The following morning pretty much unfolded like the previous day.
We all occupied the bar's seats, this time within the tavern, waiting patiently for an easy and profitable quest to show up on the quest board.
It was just me, Aqua, Megumin, and no one else.
We were indulging in an early breakfast before we'd undoubtedly get hungry again.
I had assumed that both girls had excellent manner when it comes to eating in public but I was wrong in all ways.
Both Aqua and Megumin ate with such a huge appetite, like one of those satisfying food eating scenes in an anime, except I was the only one to witness it as if I'm seeing something entirely strange and new.
Everyone else in the guild, including the bartender, didn't seem to care about it at all as if it was a normal thing.
But I guess anyone who was struggling in finance would eat as much and however they want cause it may have been their last meal of their final day.
"Hey, there's something I want to ask the both of you. How do you learn skills? I've only been able to use this rough sword my father gave me, and it seems like it's seen better days a few days ago..."
The sword my father had bestowed upon me was on its last legs, extremely dull and cracked, despite my gentle handling and limited use. I've only used it for frogs, nothing else.
Then again, this sword had served its purpose for far longer than I had existed, and perhaps it was finally nearing its retirement.
I need a new sword, but I want a custom-made weapon, and not one from the regular stock weapon shop.
"Learning skills? That's easy. You just need to check your card and choose one from the 'Learnable skills' column... Oh right, Kazuma's job is Adventurer. In that case, you'll require someone to instruct you in a skill. You must witness the skill in action and request the user to teach you how to wield it. Once done, it will appear in the learnable column, allowing you to invest skill points for proficiency."
Megumin responded to my question, with food still in her mouth.
"Swallow before you speak next time."
Nevertheless, I recalled the counter lady mentioning that the basic-tier Adventurer job was versatile in its ability to learn various skills.
"So, if Megumin teaches me, could I learn Explosion magic?"
I inadvertently muttered this thought aloud.
"Yeah, precisely!"
"Whoa!"
Megumin's ears picked up my quiet muttering, akin to a cat detecting a snapping twig amidst the heavy footfalls of a massive predator.
"That's right, Kazuma! The skill points required would be astronomically high, but besides Archwizards, Adventurers are the only job capable of mastering Explosion. I can instruct you if you're willing. After all, are there any other skills worth learning besides Explosion? Of course not! Come, let us embark on the path of Explosion together!"
Except she'd be the type of cat to walk into danger and get killed by said predator...
Also her face was too close!
Dammit, girl! I don't need any more rumors circulating about me being a lolicon, especially after the ridicule she subjected me to yesterday.
I'd lose my popularity with the girls if those three girls from yesterday were to spread out rumors.
"Calm down, little girl. I only possess 3 skill points at the moment. There's no way I can invest that many points into such an enormous magic spell."
"L-Little girl? You think I am a little girl...?"
Megumin looked seemingly depressed the moment I called her a little girl, so I just asked Aqua instead.
"If an adventurer wants to learn the explosion spell, 20 or so skill points won't be enough. You'll probably need to train for a decade or two and invest all your points to learn it."
"Who has that kind of patience?"
In a decade or two, I'm for sure out of this world. And if not, I would be financially free with plenty of women in my arms.
Then again, I do have two women in my party and I am the only man in this party.
This looks like a harem in other people's eyes but it's far from it.
This girl is a goddess, there's most definitely an dumb ancient rule of 'Love between a mortal and a goddess is forbidden!', not like I had any interest with this girl anyway from the way she slept and who she actually is.
There's this depressed little girl who is too young for me. Four years apart, even if it was three years, I'd still avoid it just for extra precaution. I don't know the age of consent laws of this world on a lawyer's level.
All's I need to do is to look for a girl a year or two younger or a year or two older than me.
"Why does everyone treat me like a little girl...?"
Should I cheer this girl up?
"Aqua, you must possess numerous convenient skills, right? Are there any easy-to-learn skills you could impart to me? I prefer those that require minimal points and offer significant utility."
Maybe I can learn how to heal myself, that way I don't need her anymore.
"It depends, a party-trick skill or an archpriest skill?"
"The one that is obviously more useful..."
"Never! You won't take away the things I am useful for."
"Tch! Teach me right now or else I'm going to overwork you like a pig for losing all our savings!"
I grabbed her cheeks to antagonize her selfish behavior.
"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Stop it, Kazuma! Megumin, give this guy a piece of your mind! He called you a little girl, didn't he?"
Megumin was eating her food slowly now, rather than eating it with a huge appetite, still depressed over what I called her.
"Haha! Man, what a weird party you want to join, Darkness. You want to learn something useful? How about Thief skills?"
Aqua and I turned our attention to the feminine voice that had interrupted us.
A lady with short silver hair, a small scar on her face, and light leather armor caught our eyes.
She was rather attractive in my view, and although her proportions didn't meet my lofty expectations, I wasn't one to reject her on that basis.
Additionally, this marked the second time an attractive woman had approached and conversed with me.
The first one being...
She's right there, standing next to her!
The beautiful noble knight from the previous night stood right beside her.
Were they friends?
If I remember, this girl named Darkness, which the silver-haired lady called her, offered to introduce me to her.
To think she was actually serious about it, and even before the Demon King was defeated...
"I accept your marriage proposal, young lady. You can join our party now, blonde."
I rose from my seat and held the silver-haired girl's hands.
"What?! No way! I can't be in a relationship It's forbid—I mean, it's not the right time for me to settle down! I have many things to accomplish in this world! Darkness, what have you signed me up for?"
"N-Nothing. I merely extended an offer to introduce this man to any eligible women I could think of, in order to convince him into inviting me to his party."
"Is that the extent of our friendship built over these past few months?"
"I can only pray to Eris-sama to hope you both have a wonderful life together."
"You're not helping! And I'm not marrying anyone, that's final! Anyway, thief skills are highly practical—such as Disarming Traps, Detecting Enemies, Lurking, and Stealing. They are all worthwhile skills to acquire. As an Adventurer, your job requires relatively few skill points for these, making it a fantastic offer! What do you say? I'll teach you these skills. Think of it as a divine gift from the gods themselves for surviving this long!"
Getting rejected by this lady did stung a bit.
But the upsides of it were too much to reject.
"Alright, then. I'll leave it in your capable hands! Excuse me, one glass of ice-cold crimson beer for this lady, please!"
"T-There is no need for a free drink of beer!"
...
"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I'm Chris, as you can see, a Thief. And this lovely companion of mine, who traded me away for a mere party invitation, is Darkness. You met her yesterday, right? She's a Crusader and likely doesn't possess any skills that would be of use to you."
"I'm Satou Kazuma. Nice to meet you."
In the open plaza situated behind the adventurer's guild, Chris, Darkness, and I stood in the vacant area.
I left Aqua and Megumin to finish their breakfast while I focused on learning additional skills that might prove useful in the future.
I totally had no intention of stealing from any noble's grand mansion; that would be asking for an execution, hehe!
"Well then, let's begin with Enemy Detection and Lurk. We'll cover Disarm Traps next time since traps are a rarity in such a crowded place. Darkness, could you please turn away for a moment?"
"Hmm? Alright."
Darkness followed the instruction and turned away.
Chris, at a distance, climbed into a wooden barrel, showing only her upper body. I wasn't sure what she was up to, but then she tossed a rock at Darkness's head and concealed herself within the barrel.
Could this be the Lurk skill in action?
Darkness, hit by the rock, silently approached the sole barrel in the area.
"Sensing an enemy... Sensing an enemy... I can strongly feel Darkness's anger! Hey, Darkness? I only did that to teach him the skills; I didn't do it because you treated our friendship so lightly! Please have mercy... Ahhh, stop! Ahhh!"
The barrel in which Chris had hidden toppled over, and she screamed as it rolled across the ground.
Could I genuinely learn new skills in this manner?
"Alright, let's try the skill I recommend most: Steal. This skill allows you to snatch one item possessed by the target, whether it's their weapon or wallet, and the success rate depends on your luck stat. You can take a powerful enemy's weapon or valuable treasure and make a quick escape, so it's an invaluable skill in any situation."
After Chris recovered from the dizziness of being rolled around in the barrel, she proceeded to explain Steal to me.
It sounded exceptionally useful, and it relied on the luck stat, making use of my strongest attribute.
"I'll demonstrate with you as the target! Ready, Steal!"
Chris shouted as she reached her hand forward and a small item appeared in her hand.
That was...
"Ah! That's my wallet!"
It contained all my cash, a thin and pitiful wallet.
"Oh! Jackpot! It's used this way. Well of course, I'll give the wallet back..."
Chris smiled deviously as she was about to return the wallet to me.
"Hey... let's make a deal, alright? Try learning Steal now, and I'll allow you to steal one item from me. I won't complain even if you take my wallet or weapon. Your wallet is so thin that my weapon or wallet will be of greater value. This means we'll trade whatever items are stolen... What do you say? Want to try?"
This person suddenly said something amazing.
I thought about it.
My luck stat was remarkably high, and I could steal one item from my opponent.
I would gain something even if the skill failed.
Let's give it a shot. Such gambles seemed like the kind of interactions rash adventurers would engage in—precisely what I had been looking forward to.
Finally, I was experiencing something truly adventurous in this world!
I looked at my adventurer's card and saw a new box with learnable skills displayed on it.
I touched it with my finger and 4 skills appeared.
Enemy Detection – 1 point, Lurk- 1 point, Steal – 1 point, Nature's Beauty – 5 points.
Nature's Beauty? The skill used by Aqua, the party trick of flicking a seed into a cup?
That party trick had such a flashy name! Eh? And it's expensive!
Party tricks were cool in their own way, but I decided to learn Steal, Enemy Detection and Lurk.
I used up all my skill points.
I see, so that's how you learn skills.
"I've learned the skills and accept your challenge! Whatever I steal, don't come crying to me since you've rejected my marriage proposal."
I stuck out my right hand as I spoke, but Chris just smiled fearlessly.
"That's great! Not the idea of marrying you, of course, but I like people who aren't spoilsports! All right then, what can you steal? The special prize will be my wallet! The grand prize will be this enchanted dagger! This is a great item worth 400,000 eris! The consolation prize will be this piece of rock I threw at Darkness!"
"Ah! Using such a method is cheating!"
I protested loudly when I saw the rock Chris took out.
So, that's why she was so confident—she had planned for this!
By having more low-value items, she reduced the likelihood of important possessions being stolen, acting as a safeguard against thieves.
"This is my teaching fee. As you can see, no skills are all powerful. You learned something great, right? All right, give it a go!"
Damn, I was really schooled!
Looking at Chris laughing out loud, I felt foolish for falling for this trick.
This wasn't Japan, but a dog-eat-dog world.
It was the fault of those who were naïve enough to be tricked.
Still, it was only a risk of failure, not a complete loss.
"All right, watch this! My luck has always been extremely high, said by Aqua! Steal!"
As I shouted, my outstretched right hand grabbed something.
She said the chance of success was dependent on the luck stat. To succeed in one try, my luck wasn't too bad.
I opened my hand to see what I had stolen.
"What's this?"
It was a small piece of white fabric clothing.
I held it up to the sunlight with both hands to examine it more closely.
Then I slowly start to realize what it was.
"Yahoo! It's the grand prize, and it's a big one! One that girls usually prized the most! Muahahahaha!
I started swinging my grand prize around like a perverted maniac.
"No! Give me back my panties!"
Chris pulled down her skirt as she screamed with tears in her eyes.
"Wahahaha! I'm keeping this! We agreed to the terms! I'll take it as a parting gift from our sudden divorce!"
"Darkness! Please punch this man into oblivion! He stole my panties! Just think about what he could do next!"
"Consider it divine punishment from Eris-sama for throwing that rock at me..."
It seemed I was in the clear.
There was no doubt that Darkness would punch me without hesitation if I attempted it again.
...
After mastering the new skills, I returned to the bar to find it abuzz with activity.
However, there was an unexpected sight—a crowd had gathered around a visibly troubled Aqua.
Was she finally getting picked on by everyone? It seemed unfair, given that she hadn't caused any harm to anyone since I arrived in this world besides the restaurant disaster.
That was it—I was ready to confront anyone who dared to lay a finger on her!
She's mine to pick on! Not anyone else!
"Aqua-sama, just one more time! I'm willing to pay for it, so could you please perform Nature's Beauty again?"
"Fool, Aqua-san prefers food over money, doesn't she? Right, Aqua-san? I'll treat you to a meal, so please, do Nature's Beauty once more!"
"My performances aren't something I do at the drop of a hat! As a wise man once said, 'A funny joke can only be told once.' Repeating the same tricks just because they're popular is the mark of a third-rate performer! And I'm not a performer, so I won't accept money for my act! This should be the basic attitude of a performance artisan. Furthermore, I didn't perform Nature's Beauty for all of you to see—Ah! Kazuma, you're finally back. It ended up like this because I decided to show Megumin my party tricks, but then everyone else caught wind of it and were amazed by my talents. By the way, what's going on with her?"
Aqua pushed her way through the crowd with an irritated expression and inquired about the sullen Chris standing beside me.
You know, maybe I could co-host a magic show with Aqua and turn a profit from this.
But I didn't want to be a magician my entire life.
"Chris's panties were removed by Kazuma, and then she lost all her money to him. That's why she's feeling down."
"Hey, don't say that as if it's a daily occurrence! It happened, sure, but not for the reasons you might assume!"
Aqua and Megumin shot me a pitiful look.
Since Chris was willing to pay any amount to get her panties back, I let her determine the value of her panties.
I also joked that if Chris didn't offer an amount that satisfied me, her panties would become my family heirloom.
In the end, she offered both her wallet and my wallet in exchange, so I agreed to the trade. But Darkness's way of describing it made it sound a bit odd.
"Even if my panties were taken in public, I can't keep crying about it forever! Alright, Darkness, I'm sorry, but I've decided to join a profitable dungeon exploration party! I'm broke after my panties were taken hostage."
"Hey, wait a second. The female adventurers, apart from Aqua and Megumin, are starting to give me cold looks, so please don't say anything more."
It seemed that the same nearby female adventurers from yesterday had overheard our conversation.
Seeing how uncomfortable I appeared under their cold gazes, Chris burst into laughter.
"This is acceptable as payback, right? Well then, I'll be back after earning some cash, so enjoy your time here, Darkness! I'll go check out the available quests!"
After saying that, Chris dashed over to the bulletin board advertising for party members.
"Um, aren't you going with her, Darkness?" I asked, surprised by how naturally she had taken a seat at my table.
"No. Thieves are in high demand for dungeon exploration parties, so there are plenty of teams looking to recruit Chris. On the other hand, vanguards like me can be found almost anywhere."
I nodded in understanding. Aqua had mentioned that Archpriests were rare and highly sought after by every party. It seemed that different jobs received varying levels of attention and demand in this world.
Shortly afterward, Chris found a group to join and departed from the guild with a few other adventurers. She waved at us before heading out.
"It's already evening. Are they going to explore the dungeons now?"
"The best time to go dungeon diving is early in the morning, so most people set off a day in advance like them and camp near the dungeon. There are even merchants who cater specifically to these adventurers. So, how did it go? Did you learn any skills?"
Hearing Megumin's question, I grinned confidently.
"Hmph, why don't you see for yourself? Here goes, Steal!"
"Hey, I won't allow you to steal—!"
Darkness pushed Megumin aside, positioning herself as a shield between me and her.
"Oh my..."
My hands closed around a piece of black fabric.
It was a black bra.
Before I could utter a word or even guess it's size,
Darkness had already landed a punch square on my face.
...
"Darkness, we are serious about defeating the Demon King... Do you understand the gravity of the situation?"
I spoke to Darkness, my tone serious, and a bruise on my cheek to emphasize my point.
"Of course, it's been my dream ever since I became a crusader—to etch my name in the history books as one of the kingdom's most toughest female knights, to honor my family name, and make my ancestors proud. And once I defeat the Demon King, I'll even be granted a marriage proposal from Prince Jatice of The Belzerg Kingdom..."
Ugh, not this again.
Aqua, who had finished healing my bruised cheek, chimed in enthusiastically,
"Incredible! Amazing! Your determination to pursue your romantic dreams in the face of insurmountable challenges has left a deep impression on me! Kazuma, this is definitely the right person to have in our party! She's a crusader, which means she's all about defense and sometimes offense!"
That's practically the same thing she said to Megumin yesterday.
"It's common for every girl's dream to marry the prince of their dreams. However, my explosions are the prince of my dreams."
Indeed, it was a great addition to have a crusader in our party.
However, a vague memory from my days as a child weighed heavily on my mind.
It was happening all over again—this time, I was becoming a supporting character in this woman's world.
I am no one's side character, I am my own person and I refuse to be manipulated or led by another woman again.
Just as I was about to reject her...
"Emergency quest! Emergency quest! All adventurers in town, please gather at the adventurer's guild! I repeat, emergency quest! Emergency quest! All adventurers in town, please gather at the adventurer's guild!"
The loud announcement echoed throughout the entire town, likely amplified through magic.
"Hey, what are these 'emergency quests'? Are monsters attacking the town?"
I inquired, feeling a sense of unease, while Darkness and Megumin seemed excited.
"Well, it's probably the cabbage harvest season. It's that time of year."
Darkness said with delight, standing up and preparing to draw her sword.
"Huh? Cabbages? Is that the name of some monster?"
After sharing my thoughts, Megumin and Darkness looked at me with pitiful expressions, though I couldn't fathom why.
"A cabbage is something round, green, and edible. Something I wish happened to my village instead of this one."
"It's crunchy and refreshing, a delicious vegetable."
Both of them seemed to lose faith in me as their leader, not that I had decided to let Darkness join our party just yet.
"I know that! So what's happening? The guild said there was an emergency quest. Are the farmers seeking help from the adventurers?"
It may have seemed odd for me, a former construction worker, to say this, but I hadn't come to this world to become a farmer.
"Ah, Kazuma probably doesn't know. Let me explain. The cabbages in this world..."
Aqua was about to clarify when a guild staff member interrupted her while addressing the adventurers in the building.
"I apologize for gathering everyone on such short notice! I'm sure you're all aware that the emergency pertains to cabbages! It's cabbage harvesting time! The quality is exceptional this year, and each cabbage is worth 10,000 eris! We've already evacuated the residents, so please help with the cabbage harvest and deliver them here! Take care of your safety and beware of the cabbages' counterattack! Additionally, due to the large number of participants and the bounty, the rewards will be distributed later!"
What did this staff member just say?
A burst of cheers erupted outside the adventurer's guild. Curious, I pushed my way through the crowd to see what was happening. Green objects were soaring all over town.
As I stood there, amazed by the absurd spectacle, Aqua joined me and continued her explanation:
"The cabbages in this world can fly. When they ripen during the harvest season, they take to the skies, flying through cities, across plains, over continents, and even to the ocean, determined to avoid being eaten. That's why we need to catch the cabbages and enjoy them while they're still fresh."
"Can't I just go back to the stables and think of other ways to make money besides being an adventurer?"
I muttered softly.
Meanwhile, the courageous adventurers charged out enthusiastically, inspired by the cabbages' determination to live in the moment.
As I watched them chase after the cabbages with all their might, I couldn't help but pray.
What grave sin had I committed to find myself locked in a life-or-death battle against flying cabbages?
All I wanted was to earn enough money to free my family from financial burden, and defeat the Demon King to return to Japan...
...
Thankfully, none of us ended up getting seriously hurt after our reckless charge at the flying cabbages.
I emerged from the ordeal without a scratch, thanks to...
"You're really skilled, Darkness! You're a Crusader after all. Those cabbages couldn't break through your iron-wall defense no matter what they did."
"No, I didn't do much; I'm just incredibly tough. I'm clumsy and slow, so I can't really hit my target. My only strong point is protecting others... Megumin has a remarkable offense. She wiped out the horde of monsters that were chasing the cabbages right into town with a single explosion spell; it left all the other adventurers in awe."
"Hehe, no one could withstand the might of my explosion magic... But Kazuma, you were the most active one. You came to my rescue when I ran out of mana and carried me back."
"Yeah, when I was surrounded by cabbages and monsters, Kazuma showed up and took care of all the cabbages attacking me. Thanks for saving me."
"Indeed, you used Lurk to disappear from their sight, employed Enemy Detection to anticipate the movements of the cabbages, and surprised them with Steal from behind. It was like watching an exceptional assassin."
An assassin wouldn't typically use a sword or a Steal move to take down a flying cabbage.
They would probably hide in the shadows, or at least perch above their targets and shoot them with a bullet or an arrow in this world...
Maybe I should consider developing archery skills, just in case a large flying creature decides that I would be their meal for the day. I'll keep that thought for later.
However, something else was weighing on my mind...
"Your defense was indeed impressive, but what about your offense? You didn't manage to land a single hit with your sword. Weren't you aiming to become the strongest female knight in this world or something?"
I said to Darkness.
That's right.
While Darkness effectively shielded the town from the flying cabbages with her Decoy skill and robust defense, she couldn't manage to strike a single one of them.
I even witnessed her miss a cabbage that was practically begging to be eaten.
Her face turned crimson red when she noticed that I noticed.
It turns out that despite her tough and cold personality, she's surprisingly normal when it comes to other things.
She's also remarkably noble in her willingness to protect fellow adventurers.
She jumped in front of a group of them to absorb all the attacks, whereas I had initially assumed she'd be the type of noble to flee and leave the commoners to fend for themselves.
She's proven herself to be quite different from my initial impression.
She wasn't your typical kuudere where it's like 'I only show affectionate emotion towards the one I truly love the most.' type of stuff.
"I did say I wanted to become the toughest female knight in the kingdom, not necessarily the strongest..."
This girl!
Why is she so obsessed with becoming a shield for other people?
Ugh, she's utterly useless when it comes to offense.
I really need a new sword...
Especially now that the sword my father gave me has finally broken in half...
All because of some cabbages...
This world sucks balls!
"Well then, I'm Darkness, a Crusader. Technically, my weapon is a two-handed sword, but don't rely on it too much. I'm not very skilled with my hands and tend to miss. However, I excel at being a tank, so please take care of me."
With that, we officially welcomed another member into our party.
Aqua had a satisfied and leisurely smile on her face.
"Hmph, our party is becoming quite impressive. I'm an Archpriest, Megumin is an Archwizard, and now we have our defensive specialist, the Crusader, Darkness. Three out of four members with top-tier jobs is a rarity, Kazuma! Do you realize how lucky you are? You've got three beautiful ladies in our party! It's almost as if my underling, Eris, is bestowing her favor upon you!"
"Why are you letting your underling do everything for me then? She's practically more useful than you. And she's not even here."
I remarked, causing Aqua to start choking me in frustration.
In our party, we had a mage who could only use one spell a day, a vanguard who struggled to hit anything, and a cleric who was rather dimwitted, unlucky, and seemed pretty much useless!
During the cabbage hunting quest, Darkness, Aqua, and Megumin had bonded well, so they wanted Darkness to join our team as well.
If she hadn't mentioned her aspirations of joining the royal family of this kingdom, I might have accepted her by now.
Plus, she was undeniably beautiful.
However, she had allocated all her skill points into defensive abilities, neglecting normal vanguard skills like Two-Handed Sword or weapon proficiency boosts.
Her beauty aside, it was quite a waste.
Additionally, for some reason, this Crusader had a penchant for charging headfirst into groups of monsters.
While it was commendable that she had a stronger sense of duty than most, it could also be reckless.
"Kazuma, I'm delighted to be a part of your team. I hope I won't be a burden to you in the future. I'll be in your care until we defeat the Demon King."
Darkness said with a sincere tone.
That last sentence alone proves my point...
The sight of these three girls made me recall what my mother had once advised me..
To find a beautiful woman and introduce her to my entire family...
But there's no way I'm ever going to introduce these three to my family!
...
My level had now reached 7.
I had gained three levels during the cabbage hunt, even though I hadn't defeated the cabbages.
I found it odd that cabbages would yield so much experience.
Was this just like the duxions that we cooked back at that restaurant a few days ago?
There were way too many things to complain about, but it'd be a pain to go through all of them, so I let it be.
Each cabbage was worth 10,000 eris, which was a substantial amount due to the experience points you gained from eating fresh cabbage
With my level increase, I also gained more skill points.
The strange RPG-like phenomenon of gaining skills with level increases didn't bother me anymore; I just accepted it.
There were too many bizarre things in this world to question each one individually.
I now had 3 skill points to spend.
I sought out a mage, swordsman, and archer from another party I had met during the cabbage hunt and asked them to teach me the One-handed Sword, Basic Magic, and Basic Archery skills, respectively.
Each skill cost one point.
The One-handed Sword skill improved my proficiency with one-handed swords, bringing my swordsmanship up to par with regular people.
Learning swordsmanship had always been a dream of mine, and I was excited to finally acquire this skill.
Learning Basic Magic allowed me to use elemental magic like fire, water, earth, and wind, although these spells were quite simple and not suited for combat.
Most mages skipped Basic Magic and saved their skill points for Intermediate Magic, but it required 10 points to learn, so I decided to forgo offensive magic since my magic stat was low.
Finally, I learned the Snipe skill, which allowed me to attack from a distance without getting too close to the enemy.
With my high luck stat, I had nearly perfect accuracy with this skill.
These basic skills might seem mundane to others, but to me, they were a significant improvement.
Some people were born with skill points, and it wasn't uncommon for those with natural talent to have dozens of skill points and choose top-tier jobs right from the start.
Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness probably fell into this category.
In contrast, I had started at level 1 with 0 skill points, which was a bit depressing to think about.
However, I needed to focus on becoming a better adventurer and acquiring proper gear.
My previous clothes had been eaten by a giant frog, and the current ones my mother had made for me were just the right fit for some reason.
She said, 'You'll grow into it.'
Does that mean I'm going to stay 5'5 forever?!
But I couldn't afford to dwell on these negative thoughts; I had to find ways to make more money so I wouldn't have to sleep in the stables.
Wait that's something bad to think about! AHHHHHHH!
"Oh, I almost couldn't recognize you. A new bow? Staffs are a better long range weapon in my opinion."
"Woah! Kazuma finally looks the part of an adventurer, though it still feels empty without a sword. But you know what they say, new clothes make a new man, or something like that."
As we met up, both Darkness and Megumin couldn't help but comment on my attire. I couldn't blame them for their surprise.
If I didn't look like an adventurer before, did I appear as a suspicious person in this town? It was a thought that briefly crossed my mind.
Right now, I was clad in the attire of this world, complete with a gold-trimmed green mantle, a crisp white shirt, sleek black pants, and sturdy brown leather boots.
Aqua, always quick with her opinions, complained that I still looked like a farmer who had lost his way, but I couldn't care less. Apart from the green mantle I had donned, these black pants, brown leather boots, and white shirt were my sole connection to my home and family.
Setting that aside, I had been advised that it would be more convenient to keep one hand free for the use of magic skills.
Even though it was just basic spells, I still learned magic.
I also chose to keep this secret to myself, not out of obligation, but because I didn't want Aqua to find out because she was bound to pickpocket me and steal a bunch of my money for something useless.
For now, I still planned to sleep in the stables.
I had earned a staggering one million eris from all the high-level cabbages I had hunted down.
One million eris in just ten minutes of risking my life.
It was a sum that finally felt worth the effort.
My high luck probably played a role in it.
I used a small portion of that one million to invest in my gear and weapons, saving the rest for a future business venture that could sustain me for a lifetime.
Now that I was adequately equipped and skilled, I felt a strong urge to take on a quest.
But then, I couldn't help but notice something peculiar.
"Darkness, what happened to your armor?"
I asked, genuinely curious as her distinctive armor, which had made her look slimmer, was nowhere to be seen.
"It was damaged and covered in cabbage stains yesterday. I'm having it repaired, and with the rewards I've received, I intend to upgrade it and make it shinier than it's ever been before."
Darkness had undergone a transformation in her attire.
To be frank, she looked shiny already with her current clothes...
She was now clad in a buttoned black shirt meant for female school teachers that covered the entirety of her arms and the upper half of her body.
She also wore slightly tight black leggings that accentuated her great curvaceous figure.
To put it simply, she looked rather sexy.
With Megumin standing beside her, it only served to accentuate her body type and size.
It was hard not to notice that with her pretty face and fantastic figure, perhaps I might meet someone like her in my lifetime who wasn't obsessed with being a meatshield or seeking a man of high social status.
But before I could get too lost in my thoughts, Megumin interrupted, a sly grin on her face.
"Hold it right there. I can see the lust in your eyes when you were eyeballing me and Darkness. Were you comparing our proportions just now? Or perhaps you were more interested in me?"
"I'm not into little girls, sorry."
"Hey! Whatever, it doesn't phase me one bit anymore. With the rewards from the flying cabbages, I managed to attain a potent manatite staff at last and not some beginner staff! Hahahaha! My next target will finally feel true despair!"
Manatite was a rare metal said to have special properties. Utilizing it in building a staff would increase the power of its spells by either a dozen or huge percentage.
Also, who was the real pervert here? This girl's shoving her face on the manatite-orb thingy.
"Sadly, it's something I cannot control. Kazuma can look at me as much as he wants. I've been looked at lustfully by worse perverted eyes before."
That's something you shouldn't say out in the open, woman!
"Should I also tell everyone how horribly you missed all your hits on those flying cabbages, as well as the one that stood still for you?"
"H-Hey! Don't speak anymore!"
She embarrassingly groaned.
After finally finishing what we've wanted to talk about with the rewards from the cabbage hunt, I told everyone my thoughts of taking on a quest and Darkness nodded in agreement.
"It's the giant toad mating season, and they've been showing up near town. How about..."
"No toads!"
"No toads!"
Aqua and Megumin immediately rejected Darkness's suggestion.
"Why not? Toads fear blades and are easy to take down. Their sole mode of attack is grabbing prey with their tongues, and the meat of toads can be sold for easy money. I've heard that you might get eaten if your equipment's too weak, but since toads hate metal, I should be safe. I'll protect Aqua, Megumin, and even Kazuma, whose sword was broken in the battle against the flying cabbages."
Don't say it as if I've done a heroic sacrifice...
"Don't you remember? You basically filed a police report because of what happened. The two of them were eaten by toads and then received some psychological trauma about it. They were eaten head first in one gulp and ended up covered in slime, so it can't be helped."
"Ah yes, I do remember now. Oh well, don't worry. I'll do my very best to prevent Kazuma from getting you guys covered in slime again. And if he does, he'll meet us again in a cage."
This girl!
"Hey, quit threatening the leader of your party so casually! You want to get kicked out or something?! That aside, let's just find another quest. The emergency cabbage hunt aside, this is our party's first quest. Let's pick something easy to complete."
With that decision made, all of us made our way to the bulletin board to find an easy yet profitable quest.
"Hey, didn't Chris mention something about going to a dungeon?"
I inquired, directing my gaze toward Darkness.
"Yeah. What about it? Do you intend on going to a dungeon since you've upgraded a bit on gear and skills?"
"Yes, I've been thinking about it. Seeing as she said she would go there to get all her money back."
She also looks like an extremely reliable person so I'll do what she did and maybe I'll make a small fortune just like the cabbage event.
"This dungeon quest that I saw the night when I met you..."
• 'Investigate the dungeon that's been abandoned for centuries and clear out any monsters for me. Must complete in one try and not willing to pay for life insurance. Reward: 300,000 eris.'
"That's surprising. It's early in the morning and this dungeon quest hasn't been taken yet... Why so?"
Darkness picked it up to take a good look at it.
"The truth is... that specific dungeon hasn't been explored for centuries. Ages ago, there were rumors of a powerful monster that resided inside the dungeon for countless centuries, the monster either drove other monsters away or devoured them all. That frightened everyone near the vicinity which left it abandoned. But lately, there has been sightings of smaller level monsters inside, so we've put it up on the board, hoping the powerful monster has finally died of old age. Unfortunately, the rumors of the dungeon still stand, and seeing as this town is filled with beginners, no one really wants to risk it..."
The pretty girl receptionist, Luna, interjected.
Smart decision by everyone, who could possibly be dumb enough to accept a quest that not even the guild staff have any knowledge about?
"We'll take it!"
Aqua had already accepted the quest without my permission.
"What?!"
Megumin exclaimed.
"Are you an idiot?! What if that powerful monster happens to be a hibernating dragon, and we awaken it, getting us all killed and the town destroyed?!"
"C'mon, Kazuma, have some faith in us. We can handle anything dangerous inside a dungeon. Leave the three of us to clean up after you!
She winked at me, with Darkness smiling and nodding in agreement.
"I'm entirely useless when it comes to dungeon."
Megumin pouted, looking down in defeat.
"Don't worry, Megumin. I'll be there to protect you when there's danger. And besides, are you really going to let a bunch of low level monsters scare an archwizard like you?"
Darkness said some words of encouragement to her.
"Y-You're right! Why should I, the greatest archwizard in Crimson history, back away in fear from a dungeon?! I am physically stronger than an average human, like Kazuma, so I should have no fear! Hehe!"
That's a swift revival...
Also don't add my name as if I'm part of the average.
"First of all, I didn't make a mess, so there's nothing to clean up. Second, I do not have faith in the three of you at all. Our first day as an actual party, and we're just gonna accept a quest we don't know anything about?"
"That's the point of adventure, Kazuma. Someone who is a shut-in-NEET wouldn't understand so I can understand-"
"Create Water..."
I poured water out from my hands, splashing Aqua who deserved every molecule of it.
"Wahhh! How dare you spray it on me?!"
"P-Please refrain from using magic spells in the guild!"
A waitress said.
"Are you two always like this...?"
Megumin asked, with Darkness containing the same expression as her.
"Believe me, this is just one of the lightest punishments she deserves. In fact, she deserves more."
"Kazuma, I just realized... You now have magic spells at your disposal?"
Darkness inquired, realizing what I had just done.
"Yup. Did some learning. Better than keeping my skill points in reserve because I am in need of a sword."
"Why not just buy one?"
"The weapons in this town don't have what I like, to be honest. I could have one custom-made, but I don't know what to think of. Maybe the more monsters I fight, the closer I get to my ideal weapon."
Perhaps I could learn how to forge my own weapons, though I heard I'll need to have a blacksmith teach me first and then I'll learn it instantly.
Maybe I could use this dungeon quest as an opportunity to gain a few levels to learn blacksmithing.
And also have a small business as a blacksmith.
"It's got to be a huge sword, right? Swords are the automatic go for weapons."
"Or maybe a staff to cast Explosion!"
"Or a party-trick skill!"
"None. Now let's just do this quest. By the way, if we fail, Aqua has to pay the fee since she accepted it."
"Fine!"
She crossed her arms.
...
We journeyed through a small forest, eventually reaching the entrance of the dungeon.
As we approached, it became evident that Luna's description was accurate; this place had indeed been abandoned for centuries, and the signs of neglect were evident in the overgrowth of mold and moss covering the stone surfaces.
"This fits the description... The dungeon that has been abandoned for centuries..."
I said.
"Judging by how overgrown the mold and moss is, looks to be 400 years since it's last been touched."
Aqua crouched down and grabbed a small portion of the moss with her fingers.
"Don't touch it. It could be harmful to human skin. Either way, how do you even know it's 400 years old?"
"I'm a goddess, ya know? I know how the world and its nature works."
I doubt it.
If she knew how the world works, she might have figured out a way to amass wealth or uncover an extraordinary loophole in this realm.
"Megumin, do you plan on entering? If you do, don't cast Explosion inside, or else I'll disintegrate, and the rest of you will get crushed by the debris."
Turning my attention to Megumin, I asked with a hint of concern.
I take offense to that, Kazuma. I am smart enough to not cast Explosion inside the dungeon, unless I necessarily have to in order to destroy a giant dragon sleeping inside."
"That's literally the opposite of what I just said! Hey, Aqua, don't just go entering first without the three of us yet!"
However, my words fell on deaf ears as I looked away to scold Megumin, only to discover that Aqua had already ventured inside the dungeon.
In typical fashion, we had entered the dungeon with no concrete plan in mind.
It was a predicament I should have anticipated from a group of weirdos like us.
"Man, it's so dark in here. I wish I could have night vision..."
"Night Vision is a skill that you can learn. Though I'm not gonna tell you since you poured water all over me earlier..."
Dammit, who could I ask for help now?
Not like I had two other people behind me to help me out.
Either way, I'm not dumb.
"Tinder..."
The power of the sun, in the palm of my hand...
The warm light cast by the flame provided us with enough illumination to comfortably navigate the dungeon.
"To think beginner magic skills would be so useful in a place like this. As expected of our party leader."
Darkness praised me.
"It's nothing. For now, let's just explore more of this dungeon."
Aqua, however, couldn't resist taking a jab at me, saying,
"Kazuma, this was the first time you've been complimented by an actual woman. You'd think you would savor it because it might've been your last."
Aqua rudely spoke to me with low regard.
"Shush. At least I don't need stupid party tricks to receive temporary satisfaction and attention from side characters."
"Woooh.."
Aqua rudely responded by blowing out the fire, plunging us into darkness.
"Hey, you blew the fire out! Damn you! You're lucky we're in a dungeon because I don't want to make any noise! Tinder..."
I cast the flame again, letting it hover over the palm of my hand.
As we continued to explore the dungeon, I couldn't help but notice its emptiness.
It was rather unusual for a dungeon to have so little in it.
I expected to find skulls or other signs of previous explorers, but there was nothing.
Suddenly, a noise broke the silence—
"Erghh..."
A definite zombie had made that noise just now!
And right close to me!
"Eek!"
I instinctively hid behind Darkness.
"Wahahaha! You actually fell for it! Hahahaha! D-Darkness, you should've seen the look on Kazuma's face! Is this really the person you just complimented earlier?"
Aqua burst into laughter, unable to contain herself.
Darkness and Megumin also giggled at her response.
"Grr... That's it! I don't know how you made a zombie sound, though it probably could've been your true nature as a pig disguised as a pretty lady, but I'm not gonna let that slide again! Come here! I'm gonna make you wet!"
"Wahh! How dare you call a beautiful pure woman like me a pig?! It was just a skill called Versatile Entertainer! And don't say that last sentence without further context! Darkness, help me! Shield me from Kazuma!"
As Aqua ran, I begun chasing her as fast as I could inside the darkness.
"Are these two really just party members, or are they siblings?"
Darkness asked Megumin.
"Who knows? I saw them together when I first met them, so I don't know their full history. Perhaps childhood friends with one having middle-school syndrome and the other being a shut-in."
I'll have to lecture Megumin for saying rude things about me later.
Right now, I was filled with bloodlust over this idiot.
"Erghh..."
"Quit trying to make zombie noises! I won't fall for it the second time!"
"Eh? What do you mean? I didn't make any zombie noises."
"Erghhh..."
Her mouth didn't move at all.
So we both stopped on our tracks...
"Erghhh..."
We turned to face the front and were met with a horde of undead zombies, slowly but steadily moving towards us.
"Gyahhhhh!"
They look horrifying and ugly!
And I thought I had it worse with the ladies...
"Stop screaming in slow motion, idiot. Look how slow they're walking. They won't reach us at least in a few minutes. Maybe if you used your new skills, you'd finally level up and finally defeat the Demon King for me."
She's surprisingly calm considering there's literal zombies in front of us...
Then again, she probably spotted them from afar, something I couldn't do since I lacked night vision.
It would have been helpful if she had informed me earlier. I couldn't help but wonder what else this girl was capable of.
"Oh right, sorry. Snipe. Snipe. Snipe."
I began to eliminate the horde of zombies one by one with well-aimed shots to the head with my arrows.
Even without Tinder or any source of light to guide my aim, my arrows hit their marks surprisingly accurately.
It made me realize that luck played a significant role in my archery skills.
I contemplated the idea of developing a new skill that would allow my arrows to bounce off surfaces to reach their intended targets, potentially confusing our enemies.
With each zombie I killed, I could feel myself growing slightly stronger.
Darkness and Megumin finally caught up with me, although they had to rely on holding each other's hands and touching the walls to ensure they were heading in the right direction.
"As our party leader, you'd think you wouldn't leave us behind."
Megumin commented.
"Shut it. Take it as punishment for what you called me earlier. I just dispatched a group of zombies for you all, so be thankful. Tinder... Let's explore more and see if there's any loot in this god-forsaken dungeon"
I used the power of the sun once more to provide us with a clear path to see and walk.
As we continued exploring, we found ourselves surrounded by more zombies, both in front and behind us, in a narrow hallway.
"Darkness, this is your moment. We're in a tight hallway, surrounded by hordes of zombies crowded together. There's no way you can miss a hit."
"Y-You're right! I'll take care of the back, and Kazuma can handle the front! Hahaha!" Darkness exclaimed, displaying an unusual level of excitement at the prospect of finally landing a hit.
The cramped hallway left the zombies with no room to maneuver or dodge our attacks, making it easy for us to eliminate them.
Though, to be fair, I doubted these undead creatures possessed much in the way of intelligence or tactics.
Aqua and Megumin stood by as we cleared out the mob of zombies.
After dealing with another batch of undead, we continued exploring what finally seemed like a dungeon.
The area was filled with numerous small rooms, yet they were all disappointingly empty.
"Man, you'd think there'd be a chest around here. And possibly a trap set just for us to fall into."
I found it surprising that Aqua hadn't caused any chaos in this place, but then again, the dungeon seemed lifeless from the start.
"Either way, this is an easy quest then! So I was right! We'll take that 300,000 eris reward in no time! I told you this was a piece of cake!"
Aqua's words seemingly caused a flag.
"Hey, don't say anything that'll change the situation."
To my surprise, nothing happened after she made that bold declaration.
It seemed that this dungeon truly was abandoned and devoid of danger.
Just as I thought this to myself, my foot landed on something unusual.
It wasn't a trap, but rather something small and linear.
Fortunately, it wasn't a human skull, as the thought of stumbling upon a human corpse would have been horrifying.
I reached for one of my arrows and used Tinder to ignite it, casting light throughout the room to reveal the source of the odd sensation.
"Check this out..."
I crouched down and discovered a katana—a genuine Japanese katana—lying on the floor.
The handle of the katana was exquisitely wrapped in soft black silk, adorned with intricate golden diamond-shaped patterns on each side.
Its glossy jet-black scabbard appeared to be crafted from luxurious wood.
The guard of the katana gleamed in a matching shade of gold, while the luxurious golden blade collar featured a black ink pattern of the tomoe crest—a distinct Japanese family emblem—on both sides.
"What is that? I've never seen a weapon like that before. It's different from all the swords I've seen."
Darkness remarked as she pushed her face closer to the object I had picked up.
"Don't get too close, it could be the kind of trap that shows something nostalgic in your eyes but will kill you instantly."
"You're already touching it; it would've killed you long ago. Besides, I see the same thing as Darkness. The blade looks skinny but as long as her sword. It could be a low-level weapon no one ever uses."
Megumin rudely commented on the origin of this iconic weapon from my world.
"Kazuma. Kazuma. Look, an object from your homeland! This is the part where you unsheathe it and you'll be granted the power of the lesser gods! Of course, I am part of the higher ones so attaining my strength is impossible."
That's utterly impossible...
Even I know not to get my hopes up when finding something like this.
"I don't want your low intelligence and bad luck. Either way, I'm definitely keeping this weapon."
It was a free weapon, after all.
However, considering it was a katana, it likely belonged to a Japanese person who had spawned in this world.
If that were the case, this katana could be a...
...Cheat Item!
I carefully unsheathed the katana, reveling in the beauty of Japanese craftsmanship.
Just like the handle and scabbard of the katana, the blade's color was a testament to its true beauty.
The blade was deep, glossy black, resembling a moonless night sky.
Its surface was incredibly smooth, simultaneously reflecting and absorbing all light that came from my makeshift fire arrow, as if it were forged from pure darkness and emanating it's dark aura.
This weapon was absolutely stunning, and I was determined to keep it for myself.
Before I could announce my decision to departure and complete the quest, a small letter held together by a rubber band slipped out of the scabbard.
"Of course, there was going to be a letter here. No way a Japanese person would leave this weapon without explaining why..."
I mused as I removed the rubber band and opened the letter.
"To whoever... what?"
"What is this language? I've never seen this type of writing before. Kazuma, someone like you can understand this?"
Darkness commented.
"It's a long story that I don't want to talk about. But this Japanese-dialect seems way too ancient. I've never seen anyone write or spoke this way before..."
"Let me read. I know this language. It's Japanese!"
"Yeah, no shit sherlock."
"The language is way too ancient for you. Judging from the handwriting and dialect, it dates back to the 1600s."
"What?!"
To think Aqua could be useful in a situation like this.
And just how old is she? She's obviously way older than four-hundred years old.
I hand the letter to Aqua, allowing her to read it.
"Hm..."
.
.
To whoever finds this letter...
My name is Miyamoto Musashi.
I've etched a legend in my homeland, Japan, as one of history's most formidable swordsmen.
In my lifetime, I emerged victorious in over 60 one-on-one duels, never tasting the sting of defeat.
When the ravages of lung cancer finally claimed me, I ascended to the heavens. I had always sensed a connection to a greater existence.
Before me stood a diminutive maiden with enigmatic azure locks, her beauty surpassing the descriptions of any mortal—a goddess, they would say.
She said to me,
"Miyamoto Musashi, your time of this world has finally passed. It is an honor to meet you in person."
Her voice, gentle and ethereal, resonated like that of a goddess.
"Gods above... I've finally attained heaven..."
I said to her.
She smiled,
"Indeed. Anyway, would you like to be reincarnated to your prime and fight earnestly everyday with an invincible weapon?! Sounds great, right?! Someone who lived in battle everyday gets it! Defeat the Demon King and save this world while making a legendary name upon yourself!"
Her proposition was sudden and foolish, and I was tempted to return to the world of the living.
In my prime, all I had ever craved was greater strength, relentlessly cutting down anyone I deemed an enemy or a challenger.
I had always aspired to be 'Invincible Under The Heavens.'
Yet, at the age of 61, I had come to realize that such a title meant little to nothing.
Taking lives felt like a dagger through my heart, a pain that cut deeper within me than it did in those I slew.
What haunted me the most was the memory of the 70 men I had killed and the 12-year-old boy who sought to restore his family's honor by ambushing me with his small army.
Never again did I want to experience that same anguish...
"Didn't you always wanted to make a change in your life? Was there anything you've done in your previous world that you've regret? Well now you can change your history here!"
Just as I was on the verge of rejecting her, her words struck a chord within me, convincing me to accept her offer.
To return to my prime... to reset my history, my life, and my memories... it all seemed too good to be true.
But standing before me was a powerful goddess.
"Very well."
"Splendid! Pick anything you want with you to enter the world. It could be wealth, fame, women, anything!"
Anything?
Wealth? Fame? Women? None of those satisfied me.
My competitive spirit ignited from within my younger years, and I decided to test the goddess's power.
"Grant me a katana that transcends the capabilities of the best blacksmith in Japan... infused with the sharpest material known to mankind... forged from the deepest fiery depths of the earth's core... imbued with the hardest substance known to mankind... and may it become its own true master of the sword."
I said to the goddess.
She snapped her fingers,
"Done. You didn't describe what color so I did whatever I want with it."
She snapped her fingers, and with a brilliant flash, a magnificent jet-black katana descended into my grasp.
I unsheathed it, revealing a blade forged from deep, dark obsidian—the sharpest material known to humanity. I tested its sturdiness and found it harder than diamond.
Ordinary obsidian blades would shatter with ease, but not this one.
The potential of this formidable weapon remained a mystery even to me.
What the goddess had crafted was exactly as I had requested.
Perhaps I should have asked for a more peaceful life, but it was too late now.
"Alright, bye."
She said as if it was ordinary work for her.
With a wave of her hand, a magic blue circle materialized beneath me, and in an instant, I found myself in a surreal world.
The more I explored this bizarre realm, the more absurd its rules and concepts became.
Here, it seemed that defeating a simple flying cabbage somehow elevated one's swordsmanship skills.
Such foolishness! True mastery came from relentless training and discipline.
'One thousand days of lessons for discipline; ten thousand days of lessons for mastery.'
As I watched seemingly ordinary individuals display overwhelming strength when lifting heavy objects and killing monstrous beings three times as potent as them and their size, a deep sense of disgust welled up within me.
I chose to follow my own path.
There was always more than one path to the top of the mountain.
Every day, I trained rigorously, vanquishing anything I perceived as a threat, and I had no use for the so-called 'Skill Points' that others embraced.
This katana was all I required, for in this world, the art of its creation remained a mystery to everyone in this realm.
When the time was right, I embarked on a journey to carve a name for myself in this peculiar world.
I kept records of afew of my victories and encounters:
• I subdued a real-life hydra with multiple heads, which had slumbered beneath a lake, cowering before my might.
• I encountered a headless knight wielding a massive sword, and upon learning his tragic backstory, I showed him mercy.
• A colossal bear, said to possess the power to kill any challenger with a single swipe of its mighty claw, met its end at the keen edge of my blade.
My accomplishments in this world, achieved without relying on 'Skill Points' or confining 'Classes,' proved that even the most ordinary and average of men could become formidable through discipline and mastery.
'There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.'
Yet, a lingering desire remained within me—a longing to face a foe reminiscent of the essence of Japan.
I recalled the goddess's directive to defeat someone known as the Demon King, and I began planning for this ultimate confrontation.
However, a woman began to watch me train in the forest, hailing from a nearby farm.
Her presence stirred emotions I had long buried.
Marriage had once seemed a distraction from my pursuit of martial arts perfection, but as she continued to observe me, I realized that I had already attained perfection in all forms of combat.
I had reached a point where I had never lost a single duel, even in this strange world teeming with monstrous beings and dragons.
Her influence prompted me to reconsider my path.
In the prime of my life, the male instinct to grow stronger and prove one's dominance typically burned hot and relentless.
Yet, as I matured back at my previous world, I began to understand the weight of past actions.
I ceased my preparations to confront the Demon King, married the woman who had captured my heart, and embraced a new life.
This was my reset, my opportunity to begin anew.
Leaving behind my past, I ventured into the most perilous dungeon of the era, determined to face every challenge it presented.
At the deepest point, I placed the katana upon the ground.
Ironic how I've always wanted to go to the top of the mountain, but now, at the end of my journey, I was at the lowest point of this dungeon...
Now, I write this letter to whomever discovers it, for I never fully grasped the blade's true potential.
As I am past my time with slaying foes with this blade.
I'm going to have a life I never had and obtain a wife and child.
And once more...
May this blade strike true. May it be wielded with discipline. May it deserve a wielder that truly cares for it. May it finally attain true wisdom and peace when it's job had fulfilled it's duty...
.
.
"...The End..."
The room fell into silence as we absorbed the heartfelt story recounted in the letter.
After hearing such a tale, there seemed to be no other appropriate reaction.
Now... where to even start?
"Aqua, you sent the legendary Miyamoto Musashi to this world?!"
"It was 400 years ago... How should I know or remember what he looks like?"
"Who is Miyamoto Musashi, and why does he have a cool name?"
For once, Megumin and I can agree on something.
"It seems that this Miyamato guy was the real deal. Was he the hero in the books who forced the sleeping hydra back into deep slumber?"
Darkness asked.
"It's pronounced Mi-ya-mo-to. But I believe so. He was written in my history books as one of the strongest swordsmen in history. He was a ronin, a lone samurai without a master. To think he would enter this world... And now he has a wife and child. Somewhere out there, someone holds the genes of Miyamoto Musashi himself. Something my world didn't have."
"Does this mean you get to keep this sword? Actually, where's the power-up? Kazuma, I don't feel any energy coming out of you. You're still the average ordinary man in my eyes."
Aqua said to me.
I'm in a good mood so I don't want to cause any more drama.
"Pipe down with the insults. I'm obviously going to keep this sword. Perhaps this could've been my cheat item in this world when you sent me here without my consent. That being said, I'm going to use it!"
I was rather too excited to be wielding this katana.
Finally, a Cheat Item that I've always wanted and one wielded by the legendary swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, himself!
This was the ideal weapon I've always wanted my entire life!
A blade that cuts through everything!
Who would reject such a powerful weapon?!
Grabbing the still-lit arrow, I dashed out of the room, eager to test my new weapon.
Another horde of zombies appeared before me.
"Perfect, you lot will be the first victims to taste the wrath of Satou Kazuma, the legendary wielder of..."
I paused, realizing that I hadn't thought of a name for the katana yet.
Huh... what should I really name it? How about...
"...of my partner...!"
Yeah it's terrible, I'll think of a better name later.
"Kazuma, in the few weeks of living with you, this is the first time you're actually acting extremely reliable and cool!"
"As expected of our party leader, perhaps you may even be a better sword wielder than I'll ever be!"
"I'll think of a cool name for your weapon in your place, Kazuma. For now, just lay waste upon these zombies!"
With all my might, I swung the katana at the zombie horde, aiming to behead them in one fell swoop.
"Take this!"
The blade got stuck halfway through a zombie's neck.
The girls watched in silence, their expressions blank...
Oh right... the katana hasn't been taken care of for 400 years... The blade was bound to be dull and brittle.
"Did I ever mention that I sympathize with zombies? Having a horrible-looking face and no chance with any beautiful women?"
The mob of zombies overwhelmed me, toppling me down on the ground and threatening to infect me with their saliva.
"AHHHHH! Someone save me! I don't want to die a virgin!"
"Turn Undead!"
A voice of hope came from behind.
The horde of zombies was instantly purified.
I looked back to see Aqua had finally done something useful for once.
"Thank you, Aqua. You saved me back there."
I readjusted my pants and belt as one of the zombies were on the brink of pulling down my pants for some reason.
"No problem! Maybe a couple hundred of eris coins will help. A mere zombie is easy work for a goddess like me!"
"That's great—"
Wait a minute...
"You mean to tell me that you could've easily purified those undead zombies we encountered earlier?"
I pointed accusingly at Aqua.
"Of course! I'm the most powerful archpriest you'll ever have in your party. A zombie's weakness is divine power from a god or goddess."
I couldn't contain my frustration.
This girl...
That means...
"You could've helped us fight those zombies this whole time?!"
In the end, I could only yell at her uselessness.
"Eek! Why are you getting mad?"
"Darkness and I were fighting for our lives, and you just stood there, whistling and twiddling your hair with your fingers! Of course I'm going to get mad! Come here; I'm going to give you a piece of my mind!"
Megumin and Darkness stopped asking questions and simply watched our exchange.
Quest: Complete!
Reward: 300,000 eris coins.
In the end, the Cheat Item I had received turned out to be just an ordinary katana...
