Chapter 2 – A party?

"You two are very hard workers! Here's your cut for today!"

"Thanks…"

So after registering as Adventurers yesterday, we decide to find an inn to stay. We had to use the remaining money to pay for the inn and after that, we worked for a part-time job for the meantime.

"I'm counting on you two tomorrow!"

"Good byeee!" Aqua waved.

As for our actual 'jobs' as Adventurers, well Aqua is an Archpriest. She's responsible for using support magic to assist me with curing status infliction, as well as buffing my stats. Due to her being a goddess, all of her stats are automatically set to maximum except for his intelligence and luck which is pit bottom. And it's kinda sad. If her stats are already maximum then there's no chance for her intelligence to grow again, let alone her luck.

And for my job? Well I picked Dark Stalker. Why? No other reason. I only chose it because the counter lady recommended it to me knowingly that I have no idea how this world works. Dark Stalker is an Advanced Job class, considered as an upgraded class of both Assassin and Thief because it has all the abilities for it. Dark Stalker can also learn other rogue class type's basic skills. And apparently, it's a rare class.

After our boss announce the end of the work day, Aqua and I received our salary, bowed, greeted him and made our way to the public bath.

I never tried public bath before so I'm curious about the heaven that most of my friends from my world that once tried it before.

"Looks like we got 6000 Eris altogether. Tomorrow, we'll do a kill quest, alright?"

"Of course, you can count on me, Peter! For I am a goddess who have divine protection that will protect both of us!" Aqua said with a smug face.

Uh huh, guess I'll be counting on her…

After walking for a few moments, we finally arrived to our destination.

Entering the public bath was already an experience as I soaked my shoulders into the warm water, leisurely relieving me from work.

The place seems to be luxurious but guess that's what I can expect from middle ages.

After leaving the bath, I saw Aqua waiting for me at the entrance.

"What took you so long? Come on, let's get something to eat!"

"Calm down will ya? You're not the only one relaxing on the bath…" I replied with a laidback wave.

"Come on! Let's go to the tavern! I'm starviiing!" Aqua whined while pulling my arm.

Jeez, do I have to this all the time in this world? What did I do to deserve this…

After finishing our meal at the tavern, we headed back to the Inn and paid the rent for today. We had to share a room since one room costs 3000 Eris. This world is unfair.

"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning..." I said as I finally drifted off to sleep.

"Oooohhh early?" Aqua whined.

"I did say 'first thing' right? Now go to sleep…"

"Ohhh you're the least and most fun superhero ever!"

After saying that, Aqua just pouted and then lay down beside me as she covered her body with a blanket. After a few minutes, she was already snoring.

Man, she sure is a fast sleeper. AND a loud one.

Man, what a day…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As soon as the rooster crows in the morning, I got up on my bed and rubbed my eyes. After rubbing my eyes, I still see the same old (self-proclaimed) goddess, sleeping beside me, not like how you imagine a goddess would sleep.

Wait do divine beings even sleep? Well I can't even believe if this woman is a REAL divine being.

Yesterday, I was just fighting for my life. Taking a bullet for Cap on that bridge then an explosion occurs. After that, I heard that Norman escaped from the Raft and he's coming for me. And just like that, we fought on the neighborhood then I died then a goddess offers me a second chance and voila! Here I am in this so-called another world. In the first place, I thought I would be fighting for my life again in this another world but here I am, just woke up in an old Europe-like era tavern and babysitting a goddess.

It was a weird day for sure.

As I got up on my bed and washed my face, carrying the extra pouch that came from a part-time job yesterday. I then noticed that I'm still wearing the same old red and blue spandex.

Man I still don't have any other clothes, maybe after doing a kill quest I'll change.

After tidying up, I then marched onto Aqua who was still snoring loudly.

Didn't she say that I will be counting on her yesterday? Ugh, I just can't….

"Hey! Get up! We're going…."

"WAAAAHHH"

A wailing Aqua on the floor after I kicked her off the bed.

Man, she's an expert of 'pissing me off'…

"I thought I said 'we're leaving first thing tomorrow'?" I said with an impassive stare.

"Oh come on! Do you really have to kick me off the bed?! You could just wake me y'know?!"

I sighed. Well she got a point, I was just being an asshole.

"Whatever, get ready we're going to the guild" I said while walking towards the exit.

"A-Ah, w-waaait!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"AHHHHHHHH! Peteeerrr! Saaave meee! Heeeeeelp!"

The only quest available for our level was killing giant toads…

Yes, you heard me. Giant Toads.

In this world, they're considered as a pest problem that was only pertinent during their mating season. They were even bigger than Rhino. Now it's their mating season so they were accumulating nutrition in order to lay eggs. They roam around the human settlement where food were more plentiful, swallowing goats raised by farmers in a single gulp.

Man, it's really hilarious. Can't believe that I was fighting Lizard and Scorpion to dispatching Giant Toads. Just glad it's not another supervillain though…

Now, I'm just staring at the screaming Aqua who was running away from a Giant Toad.

I can't believe it. She should have no problem killing it. What is she doing?

"Ahhhhhhh! Peeeeteeeerr! HEEEEEELP!"

After watching that commotion, I harshly palmed my face that you could see redness in it.

"Alright….I'm coming…"

After saying that, I shot a web fluid on the toad's hind and fore legs, immobilizing the monster for now. Then I made my way on to it and casually plunging a dagger, that I got from the guild, in its vital part.

The Giant Toad then fell on the ground with a thud.

"Hahhhh…..Haaahh….Th…Thank you Peter…." Aqua said who was breathing with a wheeze.

"Seriously, what are you doing? You're supposed to be a divine being who can easily smushed this toads. Hey tell me truth…Are you really a goddess?" I asked with a dispirited stare.

"W…What's that supposed to mean?! Are you seriously doubting me right now?! Alright, I'll show you that smug face of yours on how a Goddess destroy its enemies!" She declared while holding her hips.

Then, another Giant Toad that revealed itself out from the ground in the distance.

But before I could stopped her, she was already charging towards it.

What the hell is she doing now? Ugh, oh real gods out there give me the strength to not strangle this woman.

Aqua take no notice of my restraint, drawing closer to the toad using her moment to throw a punch at the belly of the toad.

"Repent in hell, Mongrel! Perceive the wrath of a goddess! For I will show you this! God Blow!"

Woah, now she's acting like it. Maybe she isn't too bad at all….maybe.

No, wait a minute. I remember the guild staff said that Giant Toads are immune to physical attacks.

Oh no...

"Aqua wait!"

"God Blow! This is the ability of the gods that can conjure a powerful punch that can destroy and purify enemies with one blow. Take this!"

Her fist sunk into the soft abdomen, while the toad seemed unaffected…

You dumb goddess…

After a few moments of silence, Aqua looked above, staring at the toad with a meek expression.

"... You know, after looking at you closely, you toads are actually quite cute teehee" Aqua said softly.

I was too late. The toad had already chomped her and raised her to begin its swallow.

Sorry, Aqua. I'll never forget you…

Oh who am I kidding…Giant Toads are slow eaters.

"Hang in there!" I shouted as I shot a web line at the ground, propelling me to the toad and kicked it in the abdomen, making it spit Aqua out of its slimy mouth.

Yeah it may be immune to physical attacks but not to a guy who got bitten by a radioactive spider.

After the toad stumbled to the ground, I pounced on to it as I raised the dagger above my head then impaled it in the neck. However, I noticed that it was still twitching so I ended its misery by running it through the side as I made a perfect line in its neck, as its slimy blood flows in the ground.

Wow, am I a natural serial killer?

Guess that's two toads now.

"Hey, you okay?" I said before covering my nose because of the interesting smell as I reached the sobbing girl who was covered in slime. I did not expect what she did later though as she began to hug me like I was some kind of collateral rug.

"T…..thank you, Peter-sama! Thank you very much! Ugh..Sob…Thank youuuu!"

Even a goddess couldn't stand the horror of being preyed on.

For the record, I wouldn't mind being hugged by a pretty girl. But covered in slime? Not really what I want in my bucket list.

"C..Calm down…Look we need a plan so this won't happen again ok? Alright now ge- no wait hey come on that's disgusting! Don't wipe it off in my suit! I don't have any left!"

Burying her seems to be not bad though.

After wiping off the slime that came from the dumb goddess, she starts talking bullshit again.

"If my beloved followers sees me like this, they will lose faith!"

She suddenly shouted and turns around running towards another toad again. This woman…

"Stop you miserable divine reject!"

This time, I finally stopped her by shooting a web line in her feet which she fell and smacked her face flat on the ground. Oookay that's gotta hurt.

"OWWWW! What are you doing, Peter?!" Aqua shouted while rubbing her swelling nose.

"And what are you doing?! Like I said we need a plan for this! Don't just suddenly run and get eaten again you dumb woman!" I replied with a shout.

Actually, I have no problem facing these annoying toads but to babysit a reject goddess at the same time? Yeah. I also just can't let her go back in the inn, who knows what she will do.

"Look the plan will be simple. We will be flanking toads one by one from two sides then I will kill it, alright? Also don't think about attacking either, you're an Archpriest for christ sake so act like it!"

And please, act like it. Seriously…

"…..Ok.." She said with a downcast glance.

After several hours, we did a pretty good job. Killing 8 Giant toads for today and I leveled up to 11. Actually, we would need to kill 10 but seemingly after a few killings, the dumb goddess got eaten again and she was traumatize. So we decide to go back.

I began to wonder where her worth really was and because of it, I need allies. Skilled and efficient allies I hope.

After returning to town, we immediately headed to the bath house to wash up. We then go to the adventurer's guild and ate the fried toad meat that we killed earlier. Apart from being a meeting place for adventurers, the adventurers guild also doubled as a bar. Apparently, you can sell the monster that you hunted. We sold the meat of the eight toad we hunted to the guild, earning some great money from it. After that, we decide to crash for today.

Waiting a good day tomorrow and I surely hope that it's a good day…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Another world, another day…

After arriving at the guild, I decide to post a request for party members after doubting Aqua's capabilities. However, it wasn't me who wrote it though because the dumb goddess was being a dumb goddess again. After I told her to post a request for party members, she demand that she would be the one to write it. And apparently it was a bad idea…

"….Seriously?" I said after learning about the very thing she wrote.

This specification is beyond brainless.

After putting the recruitment notice, we were sitting at a table and was waiting for companions to show up. And what do you know, it's been a freaking half a day.

"Why is it 'Advanced job classes only?'? Is there a nut in your brain?" I asked in obvious concern.

"B…But…I have the most powerful class! It's common sense that our allies should have Advanced Jobs too!" Aqua said as she was defending her pride.

In this world, the adventurers jobs were divided into tiers, with some being top tiers, which they are called Advanced Jobs. Aqua, who was an Archpriest, and me, as a Dark Stalker, was one of those Advanced Jobs. It's not common for people to pick those jobs. Aqua probably wanted to recruit powerful companions in order to take down the demon king.

"Let me be clear, Aqua. If you were the most powerful class then I would already dump you in front of the Devil King already so I can end this madness. First of all, we're still in the low level range. Secondly how the hell a powerful guy would bother to join a greenhorn party?"

'And thirdly, you're the embodiment of true "bootless"' which I really want to tell her but that's for me to keep.

"Look, let's just lower it a bit. 'Only recruiting Advanced Jobs' is a bit too crowdie. And besides, as far as I know, Advanced Jobs are supposed to be rare around this parts..."

"But….I'm an Archpriest! Anyone would kill to join me!" Aqua said as she tried to defend her stand one more time.

Screw this…

"Don't you get it!? You posted this early in the morning and now it's almost noon! If this goes on, no one would apply! Both of us already have Advanced Jobs! What, are you planning to form your own Avengers?!"

Wow…if this girl has any worth to remind for; is making me furious.

Man, why am I taking her seriously…

As I was preparing to stand up, someone began to approach our table.

"I saw the notice to a recruitment poster with Advanced Jobs only, might that be you guys?"

She was a girl short in height. Her only one eye with red pupils that was showing on her face looked sleepy as the other one was covered by an eye patch with a cross symbol. Her smooth black hair reached her shoulders. For us, she was a girl in a classical witch attire, with black cloak, dark boots, pointy hat with a wide brim and a staff.

Her voice caught our attention as it made us to turn to look at her.

She seemed to be a mage.

Is she one of those Scarlet Witch diehard fan girls that got reborn here too?

She seemed to be about 12-13 years old. I think she's one of those….i don't know loli or something?

In the next moment, she starts to flung her cloak.

"I anxiously awaited your arrival. For I am Megumin! An Arch Wizard with the strongest of all offensive magic, Explosion!"

She presented herself as dramatic as she would want to…

Yep. Definitely a kid…

"Are you lost, little girl?"

"Urk!"

Huh? What's wrong with her? I thought she was shot for a second there…

"That red eye….Are you one of those Crimson Demon?" Aqua suddenly asked while pointing at the little girl's eye.

After hearing that, she returned her character as she posed again and responded to Aqua's query as well as presenting her adventurer card.

"Precisely! I am one of the elite magic users, The Crimson Demons! My magic can split mountains and oceans! I can…." As she was continuing her speech, her body suddenly began jiggling like she was vibrating or something.

I noticed that and I reacted immediately, catching her tiny body before she would collapse on the ground.

"Whoa there, you okay?" I asked with a worried expression.

She then looked at us with sorrowful eyes.

"I….I haven't eaten anything in three days…C-could you give me something to eat before the interview please?" She replied between hefty breaths.

There was a 'ugu' sound that came from her stomach. Poor girl…

"….Sure I'll treat you. Just wait a moment and take a seat." I said reassuringly as Megumin slowly took a seat to our table.

After a few minutes gobbling up food in her mouth, she looked better than moments ago. Then I began to ask her a few questions.

"Are you lost? Maybe we can help you find your parents…"

"N…No I'm not! I'm not a kid! I'm an adventurer too!" She yelled.

Oh she is? I never even thought of that but hey she broke her character.

"And why are you wearing an eyepatch? Are you hurt? If you're injured, Aqua can heal it for you…"

"Hmmph…It's a tool to hinder my immense power….If you decide to pull it off…A great disaster will befall in this world…" She said dramatically while covering her eyepatch.

"W…wait really?"

"I'm kidding. This is just a normal eyepatch. I just wear it because it looks cool and…ah no sorry please don't pull if off please no, stop!"

Oh…..I see…

She's one of those fellas who has an eight-grader syndrome.

But hey, she IS a kid so what can I say…

"Hey listen, Peter. The Crimson Demons are born with high intelligence and strong magic affinity. Most of them are great magicians and known for their red eyes…And weird names." Aqua explained while I was pulling Megumin's eye patch.

Seriously, how does Aqua know about that? Why was she using her head in a time like this?

"Well I don't think her name is weird though and believe me, I met people who have names weirder than this."

That's right, I'm talking to you, Negasonic Teenage Warhead.

"Hey it's rude to say our names are weird. I think the names of the people in town are the weir- OWWW that hurts!"

"Really? Then what are your parents' names?" Aqua asked as a clear reprisal.

As she tried to compose herself after receiving that harsh slap on her eye, courtesy by me, she tried to do it again.

"My mother's name is Yuiyui and my father's name is Hyoizaburo!" Megumin answered proudly with a pose.

"….."

"….."

After a few moments of silences, I began to ask a question.

"So you're here to join our party?"

"Hey if you have any problems with names of my parents then say it to my face!"

"…."

She is…weird.

"I don't have any problems with the names of your parents or which object that was stuck to your rectum and like I said earlier, I met people with weirder names."

I'm talking to you this time, Matter-Eater Lad.

"Wait you said 'weirder'…So that means you think that our name is weird!"

I…Oh shit she does have a point.

After a while, Aqua returned Megumin's adventurer card.

"Yep, her job is an Advanced Job, an Arch Wizard. The ability to use powerful spell. Her magic stat is really high, if she can use the top grade spell, Explosion, in the detonation series then she's the real deal! Explosion magic are really hard to learn you know?"

Really? But something smells fishy though…

Like the first time I met Aqua…

But oh well, might be the smell that I ate earlier.

"Alright then. Well my name is Peter and this is Aqua, We have a pending quest to complete so it's a big help that you would join our party. I guess it's a pleasure to meet you, Arch Wizard." I said as I welcomed the little girl into our party. Afterwards, her stomach growled again.

While smiling, I handed the food menu to her.

"Order something to eat. It would be too bad to go out in an empty stomach."

Megumin just nodded slowly and took the menu quietly in the end.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Under the clear blue sky…

We were now standing at a small hill outside of town, enclosing the nearby forest.

"This is a good distance. Explosion is the strongest spell. On the other hand, it requires a long casting time. Before I am ready, please keep the toads busy." Megumin noted. I nodded as I proceed to tell them the plan.

"Alright here's the plan. We already killed 8 toads yesterday so we only need to kill 2. I need to bait the 2 toads on to each other to gather them so you can hit them with your explosion. Aqua, you will guard Megumin. Megumin, since that Explosion of yours requires time to gather and cast, start chanting now while I keep the toads at bay. Oh Aqua, cast me a buff if something happens." I said while starting to march away from them.

"Are you sure you can handle it, Peter-san?" Megumin with a worried expression.

After hearing that, I shifted my neck at her and smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of thi- Hmm? Aqua? Wait, hey! Aqua!"

The dumb goddess is at it again, charging against the giant toad that was in the distance.

Just like that, the plan goes down the drain…

As she charged towards the nearer toad with her fist clenched. Aqua began to use her staff to smite the toad using her divine magic.

"God Requiem!" Aqua shouted the name of her attack as she remits the attack only to be chomped down. Again.

That…little…Ugh!

"Start chanting, Megumin!"

Doing that move again yesterday, shooting two web lines to the ground and propelling my self as I kicked it again. However, this time, I hit it in the neck which prior to snap it afterwards. One down, one to go.

And here is the crying Aqua again, with slime all over her body.

As I was helping her to stand up, a sudden change in the wind occurs. The air around Megumin started to vibrate as you could tell she was preparing to use an amazing magic.

This magic might be trouble so I decided to ran into her in case more Giant Toads or other monsters will show up.

Her staff began to glow as it accumulating a vast amount of light as it shone brightly. Her red eye, wide open with a glowing light.

"Darkness blacker than black and darker than dark, I beseech thee, combine with my deep crimson. The time of awakening cometh. Justice, fallen upon the infallible boundary, appear now as an intangible distortions! Dance, dance, dance! I desire for my torrent of power a destructive force, A destructive force without equal!"

A flowing torrent of mana flashes everywhere in our surroundings making me to stop as I stared at her with bulging eyes.

"Return all creation to cinders, and come from the abyss! This is the mightiest means of attack known to man, the ultimate attack magic! Explosion!" She roared as she delivered a cracking explosion from her staff. The light emitted from the tip of Megumin's staff pointed towards the distance, hitting the toad in the nearest. That shimmering light and the loud boom reverberating in the air made the toad splintered.

I braced myself as a strong wind was coming my way while I covered my face.

"So this is magic…" I said as I noticed the crater that was left behind by the explosion.

There was literally nothing left. No mark of the toad whatsoever. Not even where the toad was once standing from.

Wow I got to be honest, that is surely scary…

While I was aweing at the aftermath of Megumin's spell, A toad suddenly climbed out slowly from underground, probably woken up by the shockwave and sound of the explosion.

It seems that without rain and water source in the plains, the toads would need to dry up under the hot sun as turns out they burrow underground to avoid being cooked alive.

Well, quest completed I guess.

"Alright we're done here! Let's pack up and go ho- what the? Megumin, are you alright!" I yelled while looking over at Megumin at her spot with her lying face on the ground.

"S…Sorry…You see….Explosion requires a lot of mana…So after using the ultimate spell, it exceeded my limit that's why I couldn't move…."

…..

….Really?

"Tsk, hold on I'll get you out of there!"

Running as fast as I could get to her, the toad was already approaching and was ready to swallow her whole but before it could, I shot a web line on to its long tongue before it could get to Megumin as I proceed to yank it violently, making the monster in pain.

Afterwards, I thwip a web fluid two times on both of its eyes, blinding it. Then I picked Megumin's lifeless body and ran away from the scene.

"AHHHHH Peteeer! Heeeeeelp!"

Oh right, I forgot…

Noticing the screaming Aqua who was running away from the Giant Toads that was creeping out on the ground earlier, I immediately shot a web line to her and pulled her quickly away from the danger.

Then, I was carrying two luggage back to the town.

Just like that, we completed the quest to defeat 10 Giant Toads in 2 days.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Waahh….Ugh…It so awful…" Aqua said while covered in slime as she was following behind me.

"Care to explain, Megumin?" I asked her while giving her a piggy back ride.

Apparently, she was also covered in goo because while I was carrying her, I was also carrying Aqua away from that field of Giant Toads hence dripping the goo on to her.

"Like I said, Explosion magic requires large amount of mana so if using it would exceed my mana capacity, which leaves me….unwell." Megumin replied with a shy voice.

"Unwell my ass, you just literally fell face flat in the ground after using that magic. It seems it also uses your life force. That's risky and dangerous, It can lead to your death. From now on, only use it for emergencies. Instead, use other spells."

After saying that, Megumin's grip on my shoulders tighten.

"…No."

"Huh?"

"I can't!"

"What do you mean you can't?"

What? Does using magic in these world has any consequences or something?

"Because…..i don't know any other magic." Megumin said while grabbing my shoulders even harder and pressing her lacking chest onto my back.

…..

"…..Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"….Why?"

"Because I only like Explosion magic!" Megumin replied with a determined face.

"That's your only excuse so that I can't kick you out of the party?" I said with a disappointed stare.

"Yes! Wait what?"

"I'm kidding…"

I'm not.

I want to kick her out so badly that I can't have another reject to take care of.

This is too much.

After sighing, I resumed my walk, securing my grip on the magician while Aqua who was staring at me badly like I was suspicious or something.

If this goes on, she might call me a pedophile.

So how is it? As for the pairing, undecided for now. Chapter 3 will be on soon