Konosuba: A Tale of This Beautiful World

~Vol. 2 Short Story Compilation~

The Worst Alternative

"Amazing, she did it again."

"Umu, at this rate I think we should just make her a frontliner."

"Megumin-san, you're amazing."

I turned to look at the man speaking to me; it was my party leader, Roy, a Crusader and our party's primary frontliner. The other two in our party was a girl named Delia, our healer and priestess, and Lucas, our other frontliner and a swordsman.

This had become a rather common occurrence; every time we went out on a quest, I would quickly dispatch all the enemies with little effort. I left the Crimson Village some weeks ago as a level 6 Archmage; I was now level 23. By comparison, my party's average level was around 13. This was expected, I was in the "City of Rookies" after all.

"Roy, may we should head somewhere with better rewards," Lucas said.

"Hmm, not a bad idea, but we'd be putting more strain on Megu—"

"It's not a problem," I interrupted; I was still scanning the battlefield.

"Ah, well, if it's no issue to you, Megumin-san, then…" he turned back to Lucas and nodded. "Next time we'll take a higher-level quest."

Lucas clenched his fist excitedly.

"How foolish," I thought. He was so eager to reap the benefits with little effort; I wondered how they would fare once I left.

"We'd best harvest what we can before more show up," Roy instructed.

Truth be told, I silently wished this was the case; it's why I was looking around expectantly all this time.

After this, we headed back to town; to my regret, no other monsters showed up; I still had plenty of mana left and no shortage of magic to show off.

"I'll go turn in the quest," Roy said; Delia went with him, she always did; I think they were rather close.

"Hmm, a budding romance between companions…romance…such a waste of time."

Just then, I heard the voice of the young man I so often seen around town; he was yelling at his female companion once again. This time the argument seemed to stem from growing debts and a lack of proper shelter. I've been here nearly a month and had seen their silly job posting on the board; part of me wanted to lend them my strength, however, seeing such a dysfunctional pair made me reconsider. It would seem even with all the time their notice has been up, no one else answered their call.

For some reason, I got an odd feeling in my chest every time I saw them, but whatever that feeling was, I would frequently ignore. I looked around the guild hall; my party mates were by the bounty board talking amongst themselves. Even though I was part of the party, I felt like an outcast; I wouldn't be with them for much longer. Suddenly, someone bumped into me; I looked; it was the young man.

"Sorry," he quickly said; he then turned around and hit his female companion.

What a brutish man he was, to hit a woman with no remorse. All the pity I felt for this boy was gone; I could never join a party with such a person. If he could hit a woman without so much as a flinching, who else could say what he was capable of. Thinking more about it, he could very well be the reason the pair were struggling.

"Alright, Megumin-san," Roy said as he came back with the others, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"It's fine," I replied; oddly enough, I found myself looking for the abusive boy and his female companion, however, they were nowhere to be seen.

Days went by as we continued to complete quests, and every day I anticipated the duo's arrival to the Guild Hall; I waited to hear more of their troubles and quarrels. Eventually, weeks went by. As planned, I left my former party and joined another; Trevor, another swordsman, Rude, a spearman, and Kai, a priest.

Three more weeks went by; the same routines, the same kill quests. Because I was so high-level (30), my experience gain slowed; it was time for me to leave Axel, but for some reason…I couldn't. As I parted ways with the current party, I walked up to the recruitment board; the young man and woman's posting was still up.

"I could help them." However, they weren't around, so I decided to become a freelance mage in the meantime.

Every day, after every bounty I turned in, I found myself looking and waiting for them; however, days went by, then weeks. On another day, following the same routine, I came to turn in a quest and found the receptionist lady taking down the recruitment form.

"Excuse me," I said, walking up to her, " do you know if they found someone?"

Slightly surprised, she whipped around. "Ah, if it isn't the Bloody Mage herself," she replied; it was the nickname I earned. "These adventurers aren't…here, anymore; they won't be coming back."

"Why; did something happen?"

"Umu, usually when something like this happens, we send out search parties and contact the other guilds for possible whereabouts. Unfortunately, we just got word that they perished during a quest."

I froze; for some reason, the news of their deaths hit me hard.

"Are, are you sure?" I asked somewhat forcefully.

The receptionist took a step back from me. "Uhh, yes; another adventurer tried to save them, but…"

"What"—I swallowed deeply; it was becoming difficult to speak—"what killed them?" I asked; there was an odd coldness coming over me as my chest tightened.

The receptionist looked at me apprehensively. "…they…they were attacked by a manticore that wandered into their quest area; there were…only pieces…"

I stared wide-eyed at her, and then forced myself to relax. The onee-san continued to speak.

"It's unfortunate, but these things do happen; being an adventurer is dangerous work—though I don't think I have to tell you that."

I walked away and sat down at one of the tables. They were dead; the young man and the girl were dead, mutilated by a monster during a freak event. As I sat in silence, I felt tears fill my eyes and run down my cheeks. Why did I cry for these two? I didn't even know their names. I didn't have an answer, but I couldn't stop myself from crying for several minutes. Afterwards, I decided to return to my room for the day; suddenly, I didn't feel like doing anything.

I awoke late in the afternoon the following day; I still felt terrible. After thinking for some time, I came to the conclusion that staying in Axel would hinder me greatly; I would go to the capital.

I knew the spell, Teleport; under normal circumstances I would've just used this to reach my destination, but since I've never been to the capital this wasn't really an option. Owing to this, I decided to go by carriage; it would mean getting to the capital would take some days rather than seconds, however, there wasn't really any other (cost-effective) option available. As I waited in the carriage, a beautiful and voluptuous girl entered; she was tall and had blonde hair and blue eyes, characteristics common to those of noble birth.

"Is this seat taken?" She asked.

"No," I said somewhat solemnly; I was still feeling sad.

She took a seat across from me, and clasping her hands together, said a prayer.

"Are you a follower of Eris?" I asked.

She looked up at me. "Yes, I just became a priestess; my name is Dark…Lalatina."

"Lalatina…what an incredibly odd name. Megumin," I replied in kind.

As we sat waiting for the carriage to depart, Lalatina stared at me; after some time of this, she spoke.

"You seem troubled, Megumin-san; I apologize for my prying, but perhaps you wish to confess something?"

"Eh, well…not really a confession, but I feel troubled by the loss of two adventurers."

"Two…" Lalatina grew silent. When I glanced over at her, she spoke once more. "Companions?" She queried.

"No, not really…but their presence brought me comfort."

"I see…I apologize then."

"Why? It isn't your fault."

Lalatina looked down; regret seemed to occupy her very being. "But it is…I failed to save them," She finally said.

"What do you…" I paused at the realization. "You were the one who reported it, weren't you?"

The carriage started moving. Both of us remained silent for a time.

"I was a Crusader till a little while ago," She announced; Lalatina looked out the window longingly.

"A crusader?"

"Umu, but I failed my duty—my purpose…I couldn't protect them, I couldn't save them."

"…was the manticore too powerful?"

"Perhaps. I'll never know now; I simply wasn't fast enough to reach them in time. I saw it as it went to attack them; targeted the girl first…by the time I got there…" Lalatina shook her head and balled her hand into a tight fist.

"I could've helped them," I revealed; I felt the pain of those words. "There were so many opportunities to do so…"

Lalatina sat up and stared at me. "Wait," she said, "you're that Crimson Mage, the Bloody Mage, right?"

"Umu." The nickname I once thought cool was starting to feel derisive.

"You can't blame yourself," Lalatina said. "If anything, the fact that you were with other adventurers could mean that you prevented other possible casualties."

While she was right, I wanted to say that I didn't care; I didn't really care about the other adventurers I was with, but for some reason unbeknownst to me, I cared about these two…why?

"Would you like to say a quick prayer for them?"

I thought about it for a moment, and then nodded. "Sure," I said, " it's the only thing I can offer them now."

Lalatina and I prayed. Afterwards, we exchanged experiences as the coach continued to towards the capital. When we finally arrived, I felt I made a friend in the Crusader turned Priestess.

"Be safe, Megumin-san," Lalatina said as she got out of the carriage.

"Where will you go?" I asked as I disembarked.

"To the Eris church; perhaps there will be others I can help there."

"I see…well…if you ever need to party up with someone you can find me in the guild hall."

"I'll keep that in mind, thank you, Megumin-san; stay safe."

"Yeah, you too."

After we said our goodbyes, I headed to the guild hall. I was still feeling bad, but thanks to Lalatina the pain wasn't as intense as it previously was. I entered the familiar setting and took a seat at one of the tables; a hot meal, bath, and bed were all I wanted now.

I ordered some food and paid for a room. Initially, my intention was to go look around the capital and maybe take a quest, but after I finished eating, I went with my original idea and went upstairs to my room to take a bath.

As I sunk into the tub, I let out a sigh of relief. I looked up at ceiling and then lifted my hand to my sight; I was trembling.

I smiled sardonically at myself; seems I still wasn't over those two's deaths. Closing my eyes, I sunk lower into the tub and began to cry once more. "Why?" Why was I so hung up on two complete strangers; it didn't make any sense to me. I splashed water on my face, and then held my hands over it. No matter what I did, the tears kept streaming. Even when I got out of the tub and climbed into bed, they were still flowing freely. I pulled the sheets over my head and cried myself to sleep.

The following day, I woke up and headed downstairs; it was the late afternoon…to think I slept so long. As I sat down to order some food, I overheard some adventurers speaking about the Destroyer's recent target, the Crimson Village; my village.

"Excuse me," I said as I walked over.

"Huh, what do you—oh, hey, you're a Crimson Demon, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"Ah, you hear the news, your village was attacked by the Destroyer."

Typically speaking, the Destroyer attacking the village wasn't much cause for concern; even should it completely destroy everything, the village would be completely repaired within days. Constant surveillance also made it all but impossible to catch it by surprise.

"Hey," the adventurer continued, "I don't wanna be the bearer of bad news, but"—the two exchanged looks—"we heard everyone…died."

I stared at the man perplexedly; I didn't understand the words he just said.

He continued. "I think you're probably one of the few surviving Crimson Demons this side of the world."

I stumbled backwards and almost fell; the adventurers went to help me, however, I quickly stepped away and ran outside.

"Impossible, it can't be—it just can't!" I tried to cast Teleport but concentrating was a tall ask for me at the moment. "Pull yourself together, Megumin!" I forced myself to concentrate and finally teleported.

As I materialized, an overwhelming heat engulfed me. "No," I said, my eyes slowly taking in the scene. The village, the Crimson Village, my hometown and everything in it, was a sea of flames and burning wreckage.

"No…Komekko, oka-san…oto-san." I was stood in front of my home; a charred remain of smoldering wood and embers. In the center were three figures huddled tightly. My knees buckled.

"No…how? Why? Why is this happening?"

My vision quickly blurred as tears poured unceasingly from my eyes. I slowly crawled forward. "Komekko," I said, reaching out to the smallest of the figures. As my fingers made contact, the figure collapsed into a pile of ash and cinders.

"AHHHHHH!" I doubled over stricken by soul-crushing grief. "WHY?! WHY?! WHHHHYYYYY?!" I cried out. "Why?"

Then I noticed it; amongst the devastation were other forms, demonic forms, monsters. The village was being attacked when the Destroyer came through; they were caught off guard. They were preoccupied defending the village from the demon incursion to notice—no, to be able to retreat. This was planned, premeditated; the Demon King and his army did this. I clenched my staff in overwhelming hate and anger. I spent the entire rest of the afternoon and evening burying and mourning what was left of my family. Though I wished to do the same for the rest of the village, there were too many.

Crushed by the agony of such loss, I teleported back to the capital. I stumbled my way to the Eris church and entered. There I sat on the pews and stared at the statue of the Goddess Eris, Goddess of Luck & Fortune. I felt anger begin to boil over to rage as my brows knit in response.

"What have I done to deserve such misfortune?" I said in a menacingly low tone. "Why…why…why didn't you save them?! Where were you?!" I yelled. "Why didn't you save them; they worshipped you! You…goddamn…useless…goddess…"

I knew what I was saying was blasphemous, but I grew spiteful by the lack of intervention by this so-called goddess of luck and fortune.

"Megumin-san," a familiar voice said, "you should refrain from saying such things; a god's retribution is swift and terrible."

"Everything's been taken from me already; what more could I lose?"

"What do you mean?" Lalatina took a seat beside me.

"My village, my"—voice cracked—"family; they're all gone."

"Megumin-san…goodness…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry."

Suddenly the capital's sirens blared. Over the air, an announcement was made.

"WARNING, DESTROYER APPROACHING! PLEASE COMMENCE EVACUATION!"

I could feel grief leave me instantly, a seething rage replacing it just as swiftly. I shot up and grasped my staff so tightly my hand began to hurt. I quickly strode towards the exit, however, Lalatina grabbed me.

"Let go," I said sternly.

"Stop, Megumin-san; whatever it is you're planning to do, killing yourself isn't gonna solve anything."

I shrugged her off. "I'm the most powerful Crimson Demon in existence; I won't lose to something like that!"

"Even you know that's suicide; the Destroyer is immune to all forms of magic; please reconsider."

I turned to her. "A city—the capital of her followers, will the Goddess Eris leave this place to the same fate suffered by my brethren?! I'm not about to sit here OR RUN FROM IT!"

Lalatina stood silenced by my outburst. I hurried out of the church and looked out towards the horizon; far in the distance was the figure of an arachnid-like machine barreling towards the city.

Suddenly a red sparkle appeared in the distance. By the time I could decipher what it was, it would be too late; I instinctively closed my eyes and braced myself. I heard an overwhelmingly loud noise surround me. After a couple of seconds, the sound dissipated, but I felt nothing change.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw a priestess stood in front of me, arms spread out to guard me. Her once blonde hair was mostly gone, her beautiful white skin, charred and cracked; Lalatina protected me, she took the blast for me…she sacrificed herself…for me.

I stood wide-eyed, my eyes brimming with tears once again. "Why?" I said as I looked at her sadly.

Lalatina smiled weakly. "Thank Eris, I was able to save you. The Goddess of Fortune has yet to abandon you, Megumin."

"YOU CALL THIS FORTUNATE?!" I cried.

Lalatina, however, did not reply; she died standing with a smile on her face.

"No," I said, falling on all fours, "why?" I began crying. "Why, I'm sorry, I was angry, I didn't mean to"—my cries turned to sobs—"to disrespect you…please…stop this…I can't take it anymore." I wailed loudly and childishly as the noise of panicked screams filled the air, the sounds of agonizing cries merging with my own; a chorus of sorrow as the capital was razed to the ground.

The Destroyer came and went, and I was still alive. Most of the capital was a living hell. Charred corpses dotted the streets, flaming wrecks, crumpled masonry scattered like loose soil, the capital had been laid low and I survived this catastrophe; I was…fortunate.

At this point, I was so far beyond broken that I felt numb to everything around me; nothing elicited a response. Not the miserable cries of those like me, fortunate, lucky; not the intense flames licking at my heels and mantle; not the astonishing levels of destruction wrought.

I shambled through the streets until I finally made my way out of the city. After reaching the outskirts of the capital, I collapsed. I was done…I wanted nothing more of this life—there was nothing more…everything that had any meaning to me was taken; I wanted peace…I wanted to die. I turned onto my back and pulled out my adventurer's card. I stared at it, what it meant; inscribed upon it were the accomplishments of this little girl, the Bloody Mage, Megumin.

"50 skill points," I said.

I scrolled through my list of skills; I learned all of them…all but one. I sneered as I looked at the only spell I didn't know. Long ago a busty onee-san showed me this spell along with many that I now knew. I promised her I would become a great mage, but now…

I clicked on the spell and confirmed its acceptance into my memory. I now knew the spell "Explosion".

"Such a useless spell," I said wearily. "Perhaps we were meant for each other," I joked. "Explosion, can you grant me my wish; the wish this accursed goddess has denied me? If you do, I'll worship you."

I smiled and held my arms outstretched. "Darkness blacker than black…and darker than dark…I beseech thee…combine with my deep crimson…the time of awakening cometh. Bring me that which I yearn for, that which all ruinous agents ultimately aspire to. Oh holy light of unparalleled destruction, I summon thee. Bring me peace, bring me…death." The powerful spell condensed into a small ball in my hands. I stared at its brilliance and smiled once more. Pressing it to my chest, I closed my eyes and said, "Explosion."

I opened my eyes and saw complete darkness. "NO!" I yelled sitting up, "NO! PLEASE, NO!"

"Oi, Megumin, what the hell?!"

That voice, his voice. "Kazuma?" I said breathlessly. I looked to my side and there he was; he stared at me with mild annoyance. Even with such an expression upon his face I was relieved beyond words to see him. I threw myself into his chest and began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Kazuma," I cried, hugging him tightly.

"H-Hey, what's up with you?" He said, his voice now full of concern.

I couldn't speak, every time I thought about the nightmare I just had, I choked on my words.

Aqua burst into the room; Darkness was right behind her. "What's going on?!" She shouted.

"Megumin, what are you doing here?" Darkness queried.

"Kazuma, did you"—I jumped out of bed and ran over to them both, hugging them as hard as I could—"Megumin…"

"I'm so glad you guys are ok," I sobbed. "I'm so glad I met you guys; please, don't…go." I sunk down as the sorrow I felt in the dream filled me.

"Hey," Kazuma said, placing his hand on my shoulder, "it's ok, it was just a bad dream; we're all here."

Even though he said that, and I knew, I couldn't stop crying; I hurt so bad, the feeling of loss felt so real that it transcended the boundaries of the nightmare.

"There, there, Megumin," Aqua said, petting my head, "we won't leave you." She hugged me back; soon I felt Darkness do the same, then Kazuma.

We all slept in Kazuma's room the rest of the night.

The following morning, they all decided to accompany me on my daily Explosion; once we reached the site, I stared out into the distance and took a deep breath. I took out my adventurer's card and scrolled through the list of spells; a handful of other spells now joined the list, but Explosion was still at the top. I rubbed my thumb affectionately over the name. This is who I was; Megumin, Master of Explosion magic, Crimson Annihilator, Vanquisher of the Demon Army, Genius of the Crimson Demons.

I looked back; Kazuma, Darkness, and Aqua were waiting patiently with a smile on their faces.

Yes, this is who I was, and they were part of me. I thrust my staff into air and yelled, "EXPLOOOSSSIOON!"