"Who!? Oh."

'The hell was that!?'

After arriving slightly too late, Axel's outer walls seemed to be damaged in a bombing attack. However, in the chaos, some of the adventurers from the guild managed to track down where the demons were coming from, Keele's dungeon. Kazuma opted to nap outside the entrance while he waited for the rest of the guild to arrive.

"...Yearn for it all."

"Hm?"

"Nothing. Just had a weird dream. Is everyone here?"

"Yeah, I think I'll just stay outside for this one. My explosion isn't much use in there."

"Same here! I'll be outside with Megumin!"

Aqua put on a smile and hopped right next to her crimson demon friend.

"Yeah right. If I had an Eris for every time you and your stupid magic circles messed things up for us…I'd have uh, two Eris. Which isn't a lot, but I should strangle you for the fact that it happened twice!"

"Please don't make me go in there! The last time I was down there I almost got eaten alive! No more dungeons for me! No more dungeons!"

Kazuma sighed at the utter uselessness of it all in a scenario like this.

"Fine, if you're not going, I guess that means I can take your place. Come on Darkness, it's you and me."

"Hey look, its one of the demons from before!" One of the guild members shouted.

From the entrance of the dungeon, a toddler sized doll of sorts waddled out cutely.

"That's one of the so called demons from before?"

Don't be foolish, look at the mask it is wearing. Feel its energy

'Well, it definitely gives off a little demonic energy I guess. I don't know what the mask has to do with anything'

Vanir, one of the original generals

Kazuma stiffened his body, no longer treating this as a joke.

'What do you know about him, tell me everything'

He is a Duke of hell, meaning that it can be argued that his true power is even stronger than the former devil king himself. I don't know much other than the fact that his specialty lies in divination

'Divination? That's perfect! He can tell us everything we want to know. All this mystery has been a pain in my ass'


'The inside of this place is filled with these damn things'

Thankfully, he had a walking tank that threw herself into the forefront, gladly accepting the barrages of miniature bombs that clung to her within every corridor.

"Hey, I feel the main source from over here."

Kazuma and Darkness creeped into one of the final halls, where he spotted a tall masked man in a tuxedo shaping a doll out of clay.

'What intense demonic energy. That's him alright'

Not waiting for a cue, Darkness charged right on in, drawing her sword at the Duke of hell.

"So you're behind the attack on Axel!"

"Ah, the crusader. I didn't expect anyone other than Lord Sanguine here to get this far."

Kazuma felt his blood run colder than it already ran.

"Huh!? How could you possibly-"

"Welcome to my dungeon! That is right, I am the one behind the attack, a Duke of hell that commandeers over evil itself, and one of the Tyrant's four Lieutenants! Vanir!"

'The Tyrant? I think I've heard that before, yeah, in Verdia's journal!'

"What, you're not calling yourself generals anymore?"

"That is very simple, boy who was secretly jealous at the idea of your crusader being married off."

"W-what!?"

"Is, is that true Kazuma?"

'Now is not the time for this!'

"For you see, I am no longer considered a general, I, along with the others who stayed have been demoted as you will. The new generals are another breed entirely after all. I was only sent here to find a certain ditzy shopkeeper. I was hoping I could draw her out, but it seems like she didn't take the bait, what a shame."

"Your plan is over demon! You face a crusader now!"

"Plan? If I'm being honest, I couldn't care less about what plans the Tyrant has for Wiz, I am here because I have a dream of my own! To be the raid boss of my own dungeon! That's right, it would be full of traps and monsters. Then one day a skilled party would fight their way to the end, best me in combat, open the final chest TO REVEAL: a note that says 'You lose'. I could think of no better way to die!"

"..."

"..."

"The only problem is the magic circle in the next room, I can't even enter it!"

'Guess we're not the only one's inconvenienced by Aqua'

"Aqua? You wouldn't happen to mean?"

"Crap! He can read thoughts!"

"Let's have a closer look, shall we?"

His eyes began to glow a neon red as he cackled to himself.

"Oh..hehe, well well. That priest of yours, to think she would come down from the clouds. The Tyrant will want to know about this, oh yes, this little piece of information might be just the thing to reinvigorate that brooding pile of sadness from his depressed state!"

"So, you know the truth huh? Yeahhhh, can't let you leave this hallway alive."

Kazuma drew his winter katana and flared a crimson aura. Him and Darkness shared a nod before charging in together.

"Hahaha! So you're going to fight me at once! Oh what a taboo pair this is, the loyal follower of Eris and the vampire, one could make a story book about this!"

"Damn it! Stand still!"

While Darkness he could understand missing as usual, he found his annoyance grow with every swing that failed to reach its target. Unlike Sanguine, who's sheer speed and reflexes were tiers above him, Vanir moved like an inflatable tube man, bending his body in weird ways and impossible angles.

"How about the two of you drop this resistance and let your passions fly in the next room? I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Agh! Don't let him tempt you Darkness!"

"Why am I the one you think is being tempted!"

"Perhaps the boy is referring to the incident where you climaxed at the end of his grip from dark thoughts alone! Don't worry, you are not alone, for he has strong thoughts about you as well! You do not even realize how attracted he is to you!"

"I!? I!?"

Darkness' movements slowed immensely as all the blood in her body must have rushed to her face.

"God shut up shut up! SHUT UP! Just keep attacking!"

'Damn it, he's even slipping my tendrils like they're nothing! I have no choice but to go for those lanky ass legs of his'

Kazuma suddenly grabbed darkness by the arm and threw her at Vanir, which he easily sidestepped. In the second of time he was given, he raised his katana high into the sky and swung low at the now smiling demon.

Though it was Vanir who suddenly found himself confused, impaled by an enhanced arm that tore right through him.

"Kazumaaa! How dare you throw me!"

"Would you calm down, I had to create an opening for Jim Carrey here."

"B-but! I read your mind! Impossible!"

"Yeah that's the point idiot. After figuring out you could read minds, all I had to do was faint with my thoughts. I made it seem like I would go for your legs, so the moment you jumped, I was already in the motions of my actual attack."

"Heh, not bad my boy, not bad at all. But perhaps I can let you in on a secret?"

"Like what?"

Vanir motioned for Kazuma to lean in close, closer still.

"Never underestimate a demon!"

His body crumbled to dirt as his mask flew from his face and attached itself to Kazuma.

"Kazuma!"

"Bwahahaha! Did you think one hit was all it took to beat me!? I am Vanir, a Duke of-"


"Huh? What is this place?"

Vanir was speaking when he randomly found himself transported to a castle room of sorts. He still had Kazuma's body despite the change in location.

"Vanir, the one who sees all."

"Ah, there you are Sanguine. I thought I smelled a rat."

"Watch your tongue demon, this is my domain you stand in."

"A vampire lord should know better than to talk to a Duke of hell that way. Even one of your caliber."

"It's been many years since you and your band of fools have came to visit me. Don't think I haven't gotten stronger since then. As opposed to you, getting lazy and letting yourselves be defeated so easily."

"Says the bat that couldn't beat a single brat. That rhymes!"

"Enough. What do you know Vanir, tell me and perhaps I won't seal away your mask."

"Tch."

Vanir, who was relatively unafraid of 'death', had forgotten the vampire lord's ability to seal things within a pocket dimension, an empty void where time does not pass.

"We shouldn't fight Sanguine, is the goddess not an enemy of yours as well?"

"Not for now, no. She's a necessary tool of my vengeance."

"Your vengeance!? You mean you wish to battle the generals!? HAHAHA!"

"Hrrm. You sound so sure that they cannot be defeated. Tell me what you know."

"As if I would listen to your demands like some thrall!"

With Kazuma's body, Vanir clashed katana against rapier.


"Kazuma, hello? Maybe Aqua will know what to do." Deciding not to wait any longer, Darkness hoisted the vampire up onto her shoulders and waltzed back to the entrance.


Clash

Clang

"Not bad for a fool who clings to life."

"I'll survive to see my revenge, by any means necessary."

Vanir's demonic power enhanced Kazuma's physical strengths to another level. And with the boy's blood magic already surpassing the vampire lord, it was an uphill battle.

"Once I deal with you, this body will be mine and mine alone! Then i'll turn that disgusting priest over to the Tyrant king, and be rewarded a vampire themed dungeon, oh yes! It will be magnificent!"

"Don't you play games with me!"

He sped towards the demon with a forward stab which was parried, both of their swordsmanship at a comparable level, with neither able to get the upper hand.

Sanguine ignited a red sun in his hands, with Vanir doing the same.

"This blood magic is quite nifty I have to admit!"

When both of them clashed their orbs together, it reacted violently, exploding in a mass of red and white light, throwing each combatant around the room.

Sanguine disappeared from his place on the floor, and Vanir the same, followed by the sounds of metal upon metal as their steps echoed throughout the floors and walls of the castle.


"Ew! He smells like an actual demon."

"This mask attached itself to him, and he hasn't moved since."

"Kazuma looks so cool in it! I want one too! It appeals to my aesthetic."

Aqua tried pulling on it a bit, before her face lost all traces of comedy.

"I'd take this a little more seriously if I was you Megumin, I don't know if we can take the mask off without killing him."

"What!? What do you mean without killing him!?"

"Yes Aqua, I wish to know what you mean as well!?"

Darkness and Megumin both looked at Aqua with sudden desperation.

"Normally I could just purify it. Like if you were the one being controlled Megumin, it would sting a bit, or a lot, but that's about it. But…Kazuma is a vampire. The magic needed to free him would purify him in the process."

"Then, then you can resurrect him right? Like you did for Dust in the battle against the one-hit-kill bear!?"

"I'm not entirely sure if my resurrection would even work for a vampire. The problem is that if he's purified, there would be nothing left to resurrect."

Aqua, despite her antics and perceived disgust of Kazuma, spoke in a saddened tone herself.

"In that case, Megumin. Perhaps the only way could be-"

"Absolutely not! No way! With how strong my explosion is, what if I…what if I blast him to pieces!? I completely refuse!"

"Megumin, there is no other way. That demon has him. Darkness and I agree this is the best thing we can do for him. I'll do my best afterwards okay?"

She held her staff close to her body and tapped her fingers impatiently as she thoughts rushed through her mind.


Both fighters stood across from each other, heavily breathing.

"Hear that Vanir? They're going to kill Kazuma if you don't leave. That means you too."

"Oh please, as if I have a choice. The moment I leave this vessel, you are going to have him seal me away. I can read your every intention."

"Then perhaps we can find an arrangement. You do not actually care for this new devil king, this Tyrant or his plans as you said yourself. Wiz is currently staying in Axel, why not join us? Perhaps you would also seek revenge? You were at least somewhat loyal to the late king."

"Hmm, it's tempting. Although I have learned of those that…fail to live up to the Tyrants expectations. There's power at his disposal that even a Duke of hell cannot take lightly."

"Then how about we erase you from the world?"

"What do you- oh you sly old man."


"Aqua, you better be able to bring him back. If he dies, and you can't…I will never forgive you."

"Wha- How would that be my fault!?"

Unable to come up with an answer, she began to silently go through her incantation. Inwardly praying everything would come out alright. The other two girls did the same, as Kazuma's unmoving body simply laid in the middle of the clearing.

"Ex…PLOSION!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM

Closing her eyes to the resulting blast, she waited for the hot wind to die down before breaking off full sprint into the crater alongside the others.

The mask was now fully off, shattered in a few pieces off to the side of his body. Megumin recoiled slightly at all the burnt skin. She placed her ear to his stomach, then realized she was being silly as a vampire's heart doesn't physically beat.

"Aqua!"

"I can't tell if he's dead or not…but I guess its still worth a shot."

She placed her palms to his stomach, and a bright blue light shined from beneath her fingers.

"Alright, resurrection!"

"..."

"..."

Unsure on the state of their beloved friend, they all simply huddled around his unmoving body.

"Kazuma, come on Kazuma just get up already, this isn't funny."

"I told you that there was no way to tell if my magic could even work on him."

"Quiet! I'm going to wake him up, I just need some time."

Megumin went from lightly tugging at the sides of his vampiric collar, to full on shaking, her tears falling onto his face.


"Now isn't this a sight for sore eyes. I don't even know how I got here."

'The last thing I remember was Vanir's mask latching onto my face…then this'

"Kazuma Satou."

He lifted his head, seeing a beautiful girl dressed in a light purple dress, and long whiteish hair.

"Welcome to the afterlife. I'm Eris, the goddess who will guide you onto your new path."

'Wait a minute, I'm still a vampire, and this energy I'm sensing from her'

"Pfft, really, after all this time, you're Chris?"

"Huh!? But how-"

"You know I thought it was weird when Darkness' dad said that a thief girl showed up randomly after she kept praying at the church of Eris, but I guess it makes sense now."

"Ka-Kazuma, you can't tell anyone! Well, not like you're going back anyway. They should have known better than to allow you to keep your powers here…"

"So, am I really dead?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. In an attempt to free you from Vanir's grasp, they were forced to kill you. Though Aqua's resurrection will not work."

"But, but-"

"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can reasonably do. Since you were not born of that world, you'll have to be reborn on earth...of course you can also pass onto heaven if you so wish?"

"What!? No! I practically JUST got these powers like what? A few months ago? Thing's aren't exactly like I want them to be, since I'm still dealing with a party who's more trouble then they're worth sometimes. But they're my friends, I've been really enjoying my time here, how can I just let all of that go!?"

"I-"

"Please Eris, I had nothing on earth. Here, I have everything I could possibly want. I can't leave them."

"I'll do my best, to make sure that in your new life, that you're able to thrive, and have a long stable life."

Eris knew there was no point in arguing any further, and she stretched out her hand.

Kazuma saw her hand glow orange and he panicked. There had to be something, anything. He was growing desperate by the second, was he really going to leave them forever? Aqua? Darkness? Megumin!? The thought of her crying over his dead body filled his mind. The thought of them finding a new party leader, of her growing to move on from him, finding someone else.

'No, I don't want that! I can't! I WON'T!'

Kazuma flared his energy to the max, shaking the void around them and causing Eris to stumble and grab onto her chair for balance, and as his blood leaked out and pooled beneath his feet, it formed a circle. He grit his teeth and focused on his magic to the best of his abilities as he slowly began to descend into the circle beneath him, like the deep of the ocean.

Eris watched on in complete shock, unable to process how he was doing that.

'I don't care how I do it! I'm not leaving you guys! Never in a million years!'


His thoughts were broken by the worst coughing fit of his unlife.

"Kazuma!? KAZUMA!"

Not completely sure where he was, he simply laid back and enjoyed the triple threat of hugs and face nuzzles he received.

When he opened his eyes and saw the girls wrapped around him, he couldn't help but tear up. For a moment, he truly thought he had lost them. Not saying anything, he simply reached up and grabbed onto Megumin, who held him just as tight back.

"How?"

"Th-thirsty."

He didn't even realize until he tried to answer, but it was as if a significant portion of his blood levels were instantly depleted. He was beginning to lose his ability to think straight.

"Hmph, right now?"

"Please."

Aqua wiped her tears and unlatched herself from the boy with an "ewww" when she noticed him begin sucking the crimson demon's blood from their position on the ground.

Darkness watched on with a combination of relief that he was alive, but also realization that this was why he hasn't asked her for a donation recently.

"Alright, I'm good, disaster averted, you know it kinda taste like peaches…wait! What about Vanir?"

Darkness held up a couple broken pieces of the mask that was left nearby.

"Then it's done."

'Damn it, I was hoping to learn something from all this'

"Alright, let's go home."


Knock knock

"Yeah?"

"May I come in?"

"That you Megumin? Sure, what's up."

After the party returned, the news was spread that Kazuma, with the help of Megumin, had defeated yet another wanted enemy, this time the fearsome demon Vanir. Another 400 million Eris, along with the processing going through for their defeat of the destroyer meant that they were now comfortably above the billion Eris mark. They celebrated the victory well into the night, and thanks to Kazuma telling the entire guild Darkness' real name, she got her humiliating end of the bet. Towards the end, the party, sans Aqua, decided to head back home to rest a bit earlier than usual.

"I just, I wanted to apologize, I didn't mean to…you know."

"Hey, don't worry about it alright? Although if you feel bad about it you could also take another bath with me."

"Hmph, nice to see that dying had no effect on your degenerate behavior."

"Aaanyways, I gotta admit, I was a bit scared back there too, but it was the only way right?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Hey Kazuma?"

Megumin began twirling her fingers in unease.

"Yeah?"

"Today was kind of a fast day, you know? And I never got to ask you some things I wanted."

"Like?"

"Well, you know, earlier you and Darkness…and all the things she was saying, I just wanted to know if some of it was true, or if you and her, have something, I guess."

'Huh?'

"Are you jealous of Darkness?"

"What? Of course I am not. I'm just a member of this party, and I think I should be allowed to know what's going on with my fellow party members."

"Of course there's nothing going on between me and her. She's a good friend, just like you and Aqua."

"Ah. Yeah, a good friend…Hey Kazuma?"

'Is she leaning closer or is that just my imagination?'

"Y-yeah?"

"Don't you ever think, I mean like- Do you ever, ya know- Nevermind."

"Huh? Wait what?"

"I said nevermind, it's stupid anyway. But, I'm happy you're still here. Goodnight Kazuma."

"Yeah, goodnight I guess."

'What was that? She's totally jealous of Darkness! Oh my popular phase is coming in I know it!'


'The next morning, I decided to make the hard decision of letting Wiz know about Vanir's death. Being that they used to be comrades and all, I just hope she takes it well'

Kazuma gently opened the door, revealing a well suited masked annoyance in a pink apron with a shit eating grin.

"Ah! Hello boy who narrates his life in his thoughts! Did you really think that you could be the end of me? Vanir?"

"Morning Kazuma! I heard all about how your party defeated Vanir and received the bounty for him! I'm so happy for you!"

"Okay, let's take a step back and explain to me WHY HE IS STILL ALIVE!?"

"Alive again is more like it! That explosion was quite destructive, not even I could have escaped unscathed even if that was my intention. See my mask? I'm Vanir the second!"

"Seems like there's a bargain sale on coming back from the dead. Wait up, what do you mean if that was your intention?"

"Oh? Did that grumpy old vampire living in you not explain?"

'Oh there better be some explaining'

Its quite simple

"I can join in on this conversation too!"

Kazuma felt like he could explode any second.

Vanir was working for the new devil king, and due to a magic link placed on him, his location is broadcasted at all times. It can only be severed in the event of his death

"At first, he was trying to use the threat of Megumin's explosion as a means to get me to leave your body and have you seal up my mask, as he did not actually know about my ability to self resurrect."

Then I extended an invitation for him to join us, and suggested a possible way to break the chain

"I realized he must have figured out that I was harder to kill than I let on, and so I explained my ability in full. Moments before the detonation! And so here I am!"

"Wait, there was no possible way of knowing that I would have brought myself back from the dead!"

I've done it before, I was hoping you would instinctively pull it off if you had to

'Don't you think that's kind of a risk!?'

"And it paid off well!"

Wiz watched the conversation with complete confusion, feeling like her brain was going to melt at the odd combination of responses they were saying to each other, as well as the weird pauses where they simply stared off into nothing.

"You know what? Whatever, I'm not even mad anymore. But if you're really 'on our side' then I expect you to tell me everything I wanna know."

"Very well, I should state that I have a cursed placed on me that limits my ability to speak in detail about the Tyrant and his generals. Abilities, appearance, names, things of that nature are sadly, beyond my tongue."

"Typical."

"Yes, he is the extremely cautious type. Especially since one of the generals was defeated in an invasion attempt on the crimson demon village a few years ago."

"Wait, does the name Dev mean anything to you? Dev the god killer?"

"I'm surprised you have a name to begin with. But yes, she is the very general that led that attack to begin with!"

"So that girl that Megumin mentioned, that was Dev?"

'But the journal said that all generals combined couldn't beat her, how strong are the crimson demons!?'

"There are four generals in total, each one stronger than the devil king."

"I'm sorry wha?"

"We shared the same body, so I know better than anyone, If you were to even fight the weakest of the four in your current state, you would be crushed with a single finger."

"Well that's just great…is there anything useful you can tell me?"

"Hmm, I can tell you about the whereabouts of the remaining three lieutenants?"

"The remaining three eh?"

"Correct. Hanz, Sylvia, and Wolfbach."


"Alright, we're all here. Megumin, did you bring the picture?"

"Yeah, here."

Kazuma was unsure what to expect, A title like 'god killer' is used to evoke fear, but after learning that this god killer was turned into a waifu, made him all the more curious.

"...Well…looks a bit more uh…casual than I expected."

The drawn depiction of Dev was that of a smug girl in a school girl uniform. Black thigh highs, extremely short skirt, blazer, everything. Dev herself had long, pink, braided hair that seemed to be longer than her body, as well as bangs.

What had Kazuma's attention was the jagged toothy smile, loli fangs and the yandere eyes. Complete with a set of, horns? This was definitely fanart that's for sure. He almost didn't wanna take it seriously, but given how insane things in this world are, he's not even surprised.

"Well, thanks to a source, I just learned that this is Dev, one of the four generals of the Tyrant king, as I will now be referring him to. One of Dev's underlings, a former general called 'Hanz' is currently on a mission to destroy the city known as Arcanletia."

Aqua stood up from her chair and slammed her hands on the table.

"What!?"

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because it's MY city! The city of water! Helloooo, remember who I am!?"

"Wait, so are we going to Arcanletia?"

Megumin sounded oddly excited.

"Look I don't know what the deal with the city is, but if this Hanz guy is skulking around there, then we're going after him. Any questions?...then start packing."