God's Blessing on a Cruel World

by strongestkorean

Kazuma and Aqua are tossed in a much more brutal, unforgiving world where there is no resurrection or second chances. This place functions much less like a game, the character's personalities are more grounded, and our hero meets and brings the original party together in a very different, but much more intimate way, with a lot blood and tears in between. (contains smut)

8. Cold-Blooded

an: The previous chapter has had a small revision. To prevent confusion, I highly recommend you read the changed part; the scene where Wiz is about to finish Mitsurugi off. Apologies for the inconvenience, I'll work to make sure this doesn't happen again.

---

'How many times has this happened?'

A youthful man pondered to himself soon after becoming conscious of his surroundings. He couldn't count the amount of times he had awoken in a strange place after a longwinded, bloody conflict. His tired eyes glimpsed upon a small, generic bedroom with himself laid at its centre. The environment was foreign, yet breathed an indescribable homeliness. The door on the opposite end opened, and through it entered a woman.

Kazuma's dreary gaze became fully alert after laying eyes upon her. This lady stood tall, with a stunning face and an amazingly mature figure, curves visible even through the layers of her robing. She had long brown hair that cascaded down her shoulders at the front and flowed as far as her mid-back from the rear, curling slightly at the ends. Her right eye, as well as a section of her face was obscured by a fringe, but her unblemished pale skin glowed through it brilliantly despite the lack of exposure. Her clothes were themed purple—unusual, and normally considered unorthodox, but it suited her flawlessly. The gaze of the entrant was soft and her body language remained passive. Even after being tricked betrayed many times over, Kazuma had never felt so relaxed in the presence of a stranger.

"How are you feeling, adventurer?" a soft, mature voice asked.

As the boy's thoughts settled, bigger concerns became apparent to him. He jumped into a sitting position.

"Who… Who are you?—No, my party—Is my party okay?"

The woman closed her eyes and calmly paced toward the bedside of the green-eyed man. She took a seat at a stool placed just to his left.

"They're fine. Out of your group, you were in the worst condition by far. How much do you remember?"

Kazuma looked down in thought. Since he woke, the prior events had been returning to him in pieces. The solo fight, the steal, the cursed blade and then—

"My arm…!" The young man yanked the beddings from his torso, gazing upon his completely unblemished limb, "This… Huh? I can't—"

"Don't worry, the numbness above your elbow is a side effect of the medicine; it'll wear off soon," the brown-haired lady assured. "And to answer your first question, my name is Wiz. I own this shop."

'Shop?'

The female Mage could easily read the storm of questions swirling within the adventurer's mind. "Rest assured, I'll explain everything to you, Kazuma. I want you to explain everything you know to me as well, but first—you must be hungry."

In the boy's delirium since his waking, he hadn't noticed the bowl of food that had been clutched in her hands. It was only then that the sweet, dairy scent of porridge had become noticeable to him. He attempted reach for it with his dominant arm, but it simply flopped into his lap.

'Oh, Right…'

He then reached with his left, but the woman lifted his bowl away from his grasp, leering coldly toward him.

"I'll feed you," she stated with a sharp look, bringing a spoonful close to his mouth. "Aaaah…"

"I-I don't think that's really necessary. If you leave it in my lap, I can just—"

"Aaaaah~"

A delicate smile crept on the woman's face.

'Is she my mother or something? But…' Kazuma felt his cheeks warm up, 'She's cute.'

"Aaah…"

…

"Is my party here?" the satiated young man asked the shopkeep.

"Yes, they're just on the other side."

His eyes flashed with elation. "Really? Then—"

"However, I have cut a deal with them. I need to know what happened—in detail," the owner expressed sternly.

"Oh, you mean…?"

"I want to know everything that you remember. I already have the accounts of your allies, but your alibi will prove especially valuable," a controlled resentment burned within her eyes. "Many people died… People I should've been able to protect. I have to make sure this never happens again."

A look of surprise befell the male fighter. Acts of selflessness were seen as strange by most people around him while he lived in the parallel world. It was probably the first time he had heard someone outside of his inner circle show such concern for the wellbeing of others without seeking something in return.

"You're a good person… Aren't you?" A chilled smile grew on Kazuma's face.

"Huh?—" she glanced at him, confused.

"You saved me, didn't you? Thank you," the adventurer bowed where he sat.

"Y-You don't have to thank me," the woman looked away timidly. "It was you who was placed in such a terrible situation, and it was your sacrifice that saved the lives of many soldiers. If anything, I'm indebted to you, Kazuma."

'Wow… Is she an angel?' the male adventurer stared absently, almost entranced by the Mage.

Kazuma, who usually was incredibly meticulous with whom he trusted and shared information with, happily complied with the woman, even if it was the first time they had met. His severed arm had been repaired, the immediate danger of his rival seemingly vanished and the hospitality he recieved was warm. It was least he could do, even if she sought to take advantage of him.

…

The door of the small bedroom opened, and through it stepped a fully recovered party leader.

Thump!—

"""Kazuma!"""

He had just about made it about three steps into the hallway before being tackled by three of his closest allies.

"You had me so worried—again!"

"Are you okay? You're okay, right!?"

"If you're a demon that has possessed my friend's body, reveal yourself now before I explode you."

"I'm real—I promise! If you squeeze any harder I'll actually die!" the boy quipped to a small Arch Wizard as he felt his ribs bend under his allies' compressive joy.

Aqua pulled back, yanking two Crimson Demons off the poor soul so she could examine him. She grasped his limp arm, studying it thoroughly. A few moments later, she sighed with an alleviated expression. "You really had me worried there, partner."

"Yeah, looks like it's becoming my habit now, heh—"

Plop!

"—Mgh!" the young man hitched as his female healer gently chopped his head.

"That wasn't a compliment, dummy."

"Sorry, ma'am."

"Kazuma…" A familiar voice quietly voiced from behind the rest of the young man's comrades. A Crusader stood with a feeble posture. Her expression showed great relief, but with an even greater layer of guilt atop it. The swordswoman struggled to maintain eye contact as the male adventurer approached within an arm's length. Her dry throat croaked; she tried again:

"Kazuma… F-For what happened… It was a in the heat of the moment—and I couldn't think of anything—"

Grab!

"—Hmm!?" Darkness' body tensed. The shame that had been eating at her conscience was replaced with surprise, confusion, and an ample amount of comfort.

"You don't have anything to apologise for," the brown-haired man gently reassured, resting his chin on the knight's shoulder before taking a step back. "If you hadn't done what you did, I wouldn't be standing here in the first place… Though it did hurt like hell."

The blonde woman smirked slightly, feeling a pleasant warmth fill her body as she thought. "I could have done without hearing that last part."

Kazuma faced the spirited group of girls. Their bright expressions were a soothing, even therapeutic sight for the young man. He was left in a state of contentedness for a short while, before he shook himself out of his daze, a grin forming on his face.

"I dunno about you guys but I think we've earned ourselves a little break. How's that sound?"

The adventurers exchanged laughs, bickering amongst each other within the small backroom. They were ushered by the party's Archpriest through a passageway until they found themselves within the main shop floor.

"Finally a break from fighting? That sounds nice," Yunyun sighed.

"It's also fine by me, but we're still doing my daily explosion," Megumin crossed her arms.

"I'll make sure to train hard, even while we're not questing," Darkness nodded.

As the group found themselves pacing towards the exit, a pang of realisation hit the male adventurer. He turned to face the counter, finding that the owner had silently entered the room—unfazed. She continued with her routine tasks, leisurely cleaning and sorting the store's merchandise as if the chaotic events of the prior day were a mere afterthought.

'Even though she said that my alibi was all that she needed in return, it feels wrong just to leave like this after she just saved all of our lives.'

Kazuma's eyes frowned. He faced the girls. "Actually, you guys go on without me for a bit, I'll—"

Grab!

"Hey," Aqua brazenly snatched the leader's collar, pulling him away from the direction of the purple-robed woman. "There's something we need to do first."

Kazuma stared at cold look on his healer's face, "Eh? What's the big idea? I just need a few minutes—"

"We need to go. Now," she reiterated, giving him a glare he knew all too well.

"Don't feel indebted, adventurer," a monotone voice quietly sounded from the opposite side of the establishment. The male adventurer glanced toward the purple spellcaster, noticing an apparent change in the woman's mannerisms. Her emotionless face contrasted to the warm reception she had shown only minutes before. "If you want to return the favour, maintaining the peace of this town is my main concern; by doing so, you will be of great help to me."

The brown-haired lady stole a momentary glance toward the party, before turning her back to them and tending to her displays. Kazuma's gaze returned to the stern Goddess. She presented a palm.

"Let's go."

---

'The Blazing Night.' It was the name given to the destructive events that had recently occurred in Axel. To the residents and all the adventurers at the site, the most unforgettable moment was that of the beam of light that swirled against the pitch-black sky, flaunting its immense luminosity, before ending with an even more dazzling detonation. It trumped the magnificence of an explosion which occurred only moments before in the same area; the caster of said spell would get into a grouchy mood whenever anyone mentioned the far 'superior' incantation that followed. What was strange to the small party was the lack of consensus on who the caster was. The eyes of hundreds of adventurers, soldiers and civilians had been focused on that small, brightly lit spot, yet nobody among the masses could agree from where the bolt of light had originated. Many assumed it was from the one of the two Crimson Demons, others denied that claim, stressing that it was sourced from outside the town square. It appeared that only a small select few of witnesses were aware of who had truly cast the spell, including Kazuma's party and the Blade Demon himself.

Despite some confusion, the collaborative triumph of all involved parties was unanimously celebrated, but it also brought many to a sickening realisation. It was widely know that the lack of support from Belzerg's swamped military left a large amount of responsibility in the hands of adventurers, and chief among them: 'Heroes.' These were strongest of the strong; the ones that the people relied on most in times of peril—and now, it was known that even they were not exempt from the Devil King's influence. If the greatest warriors could be corrupted and turned against their own kind, then who couldn't be? Who was left to be called upon for matters that could decide the fate of hundreds or even thousands of lives? There existed only a few sparse gathering of elite level individuals within a sea of mediocre talent, although climbing above such mediocrity was a certain group that consistently fought and bested their enemies with every grain of their souls. The townspeople and Guild members all saw and marvelled at the sheer tenacity and willpower of Kazuma and his party. Once they reached the Guild, they were greeted with a roar of cheers, followed by a cumulative reward of 3,000,000 eris. The money was a donation from the Guild members themselves, due to there being no official compensation for 'merely' staving off a Devil King associate, rather than killing one.

The celebrations had lasted for hours until the afternoon sun began to set, and the group finally decided it was time to head back home for some much-needed rest.

Amidst their walk, while still near the town centre, the brown-haired party leader spotted a pair of familiar faces through an opening into a popular tavern. He swiftly parted from the girls, assuring he'd meet them back at the mansion at a later time before entering the building.

"Oh look who it is! The armless boy back from the dead! Come to blow this place up, too?"

The young man chuckled as he drew near a couple of well known faces sat by a bar. "I was looking for you guys at the Guild—"

"Kazuma. Come here," the female of the seated pair sternly interrupted. She flicked open her palm, waiting for the boy to approach.

Snatch!

"Hey—Easy!"

The boy was firmly grabbed and pulled close to the adult healer. She sat in silence, studying his limp arm thoroughly. As some moments passed, she sighed, realeasing her hold.

"Boy, are you insane? Did we not once share a deep conversation about moving forward? That meant keeping yourself alive, you know."

"Come on, this time it was kinda out of my control…"

"Funny you should say that," the hairless old man retorted, turning to his associate. "Eleanor, didn't ya hear? This guy fought one-on-one with the Blade Demon to save a gal."

"Huh?!" The dark-haired woman faced the now sweating adventurer with vexation in her eyes. "I never thought of you to do something so stupid! Ah geez, this is why I end up drinking so much."

"You were drinkin' that much from the start, lady."

"Shut up, Grigor," the healer mumbled while taking another swig.

Kazuma, even while being scolded, felt at home in the presence of his two seniors. They were a couple of comrades he never thought would've meshed so well.

'Alas, life is full of surprises. Who would've thought that the injured man I pulled to safety on the day of the breakout and the woman who healed me would become a pair of ale-swigging partners, but great friends nonetheless.'

A smile formed on the young man's face. The strange combination of experienced adventurers influenced more chaotic late night drinking parties within the Guild than even his own Goddess, which was beyond an impressive feat. It seemed their chemistry was inevitable from their shared experience of that one tragic day. Kazuma made sure to meet and talk with them regularly after the big event as they were some of the few people he could fully trust and share his troubles with.

To his left was Eleanor, a sharp witted and cold spoken woman in her early thirties. She had night-black hair that reached down to her neck, and a fringe that covered one of her dark-brown eyes. The healer worse garments more befitting of a 'rogue' class, rather than the priest she was, but it perfectly matched her hardened persona, and served to make her supple curves more noticeable. At first glance, she appeared capable of scaring away the weaker-willed with a mere glance, however, underneath her harsh tone was a very soft and compassionate lady that cared deeply for the those whom she appreciated as decent people, which somehow included the 'decrepit old man' as she liked to call him.

To Kazuma's right was Grigor, a retired ex-adventurer known for his humorous attitude and addictive love of bubbly, or any alcoholic drink for that matter. He was bald with light-brown eyes and had visible wrinkles across his facial features; it could be said that he looked older than he actually was. His greatest battle scar was also his most recent, a great mark that existed on opposite sides of his neck from where an arrow bolt had pierced into it, barely missing his windpipe. The veteran made sure to keep tabs on the boy who saved his life, and the two men grew close with their shared grief over the death of Nine—Eleanor included. None of the three personally knew the Warrior before their time in captivity, but they all aware of how important his role was on that fateful day, and how they wouldn't be there together without him.

"Hey, thanks for keeping Megumin safe," the green-eyed boy nodded to his male senior.

"Meh, it's nothin', though I'm surprised you didn't get miss healer involved with ya little plan, considerin' she's the active one in the adventurin' game."

"That's right, is there a reason you didn't mention anything to me before you put yourself in grave danger?" the mature lady stared down the young adult in with a look of admonishment.

"Y-Yes, well," Kazuma looked away sheepishly, "it was guaranteed people were gonna get hurt. I wanted to make sure there were as many Priests available as possible; my party is already spoiled enough with Aqua's healing abilities."

"Hrmph… Not bad, kid," Eleanor exhaled while sitting back, sipping more of her ale. Her eyes slowly, cautiously rolled to another individual sat beside her. Unlike the two drinking partners facing outwards, this slim figure sat in a scrunched posture facing the bar, avoiding the gaze of a certain brown-haired male.

"Hey… I know you weren't expecting him so soon, but don't you think you should say something?" Eleanor uttered to the shrouded member. They appeared troubled, squirming a few moments before sighing quietly. After some more seconds of deliberation, the seated girl left her stool and faced the young man.

Kazuma's eyes widened in realisation. "It's… Cremea, right? Did you get out okay?"

She nodded. "Yes, thanks to you."

Silence lingered between the two adventurers. The female Warrior's expression strained further.

"Hey, what's the problem greenie? You were so fired up earlier, now you're as stiff as a statue," Grigor chuckled.

punch

"Agh! Damn."

After the old man was silenced by a particularly pissed off Priest, the hesitant girl bowed:

"Kazuma… I can't thank you enough for what you did to save my life… twice. If I hadn't been a hindrance, you would never have been at such risk."

Kazuma appeared conflicted at the young woman's claims. His eyes met hers with sincerity. "The responsibility of the whole ordeal falls on my shoulders. I was the one to challenge Mitsurugi there and then on that day, well aware of the dangers such a decision would create."

The boy closed his eyes as images of the deceased flashed through his mind. His face scrunched in discomfort while frozen, petrified expressions of the deceased slipped in and out of his thoughts.

"Your close friend… Because of what I did—"

"I understand, Kazuma," the green-haired female looked to her male counterpart with acceptance. "I'm past letting my emotions control my actions and decisions. He needed to be revealed around a large group of witnesses. It was just unfortunate that… Fio, of all people…"

The swordswoman looked down in contemplative sorrow. A short moment later, her eyes returned; they maintained a glimmer of hope, but only just.

She paced towards Kazuma, resting an arm on his shoulder. "I owe you more than I could ever offer. If you need me, find me."

As quickly as the girl appeared before the young man, she left. The youthful adventurer wasn't offered much time to process the short interaction before Eleanor broke the silence.

"Hey, Kazuma. Look at me," the experienced healer spoke softly, grabbing the boy's attention. "I know this may sound crude coming from someone like me, but I want you to value your own life more."

"…Huh?"

"You're a good kid, Kazuma. The way you try to protect random people you've never met—like this idiot—is amazing," she nudged the old man beside her, "seriously amazing, but it's also a quick way to end up dead before you know it."

"Wait, what are you trying to say? Are you telling me—"

"She's right boy. Quit yappin' and listen to her," Grigor cut off the boy with a stern look—one that he had rarely seen from the old man.

"I'm not telling you to leave people for dead, Kazuma," the female Priest sighed. "Look, you're a smart kid; you know that all risks don't weigh the same. I commend what you do; if you want to save a thousand lives then go for it, but you need to accept that sometimes there has to be sacrifices. If you don't, you'll end up being the one who is sacrificed."

Eleanor's sentiment made sense. It made sense, but it angered him. 'There is always a way for everyone to win.' It was the idea that he had fought for since the start of his struggles within the new world, but due to that same notion, he had dragged himself into many perilous situations. Still, it felt better believing that there was a better alternative to letting people he saw in front of him simply die. As he tried to accept the inevitability of lives that would be lost, his heart tightened, and a sense of misery washed over him.

He clenched his hands. "I know that… But—"

"A hero complex is not only a death wish around here, boy, but it's ironically selfish, too. Don't forget about the people closest to you. They're the ones that will suffer the most if you keep throwin' your neck on the line," Grigor huffed in frustration. "Hey, we don't wanna hear any more backchat from you. Just say 'I understand' before I throw this beer 'atcha."

…

"I understand."

"Good, now go and run off back to ya girlfriends."

The young man turned to the exit—

"Kazuma."

He twisted back—spotting the healer raising her mug toward him.

"The world where we won't have to choose who lives and who doesn't… It could cost you everything, but if there's anyone that I think could do it," the woman nodded with a proud smile, "it's you."

"Keh, so sappy. Why don'cha give him a big 'ol sloppy kiss before he goes, too?—"

punch

"—Agh!"

An appreciative grin grew on Kazuma's face. He nodded, then swiftly left the tavern.

---

"Hey... What's this?"

"Chomusuke."

meow

"Chom—What?"

"Chomusuke."

Aqua looked at her red-eyed companion sat on the living room couch, unimpressed. Laid on the Mage's lap was a small black cat, though not normal in terms of appearance compared to the cats of the original world. This small creature had a red cross-shaped marking on its forehead, bat-like wings, and large oval yellow eyes. The Archpriest found herself discomforted by its mere presence.

"What?" the Arch Wizard clutched the small pet defensively. "You don't like cats or something?"

"I do, but there's an off-putting scent coming from it," Aqua's glare toward the animal diminished as its eyes met hers. "Well... I do suppose it is quite cute…"

She gently edged a hand towards the animal as it lay motionless—

Chomp!

"KYAAAH!"

...

A fuming Goddess and small feline exchanged deathly glares as the animal laid innocently on the lap of Kazuma, who had just returned to the party's mansion. While the young man stroked the black cat, he turned to the girl sat to his left. "Since when did you have a cat?"

"Oh, we forgot to mention her," Yunyun approached the three adventurers, leaning over the couch between the pair of seated party members. "I left her in town when I was looking for people to help me save Megumin, and found her sleeping near the Guild a couple of days ago. She's been living in my room ever since."

"As for how long we've known Chomusuke…" Megumin looked up in thought. "Well, it's been a good few years at least. The three of us have quite the strange history."

"Is that right...?" he looked at the harmless thing while playing with its soft ears.

"Don't believe me? Two super strong Demons reached our village soon after we took her in, but our Mages are the best around; they killed one of them—a big gremlin-looking thing—and chased the other one away for good."

'That's Crimson Demons for you... Wait—'

"Did they give any reason as to why they were there?"

"Yeah, something about their Goddess and seals and stuff, but things got violent real quick after contact. Our village doesn't take kindly to monsters and those that associate with the Devil King."

Yunyun pouted. "They may have been bad guys, but all of that chaos could've been avoided if we had just been more civil, rather than attack first and ask no questions later."

"Hrmph, that's the way of our kind, Yunyun. You should be proud."

Kazuma's eyes flicked back and forth from both of the spellcasters. 'I haven't met any others of their kind, but it seems like their tribe match Megumin's hot-blooded, assertive nature, whereas Yunyun is unique among the rest as a more level-headed and passive girl.'

"Do either of you remember the names of those Demons?"

"The big goblin one was… Ho… Host? The other lady... If I recall..." Megumin's eyes distanced; her brow furrowed.

Yunyun's eyes lit up, "Ah! Her name was—"

---

"Arnes."

A deep, booming voice vibrated against the walls of a secluded castle. The words were directed to a Demon. They looked up, glancing upon a huge, darkened figure sat upon the chair of a cold, dark throne room, before drifting their gaze to the surroundings. Their amber coloured eyes scanned the spacious emptiness, illuminated only by dim lanterns mounted across tall, plain, jet-black bricks. Not a single window existed within the stronghold; it would be nigh-impossible to know the time of day, or even the state of the outside world from within. The only display of colour appeared as a long red carpet that snaked from the entrance to the base of the throne.

"Yes?" the visitor responded with feminine tone.

The unmoving tyrant sat in a lax position from the heightened side of the room, allowing a palpable amount of time pass before continuing:

"I take it that you succeeded?"

"Yes—"

Plof!

"Though I have strong reservations about playing the role of a spectator, and offering rescue to a Human of all things," the robed female spoke with disgust as she carelessly tossed a body to the ground. "Moreover, to play the role of mere recovery—commanded to retreat from our enemies…" the Demon's face wrinkled with indignation. "It seems all of this time with inferior races has influenced you into enjoying their cowardly ways, as well."

...

"Listen to me, naive girl. Had you fully engaged her, that Lich wouldn't have held back, and you would not be standing here now. Furthermore, your reservations mean little to me—much less while you lack any honourifics as you speak in my presence."

The associate turned her head with a huff. "I would only address my Goddess with such respect. No other being deserves my regard."

"Hrmph... Despite that, you seem to know how to follow orders. I'll accept your insolence for as long as you do," the seated entity moved their attention to what appeared a lifeless husk. "But for you to call this a success..."

"What? He's alive... enough. A regular Human would have died long ago with those injuries," her eyes focused on a blade tightly clutched in the boy's hand—she scoffed."If that weapon is the only reason you chose this Human, he won't fall short of failures; he is only as good as—"

"Do not lecture me about swordsmanship, spellcaster!" the large entity commanded loudly, whilst leaning forward from the dark shroud of his throne, revealing a large body of dark grey plated armour, with the exception of a gaping absence where a head should've been. Clutched in the left arm of the being was a helmet, and through its visor—a singular eye that glowered to the demonic woman with the presence similar to that of many legions of high-class knights. Her gut tightened.

"Heed these words, minion: A sword will only ever be as good as its user. That 'Gram'—is nothing but a well-crafted length of metal that can store mana. It has no will, nor thought, tactic, or skill; all of those feats only come from a singular source."

The hooded woman turned to face the unconscious man. "Him?"

The undead soul leaned calmly back in his seat once again. "Tell me, Mage, had you lost your beloved Goddess, could you still fight on, even at the brink of death?"

The yellowish eyes of the associate glowed with hostility. "What?"

"The fervour to continue on, despite having lost everything—despite having nothing to fight for or lose... That is a rare and valuable asset. Whether your flesh is warm, cold or rotten matters not to me, should I feel something is of use, I will use it."

She glowered toward the Dullahan with indignation. "Is that the kind of person you were before you became undead?"

"..."

cough, Cough!

A pair of half-lidded eyes found themselves in a familiar darkness. A tired Warrior gently rose his torso to an upright position, glancing at what should have been fatal wounds spread across his chest and midriff. He gently touched the dry, deep cavities within the shattered holes of his armour and flesh, feeling exposed bone with the tips of his fingers. In the dead silence, his breathless wheezes became noticeable to himself, as did the other presences around him. Mitsurugi moved his gaze to a cloaked figure leaned against a large pair of doors. Through her clothing concealed her, he could clearly spot a pair of vibrant irises that focused back toward him with spirited resentment.

"Are you lost, boy?" A resonant voice to the rear of the young man stole his attention.

He stood up with pain, slouched in posture. "Why…?"

"Why?" The General mimicked the boy. "Are you asking why I saved one of my underlings?"

The Human squinted in doubt, 'Since when did he ever care about me?'

Mitsurugi shook off the thought. His eyes then turned to someone else.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"This is Arnes, my new associate, although she is only serving as a temporary replacement for now."

Mitsurugi studied the enigmatic figure with unease, but eventually showed a grateful gesture towards the Demon. "So, you're the one who rescued me? It seems I owe you my gratitude—"

"You don't owe me a thing, Human," she coldly snapped. "Even if ordered to, I won't do anything if I find you in such a pitiful state again."

Despite the scathing remark, the Sword Master could only agree with the stranger's words.

'I gave too much respect to that man's comrades... If I had attacked with all my strength from the start, I could've killed him in minutes,' he placed a hand on his face in disappointment. 'Even now I suffer from these weaknesses...? Still, none of that would have been a problem until—'

"That Lich. You know her, don't you?" Mitsurugi turned to the seated Dullahan with clear animosity. "You sent me to deal with her as if she was just some nobody; you sent me there to be killed!"

"Did I not prepare for your rescue? I wanted to see how you would fare as a natural counter to her type."

"Counter?—"

"The incantations required for spells are slow compared to the briskness of a blade. Did you even take that in to account?"

A deep scowl formed on the furious Warrior's face. "If you're going to to question competence, maybe you should inform your own associates of the caliber of enemy they're up against in the first—"

"Yada, yada... Have you two bickered enough?" the demonic spectator sighed from behind the armoured figures. "Are we here to argue, or to do work?"

The wide, empty space became silent.

"She's right. There's no time for meaningless dispute," the large presence waved his hand in disinterest, "My new orders…"

…

'What's wrong with him?'

No sound left the Dullahan. His figure appeared motionless for many long seconds, until—

"Kneel."

"What…? What for?" the swordsman questioned.

The hooded female sighed. "I already told you, old man, I only—"

"Kneel, if you value your lives," the armoured being straightened his posture, tightly gripping the armrests of his seat.

The tone of the undead's voice was foreign to Mitsurugi; he had always known his superior to have an unbothered, straight-faced attitude, but now he seemed timid without any apparent cause.

'What's happening...?'

"Whatever trick you're trying to play, it isn't working."

The injured Sword Master painfully twisted his body around, returning his attention to the unimpressed red-haired woman leaned against the large doors of the room. Her arms were crossed, with one leg bent—resting against the entrance. She flicked her wrist as she continued to mouth off:

"If you knew anything about my concealment abilities, you'd also know how well I can spot presences," she bent her torso so that she could glance at the doors. "There's absolutely no—"

A quiet gasp came from the associate. She scrambled away from the doors whilst staring in their direction with disbelief. "Who...?"

'Her too?' the Human stared at the closed entryway with bewilderment.

The Demon's troubled expression remained visible on her face. She hastily moved to stand beside the doors, facing across from the red carpet. Once positioned, the woman scowled as her fist clenched tightly with frustration. A moment later, she slowly lowered herself until her left knee touched the ground.

'Whatever's coming, if it's enough to make someone like her submit…'

Clack... Clack... Clack…

Although no presence of significant strength could be discerned outside the room, the weight of authority behind the sharp approaching footsteps was undeniable. The swordsman found himself in no position to hail such a figure whilst stood in the centre of the room. He clambered toward the already kneeled associate.

Clack...! Clack...! Clack…!

The young man moved with as much pace as he could muster, his damaged bones and joints grinding violently against each other as his nerves pulsed with pain.

"Gagh!"

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The associate finally reached within a few steps of his colleague, collapsing to one knee immediately—

THUM!

The heavy doors moved outward with pace, creaking as they flung fully ajar. The Sword Master heard his neighbour inhale sharply at the moment of entry.

Clop... Clop... Clop…

"My, my, what a dreary place you've taken refuge in, Beldia," a mature voice echoed within the empty room. Following a moment later was a robed individual. Mitsurugi watched from the sidelines as a pale-skinned woman in dark drapes trotted into the large throne room, stopping a few steps in. Her refined gait and appearance represented a person of immense sovereignty.

"Seresdina..." The seated General uttered slowly. "You should know I have little regard for aesthetics…. As for the reason you came…?"

"Hmm... Is it so strange for one to pay visit to their allies?" she smiled as softly as she spoke. "Or do you not think so?"

"…As Generals of the Devil King, our work leaves little time for—"

"Ah, my. What have we here?" the esteemed visitor smiled brightly.

The large undead being watched as the entrant disregarded his words, opting to approach the two prostrated associates instead.

Crack!

Marble from the throne's armrest fractured under mountains of suppressed wrath from across the room. Closer to the entrance again, a mortal swordsman silently suffered from his knelt form pressuring the gaping injuries across his body. He glanced at the Dullahan with astonished eyes.

'She waved him off...? Beldia?' his eyes returned to in front of him, 'and—why's she coming towards us…!?'

Mitsurugi witnessed the clear visage of the lady as she faced his way. The slender woman was indubitably beautiful: She had smooth skin as pale as snow and shoulder-length hair that could only be described as matching that of a pitch-black night sky. Her irises similarly displayed no colour—emerging as a pair void-like orbs. The well-dressed female wore a dark grey long coat with a cape; it flowed with grace as she glided in the direction of the prostrated devotees. As impactful as her looks were, the expression that befell the woman was tender and gentle. Her half-lidded eyes met those of the mesmerised young man; her grin widened further. He quickly broke his stare, lowering his head to the ground. Although she gave him a firm look, the dark-haired woman turned to the Demon at his left. The male fighter witnessed the seething anxiety in the girl's rigid face.

"Rise."

The words were soft, yet imposed with great significance. Not a moment later, the associate cautiously stood up, posturing to see the woman eye-to-eye. She felt strong eyes spy her entire form, scrutinising her body from head to toe. The occupied expression on the woman's face grew into a soothing smile.

"Truly impressive. As expected from Wolbach's finest."

The footsteps soon approached Mitsurugi. His head remained lowered in wait. Mere moments after stopping before him, the woman issued the command:

"Rise."

Although the her voice was gentle, the mere thought of going against the General's command felt life-threatening. The young swordsman grunted lightly as he lifted his bloodied body to an upright position. He was one again presented with the radiant beauty of the robed female. He could now clearly inspect the style of her side-swept bangs and the mole on the left side of her rosy cheeks. The Sword Master made no comment of her flawless looks past his thoughts, as a growing ambiance of unease had haunted him since she made entry. The woman judged the Warrior's exterior with a kind, sharp gaze for many wordless moments.

"What an intriguing person you are..." the black-haired lady raised her hands to his torso, examining the cavities of missing flesh and exposed marrow. "To muster on after receiving such brutal wounds, and staring at the face of death so many times..." her gaze returned to his eyes but her hands continued, lightly stroking the edges of his injuries.

"Mhgh...!"

His midriff tensed in reaction each time her fingers made contact, expecting the usual pulses of agony, but none came. The woman's touch was instead harmless, warm and even soothing.

"That General of yours isn't one for rewards, is he? For your bravery and resolve, I'll lend you some respite," the robed lady hovered her open palms at the swordsman's upper body. "Heal."

A feint light illuminated the dark space. Mitsurugi immediately noticed the reduction of pain from his wounds. He sighed, feeling his flesh morph and stretch, bridging across the chasms in his torso to seal the bloody holes up. The process was immensely fast—faster than anything he had ever seen. After only a singular cast of recovery magic, the Sword Master's maimed body had been completely replenished. He exhaled, closing his eyes for a few seconds, relishing the end of the long-lasting, persistent torment.

"Amazing," he quietly stated to the lady, an appreciate smile appeared on his face. "Thank-"

VWOOM!

A disorientating wave of mystic conflict surged through the frame of the unwitting Warrior; his body stiffened like stone in immediate reaction to the instantaneous effect, although as many breaths passed, no apparent change had occurred. Mitsurugi's confused gaze refocused onto the woman who stood before him, however, a completely different presence surrounded her. The kind, half-lidded eyes of the lady were like voids; she glanced toward him with apathy, and just as the female's unfeigned emotions appeared to surface, so did a surge of deathly aura that burst forth from around her body. It was a naturally invisible indication of one's strength to those who wielded the necessary insight and abilities to detect; the high-level swordsman was only now exposed to the true scale between himself and a General of the Devil King.

'All this presence… I've only felt it just now!?'

"Ah... What a shame..." the Priestess looked away in deadpan disappointment. "Your partner truly spares you such perils to an extent you couldn't imagine."

Mitsurugi stood speechless. His eyes lowered to the weapon still gripped on his dominant hand, recollecting the two vibrations he felt within the split-second that they materialised. The source of the first was external, but the second almost certainly came from his right side.

"What…? What did you—"

"Listen, boy," the woman faced the young man again, a look of contempt clear on her expression. She paced closer, resting her hands on his shoulders and leaning into one of his ears. "Even with your harrowing past, fortune has favoured you greatly, boy. I care little for the fate of a misguided swordsman, but as another act of goodwill for that lucky stunt, I'll leave you with an ultimatum..."

The Priest retreated from his ear and announced boldly:

"Proceed on the path you currently walk and death will take you quickly—very quickly. A strong will and a grandiose goal is nothing but a wish to be killed if you lack any self-awareness and thought… Hrmph, so typical of the gifted—" she tutted, "—to overlook the nuances which truly separate themselves from the unremarkable, leaving them arrogant, naive… weak."

The Priestess had completed her brief monologue before turning away a moment later, leaving the mortal man without a word in response. Her attention hastily moved toward an undead knight on the other side of the echoey chamber. The woman sighed as she strutted forth on the red carpet.

"Anyway, that brings me to the true meaning of my visit: A person that is far less powerful compared to your subordinates, yet holds much greater potential," the lady declared, stopping a short distance from the seated Dullahan.

"That person to whom you refer…" Beldia spoke slowly. "You don't mean—"

"Satou Kazuma, yes," she tilted her head with a sly grin, "I'm sure you're aware of him."

'Kazuma…? He's caught the attention of such a powerful figure?' Mitsurugi stared in disbelief.

"Yes, of course. He and his party have caused my associates enough trouble. The destruction of him and his group is of high priority."

"Is that right…?" the woman gave a lasting look to the motionless stack of armour. "And who decided that?"

"…"

The General exhaled, "As you are already aware, I oversee the espionage and intelligence division of our great King. We are always on the lookout for the brightest minds to strengthen our tactical edge in this war."

"Seresdina... If you are insinuating that you intend to recruit that boy, I cannot allow it—"

"Why?— Did I stutter?" the priest's ink-black eyes glowed with the essence of magic as the air of hostility grew between the two individuals.

A festering impatience loudened the undead's voice. "He killed a subordinate under my name. I will not let that go unpunished."

…

The female counterpart of the huge knight remained still for a short period. Her collected expression appeared to crack slightly. She continued to pace closer to the seated undead figure until she was only a few steps away from him.

"Hear me, Dullahan," the woman released a deadly swirl of black mana around her body. "Your desire to protect your feeble reputation means little to me, and even less to the greater cause of the Devil King and his kingdom."

The constraints of the large knight's seat and surroundings weakened further. His form tightened—the air between the two Generals constricting. She continued in a softer tone, though no less commanding.

"In this long, arduous conflict we find ourselves in, Beldia, the need for a necessary advantage over the opposing side grows more desperate by the day. The single-minded, rash approach of our military has left us lacking in wit compared to our enemies; we need a new spark of intuition—fresh minds that can improvise our actions on the battlefields, improve upon our primitive ideals and conjure up cunning ways to infiltrate and stunt the Human empire's growth," the woman's wistful eyes broke from their pleasant daydream—her attention returning to the grey suit of armour ahead.

"Stagnation is death. I refuse to remain motionless, trapped in a prison of conservatism while they gain the edge over us. Though my eyes reach all corners of this land, my elite unit is lacking in quality. As of now—credited by your efforts—the most impressive prospect I have seen in many years has appeared as—"

"Kazuma…" A gruff, irritated voice responded.

The robed woman spectated her vexed colleague for a short while, sighing.

"Dullahan, I do not take pleasure nor immaterial benefit from undermining you. I am taking action on behalf of a greater good. That being said—" a flood of magical energy coalesced around the woman, "If I find out that you or one of your minions have broken my trust, I will have to exact a justifiable punishment."

…

The undead body remained still and silent; the murderous air around the slim woman vanished as quickly as it came.

"Hm. I will say... I am impressed with your compliance, General," the lady smiled, then rose a finger, "One year."

"One… year…?" he responded, confused.

"As proof that this decision is not out of spite, and as respect to your conformity, I'll allow you another attempt at the boy, but only after a year to this day."

"After all those words—all your deliberations, in a year's time, you'll let me kill him?"

"A feeble task, wouldn't you say?" the woman grinned, squinting her blank eyes with discomforting pleasure. "I wonder what he and his group would be capable of, considering their party's short lifetime, yet exceptional achievements… I do wonder… What will become of them? How much will they accomplish? How far will he take them?" she looked up with a breathless enjoyment, taking time to revel in the ecstasy of her predictive future.

"He will become nothing but a martyr of false hope and luck. Eventually, a destined fate will come to fruition and all those feckless, baseless weaklings around him will witness despair, and return to the holes of mediocrity from whence they came."

"Luck, huh...?" the lady returned her eyes to the armoured knight. "Do you really believe that?"

"Tell me this first, Seresdina: Surely your 'eyes' have reported to you how fearlessly the boy fought against the likes of my associates and our King's soldiers. What makes you so certain that he will fall under your rule, abandoning his comrades to join the ranks of his greatest enemy?"

"Hmm... Yes, quite the question to ponder," she rose her head as if muse, though it served nothing other than a way to jest. She lowered her gaze to the General before her. "For the Humans, the ones whom they hold the closest serve as their greatest strength, but also their greatest weakness... Isn't that right, Mitsurugi?" her body twisted around—eyes meeting those of a mortal man knelt many feet away. His body flinched under her intense gaze, feeling a shiver crawl down his spine.

'She... She knows…?'

"When their loved ones, prized possessions and aspirations are taken from them, it's astounding how quickly they can fall into a depraved state... What they consider good or evil blends into a confused mess within their broken conscience," the black-haired woman tilted her head with a pitied look across her face. "Before realising it, they find themselves past the borders of a place that they no longer can return to."

The words reverberated in the mind of the Sword Master long since the woman ended her dramatic speech. As he tried to process the profound deliberation, the aforementioned speaker turned back to the silent set of animated platemail.

"You've heard it now, Beldia; a year to this day, should that man be able to survive—or even best the likes of you again, he will have proven himself worth falling under my jurisdiction. These terms are non-negotiable."

"Then... There's no point in objecting," the large figure responded.

The stern expression of the slim-bodied woman faded into a cool smile.

"Excellent."

---

A young, brown-haired adventurer strolled sleepily through a hallway of his mansion, yawning as he turned into a warmly lit kitchen. The large room was spacious, accommodating wide countertops, as well as a vast assortment of dated, yet perfectly functional cooking equipment and utensils. The area was centrally placed within the ground floor of the estate, fed by plenty of ambient light from neighbouring rooms, breathing a pleasant and soft aesthetic to the simple, yet stylised space. Kazuma immediately picked up the pleasant aroma of food being prepared, complimented by the sounds of quiet humming.

The beautifully soft voice belonged to a certain Goddess. She wore an apron over her cute light-blue pyjamas, purring a sweet tune to herself. The boy found himself eyeing up her figure for longer than he probably should have.

"Morning Kazuma," the female healer vocalised somewhat assertively, delivering the boy a swift glare from her side-turned head, before refocusing on her cooking. "Something on my back?"

"Ah—no, Ahem—morning," Kazuma composed himself. "Where is everyone?" he asked, peering down both sides of the hallway.

"Megumin and Darkness left early to buy supplies," the Archpriest stated casually as she worked at the stove.

'Them two? That's a shock.'

"Surprising, right?" she scoffed. "As for Yunyun, I think she also went to the market to find some items for her spellcasting... More importantly, I'd like to assume you were attracted to this place because of a magnificent smell, perhaps?" she peered behind, displaying her usual cocky smirk.

Kazuma deadpanned. She was right, but he'd hate to give the sly girl any satisfaction.

"Yeah, yeah," he sighed, watching the grin of the woman at the counter widen. "Well, that's half-true."

The boy approached the occupied Archpriest as she returned to the stove.

"Hmph… What do you mean half—"

Grab!

"Hmh!?"

The male adventurer smirked in satisfaction at his partner's cute vocalisation. He had pulled the girl close to himself from around her waist, enjoying the sensation of her small, cushioned torso in his hands, and her defined back against his chest.

"And for a moment I thought you weren't such a simpleton," the grouchy healer protested, but a visible redness was noticeable all the way to the tips of her ears.

"Sorry, sorry. But seriously, it does smell really nice."

"It better," The blue-haired girl pouted while she continued to make the party's breakfast, lacking any desire to push out of her comrade's embrace.

'It's funny,' the boy's grin grew further, 'I never thought I could imagine Aqua—of all people—to be cooking. I guess her short stint as a maid really taught her a thing or two.'

…

"So, what's on your mind?"

"...Huh?"

The Goddess reluctantly loosened herself from her partner's arms, twisting her body around so they could face each other. She expressed a more serious look.

"I can tell, Kazuma. How long have I known you by now?"

"Ah... Right," the adventurer smiled faintly, before setting himself in a more sincere manner. "I can't help but feel as if we're missing out on something really important."

"Important?" The Archpriest stood in confusion, though she quickly understood the boy's ambiguous concern, leaving a stern look on her face.

"No."

"What?—"

"You're not talking to her."

"Wha—How did you?—Aqua, I need to—"

"I don't care," she turned her head away, arms crossed. "I won't let you go."

"What?—Why? Why are you blocking me?—"

"She's one of them, Kazuma!" the Goddess yelled frustratedly.

…

'What?'

"One of... What?"

Her eyes locked onto his with a strong intensity, "She's not alive."

Confusion flooded the boy's mind. His mouth hung open in disbelief.

"…Are you sure?"

"I'm an Archpriest, Kazuma," Aqua squinted in annoyance from her ally's stubbornness."I can smell those things like a hound. Without a doubt—whatever she is—she's one of them."

The frazzled green-eyed man was left silent for a short while, contemplating the disturbing information that was just fed to him.

"She... She saved our lives, and my arm… Why…?"

"I don't know, and for once I want to keep it that way," the blue-haired healer stepped closer to her colleague, gripping his tracksuit, gazing into his eyes solemnly. "Since the beginning, I've felt as if we were being singled out by those Demons. Every time we beat them, the next, even bigger threat is upon us. They keep coming and getting stronger one after another. This time—just like every other time—we were this close to…"

The light in Aqua's eyes dimmed as memories of past played through her mind. She buried her face in her partner's chest, clasping her arms around him. Kazuma gently returned the gesture, placing an hand across her back, cradling her head with the other.

"For now, at least… I just want it to be like this," her muffled voice spoke hoarsely against the young adult's tracksuit. "Just... Like this."

"Aqua..." the brown-haired adventurer said softly, stroking her. "I'm sorry. Sometimes I think that I forget how far we've had to push ourselves recently... My mind has just been so focused on—"

"I know," she turned her head so that her voice projected clearly, "Protecting us... Right?"

He sighed, "...I also don't want to face any more of those Demons, Aqua, but like you said, it's clear that we've been targeted. I don't know if or when we could be attacked again, but if we are, I want to be as prepared as possible. I'm not sure what this person's motives are, but I know she has answers. For our future, I need them."

They separated. Kazuma could clearly see the worry that filled his Goddess' sullen eyes.

"I never thought I'd say this, but I missed it when our greatest fears came from a Giant Toad," she said, then giggled faintly. "And that's saying something."

Kazuma smiled. "Me too… You know I'd never try to hurt you, right?" he stated, cupping her pale cheek.

Aqua nodded as she caressed his hand against her own, as the nature of her expression toward him changed. Kazuma was left staring into his Archpriest's deep blue eyes, mesmerising him as they always did. As he spent longer gazing at her, smaller, more nuanced things became apparent: The warmth of her breaths on his face, the rosy scent of her hair, her lavish thighs and pillowy soft breasts pressed up against him; the male fighter needed to muster all of his will to resist the charm of his partner.

A deeper blush grew on blue-haired girl's face as the two souls drew closer—their eyes drooped—waiting, relishing the moment for when they would make contact.

Chuuu~

Pure bliss. It was the only way for Kazuma to describe the sensation of claiming a Goddess' lips. They were plush—softer than clouds, and morphed greedily around his mouth. Kazuma's close moments with the Archpriest always seemed to escalate rapidly; it didn't take long before they began to explore each other's mouths, filling the spacious kitchen with the sounds of sucking and muffled groans.

Chorp, Chup, Chlorp

The passionate exchange heated Kazuma's core within moments. He briefly removed his grip around Aqua's slim waist, unzipping his tracksuit top and tossing it aside. A pair of hands firmly snatched his shirt; the young man looked up to see his partner's flushed face eyeing him sultrily. Without a word, he was yanked close. Their bodies collided—but Aqua simply held him tighter, melding their mouths together for as long as her breath could last. From such an intimate distance, Kazuma could feel his partner's plump thighs squished against his package, gently gyrating—massaging his twitching, covered member.

"Mgh!"

The young man could hear—or rather—feel his Archpriest giggling at his reactions, with the sounds of her voice reverberating through his jaw. In response, he made his own move, snaking his dominant arm not just under Aqua's apron, but within her pyjama top—tracing his fingers across his stomach as they drew higher.

"Mmm!—Hmm!"

The Goddess convulsed at her waist level, sensitively responding to the boy's touch. He continued moving until he found what he was looking for.

Grab!

"Mmmphh—AH!" Aqua gasped, finally releasing her leech-kiss from the young man as she panted for air. "K-Kazuma, waih—Ah!"

Waiting was a hard ask. Once Aqua's divine bosom was within Kazuma's grasp, almost nothing could stop him from graciously fondling her lavishly soft mounds; he watched with satisfaction as she clenched her teeth in pleasure. She recovered quickly, however, and countered in mere seconds.

Clasp!

"Ghk!- Ahhqua!" Kazuma gasped. The woman had clenched her thighs around his tented bulge, squeezing it with a vengeance.

She wasn't done. The Priest began to graciously roll her squishy legs around Kazuma's strong erection, maintaining a vice-like grip on him. The male adventurer's body jittered as she would occasionally stroke his glands, causing his entire body to twitch in an uncontrolled, pleasured shock. His eyes refocused to a sultry smile from the half-lidded eyes of his partner.

Aqua pushed the young man back, removing his rigid, covered length from her legs. A musky dampness stained both adventurers' nether regions, filling the air with a musky scent. Kazuma wasn't allowed time to protest; he watched the Goddess spin back to the kitchen counter, exhaling as she did.

"Was this your plan, Kazuma?" Aqua said, exasperated. She cocked her neck, looking at the boy to her rear with a drunken expression. She noted Kazuma's similarly heated condition and—of course—the raging bulge pointed to her rear. A sly smile grew on her flushed face.

"Fine then," she said with a breath of hot air. Aqua bent over, presenting her large ass for her partner to see. Her hands slipped into the hem of her bottoms, as she gradually began to pull it down.

Kazuma watched in silence as the Goddess struggled to drop her pyjamas. Her seductive pose squeezed her large ass against the fabric, making it stretch tight and accentuate her curves, but as she reached the halfway point, her pants suddenly slid off in an instant—a sizeable waft of steam releasing from her revealed entrance, inhaled by the male adventurer. The warmth of her sour-tasting vapours were intoxicating, and only served to arouse the young man further.

Likewise, Aqua's excitement rose—her chest tightening upon seeing her partner take a step and begin to approach. The blue-haired woman slid her arms further onto the counter, gently waving her exposed, dribbling slit in front of the male adventurer. He stood an arms reach away, entranced by the shape and texture of her bulbous lower lips. The adventurer hastily undid the zip of the tracksuit bottoms, moving his underwear aside in a flash.

Aqua's hungry eyes glanced behind her, seeing her partner's cock spring out of the gap in his tracksuit. She saw the lack of patience—the primal desire created as a product of all her instigation. It stood up, twitching, a stream of clear, sticky liquid leaking from the tip. Kazuma surged forward again, focusing his sex-crazed eyes on its prey.

Clasp!

"Ah!"

Kazuma's hands sunk into the skin of Aqua's stocky hips, drawing a brief, sweet gasp from her as his pulsing cock played with her thick, dripping lips. The female Priest shuddered from his touch, her knees shaking with anticipation. She felt him line up with her entrance, unable to wait any longer. His hands gripped tighter; his leg muscles contracted as—

SHLOOOP!

"Agh!—"

"Hyaah!"

Kazuma's cock was effortlessly swallowed by Aqua's slimy insides, introducing him to a world of brain-melting pleasure. Both adventurers cried out at the instant of their connection, feeling a shared sensation of immediate paralysis before slowly returning to reality. The male adventurer groaned further as his Goddess' velvety soft walls began moulding around him like a tight-fitting glove. He pushed hard against her waist her to wrangle his dick free—

SHHHLICK!

Finally able to pull himself out of her grippy folds, his crown still inserted. He took a breath, steeled himself, and—

SHLUP!

"Hhaaahhh!"

Aqua's sweet moans filled the kitchen; music to her Kazuma's ears. The young man was addicted. The sounds, the sensations—he became hypnotised by the reactions of his partner and the bliss of her heat as it squeezed and massaged his length from within.

SHALP… SHLOP… SHLUP…

"Ahh, Mmmmh! Aaah!"

With every impact, Aqua's curves would jiggle, closely followed by a yelp of pleasure. Kazuma's thrusts sped up further:

SHLOP! SHLAP! SHLOP! SHLUP! SHLAP! SHLIP!

"Ahhh! Kazum-Aaah!"

Kazuma was now pounding Aqua's back flesh like an animal, watching as her ass ripple with each satisfying wet clap. The intensity of both adventurers' vocalisations and movements grew as they become fully engrossed with their mating. Tears streaked down Aqua's disheveled face as she shouted in joy; saliva rolled down Kazuma's chin—drooling through his clenched teeth as he continued to slam his hips against his Goddess.

SHLAP!-SHLAP!-SHALP!-SHLAP!-SHLAP!-SHLAP!-SHLAP!

"Ohhh! Oh, Godsh! Kashuuma!"

Aqua's mouth hung open as she began to scream at the top of her lungs, her knees buckling from the debilitating ecstasy of sex. Kazuma's body went into overdrive; he held her up while still slamming his swollen cock as far as it could go into her steamy insides. Her eyes enlarged in shock as she rode a high of building climax; hearts visibly appeared in her irises; her tongue hung out of her mouth as she was relentlessly speared from behind.

SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!SHLAP!

"Agh! Aqua—I'm close!"

"Releash it!" she yelled with a slur. "Gife ihh all to meee!"

Kazuma's cock swelled inside his Goddess as he approached his peak—his balls likewise grew in anticipation, churning and preparing his seed for the impending moment.

Grab!

"Agh!"

Without slowing down, the young man's arms frantically wrapped around Aqua's abdomen, pulling her up into a standing position all the while still smacking his cock into her with as much strength as he could muster. Aqua tightly grasped her partner's locked arms—her back tensing completely—arching so far that the back of her head rested against the male adventurer's shoulder. All of her moans, screams, and nonsensical noises played right into Kazuma's ear, bouncing off the kitchen ceiling.

"Ghk!"

The veins in Kazuma's head popped; every muscle in his body began to contract, as he felt his cock twitch with unfathomable pleasure. Torrents of his thick fluids pooled at the base of his shaft, rocketing through his length as he finally reached his highest point. He held on, pulling back as far as he could, and then—

SLAM!—

SPLUUURRT!

"HYAAAAAH!"

Aqua shrieked as loud as her lungs could manage—her whole body reflexively extended to the maximum—from her outstretched neck, to her curved back, all the way to her completely curled toes. Kazuma's cock erupted inside his Goddess, caking the inside of her womb with torrents of hot, steamy cum.

Splurt! Splut! Spluch!

"Aaaagh! God!"

Kazuma's body convulsed; his eyes ran into his skull as Aqua's folds relentlessly kneaded and milked his shaft, forcing him to shoot dozens of hot ropes inside, filling her warm, slick reservoir with more of his seed.

Schplurt! Splorp! Splort! Splurch!

"More… More, Kazuma…"

A devious grin formed on Aqua's face. She gyrated her hips sensually, extending Kazuma's ejaculation to the utter brink. His balls clenched tightly—rising as far up as they could go—pushing more loads through his cock, and splattering the Goddess' buttery soft insides. Everything the boy gave her was guzzled by her ravenous insides.

Splotch… Splurch… splut…

The bursts of white liquid finally began to falter in intensity, still being sucked into Aqua's restless body. She wouldn't stop milking the poor man until the last drop was coaxed out of his tip, and then—

Clench!— Splut!

"Ugh!—Aqua!" Kazuma shouted breathlessly.

The Archpriest smiled; she had tightened herself at the last moment just to extract whatever was left inside Kazuma's length. He was then finally allowed to collapse on top of her, taking desperate breaths of air as his vision almost went black with fatigue. Despite Aqua's teasing, she was also completely spent. The panting couple laid atop each other on the kitchen counter—still embracing—as they gathered themselves in the following moments of silence.

Eventually, the young man separated from the Archpriest, having to pry her sweaty fingers off his hands. He slipped his softening member from her slit with a tight pop, hearing Aqua groan lightly from the mutual sense of loss. His eyes looked down, noticing that not a single drop of his fluids was left on his shrivelled length, or leaking from his partner. He also observed a pair of red hand-shaped marks embedded in the lower sides of her waist.

"Stop looking… Bastard," Aqua muttered lightly. Her head was flat on its side while she laid slumped on the counter. Through the strands of her messy hair, her deep blue eyes stared tiredly—albeit firmly—toward him.

"Huh…? Are you angry?"

"I can't feel my legs, you bastard," Aqua repeated, her thighs visibly trembling each time she attempted to place any amount of weight on her feet. "Carry me to my room. I'm gonna tell the others that I feel sick today."

Kazuma allowed a few seconds to gather himself before pulling Aqua's pants back on. He lifted her from the counter bridal style, and casually trudged out of the kitchen.

"You're also cooking breakfast now, by the way," Aqua sighed, forming a cute pout on her face in frustration toward her unfinished food.

"You're angry now, but if you could do it again, would you?" he looked to Aqua's miffed expression. She offered no response and turned away from him with a blush.

"I knew it—"

"Shut up. You're also bringing me breakfast in bed."

"…Yes ma'am."

The pair of adventurers made their way down the hallway to Aqua's room, feeling the afterglow of an intensely intimate moment. As for one silent girl, she sat around the corner from the end of the hallway, hands covering her mouth in both shock and fear of her presence being revealed. She waited until she couldn't hear them anymore and skittered away in silence.

---

The streets of the Town of Beginnings were bustling with life. Citizens went about their day, basking in the warmth of the summer sun. Yet, amidst this lively scene, a girl stood alone, her presence a quiet shadow in the town's vibrant heart. Her wide, unfocused eyes seemed to see beyond the present, trapped in a memory too vivid to escape.

'What... What did I just see…?'

The young girl—her crimson eyes wide with shock—hunched over, panting as she clutched her knees. The only thought in her mind was to flee as far as possible from what she had just witnessed. She stared blankly at the stone road beneath her, struggling to process the events that had just unfolded.

She placed her palms onto her cheeks, feeling the heat of her flustered face. The recent burst of adrenaline left her heart racing, her thoughts chaotic and her emotions in a mix. Stupid curiosity—youthful naivety—had driven her to prowl after the strange noises. She understood well—as she crept toward the source—that she shouldn't have continued, but an unknown motive drove her on.

And then she saw it. Both of them. Their faces, the raw, unrestrained movements, the sounds, even the scent; every detail haunted her mind, replaying over, and over again.

'I just wanted to retrieve the money pouch I'd forgotten...' she fished a small purse from her pocket. 'Why did I have to see that...? And why—' she pressed a trembling hand to her chest, '—does it hurt so much?'

Her gaze returned to the busy streets. She watched the people around her, going about their lives as if nothing had changed.

'I feel so ungrateful… maybe even spoiled. These last few months have been like a dream—both in the best and worst ways. When the person I cared about most was going to be killed, I found them. They were the first ones to stay. They helped me. Without them… Megumin would be…'

She sank down against a low brick wall. 'They became the only real friends I've ever had. They did—no, they do so much for me. We have our moments, sure, but… All of them, all four of them, mean the world to me. I couldn't ask for more. Even in danger, we stick together and fight for each other… I owe them everything. I should have expected something like this, and yet…'

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

'This anger. This sorrow. It's not like me. I have no right to feel this way, and still,' Yunyun's eyes clouded with bitterness. 'This feeling, this… Greed and… Jealousy…'

"I've really become a horrible person to feel this way, after everything they've suffered for me. They… Them…"

…

A spark of defiance ignited deep within the red-eyed girl.

'Them… Why is it always 'them'? For as long as I can remember, all I've thought about is 'them.' Others. People I needed to prove myself to,' her gaze hardened. 'I'm sick of it.'

Yunyun stood, her resolve firming.

'I've given everything. I've saved them plenty of times, too… It's not like my life wasn't at risk,' her fists clenched. 'Why do I always put myself last? The Demons are after us. In that case, I should take what I want before it's too late. They didn't see me. I can pretend I didn't see anything. I… I deserve a chance, too!'

Yunyun's once-soft eyes sharpened into a rebellious glare. Her crimson irises glowed with newfound determination as her motives crystallised in her mind.

"I'm done with being the coward."

…

On the outskirts of town, a green-eyed man stood outside a small, unassuming shop. Kazuma paused for a moment. He took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts, before pushing the door open.

The jingle of a small bell echoed through the quiet shop, breaking the serene silence. Behind the polished wooden counter, a woman dressed in long purple robes was delicately polishing a glass vial. Her concentration broke as the door clicked shut behind Kazuma, and she turned to greet her visitor.

"Welcome—Oh…"

The surprise in her voice was palpable as she recognised the man standing past her doorway.

"Sorry to disappoint you…" he quipped, a smirk visible on his face.

"Huh?—N-No, I just—"

Kazuma let out a soft chuckle, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. "I'm joking. You didn't expect me to come back, did you?"

The pale-skinned woman appeared somewhat amused, but hardly any of it snuck past her guarded expression.

"Well, your blue-haired priest," Wiz began, her gaze dropping to the counter as if to find something to anchor her thoughts. "I had assumed that she—"

Kazuma waved off her concern. "Yeah, my healer's quite the feisty one, but like her, I'm stubborn. When something strange happens, it sticks with me. I can't just let it go until I figure it out." His voice grew more serious as he stepped closer, his eyes locking onto hers with a growing intensity. She took a step back.

"Is that so?" Wiz's voice wavered slightly as she placed the vial back on the shelf, turning fully to face Kazuma, her posture stiffening as he continued his slow advance.

"Yes, that's so," Kazuma replied, his tone calm, but firm.

"W-Would you like some tea, Kazuma?" Wiz's words escaped in a rush—her muttering voice betraying her otherwise composed demeanour.

Kazuma's movement halted at her offer. He stopped just an arm's length away, his gaze still locked on her. Wiz's eyes struggled to maintain contact, her gaze darted away several times before finally settling on the floor.

"Sure," he agreed, his tone lightening. Kazuma glanced around the shop, his gaze briefly skimming over the strange assortment of magical items before settling on a small circular table to his left. He took a seat, leaning back casually as his gaze returned to the Mage.

"Tea?—"

"R-Right—Sorry," Wiz mumbled, snapping out of her daze. She hurriedly disappeared into the back room, her footsteps echoing through the quiet shop. Kazuma watched her go, a gentle smile forming on his lips as he observed her skittish behaviour. The muffled sound of clattering utensils and the occasional soft curse told him that he may be waiting a while.

After a lengthy sum of awkward noises from the back, Wiz finally reappeared, a tray with a teapot and cups balanced in her hands. She exhaled softly as she set the tray on the table, the tea's fragrant aroma filling the small space.

"Apologies for the wait," she said, pouring the freshly brewed tea into a delicate cup and placing it in front of Kazuma.

"Thank you, Wiz," Kazuma replied with a warm smile, his earlier intensity replaced by a softer, more inviting demeanour. He gestured to the empty chair opposite him. "Since it's just the two of us, why don't you join me?"

Wiz blinked, clearly caught off guard by his invitation. She hesitated, looking at Kazuma as if trying to gauge his intentions.

"It's not too busy right now," he added. "You deserve a break too, don't you?"

Wiz stood still for a moment, her thoughts clearly conflicted. But after a brief pause, she nodded and disappeared into the back room once again. When she returned, she held a cup of her own, filled with the same warm tea. She sat down across from Kazuma, her movements slow and pensive.

"I would've thought there'd be more people around at this time," Kazuma remarked, his eyes drifting around the empty shop.

"Oh, well, this place doesn't get very many customers," Wiz replied, her hands wrapped around her cup as if seeking comfort from its warmth. "The products are quite niche here."

"Niche, huh?" Kazuma sat forward, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes. "I would come here even if it was just to see you."

"—Hm?" Wiz's head snapped up, a faint tint visible on her cheeks. "Why?"

"You interest me, Wiz. Like I said, I haven't been able to get the thought of you out of my head."

Wiz's eyes flickered with unease, and she looked away, her discomfort visible. "What does that mean? Are you making fun of me?—"

Clasp

"Hm?—"

Wiz glanced down in confusion, finding her hands enveloped by the warm grip of Kazuma's. The unexpected contact made her shiver; the Mage's entire body became rigid on contact.

"Cold…" he muttered under his breath, his fingers brushing against her icy skin.

"W-What!?" Wiz's voice trembled as she shot up from her chair, nearly tipping over her drink as she whipped her hands free. She retreated several steps, her expression a mix of alarm and confusion. "Why would you—"

"Dark robes… Magic items… Pale skin… Cold-blooded…" Kazuma's voice remained calm—almost clinical—as he recited each trait with deliberate clarity.

With each word, Wiz's face grew more reluctant, her unsettled mannerisms from earlier hardening into something more defensive, more fearful.

"You're a Lich, aren't you?"

The silence that followed was thick, almost suffocating. Wiz's breath hitched in her throat as she struggled to form words, her hands trembling slightly as she cradled them close to her chest.

"W… Wha… What makes you…?" she stammered, her voice fragile. "Th-That makes no sense!"

Kazuma didn't waver. His eyes remained fixed on her, sharp and discerning. "I did some studying before I came here, but in hindsight, the signs were more than obvious. I'm surprised nobody else has been able to see through you."

Wiz's shock quickly morphed into anger, her breaths coming in short, fervid bursts. "No, no! You don't have any proof! To say such a thing is—is horrible!"

She took several hurried steps towards him, her voice rising with her growing frustration. "I won't be mocked in my own store! If you don't leave right now, I'll… I'll—"

"You won't hurt me," Kazuma stated, his voice cutting through her protests like a blade. He stood up, meeting her intensity with his own as he closed the distance between them, stopping just inches from her face. Wiz froze.

"Despite being undead, your feelings towards Humans are different," Kazuma continued, his voice calm and calculated. "You go out of your way to protect the people of this town without asking for anything in return. No favours, no fortune. You were cold and ruthless against the likes of Mitsurugi, but for the innocent people of Axel, you're kind, compassionate, selfless. If I had come here with any intention of violence, I'm sure you would've blasted me with magic before I even stepped through the door."

Wiz's wide eyes were locked on Kazuma as he spoke, her fingers curling into timid fists.

"There's a reason you're bubbly and kind to strangers," Kazuma said, his voice softening further. "There's a reason you let me touch you. As long as I'm innocent and pose no threat to you or anyone else, you won't hurt me. You can't hurt me. That's just who you are."

…

Wiz stared at Kazuma, her breath catching in her throat as his words reached their mark. Slowly, her expression shifted from shock to something more solemn—more resigned.

"How…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "How could you know all of this?"

Kazuma grew a small, shrewd smile. "It's what I do. There are people I need to protect, and I can't always rely on others to save me. That's why I need to know who my enemies are, what they're like, how they function—everything about them."

"So… You see me as your enemy?" Wiz's asked, a tint of gloom in her words as she looked up at him.

"No, Wiz," Kazuma replied firmly, shaking his head. "I have a knack for sensing when someone's trying to deceive me or when someone's a true ally. Since I met you, not once have I sensed anything nefarious behind your actions."

Wiz's eyes softened, her scrunched expression gradually loosening as she processed his words.

"But I want to know more about you," he continued, "How you came to be here, everything you know about the Devil King and his Generals. I know it's a lot to ask, especially after you've already saved my life, but—"

"No… That's the least I can do," Wiz interrupted, a warm, genuine smile spreading across her face—the kindest expression Kazuma had ever seen from her. "I understand now… You were trying to make me drop my facade."

Kazuma nodded with a smirk, "Honestly, it was easier than I expected. Wiz, you're a terrible liar."

She giggled softly, the tension easing from her shoulders. "So it seems. But if you want to hear everything, you might be here for more than just one cup of tea."

"Fine by me," Kazuma replied, quickly settling into his seat, his expression expectant. "I've got the whole afternoon."

A faint warmth stirred within Wiz's chest, an unusual sensation for someone like her. For a moment, she stood there, surprised by her own reaction, but she quickly pushed it aside, regaining her composure.

"Kazuma, the truth about me, and what I'm about to tell you—"

"My party and I can keep a secret," Kazuma reassured. "But if you'd prefer, I can keep it between just the two of us."

Wiz hesitated, her brow furrowing in thought before shaking her head. "No… It's alright if they know. Your party seems strong and capable. You might even face the Devil King's forces one day." She paused, her eyes clouding briefly as she added, "And… I saw the bond you all share. It's clear how close and trusting you are with each other…" Her tone grew quieter, a hint of dejection slipping through.

"Hey," Kazuma called quietly, pulling her attention back to him. "I owe you a lot. My life, actually."

Wiz looked up, her pale features softening, "Oh… Please, don't feel like that."

"I can't help it," Kazuma replied. "What you did for me and my party—it wasn't something I'll take lightly. So tell me, what do you want?"

Wiz glanced around the shop, her gaze briefly resting on the various magical trinkets scattered about. "There's nothing I desperately need… If you feel like you owe me, then just help the people of the town—"

"No," Kazuma interjected, his voice gentle but resolute. "Be more selfish than that. Even if there's nothing you need, tell me what you want."

Wiz's eyes widened, as if the idea of asking for something just for herself was foreign. She fell silent, contemplating his words while Kazuma waited, patient and unmoving.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then… even if it's just for tea, could you come back again?"

---

Evening, Guild.

The whole party was gathered around a table, enjoying their meal together.

"Haah, this really hits the spot!" Aqua sighed in delight as she chewed on a portion of frog meat.

"Hey, pass some here, Yunyun; you're hogging all the protein!" Megumin protested to her close friend.

Yunyun huffed, tossing a singular piece over.

"What's with the stinginess!?"

"Ask for it nicely, or you won't get any more," the twin-tailed girl declared.

"Eh!?"

Kazuma stared at the theatrics of the smaller, frustrated teenage girl. His gaze naturally wandered to the other Mage sitting beside her. She smiled brightly upon noticing his gaze, and he couldn't help but reciprocate the gesture.

"Keh… Fine, take all the meat. I couldn't care less," the youngest party member grumbled as she reached for a fresh, cold mug of ale. "At least I have this to enjoy—"

Snatch!

"Wha—What was that for!?"

Megumin's distaste had switched course to a blonde-haired Crusader.

"You expect me to allow an underaged person to drink right in front of me? Take some juice, little girl."

"Little girl?—I already told you, Orc-lady, I'm an adult! Let me try it at least once!"

"Orc-lady…" a dark aura surrounded the ponytailed woman. The party's healer placed a hand on her shoulder, preventing Darkness from leaving her seat.

"Okay, okay. Let's calm down," an amused Archpriest intervened. "I don't think we were brought here to start fights… Kazuma?"

Aqua glanced across her blonde colleague to the young man sat at the end of the row.

"Hm? Oh, yeah," Kazuma woke from his thoughtful daze and cleared his throat. "I found out some things today that you all ought to know. Firstly, that lady who saved us that day, she's…"

The adventurer checked his surroundings before leaning closer to the table; the whole party followed suit.

"(She's a Lich.)"

A group of astounded faces stared back at the young man, save for one.

"Lich?" Yunyun whispered in shock.

"So that's what she was…" Aqua mused to herself.

Darkness' brow furrowed. "But for our natural enemy to save our lives while fighting against her own forces…"

"Strange, right?" Kazuma added. "Her history is even stranger. This Mage… She was an adventurer like us—turned into an undead and even made a General of the Devil King's army."

The table fell into dead silence. Kazuma continued in a hushed tone:

"Her role was almost entirely to maintain the barrier protecting the Devil King's castle. She was originally a very powerful spellcaster with an unbreakable will. The only reason she joined the ranks of her sworn enemy was because her comrades were to be killed. In exchange for her service, they were spared."

"So she was basically forced into it?" Megumin scowled.

Kazuma nodded. "But as the atrocities committed by the Demons grew in scale, so did her anger. At breaking point, she clashed against multiple Generals as she fought her way toward the Devil King."

"Multiple Generals? Seriously?" Aqua and the rest of the party looked on in astonishment.

"Since she had control of the barrier, she was able to threaten major damage or even the destruction of the entire castle by overloading it with mana. She and the Devil King then made an agreement: Her responsibilities were relinquished, but she was stationed here in Axel as a sort of 'scout', though she was never required to report anything back. It was essentially a way for her to still be connected to the Devil King, but remain completely free of his influence. "

"I wonder why they didn't simply break all ties with her," Yunyun said, puzzled.

"A Demon's oath is an unbreakable promise—almost like a curse. 'Breaching an oath as a Demon leads to terrible consequences.' That's what she said. Looks like that Devil King is also pretty smart; he made sure there was still a way to destroy this town and exact revenge on Wiz without breaking that oath."

"Tch! Tricky coward," Darkness' expression soured.

'My thoughts exactly… Though it does sound like something I would've done in his position.'

"All of the Generals have since shared the burden of maintaining the barrier after Wiz's exile. We have to kill all—or at least most of them before we can even get into the Devil King's castle. But before all of that—"

""""We need to get stronger.""""

…

The surprised adventurer watched as his close comrades looking at him with firm, determined faces.

He smiled, "That's right. We've always been at a disadvantage in strength, but things are going to be different next time. I've got a couple of ideas to try out."

"Yep, that sounds like Kazuma," the party's Archpriest smirked. "We're going to get through this together, right?"

"Yeah, yeah—Now that we've established how chummy we are, how about you pass me that mug of bubbly back?" Megumin demanded of the blonde woman opposite her.

The empty, deadpan glares directed back at the Arch Wizard from both the party's healer and Crusader were strong enough to shatter glass, but went completely unnoticed by the stubborn girl.

"Darkness," Aqua declared with a cold tone, flicking her palm out.

"Gladly," the female knight responded, trading hands without even making eye contact with the Priest.

"I suppose you're right, Megumin. You're at an age where you can drink; it's best to learn how to hold your liquor so you can grow into a dignified and resilient young lady," the Goddess grinned as she swished her finger across the foamy surface of the beverage, teasing its delightful contents in front of the small girl. "Let me provide it with a blessing for your increased enjoyment."

"Yes… Yes! Thank you for finally understanding. Please, I can't wait any longer!" Megumin drooled at the sight of the drink finally being handed over to her. She held it firmly, closed her eyes, and began to tip the liquid into her mouth.

"Thank you for allowing me this moment, friends. I won't forget what you've—PWAH!" Megumin spat out in disgust. "WATER!?"

Lighthearted squabbling continued between the female adventurers as a pair of familiar faces caught Kazuma's attention from across the Guild.

"Oh, where are you going?" Darkness asked as she noticed the party's leader quietly slip away from beside her.

"I'll be back. I gotta take care of something," the brown-haired man replied, pointing to a couple of somewhat memorable faces. "Order dessert without me if I take too long."

"Take your time. I don't think we're going anywhere anytime soon," the swordswoman grinned with a quiet chuckle.

'True. Those girls can be a handful sometimes. Seriously.'

"Yo, Boss! You got that thing ready for us?" a black-haired slender man called out from a different table.

"Yeah. You don't have to call me Boss, you know."

"It's a formality, Boss. We have to speak respectfully to people we work for," another male adventurer—this time a blonde-haired man—added to his friend's statement. They both stood from the table and lined up opposite to their 'Boss'.

"Alright, do what you want," Kazuma shook his head before his expression turned serious. "Hey, both of you—you know why you're here; don't do anything stupid or you'll miss out on this chance."

"Yes, Boss!" they replied in unison.

…

"Greetings, my name is Keith, a skilled and deadly archer who will be able to protect you, console you, and add a flare of warmth to your heart of stone!"

"Greetings, my name is Dust, one of the most powerful swordsmen around these parts, and more than capable of dispatching any monster that dares steal a glance at your beautiful eyes!"

…

A green-haired girl coldly stared down the pair of prostrated candidates before turning to her acquaintance.

"Did it have to be these idiots?"

"Well…" Kazuma's dismayed expression betrayed his words.

"Who the hell is she calling an idiot?"

"You, dumbass. What kind of introduction was that?"

"Shaddap. Yours was worse than mine—"

"Shut it! Both of you!" Kazuma glared down toward the two young adventurers in irritation before turning back to Cremea. "Sorry, they're—uh, a bit much sometimes, but their party is genuinely good. You'd do well with them."

Cremea looked toward the young man with unease. "Really…?"

Kazuma took a moment to place his hand on the woman's shoulder, his face solemn. "Okay, the truth is, I think it'll be good to take a small step back, Cremea." He spoke softly to the female Warrior. "I feel like what you need more than anything right now is reliability. These two are a bit quirky—I'll give you that—but as a whole, they're trustworthy. They felt indebted to me after that incident and are willing to accept you into their party."

Cremea stood in thought for a few long moments. "Well… If you trust them, I'll take your word for it… I guess I'll entertain these lot."

Kazuma nodded with a smile.

Keith held out a hand. "It's great to meet you, Cremea. I hope we enjoy a long and fruitful relationship—"

Smash!

The female adventurer casually returned to her upright stance after completing a powerful grab-and-slam, having used the archer's arm as leverage, tossing him onto the ground.

"If you have no intention of looking anywhere but my chest, I'd prefer you don't talk to me at all," she shot a deadly glare at Keith's sprawled body as he groaned where he lay on the floor. She then turned her attention to the blonde beside him.

"Y-Your beautiful eyes are all I see, ma'am…" he uttered with haste.

The female Warrior scoffed. "I'll meet both of you with your whole party here, tomorrow, at noon. Don't be late."

Cremea paced towards the exit without another word.

"Hey… Boss… What did you get us into?" Keith wheezed as he tried to catch his breath, clambering onto his feet. "She's more of a brute than a woman!"

"Yeah…" Kazuma said, lacking any sympathy. "That was your fault."

…

The party leader swiftly returned to his table, finding his colleagues bickering as if nothing had changed within the last ten minutes.

"Anything happen?" Darkness turned to Kazuma, a warm but curious expression on her face.

"Nah, just using some favours."

"My, you've become quite popular now, haven't you?" she chuckled, revealing a rare, beautiful smile—one that Kazuma had never seen so clearly.

'Wow…'

The adventurer took his seat next to her. As the minutes ticked by, a growing urge spawned in Kazuma's gut. There was something different about the Crusader sat to his left; he wanted to see her face and—admittedly—that smile again. She eventually caught him glancing at her for what was probably the fourth time.

"Kazuma," she turned her body to face him, "what is it?"

"Oh—uh, I-I think it's the first time I've seen you without armour," he said, forcing a laugh.

Darkness' stare lingered; the young man felt a drop of sweat crawl down his temple. Her eyes then glanced down to her body.

"That's right. I'm having new ones forged. They should be ready soon…" Her eyes were sharp, but a small window of frailty in her expression was noticeable. "Do I look weird?"

"No, of course not. This suits you perfectly."

"Oh… Really?" The Crusader casually took a swig of her ale, returning her attention to the girls, but the slight curves at the edges of her lips were clear to see.

Kazuma's immediately took the opportunity to absorb Darkness' new appearance while he still had the chance. His earlier statement was merely an excuse, but true nonetheless. He had never seen her without that iconic breastplate and yellow tunic set. Even as soon as the early morning he would spot the swordswoman leaving her room—gear on—preparing for her daily run. From that point onwards he wouldn't have been surprised if she also slept with her armour. It was for that reason that Kazuma's eyes were pleased to see the Crusader in a different light.

The allure of Darkness' facial features never changed since the day he met her; she was stunningly beautiful, with a mature aesthetic that distinguished her from the other girls in Kazuma's party. She wore a navy blue button-up shirt, and a short pencil skirt with stockings. The buttons on her top were light brown, contrasting neatly with her dark apparel, as did the white bow knotted around her collar. More than anything, however, was the revelation of the Crusader's supreme proportions. Kazuma always had a hunch, but now it was clear to see—and there was a lot to see. Darkness' clothes fit her perfectly, but likewise accentuated her voluptuous chest and wide, child-bearing hips. She was certainly the largest in size compared to any of the other girls in the party, and would compete fiercely with Wiz in terms of overall dimensions. Suffice to say, the view was marvellous, from the mild, barely visible points where her round nipples protruded, to how her tight skirt was stretched to an almost immodest degree, hardly containing the thickness of her—

"Hey," a sharp, firm voice called out in front of the boy.

Kazuma's eyes shot up; his attention came to Darkness' face. Her expression was calm, but her piercing eyes told another story. They locked onto his with an intensity that sent a shivers down his spine. Her lips barely parted as she spoke, her voice steady and direct.

"Kazuma," she began, "as you mentioned to us earlier, we have a large foe ahead of us. All of our efforts should be focused on building our strength. We don't have time for…" a hint of colour rose to her cheeks, "Distractions…"

She turned her attention back to her drink, her face calm and composed. There was no need for further words—her restraint and calm authority had said everything. If there was any respite for the young man, the swordswoman's discrete message went unnoticed by the rest of his party. He appreciated her tact, but the discomfort in his chest remained.

'Shit…'

…

The night air was cool as the group trudged back to the mansion, the light of distant lanterns casting soft shadows on the path. Kazuma walked beside Darkness, their steps a bit slower than usual as they carried Aqua between them. Her flushed face and ruffled hair were a far cry from the composed Archpriest she usually tried to be. Tonight, she had gone too far… Again.

Megumin, on the other hand, had been entrusted to Yunyun, who had the awkward duty of guiding her equally drunk friend to the entrance of the estate. A distant laugh and a faint slurred argument could be heard as the twin-tailed Mage scolded her younger friend in hushed tones for trying to compete with the blue-haired healer in a drinking competition.

The party stumbled through the wide doorway of the mansion.

"Jus… Jus one more, Yunyun. I'm not done…" Megumin slurred, swaying against her friend's shoulder. Yunyun sighed, but Kazuma could hear a small chuckle in her voice as they disappeared down the hallway.

Kazuma and Darkness, meanwhile, had their hands full with Aqua, who was only half-conscious, mumbling incoherently as they made their way through the quiet house. Her usually pristine hair was a mess, tangled from a night of revelry. She blinked up at Kazuma with bleary eyes, muttering something under her breath.

"Ha... hahaha... I won… I won, Kauma…"

"Who the hell's Kauma?" The party leader turned his head to the drunken Goddess, sighing, as a feint smile grew on his face. His attention moved to the woman assisting him.

Darkness gave a quiet sigh, shifting Aqua's weight more evenly between them. Her face remained calm, but Kazuma could still feel the tension from earlier in the evening, though it seemed to have gradually ebbed away since they began walking home.

The young adventurer felt an obligation to clear things up with his blonde comrade, though it was troubling to find a good moment to apologise. Soon, they both gently laid the wrecked Priestess onto her bed. Aqua flopped onto the mattress with a contented sigh, still muttering something about winning as Kazuma pulled the covers on top of her. Darkness stepped back, her eyes on Aqua's peaceful, flushed face as she drifted into a deeper sleep.

"She always overdoes it," she murmured softly, her voice carrying a quiet warmth as she glanced over at Kazuma.

Kazuma nodded, "Yeah… But that's what makes her, well… Aqua." He glanced at Darkness, the dim light of the room softening her features. He hesitated for a moment. "About earlier… I—"

"It's fine," Darkness interrupted him, her composed gaze meeting his. Past the woman's assurances seemed to be a hint of something more behind her eyes, but she hardly showed it. "You don't need to explain yourself."

Kazuma frowned. He felt unsatisfied, and realised he just wanted to apologise for himself as a way to put his mind at ease. His eyes rose to see Darkness turning to the exit; before he knew it, she was about to leave.

"W-Wait…!" Kazuma lurched forward, grabbing her hand, "I just want to—"

"Hngh!"

…

Darkness froze, her entire body stiffening as an unexpected sound escaped her lips—a strange, stifled gasp that echoed briefly in the quiet room. Kazuma instantly released her hand, his eyes widening in surprise.

The silence that followed was long. Neither of them moved, the air between them suddenly charged with a heavy awkwardness as the male adventurer stood there, dumbfounded, struggling to process what had just happened.

Darkness remained perfectly still. Her back was to him, her posture still rigid, yet there was a slight tremor running through her shoulders. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Crusader shifted. She turned around to face him, her expression still calm—stoic, even—but there was no hiding the deep flush that had crawled over her cheeks, neck and ears.

"I—" Her voice came out strained, barely above a whisper. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I didn't mean to… that was…"

"Darkness—"

"Don't say anything!" She blurted out, obscuring his face from her sight by using an outstretched hand, "Just—Just know that I've been a little… Sensitive these last few days."

Darkness turned away from Kazuma, exhaling audibly. A cloud of steam dissipated from in front of the female knight, she cut through it with her arm, grabbing the door knob and taking a step out of the room. She paused again, turning her head slightly over her shoulder.

"I didn't share your transgression with any of the others," she said, her face still tinged red. "I expect that you'll keep this between the two of us as well."

Darkness didn't allow a second for Kazuma's response; the door shut a moment later, leaving the young man in bewilderment. Among the many questions that swarmed in his head, one stuck out more than the rest. His eyes dropped to his palm; he rubbed his fingers together.

"Why was her hand so warm?"

---

"Oh, Kazuma-san, good to see you. How can I help?"

Luna's voice held its usual professional liveliness, though a certain male adventurer quickly observed her strained attempt of a welcoming smile, as if it took effort to maintain. The blonde receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild stood behind the counter, her hands fidgeting slightly under Kazuma's long, unblinking stare.

The young man didn't return the smile or even acknowledge her question. "I need to talk to you," he said flatly.

"Oh, O-Of course," Luna responded quickly, her eyes flickering with mild discomfort as she clasped her hands in front of her. "Please share whatever concerns—"

"Privately," he clarified, resting his hands on the counter.

Luna blinked, her smile briefly fading before she nodded. She cautiously stepped out from behind the counter, motioning for Kazuma to follow her. The noise of the bustling Guild faded as they moved through a hallway leading to a small backroom. The space was simple—two chairs separated by a tiny table.

The moment they sat down, the silence became palpable. Kazuma slumped back into his chair, his gaze fixed on Luna's lowered eyes. She sat across from him, hands held together, her thumbs absentmindedly rubbing against one another. Her bright energy seemed to have almost completely disappeared as soon as she left the public eye.

"I think we both know why I'm here," Kazuma said, breaking the silence with a calm voice.

"Yes…" Luna's voice came out barely above a whisper. Her eyes were still cast to the ground.

Kazuma leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. "Then I'm going to skip all the needless chatter. I need to know how he did it."

Luna's brow furrowed in confusion, "What?"

"Mitsurugi," Kazuma clarified, "He went from a powerful adventurer to someone who could contend for a seat as one of the Devil King's Generals. There was a huge jump in his strength within mere weeks, if not days. I need to know how."

Luna's eyes widened for a moment before her expression shifted, her face becoming a mask of denial. "I… I was close with them, yes, but I wasn't always there while they discussed the fine details of their plans. I only know of the simple quests and activities they did… nothing more."

Kazuma didn't blink. He maintained his glare as he continued. "I'm not talking about everything they did. I'm talking about what they did on that day. You know what I'm talking about, Luna. Before that day, Mitsurugi left with his party. He was strong—very strong, but nothing like the man who returned with his whole party gone and never to be seen again."

Luna flinched, her expression changed to one of thought, and for a moment, Kazuma saw something flicker in the receptionist's gaze—fear, possibly, or maybe trauma from reliving the painful memory. She quickly shut her eyes, shaking her head. "I don't—N-Nobody knows what happened," she said with a croaky voice, her thumbs fidgeting faster.

Kazuma allowed the room to fall into silence once again. He gave time for Luna to regain some of her composure. Eventually, her frail eyes made contact with his own. He continued.

"Do you know, Luna, what it's like to feel as if your life is as fragile as a twig, ready to snap at any moment? To fear that, in the next moment, your closest comrades could be slaughtered right before your eyes? Or to realize that a monster—disguised as a Human—who you thought was an ally, is waiting to betray you?—"

"S-Stop it!" Luna's voice cracked, her hands covering her ears as she shook her head violently. "I-I told you, I don't know!" her eyes brimmed with tears, her breaths ragged. "I can't bear to think of it anymore… I don't have anything for you!"

The woman stood up abruptly, her chair scraping the floor as she moved toward the door. "I'm sorry, Kazuma," she muttered, her hand grasping the knob, beginning to turn it. "I can't help you—"

"You loved him, didn't you?"

Kazuma's words sliced through the air like a blade, freezing Luna in place. Her hand froze, then dropped slowly from the doorknob, her body tense. "What?" she whispered, turning slightly to look at him over her shoulder.

"I've pieced together a lot about Mitsurugi and his party from rumours, whispers, and second-hand stories," Kazuma explained quietly. "But it's obvious when I hear you talk about him. I hear it in your voice: You loved him."

Luna turned fully, her shoulders trembling as she clenched her fists by her sides. Her lips quivered as she tried to form words, but for a moment, nothing came out.

"So…? Have you come to mock me…?" Luna whimpered.

Tears welled in her eyes, her cheeks flushed with shame. "—To laugh at the woman who fell for a monster?" her voice cracked as the first tear slipped down her face, landing with a quiet plop on the wooden floor.

One tear turned into many; she collapsed to her knees, her sobs quiet but heart-wrenching. "I've never had good luck," she wept, her voice shaking with every breath. "Relationships, choices, money… it's like I've always drawn the short end of the stick. And then, when I finally meet someone—and a group of incredible people, it all turned into blood, regrets, and a long, evil lie!"

She buried her face in her hands, her voice muffled through her sobs. "Tell me, Kazuma… Am I cursed?!"

The adventurer watched in silence as Luna sat within her own despair. The only sounds within the quiet room were the faint vocalisations of her sorrow. Slowly, he stood and walked over to her, crouching down so he was at eye level. Her tear-streaked face glanced at him only a brief moment before she turned away in shame.

"I'm going to kill him," Kazuma boldly declared.

Luna's sobs became silent. Her aghast eyes looked up at him through her tears. "What?" she exhaled in astonishment.

Kazuma's expression was of complete seriousness. "We're going to cross paths again. Maybe more than a few times. But at a certain point, I will kill him."

Luna blinked, hardly able to process the words being spoken to her. She expected a deeply fearful or miserable sensation at the mention of Mitsurugi's death, but instead, she felt something lift in her chest. It was as though a weight she had been carrying for so long had suddenly ceased to exist, allowing her to breathe again.

"B-But," Luna stammered, wiping her tears with her sleeve, "you know more than anyone how strong he is."

"That's why I came to you," Kazuma replied, standing up and offering her his hand. "To make sure my party and I survive, I need to know what he did. I need to be ready."

Luna stared at his outstretched hand for a moment. Her eyes turned dark with gloom. "It's suicide…" she muttered, more to herself than to him.

"What?"

"What they did…" she swallowed hard. "It's suicide. Even with all their strength, they were wiped out, all except for him."

Kazuma's eyes narrowed. "Luna, what did they do?"

She hesitated for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt. Then, with a heavy sigh, she gave in. "I can't change your mind, can I?"

Kazuma smirked, shaking his head, "No… Hey, don't tell me you've already forgotten about my luck stat?"

Luna let out a fragile laugh, a small, tired smile forming on her lips. "Oh, I swear, Kazuma, if you die, I'll kill you myself."

He chuckled softly, "Noted."

She took his hand, and he helped her to her feet. They stood there for a moment, her grip tightening slightly as if she was having last-minute doubts.

"Jeez, Kazuma," Luna exhaled, brushing loose strands of blonde hair behind her ear. "You really know how to make demands… Do you treat all women like this?"

"Only the ones I don't like," the male adventurer returned, gently squeezing her hand.

The receptionist giggled, a genuine sound that felt like a breath of fresh air. She then turned, pulling him by the hand toward the table. "In that case, sit down, Kazuma. There's a lot you need to know."

---

Far, far away in the wilderness, a man sat before a crackling fire. The flames licked at the spit set above them, where a small game slowly roasted. Mitsurugi's gaze remained fixed on the searing flesh as though the flames held some kind of trance over him. Maybe it was just an excuse to distract himself from his own thoughts. It was a strange time for him, after all. The Sword Master felt bare—not physically naked, but exposed without his usual heavy plate mail. His armor had essentially been destroyed beyond use after his recent battle with that cursed Lich. The absence of that familiar weight on his body was unnerving. He felt vulnerable.

Mitsurugi was notorious for always working alone. Parties and teamwork had never suited him, something he knew all too well. Yet now, as he moved his gaze away from the fire and looked to his right, there was someone beside him. A Demon. She sat leaning back against a tree, her face twisted into an expression of clear distaste.

Without her cloak on, Mitsurugi could take in the full sight of Arnes, and he found it hard to deny her beauty. Her long, vibrant red hair cascaded down her back. Yellow, feline-like eyes burned with disdain whenever they glanced his way, and her pointed ears—similar to an Elf's—twitched in the daytime breeze. She wore a revealing bikini top over a black, skin-tight bodysuit that clung to her every curve. Her pale thighs, exposed and shapely, were framed by the leather belts strapped around them, while knee-high boots covered the rest of her legs. The golden choker at her neck, the long gloves reaching up to her elbows, and the bat-like wings folded against her back added to her fearsome allure. A tail, dark red like her wings, curled lazily by her side. With her horns and devilish appearance, anyone would mistake her for a Succubus at first glance.

The Demon's beauty was marred by the perpetual scowl on her face. Her eyes locked onto his, and Mitsurugi watched as her face grew more revolted.

"Keep your filthy eyes off me, Human," Arnes jabbed with her typically sharp voice.

Normally, Mitsurugi would respond to such comments with threats of violence, but his pride—already diminished—now felt completely shattered. It seemed as if everything was playing to his disfavour. having been bested by the Lich was one thing, but now he stood out as a weak link—a burden among his peers and superiors. Moreover, the words of a certain black-eyed woman still echoed in his mind, leaving his grand plans in a haze of uncertainty. Was she toying with him? Or had her warnings been genuine? His eyes returned to the red-haired female, a curiosity growing as he observed her attitude. Even past the indignation the Demon clearly had for him, her vexation appeared to go deeper than that.

"What's on your mind?" He asked, breaking the brief silence.

"Hm?" Arnes shot him a scornful look, as though his mere presence was offensive.

"Your face," the Warrior continued, "I can see that you're occupied with something."

Arnes turned her neck to face the Sword Master, her eyes squinting. "Hmph, let me guess: Your lack of intuition was exposed in that earlier encounter, so you're attempting to recover your ego by trying to play the observant fool? How unfitting."

The Demon's lips formed a condescending smirk; Mitsurugi felt a vein throb in his temple, but he kept himself in check. He sighed, then his mouth shifted into a sly grin. "There's no need for mind reading when that look of fear on your face was so obvious."

Arnes' smirk faded. Her gaze toward him hardened, acknowledging his presence for what felt like the first time.

"An ignorant mortal like you," Arnes began, her tone venomous, "should keep his mouth shut and relish his time while he still has it. If not for that sword of yours, you'd be nothing but a mindless rat. Not that you're far from one, anyway."

…

'Mindless rat…?' Mitsurugi looked down in thought, reliving the memories of recent past, 'I did feel something, though. For a moment my mind felt as if it had went completely blank.'

His gaze returned to her, curious. "Do you believe what she says about her… 'eyes'?"

Arnes didn't answer right away. She closed her eyes, turning her face away as though she couldn't be bothered to entertain his question. Mitsurugi assumed she was done with him. But after a long pause, her voice cut through the silence.

"My master hated speaking of that woman…" she admitted quietly, an emotionless look on her face. "Whether the idea of those living, invisible beings that silently scour every tree and blade of grass for miles around is true or not isn't the matter. She learns, adapts, and predicts things on a level you couldn't fathom. Those 'eyes' that she always boasts of could be real, or simply a fear-mongering tactic. In any case, you'll inevitably play into her hands. If she wants something, escape is impossible."

Mitsurugi's eyes hardened, 'So, if she wants Kazuma…'

He shook his head, glancing back at Arnes. "What's our destination?"

"I couldn't care less," the Demon shrugged, her voice returning to its usual disdain. "That dreary Dullahan gave us vague instructions, but annoyingly insisted we travel together."

The Warrior groaned. There seemed nothing that could cheer this woman up. He observed the meat, now ready to be eaten. The associate removed the spit, examining the roasted game before an opportunity came to mind. He waved the food at his ally, eventually drawing her attention his way.

"Hungry?" he asked.

She sneered. "Unlike you lowly Humans, I don't require something as tedious as food."

Mitsurugi raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you eat?"

A wicked smile spread across Arnes' face, her eyes gleaming with malice. "That strong flavour of mourning and hatred you've been radiating since the moment we met. It's quite… delicious."

She licked a finger, maintaining a long, eerily delighted stare as she taunted the Human where he sat. The woman revealed a set of teeth; two particularly long fangs stuck out from the rest.

Mitsurugi's eyes narrowed. "I don't need demonic powers to notice the same bitterness coming from yourself. What could the inferior Humans have done to make someone like you loathe us so much?"

"What could they do…?" Arnes' expression darkened, her yellow eyes burning with contempt. "Humans lie, steal, cheat, and betray… Especially those who—"

Her voice faltered; she exhaled sharply, turning her head away as though she had said too much. She flicked her wrist dismissively.

"Debating with the likes of your kind is pointless," she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. "Enough rest. I'm moving on, whether you follow or not." She took a few steps away before pausing, glancing back at him. "And next time I find you bleeding out, I'll leave you to rot."

Mitsurugi rose to his feet, sighing. "I wouldn't expect any less."

---

Spring.

The early morning sunlight stretched across a sizeable pasture of grass on the outskirts of the Town of Beginnings. Two opponents faced each other, one clutching a large broadsword, while the other held a shorter, curved blade that danced with precision in his hand.

In an instant, they moved.

Swish—Clash!

A split-second passed; a female swordswoman swung her weapon across her opponent's midsection, parried wide off his guard. The nimble male stepped into her range, opening his stance with a wide, top-down swipe; the armoured woman lifted her sword to block, but he immediately pulled back—instead jabbing his shortened katana at her exposed torso.

Shing!

Darkness desperately shifted her feet, taking a sharp breath as Kazuma's weapon cut through the fabric of her right side, a small patch of exposed skin visible after he pulled back. She exhaled gruffly, approaching her adversary.

Clash…! Clang!—Chime!

A spectacle of footwork, weapon mastery and physical prowess was shown from the two fighters. The lightly geared male continued with his trickery and nimble moves, nicking the Crusader a dozen times all over her body. If she was hurt, she didn't show it—she likely didn't care. When the female knight swung, the sound of whooshing air was almost deafening; the grass shook from the gust of wind that followed her attacks. If she even partially connected with her opponent, the fight would surely be over in an instant.

"Bind!" Kazuma shouted, raising his free hand, as a rope materialised and shot toward Darkness.

Slice!—

Obliterated in an instant. Darkness huffed, lurching forward as she held her great sword wide and to her right, shouting:

"Side Slash!"

The Crusader's lead foot slammed down, digging a whole in the dirt. Her whole body twisted as she loaded a monstrous amount of strength into her next attack. Kazuma instinctually retreated, locking his short sword in a defensive position, but—

WHOOOM!—SMASH!

He was almost thrown from his feet. Kazuma skidded back, hardly maintaining his form as he felt chunks of dirt and grass tear from the ground—unearthed purely from the tremendous power of the female knight. Just as he recovered, she was upon him again, preparing to finish him off. The young man matched her determination, surging forth into close quarters, pressing the length of his edge against hers and pushing the larger weapon away as he attempted to flank her.

The armoured woman quickly perceived the threat and reacted, pivoting sharply to face him again. Her eye widened in surprise—Kazuma was much closer than she anticipated; even he hadn't expected such a close distance. Both adventurers scrambled to attack, but their bodies collided first. Darkness' sword glided harmlessly over her comrade's shoulder, as another blade flew wide of her hip. Their limbs tangled—a moment later—

Clatter!

They fell.

Both adventurers, panting quietly, looked at each other as they lay on grass. Their upturned lips trembled; soon they shared a laugh.

"Is this a draw, then?" Kazuma asked, separating from Darkness.

"Sure," she responded, snatching the boy into a headlock.

"Aghk!—Come on!—"

"Aaand Darkness wins this round!" a cheerful voice announced, belonging to a certain silver-haired Thief who had been spectating the battle.

"Instead of playing commentator, why don't you ever get involved?" Kazuma asked, dusting himself off as he shot her an exasperated look.

"It's simple, Boss, it's because she'd lose," Dust announced, strolling up from behind the pair, "Thieves are agile and dextrous, but they're weak. In a one-on-one battle, a Warrior always wins."

Chris turned, her playful smile fading as she narrowed her eyes at Dust. "Is that right, blondie?" she asked, her tone sharp enough to cut. "Care to prove it?"

Dust grinned wider, unfazed by the challenge. "Alright, fine. Boss, pay attention. I'm about to give you a lesson on how—"

SWISH!

The male swordsman froze mid-sentence, his words dying on his lips. A dagger had materialized at his throat, its edge barely grazing his skin. Chris stood behind him, leaning casually over his right shoulder, tutting quietly.

"Why do you think I don't showcase all my tricks?" she whispered, her smile returning as she pressed the blade just a little closer. "Makes my job a lot easier."

'What insane speed…! Chris has always proven talented, but I don't think we realised how strong she really is. I'd be hard pressed to find a better Thief this side of Belzerg.' Kazuma mused, astonished.

Chris released Dust with a casual flick of her wrist. He staggered forward, coughing and clutching at his throat as he regained his breath.

"Eyes forward, Dust!" a voice barked, pulling his attention. He spun around to see Cremea standing poised for combat, a cold, calculated glint in her eye.

"Wha—didn't you just see what—" He sighed in frustration, shaking his head. "Whatever. Even when things are tough, a true Warrior fights to the end!"

Cremea stood firm. As she squared off against him, her head rose slightly, her eyes peering to the side. She hastily cocked her neck—just as a blunted arrow zipped past from behind her head. Dust lunged forward in that instant, but she sidestepped smoothly, grabbing his arm and using his momentum to spin him around. He looked up—his eyes focusing on an arrow zipping toward him.

"Oh, sh—"

Thwack!

"Ugh…!" Dust crumpled into a half-conscious state, a big red bump pulsing in the middle of his forehead while the female Warrior held him. She turned to the source of the arrows.

A dark-haired archer looked up from his drawn bow, sweating. "I uh… I surrender!"

Cremea released Dust with a sigh, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Keith.

"Wait—wait—wait! AAaagh!"

…

Kazuma stood over the two fallen fighters, shaking his head.

"Kazuma… She's a Demon…" Keith mumbled through his pained groans.

Cremea rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "I'm much nicer than a demon. A real one wouldn't think twice after hearing someone say, 'I surrender.' Now get up, both of you. We're going for a few more rounds."

Dust and Keith exchanged pained glances before murmuring in unison.

"Yes…"

As Cremea turned back to Kazuma and Darkness, her expression softened, and a smile curved her lips. "Is it too late to join your party?" she asked with a teasing tone.

Darkness chuckled, shaking her head. "Trust me, you don't want to."

Cremea glanced at her half-dead comrades lying on the ground, exhaling. "I'll try to believe that… although, even if I did join you guys, I doubt I could keep up. You two have grown so much these past few seasons. I've never seen a party clear out an entire quest board in a week."

Kazuma and Darkness exchanged humble looks, shrugging off the praise. "Well," the leader replied modestly, "if you don't work hard, you don't improve."

…

Kazuma, Darkness, and Chris strolled through the town together, the streets buzzing with the usual activity. The cool breeze carried the familiar fresh scent of Axel, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets.

"It's getting harder to hide the truth about how much we've improved these past few months," Darkness said.

"Yeah, but it's for the best," Kazuma replied. "I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I knew those guys were venturing into Demon territory."

"And yet," Darkness scoffed lightly, "We go out there every other week, clearing out those savage beasts, leaving their dens empty for miles."

Chris, walking a step behind, hummed thoughtfully. "Don't you think that's a bit selfish? If you shared your tactics, other adventurers could make use of Demon territory, too."

Kazuma groaned, rubbing his temples. "You make it sound like what we do is easy. We nearly died at least half a dozen times. Even now, it's no walk in the park."

"She's right," Darkness agreed. "Our methods could cause more harm than good if shared with the wrong people."

Chris chuckled softly. "Maybe you're right. Still, I'm just happy to see you two doing so well. I still remember that… incident at the tavern a year ago."

Both Kazuma and Darkness winced at the memory.

"We've come a long way since then," Kazuma muttered, his eyes narrowing at the recollection. As he spoke, he noticed Chris giving him an appraising look. Before he could ask, she reached out, gently tilting his chin and inspecting him closely.

"Oh…" she mused. "My, my, you've gotten stronger, Kazuma. And a little taller too?" She turned to the female Crusader, a playful glint in her eye. "You as well, Darkness. What kind of magic is this?"

Darkness scoffed, crossing her arms. "This 'magic' is strength training. Kazuma started joining me in my daily exercises, and we spar regularly."

Kazuma sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I thought I was going to die when I first started… I still struggle to keep up with her."

The ponytailed knight smiled, giving him a gentle nudge. "We all have our specialties."

'True… But the results of all that intense work speaks for itself. I've grown more physically in the past three seasons than I did in all the time since I arrived in this world,' he glanced to the Crusader beside him, 'Darkness has also become more conditioned, but her body shows it subtly.'

"Uh… Kazuma?" Darkness's voice broke through his thoughts, her posture shrinking slightly. "Your stare is… intense. Is something wrong?"

"N-No, sorry, I was just thinking about how far we've come."

"Ah, I see," she said, nodding, though her cheeks were still lightly tinged.

Chris grinned mischievously. "Hey, Kazuma, you're being way too obvious."

"Shut up," Kazuma grumbled, glaring at the Thief. "Oh don't tell me… is this jealousy?"

"Jealousy?!" Chris gasped, eyes wide before cracking her knuckles. "Alright, come here!"

"Wait—it's a joke! Relax!—"

But before he could escape, Chris had him in a headlock, grinding her knuckles into his scalp while he flailed in protest. Darkness watched with amusement, wiping a bead of sweat from her brow.

"I think that sparring session took more out of me than I realised," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I'll head home early."

Kazuma twisted in Chris's grip to look at her. "Oh, sure. Get plenty of rest, okay?"

Darkness nodded with a smile, waving as she turned to leave.

Chris smirked down at Kazuma, still trapped between her waist and elbow. "You know, this is all your fault, Thirstyzuma."

"Wha—gimme a break…"

…

Chris and Kazuma approached the entrance of a quaint little shop.

"You didn't have to follow me, you know," the male adventurer remarked, casting a glance at his nimble friend.

She pouted playfully, her lips forming an exaggerated frown. "Is this how you treat me after we haven't seen each other for a whole year? What a terrible friend…" Her facade quickly broke into a grin.

Kazuma shook his head with a chuckle, motioning for her to come along. "Geez, you really haven't changed at all, have you?"

The soft chime of a bell rang as they stepped inside the shop.

A familiar face peeked out from behind a display, her expression lighting up in relief when she saw who had entered. "Kazuma! Finally. I was starting to think that—"

Wiz stopped as her eyes landed on Chris. It wasn't often that Kazuma brought someone with him. Still, the shop owner quickly composed herself, adopting a more professional demeanour.

"And who might this be?" she asked politely, keeping her smile intact.

"Wow… such valuable items…" Chris muttered, her eyes scanning the shop's contents with growing interest. A mischievous grin spread across her face. "This place would make for a great heist."

Kazuma shot her a deadpan look. "Chris…"

Wiz's welcoming expression wavered for a split second, becoming slightly cautious.

"Sorry, sorry," Chris said quickly, shaking her head. "Bad joke. My name's Chris. And you are?"

The Mage blinked, then slowly responded, "Wiz…"

Her tone was careful as she examined the girl before her, sensing something peculiar. "I do wonder—if you don't mind me asking—how is it that you came to know Kazuma?"

Chris tapped her chin thoughtfully, then drifted closer to Kazuma with a playful glint in her eye. She slipped her arm around his waist. "Well, when he first laid eyes on me, this fine gentleman here declared that I was his girlfriend."

Kazuma's shoulders slumped as he groaned inwardly. 'Why is she always like this…?' Meanwhile, Wiz's polite smile twitched slightly, her lips pressing together tightly.

"Oh, my…" Wiz's gentle giggle was accompanied by a glance that could cut through iron.

Kazuma hurriedly peeled Chris's arm off him, shooting her an exasperated look. "There's context to that," he said hastily, "and, for the record, Chris is just a friend… though that might change if she keeps pulling stunts."

Chris chuckled, raising her hands in mock defeat. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. You're no fun."

Her attention drifted back to the shop, curious. "Weird… I've lived in this town for ages; I know Axel like the back of my hand. How come I've never noticed this place before?"

Kazuma settled into his usual spot, shrugging. "It's tucked away in a pretty out-of-the-way part of town. Not many people wander around here."

He watched as Chris's expression shifted into something more serious—uncharacteristically so. Her playful air vanished, replaced by an intensity that the male adventurer had rarely seen from her. She stood still for a moment, then turned her gaze toward Wiz.

"Wait…"

The change in the Thief's demeanour didn't go unnoticed. Wiz straightened up, visibly stiffening under the sudden scrutiny. There was something in Chris's eyes, a coldness that hadn't been there moments ago.

"Uh… Chris?" Kazuma stood up cautiously, sensing the shift.

The silver-haired girl ignored him, her steps purposeful as she began to close the distance between herself and Wiz. Her gaze sharpened, and an odd tension filled the shop.

"I-Is something the matter, dear customer?" Wiz uttered anxiously, retreating a step until she found herself backed against the counter.

Chris marched on, undeterred. Her nostrils flared slightly as she sniffed the air, her brows furrowing with each step. The world around her seemed to blur, the sounds of the bustling street outside growing distant. She was only a few feet away from the tall Mage now.

"…Is…"

"…Ris…!"

"Chris!" Kazuma's voice broke through the fog. His hand gripped the girl's shoulder, stopping the Thief in her tracks just inches from Wiz. He had intervened at the last possible moment, positioning himself between the two women. Wiz peered over Kazuma's shoulder at the slim-bodied girl, her expression one of concern.

"Hey, are you okay?" Kazuma asked, his face filled with worry.

Chris blinked, her eyes slowly refocusing as if snapping out of a trance. She stepped back, confusion visible on her face. "Kazuma… You… She—" Her voice faltered as her gaze shifted to the scene in front of her. The young man's arm was protectively draped across Wiz, the Mage pressed closely against him, gripping his shirt tightly. Chris's expression darkened, her face twisting in a mix of emotions.

"I… I'm sorry…" she muttered, her voice low and uncertain. "I don't know what came over me… Kazuma, I… I need to go."

"Wait, Chris!—"

Slam!

The door to the shop banged shut, the sound echoing in the now silent room.

Kazuma stared after her, bewildered, his mind racing to make sense of what had just happened. 'What the hell was that…?' He couldn't shake the eerie feeling in his stomach. Something happened. Something unnatural.

"Kazuma…?"

The soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. He turned to Wiz, who was still clutching his arm, her expression a mixture of concern and confusion. She searched his face, looking for reassurance, or some explanation.

"Wiz…" He shook his head, his own confusion evident. "I don't know what that was. I've never seen her act like that. I swear I would never—"

"Shhh." Wiz gently pressed a finger against his lips, surprising him with her composure. A warm smile spread across her face, "Thank you, Kazuma."

The young man flushed slightly as he realised how close the woman stood to him. He quickly stepped back, but his eyes soon flickered toward the door, a frown obvious on his face. 'I should go after her, but…'

"Won't you stay for tea, Kazuma?" Wiz's eye was soft, almost pleading.

He hesitated, stuck in a bind of concern for two people he cared about. Several long moments passed as he weighed his options, the silence in the shop growing heavier by the second. Finally, Kazuma sighed, offering a faint smile. "Sure."

…

They sat across from each other at a small table, the silence between them stretching on. The gentle aroma of tea filled the air, but neither seemed particularly focused on their drinks.

"Do you think I'm selfish?" Wiz asked quietly, breaking the silence. Her gaze was fixed on her cup, fingers absentmindedly tracing its rim.

Kazuma shook his head gently. "No, I don't think you're selfish, Wiz. I understand why you asked me to stay, but…" He trailed off, his concern creeping back into his voice. "I'm just worried."

Wiz gave a small nod of approval, her voice sympathetic, "Because, even if she can be a little strange or quirky, she's your friend. And you care about her."

"Yeah," Kazuma replied, though the conflict in his face deepened. "But what happened earlier… I've never seen her act like that before…"

Wiz's gaze faltered for a moment before she looked back at him, her lips pressing together in deliberation. Finally, she exhaled. "Kazuma… there's something I haven't told you."

The Lich quickly grabbed his attention. He sat up straight, ready for her next words.

"There's a certain kind of magic," Wiz began slowly, her cheeks reddening slightly as she felt a twinge of embarrassment. "It can make people… unaware of the caster. It changes how they perceive you, how they interact with you, and even how they remember you and the things that you've done."

Kazuma's eyes widened as the weight of her words sank in. "You mean…?"

Wiz nodded, looking down at her cup as she continued. "The magic doesn't always work perfectly. If the person observing is highly skilled or perceptive, or if the caster does something too noticeable, the spell can unravel. It also depends on the caster's level."

Kazuma leaned forward, his voice tight. "So, all this time…?"

Wiz nodded again, her expression more saddened. "There's a reason hardly anyone visits my shop. There's a reason why no one has figured out who cast the spell on Mitsurugi. And… it could be why your friend, Chris, reacted the way she did."

Kazuma's stomach clenched as the implications became clear. 'Does this mean Chris knows…?' He glanced at Wiz, noting how calm she appeared despite what she had just revealed.

"Wiz… aren't you worried?"

The Lich lowered her gaze, a soft sigh escaping her lips. "I am," she admitted quietly, "but I accepted that risk when I came to this town. I have no right to hurt those who can see me for what I truly am."

Kazuma placed his hands firmly on the table, drawing her attention back to him. "Wiz, you've shown me time and time again that you're not just some undead being. You've proven you're still you—you're still Wiz. Who cares if your skin is cold? You may be a Lich now, but the good part of your soul—who you are—has never changed."

Wiz's lips curved into a warm smile, though a trace of sadness lingered beneath it. "If only everyone saw things the way you do, Kazuma… I wouldn't have ever needed to use such magic."

Kazuma brow furrowed. His eyes drifted to the tea cup in front of him. "Then… how did I see you? How does my party see you?"

Wiz took a slow sip of her tea, smiling softly as she met his gaze. "Everyone can see me, Kazuma, but most people can't truly notice me. However, I made sure that you and your party could. I knew there was a risk that I'd be found out, especially with that Archpriest in your group, but I couldn't help myself."

Her eyes softened as she recalled the past. "I'd heard of your party's deeds. The bravery, the selflessness, the sheer willpower you all showed in your quests… it was inspiring. I wanted to see it for myself, to understand the characters of those who I rarely can find in this corrupted world. Also, when I found you injured that night, I just had to help."

Kazuma listened quietly, his expression shifting to one of awe. Wiz grew bashful under the weight of his gaze, flushing lightly as she noticed the dumb grin spreading across his face.

"What…?" Wiz asked, a small pout on her face.

"I'm just glad you chose us," Kazuma said simply, his tone sincere.

Wiz exhaled gently, her smile growing.

"I'm glad you chose me, too."

---

The iconic party of five, widely regarded as one of the strongest parties in Axel, entered their usual Guild, finding a large table reserved for them.

Aqua, trailing behind the group, took a deep breath of the familiar clamoured air, the aroma of bubbly tingling her nose. She smiled, excitedly ready for a long, hearty night.

"Hey, Kazuma," The Archpriest reached the table. "Let's sit by the—"

She froze, her smile dropping instantly. Yunyun was already cozied up next to Kazuma… again. On his other side was Darkness, leaving Aqua no choice but to sit across from them. Her eye twitched.

"What's the holdup?" a sassy voice piped up behind her. "Don't tell me… Are you preparing a ritual to beat me in another bubbly contest?" Megumin raised her hands in a combative way.

"Megumin…" Aqua uttered, taking the opportunity to vent her frustration, "I'm going to destroy you in that contest."

A grin spread across the young spellcaster's face. "Oooh, now we're talking!"

…

Food and many, many drinks were ordered. The table had the equivalent of a whole barrel of bubbly poured out into a mountain of mugs. Megumin and Aqua stared each other down as they gulped down cup after cup, completely unfazed—so far—by what should have been a lethal dose of alcohol in their system.

"How the hell do they do that?" Kazuma stared at the two girls in disbelief.

Yunyun shook her head with a gentle smile. "Megumin has always been like that. I couldn't list to you the amount of times she challenged me to something."

The party leader turned to his left, noticing the lack of input from Darkness. She sat silently at the very edge of the seat, nibbling on a small volume of food. It was strange; normally, she'd be wolfing down more than anyone at the table, except maybe Aqua. But tonight, her posture was rigid, her face tinted red, and her breaths came out in quick, shallow bursts.

"Hey… Are you okay?"

Darkness nodded briskly, "All good, Kazuma. Thank you."

The young man was doubtful of the blonde woman's claim. She was a tough girl, and hardly liked to admit when she was in a poor state.

"I think you might have a fever," he suggested, reaching his palm out to her forehead.

Darkness noticed his hand late. She turned to him, surprised. "Huh?, what—"

Touch

Kazuma pressed his palm gently to her head, eyebrows furrowing. "Yeah… You're burning up."

The swordswoman's face appeared even more flushed. She swatted his hand away, sighing.

"I told you I was fine," she exhaled heavily, her breathing more haphazard. "E-Excuse me, I'm going to the restroom."

Before Kazuma could follow up, he felt a tug on his right arm. He turned to Yunyun, finding her pouting at him.

"Are you ignoring me…?" She said, her eyes appearing glassy.

"Huh?—N-No, come on, Yunyun—"

"Pfff!—" The Mage giggled, "Joking!"

'Ah, Cute… So Cute.'

"So you got jokes now?" Kazuma pretended to glare, but his smile was obvious.

The red-eyed girl returned a toothy grin. "I learn from the best."

"You know," Kazuma chuckled, "I had a feeling, but now I'm sure—you've really changed, Yunyun."

Her cheeks flushed pink. "And… do you like it?" she asked shyly, her eyes sparkling.

'Cute…'

"Do I…? Well…" The party leader fumbled over his words. He covered his mouth with a hand, "Yeah… of course."

Yunyun beamed a gorgeous smile, entrancing the young man with her glowing expression. Her face held a hint of mischievousness; she grasped a mug of ale.

"You know, we always take it easy because of those two," she gestured to the pair of adventurers on the other side of the table, inhaling gallons of beer. "But how about we let loose tonight?"

Kazuma's eyebrows raised. "Oh yeah? Game on."

Before he knew it, Yunyun had leapt onto her chair, standing high.

"Wait—wait, I didn't think you meant—!"

"Ka-zu-ma Drink!~"

The whole Guild froze. Everyone's eyes focused on the table of the party. Excitement was building as a game had just begun.

'She started a game!? Yunyun!?'

The green-eyed boy's looked at the girl in disbelief, as a circle of people began closing around them. Their steps grew louder, a beat forming within their stomps.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!

"Ay, good one, Yunyun! Boss, you gotta do it!" Dust and Keith charged over, slapping Kazuma on the back.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!—

"KA-ZU-MA DRINK!~"

Cheers and words of encouragement were shouted at Kazuma. He sat in amazement for a few moments, but soon sighed, grabbing a couple of mugs, then jumping on his seat. "Alright then!"

He tipped his head back, pouring both cups of ale into his mouth at the same time. The thumping grew faster and more powerful as he gulped it all down.

"Bah!" He exhaled, tossing the empty mugs away.

WAHAAAAAY!

The audience cheered, all downing a mug of bubbly themselves, then they turned to Kazuma again, stomping.

He exchanged looks with his Arch Wizard; they both smiled. Kazuma inhaled—

"Yun—Yun Drink!~"

Thump, thump, thump, thump!—

"YUN—YUN DRINK!~"

She grabbed two mugs, downing one, and then the other. "Bah!—"

WAHAAAAAY!

The crowd swelled, each member sharing a drink of their own.

The Mage stumbled slightly, being caught by her male comrade. She laughed, closed her eyes and bellowed:

"Eve-ry-one Drink!~"

WAHAAAAAY!

…

The night continued for what seemed like forever. The Guild was full of song, dance, and many, many pints of bubbly. Aqua and Megumin, as usual, assisted each other as they threw up outside, while the twin-tailed spellcaster and her close friend spent their time with the members of the Guild, shoulder-to-shoulder, bouncing to the beat.

~Raise your glass and sing with cheer,

The finest friends are gathered here!

Pass the bubbly, let it be,

Two drinks for you; one drink for me!~

As another loud cheer echoed in the Guild, Kazuma collapsed onto the seat of his table, followed closely by Yunyun. The girl slammed into him, causing a strange noise to escape his mouth. Both of them laughed hysterically, before sighing in contentment.

"That was so fun!" Yunyun exclaimed, panting as she wrestled playfully with Kazuma's arm.

"Yeah, oh man, I'm so dizzy… And a bit sick…" the young man wiped his eyes, trying to stabilise himself.

"Awww, is Kashuma's wittle belly hurt?" Yunyun teased, rubbing his stomach.

"Hey—Stop! Haha!" He chuckled, "Come here!"

"Kyaah!" Yunyun squealed as Kazuma retaliated, ticking her sides.

"No—No Stop! Hahahaha!—"

Grab!

"Ah…!"

The young man stopped. His weary, drunken eyes peered down to the source of the incredibly soft sensation enveloping his palm. Kazuma found his hand tightly clenched around his comrade's exposed thigh, just beyond her skirt. Whether it was due to the warm, fuzzy atmosphere, or the close connection the two adventurers had grown during their time together, the young man struggled to pull his hand away from the plush leg of the Arch Wizard.

"K-Kazuma…?" Yunyun's eyes met his, her face flushed.

"S-Sorry," Kazuma retreated his hand—

Grasp!

The crimson-eyed girl quickly snatched his sleeve, her blush deepening. She hardly made eye contact as she spoke. "I… I don't mind, Kazuma…"

The eyes of the party leader widened in surprise as the world around him seemed to fade into the background. The loud, bustling Guild became distant, the clamour reduced to a muted hum. It was as if the pair of adventurers were in a bubble, just the two of them, cut off from everything else. He felt Yunyun shift closer, her leg now pressed against his, her warm, supple torso leaned against his side. Kazuma felt his heart thump louder. Every part of the female Mage that touched him was plump and cozy; he was melting in her embrace.

A gentle tug pulled the adventurer's arm back down to her legs. He partially resisted, but as his hand came closer to touching her thick, sweaty thighs, he closed the rest of the distance himself.

Grab!

"Mmmh…!" Yunyun audibly hummed.

The sensation was simply addictive. The Crimson Demon's broad thighs were smooth like butter, morphing around his fingers each time he squeezed, bouncing back and jiggling slightly each time he let go. The girl moaned gently in reaction to his touch, her voice vibrating across his whole body. She shifted closer, laying her head against his shoulder and squashing her left breast into his side. Yunyun then placed her small hand on Kazuma's chest, slowly tracing up and down his body.

"W-Wait, Yunyun—"

"Kazuma…" she whispered into his ear, her hot breath bouncing against his cheek.

Squeeze!

"Hm!?"

The Mage giggled at her partner's reaction after trapping his hand between her thighs. She gently wiggled her legs, massaging the boy's fingers within in the hot, steamy crevice under her skirt.

'I shouldn't be doing this… I shouldn't—'

Grab!

"Ugh—!" Kazuma recoiled.

He looked down, finding Yunyun's hand gripping his right thigh, dangerously close to his most sensitive region. She began to roll her hand up and down his leg, gently vocalising into his ear as she did. A bulge almost immediately shot up in the adventurer's pants, the tantalisingly close distance between her hand and his twitching member made his toes clench. As she stroked his leg, his mind could only think of how it would feel if she stroked something else. As his tent twitched, poking up at full strength, Yunyun let go from Kazuma's leg. Her hand then expanded, surrounding his covered length with her warmth. Both of their breaths became more erratic as she came inches, millimetres from touching it. Then, she closed her hand—

Grasp!—

"Sorry guys, I met some friends from… Are you okay?"

Darkness looked in confusion towards the the two startled adventurers as she approached from behind them. The two party members immediately slid away from each other, meeting the blonde woman with peculiar expressions.

"D-Darkness…!" Kazuma said, panting, "We were just… resting."

The Crusader glanced at the flushed faces of both the party's leader and Arch Wizard, her lips forming a smirk.

"Sheesh, how much did you guys drink?"

The sweating couple returned timid laughs.

---

After laying Aqua to bed, Darkness sighed as she turned into the hallway, headed for her room. She noticed an approaching figure just as she opened her door.

"Oh, Kazuma," she nodded. "Did you help Megumin to bed?"

"Yeah," the young man retuned. He looked to be in a much more sober state compared to what she had seen only a few minutes earlier.

He looked at the blonde woman, pleased, "You've looked at lot better since you returned to us in the Guild."

"Ah, right," she nodded appreciatively. "Maybe I just needed some space."

Kazuma's gaze then went to Darkness' gear, "Don't you think a lot of your recent discomfort stems from that?"

He gestured to the Crusader's armour. She looked down at it, pausing in thought.

"Ah… Oh—yes, of course," She immediately agreed, opening the door wider. "My new armour does feel much harder than before… Must be the adamantite."

Kazuma observed Darkness as she stood awkwardly for some moments, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"I should… probably take this off then," she said, forcing a chuckle as she turned to face the interior of her room.

Darkness slowly pulled her sculpted chest plate off. She appeared to struggle for a moment, until a pair of voluptuous breasts flopped out of the metal plate, bouncing dramatically. The woman revealed a thin, black fabric-like bodysuit that covered her chest and whole upper body, a small red bow visible under her neckline. Most surprising to the young man, however, was a thick cloud of sweet-smelling vapour that escaped her chest after she removed her gear. The warm, musky cloud enveloped him—he inhaled deeply, feeling his face heat up.

'W-What is this…?'

The blonde woman gasped, noticing Kazuma's reaction. "Did… Did you smell anything?"

"Huh?" Kazuma snapped back to reality, almost feeling the remnants of his drunkenness return. He shook his head absently.

"Oh… okay… Well, goodnight, Kazuma," she said, clicking the door shut.

As the young man turned to walk away, he almost stumbled. He found his thoughts returning to the prior events, specifically the moment he shared with Yunyun. The memories of her warmth and her soft touch returned. Her voice constantly echoed in his mind.

'God… What's wrong with me?' the adventurer looked in confusion, his mind in a haze of desire. 'I just recovered earlier… Now it's back?'

"I better get some rest. Tonight has been a crazy one—"

"Kazuma?"

A gentle, feminine voice came from the end of the hallway. Yunyun leaned into view, her body slumped against the wall. "I… I'm a lot more dizzy than I originally thought. Can you help me to my room?"

The boy stood still for a moment.

'Just put her to bed and get out. Just put her to bed and get out. Just—'

"Sure."

…

Kazuma felt uneasy as he assisted Yunyun into her room. Not only was he relatively drunk, but certain things had happened between him and the twin-tailed Mage that probably shouldn't have. As he dragged her limp body toward her bed, his mind was simply focused on getting out of any more dangerously tempting situations and ending the night without regrets. Upon reaching the her bed, he sighed quietly.

"Long night, Yunyun. It's finally over—"

Throw!

"—Woah!"

Kazuma felt a surge of strength from the girl beside him, tossing him onto the bed. He soon experienced a heavy, warm sensation that slid on top of him. His eyes crept open, finding a bright red pair of irises staring back at him. He could feel Yunyun's plump curves squished against his body, covering everything below his hips in a warm embrace.

"Yunyun…?"

"Kazuma," She said slowly, visible steam coming from her exhalations, "can't we just… relax here for a bit…?"

Her arms wrapped around the boy's torso, tightening like a vice. The Mage's body melded further into his. Her breasts, even larger than Aqua's, flattened against his chest, introducing the adventurer to a new world of comfort and warmth.

"Yunyun… this is…!"

The young man raised a palm to the Mage, hoping to push her away, but she quickly pulled an arm out from under Kazuma and grasped his hand, gently caressing it with her soft digits. The male adventurer laid still, almost hypnotised by the gentle dance of their hands. Yunyun's eyes locked back onto his, a sensual grin forming on her face. She gently lowered all of Kazuma's fingers, bar one. She then pulled it closer to her face, opening her mouth, and—

Suck!

"Y-Yunyun!" Kazuma gasped in surprise.

A warm, wet sensation spread across the young man's finger. He felt the contours of Yunyun's teeth and gums as she leisurely sucked and licked on the appendage in her mouth. A velvety sensation crawled up and down Kazuma's finger as the young girl swirled her tongue around it, hollowing her cheeks as she pulled back, before finally—

Pop!

Kazuma's breathes were fervid, his arousal pushed further by the young Mage. He watched the long strands of saliva linking Yunyun's hot, steamy mouth with his finger and the audible swallow that followed her gentle teasing.

"Kazuma…" She said breathlessly, gently lowering her head toward her ally. Her lips parted as she drew nearer—

"Wait!"

Kazuma jolted upright, instinctively pushing Yunyun away from him. A strange chill crept down his spine, as if every nerve in his body longed for the warmth of the girl's soft curves. He shook off the sensation, standing tall and turning to face her, only to recoil at the sight of her distraught expression. Tears glimmered in her crimson eyes, threatening to spill over.

"Y-Yunyun, listen to me. You're drunk. I'm drunk. We're comrades… Let's not do anything we'll regret…" he said with a strained voice.

Silence enveloped the room, heavy and suffocating. Kazuma seized the moment to escape, pivoting away and reaching for the doorknob. Just as he turned it, the quiet sound of sobs from sounded from behind him. His heart twisted painfully; he was compelled to look back.

Yunyun sat limply on her bed, weeping softly, tears cascading down her cheeks in a relentless stream. The sheer rawness of her heartache was almost unbearable, forcing Kazuma to avert his eyes.

'It's best if I leave… Staying here will only make things worse. Probably.'

As he finally opened the door, he heard a fragile voice call out.

"Don't… Don't lie, Kazuma…"

He turned back with a troubled expression, "What…?"

With great effort, she pushed herself to her feet, her movements slow and deliberate. Kazuma instinctively took a step back.

She wiped her tears away, her voice trembling. "I won't let you brush me off with such excuses."

"Yunyun, you said it yourself; you're—"

"I lied about my condition. It was the only way I could get you here."

Kazuma felt the solidness of the door against his back. "Yunyun… Look, I don't want to ruin what we have."

Yunyun paused, her gaze piercing through his soul, "Were you not concerned about that with her…?"

'Her?'

"Listen to this, Kazuma, and then I promise accept whatever you say next."

Before he could respond, Yunyun wrapped her arms around his chest, pushing him firmly against the door, shutting it with a soft thud. She buried her face in his chest—

feeling the warmth emanating from his body and the quick beat of his heart.

"Kazuma, you already know that I owe everything to you, Aqua and the others. I wouldn't care if the rest of my life was spent making up for that day when you saved Megumin's life, and saved me from…"

Yunyun's face strained at the painful memories of past. She squeezed him tighter, and continued.

"Recently, we've been getting into more and more dangerous altercations, and I don't just mean the Demon territory. The Generals, their associates… It feels like everything's closing in on us day by day. Even you would admit that our time—if we keep going the way we're going—could be short-lived. I'll fight with you and the others to the last breath, Kazuma, but… that means I can't hold off forever; I can't just wait patiently, hoping that you will eventually look my way."

Yunyun looked up, locking her eyes with Kazuma's, her irises glowing brighter than he'd ever seen before. She gently slid her arms around the back of his neck.

"If my last day is tomorrow, I want to die without regrets. I'm fed up of hiding what I want… what I desire."

Yunyun sighed in contentment, her expression earnest. "Now that you understand, I want you to be honest, Kazuma. I want you to speak as you truly feel, right now. I'll accept whatever you say."

Kazuma stood firm, his heart beating with more and more pace. He swallowed hard, his thoughts spiralling in his head as he stared into Yunyun's intense gaze. The air around them seemed to thicken, heavy with anticipation for the words that would come next.

…

"Do you hate me?"

…

"No."

…

"Do you like me?"

…

"Yes."

Yunyun's expression lightened, her crimson eyes glowing ever brighter, filling the room in a deep red light.

…

"Do you… Love me?"

…

Snap!

He couldn't stop himself. His patience wore too thin—his craving too strong. Kazuma lurched his head forward, sealing his lips around Yunyun's. The young Mage's body stiffened upon contact, soon relaxing as she fused her body against his, her soft moans resonating through his jaw. The two adventurers quickly found themselves deeply exploring each other's mouthes, tongues twisting and turning over themselves hungrily. Eventually, both became starved of air. They separated.

""Bah!""

Kazuma and Yunyun gazed at each other in a lustful daze, panting heavily. They could both feel their rapid heartbeats syncing, binding as one.

The young man relished the sweet flavour of the girl's lips, lingering in the aftertaste as he rolled his tongue over his mouth, savouring the sensation. The taste stirred memories within him—fragments of a time long past that danced just beyond his reach, elusive and fleeting.

A sultry grin formed on the lips of the Arch Wizard. She leaned in close to her partner's ear.

"Is my taste to your liking?" she whispered, her hot breath radiating against his cheek.

After a moment, Kazuma's eyes widened. He glared at her, "At that inn… It was you…!?"

The Crimson Mage's luminescent glare bathed herself in a devilish spotlight of lechery. She rested a finger upon her bottom lip.

"Will you punish me… Kazuma?"

...

..

.

an: Ah, finally... To those of you who have been patiently waiting all this time for this to drop, you have my utmost gratitude. I'm not sure if this could ever be 'worth' the wait, but I assure you, it does not end here. Thank you again, and please, if you have any thoughts, feelings and criticisms, share them. I would really love to hear what you guys think! :^)