it's nothing I can't handle!"

"You know, if you ever need me to take over I-"

"Unnecessary, this is the burden I have taken upon myself. If I had someone else take my place, it would uh, I'd feel like I'm not taking my responsibility seriously."

'There's no way Darkness would actually buy that'

"Wow Megumin, time and again you astound me with your sense of duty and diligence!

'Jokes on me for thinking my party wasn't flat out gullible sometimes'

"Kazuma, after we finish our business in Arcanletia, I assume you already have an idea of where to go next?"

"Something like that. Vanir gave me names and locations of three that can be useful. After we deal with Hanz, we'll take some time then move out to to handle a chimera named Sylvia."

'I don't want Megumin to worry about it, sooo I should probably keep her location to myself. Vanir said it wasn't like she was an actual threat anyway'

Coming out of his thoughts, Kazuma noticed he was being stared at by both girls rather intently.

"Is there something on my face? You're beginning to make me nervous."

Darkness looked up into the stars in fond remembrance.

"Nothing like that, it's just, you're nothing like the Kazuma I initially met all those months ago. Even the few weeks after you had changed. You acted as if your interest in the world was only personal gain. You told me that you desired the downfall of the devil king, but I didn't feel it from you."

'I mean, in a way this is all still personal gain'

"But now, I look at you and I feel like I see a leader. You're truly acting as an adventurer, hungry to meet the next challenge, to grow and save the kingdom. Even with a threat as unknown as the one we currently deal with."

"Darkness is right. Ahem, you have grown a lot. At least in some ways."

"Nice words from you of all people."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Well I'm just saying it's nice of the youngest girl here to say I've grown. Really means a whole lot."

"Now you're just asking for it!"

Megumin didn't like the smug look in Kazuma's eye and tackled him, sure that her martial arts, however lacking it was, was more than enough for her scrawny friend.

"Oi! Wait! Not the face! Not the faaace! DArkness! Help!"

Kazuma rustled in his sleep, agitated by a strange sensation in his brain. It wasn't until he realized it was his energy sense detecting something in the distance, that he finally pushed himself up from his sleeping bag.

"Pssst, Megumin. I think we're being stalked…do you hear me? Come on wake up."

Kazuma's whispers had no effect.

"If you don't get up on the count of three, I'm sucking more of your blood, and who knows what my fingers will do…fine then, don't say I didn't warn you."

"How were you going to touch her Kazuma?"

He forced himself to cut off a yelp of surprise before he made too much noise.

"The hell are you doing sneaking up on me like that?"

"Hmph, you question intentions when you're sneaking onto Megumin in much the same way."

"Everyone wakeup! Come on, get up!"

One of the guards on watch rose his voice enough to wake everyone in the camp.

"I-it's undead! We have undead coming into the camp!"

"AaaaHH! Kazuma! Save me!"

Aqua cried out as the entire group of shufflers targeted her specifically. Getting Kazuma to roll his eyes in realization of why there were zombies in this part of the desert in the first place.

"You can deal with them yourself can't y- wait WAIT!"

It was only after Aqua's spell turned the entire encampment into a glowing blue death trap that he realized his mistake.

"You ugly things! I'm purifying every single one of you! Turn undead!"

"AAAAAGH!"

"Oh no! Kazuma! Wiz!"

As their carriage neared the front entrance, Darkness continued to pester the wobbly archmage.

"Are you sure that you are okay Megumin? Perhaps we should have Aqua heal you."

"Pfft, me? Don't look down on my resolve."

'After Aqua almost killed me when she spammed her turn undead, I had to recharge way more strength than usual. Megumin, being Megumin, not only refused to let Darkness contribute in any way, but also refused healing out of some sense of pride'

"H-huh? Dwarves! Now we're talking!"

Kazuma, who had sat in the back normally as to not scare the townspeople, couldn't help but join in on the pointing and excitement as they rolled into a town full of amazing sights and beautiful streets. Even the air was purer somehow.

"When I was younger, I traveled across the western kingdoms with my father. And yet I don't remember a town as nice as this one."

"They say the hot springs can cure any ailment, and are blessed by Aqua herself! Erm, the goddess, not you."

Kazuma turned around to laugh into his fist when he saw Aqua's expression that just cried 'internal screaming'.

"Heh, heheh, yeah. That's what you need right about now."

"If I do need the hot springs, it is only to relax, and nothing more."

"...uhuh, Aqua."

"Didn't I say already that I can handle this? If a lion requires aid in its battle against a sheep, won't it not be the subject of humiliation? Similarly, if the greatest of crimson demon cannot even- mmff"

On Kazuma's orders, Aqua ignored her ravings and healed her back up to normal regardless.

"Feel better? Great, now stop being stupid."

"Oh...don't forget me Charipa!"

"...Charipa? You know what, I'm not surprised."

While Kazuma lugged the once again unconscious Wiz on his back, Aqua fluttered about in excitement.

"I can't wait to show you guys around! I know everything about this town!"

'Wait, I think I missed something she said before'

"Didn't you say this was your town?"

"Well of course, this is the home base of the Axis church!"

'No, no way did we just trek all this way to save the town of a weirdo cult!'

"Yep, no wonder why your sense of urgency was higher than usual."

"What do you mean!? I have a huge sense of urgency!"

"Yeah like drinking all day during winter when us three went out every day."

Before she could retort, a mob of her followers ambushed the tourist, eyes full of lifeless positivity and smiles that would put a used car salesman to shame.

"Are you here to visit the Axis church!?"

"Ah you must be converts am I right!?"

"Want to join!? You get paid and amazing perks!"

'You know, maybe this Hanz guy is just doing his job, no need to interfere right?'

"Wiz. Wake up."

Hearing those words in a deep familiar voice, the lich rose to find herself in a field of flowers, overlooking a river. On the other side were five figures, all of varying sizes.

"You weren't there Wiz."

"And now you will share our fate."

Wiz woke up with a gasp for air, sensing quickly that she was safe. When her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Kazuma transferring energy into her.

"Y-you saved me. Thank you. Where are we?"

"Don't mention it, I got tons to spare. And we're in Arcanletia, we got here not too long ago. You alright? You look like you saw a ghost."

"I was dreaming. I saw Verdia, and other generals like, his daughter. The old Devil king. They were telling me I was going to die."

Kazuma's face contorted into confusion and fear, what a strange and horrifying dream.

'Guess this was a bit too close for comfort after all'

"I wonder what Aqua got up to. Megumin and I asked Darkness to look after her since I didn't need her here. This isn't going to end well."

"Well don't stay cooped up in here, go out and explore the town! I'll be alright."

'Guess it wouldn't hurt to do a bit of reconnaissance'

"Wooow! Kazuma Kazuma! See the statue! It's just like some of things we have back home!"

Kazuma found himself smiling like an idiot at her childlike excitement over things like a fountain.

"You guys have goddess statues too?"

"Well, some guys worship them but I wouldn't call them goddesses."

Their attention was soon caught by a barrage of apples being flung across the street, followed by a clumsy girl hurrying to pick them up.

"Let me help you with that miss!"

After doing their good deed for the day, said clumsy girl randomly turned flustered. Playing with her hair like a shy high schooler trying to talk to her senpai.

"Um, if you have some time, I'd like to thank you properly?"

"Oh?" Kazuma couldn't help but blush. A virgin like him was far too weak against overt flirtation.

Megumin, brows furrowed, stepped in between the two.

"Him? Hah! This man wouldn't know how to treat a girl if he was one. You'd be better off looking somewhere else."

'What the-!?'

"Really? That's a shame, there's a cafe I would have liked to take him on a date to."

"I'd-"

"No really, he's not your type, he's the kind of guy who doesn't mind hitting a girl, not worth the effort."

'I'm gonna kill her!'

The girl suddenly stepped to one side, once again blocked by the crimson brick wall. Figuratively and literally.

"Really? You see this cafe is run by the axis church and-"

"So anyway Megumin where do you wanna go next?"

"Sheesh, that girl had some grip."

She ended up grabbing Kazuma by force, only letting go after Megumin referred to Kazuma as a "Vampire fanboy" at which she spit on the floor and left.

"You know, I'm surprised no one's been calling me out, you were worried about it yesterday too."

"Probably cause you're walking next to me. Our eyes are roughly the same color, and you're dressed like a crimson demon too. Walking in direct sunlight is probably the cherry on top."

"Yeah well, let's find a place for my veil to recharge soon, it's beating down hard."

"AAAGH! Help me!"

"Wha-!?"

A girl came…running? Jogging? Down the street, being chased by a lumbering brute of a man.

"Please help me! This man, probably an Eris cultist, wants to do horrible things to me!"

'Well, that SOUNDS like a cult Darkness would enjoy'

"HaHaHa! You two aren't in the Axis church are you? If not, then I don't fear you! I have power from the dark lord Eris!"

Kazuma sighed, looking at the pair in boredom.

'Let's just get this over with'

"Oh? Dark power like this?"

Kazuma flared his inner magic, unleashing a revolving red aura. It only took a few seconds for them to run away in fear, shouting about how an Eris maniac had came into town.

"That went well."

"You realize if you keep that up, they might just form a mob for you later."

"Oh that's just wonderful. I'm really enjoying this town so far."

"Don't be that way, there's no way everyone in town is like that."

"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! CRIMSON DEMONS? DID YOU KNOW LADY AQUA BESTOWS AWESOME AND EDGY MAGIC POWER TO HER FOLLOWERS!?"

"YOUNG MAN, YOU ARE THE ONE MILLIONTH PERSON TO WALK IN THIS STREET! JOIN THE AXIS CHURCH NOW FOR A FREE PRIZE!"

"HEY IT'S YOU! WE USED TO SIT BY EACH OTHER IN CLASS REMEMBER!?"

"LET ME GUESS! ON A DATE!? BUY SOME LUBRICATING LOTION FOR YOUR ALONE TIME LATER!"

"H-huh Wha-!?"

That one actually got Megumin to visually and verbally react, before Kazuma pulled her by the arm and rushed into a nearby cafe…hopefully not the one that girl was raving about.

"Do we have to stop Hanz?"

Kazuma laid his head on the table, nearing his emotional limit on dealing with lunatics.

Megumin didn't even respond, only removing the dozens upon dozens of application forms that were shoved into her cloak with shaky hands.

"Alright how about this, we get Aqua and Darkness, spend the rest of the day at the hot springs, then just go all out to find this bastard and leave. Sound good?"

"Y-yeah. S-sounds good."

'Poor girl, she didn't stand a chance against the diabolical crime that is aggressive marketing'

After another journey through the proverbial perfume department, a much angrier Kazuma and much more mentally destroyed Megumin arrived at the Axis church headquarters.

"Alright Who the hell runs this place! I want names!"

"Oh? Are you here to join the church? Or possibly here for a baptism…or me?"

"That ain't working on me twice! I'm just here for a blue haired priest and blonde crusader, seen em?"

"Well yes actually, your priest friend is currently working at the confessional, and the crusader is outside being stoned."

Kazuma felt his inner anger burst when he heard that. He didn't even ask anything further, only turned to hastily make his way to the side of the church. Feeling like he was this close to starting something he'd regret later if he didn't calm himself fast enough.

Until he arrived, and it was only a small gang of children lobbing pebbles and the like.

'...you know, even if she WAS being stoned, something tells me she'd be mad if I stopped it'

"Shoo! Go on home you little rats! You okay Darkness?"

"Oh Kazuma, this town. It's-"

"Terrible I know."

"Absolutely wonderful! I've been harassed all day long by heathens. Spit on and called names by virtually every person who passes me on the street!"

'Ayup'

Back at the confessionals, he attempted to get his archpriestess' attention from the door. After receiving no answer, he stepped inside and waited.

"Traveler, have you come seeking the forgiveness of lady Aqua?"

"Why are you talking like that? It's me Kazuma. What the hell is wrong with this town!? Everyone here is completely insane."

"Ah I see now, you've let your anger get the better of you. Do not worry, for the goddess Aqua fo-"

"Can you shut up already? I'm trying to get back to the inn so we can plan things out! Or let me guess, you're doing this so you can actually act like a priest for once in your life. I get it now."

"D-do you have anything else to confess? If not, then go now, free of the sin that plagues you."

"Am I talking to a wall? Never mind that, you're denser than any wall I could speak to! You're about as socially and intellectually competent as an Almond! Because you and this whole town is completely nuts!"

"If you're done then leave! I have nothing more to say to you! Hmph!"

'This bitch wants to play? Let's play'

"Well…actually there is something I wanna get off my chest."

"Huh!? Then please stay traveler! Tell me all about it and relieve your guilt. Perhaps you're finding it too hard too abstain from stealing the laundry of a crusader friend, or harboring lustfull pedoneet thoughts on a mage friend, or even sinful desires for a pure hearted and beautiful priest?"

"You see, that priest friend, she once had a favorite cup of hers for drinking and tricks. Once, that is until I broke it."

"Hg-!"

"And then well, the voice in my head told me about how divine blood taste the best, and I got curious one night."

Aqua instinctively placed her hands over her neck in horror.

"So I had a taste, and it was so good I would sneak into her room every night to drink up without her knowing."

Aqua flung the middle divide open and grabbed onto Kazuma's ears, pulling and pushing him violently.

"AAAAGH! YOU VAMPIRIC BASTARD!"