"Hmm-mm!" whined Megumin as she was still mad that I spent the points she saved up. Well she should have thought twice before messing with me. Either way, both of us are pointless (pun intended) and with skills that neither of us asked for. So the overall take on this, never mess with that girl, she's crafty and cunning when she wants to be.

That said, now comes one of an adventurer's most challenging tasks that they must face.

Picking which quest to go on.

"Jake! Jake! Look at this quest! Defeat a pack of Silver Wolves. They can be the target of my next Explosion."

"Like hell we're doing that! I got one better." I shove a poster in her face. "Look at this, Defeat a One-Shot Bear, it's gotta be what we should go on next."

People in the guild hall looked at us like we're a couple of weirdos trying to decide where are next quest will bring us. Since Megumin joined as my Arch Wizard, we went on quests no one would dare embark on, even ones that seem like you need a party of veteran adventurers to accomplish. Well with a now capable magic wielder with a better repertoire of spells to use, that is, if said GENIUS of her ENTIRE CLAN uses those spells, but every time we go on quests now, she launches an Explosion without regard of the situation and blows away the monsters along with ALL OF THE ENTIRE AREA IN A SINGLE, HUGE CRATER!

Just as our 'discussion' was getting heated, I noticed poster that seemed to be there a lot longer than the other ones. I nabbed the poster off the wall and looked over what it says.

Slay a Dragon terrorizing a Village.

As I look over the quest as Megumin takes a peek as well. It seems to me that she got a look in her eyes that just screamed with gleaming opportunity. It seems like there's no choice then.

"Alright then," I began, "Guess we'll take this quest then."

That immediately got Megumin's attention as it made her jump for joy at the prospect of killing a dragon.

"After we prepare for the worst first."

That made Megumin face fault to the ground.

Before taking on a dragon, I decided to hone my sword skills as I do what a gamer would do, 'grinding' levels. I take on small quests for cash and hunt down monsters for experience. I also utilized my Infinite Storage in an efficient way to get more supplies by storing the monsters I hunt in it. Not only does it make carrying them back easier, but it also preserves the meats and skins as well. With so much I can store, I wonder how much can just fit in it? I tested this by going on a hunting spree just to test that theory.

Luna-chan gave me a scolding for that as they did not want me to overhunt and ruin the environment. Though I think I overheard her with one of the other receptionists worrying about the loss in how much I hunted and how they'll not have enough to pay me.

Currently, I am practicing my sword swings whilst shirtless. What do you expect? All those anime characters I have seen doing that as well, so it is only natural, right? From what a fellow swordsman at the guild said, 'Practice makes perfect.' Like I have not heard that one before, but like the saying goes, it does work. Plus, when Megumin came by earlier, she got all flustered seeing me without a shirt on, so she went ahead to the guild hall.

As I keep swinging my sword in earnest, I notice two people walking by as I trained. One was a tall, attractive woman with a yellow and white armor with feathers on her right shoulder, sporting long, blonde hair in a ponytail. The other woman was shorter than her friend, with short silver hair while wearing nearly nothing as she seemed to be carrying light equipment. I think nothing of them, but then the tall blonde suddenly blushes and hurries off with her silver-haired companion giving chase.

'What a weird woman.' I think to myself. Oh well, gotta focus on the training at hand.

Megumin'POV

I can't wait to show that dragon that she who can wield the power of Explosion will eradicate it to smithereens. I would usually put more into my Explosion spell, but Jake had to take my Adventurer's card and spend my points, I repeat, MY POINTS on mediocre spells like Light of Saber and Hellfire. What really matters is Explosion magic. Nothing is more better than Explosion magic. Period.

I then see Jake walk into the guildhall. It seems he's been working out again as his skin glistens with sweat from practicing with that cool sword he's got, though I bet I could come up with a better name, like Chunchunmaru. He sees me at one of the tables as he walks towards me and sits down.

Jake's POV

I get back to the guildhall after my workout and spot Megumin over in the corner. I go over and sit down and greet my fellow party member.

"Morning Megumin," I began, "Ready to go slay that dragon!"

She was about to respond when I heard someone's stomache growl. Que a blushing Arch-Wizard and one order later we were eating breakfast. Suddenly, someone comes up to the table. As I look, it seems to be the blonde knight lady I saw as I worked out. Wonder what she could want?

"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but overhear that you were taking on the Dragon slaying quest, am I correct?"

I look at her as I bite into my fried toad meat as I reply back, "Yeah that would be us." I swallow my bite of meat. "Is there a problem taking on a quest of that caliber, it shouldn't be no problem for…"

The woman shook her head as she interjects.

"That's not what I'm getting at. Actually, I was wondering if I could join you on your quest?"

I look at her for a second, then I look towards Megumin for her input. She shrugs in a 'don't care' sort of way. Seeing as she gave her two cents, I look back to the tall woman who seems to be blushing for some reason as she looked at me but regained her composure as she sees that I'm back to looking at her.

"Well I don't see why not, but I haven't got your name yet."

"Oh, where are my manners, my name is Darkness. I'm a Crusader."

I look back to Megumin. "Are Crusaders good?" She swallows her bite of food as she answers, "Crusaders are renowned as not only being skilled with a sword, but also known for their great defense as part of the vanguard. I'm surprised she hasn't already went to the front lines already."

At hearing that, Darkness seemed to look away while blushing yet again.

"Well, I might have a small confession to make, while I am confident in my defense, I am lacking in my offense capabilities."

…

…

"So your basically a human meat shield?"

"?!"

As soon as I said that Darkness nearly catches herself as she squirms in place, panting. Did something I say cause her to react like? In my gut, something tells me she could be trouble, but I ignored that as I continued.

"How does one have a great defense, yet no offense?"

She pulls out her Adventurer's card and sets it down on the table. Megumin and I look over and see that she is indeed a Crusader, but in terms of skills in the way of the sword seems to be lacking. Megumin starts to see that she indeed was just as capable as a meat shield, but then I see a glint in her eye. I don't like the look those eyes.

"I don't see why she can't join us, especially with a dragon no less. Mmm, I look forward to seeing what my Explosion can do to it. Eheh-heh-heh."

Great, she's too caught up in the dragon killing glory to make any sense go through to her. But overall it was my decision to whether we let this so called Crusader join our party. As if thinking the same thoughts as me, Darkness leans in a little too close for comfort.

"So, even though I can't use a sword correctly, I'm still willing to take all the blows from whatever you throw at me, I'm confident in my defense, so by all means, don't hesita…"

Whatever else she said in that moment became a blur as the next action I took will probably cause problems down the line, but a sheathed sword to the head is what the doctor asked for.

"I still can't believe you would clock Darkness in the face like that, now I have an entire different view of you as a person."

"Would you just drop it already, I already feel a little bad about it."

"What do you mean a little?!"

"Oh look our ride is here."

Sure enough, a little carriage that costed not too much, at least based on if you work hard and not waste it on getting wasted all the time like some adventurers I know. Standing at the helm of the carriage is none other than Darkness herself. After clocking her in the face at the time, my opinion in the guild hall seemed less than reputable so as a consolation to hitting her, I agreed to letting her come along on our quest, though she looked red at the time as she went into a muttering mess albeit with a look only a pervert would have. I shook my head thinking back on that moment, hoping that it was just my imagination.

"Yo Darkness, thanks again for getting us a carriage." I say as I walk up to the carriage.

Darkness shakes her head, "No worries, it was the least I could do." Even as she readies the reins, she still will not look me in the eyes. Oh well at least this couldn't possibly get any worse.

Scratch that it can get worse.

Just as our party was just not far from the dragon's nest, we get jumped by some, what's the word, sketchy group of bandits who think they can just take us on.

How cute.

Darkness' POV

Our quest was considerably put on hold as some nasty bandits came into our midst. Oh what fiendish individuals that have come to force us to commit such crude acts. Just as I ready my sword, I hear Jake-san start. . . laughing? At first it was just giggling, then it started to turn into full blown laughing.

I see. He's delusional of the situation at hand.

"Fear not, for as a Crusader, I am sworn to protect the. . ."

I couldn't finish my one liner I've been practicing as Jake-san jumped straight at the bandits. I was about to go aid him when a hand grabbed my arm. I look towards Megumin, who in turn, gave me a faint smile as she watches the brawl laid out before us.

"It's gonna be fine, Darkness." Megumin says, "I've seen him at work, he'll be fine."

I was astounded. She looks at the fighting with such lackadaisical attitude.

"I can't believe you would let a comrade fight all those devious bandits as they no doubt are going to. . ."

Just as I look back to the bandits, I see Jake-san finished knocking out the last bandit in a chop to the neck. I only thought that was in those stories that my father told me as bed time stories. Huh, well now that is something else.

Jake's POV

Those bandits were pathetic.

Not only did they not have any decent gear to take, but they were very weak. The last guy went down with a chop to the neck like in those anime I've seen growing up. Didn't think that would work, but hey, it is what it is.

"Alright ladies, why don't we head on our merry way then, shall we?"

Darkness looked like a fish out of water with the way her mouth is open in what appears to be shock as she finally gets a hold of reality and nods her head in affirmation, albeit with reluctance.

Wonder why she looks disappointed though.

We finally find the nest.

The dragon seems to have taken refuge in a cave as its nest, so now the next step would be to kill it in its sleep and then . . .

"EXPLOSION!"

The whole mountain-side and the cave where the dragon slept went up in a massive fireball as the cause of said mayhem fell flat on her face.

Darkness and I look on in shock as I slowly gain bearings and look towards the party's Arch-Wizard and shake my head in disbelief.

"Of all that is sane and proper, THAT WAS FAR FROM THAT YOU LITTLE FIREBALL!" I start shouting at Megumin. "WHY?! WHY WOULD YOU START OF WITH A POWERFUL EXPLOSION RIGHT OFF THE BAT YOU IDIOT!"

Megumin turns her head to face me as she also pulls out her Adventurers' card as she ignores me and awes in delight.

"I leveled up! I went up seven whole levels. I could die happy."

The nerve of this girl. I don't know how I started liking her in the first place. With that thought quickly out of my head, I berate her some more.

"Well hope your happy with that, because I bet we missed out on looting that cave for valuables."

Both Megumin and Darkness look at me with quizzical looks on their faces as one they reply, "Dragons don't keep treasure in their nests, those are only in stories for little kids."

I look back at them in astonishment at something that was always in the stories I read before moving to the mountains as a kid were nothing but nonsense.

With a heavy sigh of disappointment, I trudged towards the wreckage of what used to be the dragon's lair and climbed to the epicenter of the massive Explosion set off by my crackpot party member. I only really want to see if what they say was true.

Well, I found one interesting thing that might be cool later on.

As I come back down the mountain with my pack jostling with fullness, Darkness waves me over as she looks at my pack with confusion.

"So what's with the full pack, don't tell there actually was treasure up there. I would assume it would have been destroyed beyond recognition."

I smirk at her with a mischievous glint in my eyes. "Even better." I open my pack and show them.

Darkness POV

I am utterly shocked.

Not only does Megumin blow up the whole side of a mountain with one spell, but now Jake-san found what could possibly be a rare find.

"I-is that what I think it is?"

Megumin meanwhile shines with sparkles in her eyes at what Jake-san has.

"D-dragon eggs?!"

Right on the dot, Jake-san with his mischievous grin is holding in his pack two dragon eggs.

"I'm keeping 'em."

Now I am worried. Not only did our Arch-Wizard take out a Dragon in one shot, now our Swordmage wanted to keep its eggs as consolation. I wave my arms in denial. "We couldn't possibly take them. I mean I have heard of people who had pet dragons in the past, but I don't think you could. . ." Jake-san stops me there with a finger.

"Nothing you say will stop me from raising a dragon. I mean, when am I ever gonna get a chance like this ever again?" With that said, Jake-san closes his pack and starts walking back to the carriage.

I look to Megumin to try to talk some sense in him, but saw the sparkle in her eyes didn't go away. Seeing as there was no room for arguments, I pick up Megumin and follow behind.

Jake's POV

The trek back to Axel wasn't too bad. After reporting back to the guild, which everyone went crazy that we killed a dragon but did not give the details as my pride would be tarnished, all three of us sat at our table discussing on what to do next.

"We have a problem."

"?!" The others look in worry as I never seem to have any sort of trouble from me of all people.

"We need a better place to stay instead of the stables."

That caused them to face plant on the table as the nearby Adventurers' look in confusion and startled by the sudden action. Megumin looks back up from her stupor and looks back with questions in her eyes.

"Well it's not easy to just get a house, you have to pay for the land, then construct the house themselves. It's not like there's one anyone can grab for free."

Just then I overhear another loud conversation from a nearby Priest as I notice a woman with some other members of the Eris sect. They are really nice and helped me on my feet as they often gave out bread to the less fortunate. I guess getting sent to another world that not everything would go on video game knowledge despite the fact that I only know of the early ones like Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy VII, but I never got to finish them as they were exceedingly difficult and I got lost in the story. Anyway, I see the woman in question who chugs a mug of booze and lets out a dull sigh as she talks to the other sect members.

"Hah~~~ I don't know how long I can take it. I mean how does there seem to be more spirits every time I go to that abandoned mansion. Like it wouldn't kill to have a donation to the church every time we send poor spirits away to heaven."

". . ."

I listen more intently to the conversation between the fellow Priest.

"Well Cecily, maybe you should be more devoted to serving your Goddess by being a more sincere with the fact that YOU help put souls' to rest." Said another Priest.

"Yeah just because of YOU'RE thoughtless to the poor souls trapped in the world, doesn't mean that you can be negligent on your duty as a Priest."

". . . "

The other Priest in their group really laid it on this Cecily girl, but the important thing that really caught my interest in that talk was the showstopper in my problems.

I stand up from the table and walked up to the group.

Megumin's POV

Just as we talk about housing troubles does Jake seem to be listening to another conversation with a group of Priests. They seem to be from the Eris sect church, although the one complaining seems to be oddly familiar. Jake greets them as he has a chat with them. I don't know what he's up to, but from I know of him so far, Jake can be quite unpredictable.

Suddenly the woman who was complaining seem to jump up from her seat as she grabs ahold of Jake. Jake seems taken back from the woman as she spiels on about something, so I listen in.

"It would seems that you and I share a common predicament and I can't help but see that you are in need of some assistance! Why don't we team up and then I can help you with your living situation and I can bestow upon you the great power that my Goddess, Lady Aqua, can bring yo-"

The conversation ends there as Jake seems to be shocked for a split second before what seems to be anger spreads on his face as he shoves who I now realize is Cecily, the woman who wouldn't leave me alone whenever I was on my journey to Axel.

Jake then says, "I don't want ANYTHING to do with that 'GODDESS' of yours even if I was on my death bed.

"?!"

Cecily looks on in a dissatisfied manner, seeing that she yet again lost another opportunity at another loss of a follower for her 'lovely' goddess. Then, suddenly, her eyes glance over at our table as she spies me.

I tilt head down so my hat would cover my face, but unfortunately, it's too late.

Cecily lunges at me with full force.

"MEGUMIN-CHA~~~N!"

I feel as I get the air knocked out of me as both Cecily and I land on the floor of the tavern. She immediately starts to rub her face in mine as she insistently (and secretly) feel me up all around my body. I get shivers as she yammers on about how she was hoping that by tailing her to Axel would her life get better with being in my life.

I look to Darkness for help, but I see that she looks nervous as she sees the pendant of the Axis church around Cecily's neck. I wouldn't blame her. No one wants ANYTHING to deal with the crazy followers of the goddess of water, Aqua. But the least she could do was help get this insane woman off of me.

Just as Cecily was about to grope my chest, Jake suddenly steps in and throws her off of me. Now that would be greatly appreciated if it were not for the fact that he threw Cecily off of me. And then he opened a window as Cecily was flown through the window.

"?!"

Everyone was stunned throughout the guild hall. Then everyone started clapping as Jake took a showman bow as he proceeds back to the group of Priests that were sitting with the mad Axis cult member.

The men were still shocked by what Jake did, as was Darkness and I. Jake pulls up a chair that had fallen over as he looks to the Priests with a seemingly devious smile.

"Gentlemen," he states, "Do I have a proposition for not only you, but for the Eris church as well."

Well well well~~~. Now isn't this an exciting development?! Also my bad for taking so long on pumping this out. Working on the next one as I have written this. See ya next time!