"Kazuma-san, please hold on for a moment. You don't come here very often, so let me give you a little present."

He gave me a puzzled look. In response, I extended my hand and gave him a smile.

"I wish good fortune upon you who have worked so hard for the sake of this world."

──I hope that you'll come to enjoy this wonderful world that you've worked so hard to protect.

I extended my hand towards him and offered a prayer from the bottom of my heart──!

"Blessing!"

I returned with a flash.

It was nice seeing Eris again. After all, being the only straight man in the entire world was hard, and it was nice to have someone who was down to Earth (ironic as that was). Thankfully, teleporting to Heaven and back didn't seem to have caused me any physical issues. I think I'll be using that teleport location a lot more.

The problem was now. I had 3 teleport locations saved: the boss room of the deepest dungeon, the entrance of Axis Police Station in Arcanretia, and Eris' room in Heaven. None of these are anywhere near the mansion. The dungeon room was more or less empty. Hence here I was, outside the police station.

Ahhh, I should've thought ahead before doing this maneuver. I could go back to Eris? No, no way, not after I left so coolly and she gave me such a nice parting Blessing!

Just then, a policewoman with a medium-sized chest and decent features noticed me as she was leaving the station, and she jumped.

"Ah, a strange man! Where did you come from?" she exclaimed.

"Heaven," I replied casually.

"Wha-"

Oh well, it's fine. I'll just get someone in Alcanretia to teleport me back.

As the policewoman stared at me, her eyes widened in recognition. "W-Wait, are you the hero who defeated the Demon King, Satou Kazuma?!"

"Yes, I'm Kazuma."

"The one with the weakest class who can barely swing a sword or cast a spell?"

"Yes, I'm Kazuma."

"The legendary perverted hero who has his Steal skill levelled up so far he can steal a girl's panties with just a glance?"

It seems that my legend has grown a bit out of control across the land. At any rate, these things no longer bother me. Ultimately, as the hero who defeated the demon king, I am untouchable.

"Listen, girl, if you know who I am, I need a favour. I need to get back to Axel. Get me someone who can teleport me back."

"Oh, er, sure." Hesitantly, covering her front with one hand, she offered me a sheet of paper with the other. "If you fill out this form, I will arrange some help."

"OK, thank you," I said, taking the paper.

And ripping it to shreds.

"Do you think I was born yesterday?!" I yelled. She recoiled in fear, but I continued regardless. "I know all of the Axis Cult tricks! I suffered with Aqua in my party for all of this time. If you understand what I'm saying, then help me without wasting both of our time!"

"I'm sorry! Don't steal my pantiiiiieeees!" she screamed as she ran away.

I sighed. This world is still hopeless. I should be celebrated across the world, but here I am struggling to get girls to talk to me.

I set off in the direction of the Axis church. I thought I should be able to get them to help me after everything. It was annoying, but it was already starting to get dark and I had no other options. I had to get back to the house, to Megumin, as soon as possible!

It was on the way, deep in this thought, that I bumped into a hooded figure, and somehow they tripped backwards onto the floor.

Oh no. This was definitely a flag. Was it some new damsel in distress? It is nice having lots of interested women, but I was joking about the harem now I have Megumin! Was it somehow another general of the Demon King, even though there shouldn't be any left…

"Damn it all!"

Oh, it's a man.

"Ugh, I can't even walk straight, and this town is full of nutters. I'm so done with everything, so done…"

It seemed like he was ignoring me, and berating himself.

"Hey dude, are you alright?" I asked, as I offered a hand to help him to his feet.

"Oi, I'm not joining your cult," he said angrily, batting away my hand. "Or maybe I should. I don't even know any more."

"Hey, don't talk like that! And don't lump me in with these cultists," I said. "This town has caused me nothing but trouble as well."

He eyed me suspiciously, probably still suspecting this was some elaborate recruitment technique. I guess I needed to more thoroughly dispel his worries.

"I prefer Eris to Aqua in all respects."

"Nice to meet you, my name is Jin."

I helped him to his feet, and got a better look at him. He was still muttering dejectedly to himself, having clearly been the subject of many traumas. He had jet black hair and lemon-yellow eyes so deep they looked fake. He was a little taller than me too, and his features were only dirtied by a haunted, defeated expression that could only have come from someone who has been chewed up and spit out by this cruel world.

In another world, I might've rejoiced at this handsome man's misfortune. But right now, I only felt sympathy. As the esteemed hero, I was in a position of power with a duty to help this poor person.

Also, I might be able to make use of him.

"Hey, I'm heading back to Axel. Do you want to tag along?"

"Oh, no, you don't want someone useless like me dragging you along." He looked away. "My parents are dead, I've let everyone down, and it looks like I'm not gonna get a chance to make it up to them."

It was a vague, but familiar, story. "Erm, are you from Japan by any chance?" I ventured.

"Huh? Well, maybe," he said, furrowing his brow. "I've lost a bunch of my memories."

"That's harsh," I said. Wow, an amnesiac. There's an isekai trope I haven't encountered yet. "Well, let me help you until you get them back." I extended a hand magnanimously, and this time, after a pause, he took it.

We made our way to the teleport location, while he told me about his recent troubles. How he had bounced from town to town, running into nothing but delusional people like adventurers who bragged about likely fake or embellished achievements. Well, on the nights he could remember. He would often wake up in some alleyway, or in a jail cell possibly after his drunken ramblings at some woman had been rebuked.

With a flash, we were teleported back to the settings all too familiar to me, to the buildings and streets that brought peace to my heart.

"I never came to Axel before," Jin said. He looked around and whistled. "It's impressively unimpressive."

"Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, it's got its share of crazies," I admitted. Though I couldn't help but smile. "But it's home."

"It's surprisingly busy though," Jin observed. "I always thought this was just a beginner town, but now everyone calls it 'The Town of Dreams'."

Yes, Axel had changed rapidly in the past few months. The town had always been steadily growing in popularity, but after I defeated the Demon King, the town became a tourist attraction overnight.

"Well, I can think of two reasons," I said. "One is the existence of a certain shop I'll tell you about later. The other is probably our achievements, defeating all the Demon King's forces and such."

Jin's jaw dropped to the floor as his face turned slowly to me.

"Wait… you're Satou Kazuma?!"

"Yes, I'm Kazuma."

"I'm sorry, I just never realised all this time…"

"Ah, I thought you knew, but it's alright. Treat me the same as you did before." I think that was quite modest and magnanimous of me. Naturally, Jin still seemed quite awestruck. "Though there is something you can possibly help me with."

Jin continued staring at me and the surroundings, amazed, until we made it back to the house. "So you really live in a mansion… I've heard a lot of conflicting rumours about you, and I've seen a few portraits of you that aren't exactly accurate… wait, did you say there's something I can help you with?"

At perfect timing, one of the windows of the mansion flew open, and Aqua stared down at us.

"Kazuma, you're finally back! Don't think I'll just let you back in the house now!"

I turned to Jin and whispered my request into his ear. "So listen, I need you to distract Aqua for tonight. Just follow my lead."

Jin nodded, still staring at Aqua. Was he remembering lost memories? Had I made a mistake? Hastily, I turned back to the window. "Listen, Aqua, I am sorry. I got a little too conceited! I found someone that requires your help - he has amnesia and needs someone to show him around and drink with tonight. Right, Jin?"

Aqua was eying both of us suspiciously as I gave him a nudge. "O-Oh, yes," he managed, after a moment. "I would be honoured if you, the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, would accompany me tonight."

"Hmph! Don't think this clears you, Kazuma!" Aqua said with a haughty folding of her arms. "Though it has been a while since anyone has acknowledged me to even a fraction of my true worth!"

She was clearly flattered. Just one more push was needed.

"It's true, it's true. Listen, your drinks are on me tonight."

"Really?" She spun around and leaned out of the window like an excited little girl, all dignity forgotten. "'The stingiest hero in history is making a generous offer? Jin, was it, you heard that too, right? Kazuma, you can't take that back now!"

My fists tightened but otherwise, outwardly, I only smiled. "Yes, yes, consider it an apology. Come before I change my mind."

With what was surely enchanted speed, she bolted from the window and presumably through the mansion, flinging the doors open only a few moments later.

"So, you, the legendary hero Satou Kazuma, want me, a complete stranger, to take your arch priest drinking so you can get back into your mansion?" Jin whispered to me.

"No no, it's more like I'm trying to do a nice thing for someone down on his luck, and it so happens to help my situation. It's a win-win."

Aqua hurried me into the house and then said goodbye, giving me little time to retract my offer. As she strolled away, no doubt pontificating about her greatness to Jin who followed in tow awestruck, an instinctive part of me shuddered at the tab that she would run up, before I realised that I was now rich and it was just a drop in the ocean now. Old habits, I guess. Besides, all the money, the time, the effort, would be worth it.

"Hey, Kazuma, I heard Aqua shouting excitedly. Did she win a prize or something?"

Standing in the living room, clutching Chomusuke like the very vision of cuteness, was Megumin.

You see, Darkness was staying overnight visiting little Sylphina, her cousin. Aqua would now be out until early morning. We were expecting no visitors.

Tonight, finally, Megumin and I will be alone…!