Bless This World With A Stranger

by RhineWrites

Arc 15: At the End of the World!

60. A12-5: Charmed Again, I'm Sure

{|} Chapter 5: Charmed Again, I'm Sure {|}

{|} A-Part {|}

(Eris Festival-Third Day)

The sun had already well past risen into the sky when Kazuma finally returned to the mansion. After passing onto the mansion's grounds, he closes the gate behind him before letting out a long, and rather loud, yawn. He then smacks his lips while rubbing his eyes as he looks to the early morning sky.

'Geez, what is up with me lately. There was a time doing an all-nighter wouldn't have had any effect on me but now... I really-REALLY want to just crawl into bed and sleep the whole day away!'

But he knew that wasn't an option for him, not yet anyways. Despite having checked each and every hotel in Axel, his search for the Axis priestess Cecily had turned up nothing and because of that, he was sure he would be needed to join the others with a much larger search of the city here shortly.

With that truth in mind, Kazuma slumps his shoulders as he walks up to the front door and lets himself inside.

"Honey's, I'm ho-ooooomph!"

Kazuma's announcement of his return was quickly halted when he found himself being sucker punched in the gut by a very angry looking Megumin. As Kazuma found himself falling to his knees, Megumin stood over him with a very angry expression on her face.

"What the hell were you thinking, Kazuma. Going out to look for Cecily alone like you did. Do you have any idea just how big of a risk you took there. You should have taken either me or Yunyun with you at the very least, in case she managed to get the drop on you first."

"... ugh, point taken but I... didn't want, or need, to be slowed down by..."

The bright angry glow the flared to life in Megumin's eyes was more than enough to make Kazuma realize he had goofed by telling Megumin of all people that she would slow him down. He braced himself for another smack as he picked himself back up, but it didn't come as Yunyun came in to save him.

"Megumin, now's not the time to be upset with Kazuma. I'm sure from his perspective, he was thinking about keeping us safe, right Kazuma?"

"Yunyun, don't you go defending his actions..."

Yunyun brought a finger up, quieting Megumin while showing a surprisingly calm and mature side. Yunyun the looks at Kazuma and sends him a kind smile which makes Kazuma breath out in relief. At least she wasn't quick to anger or lash out like Megumin was.

"Yeah, I didn't want to put you all at risk, to say nothing about putting you and Megumin into a position were you both had to go against that Cecily person, seeing as you two have some kind of history with her."

"I see... that's very kind of you... (SLAP)!"

Kazuma's head jerks to one side as Yunyun delivers a rather powerful smack to his cheek. When Kazuma looks back at her, a hand now touching the spot she had slapped, he see Yunyun was now looking quite angry herself while Megumin and Chomusuke had shocked looks on their faces.

"That said, I'm in complete agreement with Megumin as well. You do something stupid like that again, Satou Kazuma, and you'll get a lot worse from the both of us. Got it!"

"Holy crap, Yunyun. I don't know if I should be both impressed and proud of you or terrified of you now."

Clearly, Megumin had just gained a newfound respect for her longtime friend and rival. Just then, Darkness came into view and says-

"OK you two, that's enough with the whole welcome home from a hard night's search. Can you both go help Cielo with getting breakfast ready."

Megumin and Yunyun nod as they turn and head off with Chomusuke lingering for a moment before she to goes heading off into the kitchen. Once they were alone, Darkness looks at the red mark on Kazuma's cheek before saying-

"They both really let you have it, huh?"

"Yeah, they did. Should have seen it coming though. Guess thinking they wouldn't notice me being absent till after I got back was a fools thought. What about you? Did you find yourself on the receiving end of their hands when they found out I had left last night, and you knew about it."

"Shh, quiet Kazuma, not so loud. They might hear you."

"... They don't know that you knew I took off, do they?"

"(sheepishly) I... may have acted just as surprised by you having gone all MIA on us when I was woken up a few hours ago, but enough about that. How did the search go?"

"It was mostly a waste of time. Cecily wasn't at any of the hotels I checked and I'm pretty sure I checked them all. At the very least, I'm confident I visited all the best ones in Axel. I also checked in at the reception desk as well. Unless she actually used an alias, she hasn't signed in at any of them. (pulls out Darkness' Eris pendant) Thanks for loaning me this, by the way. Made that last part way easier."

Kazuma then hands the pendant back to Darkness who is quick to put it back on before saying-

"So, what's the plan now?"

"Don't know, to be honest. I guess we'll be doing a more detailed search of Axel now, unless anyone has any suggestions that can be offered up during breakfast. Has Chris woken up yet? I'm sure she'll have an idea or two..."

"Actually, that may be an issue... seeing as Chris also took it upon herself to sneak out last night."

"What, are you... she didn't say anything to anyone before leaving, did she. No messages and such?"

Darkness shakes her head, making Kazuma take a thinking stance.

'So, she also went out after everyone went to bed. She probably returned to her throne in order to make use of her full power. If I'm right there, then she should be catching up with us at any time now, assuming she doesn't decide to go handle things on her own like she often does.'

"Kazuma?"

"Huh... ah, never mind. Just lost in thought. Don't worry about Chris. I'm sure she's just fine; out there doing what she does best. She'll probably be back soon or perhaps we'll run into her after we reach Axel."

"So, we're really going to be doing the search for her then; Cecily I mean, after breakfast."

"Yeah, though I would like to go to bed as that all-nighter did a number on my ability to focus. I'll just hop into the bath for a few, then power through the rest of the day before crashing into bed once we get back."

"Hopefully we'll get lucky and find her quickly so we can let you come back and get in some sleep then. Breakfast should be ready in ten so don't soak for too long... and make sure you don't fall asleep in there either, less I send someone in to wake you up which, depending on the who, may not be a great way to wake up."

"No kidding. Well, better get washed up... be back out in a jiffy."

With that, Kazuma steps away from Darkness, heading towards the bath. As for Darkness, she walks over to the kitchen, stepping in to find Yunyun having joined Cielo with making their morning meal while Megumin was helping herself to some additional munchies from the fridge. Cielo, without looking away from her work, says-

"Kazuma's not with you, Darkness?"

"He wanted to take a quick bath to freshen up with. He'll be back out here in a few minutes."

(Y) "Hope he doesn't fall asleep and drown in there."

(M) "What's the guy thinking? Someone should go in with him... to make sure he doesn't go falling sleep on us and drowning himself."

Megumin goes to walk out of the kitchen, but Darkness stops her, much to her annoyance as Darkness hadn't failed to notice the perverted smirk that had formed on Megumin's face and, as the groups expert on all things perverted, Darkness knew when another in their family was going into heat.

(Y) "So, does Kazuma know where Chris ran off too?"

(D) "(shakes her head) No, or at least he says he doesn't know. I honestly think he does though, or at least has a good idea where she might be. Either way, he's confident she'll be back soon, or we'll run into her once we reach Axel. We can yell at her for sneaking off then too."

"So, did Kazuma's search for Cecily go well?"

asked Cielo, making Megumin and Yunyun focus their attentions onto Darkness as they awaited the answer.

"No, despite checking all the hotels in Axel... at least all the ones he could think of. He did admit he isn't sure if he checked them all though."

"Then I guess it wouldn't hurt to do another sweep of them later on if nothing else comes up. Megumin, Yunyun... you both know Cecily from before. Any ideas where she might go to stay out here in Axel?"

Both Crimson Demons close their eyes as they think about Cielo's question. Yunyun speaks first, asking-

"I was wondering... does Axel happen to have any church dedicated to the goddess Aqua by any chance?"

Before Darkness could answer that, Megumin steps in and says-

"She won't be found there, even if there is one. Not if she has any better options available. (this gets everyone's attention onto her) Don't forget she has the Charisma Choker on her, which means there's nothing she couldn't get if she wants it. In this particular case, why would she settle for staying at an inn or a church when she could use the choker to get herself an entire mansion to call her own."

Yunyun lights up at hearing that, smacking a fist into an open palm.

"Megumin's right. She is the type of person who will spoil herself like that if she has the means too, or even if she technically didn't but still had a way to pull it off. I can't believe I didn't think of that myself."

"Hm... so she might be using one of the vacant mansions here in Axel as her little getaway spot then. Guess we know where to start searching first. We'll head down to Archives and Records, see if they have any recent mansion purchases we can use to locate her."

(M) "We should check with ALL mansions here in Axel. Since she has that choker, there is a chance the one she's staying at, if she's staying at any one of them, may have been previously owned before she showed up. That girl... has always dreamed of living the high life, among other things."

Everyone nods, then there's a moment of quiet before Cielo says-

"Speaking of... would you be OK with telling me and Darkness about your history with this Cecily woman, Megumin. Both you and Yunyun... it's obvious you two know her well so letting us in on the secret could be helpful in the long run. That, and what we should expect once we find her."

Megumin and Yunyun look at each other and after a moment, nod, Megumin then says-

"I guess it was going to come out eventually. Alright, it all began when..."

Over in the bath, Kazuma was relaxing in the waters, feeling a new sense of freshness wash over him.

'Man, this feels SO DAMN GOOD! I could just fall asleep... no-no, can't be doing that; not here and not now. Focus on other things, Kazuma.'

He could think that, tell himself that, but the want to sleep now was all so tempting.

"I don't think it will hurt any... just close my eyes... for a moment or two..."

Back in the kitchen, Megumin finishes her recounting of her and Yunyun's past experiences with Cecily, with Yunyun adding her own personal bits and pieces every so often. They had finished making breakfast in that time and had moved the talk to the dining room where they now waited for Kazuma to join them. Cielo and Darkness look at each other before back at the two mages as Cielo says-

"So, the big secret you both have been hiding..."

(D) "Is the fact that you are the origin point for the Axis cults recruitment methods, Megumin?"

Megumin nods meekly as she hangs her head low. Yunyun, wanting to defend her friend, is quick to say-

"In Megumin's defense, the Axis cult have always used various recruitment methods to bring in new followers."

(D) "But it was all thanks to Megumin that those methods were refined and honed into the deadly forceful nature it has become today. Megumin, I can't believe you of all..."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Back then, I was desperate and in need of eris so I could get out of that place and make my way here to Axel where I was told, through Soketto's fortune telling ability, I would find my destiny, the person who would change my life forever."

"And you went along with her plan, Yunyun."

"I'm sorry. I did lecture her on it at first, saying she would make the Axis cult even worse. But seeing as I also wanted a quick exit from there, I..."

Both girls then hung their heads low. Cielo and Darkness look at each other, then back at them as Darkness asks-

"OK, then why didn't you warn any of us about what to expect when we set out to Arcanretia way back then?"

"Because I-we honestly didn't think we'd be staying there long enough for it to become an issue."

"And because we honestly forgot about it till after returning there. The nightmare that is the Axis cult... that's something any sane, rational person would be desperate to forget about once they were free."

"And your shared relationship with Cecily?"

asked Cielo. Megumin answers first by saying-

"She was the one who was most helpful, though I think it was because of her very unhealthy interest in me. By her own admittance, she swings both ways though she does prefer the younger sister loli types which she saw me as. I was never interested, though that didn't matter much to her as, being an Axis cultist, they don't much care for anyone refusing, saying they're just being stubborn."

"Don't forget they don't understand the meaning of personal space, especially Cecily. Like how she was always forcing you into hugs, rubbing her cheek against yours, and the way she would always wiggle her fingers while looking at you from time to time..."

"Damn it, Yunyun. Don't be reminding me of that. Those are details I would very much like to forget about, alongside other things."

(D) "... Megumin, I have to ask. Did you and Cecily, did the two of you ever..."

"Hell no, not for some serious lack of trying on her part though. Luckily, I managed to escape that city with all my first maintained so I could give them to the one my one true love at a later point. She did come close to stealing my first kiss though and it was thanks to father Zesta, that perverted leader of the Axis cult of all people, who saved me from that happening."

Darkness and Cielo just sit there, looking at the two with blank expressions. Megumin quickly adds-

"Like we said before, the Axis cult, Cecily and father Zesta especially, don't really care for personal boundaries... or consent."

"What about you, Yunyun. Was Cecily this insistent with you as she was with Megumin?"

"Not as insistent, but she did make it clear she was interested in me too. If anything, it was father Zesta I was more worried about as I'm pretty sure he had a secret viewing spot he used to peep on all the girls when we were in the baths, both those in the Axis and not, for his own personal pleasures."

That makes both Cielo and Darkness go white as Darkness says-

"So, then that means if we had made use of the hot springs there ourselves..."

"Then there's a chance he might have been watching us from his little hiding spot."

For the next few moments, there was silence before Cielo decides to change to subject.

"So, someone should go check in on Kazuma. Make sure he's doing OK. If we wait for him much longer, breakfast will get cold."

"I'll do it!" (x2)

Both Megumin and Yunyun stand at the same time, then look at each other and are about to start debating who would do it when they suddenly hear the doorbell ring. Cielo sighs as she gets up herself and says-

"I'LL check on Kazuma. One of you check to see who that is."

"It's probably Chris... though why she doesn't just let herself in is anyone's guess."

(M) "... Fine, I'll do it. I have a few choice words for her as well."

Yunyun nods before sitting back down. Megumin then heads to the front door, taking a moment to breath in in preparation to yell at Chris the moment she sees her. Megumin then opens the door hard while shouting out-

"And just where the hell did... you...?"

It wasn't Chris standing outside the mansion, but...

"I'm finally home, Megumin!"

Back in the bath, Kazuma had indeed drifted off into slumber and was finding himself having a strange dream. All around him was a sea of red ash so large and thick that he was like being surrounded by a swirling sea of pure rage. And then came the sound, a wailing sound filled with such sorrow and loss that it felt like it was cutting right through his very being. And just as he began to see a figure take shape...

KNOCK-KNOCK

"Kazuma, are you still awake. You haven't drowned on us, have you?"

Kazuma's eyes shoot open, and he quickly realizes he had indeed been nearing a full submergence into the bath waters, as they were currently up to his chin.

"Yeah, I'm up. Thanks for the wakeup call though. A few more minutes and... who knows?"

"Need me to come in and help you out?"

"Thanks for the offer, Cielo. Probably not a good idea though as if you come in here with me, we may both end up taking a bit before we leave, wink-wink nudge-nudge!"

Kazuma was joking of course, and he hoped Cielo wouldn't mind his little joke either.

"Quite a tempting offer, Kazuma. If it wasn't for the fact the others are here... (sigh) Maybe another time. Anyways, hurry up and get out here. Breakfast is getting cold, and the others don't want to start without you."

"Right, I'm getting out now."

Well, not at that moment as Kazuma gave himself another quick scrub and dip below the waters before exiting the bath. Once he was dry and dressed, he makes his way into the dining room, saying as he enters-

"So, what's for breakfast. Hope it's my fav..."

He stops to see that the girls weren't the only ones sitting at the table in the room. Someone else was there too and it definitely wasn't Chris. Instead, it was a girl with long blonde hair, dressed in the garments of the Axis cult, and...

'Shit!'

{|} B-Part {|}

The quiet of the early morning is broken by a loud, explosive blast as a small part of the mansion wall is sent flying outward. A split second later, a figure comes flying out of the smoke into the air. That figure was Kazuma who feels like the world had slowed down to a crawl as he tilts his head back to looking in the direction of the hole he had just been sent flying out of.

'Damn it, why is this happening? HOW is this even happening?'

Another figure emerges from the smoke, shooting up into the sky as well till the figure was now seemingly floating in the air right above Kazuma. Cielo, her face cold and battle focused, balls up her fist as mana lines began to glow brightly along her Blast Gloves as she prepares to press her attack against him.

'How did she even find us? And why is everyone under her control? Sure, I can see Cielo and Darkness falling under her thralldom as they've never seen her in person before, but Megumin and Yunyun too...'

Cielo's fist lands HARD into Kazuma's stomach, sending him slamming hard into the ground with enough force to create a crater. If not for the fact Kazuma had just barely managed to activate a powerful skill called Steel Skin to momentarily make his epidermis as strong as steel at the cost of mobility, he most likely would have been killed in that moment, or at least severely injured.

Kazuma lets the Steel Skin wear off, immediately switching to using Heal on himself as he lifts himself up enough to see Cielo landing just beyond the crater's edges. The cold look she was sending him had a very stinging glare. Breathing heavily, Kazuma thinks back to a few moments ago, when everything had gone so wrong for him... for them all.

(a few moments ago)

Kazuma looked at the new girl sitting at the table with the others, and they all just looked back at him in turn. This little moment of staring last for a quick bit before Kazuma's eyes drift from the new arrivals face to a certain object she had around her neck.

"You..."

"Ah, there you are... ah, you. We've been waiting for you to come join us. Breakfast is getting cold..."

Her voice pauses mid speech, realizing the look Kazuma was sending her way. She cocks her head to the side, wondering what the deal was with his long staring.

"That choker... You have to be her, Cecily..."

"Ah... of course it's me... um... guy. How could you forget your longtime childhood friend."

She then reaches up, pressing a finger against the choker. From the looks of it, she appeared to be doing it absentmindedly though that could just be an assumption. Either way, Kazuma knew what the meaning behind her action was, intended or not.

She was trying to use the choker's power to bring him under her control.

"Sorry, but that's not going to work on me. I know who you are and what that thing around your neck can do too. I'm immune to your charms, Cecily of the Axis cult."

Those words make Cecily visibly flinch back in fear. Kazuma then says the others while keeping Cecily the center of his focus.

"Everyone, we found her. Quick... grab her while I see if I can get that damn... guys?"

Kazuma finally notices that the others weren't budging an inch, despite his words saying that they had found their target. It takes Kazuma a moment before the reality of the situation truly sinks in.

'I just came back from the bath, find this woman sitting all nice and comfy with the others around the table. This person, whom Megumin and Yunyun would have, should have, already recognized... oh shit!'

"Cecily, do you know this person?"

"Just letting yourself into someone's home without permission... I hope you have a proper explanation for this sudden intrusion."

'Crap...'

Cecily hesitates for a second, clearly confused as well. Unlike the others though, her confusion wasn't because of the presence of someone they didn't appear to know, but for another very important reason. She quickly recovers, shaking her head before saying-

"So you're the... everyone, defend yourselves. This is the one, the champion of the dark goddess Eris. We need to capture him at once."

'Crap-crap-crap-crap-CRAP!'

Without wasting a second, the girls were on their feet with Darkness already making a lunge towards Kazuma which he just barely managed to back off enough to see Darkness falling onto the floor. But Cielo, having already slipped on the Blast Gloves, which she seems to always keep at her side, and was right on top of him, sending her fist flying fast and true. Kazuma again just barely managed to avoid the hit but the sheer force of power behind her attack blows a hole in the wall and sends Kazuma flying out of it from just the shock wave alone.

(back at the present)

Kazuma finally manages to get back onto his feet, trying as hard as he could to think up something he could do to get himself, and the girls, out of this situation.

'Damn it, why is this happening. We knew she was here and Axel, we knew we needed to find her. We knew it all over her knowing anything, I'm sure, so why... How did she get the drop on US and why did Megumin and Yunyun still fall under her control? I just don't...'

Darkness then appears, coming at Kazuma fast as she goes into a spin with her sword now in hand. At the speed she was both moving and spinning, if she managed to hit him, there's no doubt she would slice him in half.

But luckily for Kazuma, she was still wearing that magic item made by Megumin's old man from way back when that gave her a power up in exchange for taking away all accuracy. As a result, her aim was way off as she instead goes crashing into the outer wall, knocking a hole into that as well.

Kazuma, despite still not being fully ready yet, makes his move as he rushes a surprised and confused Darkness, who was clearly sure her attack would land, while holding his hand right hand out.

"Sorry Darkness, but you leave me no choice here. Drain..."

"Light of Saber!"

shouted Yunyun. Kazuma's eyes are momentarily blinded by the streaking of the electric spell, followed instantly by a near crippling pain in his right arm. It takes him a moment before his mind finally realizes what it was that had just happened.

Yunyun had used Light of Saber to slice his right hand off, just above the wrist.

Kazuma's howl of pain as he holds the now stump, his attention lost which proves even more troublesome for him as Cielo had reaches him, sending another fist into his gut. Luckily for Kazuma, she hadn't charged up the blast aspect of the gloves she was wearing. Unfortunately for Kazuma, her attack had still done serious damage as he's sent flying through the air again, colliding HARD with another section of the outer wall.

As his body slumps down, Kazuma's pain filled mind did it's best to assess the damage he just suffered.

'Damn it... damn it all, I just lost a hand. I know a suffered a few broken ribs. And my back... my back is really hurting now. I don't think... I can stand up right now.'

Kazuma was also sure he had suffered some additional degree of internal damage too, possibly even suffered internal bleeding alongside everything else.

"Lady Cecily... this one is finished. He's not going to be able to fight back against us now."

said Cielo as she and Darkness turn back to the mansion as Cecily came into view. Yunyun, perhaps wanting to keep Cecily safe should anything else happen, stayed a few steps in Cecily's front while Megumin appeared to being staying glued to Cecily's side.

"Good to hear. Lalatina, please make sure he's tied up all nice and tight now so we can take him to where he'll be contained for the time being."

"We aren't going to kill him right here and now?"

asked Megumin, her words cutting deep for Kazuma, along with the deep cuts he had already suffered from what had just happened, both figuratively and literally. He didn't blame them though. No, the only ones to blame was that damn choker, the one wearing it, and that idiot who foolishly let that thing be sent down to this world to begin with.

'Oh, I have some choice words for you when I next see you Aqua... assuming I can get myself out of this one.'

Darkness then pulls some rather thick looking rope from out of... wait, where the hell was she even keeping that and why would she even carry around rope like... right, because she's Darkness. She then begins to approach Kazuma who decides to try something different to get himself out of this one.

"Darkness, Cielo, Yunyun, Megumin... don't you all remember? Remember what Chris told us."

Kazuma's words makes Darkness stop, her expression showing that she was indeed thinking about it which was something. Cielo and the two Crimson Demons also were clearly thinking while Cecily cocks her head to the side, saying-

"Huh? What are you... and who's this Chris person?"

'Yeah, you're controlling them now, yet you say something like that aloud when you're taking my place within their minds... you Axis cultist really are idiots.'

"Chris said... that the one who had that magic choker who controls people..."

"The one who took ownership from Alonzo, the guy who used it to control us before..."

"Is here now in Axel. That person... was a girl with..."

"Hold on, what are you all talking about? And what did my cous... what did this Alonzo guy do too you all?"

Despite the serious amounts of pain he was suffering, Kazuma couldn't help but smile seeing that maybe, just maybe, he could turn this all around somehow. Maybe if he can introduce enough inconsistencies to the reality Cecily is creating with them.

"Yeah, you all remember right. How Chris said that the one who had the choker now is a woman from the Axis cult, running the arch priestess class. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, and is named... Cecily. Hm... just like the person that's here with us all right now. And as a bonus, she's wearing a very fancy looking choker around her neck."

This gets the girls to look at each other, then at Cecily. While they were all still clearly confused, it was obvious that Kazuma's words were indeed starting to have an effect. Maybe, just maybe, it was possible to break people free from the choker's power if you just push the truth towards them hard enough.

Cecily, who clearly was becoming nervous now, as indicated by the little beads of sweat that were now rolling down her brow, manages to stammer out-

"What... what are you saying. That's all... nonsense. That's right, it's all total nonsense. He's clearly making it all up. Anyways, forget about his strange and confusing words and just tie him up already. Make sure you gag him too."

But no one moved, making Cecily panic even more. So much so that she once again presses a finger against the choker as she says again, this time more demanding-

"Hurry up and do it... NOW!"

This causes all the girls to visibly flinch and even Kazuma was caught off guard by that. But more than that...

'What was that? It was almost like... it was someone else talking in that moment.'

Darkness just stands there still for a moment more before she begins to walk forward again, with Cielo now joining her when...

"WHAT THE HELL!"

Everyone jumps in surprise, making them all look back at the hole in the mansion to see Anna standing just inside, her arms folded over her chest as she looks out at everyone with anger filled eyes.

"Who is the idiot who blasted this here hole inside MY mansion!"

{|} Intermission {|}

Loud snoring filled the small room that acted as the bedroom of the one-time goddess of water. She was sprawled out on her bed, looking like a pathetic drunken lush due to the number of wine bottles that were littering the whole room.

There were a fair number of bottles laying all over the bed with her and an unimaginable number of empty bottles laying unattended on the floor. One bottle is knocked onto the floor when Aqua suddenly shifts her position, the impact with another bottle being just enough to wake her up.

"I'm up, I'm up."

she said, quickly sitting up and looking around with her still tired looking eyes. Her first impulse was to shrug her shoulders, having seen no one in her room or peeking in from outside, and go back to sleep. But seeing as the sun was shining through her small window made her realize that it was time for her to get up.

After all, she had big plans for herself she wanted to go do this day so the sooner she got to that, the sooner she could get back and return to the joyous comfort that was sleep.

She gets out of the bed, moving quickly to her vanity in order to deal with the bedhead she had been forced to suffer and endure since being forced down into the mortal plain. She almost finds herself falling on her face due to all the empty wine bottles though, making her grumble.

"Geez, what a mess. When is someone going to come in here and clean up this mess?"

Clearly, Aqua didn't feel that it was her responsibility to do any cleaning herself as, being a goddess, doing something as lowly as cleaning herself was just so beneath her. Such things were meant to be done by the help, like their angel assistants.

'I'll have to yell at one of those lazy girls about getting this done later. Hell, Erika should be doing it for me, but that girl is just so impossible with how stuck up and lazy she can be.'

Pot calling the kettle black indeed.

Once Aqua had gotten her hair looking good, she quickly dresses and moves to the door, but stops and checks her remaining supply of still unopened bottles of wine. She then makes a mental note to have the local stores come by for a restock at the earliest convenience.

As she walks down the hallway, heading towards the stairs down to ground level, Aqua begins calling out for someone as she hadn't failed to notice how ominously quiet it was in the amphitheater.

"Hey, lackey... I mean Harpy... er, Erika, where are you? Lia... Jade... Saffy, someone say something already. It's bad karma to just go ignoring a goddess of my standing like this."

No one answered and by the time Aqua reached the bottom of the stairs, she was starting to worry. Perhaps even becoming a little scared. She looked in the massive room where the shows would be put on in, inside the kitchen. Inside all the rooms this place had within it actually.

Despite this, she couldn't find anyone anywhere. She finally steps outside, thinking that maybe they were all just outside doing some morning exercises. But she couldn't find anyone outside too. By now, Aqua had become quite scarred... and angry as she starts stamping her feet against the ground.

She then shouts aloud to the sky-

"WHERE THE HELL IS EVERYONE? IS THIS SOME KIND OF CHEAP PRANK OR SOMETHING? I BETTER GET AN ANSWER NOW OR MY WRATH WILL BE UNLEASHED!"

{|} C-Part {|}

Everyone just looked at Anna as she maintained her defiant stance from inside the mansion. Megumin, Yunyun, Cielo, and Darkness just give her a confused look, as did Cecily though her confusion also included a look that clearly said, "Who's this now?"

Anna's eyes scanned the scene before her, seeing her friends standing outside the hole that had been made alongside some new girl she had never seen before. She was about to repeat her question from before she realizes someone was missing. Where was Kazuma.

"Say, who is..."

Cecily's words are cut off as Darkness says over her-

"Anna, be on your guard. The enemy... the enemy has found us."

The four girls then turn their attention to where Kazuma was still on the ground, taking a chance to focus on healing his damaged and broken ribs. Cecily, for her part, keeps her eyes locked solely onto Anna, preparing to work her magic on her the moment she goes to make her move.

Anna, her eyes following the line of sight of the others till she finally spotted Kazuma; seeing what state he was in. This makes Anna narrow her eyes to look angry, furious even, as she finally steps outside, walking towards Kazuma.

"Wait, Anna... stop. What are you doing? That guy there... he could still be dangerous."

shouts Megumin, though Anna ignores her. Cecily then jumps in front of Anna, a finger pressed against the choker as she says-

"Don't go ignoring Megumin's words there... ah, Anna. Yes, Anna. You need to stay away from that guy or else he could-URK!"

"Talk to this hand, whoever you are. I'll deal with you in a moment!"

Anna had silenced Cecily by sending an open palm smack right to her face, the power of which sends Cecily flying back onto her butt, which shocks everyone. Anna finally reaches Kazuma, kneeling down beside him and quickly looking him over.

"Big brother, are you OK? You look like you had your ass seriously handed to you."

"(strained voice) Anna, are you really... still you?"

"Of course I'm still me. Who else would I..."

Anna, finally realizes just how badly Kazuma was injured. She was able to somehow scan his body, detecting the sheer amount of physical damage he had suffered. Was it another special function this body of hers had within it, alongside the Assimilation and Morph skills.

And of course, she had seen the blood stump that had once been her right hand too.

"Who did this too you?"

she asked, her voice cold, filled with rage filled venom. It was actually kind of scary.

"It was her, sort of. That girl there, in the Axis cult robes you just knocked on her ass. That's Cecily!"

Anna looks back, seeing Megumin helping Cecily up while Yunyun shouts out, asking Anna why she had attacked their friend like that while Cielo and Darkness moved in closer to them to act as shields.

"She's controlling them, isn't she? Using that damn choker around her neck to make them think she's their friend. Making them attack you like you were the big bad, here to ruin everything."

"Yeah, pretty much. Don't know how she managed to get Megumin and Yunyun but if I had to take a guess... something must have happened, she must have done something to power-up the choker's power to bring it closer to being what it was with its original owner."

"I see..."

Kazuma looks at the others, then back at Anna an ask-

"Anna, are you really sure you're still you here?"

"Obviously. I confess that when that Cecily girl got in my way, was talking to me, I felt this weird feeling coming over me; like a spider walking around on my brain. I didn't like the way that felt so I crushed, smooshed it into nothing."

Kazuma thinks about that a moment, coming to the conclusion that Anna's current state of being; that being a soul inhabiting an artificial body, might give her an immunity to the choker's power.

"Anna, what's going on with you. Why are you defending a follower of the dark goddess Eris?"

shouted Darkness, making Anna scoff.

"Dark goddess? Are you really that weak willed, Darkness. I know being dominated... completely is your dream and all but to let yourself become so dominated that you would actually look down upon the very goddess you have worshiped your ENTIRE life... that's just pathetic!"

"Eh, what are you..."

"What symbol do you wear around your neck, Darkness? What faith are you apart of?"

adds Kazuma, adding to the confusion. Darkness hesitates for a second before regaining her confidence and says while pulling the pendant she wore around her neck out for all to see.

"What a foolish question. It's obvious that I'm a follower of the goddess Aq... Eris?"

Seeing the holy symbol of the Eris faith dangling from the chain around her neck clearly caught Darkness, and the others, off guard. Cecily looked shock, and perhaps even a little scarred too; something Kazuma didn't fail to notice.

"Everyone, I know you think I'm the enemy here. But like I said before, remember what Chris said before about the one who is our enemy. A girl with blonde hair, blue eyes, a member of the Axis cult with the choker around her neck... named Cecily. The very person you are all standing beside now."

Anna is quick to add-

"Don't forget what that choker is supposed to do; brainwash those it is used on to make them think the wearer is their friend in place of their true friend."

The four girls look at them, then at one another, before finally looking at Cecily with confused looks.

'Need to keep pouring on the contradictions. Hope it'll be enough to break them free of the choker's power.'

thinks Kazuma as Cecily begins to panic.

"Wait-wait everyone, don't go believing the lies those two are spouting. Yes, this choker I'm wearing does have a special power, granted to my family long ago by the goddess Aqua. That power isn't brainwashing like they're claiming, but a power that liberates people from being controlled by evil ones, like the dark goddess."

Once again, Cecily had touched the choker with a finger, making the foursome look even more confused and uncertain. Kazuma had another idea though, one he decides to try-

"How about this: each of you should ask a question of me and Cecily. A question only your true ally would know the answer too."

"Wait a moment, this is all just a waste of..."

"Maybe we should..."

said Cielo, cutting Cecily off as they all backed away from the Axis cultist enough to be able to look at both her and Kazuma together. Darkness goes first, asking-

"Back during the carriage ride we took to get back to Axel during the trial period, what was the nightmare you suffered from?"

"Ah... um... well, it was..."

"I dreamed that all of you had been taken by Aldarp, turned into his little plaything slaves."

Cecily then steps forward, asking-

"When my father paid us all an unexpected visit, what did I do when he threatened you?"

"Um, I told him he would be bringing the wrath of the Axis down..."

Cecily tried to say, taking a chance on her natural impulse, but Kazuma cuts in to say-

"You kissed me; we kissed each other for a few moments to really piss him off and when your dad tried to come rushing to stop us, you smack him down onto the ground unconscious while we continued kissing for a little bit more. I confess that's a nice memory I have."

Cielo blushes while looking down while Megumin and Yunyun both have shocked expressions and Darkness had some manner of excitement on her face from this big reveal. After recovering, Yunyun asks-

"After my Crimson Trial, what did the two of us go do together?"

Cecily doesn't even bother to try answering this one as Kazuma says-

"I used Teleport to take us to a nice little beach located in a very special place where we stayed the entire night together and you..."

"OK-OK, no need to say any more."

Everyone then looks to Megumin, waiting for her to ask her question as Cecily, still looking down, begins to grit her teeth and clench her fist tight enough that she was cutting into the skin of her palm.

"What did we do together that night before I took off to the Scarred Lands?""

"... Are you really sure you want me to answer THAT question? (nods) Well, we ate a crappy tasting dinner you made followed by you coming to my room and confessing your love before we... well, we made quite the mess of my bedroom, to say nothing of each other!"

Cecily then screams out loud at the top of her lungs, holding her head as she jerks this way and that before leaning in close to Megumin and shouting out-

"Megumin... please, say it isn't so. Please tell me you didn't do... THAT with that guy over there. What about me? I thought what had something... special between us!"

Megumin just looks at Cecily for a moment, looking confused before a look like something had clicked for her within her mind, making her take up a defensive stance.

"You... Cecily, you really are the real enemy here."

Hearing Megumin say that makes the others also take up defensive stances. Cecily begins to back away as the foursome begin to walk towards, becoming more and more panicked as she does so.

"Wait, what's going... I thought... you all should be (zzzzzt)..."

The look of fear quickly fades from Cecily's eyes, being replaced by something else, something filled with a dark energy. Something Anna and Kazuma found they could feel as well and it was something familiar.

"Brother, did you feel that? That same feeling we felt back then."

"Yeah, I did feel it. I think I understand now. It's like what happened back in Iris's..."

"We won't let you get away with this, Cecily!"

"You'll pay for what you did and what you were making us..."

"ENOUGH!"

shouted Cecily, a pulse of power blasting from her, making the four girls collapse to their knees. Cecily, her voice now far colder, says with a commanding tone-

"I am your friend, your ally, and teammate. Those two over there are the enemy, the followers of the dark goddess Eris. Now stop being deceived by them, get back on your feet, and capture them already."

Megumin, Darkness, Cielo, and Yunyun finally stand, looking back at Kazuma and Anna, a strange look having appeared in their eyes. As for Cecily, she remains looking all fierce and imposing for a few more seconds before that fades and she returns to her normal aura, blinking in confusion as to what had just happened.

'I see... does that mean she's not fully aware of what's happening with everything herself then?'

The four girls begin to walk closer, making Anna ask-

"How much longer will you need to Heal yourself, big brother?"

"Hate to say it... but I'm still going to need a while. Healing minor injuries is easy but fixing broken ribs, healing damaged internal organs, and growing a new right hand... That's going to take me a good while. I may not even be able to complete the process with my current level of skill with the... skill."

Anna nods at him before turning her attention back to the still approaching girls.

"Then I guess it's up to me. Just sit back and focus on recovering, big bro. It's time for Anna to finally take to the battlefield... for the second time!"

{|} D-Part {|}

Kazuma gives Anna a confused look, asking-

"What are you talking about? You haven't battled anyone before. All you've done up till now is sit on the sidelines, acting as a cheerleader."

"Eh, what are you talking about. What about... oh right, you weren't there when I made my debut performance. Just sit back and watch me as I give you a showing you won't forget. I'll save the day and end that psycho Axis girl before she knows what hits her."

Anna then steps forward a few steps, making the others stop before her with Yunyun saying-

"Anna please, step aside. We have to capture that guy at Cecily's request."

"Like Yunyun said, please step aside, Anna. We don't want to hurt you..."

adds Darkness, making Anna smile dangerously.

"You all... hurt me? Surely you haven't forgotten what happened in the Scarred Lands. What you all, save Megumin, saw me do. Allow me to remind you all of my power!"

Anna's body begins to glow with light and power, being fully enveloped by it as her small form begins to grow bigger, reshaping into something far from human, but something more monstrous. This causes the four girls to step back a few steps as they prepare themselves for what was about to come.

Cecily herself ends up falling back onto her butt, wriggling her way back farther and father as fear and terror takes hold of her mind. And all Kazuma could do is just sit there and watch on as the glow surrounding Anna finally comes to an end, revealing her for all her fearsome glory.

("ROAR Morph: Geist form. So, who wants to dance first?")

"WHEN DID SHE LEARN HOW TO DO THAT?"

shouted Megumin, seeing this side of Anna for the first time and being unsure on if she should be afraid or super impressed by it.

"Anna, please don't make us have to do this?"

says Cielo, her voice having the slightest hint of nervousness. Yunyun then adds, her own voice not holding back the fear-

"Why Anna... why are you fighting against us?"

("Because you all keep letting yourselves be controlled by that bad girl over there. Someone needs to stand by and support big brother and seeing as you all can't seem to do it right now, then that just leaves it to me here. Now, what will you four do?")

The four girls look at each other, unsure on what it is they really should do as once again, doubt began to creep into their minds. Cecily, sounding like she was very much freaking out, screams out-

"Why are you all just standing around for? Can't you tell when a hell-beast has appeared before you all? Hurry up and kill it already before it gets the chance to get its claws into me."

They look back at her, then at each other again, still appearing uncertain, making Cecily panic even more. And then...

"(zzzzzt) I said to stop standing around. Kill that damn thing already!"

A shadow flashes in the eyes of the four girls, moving all doubt and hesitation. They then look at Geist Anna, now looking ready for a fight. Anna let's out a sigh before saying-

("Guess I have no choice then.")

Geist Anna shoots forward, moving faster than they expected. With a single motion of her arm, she sends them all flying. Cielo and Darkness recover first with Darkness letting Cielo use her as a launching pad to send herself flying at Geist Anna, avoids her attack only to grip her by the wrist and sends her flying hard through one of the second-floor windows before she could react.

Darkness was quick to come in swinging, not that her attack would have landed if Geist Anna did nothing. She didn't feel like playing as she easily grabs the blade mid-swing, lurching the broad sword from Darkness' hands and tossing it away before sending her fist slamming into Darkness' gut, which didn't help as the grabbing and loss of her weapon had sent her stumbling forward.

"Sakura Storm!"

shouts Yunyun, surrounding Geist Anna with a flurry of flower petals. Geist Anna cautiously test the nature of the petals before pushing through without sign of harm, only to see a Light of Saber being sent right at her. Luckily for Geist Anna, her reaction speed was just fast enough to dodge being hit, which she follows up by launching herself forward and with a quick and powerful motion, puts Yunyun into the ground hard enough to stun her but not seriously injure her. At least she hoped she hadn't hurt her.

"I won't let you win, monster!"

said Megumin, holding her staff out before her as she begins to chant her Explosion. Geist Anna just cocks her head to the side, remembering a little detail she had been told the day before. For a second, she wondered if she should be worrying until she takes notice of a certain detail.

"This ends now... EXPLOSION!"

Nothing happens, making Megumin go into a confused rage while Cecily yells at her to take this matter more seriously. The two of them are drawn to Kazuma, hearing his pained chuckle. Once he was done, Kazuma smiles as he says-

"Did you forget, Megumin. You can't use any magic for the next three months... because of that potion Chris gave to you."

"... MOTHER FUCKER; I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT..."

She didn't get to finish as Geist Anna walks up to her and swats her off to the side before continuing on towards Cecily who had finally got back into her feet; a dark, ominous aura like feeling coming off her.

"You idiots... can't you all do anything right?"

("Don't go talking about my friends like that. Only me and big brother are allowed to talk shit about them. Now, do yourself a favor and take that DAMN choker off right now because if you don't... then I won't hesitate to remove it by force, alongside that pretty little head of yours.")

"No... I will not be told what to do; especially by some infernal creature like you. How dare you think you have any right to command me to do anything... you DAMN FREAKISH BEAST!"

The now dark Cecily holds out her right hand at Geist Anna, who sighs again before charging right at Cecily, not wanting to give her a chance to act out. Geist Anna lunges forward, reaching out with both her clawed hands to grab onto Cecily's head with the intention being clear, and just as she gets in range to grab her...

A pillar of light exploding all around Geist Anna, enveloping her completely; the sound of her scream echoing outwards. Kazuma shouts out Anna's name, his senses somehow telling him the darker truth about the pillar that Anna had been blasted by.

'That spell looks like a kind of purification holy spell, but I can't sense anything but evil filling the false light.'

"Because it is an evil light. So, she's on her way to becoming another copy of..."

The light around Geist Anna fades, revealing her just standing there unmoving... until she falls back onto the ground, her form shifting from the Geist morph into her doll like chibi form. Cecily, for a moment, just stands there, unsure of what had just happened herself.

"Huh, wha... what was that just now?"

Kazuma wasn't sure if she was being serious or not, but he wasn't going to take a chance here either. He extends his remaining hand outwards and says "Steal", successfully bringing chibi-Anna into his grasp.

"Anna... Anna, speak to me. Are you alright?"

Anna's response was a weak sounding groan which let Kazuma know that she was still with him, at least for the moment. While Cecily still looked confused, Kazuma knew that there was a chance she might go all dark side mode again at any moment so he knew he had to take this chance to escape while he could.

While he was far from being healed, he pushed through the pain and discomfort and stands up, though he came close to falling down again. He looks to see the girls were also working on getting back onto their feet as well.

"I'm sorry guys, but I need time to recover from... all this. But I swear, I will come back and save you all. Just try to endure it all for now."

Kazuma then puts everything he has into his legs, forcing them to move by jumping up with plans into the air over the wall.

"Wait, hold on a second..."

shouted Cecily while the others all shout together as they go to follow.

"NO YOU DON'T"

Darkness and Cielo jump at Kazuma while Yunyun sends another Light of Saber his way. Kazuma looks back at them, sees them coming and makes a difficult choice.

"Apathy!"

The flash of light from his eyes causes them all, Cecily included, to fall onto the ground unmoving. Kazuma lands safely outside the mansion, eyes closed as blood pours from the edges. Despite being momentarily blinded from using Apathy, he still knew the road to Axel so he activated his Sprint and begins his run to the nearby city, hoping to use a certain locale as a hiding spot till he could fully recover.

The question remained; would he find safe harbor with Wiz and Vanir or would he find only more enemies awaiting him?

{|} to be continued... {|}

AN: An Anna on the Town; and Aqua begins to notice something is quite strange now in Axel.