Nobles
"W-Wait... I-Is that...?"
The girl behind him makes an absurd movement, rushing to the troll-
...the man's corpse?
"...A man?"
"N-Not just any man, this man is Charlie, the patron of our quest. He was a Noble, ranked as a Lord who acted as an advisor of another Noble named Daniel, who is a Marquess who seems to have a particular... "liking" towards dancers, as he would always participate in many events and exhibition festivals where dancers were included."
"...And?"
Kazuma noticed how Megumin seems tense when she looks at the corpse. So in a way, there must be some sort of personal things going on. Ain't no way she would look at a stranger with such an emotions-filled look.
"...And he, was the man who kept edging me to be his d-"dancer" or in other words-"
"Alright, I'll get it. You can stop now."
His party member followed his words, gazing at the overweight corpse identified as Charlie in multiple ways. Hate, fear, determination, relief...
'So she did get in trouble once in a while by her looks, huh?'
Kazuma refused to believe that such a flawless being as her who has no definite standing in this stupid world would have a happy road as an Adventurer. Well, he ain't wrong.
A sudden thought entered his mind, which insanely provoked the sin within him, who has now awakened.
It is a rather disgusting, immoral thought, to be based on a 13-year-old, nonetheless.
"Megumin, this might be not the most respectful question, but hell with it. Do you... still have your virginity intact-?"
"OF COURSE I HAVE! Do you think mere lowly men have the qualification to take my virginity?! A prestigious, genius Crimson Demon of the Crimson Demon Magic Clan?!"
An excessively blushing face snapped to him, showing an angry look. Kazuma merely held his hands up and shrugged. Though it was a different story inside him.
'Thou cannot let anyone harm her in any way!'
This damned sin got even worse. It adapts some sort of formal way of talking he often saw in Royalty-themed novels. Way different from before, when it merely contains insanity and rage in its voice, now, it contains only indifference.
Normally, it would be a good thing, so, what got worse?
'Thou shalt secretly mutilated this lowly man and exhibited them to defame "its" whole lineage for it to be daring to take away what are yours.'
...What it said was bad enough, but now, it has to have human-like intelligence and use it solely for badmouthing the people who disturb him and his "possessions" in the most disturbing way possible. Combined with the way it talked and the undiscovered way to prevent its voice to ring around in his head...
"...Anyway, since that was the case, I guess you don't have to be worried. He's dead."
Die by his hands. A fully deserved death for such a spiteful man.
Kazuma could feel a creeping sensation made by the realization of his joy towards this man's death. And what makes it more unnerving is the relief and the satisfaction that he felt when he realizes that this man was dead by his hands.
Though if he ought to choose, he definitely would say that he is satisfied. Joyful, that this shitty man has died. By his own hands, nonetheless.
The feeling was multiplied when this companion of his showed him a fearful look when she gazed at this man. And a relieved look, at the lack of its life.
There are times in life when someone deserves to die. For what they have done. Whether it was intentional or not.
Kazuma could only say that it was unfortunate for those who have done things that make them deserve to die unintentionally. Their guilt and their regrets have no worth.
But that's just what life is.
"I sure hope that was actually the case, you know, but you... might want to take a look at your card."
The Sinner blinked and looked at Megumin, who looked at her card palely. Her crimson eyes filled with no vigour. He unintentionally saw her card and was surprised at what it held.
Megumin/Lvl 18/Arch-Wizard [Not enough stats!]
STR: 23/INT: 123/AGI: 23/STA: 23/LUK: 23/ HOL: 3/
SP: 0
• Explosion [Beginner]
• Detonation-series: Detonation
Her stats are surprisingly... normal. Well, it wasn't supposed to be told that way but in his eyes, whose INT is around the same as the ridiculous INT Megumin possessed, it indeed deserved to be called normal in his eyes. But that wasn't the main attractor here.
Kazuma moved his gaze to the top left and narrowed his eyes.
[Kill List]
• 32 Giant Frogs
...
• Charlie [Lord-ranked Noble of Belverg Kingdom] [High-ranked Troll]
Hearing her previous claims, he seemed to speculate something. And with Megumin's intelligence, she could catch what he was thinking.
Her expression turned solemn as she explained, "Yes, I know that the guild would understand the circumstances and perhaps they might even reward us for exposing an undercover Demon King's affiliate. But you have to understand that it isn't as simple as that."
Aqua, who was on standby near, could only hear one thing from Megumin's explanation, and that is the reward. Other details have been omitted by her simple, smooth brain.
"Rewards?! Really?! Hahahah! Great! This Goddess's struggle hasn't been in vain-"
Kazuma who has been with Aqua for a while quite understand her personality. Albeit she was annoying to the limit, she's essentially a good, naive person. So to distract her from this conversation and refrain her from disrupting it, he threw her his adventurer card.
"Here, play with it."
"W-Wahh! What are these cool-looking texts?"
The simpleton crouched on the ground and intently observed the card. Megumin could only show a blank look that slowly shifted from the simpleton to her saviour, who signalled her to continue with his eyes.
Curling up in his mantle, Megumin continued, "Although we were essentially killed an Demon King's affiliate who was a High-ranked Troll, it was still counted as an offence towards a Lord-ranked Noble, an official of the Kingdom of Belverg. To be honest, these aspects won't be problematic, but what is problematic would be the nobles this trash was affiliated and allied himself with."
Kazuma's eyes lighted up in understanding. Megumin feels her heart churning to meet an intelligent companion who easily understands what she was saying. In these days where education was provided solely for nobles, it was inevitable that many people would be inferior in terms of intelligence.
And it's not like Megumin can, or would partied up with Nobles. Their involvement in politics is too troublesome for her, who just wanted to increase her expertise in Explosion Magic.
Their dumb, inferior schemes that only work on naive villagers and soldiers make her want to barf. It was so bad she doubts her little sister, a 6 years old, would fall for it.
Of course, it was only with the Nobles below Viscount. Above them are where the true schemes would commence. By that speculation, Megumin has some suspicions that Kazuma was actually some High-ranked Noble's descendant in training.
While Low-ranked Nobles are simpletons, it wasn't the case for High-ranked ones. For the sake of developing their descendants into powerful, capable heirs and heiresses, these descendants would undergo countless trials so they would be hardened up and be qualified heirs.
The positions above Viscounts aren't simply attained by merits that they've done for the Kingdom. Except if their merits truly outshone many, including those in the past, it would take decades upon decades of dedication towards Belverg Kingdom to receive such honour.
Even a Marquess needs a century and a half of dedication from one's family or inheritance to receive the title, with no criminal records in their history. That, if no one has done merits that outshone those in the past. Marquess positions are limited, after all.
As for Dukes? Those ranks were reserved for the Royal Lineage.
That's why those above Viscounts tempered their heirs, so their hard-worked attainment wouldn't go to waste. While those below Viscounts couldn't care, less since their ranks merely need some merits that outshone their peers, be it a little or wide margin.
In this circle, those who were competent usually received their ranks genuinely by their abilities and capacities, while those who were incompetent received theirs through luck or unbridled means.
Though when he showed curiosity towards Nobles as she mentioned them, the suspicion disappeared. The descendants were required to hide their status upon undergoing trials, true, but they wouldn't lack knowledge on this matter.
Realizing this, Megumin felt even more relieved. She felt tremendously lucky to have such a capable companion who has no involvement with Nobles.
Just reminiscing about the explosive exchange back then brought a shiver through her spine. The shockwave that hit her was enough to show how much power this guy held.
And when his covered eye turns out to be the most powerful card of all... Megumin trembled. As expected of something that got her intrigued! Though she wouldn't spread it. She was sure Kazuma understood her. That's why he did not reprimand her about it.
As expected of an intelligent companion!
"Ah, so what troublesome isn't the government, but the nobles affiliated with this guy?"
Kazuma glanced at the crushed corpse at the side, nodding in understanding, "Though I understand that, our worth as Adventurers who eradicate a High-ranked Troll can't be underestimated either, no?"
Megumin shook her head and said quietly, "Adventurers, unless serving under Nobles above Viscounts, wouldn't be recognized by the Royalty. So yes, while our worth is great in the eyes of the people, it meant nothing in the eyes of the Nobles. Understanding this, it would be easy for them to target us as long as we aren't affiliated with any Nobles."
Suddenly, Megumin's crimson eyes depleted into a pair of lifeless, crimson orbs, "Ah... I-I forgot. One of those Nobles who this trash allied himself with was a Marquess..."
"Ah."
"And it wasn't a half-baked alliance either. After all, Charlie is an advisor to Marquess Daniel. So... unless we somehow managed to affiliate ourselves with a Duke, we cannot guarantee our safety."
While Daniel was a Marquess, he was prominent even amongst Marquesses and Marchioness. His influence was on par that with of a Duke. Even those Dukes and Duchess wouldn't trouble themselves with him unless he was overstepping their boundaries.
Kazuma cursed under his breath. A duke was too out of his reach. It was too unrealistic to expect one of them to accept a newly-recruited Adventurer like him. And that's not even including the fact of whether they wanted to meet him or not.
He knew rising from level 1 to level 32 in two days is outstanding, but would they trouble themselves with a man with so much influence for a nameless Adventurer like him?
An option was available. And that is to offer Megumin and Aqua in exchange for their safety. Their exceptional looks would no doubt tempt those Dukes. But Kazuma would kill himself before doing such conduct.
His Sin of Greed would kill him before he could do so.
Not like he would do it, anyway.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Kazuma ran his fingers through his amicable auburn hair. This would be a difficult predicament to come out. Right now, all he could do is report this matter to the officials and let them handle it as they see fit.
Not reporting their cards to the officials are impossible since such things were conducted only by criminals and Rogue Adventurers. And Kazuma has no intention to deal with the treatments that such people received.
"Let's refrain from dying of anxiety due to overthinking and go back to the Guild to confirm our quest."
"But you know, knowing how close they are, doesn't that mean that Marquess Daniel is too, an undercover Demon King's affiliate?"
Out of nowhere, Megumin's crimson eyes intensely flashed a crimson glint. She was excited by this fact. But a flat remark brought her out of her excitement like a ruthless pour of a bucket of cold water.
"That, if we have enough power in the court and the Marquess who doesn't care about laws, which was basically delusional. So let's just end this, we are too self-indulging in overthinking."
The half-naked Kazuma shook his head at Megumin, who showed a look of distraught. In the end, Kazuma called out to Aqua to announce they were departing and left together.
Exiting the cave through the mouth of the cave, they felt relieved when the sunlight shined on their skin. The warmth and the peace were like blessings to them who have experienced a terrifying battle.
Megumin who was walking beside Kazuma suddenly trembled. And then she collapsed, that, if he didn't catch her.
"By the tremendous consumption of mana of Explosion Magic, with my weak constitution, it wasn't possible for me to withstand it as a medium and remain unscratched. Thankfully, I now have a mid-level manatite attached to my staff, lessening the burden. If not, I fear that I wouldn't have any capability to move back then and be at the complete mercy of that Troll..."
She explained shortly after. So now, Kazuma was forced to princess-carry this Arch-wizard. Initially, he wanted to piggyback her but she would be exposed too much by the position. Her only outfit is his green mantle, after all.
At least he can enjoy the sight of the bashful beauty, who bashfully hugged her staff and curled in his mantle. Her hat somehow increased the charm. It did, somehow.
Aqua was envious since she was tired too. Even when Kazuma reprimanded her that she was unconscious the whole crisis, she was still tired. Oddly, when she saw a butterfly, she chased after it as if being tired was all a lie.
Kazuma shook his head once more.
If his memory serves him right, then he had to meet up with the previous caretaker to report the completion of the quest. But Megumin retorted that by their cards, there's no need to do so. Since it records their kills.
With that, they took another road to accelerate their journey. On the way, interferences were inevitable. Megumin, who was technically naked if not for his mantle was too eye-catching. And don't even talk about Aqua, who already brought the same problem the first time Kazuma visited the Guild.
But they severely underestimated their companion, who was a Level 32 Adventurer. These lustful passers-by who wanted to snatch them away could only lament their mistakes before their heads were ruthlessly stomped by Kazuma.
The Sin of Greed and its Sinner truly don't know what it means to show mercy.
Contrary to his expectation towards his companions' reactions, Megumin's eyes intensified, and their glow is becoming more and more menacing. While Aqua, albeit faint-hearted, isn't really the one who was a stranger to death. As a Goddess, witnessing smashed corpses and blood is commonplace.
If not, how could she become a Goddess in the first place? Celestial environment isn't a stranger to executions and the famous Guillotine used by executors.
Without realizing it, the big gate of Axel appeared within their view. The walk held no challenge for him, even when he carried Megumin. His stats have improved tremendously, compared to when he just left for the quest. Level 12 and Level 32 are just too far apart. The latter could be considered as Intermediate, after all.
That's 20 levels increasement.
When they faced the guards, the latter momentarily showed an unscrupulous gaze before noticing the blank, menacing sole green eye from the sole male of the party. They don't know why, but it was pretty terrifying.
Instead of going to the guild as they enter the town, Kazuma decided to go to the tailor first. Megumin urgently need clothes. The troubles her tender skin afflicted weren't enjoyable.
Thankfully, the shop owner was a kind old lady, who reprimand him for not being a responsible man and leaving his 'lover' in such a dire condition. He could only smile wryly, facing her ruthless scolding.
Now, out with a set of brand new outfits, they relaxedly walked through the town. It seems like the old lady has known Megumin for a long time and immediately provides her with the same clothes she wore when he met her. While Kazuma got a simple black long-sleeved shirt, with a light-grey vest overlaying it.
His lower body is fine. His mantle too, but it's currently in Megumin's possession. He wanted to ask about it but when he noticed its lack of existence, he knew it was better to shut his mouth.
Don't know why. It just felt right.
Aqua too came out, immediately bragging that if there are any tears in their clothes, they could come to her immediately so she could show off her newly-learned sewing skills. The old lady was fond of her bright attitude so she taught her a few things about sewing.
Megumin doesn't reject the offer, but she doesn't accept it either. As an Experienced Adventurer who had nothing but herself, sewing is a skill she already learned. It was important, as paying for fixing tears in clothes is just wasteful spending in her eyes.
Kazuma just nodded. The skill is useful.
After walking for a few minutes, they crossed over the familiar bridge and arrived before the Guild Hall. As expected, when they entered, the atmosphere was harmonious. The Adventurers inside noticed their arrival and nodded at them, already treating them as one of their own.
Though when they realized a new presence, they sighed in admiration. As expected of a Demon King's Equal Candidate, his new companion is too, a beautiful girl.
They normally knew her. The problematic, young Arch-wizard. She was a Crimson Demon of Crimson Magic Clan, a clan prominent for its outstanding Arch-wizards and looks, though the latter was specified for females.
Knowing her identity, they at first wanted to get close to her. After all, placing her status aside, she was an attractive person. But they were disappointed when they discovered that the Crimson Demon merely had a spell in her arsenal.
And it was a spell for utter destruction, nonetheless.
With their simple-minded thoughts, they simply overlooked Megumin's advanced intelligence that vastly surpassed even her genius peers and could only conclude that she was basically useless.
Kazuma didn't blame them if he knew though. Megumin is just too smart amidst these simpletons. No offence, it was only the truth.
Her short-coming is her overly confident attitude and her narrow-mindedness in terms of spells, as far as he can conceived. Even Megumin herself admits that it was simply arduous to survive with just Explosion Magic.
Still, her obsession towards it vastly overshadowed them.
Arriving before the receptionist's table, Kazuma called the nearest staff while his party members went to the barstool, mainly for Megumin to watch over Aqua so that she wouldn't carelessly increase their debts.
"Ah, Kazuma-san. What brought you here?"
The violet-haired staff politely replied to his calling, showing him a polite smile.
The green-eyed teenager took a few seconds to come out with an answer, "I... have to meet with your superior. I have to talk with them about something."