SPOILERS FOR THE LIGHT NOVEL

Prompt: Kazuma dies permanently in his fight with the Demon King. He is not granted a chance to revive, and he can't use his wish to come back.

When Aqua had come back from wherever she had disappeared to, Megumin and Darkness had initially been really worried. She had been right by them when a bright light came down and engulfed her and once it dissipated she had disappeared completely.

However, Aqua was crying more than they had ever seen. More than when she was crying to Kazuma for help with her debts, more than when someone drank her prized wine that she hid under her pillow, and even more when she didn't get her way. She looked completely distraught, and Megumin had a sinking feeling to her stomach. She felt nauseous but pressed on.

Everyone gathered around her as she sobbed harder. Darkness was the first to speak up.

"Aqua! Are you okay? What was that light just now?!" She asked frantically, checking Aqua for any cuts or bruises like a doting mother. "You seem alright."

Aqua opened her eyes, and while trying to reign herself in, tried to speak up. "He's... h-he's... dead."

"Who's dead, Lady Aqua?! Did Kazuma kill the Demon King?!" Asked Mitsurugi, hopeful for his friend's success.

Yunyun, bless her heart, gave Aqua a tissue to blow her nose into, which the Goddess graciously accepted. After the messy paper was handed back to Yunyun who threw it across the room immediately in disgust, Aqua tried to speak once more before the tears began anew. Just then, another light descended from the sky to reveal the Goddess Eris. Her eyes were rimmed red, but otherwise stood firmly.

"Is that the Goddess Eris?!" Cried Yunyun.

"Lady E-Eris?" Darkness stood still in shock before bowing down to her, and forcing Megumin to do the same begrudgingly.

Her eyes hardened. "I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this, but Aqua is clearly not in a state to deliver the news."

After the bow, Megumin grew impatient. "Hey, just tell me where my man is."

Darkness was flabbergasted. "Megumin! Show respect to this kingdom's patron Goddess."

"I don't care." Darkness almost had a stroke at that moment.

Eris allowed herself a giggle at Megumin's antics before becoming serious once more.

"I'll tell you like it is. Kazuma has defeated the Demon King, plain and simple."

Everyone in the throne room of the former Demon King cheered happily.

"I knew he could do it!"

"Kazuma's really reliable when you need him to be!"

"I almost can't believe it..."

Megumin, ever the astute observer, noticed Eris was waiting for them to finish speaking.

"That's not all, is it? Aqua wouldn't cry over the death of the Demon King."

Everyone else became silent at her words, dread beginning to seep into them.

"Lady Eris, what's become of Kazuma?"

Eris closed her eyes with a resigned sigh. "Kazuma is dead, and he won't be coming back." All she heard was a wooden clack onto the tiled floor, and she opened her eyes to a shocked Megumin whose staff was now on the floor. Everyone was dismayed to varying degrees, but Megumin started walking forward towards Eris.

Coming face to face with the mage, Megumin spoke up to her, with no semblance of respect to be found. Her red eyes are duller than she had ever seen them before.

"Bring him back."

"I... can't."

"Bring. Him. Back." More adamant this time.

"That's just not possible. It's out of my hands."

Megumin's eyes glowed ominously. "Why not?! Why can't he be brought back now of all times!?" She screamed into Eris' face who didn't react to her anger. She understood it. Nothing she could say would change her mood.

"Simply put, Kazuma was already breaking heavenly rules being revived even once by Aqua, but the higher Gods allowed it due to Kazuma showing promise in defeating the Demon King. His crafty nature was unique."

"Then what changed!?" Megumin asked, tears starting to form in her eyes as the reality of the situation set in.

"He had outlived his usefulness." Eris responded. Without warning, Megumin attempted to slap her across the face, but Darkness stopped her by grabbing her hand and exhibiting heavy pressure on her wrist which made Megumin cry out in pain.

"You will not harm Lady Eris." She said, emotion thick in her wavering voice.

"Damn it, Darkness! Don't you care about Kazuma at all!" Megumin kept trying to shake herself off of Darkness' grip, but it was a pointless task.

Darkness forcefully turned Megumin around so they were face to face, the older woman holding Megumin by her shoulders. The smaller girl's eyes widened when she saw the rivers flowing down Darkness' eyes.

"I loved him too." She said. "But striking a God is asking for death."

With a heavy feeling in her throat, Megumin retorted, "If it means I can see Kazuma again, I'll do whatever it takes."

A crack resounded off the walls with an echo and Megumin held her now reddening cheek with her left hand.

"Don't you ever say that again, you understand? Kazuma would be horrified to hear you say something like that." Darkness raised her gaze to Eris. "Lady Eris, what do you mean by what you said?"

Eris gave a resigned sigh. "The words are not my own. The higher ups deemed that with the death of the Demon King, there was no reason to allow Kazuma to continue reviving. Their word is final, and all Gods must abide by it."

Mitsurugi dug his sword into the floor angrily. "Could you not argue the point with them? There has to be some way to appeal their decision."

Unfortunately, Eris shook her head. "I could, but it would be pointless. Without support from many of my peers, it would be impossible to convince the Higher Ups to change their mind. Given that I am the overseer of this world, I am the only one besides Aqua that even knows Kazuma exists. Convincing my peers to support me would take too long, and it wouldn't even matter. Satou Kazuma has already been forced to choose either reincarnation or to ascend to Heaven."

"That is injustice! A man kills the Demon King and he isn't offered a reward?!"

"He did receive one."

Mitsurugi paused, surprised by this news. "What did he ask for?"

Megumin turned towards Eris as well, hopeful of a positive answer.

"He... he asked to retain all of his memories after reincarnating. He didn't want to forget any of you."

"My God..." Mitsurugi held his face in his hands, Megumin fell to her knees wailing on the floor as Darkness tried her best to comfort her. Yunyun was emotional like everyone else, and kneeled down next to Megumin and tapped her on the shoulder.

Megumin raised her red and tear-stained face. Yunyun merely held her arms out, inviting her for a hug. The smaller girl took it gratefully and the two held one another in grief.

'While I feel awful about having to be the bearer of bad news, it was the least I could do for all of you heroes. My words may feel empty, but I truly mean it. You all deserve praise for your courage. But... for now, I must go. I pray you all get past this." Eris finished, before the beam of light engulfed her body and she was gone.

In all of this, Aqua had gone silent at some point and was sat on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. Mitsurugi and Darkness shared a look, and Darkness took the initiative in walking over to Aqua and kneeling next to her.

"I can't stay, Darkness."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm a Goddess, just like I've told you. I have to return to my duty."

"You're... but.. does that mean we'll never see you again?"

"I can visit when I can, but never for long. If nothing else, I can check in on Kazuma from time to time."

Darkness wrapped Aqua in a hug. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Aqua sniffled but responded, "I'll try".

After everyone collected themselves and Aqua had returned to Heaven, Yunyun teleported them all back to Axel. Bidding their goodbyes, Darkness and Megumin took a more secluded route back to the mansion as they didn't want any attention thrown their way.

"I don't know what to do, Darkness." Megumin told her as they walked the forest path back home. "Now it's just us, and I don't want to replace Aqua or Kazuma."

Darkness looked down at Megumin with a sad smile. "I understand what you mean. A crusader and mage isn't exactly a well-rounded team."

"We've never been well-rounded, Darkness."

"Even so, it was fun, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, I wish it didn't have to end." Megumin felt a lump in her throat but kept it in check. "I miss them, you know?" She said, looking up at Darkness.

The crusader's heart hurt at the memories that flooded her when she first joined the party. She put her hand on Megumin's shoulder as they walked. "I know, me too."