Winter Woes
Part 1
Three-headed Lizards. Compared to other members of their species they were considerably slower, but also bigger and more resilient. So much so that they actually were present in all climates, but since they were a big target of adventurers they specialized on hunting in winter, as they were usually safe in the season. And as the name implies, they also had three heads, with three rounds of sharp teeth to accompany them.
They hunted on sizable packs, but specifically on winter they had to find a safe place to make a nest as their eggs were quite prized by predators, humans the biggest threat.
Females (who were bigger and stronger than males) protected the nest alone, but many young were left accompanying her and were actually one of the biggest threat to adventurers.
"So that's the nest, huh? It certainly looks concealed. I wonder how they managed to spot it."
Kazuma sat atop a snowy hill. On the side of a mountain lied the nest, but at a simple glance the snowy and rocks hid it's entrance and you would likely only notice it if you were looking for them.
"The eggs of the Three-headed Lizards are very searched for. Many winter specials are made with those eggs. And the meat of the lizard is very tasty too. You have to taste them after this quest Kazuma!"
Megumin was quite interested in collecting as many eggs as she could. So much that she even said she would withheld from using Explosion and Detonate, so that she didn't accidentally destroy the eggs. She was so exited that she almost drooled.
Aqua and Darkness were besides him and checking for provisions. They still sometimes sent a worried gaze his way, but he had managed to calm himself down, and his resolve had never been stronger. They were going to complete the quests, even if it meant he wasn't the MVP or getting all of the exp, he was not link to be the weak link in his party.
"The males hunt for food and deliver it outside the cave and then leave to continue hunting, so we most likely only have to face the female and all of the little ones."
Darkness was clad in her full crusader armor. Kazuma asked how she dealt with the cold but she just gave one of her perverted answers so Kazuma left the matter alone. The area they were going too wasn't that cold so they weren't full of winter-wear, but they did have some so tat they didn't freeze. Kazuma specially, winter and cold weren't something a shut-in form Japan really liked facing.
"I was really worried when Kazuma went crazy and started picking multiple quests, people usually only pick one at a time, failing bring penalties you know? Kazuma is a shut-in NEET with zero social skills so I thought he probably didn't know that. But I'm glad you're just fired up."
The mix complement and insult from Aqua almost felt refreshing to Kazuma. He had really taken the words of that drunk to seriously but he couldn't help it. At least in some way he had searched for more ways to become more useful to the team…
After confirming that they would take the quests, Kazuma stormed out of the adventurers guild, bringing Aqua along with him to a certain place.
He left Darkness and Megumin to deal with the aftermath at the guild. Barely anyone took multiple quests at once, and in winter, when barely any quests were taken if they could be avoided? Kazuma thought that taking multiple high level quests was a really good power move.
The guild lady looked thankful that someone was going to tackle those difficult quests, but at the same time she look worried for Kazuma. That such a girl was worried about his well being was enough to calm him a little more.
As he went along with the unusually quiet Aqua, Kazuma let his thought run rampant.
The balance in our party is bad. The good points are obvious.
Aqua was excellent as an Arch-priest, Darkness, the tank in the party, is tough and strong and could deal with many foes alone.
Megumin's instant damage output was higher than most other mages, and could often resolve the problem with one spell. Her other spells were also nothing to scoff at, instead being quite powerful when compared to others.
But while certainly good, all of them lacked in something.
They weren't flexible enough.
Darkness and Megumin were great damage dealers, and Aqua could be one too. But in terms of support skills they had one piece lacking. Aqua filled that role well as a healer and a status caster, but more support skills were always required for an expert party.
And thus, Kazuma had to learn skills and fight. The later could be left to the other, but he didn't want to be left behind. However, he had the weakest job, 'adventurer', what was generally considered a stepping stone to reach other jobs. And so he wouldn't be getting super strong no matter how hard he worked.
He wanted skills. And at the moment he wanted offensive skills.
He had some skill points saved, and he also had just leveled up with the White Wolves, so he came to this store.
"All right, we're here. Listen Aqua, let me be clear, don't make a mess or act violently. And don't use any magic, understand?"
This was a tiny shop that sold magic items.
Aqua looked at the sign of the shop at him and confusedly tilted her head.
"Hey, why are you‒ err, w-well so agitated for? I am a goddess, you know? A holy being. I won't do anything reckless."
She probably would have been complaining nonstop, but since she was still worried, and noticed he was still on edge, she behaved more calmly.
The bell on the door rang crisply as they entered, announcing the arrival to the owner.
"Welcome… Ahhh!?"
"Ahhh!? You finally showed up, damn undead! You dare set up shop here!? You're getting too full of yourself, lich! I'll burn your store down in the name of the gods!"
Despite reassuring him and attempting to not anger him, Aqua ended up forgetting all that when she saw the owner. Already pretty stressed, Kazuma used the hilt of his sword to knock on the head of Aqua.
Ignoring Aqua who was sulking in a corner with her hands on her head, Kazuma greeted the frightened owner.
"Yo, Wiz. I came to visit."
Part 2
Being his first time in a magic item shop, Kazuma toured around it, toying with the merchandise. He picked up a small bottle and checked it out.
"Ah, that'll explode on strong impact, so please be careful."
"Ah? Seriously!?"
He put the bottle back in a panic and reached for another bottle beside it.
"Ah, that one will explode if you open the cap, so…"
He again placed that bottle back gently, and picked up the one besides it.
"What about this one?"
"It'll explode when it touches water."
"… How about that one?"
"It explodes when heated…"
"Does your shop only sell explosives?!"
"No no no! All the explosive bottle series just happen to be on that rack!"
"Fufufu…! Of course one would expect such hopelessness from a lich! I still don't know why we're spending time in this shop in the first place, but at least I get to see how much of a lost cause she is…!"
Aqua, who was picking on Wiz, had net relented on harassing her one bit. She demanded tea from her and now she was bullying her to tears.
While terrified of Aqua beyond belief, Wiz was quite attentive of Kazuma, and while she was still meek and somewhat shy (probably also due to Aqua), she acted quite tranquil around him.
"Sorry to bother you but… Um, Kazuma-san… I heard that you purchased a mansion and moved there recently. Is this true?"
Wiz looked much better and composed talking to him than to Aqua, who was still drinking the tea Wiz had poured for her.
"You heard about that? But yeah we did, we purchased a large mansion and are now living there. But how did you…?"
"Don't worry, the state agent that sold you the mansion is an old acquaintance of mine. He told me every detail. I must say that it's great it has been settled this way. She definitely won't be lonely now."
Wiz said something Kazuma didn't understand as she smiled at him. For some reason she was very happy at hearing about his acquisition of the mansion.
Maybe she's just happy that we also have place to stay ourselves? She is the most kind girl I've seen since coming to this world…
"I suppose that Wiz is a shopkeeper so she must have ties with other business around here… Anyway I think we're getting sidetracked."
He ignored Wiz small talk and cut to the chase.
"Wiz, you mentioned this before, right? You said you can teach me some of the skills of a lich. I have some skill points now, so could you teach me something?"
"Puu!"
"Hyaaa!"
After hearing what he said, Aqua spat the tea in her mouth all over Wiz. An incredible feat, as she was being blocked by Kazuma, yet he wasn't hit.
"Hey, what are you thinking, Kazuma!? The skills of a lich? You say you want to learn a lich's skills!? I was wondering what you said to her after taking this woman's name card! The skills of a lich are all evil! It would be bad if you learned such skills! Listen, liches are basically the relatives of slugs that like dark and wet places!"
"H-how mean!"
Hearing Aqua's definition, Wiz was finally fully in tears.
"No, I don't care if liches are the relatives or siblings of slugs or whatever. It's normally impossible to learn skills from a lich, right? I feel that if I learn these skills, I might be able to increase my‒No; The combat potential of our party. Despite what that drunk said, you should understand that with my current powers, I can't hardly keep on with the rest of the team, specially when facing powerful foes or a large number of enemies, right?"
"But… As a goddess, I can't stand my servant learning the skills of a lich…"
Aqua was still complaining after hearing his words, but relented. Kazuma had learned from the time they spent together that she barely could read the mood, yet she seemed to understand his motives, and chose to respect his determination.
Hearing Aqua's grumbles, Wiz asked hesitantly.
"'As a goddess'…? Um, I was almost destroyed when you used Turn Undead… Could it be, you're a real goddess?"
Ah, crap.
If you wanted to ask what the real identity of Aqua was, a monster like a lich would know best.
Kazuma mentally noticed how she barely acted like a real goddess, yet she was without a doubt packing the powers of one.
"You could say that. You probably won't spread this around, so I shall tell you. I'm Aqua. That's right, the goddess revered by the Axis Sect, Aqua. Mind your manners, lich!"
"Eek!"
Wiz made a face of terror Kazuma had never seen before and hid behind him, her lick puppy eyes pleading him for protection.
After all, for liches, an existence like a god was like their nemesis.
"Hey Wiz, I know that undead and goddesses are akin to oil and water, but you don't need to fear her that much."
Kazuma consoled her, but Wiz kept holding his arm. Kazuma felt guilty he didn't do anything to push her away, but she had inadvertently pressed her large chest against his arm. For a virgin like him, that was something he should capitalize to the maximum or suffer in regret the rest of his days.
"No, I don't mean it that way… I heard that the Axis cultists have mental problems, so it's best not to get involved with them. That's part of the common sense of the world. And she said she was the goddess of that cult, so I…"
"What did you say!?
"Sor-Sorry!"
"… Sigh, the topic isn't progressing at all…"
Wiz separated from him at last, though he doubted that she noticed what he'd done. Kazuma decided to keep his head on the game instead of any distractions chased Aqua to the side, letting her browse the items in the shop.
She obediently shopped around, picking up some potions randomly and sniffing inside.
Kazuma kept an eye on her as he continued talking to Wiz.
"Speaking of which, I heard recently that Kazuma-san and his party defeated Beldia-san. That Beldia-san was a powerful swordsman among the Demon King's Generals, you know? You guys are amazing."
She said that with a gentle smile.
Ah… she's truly looking out for our exploits, shes so sweet worrying about… Wait what?
"'That Beldia-san'? It sounds as if you were acquainted. Did you know each other because you're both undead?"
In the face of his query, Wiz said in an idle manner.
"Ah, I didn't make this clear before, I'm also a General of the Demon King's army."
She said with a giggle, as if saying that was the most normal thing to her, and that he was his most trusted confidant.
"Catch her!"
Oblivious that was not so.
Aqua who was browsing the merchandise suddenly pounced on Wiz, once again leaping from across the shop and avoiding Kazuma in her trajectory.
"Wait! Aqua-sama, please let me explain!"
Wiz who was pinned down by Aqua wailed. Aqua wiped the sweat from her cheeks and reported her victory.
"This is great, Kazuma! We'll be know was the party that defeated two Demon King Generals! Not just that, we'll become even richer! Never mind buying a mansion here in Axel, we could move in to the capital!"
Aqua joyously shouted.
Kazuma wasn't surprised at the sudden turn of events, already becoming numb to the abnormalities of the new world, but he still felt strangely hurt that Wiz just said that. He squatted down and looked at Wiz who was subdued by Aqua.
"Hey Aqua, let's hear her out… Um, what does being a General mean? If you are a spy of the Demon King, as adventurers, we can't let you off…"
After hearing this, Wiz explained in tears.
"That's not it! I was asked by the Demon King to maintain the barrier to the Demon King's castle! I've never harmed anyone before. You won't get any rewards for defeating me!"
"I don't know what you're saying, but we should play it safe and destroy you."
"Wait a moment, Aqua-sama!"
Wiz screamed again.
Thankfully Kazuma hurriedly stopped Aqua who had started chanting.
"Eh, what do you mean? Is it like the cliche in video games, where the main character opens a path to the Demon King's castle after defeating all the Generals? And Wiz is the one in charge of maintaining that barrier?"
"I don't know what video games are, but that's it! It was the Demon King who requested this of me. Because I didn't want to stop running a shop in human territory, the only thing he asked me to do as a General was to maintain the barrier! He said no one would suspect that a General of the Demon King would set up a shop in a human town, so the barrier would be safe!"
"Which means humans can't attack the Demon King's castle if you're alive. This will give us plenty of trouble. Kazuma, let's do away with her."
Upon hearing Aqua's words, Wiz wailed.
"Wait, please wait! With Aqua-sama's power, you could easily break through the barrier created by 2 or 3 Generals! But there are 8 Generals in the Demon King's army, so there will still be 6 Generals even if you defeat me. Even Aqua-sama can't break through the barrier of 6 Generals! If you want to attack the Demon King's castle, you'll have to defeat the other Generals. I beg you, please don't kill me before you take out the other Generals…! I have some things I need to take care of…"
Facing Wiz crying from under her, Aqua made an awkward expression.
She would glance at Kazuma every now and then, observing his condition. Kazuma deduced that despite the big words, she didn't have the heart to go through her threats after listening to her, and that she wanted him to make the decision.
"Eh, I think that should be fine. Even if we defeat Wiz now, the barrier would still be intact, and the barrier can only be dispelled after all the Generals are defeated. But with Aqua here, we could break through the barrier without taking out all the Generals, right? Then we'll just need to wait for someone to take out the other Generals other than Wiz."
To be honest, Kazuma was quite thankful to have an ally like gentle Wiz on his side. Since he was determined to prove his worth and assert his main-character status over all the other adventurers, like when he'd done to the Sword Master Mitsurugi. He would come on top of him and his magic sword–people who were transported here with blessings.
Besides, with Wiz here, the barrier would be intact and they couldn't get to the Demon King if they could, and she has inside information too. I'll have to ask her later.
Kazuma was quite a greedy and proud man. In the games he used to play in his old world, he always loved when he crushed gaming tournaments, or when he dueled or challenged dungeons in a MMORPG and came on top or always got the best loot. While he definitely stopped thinking of this world like a cool fantasy since long ago, and while he tried to not think about it like a game, he still had a pride as a player that he had to uphold. And he would do anything to do so.
Wiz, who didn't see through his despicable schemes, smiled after hearing his words. Kazuma treacherous thoughts were abandoned in favor for consideration of the kind Wiz.
"But, would that really be okay? The Generals of the Demon King are Wiz's acquaintances, right? Won't you get angry at us for defeating Beldia?"
Wiz pondered for a moment and said: "Beldia-san and I weren't on great terms… He rolled his head under my skirt to peek at me whenever I took strolls."
Ah that's right. I did hear something like that from him…
"There's only one person who was on good terms with me among the Generals, and that person probably won't die so easily… Also as of now, I have decided to live as a human."
As Wiz spoke, she had a lonely smile. Even Aqua seemed to question the motives behind it, but surely she didn't grasp them, because while Kazuma pondered the meaning hidden behind Wiz words, and what an important scene this was, she‒
"Whatever. I can't resist the pungent smell of lich for so long. Let's finish what we came for fast, alright?"
‒destroyed the mood as always.
Part 3
"Eh, well then, I'll display all the skills I have once, take note of anything you want to learn. You let me go the previous time too, so consider this as a sign of my gratitude…"
After Wiz finished, she seemed to be thinking of something, and looked back and forth between Kazuma and Aqua with a panicked face.
"What is it?"
Wiz looked at Aqua timidly.
"Well, I doubt that you can my magic, as most of it is intermediate and advanced. And I can't use my skills without a target. Which means… If no one can be my target…"
I get it, so that was why.
"Hey, Aqua, do it."
"Ah? A mere undead wants to use her skills on me?"
Facing Aqua's intimidation, Wiz took a few steps back in fear.
"Eh… How about the skill Drain Touch? Ah, I'll just drain a little health! For Kazuma-san to learn this skill, I just need to drain just a tiny bit to show the effect, and he'll probably learn it! I doubt I can use any other lich skills on Aqua-sama anyway!"
Wiz explained in a panic. Aqua showed a devious smile. One was a powerful lich, the other a goddess. Both were powerful people. But unlucky for the first, the later is a perfect counter against it.
"It's fine, no problem. Drain as much as you like, come!"
Aqua extended her hand and Wiz timidly took it.
"Um, excuse me… Hmm? What's happening?"
Kazuma didn't understand what was happening, and it was a surprise to Wiz too.
"Oh, my, is everything okay? Didn't you want to drain my health and mana? Oh, my, you're a top-tier undead, but you can't even use Drain Touch?"
Unlike the arrogant 'Goddess' Aqua, Wiz looked as if she was going to cry at any moment.
"What, what's happening–!?"
It seemed like Aqua was resisting her, not letting her drain any energy. So Kazuma silently and swiftly slapped the back of her head.
"Ouch! Hey, don't interrupt me Kazuma! This is a battle between a lich and a goddess! I'm an elite among the goddesses, how could I let her drain me so easily?!"
"Come on, I won't be able to learn the skill like this, just let her drain a little… Sorry Wiz, this girl keeps on finding trouble with liches because of the nature of her job."
Kazuma apologized to Wiz on Aqua's behalf as she would lower herself to do so. Wiz shook her head strongly.
"It's, it's fine! It's, it's because I'm a lich…"
Kazuma apologetically asked Wiz to display her skill again.
"Well then, excuse me…"
Wiz took Aqua's hand and used Drain Touch once more.
Drain Touch was a skill unique to the undead, capable of draining an opponent's health and mana. At the same time, it allowed one to share their health and mana with another.
By using this skill well, Kazuma might be able to make up for his lack of offensive power. Besides it also worked for support, so Kazuma was still retaining his other position.
After watching Wiz's skill, he checked his adventurer's card. A skill called Drain Touch appeared on the card.
Surprisingly only being worth one skill point, Kazuma learned the skill without hesitation.
"Wiz I did it! I learned Drain Touch!"
"You did?! I-I mean; That's great Kazuma-san!"
Wiz seemed surprised that he learned the skill so easily. Probably she never taught a lich skill to an Adventurer before, so she tough that it would have taken more tries to demonstrate it.
"I suppose since I had previous knowledge of similar skills from video games, it wasn't hard for me to picture it…?"
"Um, I don't really know what 'video games' are but… Aqua-sama? It's fine now, could you release your hand‒ The hand that you're grabbing is turning numb, please let go!"
After Aqua heard what Wiz said, she held onto Wiz's right hand tightly, using her other free hand to grab Wiz too. She ignored her and smiled in Kazuma's way.
"Well, I guess that the shut-in NEET wisdom you gathered really came in handy huh? Congratulations Kazuma."
"Ah, Aqua-sama? Um, my hand is hot… Also, it hurts, it hurts! Aqua-sama, my body is gradually… Being purified and evaporating! I'm disappearing, Aqua-sama! I'll disappear if this goes on!"
Part 4
Wiz had told Kazuma a lot of things about Drain Touch despite looking like she was about to disappear at any moment.
Drain Touch allowed him to drain health and mana from an opponent. Wiz told him that he could choose to only drain health or mana if he wished to. She advised him to use the health with caution as it was very potent. And while monsters have quite the big amount of health, beings like humans are quite vulnerable to getting their life force totally drained and dying.
Draining mana on the other hand, would just cause the target to fall over defenseless, something he was already very familiar to thanks to Megumin Explosion fetish. And while absorbing health will just recover his own, absorbing mana could be safely transferred to another target.
"Such a versatile skill. I'm liking it already. Thanks again Wiz."
"Ugh, do you have to keep bringing up that lich every time? Focus on the mission!"
While he wanted to tell Aqua off, he opted to stay silent. They were in the middle of infiltrating the Three-headed Lizard nest. Kazuma used lurk to approach it while everyone else held onto him so that the effect would be shared.
The nest of the lizards was safely hidden inside a cave, covered with rocks and wood that with the help of the snow hid itself pretty well.
But what didn't hid itself at all was the mother.
It was resting on the white hill guarding the entrance to the nest. Even while on a sleeping position Kazuma could tell it was massive. It had to be at least 3 meters tall. And with an equally large body to hold her 3 heads.
And yet that wasn't the most dangerous thing between them and the eggs.
The normal eye would probably miss them, but Kazuma had his Enemy Detection skill, and it reacted like crazy. They were many. Too many to even count.
They were little compared to the massive mother, the largest only reaching to Kazuma's hip. The fur they had was white just as the snow unlike the dark one their mother had; and of them only a few had even more than one head, even fewer reached three. But they were easily more than 40. Some were playing, others were sleeping. And other were keeping guard.
"K-Kazuma! I can't hold it! Please! Let me use Explosion! Just look how many they are. And the scenery too. I would be marvelous! C'mon Kazuma please!"
"How many times do I have to say it to you? If you do that then the eggs will also be destroyed! Didn't you agree earlier? What's with you now?"
Megumin began to grumble about how it wasn't fair now that she saw how many they were but Kazuma put a stop to it once more.
"Listen, the most you can cast is a Detonate, and that's only when I tell you. I have a plan so don't go ruining it to get your kicks."
Darkness, who had been surprisingly silent for the duration of their close up looked at him with a mixture of feelings in her eyes.
"You sure are determined to perfectly complete this mission aren't you Kazuma? I like seeing you this diligent after lazing around for so long, but I also feel kind of nervous about this whole deal… Although that fiery gaze of yours is very exiting… Nghhh‒!"
That's why I'm the leader of this party. I'm the only one who is not crazy.
Of course, what Kazuma was about to do would be considered crazy to almost any normal adventurer in Axel. After all, if the him from before knew he was about to abandon a chance of an easy sneak mission in favor of a frontal assault, he would have called himself crazy too.
"Canister-blast!"
The young lizards heard the shout coming from on top of a rock and placed their attention to it. The ones who had been taking guard were surprised by the sudden apparition, but were entrances by the fiery sphere that danced in the air. It came their way, and suddenly exploded into many more small balls that reached them.
The fast ones dodged, but tho distracted ones or the ones awakening from napping were hit directly. From the smaller projectiles hitting the ground small detonation erupted around them. In one swift spell, those near the radius of the it were completely decimated.
"Nice shot Megumin!"
Aqua gave a thumbs up to Megumin which she returned, not before witnessing the aftermath.
The surprise attack was effective, but the little lizards numbers were still high. The ones that evaded the spell cried for their mother, who had already began to wake up after the thunder from Megumin blast.
It was about two times Darkness height, and while it didn't have any arms, the massive body, long tail and three-now very awake heads to make up for that.
"Now Darkness. Go!"
Darkness obeyed Kazuma's command and ran in straight line to the Lizard mother. The little lizards launched themselves at her in such a manner that anyone in their right mind would turn their tail and run. Nut not Darkness.
She kept running at full speed like a steam locomotive, even squashing many of the little critters that put themselves in front of her. She also lashed her sword with reckless abandon, but managing to hit true many of the lizards and felling them in one hit.
The mother saw the blonde Crusader heading for her and in turn began to approximate Darkness too. The later raised her sword to swing at one of the heads of the mother, but was intercepted by another head, who trapped it in it's teeth. The other two heads launched themselves at full force at her other arm and her shoulder respectively, while the horde of little ones began biting on her legs.
Kazuma ignored the fact that Darkness had been panting and moaning with excitement through the whole ordeal and focused on the fact that while trapped, not even the mothers bite was able to penetrate Darkness defenses, less so the little ones.
And they seemed to take notice of this too. With the exception of two or three, the pack of lizards rushed to the other source of attacks while their mother kept Darkness in place.
"Canister-blast!"
Another round of little projectiles reached the feet of the lizards and once again they were sent flying due to the force of the spell. Still with their superior numbers they kept on their charge towards Megumin. Except this time…
"Kazuma, Kazuma! Look!" Aqua pointed at the coming threat.
"Yes I'm Kazuma." Kazuma didn't have a good vision of the lizards with their white being contrasted by the snow, but he could tell that they were now keeping a respectable distance from one another, so that they would not be hit by Megumin so easily.
They're actually quite smart huh? But I have a plan…!
"Take this! Create Water!"
Kazuma chanted Basic Magic, creating large amounts of water with lots of mana. The water flowed down the rocks they were on and onto the snow.
Just as the water had finished falling, he shouted, "Freeze!" and used all his might to use beginner ice magic.
The water that fell on the rocks and even on the snow turned themselves into a layer of thin ice were the lizards slipped on and fell everywhere. They were separated but due to the slipping and sliding in the ice most of them ended up uniting into a pile of slipping bodies.
"Kazuma did it! Now Megumin, hit them!"
Megumin flicked her cape and aimed her staff at them.
"Forces of Darkness listen well! I beseech thee to come forth and smite the foe before me! Detonate!"
The large explosion was more than enough to destroy the pile of small creatures that had fallen on the ice. Nd just like that, they had been defeated.
"Ah Kazuma!"
Except it wasn't all of them.
Ten or so still remained after Megumin and Darkness attacks, but they had regrouped and were gunning for Megumin again. In fact, three lunged themselves at her with all of their force.
"Wind Breath!"
A strong gust of wind from Kazuma flew away the lizards coming, clearing Megumin from attack.
"Aqua, Megumin. Go help Darkness, I'll finish this ones!"
He hard their replies as they scurried of to help Darkness who was still struggling with the mother. Kazuma took his sword and began chopping at the remaining lizards. They were small and so most fell in one swing of his sword, but compared to Darkness, he didn't have any inhuman defense to defend from the large amounts of hungry bites coming his way.
"Hrgg‒!" Six of the lizards were left and one of them managed t take a big bite of his leg. He had made Aqua cast him some strength buffs earlier, so he kicked it away with all his might after being bit.
"I guess it's time to break out my new skill!" A lizard launched itself at him and Kazuma grabbed the monster by it's neck. "Drain Touch!"
Kazuma saw the lizard eyes stare at him in primal anger for a second before the life slipped out of them. At the same time he felt some of the bits begging to cure themselves, like he received one of Aqua healing spells. Of course the life-force of the lizards wasn't enough to cure all of his wounds, and he didn't have any mana, which was bad since Kazuma had used quite a lot of it.
Kazuma took the momentum to strike at the remaining lizards, who meet similar dooms. Just about he was t regain his breath…
"Hyaaa! Kazuma! Help!"
Aqua's scream turned him to the mother. He had been so focused on finishing the little guys that he overlooked the mother. One of her heads, the leftmost one, was no more; as it had been scorched along with good part of its body, presumably by Megumin, who was starting to show sings of exhaustion. Looking at the field, he could tell that Megumin had missed quite a big number of spells, so the mother had probably dodged many of them.
Darkness had been thrown into the nearby rocks, but had all of her equipment in place and without any bite mark to visualize that an attack had been done on them just now. But she was buried beneath a big pile of debris, so she was virtually trapped.
Aqua was next to Megumin coming practically face to faces to the twin-headed lizard. Kazuma could tell that Megumin was chanting another spell and that her and Aqua had the beast full attention. So he ran with all his might towards it.
His leg wasn't fully healed from getting the health of the little lizards, and so he ran with a limp leg, but nonetheless he ran as fast as he could. The mother didn't seem to notice him running towards her, as both of her remaining heads were carefully scrutinizing Aqua and Megumin. And so he managed to reach the tail of the monster and use Drain Touch on it.
The monster instantly noticed that her life was being sapped away from it. It began swinging it's tail in an attempt to shake off Kazuma, but he managed to keep his grasp firm thanks to Aqua's buff to his strength.
Unlike the little ones, the mother had tons on tons of health even after receiving great damage from Megumin. Kazuma felt his leg heal completely over taking the Mother abundant life-force. Wiz wasn't exaggerating over how strong the skill was. The lizard would most likely found a way to shake him off even with the buff if it wasn't for the fact it was really wounded. In little time her movements became more erratic and desperate. One of her head attempted to spin around and take him off but it was already too late. She fell down in exhaustion after one final attempt to kick him away failed. A few more second and the monster stopped moving.
Kazuma breathed a sigh of relief and wiped his brow. Ha had managed to take down a huge monster thanks to his plans. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction. But he was far from done.
He turned to see his teammates. Aqua and Megumin were also celebrating that he had taken the huge monster, and Darkness was still under the rocks.
"Aqua, could you check on that pervert over there please? Let's go Megumin, we have some eggs to collect."
Part 5
They had camped out in the open. The cold of winter was strong so Kazuma would had normally returned to town after finishing the more hard-than-normal quest, but he had other two to finish.
The people collecting the Three-headed Lizard eggs and bodies arrived faster than usual. The guild usually collected the remain left, but this were private couriers that told them that everyone that took quest for the eggs was closely followed by them so that they could collect the eggs as soon as they could.
With no reason to return to town, Kazuma told his group that they were going to finish not just only another quest, but both of them. They were worried about staying outside in the winter for such a large period, as almost all but dungeon exploration parties considered that suicide. But Kazuma was determined, and knowing the weak-points of a chuuni a masochist and an airhead, he easily convinced them.
Since the quest for the Three-headed Lizard eggs was quite far from town, they had all of the supplies required to spend time outside. The only thing that they were lacking was willpower.
"What is that NEET thinking making us spend the night in this cold? I'm a goddess! I shouldn't have to endure this environment! He should treat me better and build me a cozy shelter or something!"
Kazuma had left to gather wood. The three teammates were wrapped in blankets around a campfire. It wasn't really that cold, but Aqua had still snagged a bigger number of them. They had began cooking some lizard meat (courtesy of the couriers), and were talking while their leader left.
"He really has been acting weird hasn't he? I know he somewhat dislikes working too much, so seeing him take so many quests at once is really out of character for him. And then he also decides to attack the Three-headed Lizards directly? Knowing him he would probably looked to do a sneak extraction of the eggs."
Megumin sipped on a cup of hot tea that Kazuma had brewed for them. Darkness did the same and spoke:
"He had been very fired up recently. And I agree he has really being acting not like Kazuma would. He hasn't reprimanded us that harshly since then. No, he's barely reprimanded us at all. I've noticed how he didn't lash out his rage and frustration on m– us, as he usually does."
Aqua and Megumin gave Darkness some weird looks when she admitted to keeping tabs on the time's they cause Kazuma's anger, which of course made her squirm a little. She continued nonetheless.
"H-he even convinced Luna to take three quests with all of that determination. But I thought it would end there. Remember how had we had to ask for him to do a quest? But now he acts like this… Do you think that he's still…?"
"I don't think so. The NEET probably got over confident after defeating that big lizard with that dumb skill. He probably is riding the excitement wave. He will return to being a lazy bum in no time you'll see."
"But remember that he himself ordered us to not kill the lizard if possible. He was already set to do that."
Aqua fell silent at Megumin rebuttal. She was about to say more but then saw Kazuma return with more firewood. They all silently stared at him as he added it to the fire and kept on doing the meats.
"Alright. The next quest we're doing is defeating the Frozen Warriors. Do you know anything about them?"
Aqua humphed and set her cup down.
"Frozen Warriors are a type of undead. They are the remains of adventures who go on quests during winter and die here. The winter spirits turn them into a special kind of undead when they rise." Kazuma felt a chill run down his spine after hearing the ominous reason behind the monsters. And while it did set him the wrong way, he wasn't about t give up on them.
"They are stronger and retain most of their skills they had as adventurers. They form groups after some time, and their numbers can become very big very fast."
Megumin nodded at Aqua's explanation and said:
"They are quite infamous among other monsters as adventurers usually have trouble taking down monsters that were adventurers too. Besides if they were skilled they could become very strong threats to take on."
Darkness's eyes glazed for a second but she blinked quickly and added to the dialogue.
"Indeed. And usually they gather around the winter or ice spirit that created them or catches their fancy. And while like most undead they aren't very smart, if a spirit guides them it could be all that more dangerous."
She stared into the distance, no doubly imagining some perverted ice fantasies.
"Haah. I wonder how the battle will turn out…"
"I have a very big feeling of déjà vu right now…"
"Yeah. Me too."
"Wahhh! What are you all doing just standing there! This isn't the first time this happened so come help me!"
As if it had become her gimmick, Aqua was being chased by the Frozen Warriors while screaming and wailing all around the snowy landscape.
Despite this, none of her teammates were worried for her safety in the slightest. Compared to the Undead Knights that were enhanced by the Demon Lord, the frozen warriors were not really threatening to Aqua.
In fact she herself had been casting Turn Undead all over the place, hitting the warriors directly and unlike the last time, affecting them.
As expected of a spell from Aqua, the warriors hit, and even those close around had their souls purified and their frozen bodies crumbled into pieces.
The Frozen Warriors, unlike most other undead, had their bodies and armor completely covered in ice, barely leaving any parts uncovered. This didn't prevent them from moving around normally (albeit a bit slower) and most importantly, wielding their weapons and magic.
The biggest threat of the Frozen Warriors was that they retained most of their skill gained when alive, and usually joined together forming varied parties. The group of Frozen Warriors here was very large, and so there were multiple ones with different jobs and weapons.
But thanks to Aqua that didn't matter.
Archers and Warriors alike, all came rushing down in hopes of reaching Aqua and (presumably) salvation.
The only problem was…
"There really are a lot of them huh?"
"Indeed. They are so many that it doesn't even seem like something that would naturally happen."
Both of Kazuma's companions refrained from jumping the gun and asking for using Explosion/being used as a shield immediately. They both looked disappointed at that fact though, a sentiment Kazuma shared with them.
He had originally looked forward to fighting the Frozen Warriors and gaining both fighting and literal experience. But from the looks of things, Aqua was going to wipe the snowy floor clean of undead.
Despite looking like she was about to die just of fear, she was going to clean floor.
Might as well make the most of this trip…
"Oi. So were is the spirit that brought all of these undead back to life huh?"
"U-um… I think it's… Yes! Over there Kazuma! Look!"
Kazuma glanced over at the current battlefield in search of what Megumin found. Barely visible in the distance and thanks to their shape and color, he only was able to spot them because of how many they were.
They were palm-sized white balls that were floating all around the place in one big group. For Kazuma they didn't seem dangerous, but rather quite cute.
"What are those things?"
"Oh! Those look like Snow sprites."
Wait, I remember that name…
"Snow Sprites? Aren't those the monsters that had a bounty of 100,000 eris each? They don't look threatening at all…"
Kazuma had considered taking that quest, but since the monster didn't sound too strong he went against it. He had plenty of money, so he really was only focused on fighting strong monsters. And the guild bounty system wasn't accurate to strengths. Even though the bounty was high, it didn't mean the opposing monsters were powerful.
Fighting Monsters that were average in strength and harmless to humans, but fed on crops in the fields vs Fighting Monsters that were weak but actively attacked humans, aggressive in nature.
In such cases, defeating the weak monster that attacked humans would yield a higher bounty.
That was the case for all three of the quest they took. The monsters they faced were not really attacking people but only threatening them. And yet they still had a high bounty.
Well the Lizard was mostly spearheaded by that scary chefs-association, but still…
"Snow Sprites are weak monsters. They can be found in places with lots of snow, and will shatter when hit with a sword." Megumin replied.
But why would such a harmless thing have a bounty of 100,000 eris?
"Defeating one of these would bring spring half a day closer, so the people who can't wait for spring to come put up that huge bounty."
As if reading his mind, Darkness answered his unasked question. That left Kazuma to ask tho one that didn't.
"And what do they have to do with all of the Frozen Warriors then? "
Megumin eyed him with incredulity.
"Ah… Kazuma's not from around here, so that probably why you're not so knowledgeable about the winter that you went and took three quests… Ahem… But the snow sprites are also spirits. They appear on areas with snow and as you heard are harmless. But as spirits they still are quite important–" Aqua screamed and chanted more spells against the horde briefly interrupting Megumin. "So while they can't control them, they attract and even rise the Frozen Warriors and other monsters. The most well known one being–"
"Kazuma we have to hunt them!"
Darkness also interrupted Megumin. This time her calm demeanor gave way to the familiar exited and slightly flushed face she wore when her perverseness was starting to slip.
Megumin grasped her staff tightly as she continued her explanation:
"–being… The Winter Shogun."
"Wait! Did you just said Winter Shogun? Were could…"
'… you get that name from' Was the thing Kazuma was going to say but then he saw Megumin and Darkness faces. Megumin looked genuinely scared. Something very strange for the girl that would boast her power at every chance she had.
He fully expected her to say: 'Ah, such a being dared call himself the strongest of winter, I'll prove him that Detonation magic is the one to truly rule winter!' or something like that. But her face, plus Darkness ever increased fervor meant that…
"Whatever he is he's really out of our league right? I get it. Don't worry. I'm not the type to challenge foes who overpower me like that. So I won't go anywhere trying to summon him or anything."
Kazuma noticed that since he had been quite reckless in his previous actions, his words may not carry that much weight. He fully expected him being the one to receive assurances that they would not act out of control from his teammates, not the other way around.
But Megumin and Darkness, who had been getting on her drams once more, both looked visibly relaxed and comforted at his words. Kazuma felt happy that they were worrying about him, but he also felt a bit conflicted about how they were treating him.
Who do they think I am? Sure they have to watch after me as I'm weak but I'm the Leader. I'm not reckless like them at all. All I do is planned and safe… Because… I'm the leader after all.
Part 6
One-hit Bear. Many powerful monsters received from adventurers the One-hit tittle according to their nature. They were a variety of though monsters that had one particular thing that tied them together. They were capable to one-shot practically any adventurer that came on contact with them.
"Although looking at it, it doesn't have the same threatening vibes the Three-headed Lizard and Frozen Warriors had…"
"Hey you scummy NEET, are you just gonna keep ignoring the fact that you abandoned me to those undead?! Apologize, apologize a hundred times!"
"Hey I already did that you annoying goddess! And why are you complaining? You defeated them easily and even gained some levels. You should be thanking me for not interfering!"
Aqua kept complaining so Kazuma ignored her and turned to see the two who had wisely kept quiet on their whole ordeal.
"Hey you two. If you're not going to get this nuisance out of my back then at least brief me on the bear. Is that over there really the scary sounding 'One-hit Bear'?"
The being that Kazuma pointed at was definitely a bear. It's fur was totally dark blue with some parts of it being pure white and it had a little horn barely sticking out it's head. Comparing it to the bears at earth, this one was smaller and less durable. It's fur and skin would probably not hold against say being slashed multiple times or pelted by arrows, so it's durability wasn't it's strong suit.
"… But that's not what makes them threatening. They are really really fast and look at those claws. There's the true danger. Those could take out a fully armored adventurer out."
It's paws didn't seem awfully special for Kazuma, but they were resulted by having golden fur on it's paws, and being significantly bigger. Kazuma could tell the monster had to be somewhat strong as it scarred away any other creatures in a large space.
"It may not have a big bounty compared to it's strength, but that's because of it's attitude. It's mostly passive and won't attack people unless it crosses them. It's also not that bright, so luring it away is easy…"
"B-but despite that it's quite aggressive when angered. It will become fierce and annihilate anything in front of it! If only I could feel that…"
Darkness disillusioned upon talking more about the bear. If it can get a pervert like her fantasizing then it must be strong.
"Ahem! Well since luring it away it's quite easy most people choose to take that approach. And so the reward for taking it out isn't really that big compared to the power of the monster."
Kazuma saw that Megumin was quite nervous bout approaching the subject of the bear.
"Could you take it out with your spells?"
"Ah… W-well since it kinda weak on the health department and long range attacks are really effective, it evolved to have high magic resistance… Of course Explosion would take it out easily! B-but, well I doubt the other will."
It she's not confident on her precious magic then it's better to tackle it another way.
Aqua had been listening to their conversation as she completely forgot over her previous anger and commented.
"Yeah. Since attacking it upfront it's suicide people attack it with arrows and other ranged weapons. But that bear is fast so they still need someone to guard them."
"Ranged huh?"
Kazuma had considered learning more skills and the ones of the Archer had called out to him. But after leaving in a less than good state from the guild he had completely forgotten. He would leave it for later, as he also had Chris to ask about skill expanding.
"So what you're all saying is that it's a very dangerous monster right?" All three of them shook their heads positively. "Well then, before we go. Darkness, do you think you can–"
"Of course Kazuma! Yes! Yes I can!"
Darkness felt a bit conflicted over their current position. On one side, she was relishing over the fact that their leader was no longer doubting even a second over using her as a bait or a distraction. But in the other hand, he had been quite passive on his treatment of her. He still looked at her funny sometimes, but he wasn't putting much effort on the things that she thought were guaranteed coming from him.
He didn't reprimanded them for acting out of his plans or endangering themselves, instead encouraging recklessness. That was of course not that serious for the others, but to Darkness it was something huge.
But that was not the biggest part of it. Kazuma was fully immersed on the job. He would usually chat with this and that with them while they spent the day. But now he barely said anything other than orders and questions to them. Darkness could tell that it was worrying greatly to both Aqua and Megumin just as it worried her. But the first would not admit to worrying about him, instead attempting to bully and bother him out of his shell which barely had any effect; and Megumin chose not to speak up for some reason. And Darkness herself, while she would like to speak up, she was currently…
"Ah, ah… The One-hit Bear truly is fast! I won't be able to out run him for long! He will reach me and tear my armor to shreds!"
… enjoying herself way to much.
I think t-that maybe I'll let Kazuma keep having his way with my body and throwing it around at monsters for a bit longer…!
Kazuma had once again used the same strategy he used with the Three-headed Lizard before. Megumin used a Blast spell close to the bear and with Aqua's buff's and Kazuma's Lurk they got away quickly.
True to Megumin's word's, the bear didn't take that much damage. Not to say he didn't take any, as Blast spells are a league above others of it's class on terms of damage.
But damage wasn't the objective of that attack, it was to gain the attention of the monster. The one who currently was chasing after Darkness with her Decoy skill on.
Darkness panted (not from exhaustion) as she did something she never pictured herself doing before. Running away from a strong enemy. A strong infuriated enemy at that. If it were left to her she would have left to wrestle with the bear, but Kazuma managed to convince her to follow his plan. How was he doing it she didn't know, but she was exited to see what other surprises he had in store for her.
"Yes! To be used as a bait to a One-hit Bear… I can see from here how that wrathful gaze wants to tear my body apart! Ah Kazuma! I couldn't think of any other scummy and sadist man that would put a fair maiden like me in this terrible position!"
'Shut up you perverted excuse of a woman! I'm not a sadist! And a huge masochist like you is the most far thing I can picture from a fair maiden!'
"Haaa. And in top of all that to be insulted by Kazu– insulted by… K- Kazuma?"
Despite being chased down by an incredibly fast monster Darkness turned around in an attempt to see her leader. There he was being closely followed by Megumin, and with that newly and strangely alien look of concentration on his face. Kazuma had been in deep thought and concentration before, but he never had that look those times.
And it shows it's different. 'Normal' Kazuma would have responded to her and keep up with the team constantly. Sure he was quiet in stealth missions, but even then he wasn't as disconnected as he felt now.
Kazuma did turn to see her, but only to send her the signal. The signal that the plan was moving forward.
"I never thought I would use this spell in this way to be honest. I must thank you for giving me and this spell the chance to show it's power!"
Megumin stood near the bear, not catching it's attention as he kept all focus on Darkness, but even so Megumin could outrun it if it came to it thanks to being buffed.
"Strength hidden underneath the earth, rise from the depths of the abyss and manifest yourself upon the this white world! Earth-blast!"
Darkness turned back to see the spell take effect. The ground upon the One-hit Bear was chasing her roared upon being hit by Megumin's Earth-blast. It's destruction value could easily be compared to a Detonate spell, but of course, it only affected the ground, the bear not taking any damage at all.
But it definitively had disorientated him. Something Kazuma did not hesitate to take advantage.
"Create Earth! Wind Breath!"
The chunks of snow and earth kept falling around the very shaken bear, but the ones that Kazuma had created flew right trough with easy hitting their target. The bear's eyes.
In between the roars of the bear, Kazuma's voice ringed out. "Now Darkness!"
Despite her inner turmoil, Darkness moved forwards without hesitation. She quickly closed the distance with the bear and reached the head of the beast. It was on all fours but even if it wasn't she would still be taller than it, so she was perfectly capable of performing her next task.
She plunged her sword deep into the beast's shoulder. Another even louder roar came from it this time'. Just as Kazuma had predicted, the blinded monster went into a panicked state and started thrusting it's arms around even while one of it's shoulders had a sword nailed deep on it. And following orders she gave some space between her and the mad swipes from the bear.
And once more, Kazuma ran forward and reached the east with his purple-shining arms.
The One-hit Bear wasn't really known for it's health or durability. It was bigger than normal monsters, but it wasn't something really appropriate for the kind of threat it had. And so, Kazuma had theorized that after having a sword being cleaved to it by Darkness, only a little effort would be required to finish the beast.
Just as it had happened with the Three-headed Lizard mother, the One-hit Bear had a droplet more of fight still on it. And just like the lizard, it instinctively attacked it's south with it's legs.
When the Three-headed mother had attempted to do this, it fell over making it's fate. Kazuma hoped for the bear to lose all of it's health or to fall just the same as before. But Kazuma had gotten overconfident and hadn't taken for account the fact that compared to the massive lizard, the bear was very small (smaller than Kazuma) when on all fours, and also that fact. It had four legs.
Darkness and Megumin both realized this far too late. As when they did, Kazuma had been sent flying backwards, his body bent in an unnatural way.
Part 7
Kazuma was killed by the One-hit Bear.
"Um… Have you calmed down?"
"Ah… Sorry, I lost my composure. That was embarrassing of me."
In the pure shrine he awoke on, Kazuma averted his eyes shamefully after crying pitifully before the goddess.
He had recognized his passing when he awoke, and he could hold back the shame and frustration behind the act.
But despite the shameful display, the goddess who called herself Eris shook her head.
"This is nothing to be ashamed about. You lost your precious life after all…"
She said as she closed her eyes sympathetically.
Seeing Eris's sorrowful expression, Kazuma felt sad as well.
"Um, may I ask? Do you know what happened to the monster that killed me?"
Kazuma was deeply worried about those teammates of him that had end up taking on the One-hit Bear after he was killed.
He had selfishly taken on multiple enemies that were out of his league after his pride had being hurt at the adventurers guild. It pained him to no end knowing that they had to face the challenge there alone due to his selfish and haughty plans.
It pained him even more knowing that they could have taking it down easily if he hadn't devised the plan on the basis so that it would get him the kill.
"It's fine, the One-hit Bear was slain afterwards by Da– By the hand of your Crusader friend."
Hearing that, Kazuma sighed in relief. Eris looked at him sorrowfully.
"Satou Kazuma-san. You came from peaceful Japan and encountered something like this… Brave soul who came from another world, I will use my power to let you reincarnate in peaceful Japan to a wealthy family and live a free life."
After hearing Eris's words, Kazuma remembered. You could either live in heaven after death, or reincarnate as a baby when you died.
Being transported to that ridiculous world was an abnormality.
It was a short time, but it was a happy period in the end.
He had been happy and content with his stay on the other world. He had enjoyed being sent there, despite that world being completely bizarre and being grouped with some troublesome people, he had been happy.
Not being able to see those troublesome people again is a bit… That's right, just a bit lonely. I never actually gave them any sort of goodbye. It was so sudden… And totally my fault.
How ironic that despite them being the troublesome ones, the sole culprit of his demise is none other than himself.
Maybe because of the expression on his face, Eris looked at him and lowered her gaze sadly. She seemed to truly lament his death. His opinion on deities was pretty low after his first contact with the 'Blue Thing'. He also received the knowledge that upon his first death he was received with laughter didn't make it any less painful.
So having someone genially grief upon his death, and feel sorry for his circumstances warmed his heart. Kazuma thought that compared to the rowdy Aqua, this girl actually sold the role of Goddess.
Upon remembering the girl who he had teared down from heaven, Kazuma felt even more guilt weight his heart down. Eris recognized that he was grieving, so she reached her right hand out to him…
"Hurry and come back Kazuma! How can you be killed off so easily in such a place! It's too early for you to die!"
He suddenly heard Aqua's voice.
The sound echoed throughout the place where only Eris and Kazuma were.
"Wait, what's happening!?"
But he was not the only one who was surprised.
"Wha–! This voice, Aqua-senpai!? I was thinking that Arch-priest looked just like Senpai! Could it really be her!?"
Eris opened her eyes wide in disbelief, speaking loudly in the void.
"Kazuma, can you hear me? I have cast Resurrection on your body, you can come back now. There's someone before you, right? Ask whoever is there to open the gate back here."
Aqua's voice came again.
Aqua! You really are a goddess, so of course you'll do something incredible! I'm sorry for doubting you.
Kazuma remembered that Aqua did in fact resurrect the adventurers killed by the Dullahan.
Of course! Another chance! This time I won't fail!
"Okay, wait for me, Aqua! I'll be right there!"
Kazuma wasn't sure if his voice would reach her, but he still shouted into the void and jumped happily. He was really looking forward to seeing his friends again, though he wasn't sure what he should say to them in apologies.
"Hold on, wait a minute! No, no, I'm sorry, you've already been revived once. By the laws of the heavens, you can't be resurrected again! The other side can't hear us, unless Aqua-senpai is connected to your voice. Could you help me pass along the message?"
Eris said in a panic.
Hey, are you kidding? I was happy for nothing!
"Hey, Aqua, can you hear me!? She said that I've already been revived once, so I can't be revived again because of some rules in heaven!"
Kazuma shouted the message into the void. Followed by a moment of silence in which he doubted she could hear him, her voice came back.
"Ah? Which goddess said such foolish things! Tell me your name! A goddess watching over such a far-off place should respect an elite like me who oversees Japan!"
The goddess who oversaw the 'far-off area' looked awkward at her reply.
"Eh, it's a goddess-sama by the name of Eris…" Kazuma timidly said to the void.
Which was followed by the heated voice of Aqua.
"Eris!? That flat-chested Eris that audaciously used her name as the currency unit, just because she was worshiped as the national religion of this world!? Listen, Kazuma, if Eris continues to prattle, you just go for the pads in her bra and–"
"I get it, I get it! I'll make an exception this time! I'll open the gate now!"
After drowning out Aqua's voice, Eris snapped her fingers while blushing.
At the same time, a plain white door appeared before Kazuma. The door was new to him, but he supposed he was being resurrected, not reincarnated.
"Really, Aqua-senpai is still as unreasonable as ever."
…After Eris grumbled, she said to Kazuma: "This way, the gate to the mortal world… Really, this wouldn't normally happen. By the rules, be it kings or big shots, everyone else only gets one chance… Really. You're Kazuma-san, right?"
"Eh, ah, yes!"
Kazuma stuttered in reply upon hearing Eris ask for his name.
Compared to the laughable goddess he had being living with by his side who acted like a spoiled idiot child most of the time, this one looked more like a proper goddess.
And she was an exceptionally beautiful girl, so being a virgin teen he naturally became nervous. Despite Kazuma living with exceptionally beautiful girls and having those girls on his party, this one hadn't ruined her image, in fact had only raised good flags.
The goddess who had a hint of sorrow in her eyes scratched her cheek. Finally, she closed one eye like a playful kid and said in a soft, cheerful voice:
"Please keep this a secret, okay?"
Kazuma smiled awkwardly as he pushed the white door open–
Part 8
– A muffled sound could be heard from the distance.
"… zuma…! Kazuma, get up! Kazuma!"
Kazuma awoke to the sound of Megumin lying on him sobbing.
…? Whats happening… my right hand feels warm.
Shifting his gaze in that direction, Kazuma found Darkness by his side, down on one knee as she held his hand in her hands. Her eyes seemed to be closed in prayer. If he squinted his cloudy eyes he could see the traces of tears on her face.
Kazuma also felt breathing at the top of his head and looked that way, meeting the eyes of Aqua who was looking at him with a satisfied smirk that had become so common to see from her, although Kazuma could have sworn that smile looked more kind a second earlier.
"… Ah, you finally got up? That child is so stubborn, really."
As Kazuma heard Aqua's voice he realized the back of his head was nice and warm.
… Oh.
He was sleeping on Aqua's lap.
A definitive first for the teenage boy, his already hazy mind fell even more into the gutter. He subconsciously closed his eyes again and rested back into her creamy white thighs. He dared not open his eyes, for he could feel Aqua's smug face even while closed, and he didn't have the strength nor the desire to deal with a smug sassy goddess.
Despite that, when Megumin and Darkness noticed that he had awakened, they wordlessly gave him a tight hug.
It' s great that they are so happy about my resurrection, but this felt embarrassing…!
Forced to face his friends, Kazuma saw how Aqua realized that he couldn't move because of embarrassment (but not that he didn't want to) and she smiled deviously.
"Hey Kazuma, don't get hung up on being embarrassed. There should be something you want to say to us, right?"
Aqua said with a mischievous smile.
A 'Thanks' is what she is demanding. And Kazuma felt really thankful to her, so he said clearly to Aqua.
"I want a swap."
"How dare you shut-in NEET! If you want to see that child so much, I'll send you there right now!"
Aqua screamed with veins popping on her forehead reading her fist high to beat him up, but was stopped by the sudden hug that he had given her despite his state.
"You really are something. You shouldn't rough up someone who was just revived you violent goddess."
Darkness and Megumin had cleared their tears after his and Aqua's little exchange. Kazuma checked his body that was stroked by the One-hit Bear and got up.
"… Is your body okay? Does it feel weird anywhere?"
When he heard Megumin say that, Kazuma patted all over his body in search for injuries.
"It seems fine. By the way, how was I killed?"
Aqua told him:
"You were snapped in half by the One-hit Bear. Thanks to you debilitating him Darkness got close to it and finished it. Although the monster broke her sword…"
Aqua signaled to Darkness side, were a bit away lied the corpse of the bear upon the destroyed terrain that Megumin created. Next to her lied her long-sword, which had resisted even the strikes of the Dullahan who was a Demon King General, snapped in half.
"It was quite a messy injury. I had to rearrange your body so it could be reconnected and healed. I restored a bit of your blood, but not completely. And many of your organs are still stabilizing themselves. You'll feel weak if you do anything strenuous, so, you're banned from vanguard duties. It'll be over if you get hurt and bleed again, understand?"
"… Is that so…"
Kazuma was speechless and unconsciously rubbed his belly.
No matter where he touched, he couldn't feel a scar or blemish anywhere.
Although he was saved by Aqua, just the thought of dying still gave him chills. He couldn't actually remember any of the pain, just the frustration he felt at the room with Eris.
A bit past the body of the bear, a big part of the snowy plains was dyed red blood. A little splattered on Megumin, and a lot on Darkness, who were close to him when he was 'killed' too.
Seeing them there, worried about him, Kazuma decided to finally open up.
"I'm sorry everyone. This was all my fault."
The three of them gave looks between themselves but kept quiet.
"I got envious of how you all have so much better jobs and stats than me, so I dragged you all along in this dangerous mission of selfish gain. I'm sorry."
He bowed as hard as he could as he apologized to his companions. Kazuma could tell that both Megumin and Darkness struggled to find something to say, so he straightened himself.
"Hey don't look me like that. I'm not like those people who are incapable of learning. I won't be making this mistake and putting us into unnecessary hardship again. I'll try my hardest not to, I promise."
Megumin and Darkness gave each other one last look before letting a pair of big smiles at him.
"That's right. But if we find us in such situations feel free to direct my power to blast any challenges that come our way!
"That's right. But if we find us in such situations feel free to use my- mnh!- my body as a meat-shield to face those hardships!"
They both said after one another, and then both hugged him once more. He felt a wight being pulled from his heart after both his teammates forgave him.
"It's great that Kazuma finally recognizes my divine superiority, but I also think he should go back to normal. While having him depend on me feels good, if this 'depressed Kazuma' continues like this he'll slowly became a leech! So instead of being down you should show your gratitude by pulling you weight as or leader! Oh and also join the Axis cult and adore me as a goddess!"
"Could I change this idiot goddess with that cute goddess-sama I just met?"
"What are you saying Kazuma?! That child Eris pads her chest! She uses pads! Why would you want her over me?"
"I'm just kidding you bird-brain goddess. Come on now. Let's call it a day and return to town. I suddenly have the sudden urge to buy some fine wine and throw a feast just for the sake of being alive."
Aqua made an annoyed expression but soon abandoned it and also hugged Kazuma.
That's right. If I have this troublesome weirdos as friends, I can relax and be happy with them no matter what happens. I just have to look after them… I am the leader after all.
I'm back everyone. First of all… Well, I kinda had a big hiccup with chapter 4 and 5. Thanks to everyone who pointed out my mistake! I corrected it as fast as I could. I would have pointed that out sooner but…
…Hey remember when I said this chapter was practically almost done? Yet it took me a considerable amount of time to post this. This may raise many questions about what happened. And to that I can only give this statement: Don't ask. Trust me, you don't want to now. Just know I'm very mad about it.
And on that happy note; Thanks for reading and I'll see you next time!