The very next day after the group had recovered Darkness….

"Oh man, that was a close one yesterday… I almost unwillingly gave those maniacs exactly what they wanted." Legolia sighed.

"If they're resorting to scamming to get new followers, this Church must really be desperate." DJ said.

"I've about had it with these people. Its one thing to ask constantly, but to use little girls…that's a whole other thing. I'm going up to the church to complain." Theo said.

"Actually, I think Aqua might be there, so I think I'll join you." Ethox said. "Maybe she can do something about this if we convince her to."

Some of the group made it to the church where a statue of Aqua stood.

"Oh…welcome. I'm sorry but the father is busy at the moment lurch…I mean converting new followers." a nun said.

"That's fine. Did an arch-priest and a mage come here recently?" Theo asked.

"Why yes." the nun said, pointing to Megumin who was huddled in the corner with tons of church applications.

"Oh…that's brutal." Shez said.

"Oh…and while you all were talking, your Eris church friend is being stoned by the local children." the nun said.

"What?!" Kazuma said before seeing Darkness being stoned. "Get away from her, you little bastards!" he said, scaring them off.

"Easy there, they're just kids after all." Yuri said.

"Oh yes…and they all know how to bring me to my knees." Darkness said.

"Will you put that Eris charm away, please?" Cobalt asked.

"No. I refuse!" Darkness said.

"She's certainly stubborn." Yuri said.

"Yeah, that's not stubbornness talking." Theo said as they pulled Darkness next to Megumin. "Now where is…" he said before looking to a confessional. "Okay…that has to be it."

"Any volunteers?" Yuri asked.

"And be heckled by that pompous goddess? Not interested." Subaru said.

"Uh…I actually have something to confess." Otto said as he walked in.

"Speak my lost lamb. Let me hear your words and the goddess shall hear them." Aqua said on the other side.

"Well…the other day, I did something really bad. It involves this friend of mine." Otto said.

"Oh…no worries. Your secrets are safe here. Please…speak." Aqua said.

"Well…okay. So…back at the mansion…I accidentally knocked Aqua's toothbrush into the toilet and then I put it back without washing it first!" Otto said.

"3…2…1." Yuri counted as Aqua came running out and scratching at her tongue.

"You did that on purpose knowing Aqua was doing a confessional, didnt you?" DJ asked.

"Did what on purpose?" Otto asked. "That was true."

"But it did help draw her out. Nice work there." Yuri said.

Once Aqua was caught, the group cornered her as she was rubbing her mouth.

"Agh, ew, gross! I'll never get the taste of toilet water out of my mouth now that I know!" Aqua complained. "Thanks a lot, Otto!"

"Maybe next time, don't leave your toothbrush so close to the edge of the sink." Otto said.

"Now that you've had your daily dose of karma, we need to talk about your followers." Mirror Match said. "They're taking their acts of conversion way too far, and we've quite frankly had enough."

"No one more than Kazuma. Yesterday, a little girl tried to scam me into applying for the church, and he completely flipped his cookies in tearing the application up." Legolia said.

"Yeah, their hiring methods are way too forceful. An old friend of Darkness's tried to convince me on the street right in front of her when I was taking her back to the inn yesterday." Ethox recalled.

"You think that's bad? This morning, they served Darkness a bone in a dog bowl!" Grantz said.

"I must say Aqua, your little followers are certainly…obsessive." Yuri said. "Regardless, you do need to do something about them."

"Nope. My followers are simply loving what they love best and what they love is me, their goddess." Aqua said.

"Yes, but they're causing problems for us." Yuri said in a scary tone.

"Yuri's right. We can't wait for Zenos to make a move in this place while your followers are constantly hounding us. Heck, Megumin is afraid of them!" Ethox said.

"Guys, it's obvious nothing we say won't change Aqua's stance, or the stance of her followers." DJ said.

"So then what do we do? Wait until Aqua messes up on her own?" Shez asked.

"Yep. For the time being…hot springs, anybody?" DJ asked.

"Eh, why not?" Ethox shrugged.

Inside of the hotsprings, the mixed bath…

"Ah…what a lovely bath." said a woman with long ears and red hair.

"I'm glad one of us is having a good morning." said a dark skinned man sitting with another figure.

"I am here to recuperate. Take it you boys aren't enjoying it?" she asked.

"This town is diabolical." the man said.

"Indeed." the other figure said. "And coming from a demon, that's saying something."

"I admit the people can be a bit much." she said. "Oh…there's another one." she said seeing Kazuma staring from the other side. "He hasn't taken his eyes off me since I got in. Um…excuse me, sir?"

"What? I'm just looking…" Kazuma said.

"I know. I would just…like to get out now." she said getting out.

"Don't mind me." Kazuma said as she hurried out. "That is one bashful lady." he said slyly before looking at the two guys.

"I try to play nice with these people and all they keep doing is preaching and trying to convert me and they won't fricken shut up for one lousy second. God Damn it!" the man said, hurling the soap at the ground as it bounced.

"Calm yourself. They won't be a problem for much longer." the other figure said. "Let's go. We have work to do." they said as the two left.

"Whoa…guess this town's getting to them too." Kazuma said. "Okay…staying away from them."

"So, this giant squid's two miles long, and has fifty tentacles!" Nemo said, as the boys (sans Kazuma) were in the men's bath. "It's got a firm grip on the mast, and it's two seconds away from cracking. So what does Cap'n do? He pulls out all six of his swords, leaps off the boat, finds the main body, and just…cuts the sucker in two!" the pirate finished.

"Nemo, it was not two miles wide." Le Kraken chuckled. "Half a mile, at most. And I almost cut it in two, but there was a bit of it still hanging on. Néanmoins, I did kill it."

"Y'know, a nice dip in these hot springs is exactly what we needed. Great to relax after being hounded by the Axis Church all the time." Nemo said.

"I agree. Can you believe how fanatical they are?" Yuri asked.

"Yeah, they're totally nuts. While I was in the market, this shopkeeper came up to me and said I won a prize but had to sign up cause the church was sponsoring it." Naofumi said.

"Yeah. And one girl said she was an old classmate of Darkness's and talked about how much she changed since joining the church." Subaru said. "Said all that stuff right to my face, with her present."

"Let's not forget the old lady peddling detergent and claiming you could drink it." Cobalt said.

"This town…very creepy." Molotok said as someone was washing his back with soap. "Ah…feels nice."

"Are you enjoying our holy soap, sir?" a voice asked.

"Da. These hot springs are nice." Molotok said.

"Is it foamy enough?" they asked.

"Yeah, su…ah!" Molotok said in horror to see it was another Axis worshiper.

"It can cure all kinds of diseases and the best part is, it's safe to eat! It's all natural and keeps the body regular! Join the faith and you'll get some…for free!" he said.

But the devotee was soon chased out of the hot springs by the guys, screaming as he did.

"Dammit, can we not get any peace and quiet in this town?!" Nemo asked. But after the man was gone, the guys laughed off everything that happened to them. Even though Aqua's followers were excessive… It was funny to recall how crazy they were.

"Ah… man, Aqua has some nutty followers, doesn't she?" Ethox said.

"Indeed." Yuri said.

"Still, for once I'd like to see her get admonished in her own town while we're here." Subaru mentioned.

"Yeah, that would be awesome." Nemo said.

Molotok sat back down in the water before noticing something off with his aquatic beastman senses. "Hm? Something is different about water."

"What's up, Molotok? Water not warm enough?" Nemo asked.

"Not that, Nemo, water is fine. However…" Molotok said, feeling the water as it creeped up his body. "Hammerhead's are Saltwater sea creatures…. Not fresh water, da?"

"Yeah, but we're in a hot spring. Hot Spring water is chock full of holy water, so it won't hurt us." Nemo said.

"Then why is hot water we are in now fresh water?" Molotok asked.

"Hm?" Le Kraken asked before he felt the water. "Ah, he is right. It is fresh water."

"Oh." Nemo said…before the three Beastmen leapt out of the water. "Who changed it to fresh water?!"

"That doesn't make sense. To do that, you'd have to have super…purification powers…" Ethox realized as his eyes widened.

"AQUA!" Everyone yelled.

"...I think we just discovered a dilemma this town simply cannot ignore of their dear Goddess." Mirror Match said.

And Mirror Match was indeed correct. The second the citizens of Alancretia found out Aqua was purifying their hot spring water the second she got into the baths…. They appeared at the Inn in a mob, prepared to lynch Aqua.

"Oh…looks like my followers have come to worship me with torches…and…pitchforks." Aqua said.

"Uh…Aqua…that's not a group of enthusiastic worshippers. That's an angry mob." Luz said.

"Y'know how we took a dip in the hot springs on the women's side, all of us girls, and you jumped in to have a soak?" Amity asked.

"Yeah, what about it?" Aqua asked.

"Well, the second you got in, your Purification skill activated, and… well…" Luz said.

"You turned all of Alancretia's natural hot spring water into fresh water… just by getting into it." Amity finished.

"What?! B-But I've been in hot springs before, and nothing happened!" Aqua protested.

"Did they happen to be on other worlds?" Ethox asked.

"Yeah?"

"Where you're powers are weaker than on this one?"

"Y- oh." Aqua realized.

"Bingo. The Axis church's faith in you is on the level of crazy obsessive, and since you're in their flagship town, your powers got supercharged." DJ said. "So once you got into the hot spring here, without even realizing it, you purified the whole thing."

"My follower's devotion has doomed me!" Aqua shrieked.

"Burn the witch!" the mob outside bellowed.

"Get the pretender who pretends to be our Lady Aqua!" another member called out.

"Time to go on the run." Theo said.

"Huh? But aren't they only after Aqua?" Catarina asked.

"Yeah. And what do you think is gonna happen when they realize we're with her?" Theo asked.

"Yup, Theo's right. Time to run." Seiya said.

"How? We can't carry everyone away, and all our teleporters aren't here right now." Nemo said.

The group looked around the room until their eyes settled on Aqua's hagoromo. "...That's it!"

And so, while the angry mob was outside, still calling for Aqua's burning, Aqua made her escape with everyone secretly out of the inn, using her Hagoromo like a large parachute, as she sobbed all the while.

"Now what do we do? We're basically gonna be fugitives in this town." Shez said.

"The townspeople's rage at Aqua is warranted, but I can't help but feel sorry for them now." Dimitri said.

"Why's that?" Catarina asked.

"Well, when I was at the church one day, I overheard one of the priests saying that they've lately been having issues with the hot spring water bubbling up at its source high atop the mountain." Dimitri explained. "Pollution of some kind."

"Then we have to get up there and fix it." Theo said.

"What?! Why should we help these maniacs?!" Nemo asked.

"Nemo, they're Aqua's devoted followers. Crazy as they are… they're still human at the end of the day, and she needs them to draw on her power." Ethox said.

"Ethox is right." Aqua said, having heard the news, her mood changed from upset to determined. "They're my followers, and as their goddess, it's my duty to protect them!"

"Well, let's get a move on then shall we?" Yuri said as he signaled Aubin.

"All right…up the mountain we go." Theo said as they made their way towards the mountains.

The group reached a gate at the top of the mountain, where they saw two men standing perfectly straight in front of it.

"Guards. Here, let me talk to 'em." DJ said as he walked up to them. "Excuse me gents, there's an emergency. We gotta get through to resolve it."

The two guards said nothing.

"...Uh, hey, you listening?" DJ asked, getting no response. He then snapped his fingers in under one of their faces; no reaction. "Huh…"

"Hmm." Yuri said before drawing his blade.

"Whoa, Yuri! We don't need to hurt them!" Ethox exclaimed.

"I know." Yuri said. "The real threat…" he said before slicing through an incoming attack. "Is behind us."

"You're a sharp one. As excepted of the Leader of the Ashen Wolves… oh, I should say Abyss now, since you've all but graduated from the Monastery." a voice said as a demon resembling a turtle came into view.

"A turtle? You must be one of those Stat Masters!" Ethox realized.

"Yep. I am Azza'Zel, Stat Master of Defense." the demon introduced himself. "I'm here to keep you from passing the gate. I had to freeze the guards up a bit."

"So, you're going to try and fight us then?" Mirror Match said.

"...Nah." Azza'Zel said, before putting a hand out, causing the side of the mountain the gate was on to be enveloped in a clear barrier. "That barrier won't go down unless I die. I'm just gonna hide in my shell. If you all could just turn around and leave the townsfolk to die, it would be appreciated." he said, before he retracted into his shell.

"Oh no you don't!" Aqua said, running up to the shell. "I'll teach you to mess with my followers! God Blow!" she declared, striking the demon…only to do no damage.

"Only works on Chaotic Evil aligned beings. It does jack squat against anything else." Azza'Zel said from within the shell. "Oh, and the shell reflects any and all attacks, so good luck trying to hurt me."

"Get out of there, you! You can't hurt my followers!" Aqua yelled.

"Why not? All they do is cause trouble for everyone else. Honestly, this world would be better off without them." the demon said nonchalantly.

"But they're my followers!" Aqua yelled.

"And what exactly have you done for them?" Azza'Zel asked. "They think you're a pretender now, and you gave petty confessionals and purify their hot springs. And as far as I know, you haven't really given them anything, have you?"

"W-Well of course I-!"

"What then?" the demon asked, Aqua making to answer, only to stop. "Have you given them rain? Prevented a drought? Did you bring about irrigation to this world or whatever?"

"W-Well…no…"

"So why do you deserve to have followers when you haven't done anything?" Azza'Zel asked. "Honestly, I don't think you deserve to be a goddess."

The group expected Aqua to a number of things: bite back with an insult, deny the accusations, or just outright attack it.

They didn't expect her to start sniffing and crouch down onto the ground, curling up into a ball.

""Aqua…?" Kazuma asked.

"Y-You were right, Kazuma…" Aqua sniffled.

"What? What are you-?" Kazuma started to ask.

But what really pisses me off is you thinking that withholding your so-called help is some sort of threat! Other people on the team can do what you do! Better even! Help my ass, you caused way more problems than you solve! If I could send you back to the Divine Realm in exchange for a Cheat Skill or item or whatever, I'd have done it a long ass time ago, you idiotic, stuck up, stubborn bitch!"

Kazuma recalled the words he said back then as his face fell. "Oh crap…"

"I haven't done anything anyone else couldn't have done…I haven't helped my followers…I can't even serve tea without turning it to hot water." Aqua cried. "I…I'm a useless goddess!" she wailed, bursting into tears.

"Hot water…" Theo said looking to springs below. "Is it…just water though?"

"You should probably dump this girl." Azza'Zel said. "I don't see how she's of any help to you guys. Why don't you just leave her to cry?"

"Let her cry? Dump her? Nah. How about…" Theo said as he and the 20 Tentacles picked up the turtle. "We go dump you instead!"

"Huh?! What're you-?!" Azza'zel asked as they jumped off towards the springs. "You're seriously thinking of taking a bath now? Hahaha, it's not going to break my shell."

"A bath…yeah…a deadly one. Let me ask you…if a goddess bathes in water, does it really purify to just plain water?" Theo asked.

(Cue: Il Vento d'oro- Jojo's Bizzare Adventure: Golden Wind OST)

Azza'Zel then widened his eyes in shock. "No…. it can't be possible!"

"Oh it can, dumbass!" Nemo said. "All those springs…are nothing but Holy Water!"

"W-Wait!" Azza'Zel said, popping his head and limbs out of his shell, letting him see the water rushing towards him as they plummeted towards the ground. "...Ah crud."

The five beings then landed in the water with a resounding splash. After several moments, Theo and the pirates resurfaced.

"Well? Does that feel good?" Nemo asked. "Must be leaving you speechless." he mockingly said as Azza'Zel was deep in the Holy Water, boiling alive in his own shell.

"Ahhh!" Azza'Zel cried out as his flesh vanished within the holy water, leaving only his shell behind as it floated up empty.

"We serve Demon Turtle Soup for dinner tonight." Molotok said.

(end song)

The group above watched the barrier fade, while Kazuma stood next to a still crying Aqua.

"...Alright, come here." Kazuma said, picking up the crying goddess and putting her on his back. "We're gonna save you're followers. That'll be doing something for them, right?"

"...Y-Yeah." Aqua sniffed, still looking sad.

"Right. Now let's get going!" Kazuma said as they continued the advance.