Konosuba: God's Blessing On This Alternate World

by OogaBoogaUngaBunga8

In an alternate universe, Kazuma decides to be reborn as a baby back at Japan. Unfortunately, Aqua makes an oopsie and reincarnates Kazuma to be reborn into the Isekai world, with no cheat item. The characters in this story will mostly be original, with slight alterations to their backstory and personality. KazumaxDarkness/Lalatina This is my version of Konosuba, enjoy.

10. Chapter 9: May This Masked Devil Vanish

"Satou Kazuma! Is Satou Kazuma here–?!"

Just as Megumin had warned, Sena burst into the room with an unmistakable anger.

"Again? What's the matter this time? Is it frogs? Or has something else gone awry?"

I inquired, somewhat taken aback by Sena's intense aura.

"It's the dungeon! What have you done to the Keele dungeon near town? I've heard that hordes of mysterious monsters have emerged from there!"

Sena exclaimed, her face turning red with anger.

Mysterious monsters? It seemed to be the same issue that had been circulating in town recently.

"No... Wait, this has nothing to do with us! While we did venture into the dungeon earlier, placing the blame solely on me whenever there's a problem is unreasonable!"

Hearing me say that, my companions nodded in agreement.

Their reactions indicated that they were unaware of any trouble they might have caused.

Sena, however, continued to eye me suspiciously.

"That may be true, but you were the last group to enter that dungeon. Given your history, the probability that you're not somehow involved is quite..."

"What twisted reasoning is this? We genuinely have no knowledge of what's happening this time, do we? There's no issue caused by us, right?"

The three girls vigorously shook their heads in agreement.

Seeing their response, Sena appeared somewhat skeptical but decided to trust us, at least for the moment.

"This is problematic... I can't think of anyone else but you guys who might be responsible for such chaos. I may need to hire investigators..."

Sena commented, glancing in our direction.

She was attempting to invoke the 'Is there anyone available to help?' look.

"Oh, Ms. Prosecutor, are you suggesting that your prime suspects should aid in the investigation? We're already swamped trying to prove his innocence. Emphasis on the 'his'."

Megumin astutely observed, catching on to Sena's intent.

Sena visibly struggled with Megumin's remark but ultimately turned her attention back to me.

"I don't have the time for this, sorry but I have to reject you."

I firmly rejected Sena, causing her to take a deep breath and slump her shoulders in response.

"You're right. I can't impose on you when you're not involved in this matter. But if you have a change of heart, please consider assisting me. I'll be heading to the adventurer's guild."

She said before turning and departing from the mansion.

Once Sena had left, I released a heavy sigh.

Dealing with people like her always left me uneasy, perhaps because of her straightforwardness and the rarity of individuals with clear consciences in our town.

"Well, I am somewhat intrigued by those mysterious monsters flooding out from the dungeon... But we have pressing matters to attend to. First, we must clear my name of suspicion, and then we need to compensate the landlord for his mansion. In the end, there are no solutions in sight for either of these problems."

That was the current situation.

"Hey, Darkness, can we discuss..."

"Forget about borrowing money; I've already helped you enough. Besides, I'd like to witness the Kazuma who's at his wit's end."

Darkness said to me with a smile.

Ugh... This girl still had a grudge for the incident earlier.

However, the issue of mysterious monsters piqued my interest.

"Just to be sure, I'll ask all of you again. You genuinely have no knowledge of this incident, correct?"

Upon hearing my question, they all displayed puzzled expressions.

"As for me, if it doesn't involve explosion magic, I couldn't care less."

"Same here. Unlike these two, I refrain from causing trouble."

"Ah... it's true that Darkness doesn't create major problems, but, on the other hand, she doesn't have any standout achievements like in the battle against the Destroyer!"

"Wha...! Me-Megumin, you...! Have you guys forgotten that I contributed the most to defeating The Dullahan?!"

"We all did. Even the audience."

Leaving the squabbling two aside, I asked the most suspicious person.

"What about you? Any insights?"

Aqua responded to my hesitant inquiry:

"Absolutely not. You really suspect me too much"

Seeing her displeased expression, I breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're right. Even you don't create trouble all the time. My apologies; it's just that the trial made me excessively suspicious..."

I apologized to Aqua and recognized my habit of placing blame on her.

"Really, you should have a bit more trust in me. Thanks to my efforts, monsters won't be approaching that dungeon. Remember the room where the lich resided? I invested a great deal of effort in creating that magic circle that purged the lich. That magic circle is still active, keeping malevolent beings out of that chamber!"

I gripped Aqua's shoulders.

"Wait, what did you just say?"

"Why are you grabbing me? I told you, I painstakingly crafted that magic circle with serious efforts. It should still be functioning and deterring monsters..."

I didn't let Aqua finish her explanation.

"You idiot—!"

I clutched my head and let out a scream.

...

Walking down the snow-covered road, our destination in mind was that ominous dungeon that loomed ahead.

"... Sniff... This isn't my fault... It's definitely not...!"

Aqua's voice trembled as she continued to sniffle.

With Aqua still shedding tears beside me, I took the lead, followed closely by Megumin and Darkness.

Turning around, I couldn't help but question Aqua:

"Why do you do this every time, stirring up trouble after achieving something good? Why? Is it some kind of illness that compels you to offset your accomplishments with mistakes?"

As of now, the negative outcomes seemed to outweigh the positive ones, unfortunately.

"Wait! This isn't my fault this time! Please believe me, alright? I only set up a purification magic circle in the boss's lair; it won't lead to a massive spawning of monsters! This is different from the wandering spirits incident earlier!"

Aqua pleaded desperately as she grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"Hey, stop that, it's hard to walk like this! Besides, whether you're the cause of this isn't the primary concern. The real issue is Sena discovering your magic circle during her investigation!" I retorted.

The magic circle nestled in the depths of the dungeon was a ticking time bomb. We had to eliminate the evidence before anyone connected us to the chaos.

I had brought an item capable of dispelling such a magic circle, but if possible, I hoped to resolve this without venturing further into the dungeon.

Apart from Aqua's persistent wails, our journey remained uneventful as we arrived at the dungeon's entrance.

"I see, it really is a mysterious monster."

As we reached the dungeon's entrance, we found ourselves gazing upon a relentless horde of monsters spewing forth from its gaping maw.

To put it simply, they were masked dolls.

These eerie creatures stood at about knee height and walked on two legs.

"What is that? I've never seen or heard of something like this before."

Megumin mused, tilting her head in curiosity as she observed the dolls.

"At first glance, they don't appear to be formidable in combat."

Darkness commented, her heavy armor clinking with every step she took.

"How should I put this? I feel an intense aversion towards this doll, but I can't quite put my finger on why. Just looking at that thing fills me with anger."

Aqua, never one to shy away from her whims, picked up a rock as she made her declaration.

It was at that very moment when we were caught off guard.

"Satou-san...! What are you doing here? Did you change your mind and come here to investigate?"

A voice called out from behind, prompting me to turn around and discover Sena accompanied by a sizable group of fellow adventurers.

Sena was dressed casually, devoid of any protective armor, and held a peculiar talisman adorned with an intricate design.

So, she had beaten us to the punch.

Reluctantly, I realized that I had no choice but to cooperate.

"In retrospect, the appearance of these mysterious monsters will affect us as well. It's an adventurer's duty to safeguard the town from these creatures."

"I've never wished more for a lie detection device... but I'm genuinely thankful for your assistance."

Sena admitted, bowing deeply.

My conscience gnawed at me; after all, she wasn't harboring any personal vendetta against me.

Her determination lay solely in her unyielding quest to investigate me as a potential suspect.

"In that case, please accept this, Satou-san. While it's unclear why these monsters are spawning, it's likely that someone summoned them. If that hypothesis holds true, please take down the summoner and affix this talisman to the magic circle."

Sena handed me the talisman, and I inquired:

"What is this?"

"It's a talisman infused with potent sealing magic. Once applied, it can disable the magic circle, regardless of its strength. Some circles persist in summoning monsters even after their caster has fallen, so please keep this with you."

I understood the usefulness of such an item, but it seemed we wouldn't require it.

"No, I don't need that. Don't worry; I have a better plan. Given the multitude of monsters in the dungeons, there's no need to trouble ourselves by entering... Megumin, are you prepared?"

"I'm all set, leave it to me."

Megumin responded to my call, brandishing her staff as she advanced.

However, Sena, upon witnessing this, spoke up in a panic:

"What... What is this? What are you thinking? Could it be...!"

"Oh, you've caught on? That's right. By casting Explosion at the dungeon entrance and sealing it..."

"No, don't! Please, find out the reason! These monsters clearly didn't spawn naturally. The one lurking within the dungeon must be a significant threat if it can summon so many creatures. Even if we seal the dungeon, it might escape through teleportation. Our goal should be to locate and defeat the adversary responsible for this major crisis."

Damn, it was all becoming incredibly troublesome.

I had no desire to enter that dungeon, and Megumin couldn't use her explosion magic within it.

Meanwhile, Aqua ignored my predicament and readied herself to hurl rocks at the masked monsters.

She insisted that her fundamental revulsion towards the creatures was too strong to ignore.

Surprisingly, one of the monsters, which had exhibited no hostility towards us, suddenly charged at Aqua as she prepared to throw her rock.

"Eh, wait! What...? What's happening... Oh?"

Rather than attacking Aqua, the monster tightly embraced her knees.

"What, does it want to cuddle? The mask infuriates me, but it looks cute like this... Hey, hey, Kazuma, I think this doll is getting warmer. I have a bad feeling!"

Aqua rushed toward me, shouting, and I shared her ominous feeling as I hurriedly distanced myself from her.

And then—

With a thunderous explosion, the doll hugging Aqua vanished without a trace.

All that remained was Aqua, sprawled face-down on the ground, her clothes in tatters from the explosion.

"As you can see, these mysterious monsters attach themselves to people in motion and then explode. Even the Adventurer's Guild was stumped on how to handle them."

Inodded in agreement, saying:

"I see, this is indeed quite troublesome."

Aqua, meanwhile, protested with a face on the brink of tears:

"Why are you all so calm?! Can't you show a bit of concern for me? At least check to see how I'm doing!"

As we continued our conversation with Sena, Aqua abruptly leaped to her feet.

She appeared to be fine, despite the earlier explosion.

"But this is problematic... These monsters can only attack by exploding, and even a slight injury will trigger their detonation. They latch onto us when we're not vigilant, and eventually explode. From the current situation, our only option is to maintain a safe distance and defeat them one by one."

Sena's observation came as she glanced at Megumin, who was consoling Aqua, now huddled in her knees.

Although Aqua had behaved hysterically, her hagoromo was the mightiest divine equipment.

Without it, she would have sustained significant injuries from that powerful explosion.

The monsters were truly troublesome. Should we pelt them with rocks as we advance?

But there were already countless monsters pouring out onto the surface, and who knew how many lurked within the dungeon.

Exterminating them one by one seemed like an arduous task, and I still couldn't fathom the purpose of these enigmatic monsters.

In the end, who had unleashed these creatures, and for what purpose?

As I contemplated these mysteries, Darkness abruptly strode over to one of the dolls and punched it without uttering a word.

"Hmm? What are you doing all of a sudden?!" I exclaimed.

Amid the surrounding commotion, the doll that had absorbed Darkness's punch clung to her.

A moment later, it exploded with the same intensity as the one that had attached itself to Aqua.

Following that explosion...

"... Hmm, I can handle it. No problem."

Darkness declared, her resilience undiminished.

Sena and the other adventurers remained astonished by Darkness's endurance.

"I'll clear a path, just follow behind me, Kazuma."

Darkness said in a valiant tone.

This dungeon exploration differed from our previous stealthy mission.

Our plan this time was to boldly engage the enemy with the support of other adventurers.

At that moment, Megumin tugged at the corner of my shirt and asked:

"Kazuma, Kazuma, I'll probably just get in the way inside. Can I wait outside? I'll be ready to use my magic at the dungeon entrance, and if you encounter a formidable monster, I can assist you from there."

It made sense since the one summoning these monsters was most likely inside the dungeon and probably very powerful.

Having Megumin on standby outside meant she could be our trump card if a formidable enemy pursued us out of the dungeon.

"In that case, I'll stay with Megumin. I'll cast buffing spells on you before you enter, so please be cautious."

Aqua offered, dusting off her clothes.

However, I quickly interjected: "Hold on a minute! You're coming with us! You have skills that can be valuable inside the dungeon."

"I don't wanna! I don't want to go into the dungeon anymore! I'll be left behind if I go into the dungeon! And many undead will chase after me!"

Aqua exclaimed while covering her ears and shaking her head.

It seemed she had developed a trauma when I threatened to leave her behind during our previous dungeon visit.

I wonder if I'll develop a similar trauma in this world... Best not to think about it.

After careful consideration, I decided to leave Aqua outside as well.

Her presence would likely attract an excessive number of undead, and with other adventurers entering the dungeon, we'd have a better chance of dealing with any incorporeal undead we might encounter.

"So, the only ones entering the dungeon from my party will be Darkness and me."

"Yeah... To be alone in a dark dungeon with Kazuma. I think Kazuma's more dangerous than the monsters."

"Be careful; I might just leave you in the depths of the dungeon and give you the same trauma as Aqua."

As we exchanged playful banter, the other adventurers seemed to have determined the team to enter the dungeon.

Some remained on the surface to protect Sena and combat the monsters.

About twenty men and women, along with Darkness and me, would venture into the dungeon.

Our plan was for Darkness to lead the way with her sword, as she might be targeted by the suicide bomber dolls, while I followed behind her, holding the oil lamp high to illuminate our path.

"Kazuma, you should also use your sword to help me out..."

"I'm busy illuminating the light for everyone."

"But anyone else can do it..."

"No 'buts'!"

The other adventurers formed a line behind us.

Despite the gloomy and damp surroundings, with so many people around, there was little to fear.

However, our objectives differed.

The other adventurers sought to investigate the reason behind the monsters' appearance, while we aimed to dispel the magic circle within the lich's room and destroy the evidence.

Their presence behind us was somewhat troubling for me.

On the other hand, Darkness, walking ahead, was exuberantly swinging her sword and gleefully slashing at the dolls that made no effort to dodge.

The dolls retaliated with suicide bombings, but that merely covered Darkness's face and armor with a bit of dust, and she continued her rampage undaunted.

Clearly, she was pleased with landing her attacks and feeling useful, charging through the dungeon like a formidable tank.

The lich's creation was remarkably robust, showing no signs of collapsing despite the repeated explosions.

"Hey, wait, wait for us! Slow down!

I heard the adventurers' voices coming from behind.

When I turned to look, I realized that Darkness's swift rampage had distanced us from the others.

Meanwhile, the monsters kept emerging from the dungeon's sides.

"Wait...! Ahhh, it's clinging to me! Hey, someone, get it off!" one of the adventurers cried.

"Wahhh, don't come here! Don't come!" another shouted.

The explosions caused by these monsters were powerful.

While they might not be as durable as Darkness or adorned with godly items like Aqua, an adventurer wearing armor wouldn't succumb easily.

I felt a twinge of guilt, but I also saw this as an opportunity.

"Keep it up, Darkness! Head straight down the passage! Keep charging forward!" I urged.

"Okay, leave it to me! Ah, what a thrilling experience! I think this is the first time I'm truly fulfilling my role as a crusader!"

The excited Darkness replied.

Blissfully unaware of the mayhem trailing behind her, Darkness charged deeper into the dungeon, and we could soon bid farewell to this perilous place.

...

We reached our destination deep within the dungeon rather effortlessly, a location that was close to the lich's room.

To the best of my recollection, this was indeed the furthest point of this passage.

"What's this? No matter how I look at it, this must be the boss of these monsters," I remarked as I peered ahead.

Before us, within the lich's room, sat a figure cross-legged, industriously crafting the dolls. He wore a suit that seemed out of place in the dungeon, and his hands were sheathed in white gloves.

The mask he donned bore a striking resemblance to the masks worn by the dolls that had assailed us.

This mask, which left the mouth exposed, radiated an ominous vibe.

The person, seemingly engrossed in his work, hadn't noticed our presence, even though I held up the oil lamp.

Or perhaps he had simply been too focused on crafting his dolls, but he remained oblivious to us.

I couldn't discern his face, thanks to the mask, but based on his build, he appeared to be a man.

Uncertain about our next course of action, Darkness strode purposefully toward the masked figure.

"Hey... What are you doing here? If you're making those dolls, that implies you're the mastermind behind this disturbance, right?"

She inquired, brandishing her sword and taking a defensive stance.

Only then did the masked man finally turn his attention to us.

Upon closer examination, it was apparent that he was rather tall.

Although he didn't appear to be armed, he certainly didn't give off the impression of a mere lackey.

The eyes of the mask glistened with a red glow, and the uncovered mouth curled into a smirk.

"Ohhh... I didn't anticipate anyone reaching this far. Adventurers, welcome to my dungeon! You are correct, I am the source and the origin of all evil! I am a general of the Demon King's army, the duke of hell who commands the devils! I am the archdevil with the power to see through all in the world, Vanir!"

An unexpectedly formidable adversary had appeared!

In the dimly lit dungeon, I cautiously backed away, while Darkness, holding her sword at the ready, faced Vanir.

The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her, given that she now confronted a general from the Demon King's army.

This was certainly not the kind of opponent I had anticipated facing with just Darkness and me.

No... As I reflected on it, there had been plenty of signs along the way.

For instance, the frogs that emerged from the ground as if they were fleeing from something. It wasn't the explosion spell that had spooked them.

Much like when Beldia had made an appearance, the weaker monsters had scattered.

"Darkness. Hey, Darkness, we can't handle this situation on our own. We need to find a way to escape," I implored.

Darkness turned to me, her expression resolute.

"What are you saying? As a devout follower of the Goddess Eris, how can I retreat in the face of a devil, and a general of the Demon King's army, no less! Even if it costs me my life, I'll bring him down!"

What a stubborn woman!

In response to Darkness's declaration, Vanir wore an amused smirk.

"Ohhh, you wish to defeat me? To take down Mr. Vanir, who some claim is stronger than the Demon King himself? You... The girl who's worried about that lonely man seeing your six-pack when you were naked in the shower. I can't fathom why you're so angry, but I've heard that gnawing on small bones can help alleviate your quick temper. Part of my mask is made from the bones of magic dragons; I don't mind letting you have a go at it."

"Six-pack... Six-pack...!? You, stop spouting nonsense, you minion of the Demon King! Kazuma, this guy's lying! I don't have any six-packs, and I'm not worried about it!"

"Don't get riled up, Darkness. Stay calm!"

I urged, restraining Darkness just as she was about to strike.

Vanir, unfazed by Darkness's rage, maintained his seated position and continued:

"Please, calm down. I didn't come here for a fight. The Demon King asked me to investigate something. And I also have some business with the utterly useless general in Axel, the one who keeps getting poorer the harder she works."

Upon hearing Vanir's words, Darkness and I exchanged puzzled glances.

...

Darkness, who remained vigilant with her sword raised, stood to one side, ready to strike at a moment's notice. I sat on the dungeon floor, attentively listening to Vanir's words.

"First, although I'm a general of the Demon King's army, it's mostly a title. I'm tasked with maintaining the barrier around the castle, at the Demon King's request. In reality, I'm more of a devil. The choicest morsels for devils are the negative emotions produced by human hatred. To me, humans are the creators of delectable emotions, so I have no interest in foolish acts like harming or killing you. Whenever a human is born, I'm so elated that I dance in the courtyard."

"I see... But if you aim to stimulate our negative feelings, that implies you'll harm us, right? There won't be any negative emotions if our lives are peaceful."

Although he hadn't shown any hostility yet, given that he was a general of the Demon King's army, we couldn't handle him with just the two of us.

It seemed wiser to go along with him and avoid confrontation.

Speaking of which, a general in name tasked with maintaining the barrier... He appeared to be much like Wiz.

Vanir remained seated, creating dolls skillfully while conversing.

"For negative feelings, there are various types and intensities. The tastes of each devil differ, with unique preferences. Some devils relish fear and despair, while others, like me, transform into an alluring beauty to seduce men. After charming them and making them fall for me, I reveal my true form and say, 'Too bad, it's actually me.' Then I savor their emotions as they weep blood."

"I'm starting to think it might be better to just eliminate you."

I eyed the enigmatic devil behind the curious mask with skepticism.

It seemed the Demon King had tasked this devil with scouting out the humans who had defeated Beldia.

"As I was toying with the Demon King's subordinates and feasting on their negative emotions... He begged me, 'Don't laze around in my castle and bully my subordinates. Go work once in a while...' I considered paying a visit to an old friend living in this town, so I took the job. On my way here, I stumbled upon this masterless dungeon and thought it was rather fitting, so I ventured in."

What about your work and your old friend?

There had to be limits to your carefree nature.

I wanted to retort, but if he said, 'I'll start doing my job now.' that would be even more troublesome.

After all, the humans who had defeated Beldia were us.

Though I wanted to ignore this character and make a quick exit, there was something I couldn't overlook.

"You mentioned it would be troublesome if humans were harmed. So what about these dolls? They kept pouring out of the dungeon and causing trouble for the townsfolk."

"Hmm? I use these creatures to exterminate the useless monsters within this dungeon. I see, if they've made their way out, it means there are no more monsters inside. It's time for me to cease mass-producing Vanir dolls and move on to the next stage."

"The next stage? What are you scheming?"

In response to my question, Vanir set aside the half-finished doll, reducing it to dust, and said:

"It's rather impolite to call it 'scheming.' You, the man who was visibly anxious like a bear and paced around the room for days because the armored girl didn't return home for a few days. I, as a devil, have a grand aspiration, and I came to this place to fulfill that dream."

"Hey, shut up! You did say that you're a devil that can see through all things, but why are you describing it as if you'd seen it with your own eyes...!"

In response to hearing that, Darkness turned to me with a hint of flattery:

"Kazuma... were you truly concerned when I didn't return to the mansion for a few days...?"

"Not at all-!"

While it was true that I had been worried about her, I certainly hadn't paced around my room... at least not excessively.

"Shall I also bring up the curious thoughts of the young man, wondering whether the lovely armored girl at his side had set her sights on someone else after realizing her affections weren't aimed at the prince all along?"

"What...?"

Darkness looked at me with a troubled expression.

"Shut your trap, devil!"

"Don't get riled up, Kazuma. Stay calm!"

Darkness urged, restraining me just as I was about to throw the oil lamp at him.

"The dreams of a devil don't seem like a good thing. Anyway, can you tell us what kind of dream it is?"

Under Darkness's furious gaze, Vanir nodded and continued.

"For one who has existed for nearly eternity, I've long harbored the desire to go out with a bang—to pass on elegantly after feasting on the most exquisite negative emotions. I've pondered it for a considerable time, so long that I've forgotten when the notion first took root. I've contemplated what I must do to savor the negative emotion I crave most. And now, I've finally stumbled upon the perfect idea..."

At this point, Vanir grinned, and I listened intently.

"First, I'll acquire a dungeon. Then, I'll dispatch my wicked minions to lurk in every room, setting arduous traps within them. Seasoned, formidable adventurers will come forward to challenge themselves! After facing numerous trials, someone will ultimately reach my abode deep within the dungeon!"

As Vanir continued his monologue, he grew increasingly animated, employing grandiose hand gestures and a more excited tone.

"And waiting in the depths of the dungeon, of course, will be me! I'll say, 'Impressive for you to make it this far, adventurers! Come, great fortune awaits if you can defeat me...' After my grand speech, we'll have the final battle! After a fierce struggle, the adventurers will eventually triumph over me. In the end, a treasure chest, heavily sealed, will materialize behind my battered form. As I begin to lose consciousness, the adventurers who have conquered immense challenges will open the treasure chest right before my eyes..."

Darkness and I both swallowed hard and remained in silence.

"Inside the chest, they will find a piece of paper that simply reads, 'Thank you for your patronage!' The adventurers will then look at this note with baffled expressions. That's the scene I desire to witness as I head towards my end."

"Don't do that. It's so pitiful, anything but that..."

"Hey, Kazuma, maybe we should get rid of this guy after all."

Vanir smirked at me and Darkness and remarked casually, "A friend of mine runs a shop here. My original plan was to work in her store, save up money, and, with her help, create a grand dungeon. But when I stumbled upon this dungeon, I realized it had no owner. So, I altered my plans and decided to make use of this place instead."

"Staying here for such a reason is a bit... Anyway, I understand what you're intending to do here. Since you won't be creating any more dolls, there's nothing more to discuss. We're here because we need to deal with the magic circle in that room behind you. To be honest, our purpose is to dispel the magic circle."

"Huh...? Hey, Kazuma, instead of that magic circle, we should take care of this guy! You want to ignore a General of the Demon King's army, the enemy of humanity, right before us?"

While that might be true, what can just Darkness and I do against a General of the Demon King's army?

As I began to rise, planning to leave and dispel the magic circle...

"Magic circle? Oh, that magic circle that's been causing me quite a bit of trouble. You're very kind. I don't know which annoying individual placed it, but this pesky magic circle has been keeping me out of that room. If you're willing to dispel it for me, I'll gift you a Vanir doll crafted by me, which will chuckle in the middle of the night."

"No... No thanks. It would be inconvenient for us if this magic circle remains in place. We'll be on our way after dispelling it, so please do as you please afterward."

My intention was to hurry away after getting rid of the magic circle, so I spoke casually.

"Why would the presence of this magic circle be problematic for you? Allow me to delve into your past..."

My words piqued Vanir's curiosity, and he said this lightly...

"No, wait...!"

Before I could intervene, Vanir, sensing something, broke into dry laughter.

Perceiving a peculiar aura emanating from Vanir, Darkness swiftly positioned herself to shield me.

"Fuhahaha... Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha! Should I describe this as expected or surprising? The troublesome magic circle was cast by one of your party members! Even an arch devil like me couldn't bypass it. To be able to create such a magic circle, could that priestess be...?"

Oh no... I wasn't sure what was going on, but this devil seemed highly agitated!

Vanir rose slowly, and his eyes, fixed on me, emitted a crimson gleam.

Different from the red irises of the Crimson Magic Clan, these eyes were more in line with a devil's image, invoking an instinctual dread in those who saw them.

Eyes as red as blood.

"Oh, the vision is perfectly clear to me! On the surface! At the dungeon's entrance! I can see the priestess who placed the magic circle, sipping tea in a leisurely manner and looking utterly bored."

If what he claimed was accurate, I felt an immediate urge to return and give her a stern scolding. I wanted to berate her for making my life so needlessly complicated.

The face beneath Vanir's mask was filled with life.

"After having looking into the future as well, it appears that the time has come to finally fulfill that long-awaited contract. At last, I have discovered the individual with the most exceptional potential. I've eagerly awaited this moment for an extended duration!"

Following Vanir's pronouncement, he conveyed it with an aura that hinted at a malevolent intent directed towards either Aqua, Darkness, Megumin, or myself.

Although, if I were to make an educated guess, Megumin struck me as the kind of person who might sign a contract with a devil, or maybe a god.

Also, the spirit of the old man who was a fortune teller claimed he couldn't read my future at all. I would call him a conman but this Vanir guy is genuinely a powerful devil, so I'll hold onto that thought for later.

"Mmm... Yes, I see it now... Girl who's really concerned with the 'overboard demand' after losing a bet to this man, can't get it off her mind, is full of nervousness and repeatedly glancing at his way."

"Nothing's on my mind. I'm not nervous and I'm not glancing, so stop your nonsense! Don't say stuff like that... Stuff like that-!"

"You as well! Sexually frustrated young boy who's thinking about what to do to this girl and is tempted to do so, open a path for moi!"

"I-I am not tempted! I'm not a horny virgin! I've already lost my viriginity...!"

"A futile lie against the Devil who sees through all! Don't worry, 'not killing humans' is moi iron rule. That's right, I won't kill humans... All 'humans'! That girl who gave moi so much trouble with her magic circle, I'll show her!"

We barely endured the psychological attack of Vanir, a being capable of peering into our innermost thoughts, as he advanced towards us.

This enigmatic character claimed to be a devil with the power to discern all things, and he had just emphasized that he refrained from harming 'humans.'

It left me wondering if he knew Aqua's true identity.

At that very moment, Darkness raised her lengthy blade and leveled it at the encroaching Vanir.

"If you harbor intentions to harm Aqua, I won't yield. As a crusader devoted to the service of the Goddess Eris, I solemnly swear upon my honor that you shall not pass!"

"Not just your six-packs, even your brain's hard and inflexible, girl. Should I decide to take you on seriously, it would be a simple matter. However, my intention does not involve the termination of human lives. It's challenging to determine which individual will yield the most exquisite negative emotions, after all. I suggest you return home and settle that 'overboard demand' amongst yourselves. As a devil gifted with foresight, I assure you that if you depart now, no one will obstruct you, and matters will unfold precisely as you desire."

This... This guy...

"Ignore him, Darkness! These are nothing more than the beguiling whispers of the devil. Do not let his seductive words sway you."

"I-I won't be swayed!"

Curiously, my heart was deeply shaken.

What was it about this foresight-endowed devil?

He had me convinced that 'She can't get it off her mind, brimming with nervousness, and constantly glancing at his way' was the real deal.

I surreptitiously glanced at Darkness and noticed her cheeks were faintly flushed, her sword's tip trembling, a clear reflection of the tumult in her heart.

"Fuhahaha! Both are inexperienced virgins whose hormones have skyrocketed at that specific age! Scurry off! Or you both can lose yourselves together in that room with the magic circle, and thousands of people would be delighted to know that it's finally shipped!"

These were undeniably the tempting whispers of the devil!

Never before had I encountered foes who set such treacherous traps.

"Hey, Kazuma! Why are you getting so worked up? We share the same mansion; it'd be quite awkward if we developed such a tense atmosphere! Pull yourself together!"

"Oh, right! This is Darkness we're talking about. I need to get my act together. Sure, her appearance and physique might align with my preferences, but let's face it – no man desires a woman who's stronger, tougher, and manlier than him. It's still Darkness, after all!"

"You... You... You're going to get it after we're done with this..."

Women are such complex creatures.

"Ohhh... You've resisted my enticement. But how should I approach this? All my skills are incredibly potent; they'd dispatch you with a single strike. Take, for instance, my lethal laser. As the name suggests, it's lethal, and any human struck by it would meet their demise even if it misses. There's also the Vanir eye beams, but they come with the unfortunate side effect of scorching my own eyes upon use, so I've never attempted it..."

"Enough, enough! You're driving me to the brink of insanity with your prattle! If you wish to reach Aqua, you'll have to defeat me first."

With that declaration, Darkness lunged at Vanir with her sword!

...

Vanir gracefully evaded Darkness's relentless assault, his laughter filling the air with amusement.

"Fuhahaha! Why do the strikes of this tenacious lady keep missing entirely?... Hmm? And where's the other one? That young lad with the remarkably potent sword yet, in his hands, is relatively average. Where has he vanished to?"

Vanir cast his eyes around, scanning for me, who had suddenly disappeared.

My apologies for my mediocrity. The sword and I are currently in the midst of a 'team bonding' phase.

"Quit searching around! Your opponent is me!"

Listening to Darkness's words, Vanir pondered aloud.

"Where did that man who appeared rather shrewd scamper off to? These cunning scoundrels can be more perilous than a brawny crusader. I sense his presence, but where could he possibly have...?"

At the precise moment Darkness launched a slash at Vanir, I set down the oil lamp and pressed my back against the wall in the shadows.

Utilizing Lurk, I stealthily maneuvered behind Vanir.

Even if I was considered a schemer, no one in their right mind would engage the general of the Demon King's army in direct combat.

"Don't underestimate me; face me!"

Darkness swung her sword sideways.

Vanir leapt backward.

And that's when his back was presented before me, my readiness paramount.

I deactivated Lurk and, with all my might, delivered a diagonal strike towards Vanir with Kiritsu in my hands.

"Ugh! You unscrupulous rascal, when did you sneak up... Oh, oh no...!"

Vanir, who had managed to evade Darkness's earlier attacks, took a few wobbly steps forward, unwittingly falling within Darkness's striking range.

Darkness, whose strikes packed a wallop but were lacking in precision, cleaved across Vanir's form.

Vanir's left hand was sent soaring into the air, his torso suffering critical damage, and he knelt to the ground!

"To think... Curses, I've been far too careless...! To imagine a talent like you was concealed within a beginner's town...! Ugh... Is this how it ends for me...?"

After these words, Vanir's body crumbled into dust, along with his tuxedo, leaving only his mask behind.

Wait, whose words were they towards? Me or this girl who can't hit a single target?

The lantern cast a dim glow on our surroundings, and in the dark dungeon, only Darkness's labored breathing punctuated the silence.

"No way... Did I just defeat a general of the Demon King's army...?"

Darkness wore an expression of disbelief, her grip on the longsword in her hand vice-like. Her post-battle adrenaline still coursed through her, leaving her trembling.

"If you're saying something like 'Did I just defeat?' it probably means you didn't. But that guy did appear genuinely surprised when he got slashed, so it seems like it's for real, I guess?"

"As much as thou would hope it to be true..."

A voice from behind responded to my words.

The sound emanated from the fallen mask on the ground.

The mask absorbed the dungeon's earth, slowly forming into a body.

Ultimately, the body wore a suit and was an exact replica of the man we had just fought.

"Did thou truly think thou had bested me? My apologies, not at all! Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha! Oh my, the negative emotions emanating from you are delightful!"

I had a strong desire to end this guy.

"What sort of ridiculous body is that? Do you think you can pull off such trickery simply because you're a Demon King's army general?!"

"Aww... I thought I had really gotten him... I thought the me who usually couldn't seem to land a hit on an opponent had taken down a Demon King's army general all by myself... I didn't contribute much during the battle against the Destroyer, and I believed I finally had my moment..."

Depressed and with the tip of her sword quivering, Darkness lamented, while Vanir gleefully smiled.

"Fuhahaha! This body is merely a magical imitation; the mask is my true form. No matter how many times you slash at me, at most, this body will return to dust! Ultimately, the place where my body dissipates will be fertile, for it is brimming with mana. Flowers will bloom, and butterflies..."

"I have no clue what you're blabbering about! Every word you speak worsens my headache! Damn it! What's our plan now, Darkness? Should we consider a strategic withdrawal?"

"I don't want to! Allowing myself to be made a fool is a disgrace to knights! I must make this fiend pay...!"

Darkness resolutely declared her intent to face Vanir.

"Yes, I comprehend. But I have no interest in playing with you in this manner. It's time for me to employ my special skill for such occasions! I possess a hidden skill that won't harm anyone and only siphons negative emotions. Observe!"

After uttering these words, Vanir raised his mask with his right hand...!

"Hey, Darkness! This is looking dire! Let's make our exit!"

"It's too late! Crusader with a tenacious spirit, lend your body to me!"

Vanir bellowed as he hurled his mask toward Darkness—!

...

"Darkness? Hey... Darkness! Say something!"

After being struck, Darkness's face became concealed beneath the mask. Her grip on the sword slackened, and she stood motionless, her head bowed.

This development was far from plesant.

Given Vanir's prior statement and the current situation, it appeared that Vanir had taken control of Darkness's body.

In fact, Vanir's body began disintegrating into dust after he'd tossed the mask aside.

Darkness, who had donned the mask, slowly raised her head...!

"Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha! Listen closely, lad! This special power of mine-"

- What should I do, Kazuma? My body has been hijacked! -

"How about it, boy, if you dare to attack this girl-"

- For some reason, I don't mind if you attack me, Kazuma! Part of me tells you not to, but another part urges you to strike with all your heart! -

Inexplicable words tumbled from Darkness's lips.

"What are you trying to say?"

"How is this possible, what's going on with this-"

- Beautiful -

"-woman?!... Damn, damn it, don't insert words and play around! But seriously, this girl's mental fortitude is off the charts-"

- An exemplary crusader role model! -

"-...Shut up!"

By all rights, this should have been a crisis, yet Darkness seemed to be handling it calmly. In fact, she appeared to be enjoying herself.

"To resist my control, you are a formidable adversary-!"

- No, not really... -

"-...But if you persist in defying my control, you shall endure excruciating torment-!"

- What, what did you say?! -

"Fuhahaha! Let's see how long you can resist!... Huh? There aren't negative emotions; what's emanating from her is... Pleasure...?"

Huh?

It appeared that the Mask had exposed Darkness's hidden personality, the one I had feared more than accidentally awakening a 100 year old dragon.

There had been clear hints in my interactions with her when I told her not to dwell on such thoughts, likely caused by my actions.

I'd take full responsibility for this, but my actions had transformed Darkness, the sheltered noblewoman who had known nothing about the world...

... into a masochist.

I wasn't sure if she had been suppressing it all along or if it developed as she and I interacted, but that was a question for another time.

I just hoped she wasn't an extreme one...

Seeing Darkness standing there in a trance, I decided to leave her be and focus on completing my initial objective.

I entered the room that belonged to the lich to eliminate all traces of the magic circle using the magical item I'd been given.

As I worked...

- I... I won't give in to this pain...! -

"You possess admirable courage! But persisting will eventually break you mentally...! ...Could it be that you're enjoying this?"

I heard Vanir speak, his confusion evident.

Finally, I completed the task of erasing all traces of the magic circle and returned to find the two struggling internally.

"All right, Darkness, mission accomplished! We just need to make our way back to the surface, and we're done! Let's rendezvous with Aqua and make our escape!"

I approached Darkness as I spoke, but she aimed her longsword at me.

"Don't come any closer, kid!"

- Kazuma, don't worry about me! Just leave me here and go! -

I knew she'd say something like that when facing a formidable foe from the Demon King's forces.

"Don't assume things will go as planned..."

- Ahhh! I always wanted to say that line...! -

"You have feelings for this girl and don't want to see her get hurt, right?"

- Huh...? -

"If this girl keeps resisting my power..."

- Ka-Kazuma, this devil who claims to have foresight just said something intriguing... -

"If you don't want that to happen, you should stop this girl..."

- I'm happy that you feel this way about me. I really am, but the difference in our status is too vast, and we're in the same party... -

"Annoying, ahhh! Just shut up...!"

"You two are the annoying ones! Please, one at a time, all right? I don't get what you're trying to say!"

Seeing Vanir lose his composure and shout, I responded defiantly.

"Ugh...! Choosing this body was a big mistake!"

- Hey, don't call my body a mistake, how rude! -

"Silence! I'm leaving, so you shut your mouth!"

It appeared that Vanir couldn't fully overpower Darkness's indomitable will and was about to concede.

Note to self: Darkness can never be mind-controlled, not even by a devil.

Vanir slumped his shoulders wearily and reached for his mask.

Then, a sudden realization hit me.

It would be more troublesome if Vanir were to regain his original strength.

After all, if his main body—the mask—remained intact, he could find a new host in times of peril.

And the eye beams and lethal laser he had mentioned sounded dangerously formidable.

Could he employ those skills if he were inside Darkness's body?

If he were to become serious, Darkness and I wouldn't stand a chance in preventing him from reaching the surface.

But what if we sealed him within Darkness's body?

Not only was this a human body he was unfamiliar with, but Darkness herself would also be a formidable obstacle.

Perhaps we could confine him inside Darkness's body, bring him to the surface, and seek Aqua and the others' assistance in resolving this situation.

That's it, considering this guy's interest in finding Aqua, I should lead him there.

I approached Vanir, who was attempting to remove the mask.

I then affixed the sealing talisman Sena had given me onto the mask.

"What are you doing, kid...? What's going on? I can't touch... Hey... What's this talisman, kid? My fingers get repelled whenever I try to touch it!"

- Yeah, there's something fluttering before my eyes, how annoying... Wait. Hey, Kazuma, isn't that...! -

Both of them struggled to remove the talisman, but it seemed that the one being sealed couldn't make contact with it.

"It's the talisman Sena provided me. Darkness, hold on to it and return to the surface with me. Keep Vanir within your body and bring him to Aqua and the others. We'll then ask Aqua to purify whatever's within you!"

-Hya?-

That scream sounded surprisingly synchronized, as if only one of them had uttered it.

...

Most of the doll-like monsters in the dungeon had been eliminated, so we encountered no resistance.

"Kid! This girl is enduring immense agony as she resists my control! If this continues, she'll suffer severe psychological trauma! It's in your best interest to remove the talisman and release me! Otherwise..."

- It's true, Kazuma! I've been feeling something terrible... So terrible...! Ahhh, this is the most intense feeling I've ever had. As expected of a Demon King's army general! I can't bear it any longer...! -

Probably due to the pain, the back of Darkness's neck glistened with sweat as she followed me, panting.

From the looks of it, Darkness still maintained control over her body.

On our way back, the adventurers who had entered the dungeon with us were taken aback when they saw Darkness wearing a mask, but I couldn't spare them any attention at the moment.

"Just hold on a little longer, Darkness! We're almost there! I'll relieve you of the pain once we reach the surface!"

- Take your time... -

"What did you say?"
"What did you say?"

Vanir and I both questioned her in unison.

To be honest, the thought of bringing a Demon King's army general to the surface left me uneasy.

However, he was currently utilizing her body as a vessel.

Honestly, Darkness was incredibly clumsy.

Even when her target was right in front of her, she could barely hit it once out of every five tries.

I often wondered how someone could be that clumsy.

Nevertheless, there should be enough adventurers on the surface to handle Darkness.

"Darkness, you've done a great job enduring this for so long! The rest is up to Aqua. The other adventurers and I will restrain your body..."

I was about to say this as I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. But before I could finish...

"Fuhahaha... Fuhahaha! Are you speaking to me?"

The voice was clear and not interrupted by Darkness as it had been earlier.

"Takeover complete! Kid, you underestimated me! I held back earlier! If I approach your companion with this appearance, she'll welcome me with her guard down! When I lay eyes on your priestess companion, I'll cleave her right in the head!"

As Vanir bellowed this, he ascended the stairs faster than I could, despite the heavy armor he wore.

Oh no, oh no!

That guy's target was Aqua. She might be wearing a peculiar mask, but nothing would keep Darkness from approaching Aqua!

"Wake up, Darkness! You're stronger than this, do you want to fall to the devil's underlings?!"

"Fuhahaha! It's futile, kid! I don't know what's on this girl's mind, but when the pain surpasses a certain threshold—"

- I-I can't take it anymore... -

"—she'll relinquish her body... Damn it, stop making those weird sounds!"

Oh no, that secretive pervert can't endure it any longer!

Vanir, with full control over the body, moved and declared:

"Very well, it's time for a heartwarming reunion of comrades who have emerged from the dungeon alive! My arch-nemesis! I want to see how you'll react to a comrade whose body has been overtaken by the enemy...!"

With this proclamation, he shouted and leaped outside...!

"Sacred Exorcism—!"

"AHHHHHH!"

- AHHHHHHHHHH! -

Aqua, who stood at the dungeon's entrance, cast her spell without warning, engulfing Darkness in white flames.

Vanir, who had leapt out of the dungeon, was now ablaze. He couldn't withstand it and dropped to one knee.

"Dark... Darkness—!"

And, of course, he did so while maintaining control over Darkness's body.

I sprinted out of the dungeon and rushed to Darkness's side to check on her.

However, on the surface, Darkness displayed no signs of burns.

"Fufu... Fufufu... Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha!"

Unexpectedly, Vanir, who had been struck by Aqua's spell, appeared unfazed.

"Hey Aqua! Don't suddenly attack Darkness with magic like that; it's bad for my heart!"

I scolded Aqua, but she remained unapologetic.

"What are you saying? That spell is harmless to humans! I sensed something evil, so I thought I should cast the spell preemptively..."

- I see... That's fine, I was just startled... Please give me a heads up next time, okay...? -

That attack seemingly caused Vanir to loosen his control, allowing Darkness's will to surface.

"Hey Aqua! A Demon King's army general is attempting to take over Darkness's body! The enemy seems to be a devil—something you're good at dealing with!"

"A... A Demon King's army general?!"

As I relayed this information, Sena, who had been observing from a distance, exclaimed before Aqua could react.

Upon hearing my words, Aqua furrowed her brows and walked towards Darkness with a displeased expression.

She pinched her nose and remarked, "Stinky! It's so stinky in here! Yep, this is the smell of a devil! Honestly, how did Darkness get tainted with this filth?"

- Hmm?! I-I don't think I'm smelly... I just had a bath because Kazuma was fooling around with my body... -

"Hey, don't say that out loud! People will get the wrong idea!"

"Fufufu..."

- Kazuma, do I smell? I don't think I do, right? -

"Fuhahaha, fuhahaha!"

- Even if there's a scent, it's probably from running around the dungeon just now. -

"Enough! This is the part where I deliver a grand speech, so be quiet!"

Even Darkness appeared disheartened when Vanir reprimanded her.

"Fuhahaha! Greetings, cursed priestess who shares the name with that infamous water goddess! I am Vanir, the Archduke of Hell, one of the generals of the Demon King's army!"

While Vanir controlled the body's speech, Darkness retained control over her body.

As Vanir delivered his grand monologue, the body seemed rather disinterested, idly kicking at small pebbles on the ground.

By the way, he mentioned the priestess who shared the same name as the goddess of water.

It seemed this devil had recognized Aqua's true identity.

"Not bad, greeting me with exorcism magic without hesitation! Fuhahaha, that's why the notorious Axis devotees are shunned by all! Don't you know basic courtesy?"

"Annoying—being courteous to a devil, what nonsense are you talking about? Devils are even worse than the undead who defy the will of the gods. They're parasites that can't survive without the negative emotions of humans—! Puhehe!"

The two fell into a brief silence following this exchange.

"Sacred High Exorcism—!"

"Naive!"

Aqua unleashed a spell without warning, but Vanir evaded at the last moment.

"Why are you dodging, Darkness? Be a good girl and stay still!"

- N-No! C-Call me a bad girl, and maybe I'll try to stand still...! -

"Huh?"
"Huh?"

Vanir and Aqua now appeared puzzled by her response.

While Aqua and Vanir engaged in their confrontation, Sena and Megumin joined me.

"Kazuma, Kazuma! What's going on here? Why is Darkness wearing that mask...? How cunning, I want a mask like that too! That mask is fueling my Crimson Demon blood!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? This is not the time for that! Darkness's body has been taken over by a Demon King's army general, and his main body is that mask! Do you have any ideas?"

"Satou-san, how did things come to this? That's indeed one of the Demon King's army generals on the wanted list, the one with foresight and clairvoyance. The devil of foresight, Vanir. What's a big shot like him doing here?"

Sena, her face as pale as ash, spoke in a voice approaching a scream.

"He's here to investigate the people who defeated Beldia, another general of the Demon King's army. He had an even more troubling objective, but let's discuss that later. Right now, I've sealed him using the talisman you gave me. He's the mask on Darkness, and he's currently trapped inside her."

Upon hearing my explanation, Sena looked at me with a bewildered expression.

"Trapped... In her body? You sealed a Demon King's army general inside your comrade's body?! What were you thinking? What's wrong with you?"

"But this situation isn't good. That devil can endure a hit from Aqua's exorcism spell because he's possessing Darkness's body. Crusaders are holy knights who serve the gods, which is why Darkness has strong resistance against light magic. It might be better to remove the talisman and release that devil for now."

After hearing Megumin's suggestion, I watched the devil Vanir, who continued to evade Aqua's spells under his skilled control.

Despite his awkwardly-encased body, he toyed with Aqua, using Darkness's agility to his advantage.

What the heck? I thought we'd have the upper hand by trapping him inside Darkness's body!

I was amazed at how powerful Darkness's physical abilities were.

"Release that guy? He's currently confined in Darkness's body, so he can only attack with a longsword. But that devil mentioned he could use a lethal laser. It'll be hard to handle if we release him from Darkness's body."

Upon closer examination, other adventurers had also joined the battle. They were providing support and trying to slow Vanir down to facilitate Aqua's spell to connect.

"...This... This doesn't look good..."

"Damn! That Darkness is incredibly strong...!"

"I can't hit her! She effortlessly blocked my attacks with her sword. Her strikes are both powerful and incredibly fast. We're only alive because she held back...!"

"Fuhahaha! This body isn't bad! The strength and stamina are great! The resistance against holy magic makes it even more splendid!"

- Awwww... I'm causing problems for the other adventurers, but it's a bit satisfying to have the upper hand against so many opponents...! I feel like a protagonist about to shine...! -

Girl... Now's not the time to be happy!

"Hey Darkness! That's enough, stop struggling! Do you want to be saved or not? Or are you enjoying this because you're showing those adventurers who underestimated you who's boss?"

- N-No, I'm not! -

"Fuhahaha! What's the matter, you weaklings? Come at me! Don't hold back!"

While Darkness tried to explain herself, Vanir taunted the adventurers, causing their expressions to sour.

"Darkness, you little...! Acting all high and mighty because your attacks are landing!"

"I thought you were the most level-headed one in Kazuma's party! I never expected...!"

"Surround her! Close in on that crusader!"

- Th-This isn't me taunting them! -

"Fuhahaha! No matter how many underlings you throw at me, I'll defeat all of you!"

- Ahhh... -

Vanir spoke in Darkness's voice, making it impossible for the adventurers to distinguish between the two.

Consequently, Darkness drew more and more hatred from the crowd.

Strangely, the adventurers were scolding Darkness instead of Vanir, even though she was clearly under the enemy's control.

"She's clearly being manipulated by the enemy, but everyone is scolding her. It's so pitiful! Isn't there anything we can do?"

In reality, Darkness was being reprimanded as she overwhelmed the crowd with her abilities.

- Ahhh... The adventurers who were so kind to me are now looking at me with disdain...! -

"I sense feelings of joy... Why is that? What's happening...?"

Alright, I needed to intervene before she revealed more of her secret fetish.

Megumin tugged at my shirt and said, "We have to save her! Don't you have any ideas, Kazuma? You usually come up with something in critical moments!"

Even if you asked me, the current situation with Darkness was beyond my control.

In our current predicament, we lacked the means to defeat that devil.

Even Aqua's spells had no effect, leaving us feeling helpless.

"You're so annoying! Why are you so difficult to deal with?"

"That's exactly what I want to say! Damn it, it's despicable to gang up on me like this! Don't think you can toy with me just because I don't intend to kill you, adventurers!"

Meanwhile, Aqua and Vanir continued their battle.

When the adventurers realized that Vanir's target was Aqua, they formed a human wall to hold him back.

Aqua continued casting her exorcism spells from behind the human barrier, but neither side was able to gain an advantage.

The stalemate was finally broken by Vanir. He had become accustomed to controlling Darkness's body and easily swung her two-handed long sword, systematically destroying the weapons of the adventurers one by one.

In terms of strength and stamina, Darkness was far superior to the other adventurers, and with Vanir's combat experience and agility, the subpar crusader was more than capable of overpowering an entire party of adventurers.

"Today, that girl seems to be having a rather exceptional day. Her performance has certainly caught everyone's attention in more ways than one..."

"Don't just stand there making comments; think of something... Ahhh!"

Eventually, an adventurer couldn't withstand Vanir's fierce assault and fell to a powerful blow, shattering the defensive line. Megumin gasped in shock.

"Fuhahaha! It's time to settle our score, my rival! How blessed you are to meet your end at the hands of your comrade!"

"Hey, Darkness! I believe in you! You won't lose to that devil, right? It's... It's going to be fine, right? Hey, Darkness, can you hear me?"

Aqua retreated slowly as she shouted, but Darkness remained silent.

The balance between Vanir and the adventurers had tipped, and it was only a matter of time before Aqua, who was hiding behind them, would be vulnerable.

"Sato-san, aren't you going to join the battle? Aren't that priestess and the possessed crusader your party members? Aren't you going to save them?"

Sena asked urgently.

I contemplated my options.

"I would, but these are the same people who badmouthed me during the trial and when you confronted me at the guild. I want to see how this plays out first."

"You! What's gotten into you?"

Sena's face twisted in disgust as the adventurers continued to falter.

"K-Kazuma! This is a major crisis! The most significant crisis I've ever faced!"

Aqua, on the verge of tears, pleaded for help from a distance, and Megumin looked at me with unease as she hugged her staff.

Sena, who had been focused on the adventurers' plight, glanced at me with a pale face.

I wished I could lecture Sena right now.

After all, I wasn't the one who had started this trouble; I was constantly being dragged into it as an innocent victim.

It felt like I had the worst luck in the world.

Sighing, I lamented that people who had said I had good luck must have been lying.

"Kazuma-san! Kazuma-san!"

Aqua's pleas for help continued.

"You guys are really troublesome." I muttered.

While praying that my good luck would come through for me.

With my sword drawn, I charged into the fray, hoping that everything would turn out well.

It seemed that Vanir had fully taken control of Darkness's body.

"Fuhahaha! All right... Prepare yourself, my rival! To think I can defeat you in such a place, even I couldn't have foreseen that! Oh, the weakest man with the strongest weapon among the adventurers present here... I've seen through your true nature. Let this devil of foresight give you my prophecy."

Vanir spoke to me as I stood before Darkness.

"You, who seeks peace and stability, listen well. Don't waste your efforts; just pretend you didn't see anything. You have good luck, but it's canceled out by the bad luck of your companions. For your own safety, you should find other party members. That way, you can have a beautiful harem..."

His temptation was tempting, but I had to clear my name first.

And I could only do that by defeating this guy.

Vanir glanced at the katana intriguingly.

"Ah yes, I was waiting for you to show me that blade. Very well, it's a 2-on-2 battle, Mighty One!"

"2 on 2?"

Vanir's words made it clear that he considered Darkness and Kiritsu as also participants of this battle.

His ability to sense Kiritsu's sentience from a distance was a testament to his devilish powers.

I attempted to slash at Vanir's mask with my katana, being careful not to harm Darkness's face.

However, he easily dodged my attack.

"The boy who values his safety above all else, what caused you to have a change of heart? No matter what you do, it won't help the current situation. Aside from the Vanir doll, I can also throw in a mask that looks just like me. Just take these and be gone."

"I-I don't want such things... Anyway, what's up with you, Darkness? Why did you let your body get taken over so easily? Did you get tamed by that devil who suddenly showed up in no time? Are you really a gullible and easy woman?"

I taunted Darkness.

"Fuhahaha! It's useless, now."

- Jerk, who are you calling gullible and easy? He didn't tame me! It's just that the way this devil's manipulating and hurting my heart is too skilled...! -

"As you can observe, this girl can't hear you, and I must say, what an iron-like will she possesses! I certainly didn't expect this. I've lived in this world for quite a long time, and this is the second person I've encountered that I couldn't control."

Should I say that this outcome was as I expected? The crusader, whose interests lay in endurance, still maintained control over herself.

"Darkness, listen carefully. I'll break the seal on the mask in a moment. It's fine, even if it's just for an instant, but you must wrest back control of your body from Vanir. Then, rip off that mask and throw it away. After that..."

Once the mask was removed from Darkness, it would be Aqua's turn to shine.

It was as though he could see through what I was thinking.

"Hmm, that isn't a bad plan, but there's a problem. How will you, who is weak, break the seal of me, who has fully unleashed the powers of this girl? It would be so much easier to defeat my hated enemy by maintaining the current status quo. If you want to break the seal, wait until I've finished off that woman."

- Yeah, don't underestimate the current me. I don't think I'll lose to anybody right now -

That's what Vanir said, and...

"You... You moron! Are you on his side too?!"

The adventurers, who had lost consciousness after being struck by the blunt side of Vanir's sword, lay scattered around the area.

Aqua, who was busy casting healing spells on the fallen adventurers, stood behind me when she noticed my opposition to Vanir.

"Kazuma, I'll support you from behind! Use my buffing spells and vanquish that devil like a hero!"

After uttering her somewhat irresponsible encouragement...

"Fufufu, I'll assist you from behind as well. Alright, Kazuma, it's time to awaken the power slumbering within your sword. Quit fooling around and free Darkness from that devil!"

Megumin, who also positioned herself behind me, playfully taunted.

What did they mean by the power sleeping inside my sword? What about me?

It appeared that Aqua and Megumin expected me to confront Vanir directly and then break the seal.

Vanir assumed a combat stance in response to their remarks.

"Fuhahaha! You wish to defeat me?!"

- If -

"-you desire to remove this-"

- Talisman! -

"-Then come-"

- Foward! -

"Shut up! Don't steal my cool lines!"

"Didn't both of you detest that talisman? And now you don't want me to take it off? Make up your minds."

Unable to resist the urge to retort, I instructed Aqua to prepare her exorcism spell.

"Brat, you must have a plan in mind. It's all because of that woman emitting bright flames, obscuring your intentions from me. I was hoping for that Crimson Demon's words to come true, but it seems you don't plan to engage me in swordplay... Hmm, you must be contemplating the use of some skills, right?"

- It's Steal! Kazuma must be using his best skill, Steal! -

"You... You idiot! Why did you reveal my trump card?"

I had like about a gazillion trump cards, though, I couldn't help but retort when I heard Darkness gloating.

Vanir smiled deviously.

"Kazuma, the spell's ready!"

"Great, leave the rest to me! Well then, time for me to move. Darkness, just like that time in the dojo, let's make a bet! If I win, I'll add something even more outrageous on top of my 'outrageous demand.' You can do as you wish if you win!"

- Ahhh... To use such tricks at a time like this...! -

"Damn... Damn it... Don't be taken in by the tempting words of that man! Don't reveal your fetish side, refresh your soul and be strong! Increase your resistance to his Steal..."

As planned, Darkness was internally conflicted, and Vanir found it difficult to move, so he stopped.

At this moment, I heard Megumin start chanting an explosion spell behind me.

I was momentarily stunned and turned back to see Megumin staring at the dungeon entrance.

Adventurers were streaming out of the dungeon, and Vanir's dolls were in pursuit.

Upon seeing this, the eyes of the mask gleamed eerily, and the dolls that poured out of the dungeon swarmed toward us.

Megumin appeared to be targeting them.

"All right, I'm coming, Vanir! Darkness, keep resisting Vanir. Don't let him move!"

I said as I reached out toward the mask...!

"Just a Steal from a mere adventurer! If you think it'll work on me, you'll be disappointed! Go ahead, give it a try...!"

"Tinder–!"

After all the buildup, what I shouted wasn't "Steal" but the fire magic spell "Tinder."

I didn't need to tear or steal the talisman.

I just needed to burn it with fire...!

"Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha! Fuhahaha!"

- Ahhh...! How despicable, Kazuma, you scoundrel! -

"To think you could trick me, the devil of foresight. Well done! You are the perfect vessel!"

The talisman on the mask caught fire and the thing bounding Vanir and Darkness together was gone.

"Hey Darkness, show me your mental toughness! Take off that mask and throw it away!"

Regarding Vanir's statement about you being the "perfect body," it's not explicitly clear from the text, but it's likely that Vanir saw qualities or abilities in you that made you an ideal host for his possession.

It could be related to your class, as you mentioned, or some other unique attributes you possess.

This aspect is somewhat open to interpretation, but it does indicate that Vanir saw potential in using your body for his purposes.

As for Darkness's struggle with the mask and the situation that unfolded:

Darkness placed her hand on her mask when she heard me say that and–!

- I can't take it off...! -

Despite her efforts and the strong resistance from Vanir, the mask remained tightly affixed to Darkness's face.

Vanir's dolls were closing in, and the adventurers who had escaped the dungeon formed a human wall to block them. Everyone seemed to understand that they were facing a formidable boss-level enemy and intended to keep the minions at bay for your group.

"Kazuma-san–! What should I do? Can I cast my spell?"

"No... Wait, the mask is still on Darkness! Even if you cast your spell like this, it'll be resisted by her..."

At this critical moment.

- Don't worry, just do it. -

While still trying to remove the mask, Darkness muttered.

However, even if she said that, it wouldn't be effective.

- If Aqua's spell doesn't work... Then don't worry about me and cast Explosion, just blow me away with him. -

Darkness suggested this course of action.

Hey, what are you saying?

"You idiot! No matter how tough you are, you can't survive explosion magic!"

- How would you know if you don't try it! -

"Wait... Don't be rash, let's talk this over."

When Darkness proposed this, Vanir, who had been calm up to that point, started to show signs of panic.

Darkness then conveyed her plan to Aqua and Megumin, who had finished preparing their magic:

- Aqua! Cast the exorcism spell the moment this mask leaves my body!-

"How about calling it a draw today?"

- If this mask keeps clinging to me, then cast your Explosion, Megumin...! -

"To fight to a draw with me, a Demon King's army general and the duke of hell, is something you could brag about to others!"

"I-I understand, Darkness! I'll do it once that annoying thing's out of the way!"

Aqua closely watched the mask, ready to cast her spell at any moment.

"Don't worry, Darkness, even if you die, I can ressurect-"

"Kazuma, Darkness is insane... Even she can't survive that!"

Megumin interrupted Aqua, her eyes brimming with tears, and she cried out to me.

This scene is quite tragic indeed...

But Darkness appears to be strangely enthusiastic about it, her mouth drooling.

I'm not sure if she plans to spread the news about how tough her defense is, surviving an Explosion spell, and proving herself to be the Toughest Female Knight alive, or if it's due to her masochistic tendencies.

Neither option makes much sense, and everything about this girl is the entirety of contradiction.

Suddenly, everyone, including the charging dolls, Sena, and the adventurers, came to a halt.

They stood at a distance from Darkness, too afraid to move.

In this tense moment...

- Hey, Vanir. Our time together was short, but it wasn't so bad. So, at the very least... I'll give you a choice. Do you want to be purified after getting away from me, or do you want to be blown up by Explosion with me? Which one do you prefer? -

Darkness forced Vanir to make an unreasonable choice.

Both options spelled his destruction.

"I'm a devil."

Vanir answered with a heavy heart...

"As an entity that opposes the gods, I don't want to be purified. Fuhahaha... My wish for destruction is coming true in an unexpected way. Goodbye, it was fun possessing your body."

He chose Explosion.

Hearing him say that, the masked Darkness moved far away from us.

- Do it, Megumin! -

Darkness's cruel request made Megumin shake her head in refusal. I approached Sena, who was observing the events with a blank expression, and patted her shoulder.

"If something unfortunate does happen, please bear witness and testify that it was my decision. It's the same as before; I'll take full responsibility."

Upon hearing my words, Sena nodded firmly, her face pale, and she gulped.

The crusader who was the pride of our party was tough and unyielding.

– The toughest in the kingdom...

"Do it, Megumin!"

Shortly after I gave the command.

A deafening explosion rang out just a short distance from the dungeon–

...

The day after our battle with Vanir...

"Adventurer, Satou Kazuma-san!"

I stood before the guild counter, basking in the passionate gaze of the adventurers.

"In honor of your contributions in ensuring the safety of the city, we offer our thanks. Furthermore, we would like to apologize for the false accusation–"

Sena bowed deeply as she spoke. I received the letter of thanks from her hand.

If I were truly a spy of the Demon King's army, I wouldn't have sacrificed so much to destroy one of the Demon King's army generals. Thus, my suspicion was cleared.

Sena, who had witnessed my entire fight with Vanir, absolved me of the crime of treason. I finally received my bounty for taking down the Mobile Fortress Destroyer.

Thanks to that, I could compensate the landlord for his mansion.

Darkness had made a full recovery, and the four of us were summoned to the guild.

"Next, Dustiness Ford Lalatina! Your selfless spirit is admirable. To honor your stellar performance, which lived up to the name of House Dustiness, and to compensate you for your losses, the royal family has sent you a letter of gratitude and a full suit of armor crafted by a highly skilled smith."

After Sena finished, the knight next to her presented a new set of armor to the blushing and trembling Darkness.

Megumin's explosion had taken out the masked devil, Vanir.

Darkness had suffered life-threatening injuries from the explosion and lay unconscious in the crater.

Naturally, her armor was ruined. However, thanks to Aqua, she was almost as good as new shortly afterward.

"Congratulations, Lalatina!"

Someone shouted, and Darkness shivered suddenly.

"Great job, Lalatina!"

"That's our Lalatina!"

The cheers of 'Lalatina' embarrassed her, causing her to cover her face and lay it down on the table.

"Uwuuu... I hate this town now... Now everyone knows my real name... I wish I had died in that explosion..."

Darkness moaned weakly as she lay on the table.

"Hey Darkness, I think Lalatina is a cute name! I'll punish Kazuma who spread this name out as a joke–have more confidence in your name, Lalatina!"

Aqua meant no harm, but her words pierced Darkness like a knife.

Megumin, who intentionally sat beside her, was trying to stifle her laughter as she gently shook Darkness's trembling shoulders.

And so, Darkness became the subject of teasing by adventurers every day. But that wouldn't last long.

"– We'll now present the prize money to Satou-san!"

Sena continued, and the rowdy guild fell silent.

"Adventurer Satou Kazuma and party! Not only did you defeat the Mobile Fortress Destroyer, but you also took down the Demon King's army boss, Vanir. In recognition of your accomplishments–!"

Sena's expression was gentle; her stern and cold face from the trial was nowhere to be seen.

"After calculating your rewards and compensation for the landlord's mansion..."

Sena handed me a piece of paper.

"I present to you 340 million Eris as a reward!"

She then passed a heavy bag to me.

The moment I took the bag, loud cheers erupted inside the guild.

The adventurers showered me with well-wishes and requests for treats.

Before we knew it, the entire guild was in a festive mood.

Leaving the festivities to the goddess of parties, Aqua, and Megumin, I stepped outside the guild to celebrate my victory over the adversary I had conquered.

"I have achieved the Wings Of Freedom! Wahhhhhh! Aahhhhhahaha...!"

I raised both of my fists in the air, pouring out my heart in a celebratory cry, something I hadn't done in a while.

...

The charges had been cleared, and our reward money had been piled up.

That might be the case, but neither Darkness nor I were in the mood for celebration.

At least not yet, in my case. I wasn't sure about Darkness.

I intended to invest my money in a certain cafe shop as a reward for myself.

Then I would resume work on my business project, which had been on hold since winter.

Regardless, both of us had somewhere we needed to go. We had to inform someone about Vanir's defeat.

Vanir had mentioned that he was visiting a friend in this city.

This friend had the unique ability to become more impoverished the harder she worked.

This impoverished shop owner must be Wiz, who was a Demon King's General, just like Vanir. This meant we had killed Wiz's friend.

Vanir had been targeting Aqua, and as adventurers, it was only natural for us to defeat him. Nevertheless, it still didn't sit well with us.

We arrived at a corner of a deserted alley, and the sign for 'Wiz's Magic Item Shop' was displayed before us.

"Kazuma, let me be the one to inform Wiz. It wasn't for long, but we shared a body and wreaked havoc together. I can't condone the way he liked to toy with humans, but I don't think he had a bad nature... I don't know why he despised Aqua so much... Anyway, it might not be appropriate for a Crusader who serves the Goddess Eris to say this, but I didn't truly hate him."

Darkness said as she gazed into the distance.

She mentioned "wreaked havoc together," indicating that she had indeed enjoyed that time. But now, given the circumstances...

We opened the door and entered the shop.

"Welcome!"

After hearing Wiz's calm greeting, I couldn't help but imagine what kind of expression she would make after hearing the news.

I noticed a new employee in the shop, wearing an apron. He was quite tall.

His mouth was wide open, and he looked somewhat like...!

"Hehehe... Welcome! To the girl who just delivered an embarrassing monologue while staring into the distance by the door, I must say, I don't have any gender, so I can't accept your embarrassing confession... Oh, my, that's a strong surge of dark emotions! It's quite delicious. Why are you curled up in a ball? Did you really think you defeated me? Hahaha!"

The masked shop employee stood confidently before us.

I patted the shoulder of Darkness, who was hugging her legs and burying her face in her knees.

Wiz then emerged from behind the counter.

"Oh, welcome, Kazuma-san! I heard your false accusation was cleared after you defeated Vanir-san! Congratulations! All that's left is for your quick-money scheme to resume, right? But no problem, Vanir-san is very proficient in making money...!"

I raised a hand to interrupt Wiz, who was chattering away happily.

"I did clear my name, and please don't call it a quick-money scheme, but what's going on with this guy? How can he be doing so well after taking a blast of explosion magic? Isn't his very existence a cheat? He's not hurt at all!"

Vanir looked surprised.

"What are you saying? Even I didn't make it out unscathed after taking such a grand attack. Take a close look at this mask."

He pointed to the forehead of his mask.

Upon closer inspection, there was a 'II' written on it.

"Because of the explosion spell, I lost a life. I'm now Vanir MK II."

"Are you looking for a fight? Bring it on, Grandpa!"

I was furious, cracking my knuckles.

"Shall I possess the girl again and finally have our climactic swordplay...?"

Darkness had already covered her face streaming with tears so that idea was out of the picture.

Wiz rushed over to stop us.

"Vanir-san had already planned to resign from the post of Demon King's General. Coincidentally, he was 'defeated,' granting him a new lease on life. Vanir-san is no longer maintaining the Demon King's castle barrier; he's now a harmless existence."

Wiz beamed happily; she was delighted to see her old friend.

Is he truly harmless now...?

Would it be safer to summon Aqua and destroy him once more?

As I pondered this, I suddenly realized the immense potential Darkness had unlocked when possessed by Vanir.

If Vanir possessed me, with my cheat item and his thousand years of knowledge about this world... and my... good-looking talents...

So, I asked him:

"Hey, Vanir, you possessed Darkness, and she proved to be exceptionally powerful. Maybe if you possess me, I can finally-"

"Not happening in a thousand lifetimes...!"

Darn it...

I thought we could be the most unstoppable duo ever to exist in this world, being able to defeat the Demon King swiftly since he wasn't part of the army anymore.

But whatever.

"Boy who came from a distant place, the one who's weak and doesn't deserve the weapon by his side, and yet wants to defeat the Demon King. This devil who can see through all things prophesizes that soon, you and this whimpering girl will face your greatest crisis ever. The crisis will be so grave that you will experience unimaginable pain and suffering. You will prosper in the field of business... Are you interested in hearing my proposal?"

Vanir declared dramatically as the corners of his lips curled into a smile.

That seemed ominous.

Oh, and what 'outrageous demand' should I think of for Darkness?