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)

5. Spoils

"Mmh..."

An exhausted girl weakly opened her eyes to the gentle rocking of movement, matched with the feint clopping of horses. She was looking at the ceiling of a tent or canvas of some sort. After a minute of repose, she slowly rose to a seated position. That action alone felt near-exhausting. Despite feeling she'd been asleep for the longest time, the girl remained tired to the bone. She reached over to the curtains at the end of the small enclosure, opening them to meet the white glow of the moon, silhouetting the two figures that were riding at the front of the carriage, wearing their usual adventuring clothes.

The Crimson Mage at the front turned, "Megumin...? Megumin!"

Yunyun quickly met the weak Wizard with a warm hug, holding her cheeks afterward.

She sighed, "I was really scared."

"Scared…?"

"Yes! You were passed out for a day and a half."

"...I was asleep that long?"

"Yeah," Kazuma faced the petite spellcaster while still leading the horses ahead, "You used up almost all the mana in your body with that explosion."

Kazuma's comment jogged her recent memory, "Wait… What happened?- Where are we going?- Ah!"

The young girl tried to stand up abruptly, but her fatigued body failed her.

"Easy, I'll tell you everything so just rest," the adventurer looked back towards the road, "Well, in short... We won. Joshua is gone."

The Arch Wizard's eyes widened, before sighing in relief, "Oh, that's good…"

...

Megumin was confused as to why the atmosphere was dead after such good news, but as she looked around the carriage, her face changed to shock once again. Her gaze immediately shot back to Kazuma.

"Aqua!- What happened to her?!"

Yunyun's face dimmed with a despondent expression, "She… Was taken… Again."

"You're Joking…" Megumin stared at her partner in frozen shock.

The rider remained silent as he continued to lead the horses with a shadowed stare.

"Kazuma…" the guilt ridden girl began, "I… It was my fault that it happened."

Yunyun looked at her friend in consolation, "You shouldn't take the blame-"

"I should…!" the short-haired girl trembled, "You were against her leaving us on her own, but I encouraged it... I wasn't thinking about her wellbeing. I was just thinking about my own," she glanced towards the back of the adventurer, who hadn't said anything or even looked her way during her confession, "I-I know how hard you were trying to save her, and after everything you did…"

Megumin scrunched her eyes, while clenching the end of her tattered, muddy costume.

"I'm sorry… You've saved me twice, but I couldn't protect your close friend," she clasped her hands together in a show of offering, swallowing her diminished pride and sense of worth, "It was my fault all of this happened in the first place so… I'll do anything you want…"

…

Kazuma stayed silent for a few long moments, then turned to the other Mage.

"Yunyun, take the reins," his voice was calm, but his intentions were masked.

"Huh? Kazuma, please, she-" Yunyun was silenced after noticing the bone-chilling glare upon the adventurer's face. Her mouth opened to protest for her friend, but nothing could escape past her lips. The truth was that she was in the same position as her partner. She didn't have the right to say anything against him, but thought that he'd be more understanding, especially after the moment they shared. But nevertheless, sustained reality can bring anyone back to the roots of their resentment, and she just had to accept that. She moved to the front, and was handed control of the wagon.

Kazuma then went inside the tent, meeting the small girl. She was slumped on her knees, trembling lightly. The young Mage could sense the intent in his eyes even without looking at them directly. He slowly approached her- the presence lead her breath to hitch-

"Ah-Huh..?"

She expected the worst, but was met with the deepest, warmest embrace she'd ever experienced. The once beaten and battered body of Kazuma was nonetheless soft and homely. For the girl, despite receiving this simple comfort many times before, it was never as cosy or snug as this. Putting that aside, the female adventurer was left in confusion at the choice of action.

Kazuma exhaled lightly, "I knew it… You were really cold, huh?"

"What…?" the Wizard responded, unaware of her own trembling hands and body. Her thin attire during the midnight left her cold to the touch.

"I've wanted to talk to you away from the nasty looks of those men and monsters this whole time," Kazuma's quiet voice was calm and peaceful, "We haven't had the time to really know each other that well, but from the last few weeks we spent together, I already know I can truly rely on you."

The twin-tailed girl at the front glanced back with a relieved smile, 'I should've thought better of him.'

He pulled back so they could see each other. The puffed, almost teary face of Megumin met a confident, relaxing smile.

"Why…?" she uttered with a half-broken whimper.

"Hm? Why what?"

"Why aren't you mad at me?"

The older teenager sighed, "Megumin, give yourself more credit. Without you, I would be dead, and so would the rest of those adventurers. We fought to the bone because we believed you would come for us and you did. You single-handedly won the battle and saved the lives of almost a hundred people."

"But-"

"Things happen, Megumin. We were all giving it everything we had in the heat of the moment. Yunyun told me about what occurred, and I don't think what you did was wrong," he gently petted the top of her head, "I actually feel bad putting so much pressure on such a young girl… I could tell that you already felt responsible for the whole situation. You had a lot on your shoulders, didn't you?"

The girl stared up at him in surprise. She felt exposed and little embarrassed, but also a large amount of reassurance.

"No, It was the least I could do..."

"Then," he lifted her chin so she looked into his green eyes, "Will you help me once again?"

Her sorrowful bearing eventually changed into a chilled smile, more befitting her persona.

She scoffed quietly to herself, "No wonder, Yunyun…"

"Uh?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, struggling to raise to her feet, "I, the strongest explosion magician in the land, will accept your request and help you find your friend!"

She stumbled into a somewhat intense pose in the centre of the tent, though her ragged maid costume did take away from the spectacle.

"You might wanna change by the way," the young man covered his eyes to reduce the awkwardness.

"O-Oh, yeah…" she blushed lightly.

…

The trio continued to ride, reaching a few hours past midnight.

'I haven't slept in days… I can barely keep my eyes open,' Kazuma slouched forward as he held the reins with a weak grip.

Yunyun looked beside her, noticing the young man's tiredness.

"I can take over if you want," she offered a hand with her iconic cute smile.

Kazuma couldn't help but return the gesture, the offer alone warming his heart a little, "Ah, that's fine... I can keep going… A bit longer."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… I think there's an inn close by anyway… Won't be another five minutes…" his eyelids continued to fall lower, as his partner shifted closer to his right.

"You really should learn not to do everything on your own, Kazuma. Don't forget you can depend on us," Yunyun effortlessly took the rope from the boy's feeble hands, as he began to slip out of consciousness.

"Wh… Wai…" his vision continued to fade.

"Shhh, it's okay," she placed the palm of her free hand on his left temple, gently guiding the fatigued soul to rest upon her shoulder, before he quickly passed out.

...

Following that, the nighttime atmosphere turned near-silent, only accompanied with the clopping of horses, the calls of owls, and the quiet snoring of some weary adventurers.

'Megumin's also asleep, which means it's just me now,' she turned her attention to brown-haired teenager leaning against her, 'He's been really serious and on guard at all times, but the way he's sleeping is so vulnerable… Like he's a child,' The sight made the Crimson Mage feel a strange rush in her chest.

She parted some of his hair so she could see his face, then lightly stroked the top of his head, 'He was telling the truth about trusting us.'

"Why do you make me feel so weird…?" she whispered under her breath.

…

"...zuma."

"Kazuma."

"Mmm… Huh…?" the heavy lids of an adventurer lifted, focusing on a red-eyed girl.

"Ah… Yunyun…"

"We're at the inn. We need to go."

The Mage pulled him off the carriage, then woke the more refreshed Megumin, who helped her move the exhausted young man to the building.

"Two rooms please," the taller Mage asked the man at the counter.

"Hm? You hustlin' this kid or something?" the innkeeper questioned the sight of a near-unconscious boy being held up by two girls on either side of him.

"Wha- No! This is a misunderstanding! I can show you our-"

He cut her off with a hearty laugh, "It's fine- I was joking. That'll be 1400 Eris."

The adventurers paid the fee, then clambered up the stairs as best they could with a half-dead person between them.

"Two rooms…?" Megumin looked at her friend with a sly face, "Don't tell me…"

"Huh? N-No! I was gonna share with you!- I didn't wanna waste any money!" the young woman looked back at the small Mage with a deep blush.

"Hmmmm…"

"What's that face for?!"

…

Megumin entered her room, dozing off almost immediately upon contact with the bed. Her stamina was still drained from the immense spell she casted, as one's mana was also essentially considered their life force. Her partner continued into the next lodging, carrying the mumbling boy inside.

"There! Finally!" she dropped Kazuma onto the mattress, slightly out of breath, "Geez, you're heavier than you look."

The motionless boy laid bent in an awkward way.

The Arch Wizard giggled, "You can't sleep like that."

She leaned over the side of the bed frame, pulling his body up so that his head rested on a pillow.

"There we go," she walked towards the door to leave…

…

Then looked back at the snoozing adventurer. She then slowly returned to the bedside, gazing down at him with a strange glint in her eye.

'I haven't been able to stop thinking about that time…' the Mage reflected back to when she consoled the adventurer after he fell into a depraved state, or more like what she did during that time. As the dark-haired girl imagined the events as they unfolded, she continued to lean closer in. Her breaths became fervid; her heated instincts lead her conscience away and her body in a direction that she couldn't help but follow, shifting toward the bed on all fours, staring down at the problem of her internal dilemma, together with its solution. Both her hands and knees rested on either side of his body. She felt the heat of her own face flushed in nervousness, but when she thought back to that faithful moment- it was so good- she just had to experience it one more time.

'I… I'm sorry, Kazuma…'

The Crimson-eyed young woman descended towards the sleeping victim.

Chuuuuuu~

The moment her lips wrapped around his, her body jolted in satisfaction; her core heated up, and her self control was thrown away. Almost immediately, she dropped to her elbows, clasping her hands on either side of Kazuma's face. The style of her passionate kiss changed to that of a predator devouring its meal.

Chorp Chorp Chorp

The room was filled with the sound of Yunyun sucking the life out of the motionless boy. The sensations were like a drug that the girl was completely hooked on. The more she got, the more she wanted, and the intensity of her assault increased with her desire.

Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp

The spellcaster's body lowered further, laying her humid chest against his own, giving him the unknown gift of her soft breasts, and thighs as well. With close proximity to his body, she felt his legs jittering in unconscious reaction to the pleasure. Her palms shifted to the top of his head, just so she could hold chunks of his hair for better grip. With each contact of their mouths, the twin-tailed girl detected her lower regions clenching tightly, and a strange muskiness continuing to propagate.

Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp Chorp

Her tongue jabbed in between the young man's teeth, forcing the gates open, then diving into the hot zone. She explored the inside of his mouth, lapping up all his saliva and mixing it with her own. She'd swallow the excess stuff, then come back in for more. Kazuma's breathing hitched and jerked from her assertiveness, but was nothing more than a mannequin for the craved girl to toy with. It looked like her incursion would never end until-

"Hmm!?" Yunyun froze, with her eyes wide in surprise.

She slowly separated from the ravaged boy, with long strings of drool linking their faces. A large, warm, hard sensation was announced from underneath. She felt it continuing to rise, leaving her motionless in anticipation. Its heat radiated right where her groin was, and if she didn't do anything, it would definitely touch. She knew that… But still didn't move… She was waiting- she wanted to know what it'd feel like. Her heart was beating out of her chest- What was it gonna-

Poke

"Aaahn!" The Mage was forced to cover her mouth to stifle the involuntary sound.

The mere contact with her sensitive region shot lightning through every nerve in her body, and with that, a spike of excited fear. The location and feeling matched many similarities with a horrible event that she wished she could forget, but it just as much aroused her body as well. She quickly clambered off the bed in muted hysteria, surveying the slobbery mess she left all over Kazuma's face.

'What… What have I done…? If he finds out I did this to him, he'll be so angry…' her eyes drifted down to the giant tent left in his pants, twitching wildly. She marvelled slightly at the size and ferocity of the bump, entranced by its shape and movement. The sight of it made her womb clench once again.

'If he's like that… Maybe he wouldn't be so angry...'

drip

"Huh?-"

The alarmed sorcerer lifted her skirt, finding her panties completely saturated in a foreign liquid, with its clear trails falling all the way down her legs, soaking into her socks.

'Is this?!- I need to get out of here!'

The Arch Wizard quickly departed the room, leaving only the lingering musk of unsatisfied pheromones.

---

…

Night passed, then morning rose across a certain mansion. Another huge estate built with bleached walls and roofed with orangey-brown tiles; it had an iconic aesthetic for the household's name. Within one of the neatly, but simply decorated rooms, a girl woke from a long slumber, noticing the similarly high-class room that she had once lived in previously, creating a sense of fear that reached deep into her stomach, as the thought of that short but horrible experience was beyond terrifying. It would only take a few more moments for her to realise it was a completely different setting. The covers she slept in were even softer and more comfortable; the windows were shaped differently, larger and allowed more forenoon light into the warm space. The air itself felt composed and easy to breathe. She sat up, looking down at the shabby maid uniform she was still dawning, then to a neatly folded pile of clothing left atop a dresser by the bedside.

She looked around for some kind of affirmation, but for the first time in what felt like forever, it the choice seemed to be hers. She took another glance at her wrecked attire, then gladly accepted the subtle offer without much thought. The garments were simple, but soft like silk; light blue and white to match her aesthetic, and consisted of a simple dress- frilly along the shoulders and edges, as aristocratic robes usually were, fitting her proportions perfectly. On the floor, a step away from from the bed there was also a pair of black shoes with small heels. After putting them on with the provided white socks, she moved across the space, catching her appearance in a large mirror by a desk. The ladylike individual took a moment to appreciate her new look. Granted, her hair was a bit rough, but after some adjustment and adding the classic loop to her usual outgoing hairstyle, she couldn't help but show herself a light smile. The adventurer partially lifted the dress, twirling with a perk to her step, just to enjoy the small glimpse of freedom. She stood idly for a few seconds after as her pleased expression slowly faded to a despondent frown.

...

"What am I doing...?"

The short period of jubilation could only last so long before the grim thoughts that followed. What were they going to do? How will they treat me? Questions jumped through her mind as she stood before the door to the bedroom. She took a deep breath, stood firm, then grabbed the handle.

Creeeeak

Aqua stepped through the doorway, peering down the completely foreign hall. The walls were a hazel colour with royal patterns, complimenting the dark brown pillars, doors and ornament stands. All the aforementioned items had gilded gold lining across them just to add a premium touch; whomever the owner of the establishment was, they had enough fortune to place an incredible amount of value into every corner of the property. She took one step onto the dark red carpet, immediately noticing somebody's presence on the other side.

"Good morning, madam."

Her head jerked toward the sound, finding a middle-aged maid stood a few paces down the corridor. She stared at the woman with a conflicted expression of fear and distrust, though from the harmless manners of the lady, it was difficult to find any proof to justify her discomfort.

"I was coming to wake you, but it appears you are already up."

Aqua stood in silence for a few moments, unable to think of anything to say.

The older woman waited patiently, then continued after no response, "I do say, that dress looks exemplary on you. I was worried about the fit, but it was perfect after all."

"Where… Where am I?" the confused girl looked at the woman in slight desperation for clarity.

"Ah, my apologies," the lady bowed, "You are currently in the residence of lord Ignis Ford Dustiness, head of the Dustiness household. You were a part of a terrible scheme, but rest assured, you are in safe hands now."

The Goddess struggled to believe everything she heard, considering she had been fooled too easily before. She stood hesitantly in front of the maid, who could recognise her uncertainty.

"I understand you might be afraid, but please believe me when I say you are no longer in any danger…" the woman tried to reassure the Archpriest, but to no avail, "Of course… If you wish to leave at once, I can show you the exit, though the master would likely be hurt. Your other colleagues are currently with him in the dining room-"

"The girls? They're okay?" Aqua's demeanour completely changed upon hearing about her previous workmates.

"Yes. I haven't heard all the details about whatever incident occurred, but all ten of you came here together. You are the last to join us."

The blue-haired girl took a few moments to think, before looking at the maid with a determined gaze, "Please take me there."

…

Aqua was lead to a different section of the mansion. The maid opened the door, revealing a large dining table filled with guests- and not just any guests; all of her co-workers were sat together, talking, laughing and enjoying the breakfast buffet set out for them. The Goddess almost couldn't believe the sight.

"Aqua!" one of the girls shouted, meeting her with a tight hug, "I'm so glad you're here!"

The blue-eyed guest heeded the girl as the same adventurer that had pretended to be her sister- now greeting her as if she actually was.

She returned a smile, "I was worried about you guys."

"I've heard a lot about you, Aqua," a calm, elderly voice sounded.

The girl looked past her associate, spotting an older man seated at the end of the large table. He had well-kept blonde hair, blue eyes and was in formal attire befitting a noble.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance, adventurer." The man stood respectfully with a humble smile, "Please, join us and have your fill," he gestured to the assortment of goodies that the others were tucking into.

The Goddess had never been treated with so much care by nobles, but finally felt as if she could at least accept the presence of the stranger considering the safety of her companions.

"Thank you," she stated, taking a seat parallel to him, then looked at the immense choice of premium treats around her.

"Well then…" the adventurer helped herself to a sweet roll, grabbing it above her ready made plate, then trying a bite-

Thum!

"Hm!?" her eyes shot open as her paralysed grip on the roll loosened, causing it to fall back onto her plate. Her back arched in immediate tension from the food's contact within her mouth. "It's… It's…! So gooood!"

Aqua held her cheek, sighing at the exquisite delicacy she was given the pleasure to eat.

The old man chuckled, "I'm glad you like it. My staff have some the best cooks in this side of the country."

The Archpriest nodded in agreement, grabbing more luxuries and piling them on her plate.

…

After eating her fill, the Goddess faced the lord, "Thank you for your care… And I apologise for the way I doubted you and your servants."

"No need. You were taking precautions- It's understandable, especially after everything you all went through."

Aqua looked at the lord with a confused demeanour, "Did You… You knew this was going to happen...?- The auction, and everything else?"

"Well," the old man gazed downwards in disdain, "I was aware of the trafficking happening in the underworld for some time, but there was little I could do about it. Unfortunately, truth be told, most officials take part in the trade of people, so reports would always be ignored or denied by the higher-ups. Due to my status, I gained connections to people like Joshua, but I disagreed with his unjust dealings. Recently, I was given another offer, and I decided to send an envoy to observe how he conducted his crimes."

The Goddess look on in thought, 'That hooded man?'

"Were you trying to sabotage his business?"

The nobleman gestured to affirm, but was hesitant as if his efforts were in vain, "He was a sly man. He wouldn't allow a buyer to acquire more than one of his products during an auction, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't save everyone. I told my representative to save whomever looked to have the most cruel bidder, but due to a fortunate turn of events, there was a large breakout and he was able to secure all of the girls."

The adventurer grumpily rubbed her head with a pout 'He didn't have to knock me out…'

"Ah, I apologise for his roughness, he just likes to have everything in his control," the lord laughed awkwardly.

Aqua sighed, "I guess that does make sense…" her thoughts shifted to the brutal technique she used to kill the guard, 'He probably saw what I did, and could've thought I was dangerous.'

The adventurer perked up with a desperate expression at the sudden thought of her allies "Do you know Kazuma's status by any chance?- he was one of the adventurers in the escape."

"Kazuma?" he questioned, "I did hear of his name from a few recent accounts. There were survivors who spoke of him greatly, saying he was the 'mastermind' behind the scenes, though nothing more than that."

"Oh..." she looked down with a small amount of anxiety still burning inside her, 'I want to see you, Kazuma. I want to see that you're okay.'

The old man frowned, "Please don't look so down. None of those witnesses said anything negative about his wellbeing; I would be confident that he is in good health."

She peered up at the generous man with a feint smile, "Thank you."

"These women here have all said great things about you as well, adventurer. Maybe you should give yourself more credit."

"Oh, I didn't really do much…" she stared at her plate blankly.

"I think they would beg to differ," he gestured to Aqua's colleagues, as they simultaneously faced the Goddess with bright smiles and expressions of acknowledgement, "Your actions directly saved their lives, and allowed my associate to easily take them to safety."

A strange, fuzzy feeling came from deep inside Aqua. The genuine appreciation for her existence was, in essence, what her goal as a Goddess was. It didn't matter that they ignorant of her true divine status; seeing herself make an impact for these people as a mere incarnation was an irreplaceable sensation, and incomparable in value when placed alongside her previous, mundane and repetitive job.

"Actually, that gave me another idea," the blonde man signalled to a maid as he spoke, who swiftly left the room, "I have a daughter who is also an adventurer like you, and she's had some some issues with finding a party to join."

Aqua tilted her head, "Are you asking…?"

"From what I've heard of you and your exploits, I couldn't think of a better person to keep her safe," he stood, then bowed with both his hands together, "Please consider this."

The Archpriest sat in thought, 'He's the reason for that horrible governor getting outbid during my auction… Even though we were going to attempt a breakout anyway, if it had failed…'

The lord became worried at the long silence of contemplation, "A-At least take the time to meet her…"

"What is her job- if you don't mind my asking?" Aqua queried.

"She's a Crusader, which is quite rare around these parts," he began to sweat.

"Well, I wouldn't have any reason against it," she stated to him, leading to his expression becoming extremely elated.

"Th-Then, you'll-"

"I would have to be with Kazuma before I decide things like that-"

The master stood up abruptly, motioning to his butler behind him, "Go to the Town of Beginnings and find a man named 'Kazuma'."

"Eh?" Aqua was confused the suddenness of the declaration.

"I will bring your comrade here if that's all it takes," he announced, "I believe he is most likely headed to the town, as most adventurers did from the escape. In the meantime, you are free to stay here to rest and recover."

An elderly grey-haired servant calmly approached the surprised girl, "Is there anything I can go by to identify him?"

"Uh… Yes. He has short brown hair and green eyes. He will probably with two girls- both with dark hair with red eyes."

"Thank you. Then, I'll take my leave," He nodded, then exited the room.

'Why is he going to such lengths?' Aqua appeared uncomfortable, "Ignis-sama, is there a reason to why she has issues joining parties?"

The man immediately froze, with more sweat appearing on his face, "A-Ah, well, uh…" he sighed, before looking at her in an unsettled manner, "The truth is that she-"

SLAM

"You called me, father?" a young and mature voice echoed through the dining hall.

---

…

The eyes of a weary adventurer drifted open, focusing upon an unknown ceiling. He sat up, immediately realising a lingering sense of… Loss? Like he'd missed out on something important. He turned to the uncomfortably bright light shining through the small window.

'I'm still pretty exhausted... But I can rest some other time. I need to get a move on… And- What is this taste?'

Kazuma smacked his lips, finding the presence of a strange flavour all over the inside of his mouth. It had a certain sweetness, and was actually quite nice. He salvaged what he could and consumed it all without thinking twice.

'Did I drink something nice before I went to bed? Weird…'

As he sat up, he froze upon seeing his lower body.

'Wha… Did-'

His little man was out of its comfortable position in his pants, and there was a sizeable wet mark on his underwear once he lifted the hem.

'A wet dream…?! I've never had one in all my early adolescence, and now I get it at eighteen years of age?'

"What a weird morning…"

knock knock

"Kazuma? Are you awake?"

"Y-Yeah, come in," the young man quickly moved to a seated position at the side of the bed, fixing himself up.

Yunyun peeked around the doorway, looking at the adventurer in a frigid manner, "H-How are you feeling?"

"Hm? A bit off I guess, but nothing different," he responded blankly, "Why?"

"Huh? O-Oh nothing! Just making sure," she laughed awkwardly, before drifting away from sight.

The brown-haired adventurer scratched his head, "What the hell's going on?"

…

He looked down at his crotch.

…

"Nah, no way…" he shook his head dismissively.

Kazuma and the girls left the inn soon after, eating inside their tented wagon from the large amount of supplies they retrieved from the big manor house, then swiftly set off for the Town of Beginnings, which is the first place Kazuma thought to return to. Nearby that town was also a large amount of mansions belonging to rich nobles, where he would go next after finding out what he could about the 'Dustiness' household.

It only took a few hours to reach his hometown for the last stretch of the journey. It was mid-afternoon, and the dreary weather finally took a positive turn, with a clear sky, bright sun and enjoyable warmth. Kazuma jumped out the carriage near the centre of the settlement area with his companions, taking a deep breath of the fresh air.

'It's good to be back…" his pleased expression drifted into a slight frown, 'It's a shame I couldn't experience this with her…' He looked back at the girls who acknowledged him in return; a pretty smile from Yunyun, and a thumbs up from Megumin. He face became determined, 'It doesn't matter. I'll get her back.'

"Alright, for the time we're here we should split up; you two move together, and I'll be on my own. Hopefully we can find some leads. If you do, come back to the wagon; I'll walk by here every now and again-"

"Ah! Is that Kazuma-dono I see? The adventurer?" the voice of a frail old man called out behind him.

The teenager turned around, finding a smartly dressed butler stood in front of him.

...

A period of silence passed, as the boy In question examined the stranger.

"Oh, sorry, I think I might've had the wrong-"

"Who are you?" The adventurer's voice was direct and beckoning. Both Arch Wizards had their blood-red eyes fixated on the unknown visitor from either side of Kazuma's strong glare.

The grey-haired man began to quiver slightly from the pressure, "S-So does that mean I'm talking to Kazuma…?"

The young man's scowl flared, "Old man, I'm only gonna ask you one more time-"

clink

"Who are you?"

The green-eyed boy tightly clenched the handle of a fresh sharpened steel sword that was sheathed by his side. The girls that flanked either side of him appeared idle, but firmly held their staffs, ready at the command of the leader. The townspeople watched the scene from afar, as the passers-by diverted from the area of hostility that grew around the feeble servant.

"W-W-Wait! Please hear me out! I'll tell you everything you know; I'm just a messenger-"

"I'm waiting."

"Okay!- Okay; I am an attendant for lord Ignis Ford Dustiness-"

"Dustiness?" Kazuma's eyes widened at the mentioning of the name.

"Y-Yes! He currently houses a member of your party, Aqua-sama."

The mere mention of the name changed the adventurer's sharp leer into a stunned look.

The man took a breath, shifting his collar, and wiping the sweat off his forehead, "He has invited you to his home so that you can reconcile with her."

"Huh?" Kazuma squinted in doubt, "Just like that?"

The elderly fellow nodded briskly in response, which left the boy and his party hesitant.

'What kind of dumb offer is that?' Kazuma pondered in suspicion, 'That noble was prepared to pay twenty million for her, and if the escape didn't happen he would've. She was taken along with the other maids without a trace, and now I'm supposed to believe she'll just be handed to me for free? Also, it's been barely a minute since I came back, and this guy's already found me.'

…

'On the other hand…' he looked past the frigid butler, spying a high-class coach drawn by four horses, 'What would that guy gain by bringing this old man here and exposing his own existence? If he had ill intentions, it would make more sense to keep a low profile and try to hide her, rather than actively seek us out.'

After some more intense moments of silence, the adventurer slowly released the grip of his weapon, letting the old man exhale a large breath.

"Alright, we'll come with you."

"Eh? Are you sure Kazuma?" Megumin grabbed the boy's sleeve in concern.

He turned back to her, "Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep us safe."

"That's not what I was worried about," she leaned close to his ear, "(This whole thing seems fishy. It's probably a trap.)"

"I know, Megumin," he smiled confidently, "But even if it is, I have to go."

She looked concerned, but then sighed, and returned to a relaxed smirk, "Shouldn't have expected less from you. You really like her, huh?"

"Sure... But I'd do the same for you, too." he responded inertly.

"Wha- Don't say that so easily, idiot..." the small girl swiftly let go of him, looking away with a red face.

The green-eyed young man turned to the gentlemen, "Take us there."

---

"Who are these people?" A tall, blonde figure stood proudly at the entrance of the mansions's dining hall, wearing her usual tunic and armour.

The blue-haired Archpriest stared silently at the beautiful, yet quite intimidating nature of the swordswoman.

The lord swallowed the lump in his throat, then introduced the lady sat nearby him, "Lalatina, this is Aqua. She is a very talented healer; likely one of the best in the entire country. She belongs to an adventuring party with an unprecedented track record of achievements for the time it has existed, and gifted members all around."

The Crusader observed the other adventurer, studying her up and down with a judgemental gaze, "One of the best in the entire country… Is that really true?"

"Lalatina!-"

"What is that supposed to mean?" the Goddess interrupted the old man, standing up to match the level of the tall warrior on the other side of the table.

The armoured girl tilted her head in slight amusement, "I'm sorry, have a struck a nerve?"

"If you're going to apologise, do it without that condescending look on your face," Aqua stood with her own chin held high.

"Don't forget who's residence you're treading in, guest. You should show enough respect, especially if you choose to fashion our clothes and eat our food."

"Ladies, please-"

"I don't need a noblewoman to lecture me about earning my keep. Have you paid a dime of your own money for that glamorous armour?"

A vein bulged against the blonde's forehead, "Such slander from a healer of all classes: easily the most dependent leech that exists in a party."

"Dependent leech…?" Aqua scoffed lightly at the irony of the remark, "You couldn't even imagine some of the things I've seen- I've had to experience to get where I am now."

"All I see is a girl hiding behind a table," The noblewoman spouted while waiting expectantly on the other side.

Aqua stood unamused for a few seconds before slowly pacing around said table, passing by the older man at the end. He was in a constant state of apprehension, as he wanted to get in a word of settlement, but was too fearful to come in between the intense spat between the adventurers.

The Goddess stopped after reaching a couple feet of her adversary. "My partner said that he had failed to recruit a Crusader 'cause of her shitty attitude. I didn't really believe it, thinking it was just his crappy social skills, but he was telling the truth after all. You're the one who likes to preach about justice and things like that, using that excuse to avoid getting your hands dirty."

The ponytailed lady stood silently, with a moment of realisation clearly displayed on her face. Her open expression became more genuine as she took a large sword off her belt, displaying it by the handle and sheath in front of the Archpriest.

"Yes... I was. Since then, I have been training my body and swordplay every single day," She slowly pulled the blade out of its holder, showing a worn, blunted edge. "Monsters, bandits, even the trees if there was nothing left to challenge; the end is still far for me, but I am much more than the person I was on that day."

Aqua acknowledged the condition of the weapon, and could vouch for the legitimacy of the fighter's claim. She stared at it with a hint of begrudging desire, then faced the honest swordswoman with a bittersweet look, "It annoys me how I envy your ability to use these so easily."

The Crusader paused a few moments at the unexpected comment, "...I would also do anything to gain such a skill to save those even at the brink of death."

…

"I like you."

"I like you."

Both adventurers looked upon each other, reading the strong resolve that existed between themselves. They shared an unspoken acceptance of mutual respect, then met in the middle with a strong handshake.

"Eh...?" The elderly spectator sat in suspended awe, confused as to how the verbal battle had taken a complete 180 degree turn, now seeing the girls treating each other as pals.

"Lalatina, does that mean…?"

His daughter sighed, "Yes father, I will join this party."

"Ah… Finally…!" he looked on in relief.

Aqua glanced at the old man, 'He was probably worried that she would keep adventuring on her own, which would eventually put her in a great deal of danger,' she returned to the noble woman in front of her, "Lalatina... Was it?"

"You can call me Darkness," she waved away the formal name, "I've always preferred that."

---

Kazuma was stood outside the entrance of a huge residence, with both of his Mages behind him.

He surveyed the estate, "More big-ass mansions…"

Megumin lifted her prized staff, though unfortunately she still didn't have her original garments as they were still damaged from the Goblins. In the meantime she wore some spares: A dark grey robe and black stockings. Fortunately, she still had her original hat and orange boots, so to her it meant her magic was less 'inhibited'.

"Don't worry Kazuma, I have the power to blast this whole place sky-high," she smugly declared.

The boy in question turned around, "We're about to go inside. If you do that we'll die."

"Hm," she spent some time thinking to herself, "Then, I'll resist… For now."

'Please resist. I want to live,' he deadpanned.

After that, he gave a knowing look to both the girls, as their demeanours became more serious. The young man faced ahead, watching the butler signal to the guards to open the doors.

'This is either gonna be really easily, or really hard-'

"Kazuma!"

…

The adventurer's doubts were immediately disarmed, as his Goddess stood harmlessly just a few feet inside the building.

"A… Aqua?-"

Plomf!

He had barely the time to process the reunification with his long lost Goddess, before she dove into him at breakneck pace. They both laid on the stone path outside the open manor house.

Aqua clung onto the boy for dear life, "Kazuma… Kazuma! It's- It's really you, right?"

She quickly separated just to see his face.

He smiled, "Last time I checked."

The blue-haired Priest giggled at his usual witty response, though her sniggering quickly turned into sobs after just a few seconds.

tap… tap…

Droplets fell onto the boy's face. He looked up to see his partner lightly trembling, with tears of solace streaming from her eyes.

"I missed- hic I missed you so much, Kazumah…"

The boy in question looked a bit troubled, "Please don't cry... I'm here now."

"S-Sorry. You're right… It's just..." she took a few moments to collect herself, before her bright smile returned, "I'm better now."

"I feel a bit left out here…" Megumin sighed with a smile.

The other Crimson Mage was staring at the grounded adventurers with a strange, uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

"Oh, sorry guys," Aqua looked up to see the two Arch Wizards in front of her. She returned to her feet and approached them, "Come here. Both of you."

"Huh? No, you don't have to-"

GRAB

The small spellcaster, along with her taller counterpart, were given an inescapable hug of short-term reunion.

"You guys… I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you," she held them closely.

After letting them go, the Goddess was given an appreciative smile from the twin-tailed girl, and a flushed pout from the other.

"So, this is our party?" The voice of a grown woman sounded from behind Kazuma, watching the colourful group come back together.

He turned, meeting the blue eyes of the same woman that he had tried to recruit weeks before.

"What…? What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here in my own residence?" she quipped back.

"Your own residence… So you're-"

"She's a part of the Dustiness family," Aqua came into the boy's view and stood next to the Crusader, "And now… She's a member of our party."

...

"Huh…?" the young man was left with his mouth hung open, as he tried to process the new facts being fed to him.

"We didn't meet in a good way, Kazuma-san, though it was that meeting that woke me to reality, and made me learn what it truly took to be an adventurer," she looked upon the boy with a different look in her eye, something that was completely different as compared to the last time they spoke, "I assume you have a lot of questions, so we can discuss it inside."

…

The group of five were sat together in a meeting room surrounding a small table.

"I thought the last few weeks have been a bit crazy, but this is just getting out of hand now," the brown-haired adventurer held his tired eyes in disorientation.

"I expected that you would say something like that," Darkness felt the strange air between herself and the man who's offer she previously rejected, "I can explain everything for you."

"Yeah, that'd be much appreciated," he closed his eyes in contemplation, jumbling around the millions of questions he had rolling around his head, "I don't even know where to start..."

"Then I guess I'll start with how I came to find out about your predicament," The Crusader looked at all the members of the party as she spoke, "My father found out about Joshua and his trade first, as he may have already told you. He made an effort to hide it from me, fearing I would try to deal with the injustice all by myself, but with… With… With 'some help', I learned about it."

"Let me guess... Chris?" Kazuma stared at the obvious mannerisms of the blonde with a blank stare.

"Wha- How did-" Darkness' surprise was quickly halted, as she remembered who introduced him to her in the first place, "Ah, I see… Yes, you're right. She was a large influence on how we found out about the unspoken secrets of Joshua's trafficking. My father was planning to dismantle it over time by slowly breaking down his intricate system, but-"

"We blew 'em all up," Megumin proudly stated.

Aqua's eyes lit up, "Oh, I forgot to ask- Is Joshua-"

"He's gone. After that explosion, he was as good as dirt." Kazuma affirmed, letting the Archpriest take a breath of relief, and the small spellcaster to make another cocky smirk.

"Explosion…? So that was all true..." The blonde looked at Megumin in awe, "To be able to command such power as a fresh adventurer, my father wasn't joking about your talents.

"Yes, that comes with the best prodigy the Crimson Demon village has ever had," Megumin prodded her quiet partner with an elbow, showing off the attention being garnered towards her 'superior' magic.

"Yeah… It all looks good, but she turns into the equivalent of a small body bag for a whole day when she does that." Kazuma brought the ego of the shorter-haired Mage back to earth.

"Th-That's because I didn't have my staff! I don't normally pass out like that!" Megumin quickly returned with a reddened face.

"Normally? So even with your staff, you still go unconscious?" the brown-haired boy looked at her with an unimpressed gaze.

"No, I just… go a bit… Limp."

'Ah, of course. She doesn't turn into a corpse, just a paralysed rag doll. Much better.'

The youngest adventurer felt Kazuma's glare, and waved her hands to dismiss the new subject of her abilities, "A-Anyway, let's stop talking about me! You might look at me like that, but I probably earned more levels than all of you."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me," Kazuma pulled out an adventuring card from his pocket and handed it to Aqua, "I salvaged this from a big storage dump under the manor house."

"Oh, my card! I completely forgot about it. Thank you-" her sentence was stopped short once she realised the insane numbers that were shown on her skill point counter, "T-Twenty five points!?"

The young man smirked, "That's from all the goblins from the village, then all the monsters inside the prison."

"Even though I'm just support? And during the escape I was taken away..."

"I'm not too sure how the system works, but contributions go a long way. You were a big part of the events that unfolded, even if you weren't directly involved in the battle, and you were still in our party. That alone gave you over ten levels."

"Seriously…? The Goddess stared upon her plethora of points, then back to her comrades, "That must mean you guys…" she stared at others in anticipation of the revelation of their new stats.

Kazuma whipped out his own card, reading over and reminding himself of the amount of kills that were tallied from victims found at the end of his sword, or even between his bare hands. The boy found it hard to enjoy the reaping of all his work, considering the amount of lives that were lost in the process. It wasn't just like a video game where murdering everything in sight was a good thing: Every human, every monster, every soul he took were living their own very real lives.

His eyes squinted, 'It's not like I regret what I've done; for most of the people or sentient monsters I've killed, it's been to protect myself or someone important to me… But for the fate of all of those livelihoods to be summed up with a few numbers on this piece of paper is pretty scary.'

Yunyun leaned over towards the silent teenager sat beside her, wondering what the strange shift of mood was for, before noticing the total sum upon his card.

"Forty points…!" the Crimson Demon gawked at the adventurer's bank vault of untapped potential, leading to the others girls reacting in a similarly surprised manner.

Kazuma displayed a dim response to his stat increase, but was definitely glad about the boost he received; Strength, health, dexterity and agility all went up, though luck remained stagnant. He moved from level 5 to 19, a huge jump, but it didn't come without the challenges.

'My luck stat stayed the same, and intelligence barely improved. Guess they're not something you can 'level up.' You get what you get from the beginning, and develop them via normal means.'

The young man turned to the girl sat beside him, "You probably earned a ton of points too, Yunyun. You were a big role in everything."

She revealed her own card, "I did receive a lot, but not as much as you. I have 29."

Kazuma glanced over at the girl's numbers, "Level 11 from zero… That's pretty amazing."

Yunyun returned a rosy smile, giving a humble nod of appreciation.

"Hrmph. When are you gonna ask for mine- Especially after slandering me?" The other spellcaster looked waited expectantly with an annoyed huff.

"Huh?" Kazuma responded dryly to the challenge, "You know what?- I don't even wanna kn-"

"34 points. And I'm level 13."

…

The older adventurer didn't give much of an outward reaction to Megumin's claim due to being a showoff brat, but it was astounding progress. Almost all of her experience came from a single spell; a single event that brought her straight into double digits.

'The Orc Commander was probably a crazy amount of XP alone- add in all those fully armed troops plus Joshua, you've got yourself 13 levels in one swoop. I may not realise how much potential this girl has,' Kazuma mused toward the petite Crimson Mage.

Darkness sighed, "So it appears I am the lowest. I just about managed to reach level 8 just recently."

"Don't worry about stuff like that," the Archpriest waved off the blonde's unnecessary disappointment, "With your role, you'll catch up to us in no time."

Kazuma gave a sharp look towards the blue-haired adventurer, "Oh, yeah. I was also wondering about when this little thing between yourselves began."

"Eh? Ah, well… It just kind of happened today," Aqua began to sweat, fearing his judgemental glare.

"It just kind of happened, huh?"

'Since when did Aqua start making decisions like this all on her own?' he gave an unimpressed look to the healer, leaving her nervously expectant of criticism, but he simply sighed instead, 'Well, whatever. We needed a tank, or a frontline fighter of some sort anyway, and I shouldn't hate the fact that she's making choices for the benefit of the party. Also, that Crusader's not giving me any of that annoying sass that I was dealing with before.'

"Your eyes feel as if they're saying something about me," the lord's daughter spoke up to the boy, highlighting his bad habit of daydreaming toward the sources of his contemplation, "If there's something that troubles you about me, feel free to share."

Kazuma smirked at the fighter's straightforward nature, being reminded about her innate character, "Still a hard-ass, as I remember."

"Don't act as if you're not the same, Kazuma," the Crusader smirked competitively, "I may be a picky chooser, but once I find what I like it becomes hard for me to separate from it."

He scoffed lightly, "This must be someone else I'm talking to."

"I'd like to believe that too," she smiled.

The young man paused in silence after Darkness' confident, although concerning optimism. He looked toward the swordswoman with a serious expression on his face.

"This is important to know before we take you in. Most of us have only been together for a short while, but within that time, I've grown to fully trust every person in this party- even with my life."

Aqua's anxiousness subsided and was replaced with an appreciative look, along with the both the Arch Wizards sat nearby.

"-It's that level of trust that keeps us alive, and is why we've managed to get as far as we have. I support your joining, but you have to know I'm seriously planning to kill the Devil King, and destroy whatever corruption or evil lies in between. Your life will be in real danger-"

"Is that it?" the armoured lady quipped in the middle of the boy's rant, "That's just part of the job, right?"

…

The surprised adventurer exchanged a look with his Goddess, who returned a scoff, leaning back proudly in her seat in pleasant reaction to the Crusader's straightforward drive. The blonde's eyes met Kazuma's with sincere, yet simple motivation, and were absent of any lies, confusion, or deceit. He returned a satisfied smirk towards the young lady, albeit with a tiny amount of disbelief.

"I can't believe you're the same person that I met that day."

Darkness chuckled lightly, "I'm the same, just a little less naive."

…

The reformed party briskly left the estate after being introduced to the lord and exchanging thanks. The residence was soon to be a place of meeting with a dozen officials after the major events that had transpired, and as much as the master wanted to allow them to stay there, it was best to escape the presence of the aforementioned people, considering the likelihood that some of them were loyal customers of Joshua, and could impose unjust repercussions to the party out of spite. The girls that Aqua saved were safe to stay as they were not large influences in the breakout.

Kazuma and the rest returned to the Town of Beginnings, finally able to enjoy the warmth of the springtime sun, having overcome all the overwhelming obstacles that almost killed them a dozen times. With strong resolve, genius, and luck they had beaten the toughest trial so far, and if they wanted to go all the way to Devil King, serious changes needed to be made. Everyone had gone through a lot, however, so for now they simply appreciated some rest and recuperation. For starters, Megumin's prized robes were brought to the tailor to be repaired, then the parched adventurers returned to the guild for a well-missed meal. It had been just a couple weeks since the last time they were here, though it felt like months.

The large doors opened, and the bustling atmosphere inside immediately subsided, as the entire room faced the five adventurers simultaneously.

A few breathes passed before the young leader grew slightly uneasy, "Uh… Is something gonna happen-"

"It's him! It's Kazuma!" a man shouted amidst the silent mass, pointing at the brown-haired adventurer, "He's the reason we escaped the prison!"

"That's right!" another stepped up, "He planned the whole thing; there's no way we could've made it without him!"

"He fought tooth and nail for us- I saw him! Nobody showed more bravery!"

The speechless boy watched as recognizable faces spoke up in partitions, vouching for his deeds.

"Don't forget those Mages, too! We would've been toast without their spells!" The crowd of supporters surrounded Kazuma and the girls, as one man took his arm and held it high.

"Everyone! To the lives of the fallen! To the lives of the living! To the ones who lay in the mud so we can stand! Hoorah!"

HOORAH!

Kazuma found himself in the middle of a giant celebration, as the survivors stirred the guild into an electric rabble of support. As nice as it was to him, he couldn't shake the feeling of misplacement.

"You guys…" he smiled absently with a tone of sadness.

"Thinking about Nine?" a voice spoke up to his right.

When Kazuma turned to face the source of the question, a jovial feeling of relief came about him, "You're…!"

"Yeah, that's me," a bald, bearded man sat at a table beside the adventurer, pointing at his neck, "The guy who had the arrow comin' out his throat. I had a feeling you were gonna bring up that guy."

Kazuma looked down, with memories of the past flashing through his conscience, accompanied with ripples of haunted feelings, "He was the real one; the real leader… We made it because of-"

"Both of you. We got out 'cause both of you were there," The man coughed after having to exert his raspy voice, "One or the other wouldn't have done it. You created the idea and he made it possible- but he didn't make it... Tough. Do you have any idea how many brothers I lost, boy?"

Kazuma opened his mouth, but couldn't think of a word to say.

"It happens. By the end of things, no matter how you look at it, you were the guy that saw a bunch of weak, fightless suckers and forged a way for us to have another chance. We all took it knowing the risks."

"So... Were you guys compensated? You all deserve as much as whatever I'll get from this."

"Heh! Then the guild would be bankrupt," the veteran chuckled to himself, "We got a lil' something, but there's only one that receives the boatload; that's how it works here. Ah, look- I think they're ready for you."

"Kazuma-san," a lady spoke ahead, grabbing the boy's attention. She was the blonde receptionist from the counter, and stood respectfully with some other guild representatives, "The brave work you and your party did was invaluable in the recent breakout. In recognition for these efforts, for defeating Joshua, an associate of the Devil King, and for all the men and women you saved, the guild awards you 45,000,000 Eris!"

…

"Four-"

"FOURTY FIVE MILLION!?"

---

"The clouds are looking pretty..."

A certain young adventurer was a minute's walk away from the guild, standing in a small and quiet park, staring up at the late afternoon sky, gandering at its undervalued beauty: Rich, pale blue colours that lightened within a perfect gradient towards the horizon. Experiencing constant difficulties can shape the world in a terrible way through your eyes- make it seem designed to give you despair. All of a sudden, jumping from a deep low into a soaring high, it's like everything is praising you. The surroundings feel warm, homely and safe. He couldn't shake the adrenaline of the moment. In his account, to his name, was enough money to allow him to live the easy life. He returned his gaze ahead of him, where his partner matched a similarly dumbstruck expression of disbelief. After moments to revel their new position, Aqua and Kazuma both mirrored a grin of joyful surprise. They approached, then embraced each other deeply in gratification.

"We did it, Kazuma," she quietly whispered into his ear with an elated tone.

"Yeah… Living in those crappy stables; working those crappy jobs; eating that crappy food," he separated from his partner, looking at her with recognition, "We deserve it. You deserve it."

She returned a sincere smile; pretty and cute as always. Then... The silent moments passed slowly. Kazuma stared absently at his Goddess from close up; at times it was impossible not to marvel at her, even when she had the same appearance and clothing that he'd seen a million times before. Her perfect allure in the moment of rapture left him in a near hypnotic state, as all he could focus on was the depth and texture of her blue eyes, rivalling- and besting- the glamour of the sky from which he had just admired. They angled slightly up, accounting for the small disparity in height, and didn't show a glimmer of animosity or doubt, but looked softly toward him with clear admiration.

Kazuma's expression shifted as he brought a hand near to her face, then corrected a disjointed tuft of hair from her bangs, with his fingers trailing down her cheek after the fact. Her irises softened further as she placed both of her own hands flat against his chest, tilting her head up toward him.

'Oh… Are we-'

A pang of nervous, excited energy quaked in the boy's guts. It was an invitation… Right..?

Maybe?

In either case, it shouldn't have been something to be scared about. They had done much more in the past, but this was a much more intimate scene in comparison, and he'd never thought Aqua to be someone that would openly show her motives. To make sure he wasn't reading the situation wrong, he slowly jittered his head closer to the Archpriest.

Slowly…

Her cheeks reddened slightly from his gradual approach, but she didn't move away, or say anything against it.

A bit more…

Only about an inch separated the two. Both adventurers could feel the proximity of their breaths against each other. Such a tense, measured moment had Kazuma's heart beating rapidly, along with another welcoming sensation; the Goddess' sizeable breasts pressed into his torso, with her hands sliding up to his shoulders to compensate. The softness; the warmth! He almost wanted to stop- just to enjoy the sensation for longer, but couldn't as the prize was so close: Those pale, perfectly shaped lips that appeared softer than pillows.

A tiny bit more…

Both members from the original party closed their eyes and continued in deathly anticipation. As Kazuma was about to swiftly close the rest of the gap, Aqua suddenly stood on the tip of her toes, beating him to the punch as she clasped her lips against his own.

The brown-haired adventurer hitched slightly out of surprise, becoming victim to the eagerness of his healer as she quickly escalated the close moment; gripping his shirt and pulling him closer into the close cuddle, and harder against her mouth. Her tongue was also quick to be explorative, twisting with his own in a matter of seconds.

"Mmmmhhh~" the blue-haired girl moaned in satisfaction, rather than pleasure, as she contorted her mouth all over the man that had since been controlling her thoughts, worries and silent desires. It had been so long since the last time they came together, and the Goddess finally had a moment away from all the rest-

"Kazuma...?"

"HMH!"

Before either of the two could enjoy the moment further, the voice of a known girl had thrown them off completely. They pushed off each other in a flash, then the young man took the time to slowly spin around and face the source of his calling.

"Yunyun...?" he answered, trying to maintain a pokerface, though even with his level of composure and intellect, the situation was jarring enough for him to doubt the integrity of his outward appearance. He had no idea if his relaxed facade was in any way convincing, and hoped she would simply be ignorant of the situation.

"Kazuma…" her speech trailed off as something caught her eye, "And… Is that Aqua behind you? I was looking for you guys," she spoke with concern, but more so with intrigue.

"Yeah... Uh- sorry, I needed a bit of fresh air to process the whole thing, haha..." he laughed awkwardly, fixing up his creased shirt.

'Frickin' Yunyun! Why of all times!?' his eyes twitched madly.

"Ah okay, that makes sense," The Mage nodded, then leaned to one side, expecting something out of the silent girl standing awkwardly behind Kazuma, "Uh… Is Aqua okay?"

"Y-Yeah, she's-" he quickly flipped around to the Goddess, finding a beet-red face staring back at him. She was beyond embarrassed, and completely useless at hiding it. Kazuma closed his eyes, and in a split second, reached within the deepest recesses of his mind, activating every neuron in his brain, clocking into overdrive mode- with the single goal to conjure a way out of the situation: The Perfect Solution!

'I've got it.'

He glanced confidently to the Archpriest, then spun around to meet the Wizard, "Yunyun! Listen to what I'm about to say!"

"Y-Yes?" she looked upon the enlightened eyes of the green-eyed boy- someone whom appeared to have an otherworldly revelation. He demeanour was serious; whatever his next words may be, they must be some of the most important she might ever hear:

"Will you sleep with me?"

…

...

...

"Eh!?" The Crimson Demon stepped back with a large blush blooming across her face. She stared at Kazuma, wishing for a good reason to the completely random request that had been sent her way, only to see him posing like a child trying to look cool: one of his palms covering his face to appear mysterious, and his other outstretched towards her, referencing the offer.

"Hm!" He smirked through the guise of his masked face, "The Perfect Soluti-"

PINCH

"OW!OW!OW!- AQUA- STOP- OW!"

"Hey... Hey. Hey, Kazuma? Care to explain? What the hell was that? Perfect solution? What the hell does that mean? Huh? Huh?" A voice coldly spoke into his ear, while a pair of fingers held a huge chunk of back meat for ransom.

"NO! IT'S- OW! A MISUNDERSTANDING! GUH!" Kazuma fell to the ground- body twitching as if it were tazed, while a glowing pair of blue eyes glared down towards him.

"Misunderstanding?" Aqua asked with a monotone voice, "You said it pretty clearly. There isn't anything to misunderstand."

"There is! I promise- AGH! I'm talking about- I'm talking about a house!"

Yunyun, who was silently watching the crazed hysterics until that point, finally spoke up: "A house?"

"Yes!- AH! A house! I- GAH! I promise, Aqua!- Please!"

…

Kazuma was sitting on the grass, slouched over in exhaustion and with lingering pain as if a section of his back flesh had been ripped off. A scowling Archpriest towered over him with crossed arms- allowing the accused to speak for his crimes within her fabricated court of law. Yunyun stood a pace behind her, still confused as to what had being going on, and what was still going on.

"Speak," Aqua demanded.

"I've already told you what I was talking about. A house. A house."

"That's a long shot from 'Will you sleep with me?'" the blue-haired woman glared.

"Okay, that was my bad, but I'm serious about this idea. There isn't a better use of that money right now."

"What about... Equipment?" the Mage asked innocently, leaning around Aqua to get proper eye contact with the grounded man.

"Certain equipment have level limits. Even if we buy the best stuff, we wouldn't be able to use it as we are now," Kazuma appeared troubled, then faced the dark-haired girl with an honest look, "This is an idea I've been thinking about for a little while- I'm not gonna take anything away from you or Megumin; you guys have a fair claim of that sum, but the thing we're lacking is a proper residence. If we're all spread out throughout the town, it's gonna be harder to communicate and plan things."

"Ah, so you meant you wanted us to all live in the same place," the Wizard's eyes lit up in understanding.

"Could've worded that better," Aqua sighed.

Yunyun leaned forward, smiling appreciatively towards Kazuma, "You've done enough to decide whatever you want with the reward. I don't really see my claim for any of that money."

"Ah… Really?" The young man was left slightly surprised, before scoffing, "I think you're almost too good-hearted, seriously. I don't know how you were born a 'Crimson Demon; you have more kindness than this Godde-GHAK!"

"Oh, I like this idea. Sounds good to me too," A small spellcaster announced behind the adventurers, walking up to the interesting scene of Kazuma being held in a chokehold, followed silently by Darkness, "Though I'd love to buy a new staff, I agree with Yunyun. We owe you, so it's your call."

"I don't have any say, other than to agree it does appear a wise decision," the blonde held up her hands openly.

Aqua dropped the tortured soul from her deadly grip, turning away with annoyed puff, "I'm not gonna spend another second in those stables- so my hand's forced."

"Ah… G-Great," Kazuma coughed while recovering from the Goddess' monstrous strength, "In that case, I've already found a good idea for the base."

…

The sun was setting. A group of five with large bags of belongings in hand silently gawked at the prime candidate for their new residence. Realistic expectations- considering the amount of reward the adventurers earned- could've been a sizeable house with a few simple bedrooms, a bathroom, a neat kitchen and a living room. Perhaps with a good deal something a little larger, more stylish or with more conveniences. Instead, their eyes followed a stone brick road laid in front of them, leading through a wide gated entrance. Beyond said entrance and past a huge grass lawn existed a small mansion. Fancy arced pillars supported the lower floor, a pretty balcony across the second level overlooking where they stood; windows spread across the entire estate. Surely, surely it was impossible to afford such a luxury with a comparably small budget.

"Wow…" Yunyun stood in awe.

"Kazuma… Are you serious?" Aqua spoke quietly, while ogling at the scale of the building.

"Yeah, a bit of improvement from the stables, don't you think?"

"You guys were living in a stables?" Megumin asked unimpressively.

'I don't think you can be the judge here; You were a public attraction for some goblins not too long ago.'

"I would expect a landlord to value this place at fifty million minimum. I couldn't imagine the amount of bartering you did with them," Darkness conferred.

"Yeah, the guy was real tight-ass," Kazuma smirked, "But there's always a weakness."

"You sound like you placed his family for ransom."

"It was considered," he exchanged a sinister smile with the petite Mage.

"Why did I expect something like that to come out of your mouth?" the Crusader deadpanned at the small magician.

"Huh? Don't forget who's gained the most levels here."

"The one lacks the most maturity," Darkness scoffed.

"The hell'd you just-"

"Quiet! He's coming," Aqua interrupted the petty exchange while Yunyun restrained the fiery teenager.

An aged, slightly overweight man exited the property, trudged past the open gate, then promptly stopped beside Kazuma, giving him a piece of signed paperwork and a ring of keys. He barely disguised the discontent that was clearly shown upon his face as he walked off- dragging his feet on the ground.

…

"Wh… Just like that?" Yunyun questioned.

"All the terms were already agreed beforehand," Kazuma shuffled through the pre-signed paperwork, "44,000,000 for the house, land and furniture."

"Seriously…?" Aqua stared at her partner with open eyes, "When did you even find the time to do all this?"

"I saw this property long ago when it was just the two of us. At the time they quoted me the same overpriced value, but later on I knew there'd be a payout for the escape, and that Ignis could pull me some strings," the green-eyed boy placed a finger against his lips while winking at the Archpriest.

"We have yet to even begin a quest and once again I'm impressed, Kazuma." Darkness smiled as the batch of adventurers began to walk towards the mansion, "I'm sure if I stay with this party, there will be no shortage of surprises."

"Ah, speaking of which, one more thing," he turned, facing the girls with an unexpressive look, "This house is haunted."

Unfazed, the brown-haired boy continued walking towards the building.

…

"What?"

---

Plomph!

"Ohhh, man…! I'm freaking exhausted!"

Kazuma bellyflopped onto a nice, large clean bed. The feeling was strange, as if he hadn't slept in a raised bed for the majority of his life. He looked around the spacious bedroom, enjoying it's simple, but noble aesthetic. Dark wooden planks made up walls up to waist height, then continued up with stone bricks. The flooring was nicely tiled, with red carpet placed under his bed and desk. The warmly lit lanterns gave a homely breath of life into the room, especially after a much needed bath, washing away weeks of sweat, labour and combat. The adventurer's tired eyes already began to close shut-

knock knock

…

"Ugh… At this time of night," The young man moaned, clambering off the bed and stepping towards the door.

He casually opened it, but quite quickly stiffened once he met the eyes of a girl. Had it been any other, not a single nefarious idea would come to his mind. But for her, at this time of night- Kazuma couldn't help the nerves churn inside his stomach.

…

Silence… Neither said a word. The longer it dragged on, the more he could feel his heart begin to jump. He seemed to just stare absently at the girl, wearing her iconic light blue pyjamas. A certain humidity existed around her, as the adventurer quickly noticed she had just come out of the bath. There were still droplets of water on her neck and just above the beginning of her cleavage, giving off a rosy scent.

In the still moment, one side of his brain ridiculed his unnecessary reaction, seeing it as stupid optimism, but the young man couldn't help but listen to the other side; it brought ideas into his head that made his hands sweat and his breaths to flow haphazardly.

…

Still silent. The blue-haired girl held her arms behind her, leaning her mass onto one leg as she continued to wait. For something.

…

The Goddess' relaxed demeanour cracked slightly, as she glanced down both ways of the hall, then back to him with a hint of fret.

"Are you gonna leave me here forever?" she asked in a somewhat annoyed tone.

"Oh-Uh, sorry," Kazuma flinched out of his trance, and moved aside to allow her to step in. She briskly took the invitation, and he closed the door.

As the tense young man turned back around, he noticed the sudden change in Aqua's confidence. A visible redness appeared on her cheeks, as she looked away with a scrunched posture.

"L-Lock the door, then." she mustered out of her lips, fidgeting her fingers while occasionally making eye contact.

Kazuma quickly complied, then returned to where she stood, a few steps into the room. His heart was now definitely beating out of his chest, but now seeing Aqua reveal her true intentions and nervousness, it was easier to approach her, so he did. He came within a few paces, then two, then one. The Archpriest gazed back to him hesitantly.

…

"I-I didn't like be interrupted earlier," she began, "So… It makes sense to finish it... Right?"

Kazuma nodded absently, and watched as she stood expectantly for him. He shuffled to her, close enough so that her head tilted up to see him. Leaning forward and slightly down to match her height, the teenager rested his hands on the Goddess' hips to gauge her distance, then closed his eyes.

...

He leaned further; just a few seconds more, then usually-

Chuuu~

'Straight away!'

She surprised him once again; always a moment earlier than expected. Her arms naturally slung around his head, just as they did they first time they came together in the stables.

Chorp Chorp Chorp

"Hhmh!" Aqua's moans vibrated through her intimate other's mouth.

The couple quickly moved past the initial- and straight into the deep, messy mouth games. Aqua pulled Kazuma around, leading both of them closer to the bed. After being ignited by the young man, she found herself being the one to become the aggressor- and loved every moment of it. Their tongues mixed once again, but now there was no-one to stop them. The healer continued to backpedal faster, yanking her partner by the back of his head- until contact with the bed buckled her knees, throwing both adventurers onto the mattress with the boy on top. Even after been startled, they continued to french as if nothing happened.

"Hhmm!" she gasped again, jolting sensitively from the hands that trailed up and down her slim waist.

In response, she swiftly moved to Kazuma's tracksuit, unzipping his top in a single motion. He parted from her to throw it off himself, then jumped back into the deep kiss. She wouldn't allow too much more, as she was already pulling the black shirt off, too. He raised his arms and allowed her to toss it aside.

Still craving the taste of her soft lips, he began to move down to her again, but stopped. She appeared disturbed, or even shocked. He became somewhat worried; perhaps she was afraid- though that didn't make much sense. The adventurer followed her eyes, and found them to be inspecting his bare chest.

Scars. Scars were scattered across his entire upper body. The healer had seen him shirtless a couple times before, but never in the state that it was now. The culmination of injuries from the wolves, the goblins and the breakout were imprinted on him like physical memories. Though she had exceptional healing abilities, the faded cuts, scrapes and teeth marks were things that would stay forever.

"Ah... Does it look weird?"

Aqua shook her head, while placing a hand onto his chest.

"Kazuma," she felt the depth and texture of the blemishes on his body as she spoke, "So many of these were for me, weren't they?"

He responded with a weak nod.

"I'm here now… So," she faced away, flushed with embarrassment, "You can do anything you like..."

…

'Anything I like…?'

Kazuma's eyes widened, staring down at the defenceless girl below him. His eyes scanned through the beautiful form of her body. Her thick thighs, tiny waist and large succulent breasts that raised and lowered with her steamy breaths. It was so arousing that he wanted to lose all sense and wildly lay waste. Alas, she showed trust in him so he would respect that.

A hand lightly caressed Aqua's breast.

"Mmhh!"

'Soft... Soft! So soft!'

He couldn't even fit the entire bosom in his palm. Kazuma felt her body shiver as he stroked her amazing boobs. They squished and deformed around his hand- the best play toy a man could ever ask for. He began to fondle, grab and squeeze the orbs more, joining in with his other hand as well.

"Mmh! Kaz-Kazuma!" Aqua gasped, with strings of saliva inside her agape mouth.

The excited boy felt a certain part more pronounced than the rest. He pulled back, and saw small points sticking through her shirt.

'I need to see.'

The Goddess felt something glide under her pyjama top; she knew it was her turn, and didn't resist. It easily slid off, leaving her completely bare from the waist up. She gazed back at her partner, who was examining every inch of her form, burning it into his retina.

"D-Don't stare, stupid."

Kazuma complied, and jumped straight back for the ripe fruit.

GRAB

"Aaggh!" Her back arched.

The pink, erect nipples shot lightning through the adventurer's body by mere touch. They were squeezed, pressed, and even twisted-

"Kaz- Aahh! It'z sensitive!"

Despite the talk of respect, he couldn't stop himself. The feeling, her sexy moans; he wanted to hear more. Her assault was paused momentarily, but only so he could change from hand to mouth.

SUCK

"AAAHHH!" her hands clasped on the sides of his torso, screaming in pleasure.

The young adult suckled the divine teat like a starved baby. She tasted as wonderful as she smelt, with an added rawness that could only be described as addictive. He flicked his tongue over her nipples, just to stimulate her more.

"Haah! Haaaeh! Kazuma…!" she weakly panted, loosening her grip on his body.

Finally she had relented. Now he was free to-

GRIP

"Aageh!" he tensed, separating from the Goddess, as she harshly gripped his entire package.

"How long are you gonna tease me?" she asked breathlessly, clenching her hand.

"A-Ah! Ahh! C-Careful!" he hitched, as she massaged the lump in the pants with a strong grasp, just the same way he treated her breasts.

Aqua took advantage of the momentary weakness, throwing him aside, then clambering on top so that she was in control. Kazuma squinted, looking up at the product of his carnal desire, now gazing down at her treat. Before he was able to say or do anything more, his tracksuit pants were unzipped, and tugged violently. His raging, but contained manhood acted as a stopgap, blocking the energetic girl from immediately tearing his trousers away.

"Agh! Aqua, wait-"

"Nggghhhh!" she struggled, as she dug her nails into the hem of his pants as well as his underwear, and heaved with all her might!-

Fwop!

"Mgh!"

Kazuma's bottoms and boxers gave way in a split second- thrown all the way down to his ankles. His large, bulging member swung up, standing tall and proudly on its own. Aqua looked upon the 'little' man like a long-lost friend, reminiscing with a devious glimmer in her eye. She barely took a moment to bring a hand to its base, and clasp her soft fingers around it.

"Mmmh!"

strooooke strooooke strooooke

"Mff! Ah!"

The Archpriest slowly stimulated Kazuma's entire shaft, squeezing extra hard at the tip each time to make him quiver and thrash. She then pressed it down flat against his belly, rolling her palm up and down the underside.

Pressss!

"Gnnff! Aqua- Aah!"

Sensitive was an understatement. She was sending tremors across the boy's body, but above all the teasing was a plethora of pleasure. Her divine touch was second-to-none. With merely some sweat and precum to lubricate, the Goddess returned to a normal jerking motion.

A sly, lustful expression befell the blue-haired healer. There was a strange satisfaction in seeing her partner fall curse to her techniques. Just to arouse him further, she took the time to pause the motions, then purposefully and slowly suck the musky wetness from each of her digits, swallowing audibly each time. She felt his thing twitch each time she...

…

"A-Aqua?" Kazuma stared weakly at the motionless woman.

Benevolent Goddess!

'It's… It's that thing!'

"Hey, Kazuma..."

"Yeah…?"

"It aches…" Aqua spoke with half-lidded eyes, appearing to glow with a blue hue.

"What…?"

"Here…" She pulled her pyjama bottoms down, revealing a stream of steamy clear liquid trailing between her thighs, "It aches."

Small hearts sparked within the depths of her hungry irises. She quickly kicked off her pants, and crawled towards her consort who had backed up to head of the bed.

'I can see it…' Kazuma sat upright against the headboard, completely transfixed by the sight of the Goddess' slit, and the thick, pulsing lips that surrounded it- so much so that he hadn't registered how dangerously close they were from going all the way.

"Wait, Aqua! Are... A-Are we…"

The frazzled boy fumbled his words in excited panic. The precious sight of Aqua's bare form filled up his entire focus. She was unbelievably sexy: Pale, smooth skin, luscious, long and free hair, with wide childbearing hips and plump thighs. Though her physical attributes had been maxed from the beginning, she seemed to gain a feint toned appearance throughout her ample frame. She had a perfect balance of 'medium' size, and the apparent thickness of her divine curves.

She crept up to Kazuma on all fours, then onto him; placing hands onto his shins, then his loins, and from there she sat on his legs. The blue-haired adventurer was stationed a breath away from from her partner, staring straight into his eyes.

"Kazuma…" hot vapour left the deity's mouth as she spoke. She lightly played with the fully erect, twitching member that rested against her tummy, making Kazuma exhale sharply through his teeth.

"Do you… Not want to…?"

An inkling of dejection appeared in Aqua's face from Kazuma's visual hesitation. He saw beyond her burning lust and desire- an expression of genuine attraction, care and endearment.

...

'Do I not want to...?'

'Do I not want to?!'

GRAB

"Ah!"

"I want to. More than anything," Kazuma declared, grabbing her thighs and lifting them high above his length.

Aqua's hands fell onto the boy's shoulders to balance herself- as she began to slowly drop back down. The green-eyed adventurer's heart rushed faster than it ever had before; the mere sight of the wet, warm paradise descending onto him was a pure hit of adrenaline. Liquid dripped from her sex onto his restless manhood, which also leaked from the tip in anticipation.

Smush!

"Mmmhhhh!" the Goddess trembled upon contact. Her thick labia separated, hugging tightly around Kazuma's tip. It seemed to suck him in, gripping whatever entered like a trap- beckoning the rest to fall inside.

'Fuuck! So Good!' The young man's eyes shot up while trying to regain control.

He had to struggle against her weight just so his member wasn't pulled inside. Before he went any further, he glanced towards Aqua. After a momentary pause, she nodded readily.

'Okay… Okay… Here it goes...' he took a breath, 'Nice and slow-'

SHWOOP!

"UH!?-"

"HYAAAAAH!"

'Warm; soft; tight!'

Simple words and phrases were all that could register in the boy's mind. It was in; it was completely in! And-

'It feels so fuckin' goood!'

The Goddess' insides suddenly squeezed and stimulated every inch of Kazuma's cock, leaving him paralysed in delight. For Aqua, she had suddenly been invaded with such an imposing thing; it reached all the way to the entrance of her once virgin womb, rubbing against every one of her glands in the process.

"Aahh… Aaaah! Kaz… Aaah!" she stuttered, with waves of pleasure shaking up her entire body.

Ten seconds of rapture befell both adventurers, before they regained control of themselves.

'What… What the hell happened!?' The recovering boy gandered at the sight of his Archpriest's bulging belly.

"Kah...Kazuma…!"

"A-Are you okay?"

"Kahzuma…"

"Yeah…?"

The Goddess' open-mouthed expression paused, then- upon making eye contact with her mate, morphed into a squinted, sinister smile:

"More."

"Uh…?"

SCHLLLIIIICK!

The sqelchy, meaty sound of Aqua lifting her ass, sliding the twitching member out of her soaked pussy filled the room, accompanied by the intimate couple's moans. Before the young man had any more say-

SLAM!

She dropped back down with heavy momentum, sending sexual juices flying at the impact point.

"Haaahh!" she screamed, digging her nails into her partner's shoulders.

"Aagh! Aqua!" he leaned his head back as another shiver-inducing rush of pleasure attacked him.

"More!"

SCHLLLIIIICK- SLAM!

Her insides stuck onto Kazuma's shaft like they were made for him. With every moment, in or out, it perfectly clasped around his cock like a hot, squishy mould.

SLAM, SLAM, SLAM!

"Kashuma! Ahhuuh!"

Aqua moved on pure instinct- riding her partner like an animal in heat. Her moans became slurred, as the overwhelming shocks of feeling surged through her body.

SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!

"Agh! Aqua-Ah!" the boy spoke in a broken tone. The sensation of Aqua's folds stroking his length with such perfect finesse, yet hungry aggression was otherworldly- so much so that his vision proved hazy, weakly able to make out one part of the healer- a pale neck glimmering with sweat. It was so open; so vulnerable!

Suck!

"Aggh! Kazuma…!" she embraced the upper half of his body, all while still bouncing relentlessly on his cock.

SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!

The blue-haired girl began to move with more vigour, filling the room with noises of wet slapping and her own vocalisations.

"Mh!" Kazuma's eyes shot open, feeling his entire body jerk violently. As much as he wanted to experience his partner's touch for longer, he felt the beginning of the end approaching. He released his mouth from her neck to speak: "A-Aqua I'm gonna…!"

SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!

"Ah, Kashuma! You feel sho good!" The Goddess cried, ignoring the adventurer's weak warning.

Her horny voice only aroused his body more. The seeds inside him began to move, churning as a cumulative force. His floodgates were reaching the limit. As he came closer to the edge, it was harder to fight against his primal urge to breed with the sex-crazed woman on top of him.

He fought away the inner demons and shouted out again, "Aqua, I-I'm close! I can't-"

SLAM! SLAM! SLAM!

The female adventurer continued to wildly bounce on Kazuma's member, but looked down slowly at the young adult as she did. Instead of heed his caution, however, she leaned nearby his ear and whispered directly into it:

"Cum inside."

...

"What-"

SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!SLAM!

"Argghhh!"

The pleasure grew exponentially as Kazuma approached his peak, growing powerless for what was to come. The young man- who was mounted by his lustful partner- felt every muscle his body contract as the load began to rise up within his shaft.

"Do it!- Do it, Kazuma!" the Goddess screamed. She felt his thing convulse inside, eager to release everything inside her. She matched her movements to the spasms, slowing down the faster it jerked- keeping him on the edge for a long as possible.

"AQUA- AAGGHHH!"

She felt it! She rose herself to the top, waiting for the moment the tide was about to reach!-

SLAM!

SPLUUUURT!

"Haaah!- HYAAAAAAH!" Aqua shrieked in sheer orgasm, sensing the sperm jetting inside her.

Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!

"Ahh! It's still!-"

Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!

Kazuma's body had been stimulated to the maximum; his entire reservoir was being forcefully dumped inside her.

Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!

"Ahh! Kaz- Kazuma!?" she felt her womb completely fill to the brim.

Spurt!…... Spurt….. spurt…..

As the torrent of seed finally slowed to a halt, the male adventurer slid from his upright position into laying flat out on his back, half-dead. Aqua dropped on top of him, panting heavily.

"Hah... Hah... S-Sorry Kazuma... I lost myself…"

"Aqua… We… I mean, I-"

The young man was interrupted by giggling, then an expressive smile from the Archpriest.

"Don't forget. Purification."

…

"Ah... Right…"

The two adventurers shared a quiet laugh together, and with the dimming of the lights, fell asleep. At last, the silence of night befell the bedroom, the mansion and the outdoor landscapes. A peaceful night. Although, what appeared peaceful may have simply been a silent sin; a scheme; a ploy. Miles away in a secluded secret location, a figure sat in it's chambers in wait. Their mere presence, even among peers, incited fear and hostility; the embodiment of combat and violence. Another figure entered inside. His mannerisms differed from the first, and did not have the same intimidating aura, but more than enough deathly instinct to match.

"You summoned me…?" the visitor asked.

"Axel. Are you aware on current events?"

"No, I've been in different cities."

"There's a new threat."

"A threat? In Axel?"

"It's your task to identify and-"

"That's not my responsibility. Joshua should do what is in his province-"

"Joshua is dead."

…

A spark of surprise, albeit mostly humour appeared on the other's face.

"Dead…? Dead?"

"…"

"My, my," the lighter voiced figure attempted to stifle a snigger, "As expected. I'm not sure what you saw in him to invest so deeply-"

"Enough with needless chatter. This is an order."

"An order...? How well have your orders been going? If I do what you 'order' me to, I'll probably end up in a grave-"

THUD!

The primary figure took one large step from their throne, cracking the stone brick ground and creating a blast of air with the mere stomp of an armoured boot.

"If you want to defy me and the authority of the Devil King, I'm ready for you; here, now, tomorrow or any other time. If not, then scamper off to Axel, minion."

Far from playful now, the smaller presence shot a nasty glare of ill intention to his superior, "What's their name?"

"The name of the leader is Kazuma. I would not underestimate him, as Joshua wasn't somebody who would die easily-"

"Joshua was a weakling and a coward. Don't compare me to him."

A thick, girthy chuckle vibrated the other side of the room, now from the bigger of the two, "Minions are all the same. Witty, annoying, arrogant- that much you are similar."

The annoyed individual turned to leave-

"One last thing. There's another associate that has broken communication with me in that city; a lich. She owns a shop. Find out if she remains loyal, and terminate her otherwise."

Without any response, the minion continued his leave, opening the grand doors and slamming them behind him.

"Watch your back, Dullahan."

.

.

.

an: If you were waiting for this, thanks for your patience. let me know if you liked it :^)