Chapter 4
"I demand we recruit allies. The only reason I got run over by a slug today was a lack of adequate meat shields!"
When we got back to Axle, we'd gone directly to the local bathhouse. I spend a good hour scrubbing myself, trying to eliminate the smell of slug. Given that every table in a five-foot radius of us was empty, I failed.
"Don't say meat shield, and I agree with you," I shot Shirou an apologetic look. "We need people closer to our level if we want to level up."
Hadn't that been a disappointment.
A big fat 1 remained on my guild card, with no sign of advancement whatsoever. Luna had been kind enough to explain what had happened. Being in the party allows for shared rewards of quests. That's a good thing cause now we have money. Unfortunately, Aqua and I had been less than useless during the actual fighting, meaning we did get any experience points.
Figures. Only real life would fix one of the best parts of an MMORPG.
"I don't give a crap about leveling up!" Aqua hugged her knees to her chest, eyes haunted. "It's going to be days before I stop smelling like slug."
I sighed. Aqua, it seemed, didn't understand 'forward thinking.'
I'm not surprised.
"Hey Shirou, I don't suppose you know anyone interested in joining our party?"
Shirou shook his head while sipping some hot beverage that reminded me of tea but was decidedly not tea.
"You guys and the guild staff are basically the only people I've spoken with since I arrived."
One part of me wanted to be sad about that. Another aspect of me raged jealousy.
Of course, Shirou hadn't thought about forming a party. He was too goddamn OP! He had magic before coming to this world and had the physical stats needed to become an Arcane Knight right after registering. Not fair!
"Are you ok, Kazuma? Your face is turning awfully red."
Aqua asked me, breaking out of her personal nightmares.
I took a deep breath.
"I'm fine. Tomorrow, let's try and recruit an extra person for our party. I think we need a mage. Ideally, someone good at area control since Shirou's got DPS covered, I'm an all rounder, and Aqua is a healer."
Aqua and Shirou both looked confused.
"DPS?"
"Area control?"
I couldn't find it in myself to explain. So I'm stuck in a world straight out of an RPG with a couple of complete noobs, perfect.
"Let's just go to bed. We've got a long day tomorrow.
It was midday, and the guild had finally emptied but for us.
"...Why hasn't anybody joined already!" Aqua exploded, slamming her hand on the table. "Don't they understand what an honor it would be to join my party?"
"What do you mean your party? I don't remember electing you to be the leader of this outfit."
"Well, who else would it be? You're a hikkineet, and I'm a goddess."
"Quit calling me that! What about Shirou? He's stronger than either of us."
Aqua's mouth flapped a couple of times, but no sound emerged.
"W-well, he may be strong, but I'm clearly a better strategist."
I gaped.
The very concept of Aqua and strategy being mentioned in conjunction with each other didn't compute.
I turned to Shirou to see what he had to say, but he just shrugged.
"I don't care who's in charge as long as we keep helping people."
I hadn't known Shirou long, but that answer felt on character for him.
"See," Aqua said, smugness radiating from her. "So, now that the discussion of leadership has been resolved... We can figure out why nobody's come to join our party."
"Well, you shouldn't have written advanced classes only! We look like complete snobs! I am going to change out the flyer." I said, getting up, but Aqua pounced on me before I could.
"You can't! How else are we supposed to defeat the Devil King."
"I get that but come on. There can't be more than a handful of people with advanced jobs here, and besides, even if you and Shirou have advanced classes, I'm only an adventurer," I tried unsuccessfully to push Aqua off me, but she was way too strong for such a slight girl! "I don't want to keep being the weakest person in the party!"
My struggles with Aqua ceased when Shirou interjected himself into the conversation.
"Are advanced classes really that rare? I mean, it's not like I'm special or anything."
I gaped. I didn't know if Shirou was that humble or just oblivious.
"I course it special. Otherwise, I, the great goddess Aqua, wouldn't be one."
Aqua pressed her hand to her chest and closed her eyes, looking all the world like a regal beauty.
It was a complete lie.
"Listen, Shirou," I drew on wisdom gained through thousands of hours before a computer screen. "Advanced classes are considered the best of the best. You not only have to be strong but very dedicated to a specific field—"
Before I could go on, a knock on wood interrupted me.
Standing before our table was a small girl who didn't look older than twelve or thirteen. She wore what I would describe as a traditional magic user's garb, and her single crimson eye seemed to glow with power, the other hidden behind an eye patch.
"Are you the party looking for adventurers with advanced jobs?"
You've got to be kidding me! How could a kid this young already have an advanced job? It's not fair, not fair, not fair!
"We are," Shirou answered the girl with a kind smile. "Do you need help with something?"
The girl threw back her cloak dramatically and slammed her staff into the ground.
"Nonsense, it is I who can help you, for my name is Megumin, the strongest Arch-wizard to have ever been born to the Crimson Demon Clan!"
I stared.
Shirou stared.
Even Aqua stared.
So, the girls not advanced, just crazy. That made me feel better for some reason.
I turned to Shirou.
"Should we take her to a healer? She may have hit her head or something."
"H-hey! Stop making fun of me." Megumin stomped her foot. "I really am an Arch-wizard. Look!" She thrust her guild card in my face.
After pulling the card from her hand, my earlier feeling of inadequacy returned in force. Megumin's guild card taunted me with the words Arch-wizard written in artful calligraphy.
"See," Megumin crossed her arms smugly. "Now, before we progress with the interview…." A titanic rumble reached my ears from Megumin's belly, and she slumped. "Could you please treat me to lunch? I haven't eaten in three days."
Shirou jumped up.
"Of course, you sit down here, and I'll get you something. After all, hunger is the enemy."
After sating Megumin's hunger, we agreed to a trial run with her. Shirou didn't like it, citing that she was too young to be adventuring, but Megumin had turned on the waterworks, asking if Shirou wanted her to starve.
He had capitulated immediately.
With Shirou's tacit approval, we selected a quest. Hence our purpose for walking on a narrow dirt trail roughly a kilometer outside of Axle.
The trail in question led to a small woodland known for producing cooking and medicinal herbs.
I wiped off the sweat that had accumulated on my forehead. The sun was beating down mercilessly today, with no clouds to block the brutal rays.
"It's too hot for this," Aqua moaned, fanning herself.
I would have rebuked her if she hadn't spent the last hour whining about the same thing.
I couldn't bring myself to care anymore.
"We're almost there, Aqua," Shirou said from the front of our little group, not looking bothered by the heat at all. "The request said that the Horny Rabbits set up a burrow right around here."
The Horny Rabbit quest had been my idea.
Neither Aqua nor I dared take on another quest involving anything large and/or slimy so soon after our last encounter. Horny Rabbits, so named because of the little horn that grew out of their foreheads, didn't grow bigger than bunnies back on earth, making them pretty much the opposite of intimidating.
However, they were a nuisance to travelers. Plus, they ate the herbs many of Axle's residents relied on. So, by taking this quest, we helped the town and didn't have to fight anything dangerous.
All in all a perfect quest.
"There they are!" Aqua pointed excitedly with her staff as a large cluster of bunnies came into view just off the path.
"Ahhh, they're so cute! Do we really have to kill them?'
"Unfortunately, this is a kill quest. If we try to scare the rabbits off, they'll just keep coming back and eating the herbs." I said, agreeing with Aqua that they were cute.
"This is perfect," Megumin declared, standing tall.
It wasn't precisely awe-inspiring. I'm only five foot four and practically towered over the small girl.
"Allow me to demonstrate my awesome power!"
Well, that was why we were here.
"Shirou, please don't interfere. We need to handle these things ourselves to level up."
Shirou accepted my request and moved back while I brought my short sword to bear.
It was at that moment the air started to tremble.
"My name is Megumin! Greatest of the Crimson Demons. Look on and quiver before my awesome might and magic!"
Megumin leveled her staff at the rabbits.
"Explosion!"
Like a bolt of lightning, a rainbow lance of energy shot from Megumin's staff and came crashing down on the rabbits with a massive boom.
The air roared and dust stung my eyes as I planted my feet before I could be blown onto my butt by the air pressure. Aqua hadn't been as quick and fell into Shirou's waiting arms.
"Wow!"
The devastation of Megumin's spell was incredible. A crater twenty meters in diameter took the place of the once-frolicking rabbits.
With power like that, maybe we really can defeat the Devil King.
I grinned, my earlier reservations of being the weakest party member fleeing from my mind. Then, I turned to Megumin just in time to watch her fall flat on her face.
Goddammit, I knew it was too good to be true.
"My magic is the ultimate expression of power, but it consumes all my energy. I won't be able to move for a while; please carry me back to town."
My eye twitched spasmodically.
"Kazuma," Shirou interjected before I could unleash my rage on the narcoleptic wizard. "I'll take Megumin somewhere safe while you and Aqua finish the rest of the burrow."
Huh?
I turned to where Shirou pointed, and sure enough, more Horny Rabbits were popping their heads up on the outskirts of the blast radius. I counted at least fifty of them, and their beady black eyes focused on where we stood.
"R-right."
Come on, Kazuma, you've got this!
I psyched myself up.
"You ready, Aqua!?"
"Yeah! These things will be total pushovers."
That felt like a jinx, but I didn't have time to worry about such things as the little rabbits began to hop forward.
"Ahhhh!"
Aqua and I released war cries and charged the mass of adorable fluff.
I've reached a new low.
Shirou had already darted off with Megumin over his shoulder. I didn't blame him.
I, too, thought Aqua and I could handle a few rabbits. Even with their horns, I figured they couldn't be all that dangerous.
The horns should have been the least of my worries.
"KAZUM—"
Aqua's cry cut off abruptly, but I didn't turn around. Instead, I sprinted even harder in the opposite direction.
These rabbits weren't named for the horns on their head like I initially thought.
I chanced a glance behind me and regretted it. Aqua had been lost under a humping mass of black, white, and gray bodies.
The rabbits weren't Horny Rabbits.
They were Horny Rabbits, and they were right behind me.
"Ahhhhh!" I screamed as two rabbits jumped and bit down painfully on my butt.
I spun around wildly, trying to shake them loose, and that proved my undoing.
The rabbits surged forward, tripping me to the ground.
"No!"
I rolled, swung my sword, and was gratified when I hit one of the rabbits.
I would have celebrated, but more rabbits quickly replaced the single one I killed.
"Come on then, you bastards!"
I swung and swung and swung.
I rolled and thrashed, screaming wordlessly as I did until I came to my senses and realized. There were no more rabbits.
I scrambled to my feet, gasping hard. The ground was littered with little furry bodies.
I raised my hands in victory, falling to my knees, and screamed to the sky.
"Yessss!"
With new confidence, I ran to where Aqua lay, the rabbits scattering at my approach.
"Aqua! Aqua, speak to me!"
I fell to my knees beside the girl but hesitated to touch her as I noticed a certain...stickiness.
"Kazuma?"
Aqua uncurled herself, eyes haunted.
"Kazuma!"
Aqua threw herself at me, burying her face in my chest and weeping.
"Why does this keep happening to me? I'm a goddess gosh darn it! A goddess, you hear!"
I pushed my disgust down and stroked Aqua's blue hair.
"Come on, let's go find Shirou and Megumin and go back to Axle."
It had been messy and unpleasant, but by god, I had finally done it.
I completed my first quest.
"Sniffle... sniffle... this stinks, my clothes are sticky, and my feet hurt. Why won't you carry me, Kazuma? Shirou's carrying Megumin."
Aqua whimpered as we finally entered Axle.
"It's not like I want to be carried," Megumin said, clinging to Shirou's back like a koala.
As it turned out, when a spell caster uses a spell that goes beyond the limits of their mana, the difference comes from their vitality. Use a major spell when your mana is running low, and a person could end up killing themselves.
Sobering thought.
"Listen, Megumin. I know you wanted to show us what you could do, but save your Explosion for emergencies only. Stick to the more minor stuff most of the time." Shirou said, and I couldn't agree more.
Honestly, what use was a mage who couldn't move after casting one spell?
"I cannot."
I closed my eyes as a feeling of dread filled my stomach.
"What do you mean you can't?" I asked, needing to confirm my suspicion.
I could see Megumin grip Shirou tighter.
"I can't use any spells except for Explosion. I'm completely incapable of performing any other magic."
It was as I expected. Megumin is useless.
"What do you mean you can't use anything other than Explosion? You are an Arch-Wizard. You should have a ton of spells you can learn with skill points." Aqua said.
Skill points, now those were exciting. If I understood them correctly, they could be used to instantaneously learn new skills related to your class. This means that Aqua spoke the truth for once. Megumin should be able to use plenty of spells.
"You get skill points when you choose a class. Plus, the more advanced your class, the more skill points you start with and earn by leveling up. For example, I am very exceptional, so I started with many skill points and purchased all the party trick skills and then all the magic appropriate to an Arch-priest."
'Party trick skills?' I mouthed to Shirou, who shrugged, having no more idea than I did.
"That means an Arch-wizard should have plenty of skill points even after learning Explosion." Aqua finished her explanation proudly, resting her hands on her hips.
I would never say it out loud, but I was impressed with Aqua's logic. I never would have thought she'd have it in her.
"So, why can't you cast other spells?" I paused. "And what exactly are party skills?"
Aqua ignored my latter question. However, Megumin seemed happy to explain.
"I...am an Arch-wizard who loves Explosion above all else. Therefore, using any other magic would betray who I am as a magic user!"
Dear gods, it's worse than I thought. Especially because Aqua seemed to already be drinking from the cool-aid, nodding to Megumin's declaration thoughtfully.
"Of course, it might be easier for me to complete quests if I learned other skills. Even basic magic would be a boon. Air, earth, fire, water, all elements within my reach...But I cannot. I love Explosion, even if I can only use it once daily, even if I'm entirely helpless after casting it. It doesn't matter to me! I love only Explosion! I chose the path of Arch-wizard solely so I could cast that one, single spell."
"Incredible!" Aqua said, and even Shirou looked moved. I swear I could see tears forming in his eyes.
"I know how you feel, Megumin," Shirou said. "I, too, only have one magic available to me, but to see your passion, I understand now that isn't bad."
Dammit all, I really am surrounded by nothing but crazy people. A moronic goddess, a useless mage, and a pushover of a knight.
I had to do something. Aqua and Shirou were at least helpful in their own ways, but I couldn't afford to take on another basket case.
"Well, like Shirou said, your dedication is awe-inspiring. It won't be an easy path, but stay strong. Oh, look, we're almost to the guild. Let's split the reward four ways. Then, who knows? Maybe we'll meet again in the future."
Is this what it felt like to break up with a girl? I'd never dated one, so...
Now I'm sad.
Megumin's single eye widened as I spoke, and sweat broke out across her brow.
"Hahaha!... My one desire is to cast Explosion. Any reward, a mere bonus, and completely unnecessary."
I watched Megumin lick her lips, eyes darting around frantically.
"As such, I do not need an equal share of any reward. Give me enough for a meal, bath, and basic necessities, and I will be part of your party. Yes! You can have me, the great and powerful Megumin, for a paltry sum. Truly, how could you pass up on such a deal? It's beyond amazing for you."
I let out a fake laugh while waving my hand like I was embarrassed.
"We couldn't do that. Such immense power would be wasted on adventurers of our level. Why, I have the lowest-level job, and Aqua is less than useless. Look at what happened today? She couldn't even defeat a few Horny Rabbits. A regular spell caster would be plenty for such small-fry like us."
Megumin shook her head frantically, and I could hear Shirou grunt as her hold became a little too tight around his neck.
"But I don't mind that this is an inexperienced party! I may have an advanced class, but I'm only a level six, just starting out. In fact, if you help me level up a few times, I'll stop collapsing every time I cast Explosion. I'm sure of it! So s-so please, d-don't say I can't be part of this party, please!"
I panicked as I saw Aqua and Shirou look at me disapprovingly. I couldn't afford for them to let this useless mage into the party, or we never get anywhere!
I reached up and grabbed Megumin's arms and tried to pull her off of Shirou, but for a small girl, she had an amazing grip.
"No, no, no," I grunted as I pulled at Megumin. "A wizard who can only cast one spell a day is useless. Worse than useless if we're in a dungeon. You just blow us up or cause a cave-in. You've probably been kicked out of a load of parties, haven't you? We'll split the reward with you, so don't worry, now please let go of Shirou."
"No, no! Please don't abandon me!" Megumin screamed at the top of her lungs, shaking her head frantically.
I grimaced as people on the street stopped and began staring at the spectacle we were making.
"No other party will take me! When we enter a dungeon, I-I'll carry your bags and the loot! I'll do anything. Just please don't leave me!"
"God's that man wants to abandon a little girl?"
I froze as the voices of the crowd began to reach my ears.
"How horrible, and look at the blue-haired girl. What is she covered in... You don't think it's...?"
Oh, that's not good. I could see Megumin's eyes light up deviously as she heard what was being said.
"Please, I'll do whatever kinky stuff you like, just like Aqua!"
"Hey!"
Aqua's indignation went ignored as Megumin continued to whale.
"You can cover me in all your sticky—"
"Ok! Ok! Congratulations, you're part of our party. Just stop talking!"
Shirou's point of view
"... Why is this so hard?"
Kazuma asked me from where he slumped against the guild bar. The girls had gone to the baths, Aqua, for apparent reasons, and Megumin apparently liked a long soak after using her spell.
"The quest?"
"The quest, Aqua, Megumin. I've been here two days, and half the town probably thinks I'm some pervert."
I winced.
Even I knew how bad that argument looked, I was lucky Megumin had been so obviously addressing Kazuma.
"At least you leveled up, and we finished the quest."
A weak attempt at putting a positive spin on the day, but I couldn't think of anything better. It did cheer Kazuma up slightly.
"That's true," Kazume pulled out his guild card, which now had a large number three in the right corner. "I can't believe I gained two levels by killing rabbits, but I guess you rank up faster, the weaker you are."
I could agree with that. After all, it took much less time for a novice to become proficient than for someone skilled to become a master.
"Hey, Shirou, what level are you anyway?"
"Hmm? level fifteen."
Kazuma began coughing violently.
"F-fifteen? How didn't you get that high so fast?"
I blinked at Kazuma's surprise.
"Is it that high? I've only completed three quests."
I didn't get this leveling business or skill points if I'm honest. Sure, it was interesting and helpful, but Kazuma's reaction seemed like overkill.
"Unbelievable," Kazuma said. "OP protagonist..."
I didn't pay attention to the rest of Kazuma's grumbles as a young woman came and stood beside me.
She was blonde, with proud features wearing a long skirt with a gleaming steel chest plate and pauldrons.
A female knight and a gorgeous one.
However, it wasn't her armor or beauty that drew me in but the impression she gave off. An almost palpable loneliness wafted from her, reminding me so much of my greatest friend that I froze.
"Pardon me," She said. "Might I have a moment of your time?"
Her voice contrasted her looks and expression. Demure and innocent.
"O-of course," Kazuma said, and I was grateful. It helped me shake off my daze.
"What can we do for you?"
Darkness enters the fray! I can't wait to see how she interacts with Shirou.
You also probably noticed I changed the style of this chapter to first person. Let me know what you think about that. I'll try it for a couple more chapters as an experiment if nothing else.
Also, any feedback you have on the pacing of this story would be appreciated. I'm struggling with that aspect of writing. Part of that's because I post immediately after I finish writing, so building tension and payoffs is a little tricky.
Thanks for reading!
