It's been a week since we got paid MILLIONS of eris for the slaying of Verdia, and yet something seems off to me.

Aqua took to having fun with her newfound riches as she treats everybody to drinks whenever she is in the mood to party whenever we go to the guild hall to eat, which is to say nearly every day. Kazuma took his resources and put into crafting some stuff from our original world, such as this morning I found he made a kotatsu. He said it was for the colder months ahead of us, which is honestly nice as I haven't seen one since back home when I visited my oji-chan and oba-chan in their cottage in the mountains.

Thinking about that made me a bit homesick for Japan, but not the point here.

Megumin sent money back to her family home to help them, but she kept a good portion of it to spend on other items and luxuries no commoner could afford, like getting more of that crab we had when Darkness' family sent some as a housewarming gift.

Speaking of whom, she donated a huge portion of her earnings to the church to help the needy, which is a noble thing in her case, but I have been hearing strange sounds coming from her room whenever I go to the bathroom at night, and I am not sure if I want to know if she used her money on other matters that satisfied her 'needs'.

I found that having a lot of money can be very enticing to have, but despite having so much that I could live out my days doing anything I wanted to, there was a sort of emptiness that I couldn't place for the life of me.

Right now, I'm in the mansion living room polishing my newly acquired blade, Great Beheader, the blade that Verdia himself wielded. I took it to the local smithy and had the hilt reworked so that I could wield it two-handed. I look up from my work and look at the other residents of the room. Kazuma and Aqua were fighting over who got to lounge in front of the fireplace, Megumin was playing with Chomusuke at the table with Phenex and Legolas watching with interest, and Darkness was also polishing her sword as well, which reminds me that I will have to do some sword practice with her so she can have some actual offense instead of just a strong defense. Lately we've been doing nothing but lounging about the mansion as we figure out our next move to make.

"Say Kazuma. Don't you think it's time to polish our skills and take a qu-"

"Nah, I'm all good here." Kazuma quickly retorts as he finally got the place in front of the fireplace, looking all cozy as Aqua was crying all over Darkness as she didn't get what she wanted.

"I know that slaying Verdia has filled all of our pockets with sixty million, but that doesn't mean we can just slouch about all day and live peaceful lives with the Demon King still out and about. Don't you want to go on adventures and see the world outside this town of beginners?"

Kazuma looks from his place in front of the fire as he contemplates my words. "Well, it's not that I don't want to per say, but I rather live a comfy life in a mansion than take on dangerous quests that could very well be the death of us all."

I stop polishing Great Beheader and put it away as I walk over to Kazuma with a shadow over my eyes.

"So, getting comfy sitting in front of the fire~, hmm?" I say with a bit of pep.

Kazuma looks back at me and a glint of fear comes across his face as I step closer to him.

"And we can't have all that hard work in getting you in shape go to waste now, right~."

Kazuma tries to get up from the sofa as he backs away into the wall as I slowly corner him. He comes to a slow, but sure realization of what I am hinting at.

"So, in order to not let my hard work go to waste, why not we ALL go on a quest away from home why don't we, hmm~."
Kazuma screams in terror at the thought of more jobs that we'll be doing to STRENGTHEN ourselves for the upcoming battles yet to come.

There's no getting out of this.


The next several months.

It's been quite a while since we've been home.

Even after our battle with Verdia, we still went on quests despite the fact that we were already rich from the Dullahan's bounty. But, with being complacent not being in my vocabulary, I set us up with different quests based on our skills that would make us stronger than ever. I pitted Megumin against a One-shot Boar and had Kazuma drain her of enough to not cause an Explosion on the spot. It was a hard-fought fight, but she eventually used the spells that I bestowed upon her when we gave each other skills that we didn't want.

Darkness had one-on-one training with me to improve her accuracy on her sword swings. Let's just say that she can now hit targets fifty percent of the time now, it's at least better than nothing. Kazuma started to improve even more so on his athletic skills after being trusted into life and death situations, especially his sword skills as he joined in on my training regimen with me and Darkness, although there have been some times I've caught him sneaking off to get out of training, but not with me as a trainer as I proceeded to track him down every time and drag his sorry ass back for the brutal training I put into his.

It was now the cold season of winter in this world and all the adventurers are taking it easy with the money they also got from participating in Verdia's battle, although I think only the ones that actually participated should have got some of the reward instead of a group that was too scared to face a Dullahan with dignity. Right now, I'm at the quest board and I'm looking to see what quests are doable in the harsh winter.

"Hey Luna-san, how come there aren't much quests on the board?"

Luna walks over to me and says, "Well, when the winter season arrives, most monsters and animals hibernate, thus the lack of quests that you see before you. Most Adventurers usually go through the quests, but with most of them being rewarded for the Demon Kings' General defeat, they see no reason to go out in the harsh winter."

I thank her for the info with a generous tip of fifty eris and repeat of looking at the board for quests. I spy one that catches my eye and read the quest.

Eliminate the Snow Sprites

I read over and all you got to do is slay snow sprites and you get a hundred thousand eris for each one you kill.

That seems too good to be true.

I walk over to Kazuma and company to find out more on such an easy quest.

They were all eating Fried Giant Toad Leg, which reminds me that I need to eat too, I place the job request in front of them as I ask, "Soo, anyone want to fill me in that a quest like this is too good to be true?" They stop as they take a glance at quest that I found. Kazuma looks intrigued but an even more interested taker was Aqua and Megumin.

"Jake! Jake! We should go on this one! My senses tell me that we are destined for this quest!"

Aqua showed the same enthusiasm as she goes on about an ideal adventure for us, setting off numerous flags from Kazuma from the concerned look on his face tells me. I look to Darkness for guidance, and she seems to be panting a little bit too much as she quivers in what tells me is excitement.

This does not bode well for me.


Later that day in a snowfield outside.

"That's five for me!"

"Oh yeah, well I've killed eight already!"

"Oh, would you just stay still already!"

Yup. We were all running around a out in the cold winter in hunting Snow Sprites. Aqua caught five in glass jars while I slain my eighth one whilst Darkness had yet to slay a single one. Kazuma was to the back of us as he was sniping out Snow Sprites at a distance.

Megumin had another plan in mind.

"EXPLOOO~SION!"

That little girl set off an Explosion so close to a huge group of Snow Sprites as they were engulfed in a huge blast of magic from the resident Crimson Demon. Megumin looked proud as she fell face first into snow, not knowingly that I was going to punish her for that as I wanted to make her an all-around fighter with magic, but instead she lays it all out with one shot.

Suddenly, we hear a rushing of wind as in the distance, I see a giant figure in armor approaching us as when it got close, I nearly fault on what I see before me. A looming figure approaches that looks to be dressed as an old samurai armor with even a freaking katana. What the all kinds of backwards bullshit is this. This entire world does not make sense anymore.

As I come back from my mini existential crisis, I hear Aqua telling Kazuma why Adventurers don't take Snow Sprite kill quests.

"You've remembered back in Japan that old saying. Appearing without a shred of mercy upon the fallen Snow Sprites. He is the Winter Shogun, who even the country put out a hit on."

Kazuma straights up loses it as he goes on a tangent about what a crappy world they live in, even when we learn that the Winter Shogun looks like that because only stupidly, over-powered people would traverse the winter.

Man does this goddess suck right now as she is the one that sent them here.

The Winter Shogun makes his move as he makes a beeline for us as Darkness stands up front, ready to protect the party. I pull out Dark Repulsor and put its sheathe on my back as I leave the sword there with my hand ready to pull it out if I need to. The shogun then pulls out his katana of ice and snow and then proceeds to slice off Darkness' sword in two.

"A-ah, my sword?!"

I look to Megumin for guidance on the situation, but then I noticed that she hasn't moved since she launched her insane Explosion from earlier.

Is she seriously playing dead right now?

I shook my head as I'll plan on teaching her a lesson later as Aqua states that in order to not be harmed from the Winter Shogun, we try to appease it and apologize, then, Aqua takes the Snow Sprites that she caught and released them before performing the famous apology that all Japanese should know. Bowing with the head to the ground while prostrating yourself.

"Quick! Throw your weapons down and bow before he changes his mind."

As I was about to throw my sword to the ground, Kazuma and I both notice that Darkness has yet to back down.

"Oi, Darkness, throw your weapon down and bow?!" Shouts Kazuma in concern and on edge.

Darkness shakes her head. "I refuse. Although we are up against a powerful foe, as a Crusader I cannot be seen bowing to my enemy!"

Of all the pride that this Crusader has, she chooses now to be stubborn about not surviving to live another day. Especially after I told her about being afraid to die in battle.

Kazuma runs over and pushes Darkness down to the ground, forcing her head into the deep, cold snow.

I notice that Kazuma has yet to throw his weapon away.

I see a slice happen as Aqua screamed for Kazuma to throw down his sword.


Megumin's POV

I look up from my spot in the snow, only to witness as Kazuma being beheaded.

Everyone froze as we see his head roll a bit, before stopping at the foot of Jake-kun.

". . .K-Kazuma?" Jake-kun spoke in almost a whisper, but loud enough to be heard.

Jake-kun kneels down and turns over the head, only showing the last expression of Kazuma Satou. Jake-kun shakes as he seems to be on the verge of tears. Then, the Winter Shogun approaches Jake-kun and has his sword ready to cleave Jake-kun as well.

"Jake-kun! Quick throw your sword away too." I yell to make sure that what happened to Kazuma doesn't happen to Jake-kun as well.

Jake-kun stops shaking as he releases a breath I didn't know he was holding. He stands back up and looks straight at the Winter Shogun, with a fierce expression of anger on his face.

Aqua shouts out, "Don't be an idiot, no one's beaten the Winter Shogun ever since he appeared."

"Shut up, you moron!" Jake-kun shouted back at her, without looking away from the shogun itself. He drew his sword while keeping an eye on the unstoppable foe before him. We all were staring at the two, neither moving a muscle.

Suddenly, the two blurred as they locked in struggle against each other, sword on sword.

A huge gust of wind blows by as I look and see Jake-kun's face for the first time since we got here.

Jake-kun was furious, with the way his face contorted in rage.


Jake's POV

I locked blades with the Winter Shogun as I eyed him whilst he eyed back. It lasted only a moment before both of us jumped back from each other, gaining distance.

The shogun then rushed towards me with another slash intended for my neck.

Just like Kazuma.

The thought infuriated me further as I ran straight at him head on as I took Dark Repulsor and swung from my right in a diagonal rising slash. From there, I locked blades with the Winter Shogun as our fight got more intense.

Just as I go in for an opening to the neck, the Winter Shogun anticipated my move as it ducked before disappearing for a second, only for my instincts to kick in and saved me as I side-stepped a thrust to where my chest would have been a second ago.

I go in for a horizontal slash to the waist as the master of the Snow Sprites leaps back before going right in for my neck.

Without thinking, I reach for a blade that could very well save me in this moment. Only for the book I got from Wiz-san to float right in front of me as the giant great sword that looks to be beaten up all over to spring from the book as I grab ahold without thinking with my left hand and use it to block the oncoming slash.

CHING

Another moment later and the remains of the Winter Shogun's katana lands a couple of meters away.

Now this is a new development.

I lift the great sword up as I quickly switch hands with my swords as I feel more better with using my right hand more with heavier swords anyway. I grin like a mad man as I finally have an edge against what could be a difficult adversary since Verdia. I go in with a swing from my left hand diagonally from the ground as the shogun blocks with the remains of his katana, but doesn't notice the great sword coming in from the twist of my body as I use the momentum of the great sword and proceed to finally land a hit for the first time on HIS neck.

Only for the sword to go through it completely as it hits true, and I behead the snow samurai before me.


Megumin's POV

Silence.

That was all there was as while during the fight Aqua got Kazuma's head and put in place at where his neck is on his corpse, and then she used her healing magic to mend the wound on his neck before casting a resurrection spell to bring Kazuma back.

Just as Aqua finished casting the spell, we all turned and couldn't believe our eyes.

Jake-kun beheads the Winter Shogun with that weird great sword he got out of that book.

The shogun's head rolls to the ground a few meters away as Jake-kun looks shocked himself as he puts his swords away, before finally slumping on the ground in the snow, as does the body of the Winter Shogun itself.

Just as I breathe a sigh of relief, I hear Kazuma stir as he awakes from what was his death.

"W-what happened?"

"?!"

Kazuma was then pounced by Darkness as she bawls about not being able to do anything, even in front of the Winter Shogun itself.

"Hey, it's alright now. I'm not going anywhere again." Then he start to look around before asking, "Hey, where's Jake?"

I sniff as I'm relieved that we all survived, before I point over where Jake is.

"H-he's over the-"

I couldn't finish my sentence before Kazuma gets up as he rushes to where Jake-kun is as he sees him lying in the snow, worry evident on his face.

He drops to where Jake-kun was, still facedown in the snow. Kazuma picks him up by the shoulders before shaking him lightly, as if trying to wake someone up from a nap.

"Oi! Jake, Jake, don't die on me now, you stupid idiot!" Kazuma seemed on the verge of tears as Jake stirs a bit before he sees Kazuma in front of him. He opens his eyes all the way as he embraces Kazuma in a hug.

"Kazuma!"

Jake-kun shakes as he cries on Kazuma's shoulder as he goes, "You're alright! Thank goodness you're alive." Kazuma was stunned for a bit before he pats Jake-kun on the back, reassuring him.

"Well now, not only did we defeat one of the Demon King's Generals, but we also took out the Winter Shogun! Oh man, I can't wait to see how much the reward we're gonna get for thi-"

Aqua couldn't finish her rant before Jake-kun threw his sword in the sheathe at her head.

Way to ruin a tender moment.


Jake's POV

Later, back in Axel at the Guild Hall

"THREE CHEERS FOR THE ONE WHO TOOK OUT THE WINTER SHOGUN!"

The Adventurers cheered for my victory over the defeat of one of the world's deadliest monsters that even had a bounty on it. Thanks to Kazuma's insistence on just me accepting the whole reward for the Winter Shogun's bounty, which mind you is worth a whopping HUNDRED MILLION ERIS just for taking out one winter's greatest foe to Adventurers that traverse the harsh snow while being low on coin. Now I got millions in riches that I wouldn't have to work for all my life if that's what I wanted.

Aqua was in tears at not getting a bit of the reward, but a stern threat to no alcohol for a year shut her up quick. Darkness congratulated me as she wishes to live by my example and train even harder at using the sword, although she had to wait to get a new one. Kazuma seemed to go back to his normal self, although he seemed to be more grateful as he's alive again, even appreciating the food and company. Megumin on the other hand.

"S-so, any reason you're clinging to my arm, Megumin?"

Yes, ever since I fought with that snow samurai has Megumin not left my side, even when Darkness carried me on her back since I couldn't walk from the magic exhaustion from wielding that sword that takes magic from the user.

Megumin replies back quickly, "No reason, just making sure that you're not gonna run head first into danger again."

"By clinging to my arm?"

"Precisely!"

Now I feel embarrassed as nearby Adventurers were probably thinking that we were a couple now that this Crimson Demon wouldn't let go of me. Just great. More rumors that will no doubt spread about me.

Regardless of my predicament, I couldn't be happier that even with Aqua's foolishness and no doubt could not read the mood if it slapped her in the face, she could at least bring back those that haven't passed on from a merciless death. Plus, in order to shut her up about the reward, I got her the most expensive bubbly wine that now she won't pester me, at least for a while.

At least now things can be better for a while as I decided to hold off on the adventuring in the winter as we can all just relax.

"M-Megumin?!"

I look over at who would say Megumin's name as if they were familiar with her. I see a young girl looking at us with a shocked expression on her face. She had dark, barely noticeable brown hair set in a bit of a pigtails with a red ribbon tied, along with a set of crimson eyes. She dressed in black robes with a cut-out in her blouse that showed off her mature assets, along with a pink and white miniskirt to go with her looks as she has dark pink stockings with brown ankle boots to finish off her looks.

Wait, crimson eyes?!

Megumin looks back at the girl with a huff as she speaks back to her, "Well now, if it isn't my so-called rival from back home, Yunyun."

"What do you mean 'so-called', I am your rival, Megumin."

Well now this ought to be interesting.

Five minutes later

"Wait, so let me get this straight. You two came from the same village and both decided to come to Axel and find a suitable party to let you in?"

From what I just listened to, these two came from the Crimson Demon Village as they wanted to go out and see the world as Adventurers, but they needed to start out, so they hightailed it to Axel to start off new. Only the fact the our CURRENT Arch-Wizard would only use Explosion did she get kicked out of parties left and right, and with the other one. . .

"W-well yeah. It's just a bit d-difficult when you don't h-have anyone you know." Yunyun said that almost quietly as she seemed embarrassed at having your dirty laundry aired out.

"But that's beside the point!" She shouts as she slams her hands on the table, rattling the plates and mugs of Neroid before pointing at Megumin. "What I meant from the start was that why are you draped all over this man, Megumin?!"

Megumin looked at my face before smirking. Why am I getting a bad feeling she was about to cause a commotion?

"You see, Yunyun, Jake-kun and I are closer to each other than you realize, we even shared a bed together.

?!

The whole table stopped what they were doing as Kazuma drops his utensils as Aqua and Darkness nearly drop their mugs of booze as every at our table stare at me.

"EEEHHH?!"

Suddenly, I was being bombarded with question after question from my party members, along with Yunyun too.

"When?! How?! Please tell me your secrets, Jake-sama!"

"Sh-sh-sharing a bed?! Even at your age that's so inappropriate for a man of your age. At least wait until you're of the proper age until you get into that sort of relationship."

"Y-yeah! What if you both m-made a baby just sleeping in the same bed?!"

"Wha-what unbelievable acts have you been doing?! I got to go tell everybody?!"

Kazuma then grabbed Aqua by the collar before she could go spread false rumors about me as Darkness and Yunyun look at me with incredulous, shocked expressions whilst nearly yelling at me.

I groan as I eye Megumin and see her smirk as if she claimed victory over this conversation.

Unfortunately for her, I can play on her level too.

"Well, YOU were the one to ask first though. And those sweet words you said in a whisper made my heart race."

That caused even more of a ruckus as now the shift of attention went from me to the little girl attached to my arm. Goes to show that one should not underestimate me and my wits about me.

"What did you say that could make even his heart race?! Just what are you capable of, Megumin?!"

Megumin looked away as she sported a blush of embarrassment as she tries to dodge the questions.

Key word on tried to.

Just as the questions became even more scandalous, from whether she was capable of seducing men to the restraint one should have in being in bed with said men. She reached her turning point as she pulled what one would have least expected to pull, especially me.

Megumin proceeds to grab my chin and tilts it to her as she leans in and steals a kiss from my lips.


Nighttime, at the mansion

It was a huge celebration, but nothing beats going back home to cozy up.

At least, that would be the issue if my mind wasn't elsewhere at the moment.

'Oh my god, oh my god, oh my GOD! Why did that little girl just up and kiss me?! Me of all people.'

After she boldly kisses me in the middle of the guild hall that all the Adventurers around us went nuts and now, I can only assume that more rumors about me are going to spread about. Yunyun even ran away crying, as she couldn't take what I assumed she would say be 'outdone by her rival', whatever that means. Now, Aqua is pestering me on the details of my relationship with the party's Arch-Wizard, though she is currently passed out from the party. I think she's faking it to get out of the questions, but that could be just me.

As I walk back to the mansion with my head in my hands, I failed to notice someone standing outside the manor.

"Hey guys, who's that?"

A simple question from Aqua did I finally look up and notice a figure in standing in front of the manor. It looked to be a girl with short black hair as the rest of her is covered in a cloak.

"Keep your guard up, she could be a bandit." That set the whole party on edge as we walk closer to the hooded figure. The girl in the cloak finally sees us approaching as she finally takes her hood off, showing us her face.

For some reason, I nearly choke on my saliva as I see who we're dealing with as a nervous sweat goes down my neck. The others around me stare in shock as Kazuma points his finger at the girl while stuttering, "W-why does th-this g-g-girl look just l-l-like M-M-Megumin?!"

That's right, this girl looked very similar to Megumin with the only difference is that she sports brown eyes instead of Megumin's red eyes. Upon closer inspection, under her cloak she's dressed like a high schooler back in Japan, same beige sweater with a white undershirt, dark blue skirt with thigh high stockings with formal brown shoes.

"Greetings, my name is Yuika Kusanabe, and I have some business with Jake-kun."

All eyes were on me as the only words I could bring out were something I don't know if I wanted to.

"Y-Yui-chan, what are you doing here?"

Aaand there we go. I know it's a bit short and rushed, but I got something in the works right now for the story so please leave a review so that I will get better. Also plz no flames. Thank you and see you next time!