(Sorry for the long and I do Mean LONNGGGGG delay. Something came up and I couldn't write for a couple weeks.)

Kazuma's thoughts: "Whoa, hang on! I can't go falling in love at first sight!"

Kazuma: "Uh, yes, um…what can I do for you?"

He could deal with someone younger than him, like Megumin, or someone who was (or at least looked) his age, like Aqua, but his voice cracked a little with nervousness as he talked to this obviously older woman. That's what happens after being a lifelong hikikomori.

Toji wasn't exactly interested in the woman.

He preferred someone more like his wife who is sadly now gone.

Aqua and Megumin stared at both Kazuma and the woman.

Unknown Knight: "Tell me, was it your party that posted this for recruitment? Are you by

any chance still recruiting?"

The female Knight held out a piece of paper. Kazuma had forgotten they hadn't taken

down the recruitment notice since adding Megumin.

Kazuma: "Oh, that. Yes, we're still looking for more members, but to be perfectly honest, I can't recommend it—"

Unknown Knight: "Please! Oh, please let me be in your party!"

He'd been trying to put her off gently, but the Knight suddenly grabbed his hand.

Kazuma: "Wh-wh-wh-whoa, hold on. I should warn you—we have a lot of problems. Neither of the other members except that guy with black hair is even slightly capable, and I'm in the lowest class! In fact, just a little while ago, one of my friends wound up covered in slime—Ow ow ow ow!"

She'd squeezed his hand extra hard the moment he said "covered in slime."

Unknown Knight: "I knew that was your companion I saw earlier with all that goop on them! How did she end up like that? Please let me get…get covered in…"

Kazuma: "What?!"

Kazuma's thoughts: "What did she just say?"

Toji and the rest stared at her like she was a freak or weirdo.

Unknown Knight: "W-wait, let me try again! What I mean is, how could I, a Knight, overlook two tender young women in such a state? How about it? I'm a Crusader, an advanced class of Knight. I believe that fits your requirements."

Kazuma's thoughts: "What was with this girl? She was giving me the crazy eye. She'd seemed

so calm just a moment ago!"

A red flag went up in his mind. This girl had something in common with

Aqua and Megumin.

Kazuma's thoughts: "I hated to turn down a looker, but I had no choice."

Kazuma: "Wellll, I'm sorry, but as I said a moment ago, I really can't recommend this party. One of our members has yet to be of any use to anybody, and the other can cast only a single spell per day. And, again, I'm the lowest possible class. We're one dysfunctional group, so I really recommend you look elsewh—!"

Her grip on his hand tightened further.

Unknown Knight: "That's even better! The truth is… It's hard to say out loud, but I'm really… I'm confident in my defensive abilities—I am! But I'm a bit of a

klutz, and my…my attacks never hit, so…"

Kazuma's thoughts: "Good old reliable intuition."

Unknown Knight: "So I'm an advanced class, but it's not a big deal! I want you to send me

right out front—use me as a shield!"

The female Knight brought her face, with its graceful features, close to

Kazuma's as he sat in his chair.

Very…very…close…

Because he was seated, she stood above me, but she'd gotten so near that

her long golden hair brushed his cheeks and set his heart pounding.

Kazuma's thoughts: "Now I was really paying for that hikikomori life…!"

Kazuma's thoughts: "No! No, I wasn't. This was just too much stimulation for an adolescent virgin, and it was throwing me off. Stay calm! Don't get taken in by her wiles!"

Toji stared along with Aqua and Megumin.

Toji, Aqua, and Megumin's thoughts: "This girl is definetly a masochist."

Kazuma: "Now, now, how could we use a woman as a shield? We really are an extremely weak party, ma'am, so I think you'd wind up as a monster's

punching bag on every single quest."

Unknown Knight: "Yes! That's perfect!"

Kazuma: "N-no, it's not! Just today, one of my companions were eaten by Giant Toads and ended up all slimy! Seriously, that's likely to happen every single day…!"

Kazuma's thoughts: "…Now I get it."

The female Knight gripping his hand and blushing? As he looked at her, it finally dawned on him. It wasn't just her abilities that wouldn't help them. Like the rest of his party except Toji, she was useless to the core.

(End of chapter. Please don't be surprised if I randomly stop again. But I will try to keep writing.)