Chapter 9: Farewell

The town of Maine was filled with endless discussion.

The recent news of a necromancer who worked for the demon king was recently killed nearby was shocking to say the least. When the news boy said "Hearey Hearey! A necromancer that works for the demon king was killed yesterday at the town's fortress!" everyone began having a myriad of emotions.

Some were scared. Fear always took place into people's hearts. To think that they harbored a general under their noses was already scary enough, the fear elevated on what could've happened had the threat not been dealt with. What happens if it emerged and started wrecking havoc in the town? What if it enslaved them, forever bound to the empire? you can not and will not have any type of freedom. What if travelled to other cities and towns they do not know and cause chaos there? They would be to blame.

The fear spiralled into what if's. The endless possibilities on what could have happened struck them to their very core.

Then there were the skeptics. The ones who looked at this piece of news and said, "Pfft, how could we now this is possibly true? A general living at that abandoned fortress? Oh, and they don't even call it a general. Just someone who works for the demon king. This is clearly a biased news source making up fake news." They say with a pompous attitude.

Then there were the happy ones. Not the happy where they're were thrilled that a demon king general lived here, but that they were happy the enemy was neutralized. They sigh in relief as they saw the headlines talking about a necromancer general being killed. One could only imagine what would happen if it didn't.

And of course, there were the neutral. Ones who just didn't care about anything. They saw the news and said, "Meh, whatever." and left to do their very own thing.

All in all, the town had a lot of emotions running through, but there was one thing present in this collection of various thoughts: a necromancer.

A necromancer who works for the demon king empire was killed right at the heart of the abandoned fortress. When the royal army found out about this news, they went straight ahead to investigate. What they found was that yes, there was a necromancer here, and he did have connections to the demon king. They marked him as a general even though they were only eight known demon king generals. 2 of which was killed and another 2 missing.

What was also surprising is that on their way to find the necromancer, they discovered a massive tavern or chamber with an underground city in it. They didn't see themselves as the discoverer as they soon found multiple bones and fresh dead bodies, floors which were destroyed, indicating that someone had been here earlier. And pretty early too as they found a campsite with bones of rabbits still looking fresh.

The army explored deeper and deeper into the city, and eventually wound up inside the town hall where they found the skeleton that belonged to the necromancer.

The royal army can only wonder who killed this general.

Kazuma and Chris walk past the numerous groups of people all gathered around on discussing the recent hot topic.

"Geez, what is going on in this town." Kazuma grumbled as he had to squeeze his way out as two opposite groups were blocking the way.

"Like I would know." Chris too was confused. The two had woken up the next day. They slept at noon and woke up at 10 in the morning. Yeah, they deserve every minute of that sleep. But ignoring that, after they woke up and readied themselves, they were shocked to see the usually quiet town who minded their own business, being flocked by crowds, all huddling around the recent newspapers which were printed yesterday. It now being shown to the public.

"Hearey! Hearey!" The duo heard a boy shout to grab attention. They both looked at him, having slight expectations that they would get to know why today is so busy and crowded.

"For 15 eris, get the newest papers talking about the recent kill of a necromancer who works for the demon king!"

The duo went wide eyed.

"That's what they're talking about? Did she leak it?" Kazuma said. He remembered them explaining the full story to the receptionist yesterday.

"It isn't surprising really. For someone who works for the demon king being killed, it's big news."

"Eh, guess you're right." Kazuma moved on and the duo went on as usual.

They travelled past the many crowded people to reach the guild hall. That's where they think Ferdinand would be since they didn't specify a location to meet yesterday. They had eventually arrived and walked in.

Usually, when you walk into any of these guild hall, you would be met with noise. But this time, as the duo walks in, they were met with silence.

"Huh? What's going on?" He looked around his surroundings. The adventurers in it, who were all busy with their own stuff, stopped what they were doing and looked at them in silence.

"It's them! they're the ones who killed the necromancer!"

A man yelled that single line and the guild erupted with hurrahs and joy. They rushed into the still confused duo, and lifted them up in the air, chanting their achievement. The guild celebrated the two adventurers. They never had someone from this town kill an enemy as big as Hostis before, so they were delighted to hear that someone had put Maine on the map as one of the town that helped defeat a demon king general.

"Woah woah, hold on guys!" Kazuma yelped as he was bounced around by the people who lifted him up.

"Oh my goodness! woo- Hey! Don't touch me there!" Chris on the other hand, was enjoying the moment for a second before someone had touched her thigh.

The duo was carried around the guild, before they were dropped off Infront of the receptionist.

"Congratulations you two!" She says while clapping. "You two and that other guy had done what many could only dream of- defeating a demon king general."

"As your prize, since you already got the pay yesterday, we would like to award you these medallions as a token of appreciation." She presented them three medallions with the coat of arms of Maine.

"Wow, thank you so much." Chris grabbed the three medallions from her hand. "Though, I don't really appreciate how you called Ferdinand 'that other guy'."

"Sorry, I didn't ask for your names before. Could you please tell us?" She and many others near them leaned in to know what these legendary heroes names were.

"I'm Chris, he's Kazuma, and that other guy is Ferdinand."

"Hooray for Chris, Kazuma and Ferdinand!" The crowd of adventurers shout with enthusiasm.

"Man, it feels good to be appreciated again." Kazuma said as he heard the cheers and claps for him and her. He remembered the time when this exact scenario happened when they defeated Beldia and the destroyer. It was joys and all as they were celebrated for killing the two threats. But it all faded away as he was presented with a mountain of debt for damages caused to the town's wall and an arrest for destroying a stuck-up noble's house. He didn't even get any support for that!

Outside of the guild, a man with short brown hair and light armour enters the guild hall. He sees a crowd forming near the reception area, shouting names.

"Kazuma! Chris! Ferdinand!" They repeatedly say their names.

"Hmm?"

He approaches the crowd, confused as to why he heard his name and his friends. He stands on his tip toes, peaking above the crowd. There, he sees Chris and Kazuma looking at the medallions they were given.

"Hey Kazuma, Chris! What's going on?" He called out to them.

"Hmm?" Kazuma turns around. He recognizes that voice anywhere. It was, "Ferdinand?"

"Yeah, that's me. What's going on? Why are there people shouting my name?"

The crowd of adventurers turn to look at him.

"Uh, why are you looking at m-"

"It's Ferdinand!" The crowd shouted in glee. "Hooray for Ferdinand! Hooray for Ferdinand." Like before, they lifted him up and threw him up in the air.

"Woah! Woah hold it!"

After he was set down, he was thoroughly explained on what's been happening in the town.

"So news got out eh? Well, I appreciate the town's gesture." He says as he holds the medallion in his hand.

"Yeah. I heard the royal army came to investigate the basement." Chris said. She remembered someone saying to her the royal army came to fact check if there really is a necromancer general since they were sure the demon king only had 8 generals and not 9.

"Damn even the royal army knows? I guess I underestimated how fast media goes." Ferdinand said surprised. Even Kazuma was.

"Well anyways, I guess we should move on to today's topic." Chris says as she moves her eyes to Ferdinand.

"Right." Kazuma sighs. "Guess you're really leaving today huh?"

"Yes, I am." He says as he grabs the hilt of his new sword. "As you may know, I'm a freelancer. It isn't my duty to stay permanently in a party."

"I hope you two understand."

"We do." Kazuma said. "It's just that... I think we got some good chemistry. We really could've been one awesome team. But..."

"It's your decision Ferdinand." Chris ended Kazuma's sentence.

"Thank you, you two. While we are going our separate ways, that doesn't mean we won't be meeting each other again."

"Who knows, maybe we'll meet in the next town I'm going. Or we'll see each other when we least expect it." Ferdinand says as he looks hopeful.

"I just know that I'm going to miss you." He says the line he always do whenever he parts with a party he truly loves. And whenever he does, he truly means it 100%.

Though, nothing will top his original party.

"I'm gonna miss you too Ferdinand." Chris says as he lightly taps his chest with the back of her fist.

"Me too." Kazuma wasn't all that into tearful goodbyes. But this one? He got a little teary eyed.

"Man, who knew I could change in just a matter of days." Kazuma thought. He never really thought of himself that way.

"Hope to see you again in the near future." He smiles as he presented his hand towards them. They both shook his hand in turns.

"Goodbye, Chris, Kazuma." He turns to his back and leaves the guild through the door.

Ferdinand went into his pocket and took out a map. There, he looked around it, searching for a place where he would travel to. He has been to all the towns in the south of the kingdom, and yet, he hasn't been to the north yet. The closest town to the north where Maine is, is at-

"Axel."

"Looks like that's where I'm going." He then folded and put the map back in his pocket. He looks on towards the distance, the rising sun to his side making the town look more livelier than ever. Especially the crowds of people gathered around. He then says to himself in a hopeful manner,

"Axel, here I come."

Chris and Kazuma saw the door of the guild slowly shut itself. They just saw their friend who they made just yesterday ago leave from their very eyes.

"So, now what?" Kazuma said.

"Well, we don't really have any plans today. Though, there is something I need to tell you."

"Oh, what is it then?"

"Let's go and take a quest first. Something simple this time." She avoided the question as soon as she created it.

Kazuma looks on confused. Why the hell did she say that then if you're not even going to answer it? He just shrugs it off as just an Chris/Eris thing. He followed her to the bulletin board where they show all the quests they offer.

Chris observed the board, darting her eyes from flyer to flyer. The quest all vary in different difficulty and requests. Some needed goblin hunting in the nearby forest. Another needed a guard for transport for delivering goods. And this one needed a dragon to be slain. A variety of choices, all Kazuma never wanted to take.

"Hmm, how 'bout this one." She took a flyer from the board. It says that they needed to catch a group of thieves who were spotted camping near a house in the merchant district. The pay is just 200,000 eris.

"A group of thieves at a house? Couldn't they just dealt with it if they knew where they were?" Kazuma read the flyer and complained about why this needed to be a quest in the first place.

"Maybe they were strong or something." Chris rolls the flyer in her hand. "We're taking it."

"Eh, it isn't too hard. I'll roll with it." Kazuma said.

Chris and Kazuma march towards the reception desk. They got the quest registered and were on their way to where the flyer said they would be. On their short journey, Kazuma decided to ask about their little talk before.

"Come on Chris. Can't you just tell me already?" Kazuma begged to her. It seems this was a repeating question.

"Listen, I'll tell you after we finish this quest alright?"

"Is it something really important?" Kazuma questioned.

"I guess it is." Chris was still being vague about it. Just what was she going to tell him, he wondered.

"Is it about love?"

"Of course it isn't you idiot! Don't get your hopes up." Chris blushed madly and yelled at him, making a few strangers glance at them weirdly as they walked by.

"Okay okay geez, it was just a joke." Kazuma leaned away from her. "... a half joke." He whispered.

"What did you say?" Chris looked at him with a glare on her eyes.

"I-its nothing." He smiles nervously. "Did she hear me or something? God, I need to be careful. I'm dealing with a goddess right now." He thought.

They had eventually arrive at their destination. It was an old looking house in the middle of a lot. The windows were boarded up and same goes for the door. On the door, it says 'Don't come in, there's ghost inside. Definitely don't knock.' The look screamed that it was a hideout for something. It was the only one that looked odd in the street. Kazuma can only wonder who was the dumb fuck that didn't think twice about concealing their location.

"Well, I'm pretty sure this is the place." Chris looks at the flyer and back at the house.

"Can't really tell." Kazuma says sarcastically. "Well, why don't we go in."

They both walk in and decided to knock on the front door. They at least wanted to be polite before kicking these thieves's ass.

They heard some fast footsteps coming from the other side. As if they were caught off guard.

"Wh-Who is it?" Their suspicion was correct as they hear a girl behind the door stutter.

"We just wanted to arrest you for stealing things." Chris decided to be blunt about it. There was no use lying about it anyways.

"...oh shit." She could hear her whisper, "we got caught."

"Uh, whatever do you mean? We didn't steal anything haha." The girl tried to play it off.

"Man, these guys absolutely suck! First, their hiding spot is so obvious like it's telling them that their here. And this girl just sucks at lying." Kazuma thought in disappointment. He actually kinda pities them a bit. Though, he still has to do this quest and get some money.

"Alright, enough talk." Chris backs away. Her steps alerting the girl

"Phew, almost got out cover blo-" She was immediately knocked down as Chris kicks the door down.

"Ita!" The girl yelps as she falls to the ground with the door landing on her body.

"Cecilia! What's going on?" A man shouts from upstairs and runs down the steps as he heard the ruckus from below. There, he saw his partner knocked down on the ground with Chris and Kazuma entering the lobby.

"Grr, Hey!" The man grumbled as he saw the two intruders come in uninvited. "You better leave this house or else I-"

"Bind!" Kazuma cuts him off as he shouts his spell out which binded the man with rope. The rope curled around the guy which immobilizes him as he fell to the ground and rolls on the steps. His body getting knocked on every step as he rolls down.

"There's gotta be more. Kazuma let's split up and look if there's any more." Chris suggested. He nods in agreement. "I'll go look upstairs."

Kazuma saw Chris going up the stairs to the second floor. Kazuma looks around as he saw two ways that lead to a room in this house. One goes to the living room, while the other leads to the kitchen. He decided that he'll go to the living room since it makes sense that's where people would usually hang out.

He goes in and looks around if anyone is there. He sees in the middle a coffee table with a mountain of coins. He gets closer to see more.

"Heagh!" Suddenly, he hears a voice being yelled behind him. He turns around quickly and sees a knife being way too close for comfort.

"Woah shit!" Kazuma manages to dodge it. But not without injury. His right arm had a slice that went vertically down his arm. The blood dropped to the floor and Kazuma recovered.

"You piece of shit, Die!" The man which sliced him charged with his dagger pointed straight at him.

"Create water," He presented his arm to him. Water started coming out of it. "Freeze!" He rolled to his side as he said it

The man's legs which were on the water froze on the spot. The man still having the momentum moving forward, slammed his head on the wall.

"Bind." Like before, rope shot out from his hand and tied around the attacker.

"Grr, you won't get away with this!"

"Yeah yeah whatever." He walks up to the now tied up man. "This is for that attack earlier." Kazuma took out his chunchumaru and splices the cheek of the man's face.

"Gahh!" He yelped.

Kazuma left the scene and travelled into the kitchen this time. With the experience he had before, he walked in a lot more carefully this time. Looking back every few seconds to see if someone's sneaking up on him.

He turned to his back, saw no one there, and looked forward again. But instead of the look of the kitchen, he was met with a fist nearing to strike his face.

He backs away quickly, dodging the attack. He recovered and saw a girl standing there with her stance ready to strike.

"How'd you know we would be here?" She asked.

"I don't know. Maybe the boarded up windows and sign could be a factor."

"Why you little-" She threw him a punch which he dodges. But he felt a sharp pain coming from his stomach. Looks like she drew a kick towards it after she swung her fist.

"Gagh!" Kazuma backs away in pain. Well, more like he was thrown against the wall from the momentum of the kick. "You could've pulled back a bit y'know." He coughs out.

"Heagh!" She sent towards him another kick which aimed for his face.

He leaned to his side, the kick landing in the wall. She sent the kick so hard, it made a hole in the wall. Luckily, it got stuck I there. Kazuma saw her respectfully at how her legs were exposed in the thigh area. With quick thinking, he grabbed her exposed thigh and said-

"Drain touch!" Like what he did to Hostis, he sucked the life out of her. She quickly grew tired to the point where her legs gave up on her and dropped to the ground.

"You absolute pervert! You're gonna pay for that!" Though, she still has some energy left in her jaw as she complained about Kazuma touching her.

"Listen alright, it was necessary. I could've touch you anywhere but your thighs were the only ones showing skin! I am not a pervert okay!" Kazuma sent his excuses like rapid fire. Listen, while he did enjoy it a tiny bit, he did it out of necessity. He totally didn't enjoy the feeling of her thigh, Okay?

Like the people before him, he binded her.

As he left the babbling mouthed girl, he went through a doorway that left the kitchen. There, he finds a room with a door. He goes and opens it. He finds out that this place harbors a place he didn't want to go again after leaving it so soon: the basement.

He mentally sighs as he travels down the basement. With his advanced vision which makes him see in the dark, he walks down the steps slowly. Every step he takes creaks the floorboards below.

"So like I was saying. Our next target should be the guild." He stops his approach as he heard a man conversing with his fellow mates below. He drops down to hear better on what they were saying.

"With the amount of quests people take there, I would assume they have some big cash stash in there somewhere."

"Yeah, well with how much eris they must have, it wouldn't be dumb to assume they have some top level security guarding the place." Another man spoke. His voice was more on the calculating side of things.

"Actually, I've been to the place before. They don't have a ton of security there. By night, we could easily sneak in their vault and steal all their money." A third voice spoke, this time being more feminine.

"You better be right. I don't want us to go there expecting to go out with tons of cash only to get thrown in jail." The first man said.

"So they plan on stealing from the guild huh?" Kazuma had eavesdrop their conversation. He wasn't the man of justice. In fact, he was far from it. But he knew he had to stop this. Not because it was the right thing to do, but because he could get some quick cash with it.

"Create fire, create water." He whispered the two spells. The result was a wad of steam slowly covering the room. He continued this combo till he can block the vision of the three assistants.

"Hey, is it just me or is this room getting hotter?"

"I've already told you John, I'm not into you and we are not doing it." The woman spoke with a tone of affirmation. As if she has told this line hundreds of times.

"No it's not about that! I'm asking this literally."

"Now that you mention it, it is a bit hot here." The other guy spoke.

Soon after that, the trio quickly notice the steam that was above their heads.

"Looks like we got company." The woman whispered.

Kazuma didn't need to kill these guys. It was actually against the request of the flyer. All they needed to do was bring these guys to the knights. So he thought of ways to immobilize them and bind them.

"Hagh!" The man shouted as a dagger flew straight at the stairs where Kazuma was. He was caught surprised as he saw the dagger fly right past his face and into the wall beside him.

"Shit, they caught me!" Kazuma mentally panicked.

"There! On the stairs!" The man yelled as he and his friend both go towards Kazuma's now exposed hiding spot. They ran up the steps and saw Kazuma huddled above them

"Create earth, wind!" He performed the combo which resulted in dirt and debris flying towards their eyes. They shout in pain as their eyes burned from having dirt stuck in them.

"Hagh!" Kazuma jumped down and kicked the two thieves down the steps. The two knocked one another and both rolled down. He then binded the two.

"Grr." The woman growled as she saw Kazuma walking down thew steps cautiously. He looks at the woman with a glare.

"It seems you've knocked out most of my comrades since you're here." She guessed it since he had to meet the three goons upstairs in order to be here.

"Guess you're the final one in this little group."

"Enough talk! Let's settle this now." The woman said before she ran straight at him with a kick.

He easily dodged her as he rolled to his side. She saw him roll beside her. She landed on her feet and took a dagger out from her back. She charged straight at him with a swing.

"Hagh!" "Heagh!" "Geagh!" She grunted as she sent multiple calculated swings at him. Kazuma could dodge them, but of course, with how fast she was doing it, he did get a few cuts on his arms.

"I need to think of something before she cuts me up like onions." He thought for a moment on what he should do. The girl swung her dagger to his right. He quickly brought out his trusty chunchumaru to block it.

Clang* The two blades sparked as they hit each other.

They both struggled to overpower each other. Both of them glare right at one another.

"Bind!" Kazuma saw how she was still preoccupied with overpowering. Since his left hand was still open, this was the perfect opportunity to strike.

Rope came out from his hand as he grinned in victory.

But he got his hopes up to early.

The woman jumped out of the way, leaving the rope to tie in on itself.

"Think you can fool me like these other guys." She gets up from her jump. "Snipe!" She threw her dagger as she yelled the spell out.

"Oh shit!" He swore as he saw the incoming blade being thrown straight at his face. He knew it wouldn't miss since she said snipe, a spell which will strike the part of any target with precision if you have high luck. And this girl? She had it.

With little time to dodge, he could only use one thing to block it. He used his left arm as shield to block his face.

He winced in pain as the dagger traveled through his wrist, the blade even poking out on the other side.

"Gahh." He gasped as he inspected his arm with a dagger stuck to it.

"Heh, gotta say I'm impressed. No one would be willing to do that." The woman cheekily commented. "But it's time to end this." She says as she takes another dagger out from her back.

"Tch, you never run out of daggers do you." He grunted out in pain.

The woman then ran straight at him, she held the dagger backwards as she sprinted across the room.

But something she hasn't realized yet, was that the air around them began to grow much colder than expected.

As the woman approached closer and closer, Kazuma launched his final trump card.

"Create Wind!" He yelled as a gust of wind rivaling a tornado was thrusted right at her, throwing off her balance and in turn threw her across from where she stood. Her body was thrown against the wall, knocking the wind from her lungs.

"Gahh!" The woman yelped as she breathed in hard to fill back her lungs with air.

Kazuma grunts in pain as he pulls the dagger out from his wrist, the cold air around him sends chills down his spine. He sees the woman still recovering from the unexpected attack, and binds her with the last bit of rope he has left. He sighs in tiredness.

A couple of minutes later, he throws the last body on to the ground in the pile of tied up thieves.

"You sure that's the last one?" Chris asked as she observes the struggling thieves

"Yeah, I've checked the entire house. At least down at this floor." Kazuma said. He found it a bit astonishing that Chris hadn't found anyone upstairs. He was the only one who got caught in the middle of the battle.

"Well, looks like our job here is done." Chris dusts her hands off and walks to the door. "Let's notify the guards that we've done our job."

They did exactly like what she had told him. They went to he nearby garrison, told the guards about the criminal group, got them arrested, and we're walking back to the guild. There was now a red stamp by the garrison on the flyer to signify they had done their job. All they had to do was show it to the lovely receptionist and they get their paycheck.

As they were walking back, Kazuma decided that he should remind Chris on her promise before they started their short journey.

"Say Chris," He started, the former looked at him. "Weren't you going to tell me that thing you said after we finished the quest?"

"Right, that." Chris says as she side glanced.

Kazuma was still confused and curious as to what she really wanted to tell him. She was so evasive about it before, and she's so reluctant to say it. Just what could she be hiding?

"Chris, if you're scared that I might reject you, I'll let you know that I will never reject a girl's confession okay?"

"It's not a love confession okay!" Chris yelled out in embarrassment, her cheeks were tinted with red. "Maybe because you've never had a woman confess to you before..." She whispers.

"What was that!"

"Nothing nothing." She looks away from him as she grins.

"Anyways, I'll let you know on something."

"Okay?" Kazuma leans a bit closer to her to hear her better.

"Did you find it odd how you found all the thieves at the bottom floor and the basement?"

"Uh, yeah. I guess I do." It wasn't a lie. When he heard Chris say that she didn't find anyone upstairs, he grew a little suspicious at her. But he shrugged it off as a mere coincidence.

"Well, while I didn't plan that, it was also the perfect opportunity to test you."

"Test me?" Just what the hell was she going at? He wondered.

"I wanted to see if you can handle things by yourself. See what happens when the cards are stacked against you. I wanted to see if you are capable by yourself."

"And I saw it all." Right. She was Eris after all. She could've seen him from above in heaven, so it made sense. But he still couldn't quite figure out why. Why did she do this? Did she purposefully leave him be to fight all the thieves? If so, why?

"For what reason then?" He asked her, his curiosity at the peak of its height. Many questions were flowing inside his mind. He really wanted to know the reason behind all of this.

"Because... I'm leaving you."

Kazuma stopped walking after he heard her say that. Chris noticed the lack of him as she walked forward. She stopped as well and looked behind her to see him. His hair covered the eyes of his, she couldn't know what emotions went through him, but she could guess what it was.

"Please, tell me this is one of your jokes."

"Kazuma, I'm not joking."

"Come on Chris, it's just one of your little teases like you always do." He bit his lip, his voice getting more shaky.

"Kazuma, please calm down for a sec-"

"TELL ME YOU'RE JOKING!" He shouted suddenly, startling not only her, but the bystanders that were passing by.

"Tell me you're not leaving me Chris! Please, Ferdinand leaving was bad enough, but you too?" He said as tears were starting to form in his eyes.

He didn't know why he did this. He didn't know he even had this feeling of companionship towards her. But the thought of her leaving him, struck him to his core.

"I left my previous party. My parents left me, Ferdinand left me, and now you too! Who do I have left?" He asked her with his tears in his eyes.

He didn't want her to leave. Because who will he have left? Everyone that he knew was gone. His party, yun yun, wiz, vanir, Luna, Dust, Ferdinand, and now Chris. All of them, now gone. What does he have left? Who will he talk to? Who will he have adventurers with? He didn't want her to leave, since she's the only one he has left.

"Tell me Chris, Who will I have left except for you?" He looks at her, his eyes now visible. Chris could see what emotion he truly shows. Pain. Pain was told through his eyes. She looks at him with the same emotion he's feeling as well.

"Tell me!"

Chris bit her lip, as if to hold herself back. She released it and spoke her answer.

"You will only have yourself."

Kazuma, honestly didn't have anything to say to that. It was the truth. He didn't have anyone except for himself.

You know, it was kinda of funny. He remembered this exact scene play out just days ago back in Axel. He told his party that he was leaving them for good. Saying that they were holding himself back and that they were bothersome towards him. He left them as they were crying their hearts out.

And now, he was the one who cries. Chris left him, and he's the one crying. He knew there was a god up there, controlling every event that takes place in his life. He just wanted to know, what kind of cruel joke was he playing at?

"I'm sorry Kazuma. But it's for your own good." Chris herself was growing tears of her own. Maybe because she had also developed a companionship towards him, and that saying that she would leave him for no other reason other than for his own benefit, felt like stabbing him on the back.

"How? How is this for me?" He tried and tried to reason to her. Hoping that one of these questions would lead to her changing her mind.

"You need to grow up. If I'm here, you will never learn how to fight in this world." What the hell was she saying, he thought. It didn't make any sense to him. Couldn't she just fight along side him?

"Look at yourself now. Look how you handle the action of your friend leaving you."

"What?" He said, tears stopped flowing from his eyes. What did she say? Was she right? He didn't want to know if she was right. He wasn't a baby. He's a grown up, he's 18 now.

And yet, he couldn't help but agree with what she was saying. He was crying tears of sadness, begging for his friend to not go.

She was right. He needed to look at himself more clearly. He needed to grow up.

"I need to go. Good luck." Was all she said before she dashed to a nearby by alleyway and parkoured between the buildings.

"Wait, Chris!" Kazuma, coming to his senses again, sees Chris running away from him. He calls out her name as she ran after her.

"I'm sorry, Kazuma." She whispers to herself as tears began to roll down her face. She jumps from window to window, hoping on the rooftops and running away without looking back.

It was no use. She had disappeared as quickly as she ran. He could no longer see the silver haired thief anywhere in the distance.

He sighs, thinking about what to do now. He feels his face still wet from the tears he shed. He wiped them out with the sleeve of his clothes.

Though, he rubbed it some more since he felt his face still being wet. He rubbed it again, and yet, it was still wet. He realizes then, that he was crying tears.

He hiccups as he tries to wipe the tears out, but it was no use. They just kept coming back.

He breaks down to a full cry as he falls to the ground in the alleyway. He cried, he cried his heart out. Alone once again, like his previous life, and now.

"Was this how it felt?" He asked, to them, his former party members. If so, then he truly feels sorry for them.

Kazuma enters the guild, much to the excitement of the fellow adventurers that saw him. But that soon fade out as they saw his soulless expression. His eyes had dark circles around it, and his aura changed from just a chill dude, to a full on depressed man.

He tread his way through the crowds of onlookers, all looking in concern for him. He didn't care. He just wanted to get this quest over with.

"Hey, did something happen to him?"

"I don't know, but the girl that's usually beside him isn't there. Maybe that's got something to do with it."

"Yeah you're right. Maybe they had a falling out or something. That would explain his pitiful demeanor." Kazuma bit his lip as he heard this.

He eventually arrived at the reception desk, where the lovely lady whose stationed there was delighted to see the hero of the town. Only for her to deflate once she's seen his expression.

"Oh my Eris Kazuma, what happened to you?" She asked out of concern.

"Eris..." He whispered her name as he heard her mention it. "It's nothing, just some stuff happened earlier. No big deal." His voice sounded stiff, almost robotic like. It was devoid of any life.

"Where's Chris?"

"Gkh!" He grunted out.

"Kazuma!" She yelled out as she saw him choke in his own breath.

"No no, it's... fine. I'm fine. Just give me the pay for the quest. Please." He says chockingly as he handed the stamped flyer on the desk.

"I-If you say so, Kazuma." She stutters as she took the flyer and went to the back. She went back to him and handed him the promised eris.

"Here you go. 200,000 eris."

"Thank you." He says as he took the coins from the counter and pockets them in his purse.

"If it isn't personal, I want to ask." The woman fidgeted in nervousness.

"What is it?" He looks at her with his now cold dead eyes.

"Where is Chris?"

A moment of silence pass through them. The woman waited in anticipation, hoping he would answer her curiosity. She feared that she would strike a chord in him with this question, but she wanted to know anyways as she saw the absence of her by his side.

"... She left."

"She what?" She heard what he said, but she really couldn't tell by how quiet he was. She just needs to make sure that she heard it cle-

"I said she left." Right, looks like she heard it correct the first time. His voice was dead, his eyes devoid of any life, and his breathing was calm yet unnatural, like he was constraining himself.

"She left me just an hour ago, that's why I'm alone."

"So please, don't ask anymore questions. I just want to be alone." He said as he was holding back tears.

"I understand. You can go now, Kazuma." She says understandingly. She knew that if she pushes any further, he will just break down right Infront of her and all the people around them, so she had to stop. Plus, it was his request. It would be rude to go against someone's wishes.

He left. No goodbyes, no words, not even a nod. He just turned to his back, and walked towards the doors.

The adventurers that saw their hero who was once cheerful and happy before now sad and depressed, looked on in pity. They didn't hear the reason why he's so sad now, but they had a rough idea since his partner Chris was no longer beside him. They just looked away solemnly.

Kazuma walks out the doors, the doors themselves closing slowly by themselves. He walked slowly towards his inn, looking at the crowds of people still discussing the hot topic of today.

"People really don't care huh?" He saw how all them didn't show concern for him, didn't show a bit off confusion towards him, heck, they didn't even bat and eye to him. He was just a nobody in the sea of strangers.

But he knew why. Because, why would they? If he himself didn't care about other people's lives, why should he? It made sense how they didn't show a hint of concern, or remorse. They didn't even know his current situation.

Plus, the adventurers back at the guild that did see his look, would soon forget about it the next day. They had no reason to comfort him, or get to know him. He was a stranger. A hero that killed a necromancer, but that would be easily forgotten the moment the next day comes.

"Life really is cruel, huh?"

He had arrived at the inn, he walks through the door and was greeted by the same receptionist as before.

"Ah welcome back my favorite couple! Where's the lucky lady?" He asked a she saw the person that was usually beside him was absent.

"She left."

"Really? Man, I thought you looked like a great coupl-"

"SHE'S NOT MY GIRLFRIEND. WE WERE NEVER A COUPLE. STOP SAYING THAT WE ARE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Kazuma had enough. He didn't want to be reminded anymore of her. And this poor man was the last straw.

"I-I'm sorry Mister!" The receptionist apologized profusely.

Kazuma knew he shouldn't have done that. The guy didn't know and plus, he was the one who set the lie in the first place. But for now, he just didn't care. Maybe he'll apologize to him tomorrow. If he does go out tomorrow.

He opens the door to his room. He plans to just crash on the bed and sleep, even though it was the afternoon. But before he could do that, there was something blocking him from doing that. An object was placed on top of the bed.

It was a short sword. Actually, it was Chris' short sword with a note beside it. He walks up to the bed and grabs the note from beside it, reading it.

Dear Kazuma,

I know it was wrong to just leave you unexpectedly back there. I didn't even say goodbye to you. So this is that. A goodbye. Goodbye Kazuma. I hope whatever journey lies ahead of you, I hope you conquer it and achieve victory at the end. Don't worry, you're not alone. You were never alone. I'm here Kazuma. On top of heaven, I will always be watching over you, cheering you on.

Goodbye once again, Kazuma.

Your friend, Chris/Eris.

P.S I decided to give my short sword to you as a gift. Since, you're never gonna be able to steal it from me. Use it well and don't get it stolen away. It's a holy relic so it has powers in it. You'll learn how to use it later on.

Kazuma finished reading the note, or a letter in this case. He just looked at the letter some more, taking in on the message which was said to him. A few drops of tears started wetting the fine paper.

Hiccup* "gigh." Kazuma tried to stop the tears from flowing, but he just couldn't contain it any longer. He drops to the floor, his knees getting hurt from the sudden drop.

But he didn't care. All he cares about now, is to cry. To cry all the tears that he prevented this day. He didn't mind them now since he's alone. He remembers the note she left, the message she said, and how much it meant to her and to him.

He was glad she got to say goodbye. Even if it was just a letter. He cried some more, mixed with tears of sadness at the prospect of her leaving him, while also shedding tears of joy at remembering the few but impactful happy memories they made.

Once again, he cried his heart out.

"I may be alone once again Chris. But today, I'll try to make you proud by fulfilling my promise.

"... To get stronger."

End of Arc 1

To be continued.

Side story: The Harsh Reveal

Yun Yun was walking down the streets of Axel. Before this, she was actually at his mansion, but after knocking on the door and getting no response, she assumed they were out. With no other clue on where they could be, she decided that the only other place they would be at is the guild hall.

So as she was walking towards it, she thought of the plans she has on today.

"Okay Yun Yun, remember that when greeting them, don't be too energetic where it looks like you rely on them too much. I don't want them to think that I have no friends."

"But I don't think Kazuma would mind. That's what I like about him. He seems so nice about everything. He doesn't really care if I mess up or stutter. Nor does he mind me joining in on their fun. Though, he can be a bit much at times." She remembers the time where Kazuma would occasionally look at her breasts. She made it seem like she didn't know, but trust her, she knew.

"But no matter, today, I'm going to invite them to a quest. Yes. A quest. And I'm the one inviting them." She balled her fist and placed it near her chest, trying to gain self confidence this way.

"I've never done it before, but I will try to. It will be the very first time I invite them. So act cool and don't mess up Yun Yun!" She gave words of encouragement to herself.

She had arrived at the guild hall. She walks in and looks around inside for the party full of misfits. She noticed how they were not here anywhere. Maybe they went for a quest or something.

She went to a nearby table and waited there. A waitress did come by to ask her for an order, she just dismissed her saying she was waiting for someone.

She waited. And waited. and waited. When she arrived it was early noon, but now it was close to 4pm. What kind of quest did they go to?

She looks around the room, contemplating if she should leave. No. She wanted to invite them. She wanted to go questing with them. She breathed in hard and waited for them at the exact same spot, her eyes looked determined.

Creak*

She heard a creaking sound of the door. She looked back at the entrance and saw a familiar round hairpiece with blue hair. Finally, they're here.

She got up from her spot and walked at a steady pace towards them. Not too fast and not too slow, she thought consciously.

"Hi there Darkness!" She said loudly.

"Oh no! I said that too loudly didn't I?" She panicked internally.

"Oh. Hey Yun Yun. What brings you here?" Darkness said, her voice being much more toned down than usual. Weird.

Yun Yun observed them. They were the exact same people. They had no changes to their look. They looked normal appearance wise. But something was different about them. Their aura. Their demeanor. Something was off, way off. Like the energy around them was gone and they were just lifeless bodies.

That's also when she realized a new guest. Rosalina. She didn't know her name, but she did see her standing at the back.

Another thing she noticed, is that Kazuma was nowhere to be seen. Usually, he would be there with the crew, always there complaining, looking dead, but still there to consult them. But now, he was absent. She had no clue where he is.

"Um, may I ask something?"

"What is it?" Darkness said.

"Um, who is that person at the back?"

"Oh her?" She looks back at Rosalina. "She's Rosalina, or Rose for short." Again, her voice was devoid of life. It bugged her a bit.

"Hi there!" Rose spoke from the back. "I'm guessing your name is Yun Yun." She had heard their conversation, so she knew it from there.

Yun Yun just smiled and waved at her. She then turns her attention back to Darkness.

"I have another question." She began, "Where's Kazuma?"

This garnered a reaction which she wasn't expecting. Megumin looked down and started covering her face. Aqua looks away with tears forming in her eyes. Rosalina just looks down and stays quiet out of respect. And Darkness closes her eyes and says the answer.

"... He left."

"... What?" Yun Yun took a moment to process that answer. She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe it. There's no way the Kazuma that has stuck with his team for a year and a half now would leave them.

"He left. He lest us just two days ago. We don't know where he went." Darkness reiterated the answer, giving more context to it.

Yun Yun looks down in shock. So it is true. She didn't know how to process this answer. Just moments ago she was hoping to ask them out on a quest with the full team. But now, they said he split up and left them, leaving the entire party to solemn in despair.

"... I need to go." Yun Yun said briefly before walking past them and leaving the guild. The party just looks at her before moving on to get their paycheck for their quest.

She walks down the path to her inn. She had been staying at Axel for the time being but now, she wants to leave. She wants to leave and go search for him. She didn't know why. She didn't even have a special relationship with him. They were just friends. At least, that's what he always told her.

When she got there, the receptionist told her that there was a letter sent to her. She asked for it and she gave her the letter. It was from her father.

"Father?"

She glance at it, before opening it to see it's contents. She took the letter out of it's envelope and read it.

"The demon king is near the village?" She read it some more. "You must find a hero and... make a baby with him?!" She screamed out loud, startling thee receptionist. She apologized profusely.

She went to her room to read the letter more privately.

The letter talked about how there's a threat looming over the crimson demon village (her hometown) and that she must find a man who she can make babies with, and that baby will grow to fight the forces of the empire.

Now this was even more of an excuse to find Kazuma. It was embarrassing to say that she wanted to find him to make a baby, but it was for the greater good! The greater good for her village! He seemed like the perfect candidate to be her mate. Yes, a mate, not a lover. She didn't love him. She totally didn't.

She packed up her bags, ready to set out on her journey to find Kazuma and save the village.

What she didn't know, was that there was a second letter in the envelope. And that the first letter she read, was just a story her friend made up.

She finished packing her bags. She walks out of her room, told the receptionist that she was leaving, and set off on her journey. Her journey to find Kazuma.

Author's note:

Well that was exciting. Hopefully you enjoyed reading the end of Arc 1. Now what will Kazuma do now that he is alone with no friends in sight? Tune in to the next arc.

You'll probably get a rough idea with the side story I've written.

Anywho, that's it from me. Hope you enjoyed reading and I'll see you later.

P.S I'm not Arabic, I just know a lot about Islam, at least, the basics. Selamat Hari Raya everyone!

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"... So, do you think you made the right decision, Eris?"

"I believe I did, Jibril." She looks back at him, tears flowing down her eyes.