PART II: Super Special Summon
The next day, Megumin demanded to take her staff out, while Darkness claimed she had "urgent business" with her rope.
"Oh go take your magic play toy to Becky. I'm sure you'll both enjoy it," Kazuma told Darkness, who blushed and hurried off. "As for you, Megumin, I don't want to be close by when you set off your explosion. Consider that staff my gift to you, but unless we're actually facing a boss I don't want to be around when it goes off."
"Hmph. Then I shall go with Yunyun and find a suitable target," Megumin grumped.
"I'm coming too!" Aqua said eagerly. "I got us a quest, and if we complete it, we'll earn some keys! I just know I'll get an SSR this time!"
"Yeah, yeah, you guys have fun," Kazuma said. Then he headed off towards the guild.
To his shock, even though it wasn't even noon yet, the guild was humming with activity, with dozens of excited adventurers eager to turn in their newly completed quests.
"Oh, there you are, Kazuma!" Luna called from behind the counter with a long line of eager opportunities. "You run the chest line! Over there, please!"
"Er, I well-" Kazuma glanced at the Adventures, then sighed. Luna would never do anything if she had to work… "Oh, fine! Alright, come over here if you've got a completed quest and I'll give you your keys!"
Soon Kazuma was processing every adventurer that wanted to open a chest. Most of them, of course, got the common drops. A bit of eris, some old equipment, cheap potions, or a voucher for an appetizer or cheap ale. After each opening, Kazuma rotated the chest to the back, with a steady stream of guild girls running them back and forth. It didn't do anything, but it did make people think they were resetting the prizes.
"This is a joke! That event last night was a scam!" an angry party leader shouted after all three of his party's keys had been common summons.
"Oh, you're just jealous!" Chris said, waltzing up. She handed her paper over to Kazuma. "One key, please!"
"Ok, here you go," Kazuma said, handing Chris her key.
"I want a refund! Or another key! That SSR is a lie!" the leader shouted at Kazuma. "You're just trying to-"
"A-HA!" Chris cried, as a rainbow light burst forth from her chest. Everyone gasped in shock, and Chris pulled out a sparkling dagger that seemed to be made of pure crystal.
"Oooo, it's a magical sandworm tooth dagger! These are extra rare. They say wounds made with these daggers never close, and a single cut can make your foes bleed to death!" Chris said. She smiled and holstered her dagger. "Looks like rate up isn't a lie! After all, I got my SSR with just one key."
"GIVE ME ANOTHER QUEST!" the once angry party leader shouted, hurrying back over to the board. "THAT SSR IS MINE THIS TIME!"
"Damn, good timing, Luna," Kazuma whispered through the bars as he went to get more keys. "They were getting upset."
"Actually, I wasn't planning to hand out an SSR today. She just got really lucky," Luna whispered back. "Damn, that was worth three million!"
"Eh, you're pulling in a lot of money, people are begging for more quests now," Kazuma said with a shrug. "I bet you could get other guilds to send you some."
"Hmm…Or I could license our scheme," Luna mused. "If we could get the other guild leaders to pay extra for our model…yes…yes this could be very lucrative…"
"Gacha always is," Kazuma agreed.
They worked all day and into the night, with excited adventures eager to turn in quests and get more keys for chests. By the time they were done, Kazuma was exhausted. He and Luna sat slumped at a table, picking at a plate of cold frog legs and sipping at their drinks.
"I'm too tired to take you out now," Kazuma groaned. "I didn't think we would work this hard…"
"I agree," Luna sighed, her head resting on her arm as she leaned on the table. "Maybe our date can be some other night…"
"Oh, um…you'll really go out with me?" Kazuma asked, perking up slightly.
Luna smiled at him. "Of course! Oh, and this is for you." She handed Kazuma a bulging sack of eris, which he eagerly took.
"Oh wow, I didn't think I was getting paid…"
"We really did make a ton of money, and a lot of that is thanks to you. But this is just a taste: come work under me full time, and more rewards are in store," Luna told him.
Kazuma blushed. "When you say work under you…"
"Contract negotiations later. Now, I'm tired," Luna groaned, forcing herself to her feet.
"Oh, uh, I could give you another backrub…"
"Too tired even for that, Kazuma. Goodnight."
After three days of madness, things did start to slow down at the guild. The backlog of quests had been cleared up, and Luna was issuing some special missions to take care of various things that had been left undone, like a beginners bane raid, or clearing out old farm fields that were infested with feral lettuce.
"Hmm, I think tonight I can take off and you can buy me dinner," Luna said in the midafternoon, looking around. "Tiffa, you're in charge for the evening. Make sure to follow the key order and the schedule I have posted."
"Yes ma'am!" the guild girl in question said. "Mr. Vanir is really happy to take over it, so it shouldn't be a problem…"
"O-HO-HO-HO!" Vanir chortled from the chest well as an adventurer cried out in agony at getting nothing but a bag of old trail rations. "Well, thou hast failed this time, O foolish mortal! Pray, try again, and perhaps the next time thou shalt open a better chest! O-HO-HO, what delicious despair!"
"But the last guy got a succubus coupon!" the poor adventurer whined. "Don't I get anything?!"
"When thou plays the gacha, sometimes, thou gets nothing but tears and salt, as thou did tonight. Now begone! Who is next to open a chest?" Vanir demanded.
"Yeah, er, he's really into it," Kazuma agreed. He smiled at Luna nervously. "Well, shall we?"
"Absolutely not!" Luna wrinkled her nose. "I'm going to change and take a bath first, and if you know what's good for you, Mister Sato, you will too. I expect a proper meal, not just a quick meal at the bar here."
"Er, yes ma'am," Kazuma agreed.
He quickly ran back home, got a bath and changed, then ran to the door. Then he smacked his forehead and went back into the living room, where Aqua was cradling something.
"Kazuma, Kazuma, look! I got a dragon egg as my SSR!" Aqua said, holding up what appeared to be a plain brown hen's egg.
"Sure you did. Listen, Aqua. What's the fanciest place to eat in Axel?"
"Oh? Finally realizing what a valuable team member I am, and taking me out to dinner?" Aqua asked. "Well, I can't. I have to stay home and hatch my SSR dragon egg."
"Uh huh. Look, just tell me. Please?"
"Obviously, it's Anzio's Landing. They have freshly imported seafood, and a world class chef from Elroad! Plus, they have super great bubbly! When I hatch my dragon egg, I will permit you to buy me a meal there."
"Super! Thanks!" Kazuma raced out of the mansion and back to the guildhall, though he slowed to a walk. He paused, then quickly went to the well, and using some water from a bucket smoothed his hair back. He needed to look presentable.
He was surprised to find Luna waiting for him. Instead of her usual style done up in a bun on the back of her head, she had her hair loose about her shoulders, and was wearing a red gown.
"Oh, um, hi. I um…" Kazuma blushed and looked down at himself. He was wearing his old tracksuit, which was pretty much the only other clothes he owned. Thanks to Aqua's incredible holy cleaning powers, it was free of stains, but it was a bit worn and rumpled at this point.
"Well, I suppose I should be glad you're not just wearing your adventuring gear," Luna said, coming over to take Kazuma's arm. "So, where are you taking me for dinner?"
"Anzio's," Kazuma said confidently.
Luna giggled. "Oh my, you are serious! Even if you're not quite dressed for the place. Hmm, I thought this would happen. The tailor's shop is open for another hour. You can get something acceptable there."
Luna took Kazuma to a tailor that was usually too expensive for him. He ended up spending most of the money Luna had given him a few days before on a new, rather fancy outfit. It wasn't quite what a noble would wear, but it was what he would expect a prosperous merchant or banker to have.
"Is this really worth 100,000 eris?" Kazuma asked, frowning at himself in the mirror. It wasn't perfectly tailored, but it did fit nicely.
"Well, if you want to take me to Anzio's, you need to have something like that. So what do you think?" Luna asked him.
"Worth every eris," Kazuma vowed. And paid up without wincing.
Anzio's really was a fancy restaurant. Indeed, their seafood was so fresh because they had a large, magical pool in the center of the restaurant, which magically floated up in the air so you could see the fish inside. When you ordered, the staff would summon the fish with a quick charm, and the chef would cook it for you immediately.
"Hmm, that looks good. I'll have the tuna, with some asparagus. What sort of wine should we order, Kazuma?" Luna asked.
"Er…what do you recommend, waiter?" Kazuma asked.
"A nice dry white wine, sir."
"We'll have that, then!" Kazuma agreed.
The waiter left, and Luna leaned forward and smiled at Kazuma, her assets well on display. "My my, what good taste you have. I must say, you wouldn't be the first Adventurer to try wining and dining me, but you might be the first I let succeed."
"W-whatever do you mean?" Kazuma asked, flushing and working hard to leer and ruin the date.
"Oh, you can look. I think I'm starting to enjoy it when you admire me," Luna said with a smug smile.
Kazuma gratefully and appreciatively spent several moments doing just that, and thinking that this whole thing was very much worth it. Even if he had spent so much on clothes.
"Hmm. Kazuma?"
"That's my name."
Luna titter. "You are funny sometimes. Tell me, just what do you intend?"
"I, um, I er-"
"I mean, aside from admiring the girls. What's your plan? Do you still intend to leave Axel and go face the Devil King?" Luna asked seriously.
Kazuma sighed and sat back in his chair. "Well, I mean…that was sort of the goal, but…well…actually, it was really fun designing our new guild system with you. I…I liked that. Figuring out how to get the most out of the Adventurers…it's like a game, you know? And…I think I'm good at it."
Luna nodded seriously. "You are."
"Thanks. Um, you're really good too, you know. You really helped polish a lot of my ideas, and franchising it…you could end up as the head of all the guilds!"
"That's my dream, actually," Luna sighed, playing with her glass. She dipped her finger in the water, then traced the rim, making a soft, sweet note as she did so. "I've worked hard since I was only 12 as a guild girl, rising from being a simple waitress to the head of the Axel Guildhall. We're a minor, unimportant branch, but…one day…I'd like to be the mistress of all the guilds."
She eyed Kazuma. "I was serious about you working under me. You're a smart man, Kazuma. And, if I file some rough edges off you, you'd be a good partner. But, I'd be the senior. I'd be the guild mistress, and you'd be my assistant. Some guys…they're not OK with that. They have to be in charge. I've turned away a lot of potential suitors because they thought they'd be the one running the guild, or that I'd turn into a milk cow and pop out babies for them."
"Well, I mean, I wouldn't mind kids, but we're young and I don't really think we have to have a bunch," Kazuma stammered. "Er, I mean…I wouldn't mind working under you…"
"Hmm," Luna said, and sipped her water. Then she smiled. "Ah, the food!"
The dinner was, in fact, excellent. The fish melted in Kazuma's mouth, while the vegetables were tasty and cooked to perfection. The wine really did compliment the meal, and at the end they ordered a slice of chocolate cake to split.
"I do want children, by the way," Luna said suddenly as Kazuma was taking a bit of the delicious confection.
Kazma half choked, then hastily drank some water. "I…what?!"
"I'm twenty two, Kazuma. Well past the age when most women would be married. But I also won't just endlessly pop out kids. Two."
"I, er, well, where I come from, most people only have one or two kids," Kazuma stammered. "And, well, twenty two isn't that old! Why, in Japan, the average age for women to get married is like 29 or something! And heck, I'm only 17 now. I mean, I'm an adult, but, er…"
"I think of you as a man," Luna said seriously. "And I see you as a good investment."
She softened for a moment, taking a bite of cake while Kazuma's mind swam. She giggled. "Look, I like you Kazuma. A lot. I think you're funny, and smart, and, well, you make me feel special. You treat me like I'm more than a pair of nice tits. Oh, don't blush, I know how most of the other guys think of me. I know this is sudden, but, well, I want to be clear what I expect out of a relationship from the start."
"I, er brought you something," Kazuma said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a neatly wrapped box. "But, um, you don't want to open it here."
"Oh don't I?" Luna took the box before Kazuma could protest. She used a nail to cut the wrapping paper, then peeked inside. She slammed the lid down, blushing. "Oh, I don't. Ah, Kazuma, this is…"
"Well, um, I…I know a design that could help with your…back issues…Becky helped me…"
"Really? Well. I think I'll let you walk me home then."
Kazuma took Luna home, and then awkwardly paused at the guild back entrance with her.
"Think about what I said tonight," Luna told him.
"I will. Um, kids, and stuff, and-"
"And if you want to unlock MY SSR, Kazuma, there's a key to it," Luna said.
"A back rub?" Kazuma guessed.
Luna giggled, then shook her head. "Oh no. I might let you give me a few more of those…but I'm a career woman, Kazuma. And I'm not going to get a name for myself that would hurt my plans. So, think about things. You're smart. You can figure it out."
Then she stepped close, and drew Kazuma to her. The kiss was just a firm press of their lips together, a quick embrace, then she broke it and stepped back, breathing as hard as Kazuma was.
"Mmm, yes. That was nice. Well. Good night."
Then Luna was gone, and Kazuma was left with his head spinning.
Over the next couple of weeks, Kazuma tried to puzzle out what Luna's "key" was. He gave her back rubs, and she returned the favor. They were actually quite wonderful, and Kazuma practically melted under Luna's fingers.
"Your gift is very nice," Luna told Kazuma as well. "I rather like it."
"I got you some flowers. Daylilies. Weird name, they bloom at night."
"Ah, my favorite! So Tiffa did manage to tell you. Good," Luna said, taking the flowers and sniffing them. She smiled, then shook her head. "I like these, but they aren't the key."
"Oh." Kazuma shuffled his feet. "Um, dinner? Come over to my place. Aqua went to Alcanrettia for something, Darkness is, er, well, she's staying with Becky, and Yunyun and Megumin are having a sleepover at Yunyun's place. I have the cooking skill…"
"That does sound lovely. It's a date!"
Dinner was great, and Kazuma found himself laughing and talking with Luna late into the evening. But, at 10 o'clock, she informed him that also wasn't her key.
"But you can walk me home. Maybe there will be a rare drop at the end…"
Said rare drop was another kiss, longer and more passionate, but once more Luna closed the door and went inside alone.
Kazuma was wracking his brains, and couldn't figure it out. He'd talked to the other Adventurers, and none of them could come up with anything helpful. He'd given Luna gifts of her favorite sweets, a new dress, and all sorts of things. Vanir started coming over and sniffing at Kazuma, then sighing contentedly and saying he was "full of despair."
At last, Kazuma tried asking Luna. "Alright, what is your key?" he said as they took an evening stroll along the river bank. "Whatever it is, I'll get it, I promise!"
Luna sighed. "And here I thought you were smart…well, I did say you would be the junior partner. Meet me tomorrow in the town square at noon."
Kazuma did just that, and found Luna waiting in a sundress, her hair up in a ponytail, a straw hat on her head.
"You look incredible," Kazuma said, and gave her a quick kiss.
"Why thank you. Now, Mr. Sato, I will show you the key to my SSR."
"I hope it doesn't involve 100 chests. I haven't completed a quest in weeks," Kazuma sighed.
"I assure you that this quest has very different requirements," Luna told him.
She led Kazuma to a goldsmith's shop, where expensive jewelry was on display.
"You want earrings or something? I have a bit saved up, I can buy you something nice," Kazuma said cautiously.
"No, now that I think about it, I'll be the breadwinner, won't I? You'll work for me. So, I'll pay if you decide to get the key," Luna told him.
She browsed the jewelry for a bit, then, at last, fond a platinum ring with a large moonstone on it, circled with seed pearls.
"That one, I think for me. And for you… well, for men, it's usually rather plain. Which would you like?" Luna asked Kazuma.
"Why would I want a ring?" Kazuma asked in confusion.
Luna blushed. "Well, it's traditional for a man to wear a wedding band, isn't it."
For a moment, Kazuma couldn't figure it out. Then the coin dropped. "Wait, are you…are you asking to MARRY me?!"
Luna was blushing heavily, but she drew herself up. "If you really want my SSR…to find your way into my heart, and my bed…well. For that rare drop, Mr. Sato, I will have to be Mrs. Sato."
"You'd take my name?" Kazuma blurted.
Luna smiled and shrugged. "Well, I might be very non-traditional, but, well, I do like the sound of Luna Sato. Not so bad, is it?"
It didn't take much consideration. "I accept your offer, Luna. I'll marry you, and by your partner. Together, we'll take over all the Guilds in Belzerg, and beyond!"
Luna drew Kazuma close, and even with the store owner watching, kissed him deeply. After a long minute, they drew apart. "That, Kazuma, is key to my SSR."
She turned to the shopkeeper. "We'll take these two."
Kazuma looked down at Luna's ring as they walked away from the shop, his heart in his throat. "So, uh, we…"
"I'll need to introduce you to my parents. We'll take a week off and go visit them in the capital," Luna told him. "I've written to them about you. What about you? Your parents?"
"We, er…are not on speaking terms," Kazuma said, blushing and looking away.
"That's alright. We'll plan out the ceremony later. Now, who's at the mansion?"
"It's empty," Kazuma said absently, his mind reeling. What had he agreed to? Was this really worth it? Did he love Luna, really love her? Did he want to marry her? His mind was spinning…he'd never thought a girl would propose to him…
"Excellent. Come. I think we need to seal the deal," Luna said.
"What?" Kazuma asked, looking up.
Luna blushed. "Well, it might surprise you to know that I am, in fact, a virgin. I've always turned everyone away…"
"Um, I am, too…" Kazuma admitted.
"Well, I don't wish to be wed as a virgin. Do you?" Luna asked, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Kazuma blinked. Then he understood. "Right this way!"
They held hands all the way to the mansion, stopping to kiss more than once. They almost didn't make it, when they paused in the shade of a tree with comfortable grass all around it.
"Not here," Luna finally said, gasping and pushing Kazuma off of her. "Come on. I'm not going to disgrace myself in public…"
Once inside, Kazuma planned to take Luna to his bedroom, messy as it was, but they only made it as far as the couch.
Luna suddenly spun, turning her back to Kazuma. "Help me, please."
"With what?" Kazuma asked, confused.
"My dress, and that lovely bra you gave me. You can unhook it yourself.
Kazuma cursed his clumsy fingers, but he had made the thing, and he did get if off. When he did, Luna took off his pants and shirt, then let him pull down her panties. Then she gently pushed Kazuma down onto the couch.
"I told you you'd be working under me," she sighed, pulling off his underwear and dropping them to the ground. "Let me show you the position I had in mind."
Kazuma groaned as Luna straddled him, clutching at her hips. They rocked together for a painfully short time, then Kazuma cried out, pulling Luna tight and close. She groaned even as he did, then collapsed on top of him.
"That was…the best…SSR…ever," Kazuma panted, stroking Luna's hair.
She just sighed and wiggled atop him a bit.
"But, um, you're kinda heavy…let me up?"
The next time, they did make it to the bedroom, and Luna ended up spending the night.
After that, Kazuma did meet her parents after a long coach ride to the Capitol. They left Vanir of all people in charge of the guildhall.
"Moi wishes thee well! Spread word of this most wondrous gacha, which has brought great despair even as the Adventurers ardor to overthrow the monsters almost matches the ardor the two of thee feel for one another! MWAHAHAHA! Moi shall be the first demon guild master ere long! Go! This place is in my capable hands."
Luna's parents were delighted, if a bit surprised that Kazuma was younger than she was. Still, they gave their blessing, and two months later, they were married by Aqua in the Axel Guild hall, just before Luna really started to show.
It took years of hard effort, in between which Kazuma found himself a house husband for their two daughters most of the time as Luna continued to climb the ranks of the Guild. But, within five years, she was Mistress of three guilds. Then, she was elected Mistress of the Belzerg Guild at the tender age of thirty two, just in time for her and Kazuma's ten year anniversary.
Under Luna's leadership and with Kazuma's help, the Adventures of Belzerg were able to defeat the Devil King. Megumin and her 'rival' Yunyun along with Darkness and her 'friend' Becky led the party that finally took down the Devil King, and each of them received a rainbow SSR key.
Somehow, Yunyun managed to get a rather worthless magical item as a dud SSR, but Megumin consoled her and all was well.
In the end, Kazuma spent his life as Luna's partner, aiding her in taking down many threats from afar as they guided the Adventurers Guild. Their daughters went on to great success, one following in her mother's footsteps and leading the Axel Guildhall herself, and the other becoming a famous adventurer who took on and defeated new Devil Kings.
Luna passed on first, and Kazuma wept as her monument was erected outside the Axel Guild hall, standing with his daughter and grandchildren as their mother was laid to rest.
He lasted a few more years, visiting the Crimson Demon village to reminisce with Megumin and her definitely-just-my-rival-who-I-happen-to-have-two-kids-with Yunyun, then visiting Darkness as well.
"You haven't aged a day!" Kazuma gasped, looking at the still young crusader. He had found her in the old succubus cafe, though now it was much larger and fancier.
Darkness blushed. "Well, um, Becky does say demons don't really age…and, er…well…I sort of…became a succubus…"
"Really? How?" Kazuma asked suspiciously.
Darkness wiggled in embarrassment. "That's…private."
"Huh." Kazuma scratched his balding head. "Well, I'm happy for you, I guess."
Darkness nodded, then drew closer to Kazuma. "You know, I was in love with you, once. Perhaps I could give you a dream now…or something more…"
"Just… a dream," Kazuma said.
"Alright. I think I know of who. Still in love with her?" Darkness asked, giving Kazuma a gentle smile.
"Forever and always," Kazuma agreed.
He dreamed that night of Luna. They were both young again, and their love was as passionate as always.
When Darkness kissed him one last time as the dream ended, she stood and smiled. "That wasn't just a dream, Kazuma. You're together now, old friend."
Then she went to serve someone who'd earned an SSR at the guild, and continued the tradition of gacha that Kazuma and Luna had brought to Belzerg.
Author's Note:
Today is the last day to vote in my discord poll if you want more of this. You can find my discord with this magic code: /Qj7cGXqwA5