Bless This World With A Stranger

by RhineWrites

Arc 8: Konosuba Inferno (chapters 37-?)

32. A7-1: Just Another Day in Axel

}Arc 7: Darkness Hour{

Chapter 1: Just Another Day In Axel

======================{Prologue: Let Me Tell You A Story}======================

The world of light slowly faded, and I found myself once more standing on the beach, gazing out towards the bay and the greater sea beyond. Beyond that, as was the case for the sky above, the Cloud Maelstrom continued to rotate in its weird ringed way.

I then notice that fair Empyria had entered the twilight hours of the day, reminding me that I needed to hurry and do what it was I came here to do and get back before the others began to start worrying about me. After taking one final moment to let my gaze out over the waters linger, I turn and begin to head towards the little village Eyeball had been building for me here.

Yeah, the village I hadn't yet decided a name for. After my last visit, I had asked for a nice little vacation home to be built for me, someplace I could come and make use of to help me take a much-needed load off whenever things became a bit to hectic in my crazy and unpredictable life.

But having just one simple building alone didn't seem enough. In fact, it felt a little lonely just to have the one, so I asked Eyeball to build up an actual village so it would feel a bit more lived in, like there was a sense of a community here, even if the only permanent resident at the moment were the Divine Beast.

Speaking of, I turn my gaze upwards towards the rocky cliff face that surrounded the beach and lands just beyond, seeing the newest addition I had recently retrieved resting along the top. Finding Vah Naboris hadn't been too difficult, thanks to Eyeball. But getting to Naboris, actually bringing it here had been quite a tale, if I do say so myself. Thankfully, everyone had been to busy keeping Komekko company to have noticed me stepping out for nearly a day to collect Naboris.

Well, maybe not but I like to think it that way. Might want to come up with some extra exciting bits to help spice it up should a day ever come when I need to tell the others about either it or Vah Rudania, which will happen if they ever find out about Rudania having survived its surprise to visit to Axel back then.

Getting back to my yet unnamed village here, there were currently about a dozen or so buildings that could be used as homes for residents... well, eleven that were unoccupied and one that had a resident in me that called it a home away from home. There were also a few buildings that had been set up to be shops and a library. There was even an open-air bathhouse, open air because it lacked a permanent ceiling though one could be magically folded out to shield anyone inside in case it ever rained.

Once I had reached my second home, I let myself in and took a moment to look around before making my way into my personal study slash mini library where, sitting on a small table, was the Know-It-All book and the Mason Gloves Divine Relics.

Following my little adventurer within the Crimson Demon Village, during the week Komekko had stayed with us, I had found a little time to slip away and come here to Empyria to 'drop' those two little items off. Sure, I could keep them on me at all times, but I worried if I did that, I would find myself feeling more tempted to use them both more often and really, I would let myself be lazy and do just that.

Honestly, such helpful tools like those should be saved for big and important matters, thus having them kept here made sense. Sure, it would also be a little inconvenient to have to come here whenever I needed to make use of one or the other, or both. But seeing as my proficiency with Teleport had grown to the point where I could visualize any place within my mind, so long as I have actually been there before, and teleport right there following the usage of the chant, it wasn't that big an issue for me now. Really, for the moment, it felt like the best idea though I could change my mind on that should future events make me feel differently.

Besides, I still have somewhere between 12-15 days before that stubborn book here will answer any more questions, I ask it again. Between you and me, it acts like such a prim a-donna just because I may have been getting too reliant on it. At least the Mason Gloves didn't give me attitude like this one does.

Anyways, back to the matter at hand; my reason for coming here to begin with.

Hey neighbor, can I borrow some sugar by any chance?

"Sorry Eyeball, but that's a big fat no there. Last time I loaned you any sugar, I found myself having to spend the better part of the day cleaning up the mess you and your 'friends' made all over the neighborhood."

Details, details. You're just upset we didn't invite you to the big party, mister Killjoy Mc Grump!

I laugh as does Eyeball... at least I think it was laughing? Anyways, once that friendly bit of banter had passed, I asked for an update of the other three Divine Beast.

Currently, the upgrades to Vah Naboris' power core is at around seventy percent. Everything is expected to be finished within three days. Once done, I will be bringing her AI back online then I won't feel as lonely around here. Anyways, what brings you here today? Wanting to ask for more expansions to this little village of your that will never have any residents?

"Not today, Eyeball. Side tangent before I answer your question. Don't assume no one will ever live here. After all, the future is an unknown. Call what I'm doing here as a safety precaution. You never know when it could come in handy, right. Now, as for why I'm here now?"

I then pull my adventurer's pouch around to more easily access it, reaching in and pulling out a large humanoid mannequin free. As I do so, I once again find myself amazed at what magic could really do and wonder how I lived without such convenience in my life.

Would still be nice of this world had electricity, the internet, and some of the other stuff from back home. Hm, guess it will be up to me to make that happen, huh? Once I had placed the mannequin onto the ground, positioned right beside the table, I then pull a red leather kacket from my pouch, hold it out before me for a moment to look at it, then I place it upon the mannequin's body.

I noticed you have a snazzy new jacket there. Want to tell me why you would want to leave such a sharp and stylish red leather jacket here and not wear it around? I'm sure the ladies must love it, especially the 'crazy ones' you told me about.

I chuckle at his words before looking back at Eyeball and explain my reasoning.

"Under normal conditions, I wouldn't have brought it here to keep it both secret and safe. I would keep it close and wear it often. But this isn't some normal jacket here, Eyeball. Believe it or not, it's actually a Divine Relic I found by accident a few hours ago."

Oh? Sounds like an interesting tale worth telling, don't you think so?

"I don't know about that. In all honesty, it's probably just going to be a snore fest. But if you want too hear it..."

I then pull the chair out from under the table the Know-It-All and Mason Gloves were resting on, take a seat, and then start telling Eyeball of the day's events, from the moment Anna found me down in my workshop tinkering away to the little quest that brought me into ownership of this new relic here...

=========================={Part 1: Sheng Biao}==============================

It was early in the morning, possibly not yet even 6am yet I was already up and hard at work with completing my latest invention. Why was I up so early doing this, instead of being in bed having nice dreams of me and the girls doing all kinds of this and that together?

Believe it or not, it was actually because of a dream that I had just woken up from that had given me some inspiration here. So much so that going back to sleep now was nigh impossible, so I had gotten up, come down here to my workshop, and had been busy working away on this new project for...

How long have I been up for exactly? It was still the dead of night when I had woken up and I had been so focused on coming down here and getting to work that I hadn't taken the time to look at the clock and see what time it was at the time.

The only reason I knew what the current time was due to the large clock hanging over my main workstation that I happened to glance up at when I had needed to get up to grab a few more items off the shelf to help make a few last-minute adjustments here.

Once I had finished screwing in the last of the screws into place, I take a moment to sit back and wipe my brow before turning my attention to the prototype of my new personal tool. Sure, to look at it one would think it could use some work, design wise that is as it was rather bulky and kind of ugly looking, if I'm being honest here.

But that's why I called it a prototype. Once I was able to confirm it could actually be used for the purposes I had built it for, then I will see about building another one. One I could wear often and make use of. One that actually looked appealing, dare I say have a little sleek, sexiness to it as well.

Well, time to slap this bad boy on, take it outside, and give it a proper testing.

"Yawn... morning Kazuma, what's gotten you up so early in the morning? You're usually one of the last to get up, if not the last thus forcing the girls to wake you up so you can make them breakfast."

"Don't remind me, Anna. My heads still hurting from that little 'rise and shine' stunt they pulled on me the other day. And good morning to you too, by the way."

Anna yawns again before floating over to me and takes a moment to look at my head.

"Well, all the bumps seem to be gone, which is a good thing. Can't really be too sure about that little curve of a dent you suffered, due to your hair being in the way and all. Anyways, what are you doing down here for? I thought today was going to be all about that new skill making stuff you've been working on out back behind the mansion."

"And that's still the plan here. But I had myself quite the dream, one that gave me a ton of inspiration which I wanted to capitalize on. So, I came down here to take what I had dreamed and made it into a physical reality. What do you think?"

I pointed to the little device I had just finished working on, drawing Anna's eyes onto it as well.

"Looks like a piece of shit, if you ask me. Why would you, or anyone, ever want to walk around wearing such an ugly and unsightly gauntlet like that for, Kazuma. You do know there's far better ones you can buy out of a shop and wear that would look more appealing."

"Ouch, harsh words coming from you. Anyways, this isn't just some regular gauntlet here with a fat-thick underside to it, Anna. It has a few secrets that will surprise you. Want to join me outside so I can show them off to you all proper like?"

"Yeah, sure. I seriously doubt anything you have to show will wow me though... say, what's all this here?"

asked Anna as her attention went from looking at my prototype to looking at the other pieces of paper I had laid out on the table.

I walk over to see what it was she was looking at exactly and, upon seeing them, understand her curiosity. I then begin to explain what they were about while taking the prototype and fitting it onto my right wrist and lower arm.

"This one here is a rough design I had in mind for a new bow for me to use. I know it looks a little different from the bows you're probably use to seeing. That's because it's based on a particular kind of bow that exist back in my wor-homeland."

"Why would you need a new, strange yet fancy looking new bow, Kazuma" Don't you already have a decent one you can use here?"

asked Anna as she gives me a confused look.

"That is correct. I do already have a bow I can use. There's just one problem with it. I can't combine my Ether Arrow skill with Intermediate level magic spells with that one. I can do it with Basic Magic easily enough, but during a recent test I did, I found intermediate magic adds to much stress to the current bow I'm using, and now there are cracks beginning to form on it."

"I see, so then this new bow is going to be strong enough to let you mix intermediate magic and ether arrows together. But why would you need to make yourself a new bow? Surely you can simply have some blacksmiths make you a new one that can do the job just as well."

"You're right, I could do that. But I'm wanting to future proof this new bow here. What I mean by that is that I don't want to just make one that can combine the two powers of intermediate magic and ether arrows, but I also want it to be able to handle Advanced magic as well, when the day comes when I get around to having either that old man teach me or Yunyun."

"There's also the fact I just want to have something that looks both different and cool to what everyone else that makes use of a bow currently has as well!"

Hearing my explanation makes Anna's ghostly eyes light up with excitement while pounding a ghostly fist into the open palm of her other hand.

"Oh, I get it now. That makes a lot of sense. So, what kind of materials do you plan on using to make it?

I shrug at the question, telling Anna I hadn't decided on that yet. I was thinking I would ask Know-It-All, once it was responding to me again, for advice where that was concerned. I would then use the Mason Gloves to construct it. Sure, I could do it all be hand, but I'm surely allowed to be a little lazy here sometimes, right?

Anna then turns to the other piece of paper I had rolled out, which was a map of the eastern area outside the city walls of Axel. Located along the right-hand side of the map was the forested area that our mansion was located in. She asked me what all this was about.

"Ah yes, that particular subject. The other day, the day after we got back from our trip to Veridae, Darkness left to head back home to check in on her father. If you remember, I also stepped out for a short bit, heading into Axel to check in on something important."

"Yeah, I remember. So?"

"I wanted to see if there was anywhere within the walls of Axel where an amphitheater could be built at and while there were a couple of spots that could suffice, they were all considered city parks and I didn't want to sacrifice any of the greenery for the sake of a new big building there. Due to that..."

"You've were checking to see if building it right outside the eastern gate could be an option?"

Anna nodded, understanding now what I must have been thinking. I then move to stand over the table, tracing a finger over the map as I says-

"I think here could be a good spot. It's a fairly open area, with only a few old structures from long ago dotting the land, ones I would think there would be little trouble with tearing down. Anyways, I'm going to head into Axel after breakfast to see who may own this area and possibly get the ball rolling here. Hopefully, it won't require me to talk with Aldarp, otherwise I'll opt to wait till his replacement takes over in a few months or so."

Anna floats over to look at the map, tracing her own ghostly fingers over it as well before saying nonchalantly to me.

"No need to go finding that out Kazuma as YOU are the owner of this whole area!"

"EH?"

I turn me head to look at Anna, giving her both a confused and stunned look. She also looks at me and says-

"My family used to own ALL of this area located outside the east gate of Axel. I used to own it. When my mansion was gifted to you by that 'relative' of mine, then all of this area also, by extension, should have become yours as well."

"Which parts?"

I asked her, making her tell me to use my pen and trace it over the map, following the motions of her ghostly finger. I do so, following her path starting from some derelict silo located just outside the east gate, to a river just south of the road, around just beyond the eastern edge of the forested area and finally to some old farmhouses north of us back to that silo.

Once she was done, I looked over the total area she had pointed out, that I had traced with my pen and letting myself whistle from the sheer size of the area. I didn't know I owned so much land here. I then smile, seeing that I could indeed build the new amphitheater on this land, with plenty of room to spare for even more stuff. Enough that I could make my own mini city here. I think I'd call it Satouburg if I ever actually saw it built.

Perhaps reading my thoughts, Anna cautiously said to me-

"Well, I say that but who knows if all that is now yours to do with as you please. Having been dead for a century, a lot could have happened that I'm not aware of. You may want to go ahead and play it safe here, Kazuma and head down to Archives and Records to confirm that all this land is also your before you start making any big plans here."

"I'll do that. Guess that means I know what I'm doing first thing, once we head into Axel later."

"By the way. Why do you want to build an amphitheater here in, or right outside in this case, of Axel?"

Before I could answer Anna's question, I hear a soft meow, making me turn just in time to see Chomusuke come running into my workshop towards me, leaping into my awaiting arms, followed by her moving quickly onto my shoulders and nuzzling my neck. I reach up and rub her soft ears while saying-

"Good morning to you too, Nia. Is it just you who's up right now, or is Megumin up now too?"

I wait a few moments, wait to see if Megumin would follow Chomusuke into the workshop as well. When Megumin didn't appear, I call out her name a few times, getting no response which makes me shrug.

"Guess she must still be asleep then? Anyways, you're probably hungry, aren't you Nia? I'll make something up for you, here in a bit. Before that, how would you like to join Anna in watching me show off a new little toy I just finished making here?"

Chomusuke purrs happily while Anna makes a throat clearing noise, reminding me that she had asked me a question just moments ago.

"Yeah, that question of yours. I'll tell you as we head upstairs and out back behind the mansion."

Anna nods before following me out of my workshop but stops and ask me what that weird looking rock sitting upon one of the shelves she seemingly just noticed at the last second was. Peeking my head back inside the workshop and seeing what she was talking about, I say in response-

"Oh, that little lump of metal? That's all that remains of Kirin, my own little lightsaber I used to bring down Medusa back where we were over at the Crimson Demon Village. In its current state, I can't restore it back into being Kirin, but I've chosen to keep the remains all the same. Who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to find more of the materials that made the original MKK and with both that and that lump of metal, Kirin will slice and dice once again."

After that, we made our way upstairs and out the back door. As we went, I told Anna of my plans behind the amphitheater and my intention to bring Idol Hearts here to Axel. Anna was excited for the idea, at first. But she became depressed quickly as even if my plan did work, she would still be stuck here within the mansion grounds and would be unable to see them perform.

"That's a problem for now, yes. But there may come a day when it won't be an issue anymore."

"Huh? What do you mean by that, Kazuma?"

"That's a secret for now. I'll just say I've been looking into finding a way to expand your area of haunting here, Anna. After all, being stuck around the mansion twenty-four-seven must be getting old by now."

Humorously, Anna tried to hug me upon hearing that, not that she actually could as it seemed the only solid things she could touch were small, inanimate objects like wine bottles. Still, she said I was owed a hug from her should a day ever come when her being able to do such a thing was possible.

Once we were in the large backyard, I placed Chomusuke down on the ground with Anna taking a hovering seat beside her. I then walk a few feet away and look at one of the practice dummies Darkness had set up on the far side of the yard before raising my right arm towards it.

"Now watch closely, you two. Here's the first nifty little trick this baby can do here."

I then reach up, pressing down on one of the buttons on the device which causes a grappling hook to shoot out from the underside, flying fast and precise into the dummy, the impact being enough to make the dummy's body shake just a tad bit.

{Insert Image 1}

Anna and Chomusuke's eyes light up, clearly impressed by what they had just seen. I turn to them, do a little bow, then tell them that wasn't all, before turning back and pressing another button to retract the grappling hook...

Moments later, I'm storming over to the dummy angrily while the two girls go from amazement to having deadpan expressions. After a few moments of struggling to pull the blade sticking into the dummy out, out, I look back at them with a sheepish expression and say-

"OK, I admit. This part will need some work here. I did say that this was a prototype, after all. Still though, with that degree of impact force, I could probably send this blade into stone and concrete with ease. Anyways, now for another functions I can do with this."

I then grip onto the cord coming out of the device and after a moment, I begin to spin it around here and there in a manner not unlike a whip. Doing a series of spins not unlike a series of dance motions. Once again, they were impressed and amazed which quickly turns to another round of deadpan as one of my swings sends the blade right back into the dummy, once again forcing me to fight with the dummy over giving it back.

I'm really going to need to work on this one, huh?

Once I had finished dislodging the blade... AGAIN! I retract it back into the device before approaching the two girls and ask them what they think of it, making them look at each other then back at me.

"Well, it does look pretty cool there, Kazuma... except for those few times it made you look like an embarrassed idiot. Still, I can see how it could have its uses."

Chomusuke meowed out her agreement with Anna's words.

"I know, I know, it needs some work... OK, it needs a lot of work here. There currently is one additional function I can use it for. I can combine the cord with my Bind skill to ensnare enemies with and then use Unbind when it's time to release them."

"Hm, I can see how THAT would be useful, assuming you can get that particular function to work as intended that is. Anyways, why do you have that thing shooting out from underhand, Kazuma? Aren't you worried it will go through your hand or even take off a finger or two one day?"

"That is a valid fear I have. The only reason I have it set up like this is because it's easier for me to grab onto the cord attached to the blade when it's underhand as opposed to having it overhand. I don't know, maybe the final design will allow me to adjust the launcher, to have it overhand when fired and automatically move to underhand right after?"

Anna nods, saying that would be the smart thing to do here, if possible. She then asks me what I'm going to call it it?

"Hm? Oh right, a name? Well, I guess the proper name would be the Sheng Biao. It means rope dart."

"Rope Dart, huh? Funny you call it a rope dart when there is no rope being used here. Just a thin cord. Wouldn't that make it a cord dart, Kazuma?"

"Yes, yes it would. However, Cord Dart doesn't sound as cool as Rope Dart, don't you think?"

Anna agrees with my assessment on that. After that, we head back inside, back down into my workshop so I could see about making a few adjustments to the Sheng Biao, as well as a few others little things to help pass the time until it was time to start making breakfast.

======================{Part 2: New Troublemaker in Town}======================

After a few more hours of tinkering around down in my workshop, I made my way to the kitchen to begin working on breakfast. Soon enough, the delicious aroma attracted the 'freeloaders' I lived with downstairs, sitting at the table with silverware in hand, pounding the table in a rhythmic pattern while chanting "feed me, feed me, feed me."

OK, maybe that's not entirely how it happened here but it was close enough to the reality in my opinion. Point is, everyone had arrived downstairs, ready to eat by the time I was done. Yunyun, ever the dutiful 'wife' of this kooky family, quickly joined me in the kitchen and helped me put the finishing touches on everything before joining me in setting up the table. As we sat down, we quickly took notice of someone still being missing here, and it wasn't Darkness either.

"Hey, Megumin. Didn't you hear the call? Breakfast is ready?"

yelled out Cielo, getting no response from upstairs. Yunyun tried calling out to Megumin next, also getting no response which makes us all look at each other worriedly. I then decide to get up and personally go check in on her, to make sure she was OK. I call out to her, one last time, just as I begin to walk up the stairs and then...

"Ah... Kazuma, I heard... I hear you. Don't come upstairs, alright. I'll be down in a moment, alright."

"Uh... OK, you sure you're alright, Megu..."

"Yeah, I'm fine-I'm fine. I'm... aw... not descent at the moment. Go ahead and start without me. I'll be done in just a moment."

"OK... if you say so."

I confess I was still feeling worried and for a moment, I considered ignoring her words and going up anyways to check in on her. However, seeing as my Enemy Detection skill wasn't going off here, I'm guessing no one had snuck into the mansion and was trying something funny to Megumin.

At least I hope that wasn't the case, which is why I decide to give her five minutes. If she hadn't joined us within that time, I would go up there and see what was going on myself here.

Luckily, that wasn't necessary as Megumin came stumbling down the stairs in a rather comical manner, not that any of us laughed at her in that moment, nor when she finally came into the dining room with her hair all frazzled and her pajamas looking all wrinkled. Once Megumin had sat down and just as she was about to take her first bite of breakfast...

"So, what took you so long to join us down here, Megumin?"

asked Cielo, making Megumin go stiff before responding with clear nervousness in her voice.

"Ah... well, I... um... I just woke up late, yeah. That's right, I woke up late. Had a weird dream and all that. You all know how it is?"

"I thought you said you weren't descent?"

I questioned her, making her become even more rigid here.

"Yes... that's right, I was sleeping in just... you know what, Kazuma. That's none of your business."

"Megumin, what's wrong. You're being awfully weird right now."

"No, I'm not. I'm not being weird here. No, not at all. Not one bit. Rather, it's all of you who are being weird here. Not me."

argued Megumin in response to Yunyun's words. We all look at each other before looking back at Megumin, giving her a doubtful look, which makes her shrink back just a little bit. Lynn then smiles deviously as she asks the question most would be thinking in a moment like this one.

"Megumin, did you sneak some guy into the mansion last night, after we went to bed, and spent all night doing a new kind of explosion ritual with him?"

Well, breakfast had officially been ruined now for everyone. Thanks Lynn.

Megumin, all red faced and embarrassed, was quick to deny doing such a thing, reminding everyone once again that SHE wasn't into that kind of thing here and even if she was, why would she need to bring home some unknown random when she already had a guy living in the mansion, one who's knowledge and understanding of explosions was on par with her own, who would suffice instead.

"Hm, so are you saying what I think you're saying here Megumin?"

Megumin ended up running out of the room, unable to deal with Lynn's teasing anymore, leaving the rest of us in the dining room to just stare blankly at where Megumin had been sitting before looking back at each other. Lynn, a big smile on her face, says with utter glee-

"I am so glad I'm living with you all now. So much more entertaining than my old party."

"It is strange though, seeing Megumin act like that. You'd think she was Yunyun here for a second."

"Hey, I was never that bad... was I?"

Oh yes, what an interesting start to the morning. Why did I have a feeling that the rest of this day was going to be more of the same. Darkness, if you can somehow hear me all the way over in Malyais, please hurry up and get back as soon as possible.

There's just no way the 'dad' in this family can deal with all these crazy kids when he's alone.

After another hour and a half, much of which was filled with trying to get Megumin out of her room so we could head into Axel, we were finally on our way. As we walked, I told them the plan for when we arrived inside Axel proper.

"Once we've passed through the gate, I'll be splitting off from you all to take care of a quick bit of business over at the Archives and Records office. While I'm doing that, you four go on ahead and head over to the guild and find us a decent quest to go on today. Once I'm done, I'll make my way over to the guild and we'll see about doing whatever quest you all chose."

"Why do you need to go to Archives and Records, Kazuma?"

asked Yunyun.

"I'll let you know once we meet up inside the guild. I promise the surprise will be one you'll all like here, especially you, Cielo."

My words had intrigued the girls, obviously. While I could tell they wanted to be told now, they remained silent which I honestly wasn't expecting, seeing as I had never known these girls to be the patient type whenever it was possible to get the answer immediately. Something I could very much understand as I was also the same way.

Anyways, we soon reached Axel and I parted ways with everyone. Getting to my destination didn't take too long, seeing as Archives and Records was closer to the east gate than what the guild was, which was closer to the center of Axel, if a little within the southern district. My time within only lasted around ten to twelve minutes, not long at all to get the information I needed.

Once I came walking out, I couldn't help but smile just a little. It looks like I won't need to purchase any land or property from our fat assed governor, nor would I need to wait till his replacement came along to talk him into my plan either. With phase one out of the way, I could move on to phase two:

Sending a letter to Lia, asking her to decide on how she wants the new home of Idol Hearts to look like before I go about seeing if the Crimson Demons could build the amphitheater for us as well. But I can think about all that later. For right now, time to go meet the girls and tell them the good news.

After a short bit of walking, and turning the corner, the guild comes into view and... I find myself impacting against a hooded figure, wearing a cloak which knocks me and him/her onto our butts.

"Oi, what was that about? Don't you think you were hugging the wall a little too closely there when running, friend?"

"S-Shut up, it was all your fault anyways. Next time, look before you go stepping out into the open like that."

The hooded figure, clearly a girl if the sound of the voice was any indication, said while sounding agitated as she jumps back onto her feet, then she continues running down the street in the direction of the south gate.

I pick myself up, watch her as she goes, before scratching the back of my head and continue on my way while mumbling to myself. I wasn't sure why, but there was something about that girl that rubbed me the wrong way here. A moment later, as I drew closer to the guild, I saw my friends...

Laying on the ground, unmoving which makes me panic as I break into a run up to their sides. Once I had reached Yunyun, the closest of the girls to me, I kneel down beside her while frantically asking them what was wrong, what happened to them.

"Kazuma, we we're robbed... a thief..."

"She stole my special Eris faith pendant and Megumin and Yunyun's magic rings..."

"... She used some weird skill on us, said it would keep us immobile for a few minutes."

"Go after her, Kazuma. We'll be right behind..."

After hearing the four tell me, sort of, what happened, I quickly jump back to my feet as Luna comes running outside, having heard the commotion. I ask Luna to keep an eye on everyone while I go after the thief, who I was quick to assume was that hooded girl that I had collided with. Suddenly, her attitude made way more sense here. Knowing that she already had a head start on me, I activate Sprint and follow after her in the direction she had been running.

As I raced closer and closer towards the south gate, I allowed my eyes to dart back and forth, keeping an eye open for the cloak the thief had been wearing. I doubted it would be hard to miss, seeing it was a deep blue color with gold cloud patterns etched into the fabric. As I ran, I couldn't help but feel I had eyes on me. As I drew close to the south gate, I decide to stop suddenly, no longer able to ignore the feeling I was being watched. As I look around, I hear the thief's voice calling out to me.

"Why are you stopping now, buddy? Don't you want to get these little baubles I took from your girlfriends back?"

I follow the sound of her voice, finally seeing her standing on top of a tall building as she pulls her hood off, revealing her childlike face to me. In addition to her youthful features, she had short red hair with it being white near the top. Through the gap in her cloak, I could see she had big boobs similar in size to Yunyun's and was wearing trousers with the legs having been cut off, giving her a short shorts look alongside rustic looking boots.

Despite the 'cute' factor she appeared to have, I couldn't help but feel aggravated by her for some reason.

"Buddy? Don't be going acting all friendly with me now, not after you stole some precious items from my friends just moments ago. Now, be a good little girl here and give me back the stuff you took my friends. If you do, then I'll let you walk away from this."

"Is that right? You'd just let me walk away if I return these without any fuss? Just like that."

She gives me a devious smile as she holds her hand out, expertly showing off both rings and the pendant she took from the girls. I nod at her, all the while preparing to unleash my new toy at her should she try to make a run for it.

"You know what, I think I'm gonna go ahead and keep these items here. I mean, it's not every day one finds themselves getting their hands on a ring that can boost one's magical attack power, another that cuts MP consumption considerably, and a pendant that can augment the healing powers a healer can work with. If only I could have stolen that curious choker that girl with a raccoon tail had. I mean, getting a glamor style charm as powerful as that one would... oops, maybe I shouldn't say more here. I doubt that one girl would be happy with spoiling her big secret ahead of time."

Eh? What is this girl here going on about? Is she talking about Lynn? Does Lynn have some big secret she hasn't told us... or anyone for that matter? Never mind that for now, I need to deal with this brat first and get the stuff she stole back. Once I've done that, then I'll find out what she's going on about.

"Sorry to break this news to you, but I'm afraid that's not going to happen here."

"Oh really? And how are you going to stop me, buddy. I happen to know for a fact you can't jump up this high on you own, not without a little magical aid that is. You could try to follow me from the ground, of course, but I doubt that's going to work out for you in the long run. Anyways, sorry to go bouncing on you like this, but I do have a busy day ahead of me here, so I'll be seeing you later."

She gives me a wave before turning and leaving my field of vision. Not wasting a second, I raise my right arm and take aim with the Sheng Biao prototype, aiming it as close to the roof of the building she was one before firing off the rope dart. Once it was secure, I use the emergency retract function to force myself up, off the ground, using the momentum to get myself quickly onto the roof. After a quick moment to free the blade from the wall of the building, I begin my pursuit.

It only takes me a few moments to spot my target, moving from one roof to another like the was just out for a stroll. Clearly, she thinking she was already in the clear and as such, was acting like she was taking a leisurely stroll around the block.

My first thought was to yell out at her, which I quickly decide was the stupid thing to do, throwing away my element of surprise her. My second idea was to surprise her by binding her using the rope dart; a good first test for that, I think. Instead, I decide to do something a bit eviler here when I notice the water buildup on the roofs, lingering from some rain we had the night before.

I position myself, take aim with my hand, and time it just right before silently firing off an intermediate level ice spell at the spot she was just about to step on. I smirk as I hear her yelp in surprise panic as her feet slip out from under her, sending her sliding towards the edge. Just as she begins to fall towards the ground, I reach her and grab hold of her hand, helping her back onto the ceiling.

"Thanks for the save, buddy. I can't believe I didn't notice that ice before stepping on it."

I wanted to tell he that I was the source of the ice she had slipped on, but I decide that maybe it would be better to stay quiet about that if she didn't already know, or at least suspect anything.

"By the way, how did you get up here so quickly?"

"Professional trade secret. Now, seeing as I did save you from having a rough landing, to say nothing of having some bumps and bruises, maybe a broken arm or leg here, would you be willing to return my friends stuff you took to me, and we can just forget the whole thing ever happened?"

I asked her as I stood up, holding my hand out to her to help her stand as well, which she accepts. She considers my request for a moment before punching me hard in the stomach while saying-

"Nope, but I do appreciate you saving me all the same. Also, sorry about this..."

She then knocks me back onto the ground before giving me a little nudge to send me sliding off the side. I just barely recover in time to grab on to the edge to save myself from falling. I look up at her, seeing her send me a mischievous grin in return.

For a moment, I fear that she would stomp on my fingers or just do something to send my falling on my way. She even appeared to consider it herself before saying-

"Naw, even I'm not that big of a bitch. Sorry to go leave you hanging here, buddy. But like I said before, I have places to be, people to meet... and 'borrow' from. Maybe if we ever meet again, I'll let you treat me to a nice dinner and a show here. Tootles!"

The girl then does a gracious bow before running off while laughing happily. OK, that tears it. This girl had invoked my wrath here. And there can be only ONE response I can give back to her.

I call upon my demi-mana and easily pull myself back up before roaring loudly, making the girl jump as she looks back at me, seeing me fast on her ass. She shrieks as she tries to speed herself up, not that it matters as I was quickly closing the distance thanks to the upgraded Sprint on her.

"Wait, just wait a minute here. Maybe I overreacted when I punched you in your stomach. I promise I'll reflect upon my actions... so will you please stop chasing me already, oldie."

My response was to unleash another battle cry which clearly scared her even more. The girl then pulls out a cord from somewhere, before turning back towards me and trying to hit me with a Bind. I smirk as I easily dodge her move by jumping over it, something she clearly hadn't expected.

She then jumps down, back onto street level and yells out to all the people presently out and about.

"Someone, anyone... I need help here. I'm being chased by some sex crazed sicko."

Oh, of course that would be something any girl who was in the wrong would say to the masses to get them on her side. Seriously, girls can complain all they want about how unfair the world is to them, yet it was so easy for them to get what they want and get away with anything so long as they can use such excuses. Is it any wonder I am an advocate for true gender equality here?

As I land on the ground, continuing the chase, I had expected to have a lot of the people present doing whatever they could to try and stop me here. Instead, they just simply looked at the two of us before going back to doing whatever it was, they had been doing before me and this brat came onto the scene.

Maybe they felt she was more suspicious, due to the cloak she was wearing, or maybe they believed we were just playing some weird game here. Either way, so long as no one tried to interfere with me getting to her, I really didn't care what the answer was.

"Geez, just what is wrong with you people. Won't anyone come to the aid of this poor a defenseless damsel here?"

I heard the girl cry out, again no one paying her any mind at all. Honestly, even I was taken aback by the response she was getting though the current situation only further proved my opinion of the people of Axel, that they were a bunch of assholes, was being proven more and more true here.

Maybe, before I ask Lia to uproot from Veridae and bring her little group here, I should consider just leaving Axel behind and start my own little village, where the people would actually be of good quality and a kind nature. I'll think about this more later. For now, time to bring this girl down.

"Looks like no one's coming to save you, brat. Guess that means you aren't getting saved here."

"Maybe not, but there's no way someone like you could ever succeed in bringing me down here. After all, I was trained by the best in the business. I would tell you his name, but you'd never believe me."

I can't bring you down, huh? We'll see about that. What do you think of this little maneuver, brat. I take aim with the Sheng Biao and fire the rope dart out at her. She jumps as the rope goes sailing past her, making her stop and look back at me while saying.

"Anyone ever tell you that your aim sucks, buddy?"

"BIND!"

Immediately, the girl finds herself being restricted by my rope dart, making her yelp in shock before she tries to free herself by shouting out Unbind, though this ends up failing, leaving her to struggle so much that she ends up falling onto the ground.

"I can't believe it, I... why didn't my Unbind skill work here?"

"Because you can only use Unbind to undo a Bind that you yourself created, not the Bind made by others unless you can match up the frequency your mana works at to match the frequency of the mana within the Bind that holds you. Didn't this teacher of yours teach you about that?"

The girl growls at me for a moment before turning her head away defiantly. This girl... I feel sorry for whoever associates with her on the regular. Anyways, what should I do now? Wait, I know. Heh-heh, I guess this will be a good time to test out the new skill I created for Chris on this one.

"Brain Freeze!"

=============================={Part 3: Ran}==============================

With her momentarily incapacitated, I release her from the Bind, then use some wires to bind her wrist and ankles together before padding her over, quickly finding the stolen items she had taken which makes her really go off about me being a pervert for 'feeling her up' after her mind recovered from the 'freeze' I unleashed upon her.

Once I made sure the items were secure, I pick the thief up and sling her over my shoulder before heading back in the direction of the guild. This brat doesn't make the trip back any easier for me, not that I needed to make the full trip as the girls met me midway.

"Kazuma, you did it. You captured that little sneak thief."

said Lynn as I came to a stop and plopped her down onto the ground, perhaps a little harder than I should have here. But, between me and myself here, I have a feeling she the type who likes it rough, not that such a fact would be obvious as she immediately starts complaining about my treatment just now.

We all ignore her though as I pull the two rings and the pendant out and return them to Megumin, Yunyun, and Cielo along with telling them to not lose them again. As those three put their stolen items back on, I look at Lynn and ask if anything had been taken from her I had failed to notice in my search.

"Luckily no, not that she didn't try to take my special choker here. A special memento from my late mother, this is. So glad there's an anti-theft enchantment on this thing, otherwise... actually, just forget I said anything here. She couldn't steal it from me which is enough."

I didn't fail to notice how Lynn became rather evasive there suddenly. I then recall that this thief had said something about Lynn's choker before, but my mind was having trouble recalling at the moment. If I can remember the details later, I'll have a private talk with Lynn about it after.

"OK before we decide what to do with this brat here, does anyone want to tell me how she even got the jump on you all to begin with. I mean sure, I could see her catching you of you off guard, maybe two of you. But all four of you? She's got some talent; I'll give her that but not THAT much talent."

The bound girl sticks her tongue out at me at my insinuation of her not being skilled enough to have accomplished such a feat. Yunyun then speaks up, telling me what happened that led them to all being tied up with three of them having been theft victims.

In a nutshell, as they had approached the guild, they had found her sitting on a nearby bench, seemingly crying. Naturally, they had gone over to check on her and ask her what was wrong. She had told them that she had lost sight of her father and, seeing as this was her first time in Axel, she didn't know where to go or look to for help. Cielo asked her about what her father looked like and his name. Her response-

"His name... it's Satou Kazuma of course."

This had understandably caught the girls off guard, just long enough for the thief to hit Cielo and Lynn with a Bind, then she was on her feet with surprising speed while sweeping the legs out from under Yunyun and hitting her with a Bind before she could even hit the ground. With only Megumin left and seeing as Megumin wasn't a melee fighter, getting her caught up in a Bind wasn't especially hard.

Once she had finished, she used Steal on the four of them before doing a quick bit of smack talking and then making a run for it. Once Yunyun had finished explaining everything, I rub my temples here in exasperation while mumbling something about this feeling 'a little too similar to the incident with that Tranquility Girl from a few weeks back.'

"Are you saying we should just ignore someone who's looking down on their luck, Kazuma?"

asked Cielo, making me shake my head in response before saying-

"Not at all. But if she was wearing her cloak, where she could keep her hands concealed while having her hood up all the while, wouldn't it make sense to have some degree of a guard up when first dealing with her? After all, we do live in a world where stealing from the unsuspecting is rather easy. And besides, didn't any of you think it strange for a girl with a body like her's to be putting on an act befitting a child here? Even what she said to you, if accurate, was enough to be suspect if you want my opinion."

Hearing that makes the girls look away sheepishly. Clearly, they didn't even think of that part here. Meanwhile, the thief looked like she was really getting impatient here.

"Hey, how much longer do you plan on playing this bondage game with me here, huh? Just so you know, I'm not interested in that sort of thing. This is more of my aunt's style of play. Anyways, I'm sorry I stole those items from you earlier. If you let me go, I promise I won't do it again. I'll stick to robbing the rich bastard's dad always told me to focus on."

"Which means Kazuma's still screwed hereOWW!"

I smack Megumin upside the back of her head, making say she was only joking about that. Sure you were, legal dwarf. Just wait till we get back home. I'll show how much of a...

"What SHOULD we do with her, Kazuma? Go ahead and take her down to the Knight Guard Station?"

While I think about Cielo's question, Megumin gives the girl a little look over before saying-

"If you want my opinion here, maybe we she should hand her over to the fashion police instead. I don't know who you are here, thief..."

"Just call me Ran. Everyone else in my life does."

"OK, well anyways... Ran. Just what's with that outfit of yours? I mean, your left breast is pretty much bear with only the button on your trousers covering your nipple up. And those shorts of yours, riding up that much into your butt like they are. I can't believe any girl would want to be as showy as you are right now."

{Insert Image 2}

"I know-I know. I hate this look I'm sporting now too. All because I lost a bet with my damn 'sister' earlier. Seriously, considering who her mother is, you'd think she would have as much shitty luck as her mom does and yet, she clear got her luck from dad when she was conceived... if you can call it that."

We all look at each other, then back at the girl who said her name was Ran. I then ask her-

"Assuming we do let you go here, how do we know you won't go pulling anything funny on us again?"

"What, is my word not good enough for you? If it makes you feel better, I had planned on giving the stuff I stole back, after I had made use of it to help me deal with achieving a certain goal I have here in Axel. I was also curious to see if you all were as good as I heard you all to be. Such a disappointment if you want my opinion, you four were... actually, maybe it's because I showed up a little too early for you all to be at your best?"

"And what do you mean by that?"

asked Yunyun, though Ran doesn't bother to elaborate. Cielo asks me what I was going to do here and, after giving it a moment's thought, I do something I know was stupid yet for some reason, it also felt right. I move around behind her, and use Unbind to free her wrist and ankles.

"Kazuma... are you sure about this?"

asked Lynn as Ran rubs her ankles before getting up and rubbing her wrist while her face hangs low, her eyes hard to see. I give them a confident smile before turning to Ran and placing a hand on her shoulder. She was clearly upset about having been shown pity here so, to make her feel a little better, I say to her-

"You know, you do have a lot of talent. If you are willing, I can introduce you to a master thief I know who can help you smooth out those rough edges of yours. So, does that sound like something you'd be interested in?"

"... gomennasai kochira wa, otosan..."

Wait, what did she just says? She just spoke Japanese just now. Does that mean she's also...

Before I could say anything, she suddenly brings her head up, slamming her forehead against my nose with enough force to draw blood. She then goes below the belt, literally, by sending her knee slamming hard into my groin while pressing a hand against my broken nose for a second.

As I crumble down onto the ground and the girls seem to take an eternity to do anything here, Ran quickly moves away, easily jumping onto the roof of a nearby building before looking back down at us and saying-

"So sorry about that, buddy. While your offer was an enticing one, to be sure. I'm afraid I'm already a master thief. My dad trained me well. Gotta say, you at least showed me something interesting this day. If we should ever meet again, let's hang out and chew the fat together. I'll even let you treat me to drink, Satou Kazuma."

She then gives us a big smile while waving before running off with laughter filling the air. Lynn then looks to the others, asking-

"So, should we go after her?"

"We'll deal with her another time, should we ever cross paths again. I'll definitely explode her when that day comes."

"For now, let's just focus on Kazuma here. I'll start healing you right away."

"Kazuma, are you feeling OK?"

No Yunyun, I'm not feeling OK. I may have a broken nose and the family jewels just got destroyed here. How would any guy be OK after suffering that combination? And that girl, when I see her again, I'll... Well, one thing is for sure, I'm never going to let anyone off easy should this ever happen again.

"Cielo? Cielo, we need your help."

Comes a voice, making everyone turn their heads to see a girl dressed in the priestess robes of the Eris faith running towards us. Why did I have the feeling we were about to go from one annoyance to another here?

========================={Part 4: The Crypt's Keeper}=========================

Mother Clerica was waiting for us within the main hall of the cathedral, moving swiftly to greet us the very moment we stepped inside. Still in the dark as to why we have been summoned, Clerica wasted little time with her explanation of that reason while leading us further into the cathedral.

"Earlier this morning, one of our more recent recruits made an... unexpected discovery while doing some cleaning within the holy library, where all the most precious texts collected in both books and scroll form, are stored."

"And that is?"

asked Cielo, not getting an immediate reply from Clerica. It wasn't until we had reached the entrance to the holy library, taking note of the cathedral guards positioned right outside the door, that it really became clear that whatever this was about, it was something potentially serious here. And once we stepped into the room beyond, we finally understood what was going on, or at least had a better idea.

One of the many shelves in the room, along the far back wall, had opened outward, revealing a secret door that led who knows where. Once mother Clerica had made sure the door into the holy library was both closed and securely locked, did she finally decide to explain the rest to us.

"As you can see, we have discovered this secret passage. One we had no knowledge of ever having existed before until now. Obviously, until we have a better idea of what lies further within, I have decided to keep its existence secret. Only a select few have been permitted knowing thus far."

"Like us? No offense, by why call us over for this. Wouldn't this be the sort of thing the cathedral guards would be expected to look into?"

asked Lynn, her question being a fair one.

"Under normal conditions, yes. I would send down a few cathedral guards to look around. In fact, I did just that. But no sooner had they stepped into the dark had they come running back, claiming a feeling like their minds had been invaded by phantasms. Obviously, they refused to 'man' up and make another go of it. And after hearing what happened, none of the other guards have the balls to go down there now either."

"And so, you naturally come calling on us to do what your big babies in their fancy-shmancy armor can't do, am I right?"

I asked, earning confirmation from Clerica before she bows low in apology to us. Cielo walks over, telling her not to worry about it while Yunyun ask-

"You want us to go down there? I guess we can do that, but Megumin..."

"I'll go. There's no way I'm being left out, even if I will be useless down there. Question, Clerica. Is there any reward coming our way for doing this potentially dangerous task here? I mean, this technically is a quest after all, and quest do offer rewards for services rendered."

Cielo yelps at hearing Megumin say that, but Clerica simply smiles at her, saying that seeing as this place we were entering technically wasn't part of the Erisia Cathedral and, by extension, the Eris faith, we would be free to keep any treasure we may find while down there.

Once she had recovered, Cielo looks to Clerica and asks-

"So, what's our mission down there, exactly, mother Clerica?"

"Exploration, mostly. See what it is you can see, what you can find. Determine if whatever it is this passageway leads to is indeed some kind of lost part to the cathedral or if it is related to something that predates the cathedrals existence. But don't take any risk either. Come back if things become too hairy. Know that all I really want to know is if we should seal this passage up or not, if keeping its existence a secret in necessary here or not."

We nod before turning our attention back towards the passageway. With glow manatite in hand, held atop stave's that made them look like torches, we ventured into the dark and within a moments time, found ourselves descending down a long stairway path, soon emerging into a room that would be pitch black, if not for the glow manatite doing their job.

Already, the light coming from the opened secret door could no longer be seen, or maybe mother Clerica had decided to play it safe and close it behind us? Either way, we took a few moments to look around, getting a general idea of what this place was based on what we were seeing.

"This looks like some sort of ancient crypt."

said Yunyun as we all spread out a little bit to examine the large stone sarcophagi present within the room. As I examined one, with Megumin sticking close to my side, I caught her shiver ever so slightly from the corner of my eye followed by her saying-

"It's cold down here... and a little bit spooky too."

"Yeah, that's what one should expect when walking around inside a crypt. Ugh, I can't believe I've found myself once again inside a place like this."

"What's wrong Kazuma? Don't tell me you're scared of running into a few zombies now, are you?"

Lynn could joke all she wanted, but I had good reason to be nervous here.

"That's right, laugh all you want, funny girl. But unless YOU'VE been inside a crypt before, I would advise you to keep your humor to a minimum here. I say this because I have been inside a crypt before, twice actually. The first time, I nearly got... something by Entropy in our first meeting, which was quickly followed by me and Chris having to run for our lives as a tidal wave of undead was right on our heels. And the second saw me becoming a plaything, sort of, to Vanir. So yeah, really don't want to find out what awaits me on crypt trip number three if I can avoid it."

"Hearing you say that makes me not want to even risk the first time. If it wasn't for the fact mother Clerica herself asked us to do this, I'd probably already be suggesting we turn around and head back."

said Cielo, getting a nod from me, Megumin, and even Lynn. A moment later-

"Hey, everyone... look at this."

We joined Yunyun as she brushed a ton of cobwebs and dust off of one of the stone tombs, revealing to us a strange looking symbol that resembled a tear with four points sticking out of the bubble, being sliced in half by what looked like a scythe. Yunyun then looks to the rest of us while asking-

"Has anyone seen a symbol like this one before? I know this isn't one that's familiar to me."

Megumin also agreed to that assessment as did Cielo who was quick to hand her manatite torch to Yunyun so she could then pull out a paper and started copying the symbol's design onto it. I obviously hadn't seen such a symbol before but as I looked at Lynn, I quickly took notice of something curious.

"Lynn?"

"Hm? Oh sorry, I guess I was lost in thought there for a moment."

"Have you seen this symbol somewhere before, Lynn?"

asked Megumin, getting a negative from Lynn in response who then says-

"Off the top of my head, I will say no to having seen this symbol... and yet, there is something about it that does feel familiar. I know I've never seen it before but something about the design does feel familiar to me. What was it..."

I keep my eyes on Lynn for a moment longer before scanning to room, noticing the hallway that led deeper into this mystery crypt. I then turn back to the others and say-

"So, does anyone feel like going deeper or should we head back and see if Clerica has any idea about what this symbol means? Maybe even call it a day here?"

The girls look at each other for a moment, then nod before looking back at me with Megumin speaking for them by saying-

"Let's go a little further. See if there's anything else we can find here."

They then begin to walk towards the hallway and as I go to follow, I quickly take notice of the way they were walking, making me call for them to stop. They do while looking back at me as I go ahead and tell them why I made them stop.

"Before we go any further, I should probably give you four a little mana to help make up for what that Ran girl took from you all earlier."

"There's no need for that, Kazuma. We're fine here..."

I stop Cielo mid-sentence by pointing out-

"No, I don't think you four are here. Even with such limited lighting, I can tell you all are walking a little unevenly there. Even if you guys are doing well enough with just walking, can you really tell me with confidence here that if we run into any undead, that you'll be up for either a fight or a run?"

My question got the girls thinking. Yunyun says after a moment-

"Maybe it would be a good idea if we let Kazuma give us a little bit more mana here. I can tell with what I have now, I'd probably only be able to do a couple of intermediate level spells before being unable to move."

"Yeah, I might be able to exorcise a couple of undead. But if we get swarmed, then we'll definitely be in trouble here."

Megumin and Lynn nod in agreement before they all extend their hands outward, making me hold my left arm out for them to grab onto as powering them up all at once would help make things go by quicker. Just as I was about to begin, I notice Lynn smirk at me before saying-

"Out of curiosity, Kazuma. When you took notice of the funny way we were walking, was it because of actually concern for our wellbeing, or were you just taking a moment to check out our butts here?"

Damn it, Lynn. You just had to go say that didn't you? Now I can't get the image of their butts moving back and forth as they walked out of my head. Surprisingly, the others didn't reproach me over the possibility of doing that, instead they just blushed while looking away shyly.

Guess that means they would be OK with me doing that intentionally. Good to know for the future, I guess. Anyways, my feeding Megumin and Yunyun mana was having the expected reactions, them trying and failing at showing they were really enjoying it.

What I hadn't suspected was the reactions Cielo and Lynn were having. I could just barely make out the sight of Cielo biting down on her lip while her free hand was clenched shut tightly. Not sure if that meant she was enjoying it too or if she actually hated it but was just enduring it out of necessity. I'll need to ask her about it later.

Now Lynn, on the other hand, seemed to be getting even more off on this than Megumin and Yunyun. Was it because of her natural beast-man blood here? I couldn't be sure of anything, but I do know one thing. She was looking at me with almost feral, lust-filled eyes while also mumbling out-

"... if only I could take in his scent too right now..."

Yep, definitely will need to watch out for her from now on. Wonder if Megumin took noticed of that... speaking of, I'm surprised Megumin's allowing me to even do this with all four of them at once. I mean, she's never been one to share this experience with other outside of extreme emergencies and to be honest, this wasn't one of those. Expect her to say something about this later, either to me or the others.

Anyways, once I had finished, possibly them as well, we continued deeper into the mystery crypt. On and on and on we went, always moving forward from one room to another. We walked so long that it felt like we had been in here for an eternity. Luckily, it had all been a straight line, more or less. A few side rooms here and there, but nothing branching that could see use becoming turned around and lost down here. And soon, we reached what must have been the final main chamber.

"Doesn't anyone think it strange?"

asked Yunyun suddenly, making us stop with Megumin asking her what she meant.

"I mean does anything think it weird that we've been down here all this time, in a crypt, and we have yet to have any encounters with the undead? Isn't it normal for such things to happen rather commonly in places like this?"

"Yunyun does have a point. You'd would think there would have been at least one run-in with the dead down here. Don't tell me all the undead are dead already?"

"Well, yeah Megumin. The undead are dead already, that's what being undead kinda means."

"Shut up, Kazuma. You know what I meant there."

"Have you considered yelling louder, you two? I'm sure the zombies will hear you then and coming running our way then."

"Shut up, Lynn!" (x2)

A sudden blast of ice-cold aura suddenly fills the room, making us all become dead silent. Damn it, seriously. Every fucking time here, at least one person has to go say something or do something to raise a flag which in turns trigger trouble. Can't we have a normal day, a normal quest, that's just dull and boring here? I'm not asking for much Eris, just one boring and uneventful quest is all I need.

"Be careful, everyone. We are definitely NOT alone down here now."

said Cielo, already sliding her Blast Gloves on. Yunyun and Lynn also ready themselves by preparing spells to unleash. I draw Chunchunmaru and ready it for battle while Megumin, not really having anything useful she can do down here, simply moves to hide behind me like a shield.

We wait, and wait and wait, until a hooded figure slowly emerges from one of the side halls, then comes to stops as they raise their head upwards to look at us with glowing eyes of jade. And then...

"Well, cheers and salutations, friends. It's so nice to finally have myself some visitors down in these lonely tombs. So, would anyone care for a bite to eat here?"

We all face-palm into the cold stone floor at this unexpected and sudden turn of events. Before us wasn't just any usual undead, but a Lich. And a rather friendly one at that, it seems. Once we had recovered, he motioned for us to join him and, with nothing better to do, we took him up on his offer.

His little room was surprisingly spacious, with a crap ton of treasure all laying off to one side. The seemingly nice Lich takes a seat, positioned beside a wooden coffin. After a moment, he gives us a big boney smile before finally saying-

"Sorry if I surprised and scared you just a moment ago. Like I said, it has been a long time since I had any company down here and I was really desperate to have someone to talk to. Ah, where are my manners here. I should introduce myself. My name is Keele; Archwizard Keele, at your service."

"Keele, you mean THE Archwizard Keele, the same one who challenged the entire royal army over a single girl? That Keele?"

said a surprised and shocked Cielo, getting a nod from the Lich who gave us a kind smile. I turn to look at the others, asking them if they could fill me in on the story, something which surprised them before the remembered that I wasn't exactly a local, of either the kingdom nor even the continent. Yunyun then says to me-

"Keele is famous, said to have been one of the greatest Archwizard's in the history of the world, if not the greatest. The legends that surround him say how he betrayed the kingdom and stole away the king's favorite wife all for his selfish desires."

"Who cares about all that rubbish. The best part is how he was able to lay wasted to tens of thousands of the royal army within a single day. No matter what was tried, there were none who was able to best him in battle. His tale is one all Crimson Demons look to with awe and inspiration, hoping that we ourselves can one day claim such accolade to our names."

adds Megumin, getting Keele to laugh happily at what he had heard. Once our attentions were on him again, and he had finished his hearty laugh, he makes a motion to wipe the tears from his eyes, not that he still had eyes nor was he capable of tearing up.

"Ah, so that's how history remembers it. I've always wondered how those blue bloods would spin the story of my life. Quite amusing, I must say."

"So, it was all a lie then? I've personally always had a feeling as whenever I was told the tale, something did feel rather off. I mean, why would the greatest mage in the kingdom's history suddenly go rogue like that? Especially when he could have had anything he ever asked for too."

said Lynn, getting an agreeing nod from the others who clearly hadn't even considered that detail in the story till Lynn had pointed it out. Keele's response was to bring a boney hand up to rub his chin, chuckling before asking us if we would like to hear HIS version of events. We said yes and so, he began his tale.

"I started out as a young servant boy to a powerful noble family, one with strong ties to the king. One day, quite by accident, I discovered I had an affinity for magic. Long story short, I was sent away to a magical academy where I become number one easily. Because of this, I was made an honorary member of the noble family I had once served."

"It was also during this time that it became known to my... master... father... whatever. He found out me and his daughter were very close with one another. He asked me what my intentions with her were and I confessed I loved her and wish to one day take her as my wife, something I know she also wished for. Because of that, he told me to go out into the world and make a name for myself. If I could earn my place with the history of the kingdom, he would consent to our union."

"And so that's exactly what I did, became famous. More so that what anyone could have ever imagined. And I did it all in record time too. And then, on the eve of my meeting with the king at the time, I made a return trip to my old home to see my beloved again, and to tell her the wait would soon be over. Instead, I learned that during those few years I was away, she was given to the king, to become one of his many concubines. He had never planned on honoring our agreement at all, instead gifting her out as a means to increase the family's position within the nobility."

"And so, once I met with the king, who was a right ass of a man... on a side note, I am so glad his far kinder and more honorable brother ousted him a few years later and became king. Where was I? Oh yeah, when I met the king and was told I could have any one thing I wanted, I chose my beloved. Naturally, the king didn't take to kindly to my request. Probably because he hadn't gotten around to 'knowing' her yet, if you catch my meaning there."

"They tried to have me exiled, which worked... to be fair. But not before I reached my beloved and escaped with her. We spent the rest of our lives on the run, I even performed a dark ritual to curse myself into being a Lich for the added power. But, despite all that, we had fun each and every day and really, isn't that what life is all about?"

"Ah, that's so romantic!"

said both Yunyun and Lynn, stars sparkling in their eyes. Megumin made gagging noises though she was clearly faking it, all for the sake of keeping up appearances. She probably didn't think I noticed it, but I did see her sending quick glances my way, and I'm pretty sure she had a blush on her cheeks as well here too. Cielo then steps forward, coming to a stop before the coffin Keele was sitting by.

"I take it her remains are in here?"

Keele nods, making Cielo turn her attention back to the coffin as she brings her hands up to hover over the coffin, a soft light being emitted from her.

"Even though she has long passed, I can still sense great joy and happiness coming from her remains. I have no doubt she lived a content life, thanks to you."

"Hearing that makes me happy to here. Now then, am I right to assume that you have priestess like powers?"

Cielo nods.

"Then I have a request of you, if I may. Would you do me the honor of helping me on my way her, miss. I have been down here a long time, waiting for the day this vessel of mine would finally come to an end and I could be free to go join my beloved within the great beyond. However, for reasons I don't understand, I can't seem to leave this place and seek out help from above."

"Sure, I don't mind helping you out. But before I do that, is there any chance you may know what this symbol means? We've seen it plastered all over this crypt but none of us have any ideas as to what it means."

Cielo pulls out her drawing of the symbol and after a moment of looking at it, Keele has a 'eureka' moment.

"Oh yeah, that. Why that's the old symbol used by the death cult. The one that worship the fallen goddess, Regina.

"Wait, you mean this place has a connection to THAT Regina, the goddess of vengeance?"

shouted Lynn, getting a nod from Keele who then stands up and has us join him as he walks out of the room, explaining more as he goes.

"Yeah, caught me by surprise too when I came to hide out here. This place must have been one of that cults sacred places, if not THE sacred place to them. Not the kind of place I would choose to come hide out in, but it was an effective option seeing as no sane person would ever willing come in here."

After entering another room, he moves over to the far wall and turns the Regina symbol one full counterclockwise motion, making another passage open up that led deeper into the darkness. He then looks back at us and says-

"Once, as way to pass the time down here after my beloved had passed on, I discovered this little secret quite by accident. Being the curious guy that I am, I tried to go down deeper to see what else this place has to offer, but I never made it to the bottom. As I'm sure you all can feel it from here too, there's something down there. Something truly dark, something sleeping that must never be awakened. Even with my power, I was to afraid so I turned back, closed the passage, and never tried going in there again."

Keele was right about that. There was something down there that felt... wrong, wrong and evil. So much so that even my inner Lich felt like it was becoming agitated. I could also feel that wisp of Entropy within my inner Lich, but it was giving off a feeling of curiosity here, one I had no intention of indulging anytime soon. Once Keele had closed the passageway, he gives as as serious a look as he could, having a skull for a head and all, and tells us-

"Once you get back to the surface, make sure you seal this crypt off. Maybe even warn people to never again come down here. We may not know what it is that's down there, but it's enough to know that no good could ever come of it."

We all nod before returning to the room Keele's lover rested. Once he was sitting again, Cielo began to chant her spell while Keele then points off to the side, at the mountain of treasure scattered on the floor, alongside several chest, and says-

"Once I'm out of here, feel free to help yourselves to our stuff there. Seeing as I can't take it with me here, I want to at least see it not remain trapped down here to rot. Also, this book here on the table tells my version of the tale. If at all possible, see if you can share my side of the story to the world."

We nod as Lynn walks over and collected the book herself, safely putting it into her adventurer's pouch. Keele, as his body begins to glow, turns his attention suddenly to me as I hear his voice within my mind.

"Before I go, one last thing. I can sense that like me, you too have within you the curse of the Lich."

Yeah, that's right. But how did you know that?

"It's not as hard as you would think. I can also tell there is something... different about it as well, when compared to my curse."

You could say that. Tell me, how were you able to remain you here, Keele? How did you avoid becoming a monster because of that curse?

"Perhaps it's because I chose to take it on willingly? No, there's more to it than that. I could say something rather cliché and say it was all about the power of friendship, but that alone wouldn't be enough. No, for something like this, you will need something far more potent that just friendship alone here."

And what would that be?

"What else but love. Heh, I know that too is rather cliché but, in my case, it was my love for her and hers for me that helped me find the strength to overcome the Lich, to maintain my sense of self. That too is the answer you must understand as well. Trust in love, the love you feel for these girls, the love they in turn have for you. So long as that love remains true, and you also remember to love yourself as well, then even the will of the Lich will never be able to break your spirit. You will be the master."

I need to trust in my love for them and theirs for me... to love myself as well.

Can I really do that?

"Yes, I believe you can. Because you have something even I didn't back then and that is..."

"Finally, I can see you again, my beloved Rucia..."

And with that, Keele was gone from this world. Damn it, while I'm glad he'll finally be able to see his girl again, couldn't he have held on just a few more moments, long enough to finish his sentence. Now that curiosity is going to bug me for days to come here.

============================{Part 5: Thriller}============================

"Hey, check it out, Megumin. These scrolls have some interesting suggestions on how one could focus their magical energies which will allow them to make their spells stronger while reducing the amount of mana needed to cast them with."

"Put those somewhere safe then, Yunyun. We'll read over them later and see what we can take from that information. Anyways, check this out. This tome speaks of the lost magicks of the ancient race that one called these lands their home. I think they were called the Faea...HEY, LYNN?"

"I'll take that, thank you very much. A treasure such as that shouldn't be left in the hands of one who would treat it so roughly."

"Don't speak as if I'm some kind of enraged beast here. Even I wouldn't be so careless with such a find as that. Now give it back!"

"I refuse."

"Megumin.. Lynn... please don't start fight right now. I'd rather we finish collecting everything quickly before and leave this creepy place."

Yunyun's pleas fall onto deaf ears as Megumin and Lynn continue fighting over that curious book, making me sigh. I then turn to look at Cielo, see she at least was behaving herself here.

"Hm, what's this? The Chronicles of the Origin of the Eris Faith. Wait, this is a really old copy, written in the old tongue. Incredible, I heard all the elder scripts had been lost to history. Wait till I show mother Clerica this. It could change everything for the Eris faith forever..."

Well, she seemed rather happy here. Anyways, I better get back to poking around myself. See if I can find anything I'd like to keep here. I'll start with looking inside this chest... oh, what's this? A letter? It says 'all the items me and Rucia found when traveling around on the run.' OK, what do we have here then. Old, yet fancy looking sword, a curious map, and... OH, hello there.

I pull out the stylish looking red leather jacket from the chest. Despite how long it must have been stored inside, it didn't have any trace of dust or wear on it. In fact, it looked totally brand new. After taking a few moments to admire it, I slip it on and find it to be a perfect fit. And then, a strange feeling comes over me. For some weird reason, I felt like...

"Kazuma? What did you just put on?"

asked Cielo, making the others turn their attentions towards me. I then stand, letting them see my new jacket in full, which makes Lynn give off an impressed whistle. Megumin was quick to say-

"That jacket looks so cool, Kazuma. Once again, you've shown yourself to have the heart of a Crimson Demon with your sense of taste. Can... I have it, or at least try it on for a bit?"

"NO!"

After rejecting Megumin's request, I turn back and pull the remaining items from the chest and store them inside my adventurer's pouch. Not long after, once we had finished looting everything within the room, we began to make our way back towards the entrance to the crypt.

"Say, does anyone think it weird how we haven't had a single encounter with any undead since coming down here? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. But as creepy as this place is, you'd think we would have had at least one unwanted interaction."

Yunyun's question was understandable, and it did make the rest of us think. Honestly, we should have had some kind of undead run-in while down here, yet we haven't. Had Keele dealt with them all himself, long before we came down his way? Cielo speaks up, giving us an answer to that question.

"None of the bodies resting down here still have lingering souls within them. Not many know this, but the undead can only functions under two strict conditions. One, the chains of mortality which are meant to break upon death so the soul could pass on to the here-after, must not have fully broken thus the trapped soul seeks someone to help finish freeing them, or wait uncountable years for the remaining links to finally break from decay."

"The other is the use of necromancy, or some forbidden magic tool that can give motion to a corpse that's soul has long since passed on. In the first case, the undead means no real harm as it just wants to be free. But the other... yeah, that's when you need to be careful of having a run-in with the undead."

In other words, we should be good here. Have ourselves a nice, quiet, and relaxing trip back outsi-Thriller... eh? What the heck was that. Wait, what is this? Something... something is coming into my mind, trying to make me... do something here. I... I... I need too...

I guess I must have stopped walking as the girls had come to a stop as well, and were now looking back at me, a mixture of confusion and concern on their faces. I then hear Megumin say my name in a worried tone and in response, I find my body beginning to move strangely and when I opened my mouth, I sang out-

"It's close to midnight

Something evil's lurkin' in the dark

Under the moonlight

You see a sight that almost stops your heart"

I then begin to dance around the girls, making strange moves as I do so. I clap my hands, I spin around, I do something like a strut while leaning back just a little.

"You try to scream

but terror takes the sound before you make it

You start to freeze

as horror looks you right between the eyes

You're paralyzed"

I had half expected to see them go into a panic at what my body was doing here, saying here, beyond my control. And I'm sure they would have, if not for the fact that as this song and dance I was doing continued, their bodies began moving to the sound of the beat that was now playing loudly inside my mind, going into synch with my own. Just what the hell was going on here?

"You hear the door slam

and realize there's nowhere left to run

You feel the cold hand

and wonder if you'll ever see the sun."

It was the jacket. It had to be the doing of this damn cursed, yet still very stylish and cool looking jacket I was wearing. Seeing as it didn't look anything like the garments this world had to offer, from what I had seen thus far, it had to be some kind of Divine Relic. I was sure of it. By now, the dancing was becoming even more elaborate and the girls, suddenly began to sing along as well, somehow knowing the words despite the fact they shouldn't know the song. Speaking of which, it was starting to sound familiar somehow. In the back of my mind, I know I've heard it before somewhere.

"You close your eyes

and hope that this is just imagination, girl

But all the while

you hear a creature creepin' up behind

You're outta time."

Just when I thought things couldn't get more bizarre here, suddenly all the stone sarcophagi open up and all the corpses from all over emerged and approached us. But instead of attacking us, they just joined in as we continued doing this crazy performance for no one but ourselves here.

"Cause this is thriller.

thriller night

And no one's gonna save you

from the beast about to strike."

"You know it's thriller,

thriller night

You're fighting for your life

inside a killer, thriller tonight."

{Insert Image 3}

Oh, of course. It all makes sense now. Whoever this jacket originally belonged to must have been a big Michael Jackson fan. Furthermore, he must have really loved the song Thriller. So much so that he had a custom Divine Relic made for him before coming here to... do something. I'll have to find out once I pass this along to Chris when I see her again. But for now, there was something else I really wanted to do.

I want to really go back to Veridae and give Aqua a serious scolding over sending dumb asses to this world. Hell, I thought that old fart who recreated the Divine Beast of Hyrule and fucked up the minds of the poor Crimson Demons had a screwed-up brain, but now the person this jacket belonged to as well?

Yes, I definitely need to file a complaint here. And I'll do just that, once I figure out how to get us out of this one. Question is, exactly what is it can I do here to save us? And worst case scenario, if I can't then how long this go on for?

(X amount of time later)

The five of us FINALLY emerged back into the Erisia Cathedral from the under crypt, looking all weary and haggard I'm sure. Clerica, upon seeing us, let out a gasp before approaching us in a panic, asking what had happened to us down there.

"Don't ask, just... please don't ask right now..."

We all cried out, not wanting to think about it even a little. Cielo tells Clerica she'll come around in the morning and explain everything but for now, we just wanted to head home and soak in the bathe and forget this damn day had ever even happened. Cielo also told Clerica to seal off the passage and never speak of its existence again.

Once we got outside, a new sight made us all groan out loud even more. The sky had changed to an orange hue color, signifying one thing. We had gone down into the crypt before it was even lunch time and were coming out of the cathedral at dusk. Factoring in the time spent with Keele, I hazard a guess that we may have been doing the Thriller for at least four to five hours non-stop and we only became free thanks to Megumin tripping up Yunyun by accident and Yunyun falling into Cielo which broke her free long enough to use a little holy spell to cancel out the effects of the jacket, if only for a few moments.

Of course, I had quickly taken it off only to sling it over my shoulders. Everyone wanted me to just drop it but I insisted we take it with us so it could be passed onto Chris so that she, in turn, could see it returned to Eris where it belonged. Speaking of which...

"OK you guys. I'm going to use Teleport to send you all back to the mansion while I go deal with this damn thing here. I'll come back as soon as I've stored it safely away where no one can find it."

The girls, as tired as they looked, didn't offer any arguments as activated my teleport spell, sending them home. I then focused on Empyria...

(present)

"And you can figure out the rest. So yeah, me and the girls had ourselves one... interesting day here. Yeah, just another day in Axel for us."

"Sounds like your day sucked, if you ask me. Is every day you spend in Axel, if not every day in general, always something like that?"

"Not every day, just... the most of them."

Geez, now that I think about it. Have we ever had a 'normal' day anywhere? I honestly can't think of one that would qualify as normal at the moment. Oh god, I'm so depressed now.

"By the way. Is everything you told me REALLY how it all went down. Forgive me here, but I can't help you... embellished and exaggerated some of the details in your story."

"Ah... well, I might have made a tweak here and there, in order to make the narrative a little more interesting and less... embarrassing. But yeah, that's pretty much how it played out. Anyways, I've been gone long enough. I better get back before the girls start to worry about me here."

I begin to prepare my teleport when a thought comes over me.

"By the way, Eyeball. Which of these would you say is the strongest metal in the world. Mithril, Orichalcum, or Adamantine?"

"None of them. The strongest known metal is Divinium. Same metal used in the construction of those Divine Relics. Sadly, natural divinium doesn't exist down here in the mortal realm naturally. However, by combining the three metals you mentioned together in just the right way, it's possible to create Faux-Divinium. While not as strong as actual divinium, it's still superior to every other known metal by a wide margin."

"Really, that's awesome. Say, you wouldn't know how to make it by any chance, would you?"

"Who do you think I am? Of course I do. In fact, the four Divine Beast are made from Faux-Divinium, I'll have you know. Just give me the amount you'll need made and I can have it taken care of in two shakes of a lambs tail... assuming the amount is small that is."

"Good to know. Once I can determine the actual amount, I'll swing back around and tell you how much I'm going to need."

With this nigh perfect metal, I could make both the final version of the Sheng Biao and my new bow as perfect as I could hope they'd be. Maybe even make stuff for the girls to use too. With that, I say my goodbye to Eyeball again before heading back to the mansion, and a nice, long, hot bathe.

======================={Part 6: Drunk on Crimson Desire}=======================

Once I found myself standing outside the mansion, I allowed myself a moment to look upon it again. Yep, there was definitely no doubt in my mind here; I was never going to get use to how it all looked now. I mean...

"It's creepy and its kooky, mysterious and spooky, and all together ookie, the Addams Family!"

I then subconsciously snap my fingers before my brain suddenly regains itself here. Had I really just...? Actually, giving it a fair bit of thought, this really was giving off the feeling of the Addams Family home. All we needed now was a disembodied hand called Thing and a Frankenstein-esque Lurch as a butler and we'd be all set here.

Once I had stepped inside the mansion, I call out to the others but find silence as my reply. I call out to everyone again but still find no response being returned. Their shoes were here, which means they had to be here somewhere. I step into the living room, finding no sign of them.

Were they taking a bather together and had just failed to hear me? I suppose it's possible but I'm sure I was loud enough for them to hear me here, unless they were too distracted with having a girls only perversion moment...

A big grin comes over me as I subconsciously activate my Lurk skill and quietly make my way through the mansion, quietly entering the changing room before slowly opening the bathe, expecting to see all kinds of forbidden things going on within. But the bathe was empty as well. Damn, and here I was hoping I could have... never mind that for now. Just where are they at? I leave the bathe and check the kitchen with still no sign of them anywhere.

"Could they be upstairs, resting till supper is ready?"

I mumbled to myself quietly. I'll go up there and check once I head downstairs and drop the Sheng Biao off inside my workshop. Seeing as the bathe was free now, I wonder if they would mind if I went ahead and took a bathe myself here first before starting dinner?

Once I was down in the basement and inside the workshop, I remove my new toy and lay it down on the worktable, then pick up the paper for the Shen-Bao's design schematic. Yeah, before I craft the final design, I definitely need to make work on making it more compact here. The prototype is way too bulky to make it something I'd want to be wearing around everywhere.

A sudden clicking sound rings out through the basement, startling me a little; a sound that's quickly followed by the voices of the girls coming from out of nowhere. I quickly put the paper down and, following a gut feeling I was having, hide myself behind the wall next to the door frame, out of sight.

"Ah, that really felt good. Having that little number added on was the best idea we could have ever had."

"Agreed. My skin feels almost brand new here. A far better option for using a regular bath, am I right?"

"You know, I felt a little bad about keeping Kazuma in the dark about it, but now..."

"I know. Sad though it may be, perhaps even a little treacherous on our parts, but we should endeavor to keep this little secret from him as long as possible. After all, if he ever finds out..."

"He'll definitely try to hog it all for himself."

"I doubt he'd do that, but he'd definitely want to join us in there."

"I don't know about you all, but I don't want to feel the need to cover myself when in there. It'll lessen the amazing feel of the water if we had too."

"Agreed. Anyways, let's see how much longer it's going to be till Kazuma has dinner ready. I'm starving here."

"And I'm sure Kazuma may be wondering where we all are as well. After all, that room is soundproof."

"He probably thinks we're upstairs, resting. We should quietly head upstairs first, in order to make him think we're coming downstairs to check in on him."

I hear the girls say these things as they walk past the workshop and head upstairs. Once they were gone, I step out and look in the direction of the wine cellar, where I know they had just come from. Just what were they on about, I wonder? Did they really have some sort of private room I didn't know about down here? Well, only one way to find out.

Once I entered the wine cellar, I quickly scan the room, seeing nothing that stood out. Not surprising seeing as it wouldn't be much of a secret if it were obvious. Gotta say, looking around, it only now occurred to me that this room was ripe with hidden door potential here. But were would it... oh, what is this?

I notice a most interesting curiosity. Amongst all the collected wine bottles in here, only one had a distinctive red colored cork on it. Moving over to it, I try several things with pulling it out just a tad and turning it triggering the shelf it was on to pop open. I take a peek inside and...

I smile a devious smile at what I saw. So, my precious beauties. You were able to sneak in a hot spring under my very own mansion, did you. One I am so very gracious to let you all live in, rent free I might add. Such naughty little girls, how should I go about punishing you all here?

I'll have to give that some thought here, huh? For now, I'll let you all have your little secret here, but only until I can come up with the perfect punishment, one so deserving of you secretive vixens that it will make you fear ever hiding things from like this again from me. But, for the moment, time to start dinner.

By the time I reached the kitchen and started working on it is when the girls finally arrived following their 'rest upstairs.' Naturally, they complained about me taking so long to get started, a fair point I suppose given it was already past seven and with what I was making for them, it would be past eight before it was done.

I still frowned at them though which confused them, not that I took the time to elaborate with them over everything. Anyways, once dinner was out of the way, I left the dishes for them to do while I allowed myself a good while to enjoy a proper bath here. By the time I had finished, I step out to find the girls playing some sort of card game I was unfamiliar with.

They ask me if I would like to join them, but I decline as I was feeling tired and just wanted to hit the hay as quickly as possible. However, I do tell them to-

"Make sure you all don't stay up to late tonight, OK. Seeing as we didn't do a proper quest today, we'll be doing one for sure tomorrow. But, before then, there's a little something I want to pass on to you guys. Some new skills you can play with while we're out on the quest."

Hearing that gets Megumin, Yunyun, and Cielo all excited while Lynn just looked confused and asked them what I was talking about. As they chatted, I took my leave as I head upstairs, finding Chomusuke joining me as I go. Once I had reached my room, she followed me inside and quickly hopped onto my bed.

"So, you want to sleep with me tonight, Nia. Does Megumin know you're doing this?"

Chomusuke's response was to move onto one side of my pillow, stretch, yawn, and then curl herself into a little ball before quickly falling asleep. Seeing as her actions had more or less answered my question here, I crawl into bed as well and soon found myself also falling deep into slumber.

A sudden knocking sound awakens me without warning. My room was dark, save for the traces of moonlight filtering in through the window. I pick up my pocket watch from off the table beside my bed and look at the time. Just a little past midnight. Another knock at my door makes me groan as I get up. Seeing as I was awake now and all, I might as well see who it is and what it is they want. Hope they don't mind me lecturing them about letting a guy have his beauty sleep here. I open the door and...

I'm taken aback by what I was seeing before me. Megumin and Yunyun were standing outside, Yunyun wearing her mature night gown she had worn that one time before, the night she had moved into the mansion. I thought she had replaced it with something far more modest, and less revealing.

And Megumin... she was wearing an almost exact copy of the mature night gown Yunyun was wearing, just red and black in color as opposed to Yunyun's purple and black one. I quickly also took notice of something else too. Megumin's chest was growing at last, not yet the size of Yunyun's impressive chest, but bigger than she had appeared to be earlier when we were out.

Was it because she had suddenly experienced some kind of grow spurt over these last few hours or was it because Megumin was using some kind of magic garment like a bra that made created the illusion of her still being more or less flat when out among others. As I ponder on this mystery here...

"Kazuma, is it OK if we come in?"

"There's something we'd like to talk to you about."

"I... I don't really think that's a good idea here."

I said, suddenly finding myself feeling very nervous. I mean, sure I was also very curious as to what it was they wanted to talk with me about. I was also becoming quite turned on by how they looked too. But it was also because of that very fact I was feeling nervous. The fact they had come to me at such a late hour, dressed as they were. Yeah, I had a feeling talking wasn't the thing they had on their minds.

They give me soft, kind smiles before pushing their way past me into my room, despite the doubts I had just verbalized. As was then, as they walked past me, that I took notice of an important detail here. Both of them had the scent of alcohol coming off them. They were drunk, which explained everything to me now. I guess that little incident back in Arcanretia didn't turn Megumin off of the desire to drink the drink here, after all. Man, Darkness is going to be mad with her once she gets back. Using her absence to sneak some booze... well, wine time I should say.

Once they were in the room, Yunyun takes my hand and gently pulls me away from the door while Megumin quietly closes it and locks the door before joining Yunyun and me. I was a mixture of thoughts and emotions right now. I had a very good idea what their 'talk' with me was going to be about and on the one hand, I was very much looking forward to it. But on the other...

"Say, where are Cielo and Lynn at? Are they not going to be joining us?"

"They're asleep downstairs right now. Why, is the two of us not enough for you, Kazuma?"

There was a fear, perhaps a sadness in Yunyun's drunken eyes as she says that, making me a feel a little bad here for just a moment before I collect myself and say-

"That's not... not what I meant here, Yunyun. I was just... you two do know you're drunk here, don't you?"

Megumin giggles before resting a finger against my bare chest, tracing lines along... wait, bare? When did I... oh right, I recall taking my shirt off last night after I had found myself needing to pay a visit to the toilet. Now that we were in spring weather time, my room had been feeling just a little too warm at that time. In hindsight, I'm wishing I hadn't taken my shirt off.

"We're not drunk, Kazuma. Sure, we may have helped ourselves a bottle... or two from down in the cellar."

"I think it was five, Megumin!"

"Details-details, Yunyun. Anyways, the point is we're not drunk, Kazuma. If anything, neither of us have ever been so focused mentally in our lives when it comes to us being honest with ourselves here."

"And because of that, we decided it was time we stop holding ourselves back and show you just how much you truly mean to the both of us, Kazuma."

Megumin and Yunyun begin to walk towards me, giving me bedroom eyes here. I find myself stepping back away from them till my legs make contact with my bed. They then place their hands onto my chest and push me back onto my bed, my impact waking Chomusuke who, upon seeing the situation, shows a mischievous grin before hopping onto the table beside my bed in order to have a better vantage point to watch from.

{Insert Image 4}

I quickly consider my options here. Should I fight back? I know I can't best either of them in a battle of strength, which was sad when you think about it. Bin wasn't an option as my gear was back down in the workshop. I could try Drain Touch to steal mana from them for a change, but that might make things even worse somehow. I could try yelling for Cielo and Lynn to come save me but if what they said was true, then would either even wake up, and be in the right frame of mind, to aid me or would they join Megumin and Yunyun's side of this.

As the two of them work to get me better positioned on my bed, I find myself asking another important question here. Do I actually want to stop them? I mean yeah, they're clearly drunk here and I'm sure once morning comes and they've had a chance to sleep it off, they would be grateful that I didn't do anything to them. And yet, is that really how it would be?

I mean, after the Arcanretia incident, I'm pretty sure Megumin said she regretted nothing in regard to what she and I had done. Is it possible that being drunk actually helps Crimson Demons get around their chunni mindsets and act out in the way they really, truly wish to. If so, then wouldn't my attempt to stop them here and now be seen as a rejection of their potential feelings they're trying to express?

"Kazuma..."

I'm drawn from my thoughts, my attention now back onto them as I see their eyes glowing softly. They must have known what it was I was thinking as Yunyun says-

"It's all right, Kazuma. This is what we both really want here. We promise we won't ever regret doing this with you this night."

"So just lay back and relax, Kazuma."

adds Megumin as the two of them climb into my bed, Megumin along one side and Yunyun the other. Once their faces were aligned with mine, though both give me loving smiles as they say together-

"Now, allow us to take care of you just as you have taken care of us..."

They then begin to draw closer and closer to me, making me realize that this was my last chance to stop them if I wanted too. But the truth is that I really didn't want to stop them. Maybe that was a mistake, but I just really wanted to see where this was all going to go now. And there was one thing I was definitely sure about now.

This was probably the first real time I've truly felt blessed over being sent to this wonderful world...

======================{Bonus Part: Megumin's Discovery}======================

It must have still been way early in the morning when I opened my eyes. Perhaps I should even say it was late into the night as it was still dark outside. Looking at my pocket watch, I see it was around 5am in the morning. I was just about to closes my eyes and return to the relaxing realm of REM when...

I feel Anna's ghostly presence come floating through the walls into my room. I quickly act like I was still asleep, before she could take notice of me being awake. After a few moments, I dare to open my eyes and find her moving through the walls into Kazuma's room.

Normally, I wouldn't pay her any mind for doing that as she was usually asleep and thus, was probable just sleep floating around the mansion. But, for some reason this time, I had an urge to make sure she wasn't doing anything funny... not that she could, being a ghost and all, but it was still better to be safe than sorry here, right?

I get up, slide on my slippers before quietly make my way into the hall, just in time to see her floating down the stairs, Normally, this would make me shrug and head back to bed yet at this moment, with a still sleepy Chomusuke in my arms, why did I bring her along I wonder? Anyways, I follow Anna downstairs and soon down further into the basement where a light, as well as sounds, were coming from inside Kazuma's workshop.

Chomusuke awakens suddenly, jumping from my hands and scampers into the shop with Kazuma greeting her moments later. For just a moment, temptation made me walk forward with the intent to join Kazuma in there as well.

You know, it was funny when I think about it. Once upon a time, the idea of sitting off to the side, watching others work on something was boring to me. Like back when I was attending Red Prison and having to watch the other girls, and even the teachers, do stuff. It was always boring to me. And yet, watching Kazuma wasn't boring at all. It was actually fascinating. Even before I had fully realized and accepted my feelings for him, I felt that way over watching him work. So strange and yet...

I stop just as I was about to enter the shop, a thought I had been mulling over being recalled suddenly. If Kazuma was down here, getting an early start to his inventions, then that meant his bedroom was empty and that means I could...

I quickly and quietly return upstairs, a soft giggle escaping my lips as I go all the way till I was inside Kazuma's room. Now was the perfect chance to commence my search for the absolute evidence I needed to confirm what my heart and soul already knew to be true here.

I check his closet first, nothing out of the ordinary here unless there were any secret compartments I wasn't aware of. I look inside the small cabinet and still find nothing. I then take a peek under his bed, smiling before reaching in and pulling the small box out and placing it on his bed. Just as I go to open it, I stop and ask myself if this was really OK for me to do. Invade his privacy, I mean. How would I feel if he did this to me? Naw, I'm sure this will be fine. I pop open the box and...

A feeling of sheer joy fills my very being as I reach in and pull that awesome and stylish mask out, gazing long and lovingly at it before trying it on. Wearing it made me feel so cool, I have to admit before turning and looking at the small mirror hanging on the wall. So, wearing the mask is why Kazuma's hair was silver colored that night. That's pretty cool and, on a personal note, I think silver colored hair could look good on me. Maybe I should consider a dye job here?

Once I had taken the mask off, I move the box back onto the floor before allowing myself to fall back onto Kazuma' bed, hugging his mask tightly to my chest. I thought my love for Kazuma couldn't grow any bigger than what it already was but now knowing without any doubt that Kazuma was indeed the cool thief who had made my heart go all a flutter that night, I found my love for him exploding into new levels I never thought were possible here.

{Insert Image 5}

"I truly love you, with all my heart here, Kazuma!"

"Megumin, breakfast is ready."

Huh, breakfast? Five more minutes, mom.

"Hey, Megumin. Didn't you hear the call? Breakfast is ready?"

I said five more minutes... make that ten minutes...

"Hey, Megumin? Aren't you up yet?"

came Kazuma's voice followed by the sound of footsteps walking up the stairs.

Hm, I know what it is I'd like for you to give me for... wait, what? Oh crap!

"Ah... Kazuma, I heard... I hear you. Don't come upstairs, alright. I'll be down in a moment, alright."

I said while in a total panic. I must have fallen asleep right after laying down in his bed, while hugging his mask close to me.

"Uh... OK, you sure you're alright, Megu..."

"Yeah, I'm fine-I'm fine. I'm... aw... not descent at the moment. Go ahead and start without me. I'll be done in just a moment."

I quickly said while getting off his bed and putting the mask back into the box, using my foot to scoot it back under the bed. I really hope he doesn't notice the box possibly being in a different spot from before down there.

"OK... if you say so."

The sound of Kazuma's walking grows fainter till I couldn't hear it, making me breathe out a sigh of relief. I still carefully peek outside, making sure I was in the clear before exiting his room and heading downstairs, trying to play it as cool as I could here. That was a close one, to be sure.

Hopefully, Kazuma won't ever find out what I did, at least not until the day I finally tell him I know his little secret here. Question now I need to ask myself is exactly when should I let him know? Oh well, I'll give it some thought and make my decision before the days over... maybe.

============================{to be continued...}============================

Image 1: Kazuma taking aim with the Shen-Bao while Anna and Chomusuke watch on behind him

Image 2: Ran sitting on her knees, embarrassed while Megumin lectures her about her fashion choices.

Image 3: Kazuma, the girls, and a bunch of undead doing a dance pose.

Image 4: Megumin and Yunyun, in their mature looking night gowns, giving Kazuma the bedroom eyes

Image 5: Megumin hugging Kazuma's chivalrous thief mask closely against her chest.

AN: Before I sign off here, a few quick things I want to say. First, that mysterious passageway Keele spoke of, the one that leads further below the crypt under the Erisia Cathedral. Make sure you don't forget it as it will be coming back into play in a future arc and I think you can guess which arc based on the clue I dropped in this chapter.

And second, also be on the lookout for Kazuma's 'punishment' he'll be bringing down onto the girls in a future arc as well. I already know what it's going to be here and I'm thinking it'll happen either in arc 9 or arc 10. The reason for the wait is due to Kazuma needing time to prepare, and because he's going to need a little help which currently isn't available to him. You'll understand when it comes.

And finally, there's a bit more that could be revealed with Ran in the future, but only if you all want me to give it any focus here. Know that her secrets aren't part of the main narative of this fic, but instead a little side story that could one day be told if you would like to hear it. Let me know either in your reviews or PM me.

Anyways, next time we will truly begin the Darkness Hour storyline...