The Sin's Intent
"Dash and Sword. Alright, this should do the work."
Kazuma looked at his card, nodding in satisfaction.
Kazuma Satou/Lvl 12/Adventurer [Not enough stats!]
STR: 17/INT: 99/AGI: 15/STA: 19/ LUK: 40/HOL: S̶̡̞̙̙̠͗̽̕Ḭ̶͓̄N̴͔̑̀́̾N̴͚̯͇̝̈̋̈́͜͠Ë̷͚̰̂̉Ř̶̤̗̳̋ ̸̤͆̓ͅD̵͎̈̀Ö̶͔̫̞̩̼́̒̆͘Ẹ̵̥͇̾͂Ś̶̼̜N̴̨̛͗'̶̙͓̅͜T̸̢̛͉̭̱̭̓̀͆̇ ̸̫̬̰̍D̶̻͈̕Ĕ̸̫̮͉͓̠Ś̴Ẻ̶͈͗͆R̸̗͉͐͜V̸̮̦̤̙̭̊͆Ę̶̠͖̟̮̇̽̍ ̷͈͉͛͂H̸̼̬̤̥̊Ȍ̵̺͖̿̚͝Ḷ̴̤̣̣̈́̀̓͠Ȳ̸̤͙̜̮̀ ̴̡̳̝̆͋͋S̸͉͇̤̏̅Ą̷͖̞̼̘̉L̷̡͖͇̀V̵̥̞͇̉͊̈́̋̚ͅͅĄ̶̫̮̮͐́͠T̸̑͑̿͌̓͜Ĭ̶̧̛̘̟̂́̄Ò̶̘̭̖͑̚̕N̴̡̲͙̩̔̐̓!̸̨̧̨̣̽̀͘!̴̲̬̺̞͇̆̃̔̌́!̸̧͔̖͒̉!̴̮̉͌͑́/
SP: 6
Skills:
• Dash
• Sword
Trying to ignore these indecipherable words, which he could read, Kazuma began to think.
Prior, he felt conflicted when choosing between Rush and Dash. Rush costs 4 SP while Dash costs 2 SP. From the cost alone, it was obvious. But while Dash is an active skill, Rush is more like a buff. It could increase his speed by several times for a couple of seconds. While Dash merely increases his speed by a moment, albeit exponentially.
Of course, Rush costs way more mana in its usage.
And after ten seconds of consideration, he finally chooses Dash. Its exponential increase in speed is the main reason. It costs cheaper anyway. Despite its "a moment" duration.
At first, he wanted to learn both. With his SP, he could afford them. But thinking about it, it seems like two movement skills aren't really necessary, at the current moment. Plus, with the lack of shackles to learn skills people called Class, Jobs, whatever it was, it feels wasteful to learn two movement skills when he could learn any type of skills.
Maybe he could ask his guildmates in the future to increase the variants of skills within his arsenal. With 4 SP, there are many skills out there he could learn! According to his experience, which was the Sword and Dash skills merely cost him 3 and 2 SP respectively.
'Thank you for the skills, Adventurer-san.'
A face filled with scars smiling flashed in his mind.
Kazuma put his card back into his small bag.
He went to grasp his sword, and it feels odd, yet exhilaratingly normal. He tried doing a couple of swings and seeing their smooth trajectory makes him feel like he's a natural.
'The Sword skill increases my mastery in the said weapon to this extent?'
As a person who had never wielded a sword in his whole life, it excites him to know that with just a click, he could naturally use a sword. He tried to do some basic motions, like stabs, swings, cuts, and pierces...
When it was done, Kazuma blinked. His arm turned out to be not as exhausted as he thought it would be.
Perhaps because of his increased stats, unlike when he killed his first kill, which is the Giant Frog, it doesn't feel as exhausting as before.
His breaths don't even get heavier!
"This is great."
With a gold-trimmed green mantle over a light-grey vest and a grey shirt, plus a leather chest armour for extra protection, Kazuma went out of the store. Below them are a pair of black trousers, covering two shin guards, stuffed into his mid-calf-length boots. A belt over his navel, to secure the sheath of his brand new sword and a small bag on his right hip. He wore black gloves with metal guards, to avoid skin irritation when using a sword.
He took in a heavy breath and let it out.
He is ready.
"Kazuma, you sure you're fine with buying me this mid-level manatite? It costs over 50,000 Eris, you know?"
Megumin asked in concern, walking out with him as she looks at her staff that has a blue jewel-like stone embedded in its head. It excites her to see that her staff finally has been upgraded, but this is the first time someone bought something for her with the sole purpose of being her party member. So she couldn't help but be bothered.
Kazuma merely glanced at her.
"I don't know. Its worth depends on you, I'll be honest here."
Megumin went silent.
Truthfully, he was kinda curious about these so-called "manatites". The store owner offered it to him and said that it was some sort of natural ores mined from the discovered mines in certain regions when he went to ask about it. And when Megumin, a mage, obvious from her attire, has her eyes lit up, he knew it was some good stuff.
Megumin said it was an ore, specifically for harbouring mana. It was great to incorporate it with certain magical tools, especially the ones that required a high amount of mana to empower them. She needs it because according to her, Explosion Magic required a humongous amount of mana, and with manatite, it could decrease the burdens placed upon her when she went to cast it.
Kazuma was confused and asked why didn't she just use other spells. But he only received silence. In the end, he just shrugged it off.
"Wait, you did not buy me anything?!"
"You already have that white staff."
"But I'm the only one who didn't get anything out of that store!"
"Pay your debt first. Then I'll buy you something."
"This is not fair!"
Ignoring Aqua's chattering yet again, Kazuma took out the scroll of the quest and open it, reading its content.
Dear Adventurers!
By the breeding season, Giant Frogs have been visiting our farm industriously! I plead for help, oh esteemed Adventurers! Charlie, our lord, shall pay you 500,000 Eris! As long as esteemed Adventurers sweep these disgusting Giant Frogs with their heroic persona!
Location: Sir Charlie's Flower Farm. South Forest, Near the Troll's Nest.
Time Limit: None!
Requirements: As long as competent enough to sweep up the Giant Frogs.
Looking at the content, Kazuma couldn't help but notice that the requester was a really good persuader. They even stroke the quest receiver's ego, which potentially increased the interest they had in this particular quest tremendously. After all, which person doesn't like their ego being stroked?
Thankfully, he did not get blinded by its praising words, easy requirements and rewards. Because there's Megumin, who reminded him that most quests like these usually got taken out by others earlier, which makes its appearance strange, because they wake up quite late, compared to others.
There must be a reason why it was still on the Quest Board. It's either no one is actually interested, which is very unlikely, considering its requirements and rewards. Or it could be the fact that it was fake, but Daisy said it was verified, coming from a noble named Charlie, the patron of the quest, so it's not possible to be fake.
Aqua, with her "extraordinary" intelligence, overlooked them all and keep pestering him to accept the quest, it seems like she was anxious about the debt.
Megumin was sceptical at first, but then she changed her mind and mentioned that by Explosion Magic, no matter how many Giant Frogs that'll appear, it could take them all in one shot. Also, she said that when the breeding session arrived, usually there would be less than a hundred giant frogs, so she said not to be worried.
In the end, with many reasonable testimonies from Megumin, Kazuma was convinced. So he took the quest.
"The Troll's Nest is located in the forest of the South. We have to pass the backdoor."
"The backdoor?"
"Yeah, the backdoor. Axel has four gates. North, West, East and South. Most people and visitors usually used the North Gate. As for the other three, they were utilised by the town folks to do their jobs."
Looking at the South, Megumin explained earnestly. She pointed at a bridge ahead of them. It hovers over a river, with a wood arrow-shaped signboard signifying "South" on its surface on the bridge's thick, stone railings.
"See those bridges? They are routes for people to go to the centre of Axel. Which where we are currently, where most big-scale transactions took place and fundamental components of the city stationed."
"Huh, so we're in the centre now?"
Aqua, unexpectedly, exclaimed, looking around her surrounding in curiosity.
"Correct."
Megumin nodded in affirmation, glancing at Kazuma who showed a contemplating expression.
"So, what are we waiting for?"
"I... somewhat have this... bad, feeling."
If there's one thing he often noticed in light novels, then it is the fact that everything that includes nobles would lead to some big-scaled fiascos. And considering how this fantasy-themed world feels too real to be called a fantasy, taking Aqua's Incident as an example, his intuition tells him that nobles are bad news.
Possessing power, authority and wealth...
It's hard to trust a person who could do anything inconsequentially. Especially towards drifters like him.
Particularly his companions, whose appearances are flawless. Even now, Kazuma, with his brain signals, could feel several gazes shooting toward his colleagues. The Sin of Greed flared up, but it wasn't to the point of stimulating intruding thoughts, so he could easily suppress it.
Kazuma sighed.
'It's not like I have any options anyway...'
It was because they woke up late that the options they had were few. And considering the risks and the requirements, it got even fewer. This quest is the only thing that's perfect for them.
The debt Aqua "bestowed" upon him is weighing on his mind excessively. Mentally stressing him.
That damn Goddess...
"I can't wait any longer! Kazuma, if you don't want to do it, then I'll do it on my own!"
"You can barely stand your ground by their presence alone. How are you gonna take on those damned frogs on your own?"
"Uhh... I... Kazuma help!"
"...Screw it. Megumin, lead the way!"
"Follow this Archwizard, oh my companions!"
Megumin energetically hopped off to the bridge, using her staff as support. Aqua followed from behind, showing her excitement in her vigorous steps. And Kazuma just looked at their backs, shaking his head helplessly.
'Don't they know they look so attractive?'
It was a straightforward thought, but that's the utmost truth based on what he saw with his eyes. Aqua and Megumin are physically flawless, and it's not an exaggeration to say that they are capable of making males' hearts flutter by their presence alone.
He is not an exception.
It's just that...
There are way, way more things he gotta be worried about. More important things he gotta put his priority on. Things he had to pay his utmost attention to, at the current moment.
He has no time for appreciating.
Besides, the Sin of Greed keeps forcing him to "possess" them, which makes him quite tired of it. It didn't transmit its covetousness by thoughts, it's by fueling his greed. It's indirect, like an insignificance fly that was capable of making him annoyed to an unprecedented degree. What the hell is this sin supposed to be? Lust?
Kazuma despaired. Having many things to be worried about isn't fun.
Why did he end up having a loli chuunibyou and a literal brainless Goddess who possessed severe attraction anyway? What are the chances?! Is this because of the high LUK stat?! Is this even make sense-
"Oi Kazuma! Stop blanking out and follow us!"
"Ah, yeah!"
Getting called out by Megumin, Kazuma snapped out of his thoughts and ran after them.
"Ah, thank you for receiving our quest esteemed Adventurers!"
A middle-aged farmer with a hoe on his shoulder greeted them, his previously hopeless eyes were now filled with hope when they appeared from the distance.
"Hmph! You are excused, Mortal."
Aqua pompously shouted, feeling unnecessarily complacent.
The farmer just looked at Aqua with confusion and uncertainty. Kazuma groaned, sighing in shame as her companion. Witnessing her behaviour alone is enough to embarrass him.
"Please don't take any offence, Sir. This... woman has certain issues."
"Ah, no wonder she said something odd."
The farmer just nodded in understanding, taking a glance at Aqua in pity. Even with her flawless appearance, the farmer would rather not be near such a person. The person in question is fuming, but Kazuma wouldn't let her vent it the way she wanted.
"So Sir, could you please tell us more about this quest?"
Kazuma looked around as he asked, noticing the way Megumin, who was standing before a flower field, attentively observe her surroundings with a thoughtful look. He inwardly nodded in appreciation, thankfully, this one is quite dependable.
...Unlike this one, who was doing some useless activity, like nurturing a single flower amongst thousands and thousands of its species.
He turned his attention to the farmer, who bowed his head.
The farmer puts up a contemplating expression before looking up to Kazuma and eloquently answered. As expected of a noble's farm's caretaker, Kazuma couldn't help but think.
"Well, Esteemed Adventurer, usually, when the breeding season has arrived, Giant Frogs wouldn't bother to come here, considering its subject of nurture, which was merely flowers. But for some particular reasons, this season turned out to be different. Giant Frogs kept coming to us as if there was something that attracted them. We try to fend them off a couple of times with iron fences, but despite their immense hatred towards metals, they numerously forced themselves to trespass on the farm. It was almost as if they were... suicidal.
It kept happening for this past week, and considering the prices for metal fences, we decided that it was enough. We need help from the Adventurer's Guild to help."
After intently listening to the farmer's explanation, Kazuma immediately asked based on the basis.
"What do you think is the thing that attracted these Giant Frogs to keep coming?"
"Previous Adventurers who came stated that it was an object that exuded intense "nutritious" odour. I don't particularly know what the odour smells like but the Adventurer just said that it was similar to the smell of heavy, freshly cut meat. When they went to search for it, for some reason, they came back and ran away with terrified looks on their faces. I remember one of them screamed out something like a devil or some sort."
"A... devil?"
The word put quite a scare in his heart. A devil. Something that straight out related to something dark. Menace. Evil. Not once did Kazuma hear something good about them, except when the plots are related to others' perspectives consideration. Still, a devil is a devil. And a devil is evil.
They are the embodiment of the Sin itself!
'Wait, does that make me a devil then?'
Before his thought could go further, the farmer speaks up once again.
"Yes, a devil. Another group of Adventurers, who managed to last longer than the previous one, described it as something of a hell's spawn. Skinless form, taking a shape of a flower and its immense toxicity in its breaths."
"Where do you think it is located?"
Megumin, who merely listens to the farmer's explanation the whole time, asked. Kazuma unintentionally notice the glint in the farmer's eyes when he laid his eyes on Megumin. The same look he got when Aqua appeared for the first time in his sight.
Kazuma just sighed in exasperation.
'Someday, they're gonna be the death of me. Oh wait, I probably just jinx it.'
He decided to not give any more f*ck.
If he'll be damned then he'll be damned.
"Near the Troll's Nest!"
In response to her question, the farmer seemed to be more vigorous to answer her. Megumin merely snorted when she noticed his hidden intention, not that it was hidden in her eyes, by any means. She could survive this long as an Adventurer while being a Crimson Demon, a race famous for its Archwizards and its beautiful females, not for nothing.
"Alright, so Kazuma, what are we waiting for? I think it's pretty clear where the issue lays."
Kazuma had a bad feeling, a really bad one.
Dear Harpocrates[1] why did he decide to do this?
"Fine, let's... let's go."
"Relax, Kazuma. With my amazing Explosion Magic, I can guarantee you that as long as no one is durable enough to withstand a megaton worth of explosion, this mission would be a breeze!"
Megumin smugly explained, with a bit tad of excitement. Kazuma snapped his head to her and gaped.
"T-Truly?"
"Truly!"
Well, that actually assured him very effectively. He puts a hand on her shoulder and smiles, which unnoticed by him, makes her blush.
"Alright Megumin, I'll depend on you."
"Hmph, that's what you always did since we met."
She swung her staff to fend off the blush, before continuing her words.
"Anyway, I need to remind you of this. For this plan of mine to work, someone has to be the centre of attention for the monsters to be gathered in one place, so my Explosion could instantly kill them all."
"Well... I think we know who would be the one who fits that role."
Harmoniously, they evilly grinned, with a certain glint in their eyes. Simultaneously, they turned to Aqua, who was crouching, immersed in observing a bee absorbing a flower's nectar.
"You thinking what I'm thinking, Megumin?"
"I love the plan, Kazuma!"
-0-0-0-
"Shit!"
"Kyaa!"
With Megumin in hand, Kazuma ran away from Aqua, who was chasing them with Giant Frogs in her tow. He did not expect the plan to backfire like this!
"Kazumaaa! Help me-! Hyaaa!!"
"I told you to run and distract them until all of them were in one area! Not getting their attention and chasing us!"
"I-I was scared! And I still am- AAAH! Help me!"
He should've learned that the last thing he would do is to entrust responsibility to Aqua. Is she really that incompetent? A question asked by his mind when he doubted her competency for her role in his plan earlier.
Well, he got the answer now.
"Megumin, what should we do now?!"
"Uh, wait, um, I, you, uh-"
In her honesty, Megumin has to admit that she's not the best when it comes to unplanned circumstances. In this situation where a critical, throughout-thought plan is required in a dangerous situation, her mind has not been accustomed and experienced to such a circumstance yet.
Worse, she was currently panicking. Because of the number of Giant Frogs that Aqua attracted is, basically, insurmountable. In her whole life, this is the first time she found something so terrifying.
They were like a tsunami! A tsunami of Giant Frogs!
"Damn it, that Quest's information is fucking rigged!"
At last, she could only scream out her frustration, gripping her now-party member's mantle in frustration. Hopelessness was looming over the window, but she knew that she has one shot to get this all over with her beloved Explosion.
The same reason her now-party member hasn't given up on running yet.
"Think of a plan instead of complaining, Megumin! Didn't you boast earlier that you are the smartest among the already smart Crimson Demons?!"
Occasionally looking back to check on Aqua's condition, whom he despised yet can't abandon, he suddenly screamed out, putting more strength into his grip on Megumin's legs to get her attention.
She usually would scoff at someone who dared to scold her like that, but the flash of an image of a black, void-like iris flashed by a red dot in its midst looking down on her subsided this feeling. Instead, she nodded in affirmative and looks around, trying to find possibilities and ways out.
Her eyes shined crimson.
"A cave! Though it was a Troll's cave, it was better than being chased by a tsunami of Giant Frogs! Kazuma, go there!"
Megumin pointed her index finger to a swarm of bushes, but with quick understanding, Kazuma understood that it was a well-camouflaged cave. Unknowingly, for this reason, the person on his back giddily smiled.
'A fellow of mine!'
Megumin excitedly shakes her index finger to urge him to go, to which he complied.
In her journey as an Adventurer, it's rare for a person to get what she was saying or indicating. Once, she told a group she was assigned with to complete a quest about the wrong information of the quest, yet, they merely looked at her with ridicule and unrelated lust before rushing to the place. In short, all of them died.
It was frustrating. Very. So when someone unquestionably follows her indication in an instant plus understanding the context, she couldn't help but be happy about it.
"Kazumaaaaa!"
Aqua screeched out in unadulterated fear and terror, swinging her arms as if they could increase her speed by changing the trajectory of the wind to her favour.
It seems like she had a severe trauma towards Giant Frogs. It was different from when she first discovered their existence when she could be lax. Now, she can't even look at them. Though on the bright side, it extremely motivated her to run faster than she could ever be. So Kazuma could use a dash to her and pull her with him to the cave.
Before a lash of the tongue could coil around Kazuma and his two companions whom he carried, their sheer sizes blocked them off from the entrance of the cave, preventing them to get in, effectively stopping their pursuit.
His body hits the floor, and withstanding the weight of his two other companions, who landed on him, it's quite difficult to make an immediate recovery. Thankfully, they don't weigh much.
Kazuma lay on the rocky, dusty floor with sweats running through his skin, with Aqua crying and groaning beside him and Megumin clutched onto his mantle, showing her relief with the heavy breaths.
He puts a hand on his chest, letting out a hefty whiff.
"Oof, we're saved. Oh yeah, Aqua, you alright?"
His increased stats really changed many things. Usually, he would expect himself to experience something similar to death after undergoing such a fiasco. Yet, when he puts a hand on the ground as support to rise, he felt nothing but soreness, which, according to his experience, would be gone within minutes.
No matter how many times he tried to normalize such a mystical thing, he cannot. So, he could only stare in amazement at his physics, which now looked way more refined than when he arrived in this world.
'It's amazing...'
"Alright?! You're asking me if I'm alright after that!? Use your head you bigot, moronic mortal!"
"Hey, he just asked for your well-being, you know?"
Megumin came to his defence, which was mainly initiated by her now likeness towards his attitude to understand her intentions.
"It was all your fault anyway, why didn't you just follow the agreed plan?"
"How could you be so mean?! The plan was too scary!"
"We already explained to you the plan in detail Aqua! It was you who were so damn incompetent!"
"At least I have a big chest!"
"Grr! That has nothing to do with this you-!!!'
Megumin wanted to continue but a shadow loomed over her face, which piqued her curiosity. Aqua is no different. So they both looked at the silhouette before them and notice that it started to walk away.
"Kazuma?"
"K-Kazuma?! W-Where are you going?"
"Checking out the cave."
The silhouette looks back and a sole, flat green eye looked back at them.
"I'll be better off investigating this cave. Which, according to its name, definitely would be filled with monsters."
Aqua showed a horrified look and squeaked while Megumin widened her eyes at her own stupidness in not being aware of her surroundings in such a dangerous place. It seems like she's been distracted this whole time.
"Ehem, I apologize for my unsightly behaviour-"
The first to show a physical reaction is Megumin, who regained her usual façade and rise from the ground with her staff. Though before she finished, her now-basically-leader cut her off.
"Alright."
Kazuma merely glanced at them before bringing out his new sword and cautiously walking into the throat of the cave. His sole green eye instinctively looked around to prevent an unprepared reaction. His Crimson Demon companion hastily followed and placed herself behind him.
"W-Wait! Don't leave me behind!"
Aqua, who finally regained her sense from her terror screeched out and chased after them, tumbling along the road.
Three silhouettes entered the throat of the Troll's Cave. The forsaken cave of the Beginner's Town.
"I read some rumours lingering around about this cave. It was said that a group of Beginners were venturing into the cave, like other Beginners usually do to gain merits and levels through slaughtering trolls. Then, a horrible, horrendous screech was heard from the bottom of the cave and a fleshy, pink, gooey creature burst out from the ground, rocking the cave until it was all nothing but debris. The cave was nothing more than a shell of its former self. Then the authorities start their investigation but it seems like they underestimated the creature. A dozen of Intermediates are not enough. And an Advanced Adventurer is too precious for mere investigation of a cave at the Beginner's Town. In the end, it was closed. Forbidden, deserted. Forsaken."
A spark of fire as the sole source of light, it illuminated a fraction of her impeccable face. Along the walk, Megumin explained the cave that they accidentally entered. And with her chuunibyou tendency, it seems like it sounds more dramatic than it was supposed to be.
Kazuma swung the newly made torch to check his surroundings, showing a cautious yet bored look that was now directed to Megumin, who noticed it and began to rub her head sheepishly. Aqua, on the other hand, showed a look of terror. This journey is definitely not an enjoyable one for her.
"Yeah, a fleshy, pink, gooey creature. Very scary."
"That's what I thought. Such a pathetic being wouldn't stand a chance against my explosion!"
"I'm talking about the appearance, not the threat level."
"Stop making me sound stupid!"
"It seems like you've misunderstood me."
He kept his gaze straight to the road ahead the whole time, not noticing the sulking Crimson Demon and the tense Goddess behind him. Coincidentally, he noticed a green, long nose illuminated by his torch. And with no hesitation, he used Dash and severed the creature's head.
Upon closer inspection, as he swung the dirty blood away from his blade he noticed that it was a troll.
"First creature spotted."
"Kya!"
Aqua could only scream that out and clutched onto his mantle, not feeling well, by any means. Her fellow companion merely stood at his side and blinked, glancing at the culprit who brandished his sword to fend off the blood.
"Woah, I didn't notice it."
"Of course, you were behind me, having less line of sight to the front view than me. Isn't it obvious?"
"Gurgh..."
Not noticing the buried irritation that Megumin held for him, Kazuma continued on his journey. From that quick exchange, he discovered something.
'I... changed.'
No, even before that, he realized.
There's indifference. A trait he knew he did not possess.
When he felt the vibration of his sword as it decapitated the troll, he could feel the supposedly-sickening feeling of cutting flesh. When he saw the blood splattered around the ground and his sword, he merely brandished his sword to cleanse the filth. That's it, no disgust, repulsion or fear.
When he saw the road ahead filled with unbeknownst creatures lie behind the impregnable darkness, he felt no anxiety, paranoia or terror. Instead, he felt nothing. Like the impregnable darkness itself. Nothing. Filled with absolutely nothing in sight.
'You think a Sinner of Greed would fear mere weaklings to get what they wanted?'
A thought materialised itself in his head. But this time, it was his own voice, not a menacing, heavy one. He wanted to contemplate but a familiar screech unfortunately cut off his train of thoughts-
"KAZUMA! WHY ARE YOU NOT RESPONDING?!"
"HYAAAAA!"
A pair of widened, panicking crimson eyes stared up at him, the owner tried to shake him with her little hands, to no avail. Fortunately, Kazuma was quickly awakened and immediately understood her meaning. With utmost haste and precision, he looked at his surroundings for observation and widened his eyes, instantaneously bringing her with him with a Dash.
Boom!
There, a humongous, horrendous, hideous green, gigantic troll appeared in his view. Its terribly long tongue terrifyingly lounged out of its dwelling, as a dog would do. The wall it lounged into formed a shape of an oval, mimicking its hideous figure rather immaculately.
And worse, half of its face was that of a man.
Kazuma was thinking of asking Megumin to elaborate on the current situation but with the circumstance, it seems like it was wishful thinking. Because with no words, the hideous troll once again lounged itself towards him, to which he dodged with a Dash with Megumin in hand.
So all he could do was fight back. Though he saw something in the corner of his eyes.
It was Aqua, who sobs to herself in the corner of this large, destroyed space within a cave, which was unusually large. She looks beaten up, for some reason.
That's all. She was beaten up. Horribly. Chains shackled each of her limbs. Her sobs, which he always ignored, sound so different this time. They sound so... odd. So awful.
Megumin, who he just noticed was half-naked, trembled and stammered.
"I-I cast an Explosion when I saw him on sight. B-But he's too f-fast."
Multiple, mixed-up realizations hit him up. And worse, he has no time to recollect and filtered them by an incoming assault. So he could only use another Dash to dodge an assault while looking down upon the ground with his sole, widened eye that was filled with pure terror.
'How could this happen... in a span of a thought...?'
Familiar feelings when he faced Leonhart start to resurface.
But this time, he harbours something that was even more intense than them when he was shown such a sight.
Perhaps the word "intense" is too low-levelled in meaning to describe it.
It is, by it.
This sight-
"Boy, your companions would be good dancers. I want them. How about it?"
-and that voice-
'You dared-?!'
-is all it needs to truly influence the greed of its harbourer.
A piece of cloth was ripped, unleashing the embodiment of the Sin of Greed for the world to witness.
For the first time since millenniums upon millenniums of being shackled, the Sin of Greed has finally found an inheritor. A figure, an embodiment of itself.
A being who could break the limits of what they inaugurated upon it and truly unleash its potential.
A Quintessence of Greed, is what it has found.
'-TO COVET WHAT I POSSESSED?!'
They made a mistake not putting a human mortal with the ability to break his limits and harbouring the Shackled Sin of Greed in their eyes.
It's no longer the Shackled Sin of Greed no more.
It's the Sin of Greed-
A figure shoots out, one-sidedly clashing the hideous troll. From afar, it was shown a trace of a black trail. And when the figure's motion slowed down temporarily for another charge, what stand out the most it's his pair of eyes. A sole green eye filled with the utmost solemnity and a widened red eye, amid void-like sclera, filled with absolute madness.
"Kazuma...?"
Megumin, who Kazuma placed safely below a stone to shadow her figure to be unnoticed looked above in awe. And without her consciousness, her crimson eyes flashed, the brightest they were ever been.
"WHAT ARE YO-?!"
The troll tried to initiate a conversation, but sadly, the troll's opponent has no time to converse with him. Instead, his red eye changed when hearing the repulsive voice once again. A surge of emotion shoots out, and the red eye generated branches, scattering around the sclera. Acting like veins.
Kazuma shoots out once again, hitting the troll with his sword bluntly. The way he fought is based solely on his emotions.
-And of course, as a Sin, it must have a Sinner. The Sinner of Greed.
Now, it has one.
an: Whoo, an update. Yes, that troll existed in the game. Its name is Charlie.
[1] The ancient Greek God of Silence. Hahah-
edit: ah it happened again. Ehem, millennials were supposed to be millenniums. Fu-