Chapter 14 Lost Item
Note: Here we'll see some "explanations" about the old events and Eris' interest in Haruka.
And again, this chapter was longer than I thought it would be.
Chapter 14 Lost item.
(Morning.)
Aqua and Haruka are sitting on the sofa facing the fireplace. Haruka is holding her guild card while Aqua is giving her instructions.
"It's easy so you can learn Create Water!" Aqua says proudly.
"It's much easier than I thought." Haruka swipes her dice on the card. The card gives off a glow, making Haruka close her eyes. "Looks like it worked..."
"How about you try it now!" Aqua says excitedly, picking up a glass and placing it on a table in front of Haruka.
"Great..." Haruka holds out his hand and points to the glass. Taking a deep breath, he says. "Create Water." A small light appears from Haruka's hand and a small amount of Water comes out of Haruka's hand and falls into the glass.
"Oh, you've learned well!" Aqua crosses her arms proudly.
"How cool! I can create water out of nothing!" Haruka is impressed, even though she's seen Kazuma use this ability before.
"Not really." Aqua explains. "You actually take a quantity of water that's usually underground to create it."
"So it's like I teleport water from a random place to my hand?" Haruka asks, understanding a little.
"Yeah, that's right!" Aqua speaks as if she were a teacher.
"Don't trust her completely, Haruka." Kazuma says, drawing both of their attention.
"Kazuma, is this serious?" Haruka asks, watching his friend.
"What?" Kazuma asks without understanding.
"You're not getting out of there, are you?" Haruka asks, not believing that Kazuma is still lying inside the Kotatsu.
"Sorry about that, but since we don't have any more debts, I want to live a quiet life." Kazuma says.
"Was that just because Vanir came here to make that proposal?" Haruka asks, remembering the arrival of the prediction demon.
(Flashback.)
"Hello beautiful people!" Vanir says excitedly.
"Oh, it's you." Haruka speaks coldly and moves away from the door to sit on the sofa.
"What's the matter, boy? Are you disappointed?" Vanir asks excitedly.
"Stop feeding off my emotions!" Haruka shouts, sitting down on the sofa.
"Ah yes, yes. Your emotions are quite intriguing... but anyway, where's your friend with the hungry look?" Vanir asks.
"Wow, what are you talking about?" Kazuma arrives with Aqua and Megumin.
"He says you're in a drought." Megumin says.
"Shut up!" Kazuma shouts at the explosive mage. "But anyway, what do you want, Vanir?"
"About that, I'd like to team up with you." Vanir greets him, speaking excitedly.
"A partnership?" Kazuma asks curiously.
(End of flashback.)
Basically, Kazuma will make items from the world of Earth to sell in this world. Basically, he's found a gold mine, because the two of them already intended to sell these items, but if it were up to Wiz, it would go very wrong. So Kazuma makes the items and Haruka looks for the items needed to make them. The fire stone inside Kotatsu was very difficult to find.
"That way he'll go back to being a bum who only stays at home." Aqua says with a pout.
"Look, I'm calm, but I get very angry sometimes. And it's better for you not to see me angry." Kazuma says with a serious look on his face.
"I still can't believe he survived after that explosion..." Haruka growls. "He has many lives is all...
"Are you still in that thing?" Darkness said, entering the room.
"Your laziness goes a long way." Megumin mocks Kazuma as he enters the room with Darkness.
"Are you really going to make fun of me?" Kazuma asks indignantly.
"I don't know why you decided to do that." Megumin says and hugs Haruka's arm. "Haruka's a lot warmer..."
"No." Haruka pulls away from the hug, remembering the previous events.
(Flashback.)
"Come on, get off me!" Haruka shouts as he's tied up and carried through the corridors by Aqua and Megumin.
"No, no, no. You're very warm, and it's very cold outside." Aqua says in an excited tone.
"But our things have been returned, and the fireplace has wood to burn!" Haruka tries to retort.
"But you're warmer, and you won't burn us like the fireplace." Megumin says in a cute tone of voice.
"WHAT!" Haruka despairs, but he sees Kazuma coming down the corridor. "Kazuma, help me!"
Kazuma pretends not to have seen anything and leaves the corridor.
"There's going back!" Haruka shouts, but Kazuma ignores him.
(End of Flashback.)
"We've even got ourselves a new guild mission." Darkness says to his companions.
"All right, let's go," Haruka says as she picks up her Driver.
"I'm not going." Aqua says, lying down on the sofa. "We've got money, so there's no point in doing missions."
"We need to go." Megumin says. "Besides, I can't use my explosive magic in the city."
"And there will be some strong monsters there..." Darkness's face reddened slightly.
"Apart from those things, we need to stay strong. Isn't our goal to defeat the demon king?" Haruka says to the Goddess.
"Still, I'm not going out in this cold -" Aqua is interrupted by Haruka.
"I'll buy you that red wine you've been wanting for a long time."
"LET'S GO!" Aqua says excitedly, getting up from the sofa with her fist raised high.
"Get me out of this." Kazuma says, still inside Kotatsu.
The group looks at Kazuma, before Haruka approaches the boy.
"Darkness, give me a hand here. Megumin, open that window." Haruka says, approaching Kotatsu.
"Whoa, whoa. What are you thinking of doing?" Kazuma asks worriedly.
Darkness approaches Kotatsu and stands opposite Haruka. Megumin approaches the window and opens it.
"Ready, Darkness?" Haruka activates Amazon Boxing's and crouches down to pick up Kotatsu.
"Ready." Darkness crouches down and grabs the other side of the Kotatsu.
"Wow, wow, wow! Easy there, guys!" Kazuma says, being lifted up by his two friends.
"Ready eeee..." Haruka and Darkness say.
"Hold on guys! I'm going, I'm going I swear!" Kazuma shouts in desperation.
"THERE IT GOES!" Haruka and Darkness shout, throwing Kazuma out of the window as he screams in despair.
[...]
The group was walking through the streets of Axis City. Most of them were feeling a bit chilly... except for those near Haruka.
"Weren't we going to the guild? Why are we going the opposite way?" Megumin asked, observing the surroundings.
"Since you made me leave, I decided to pick up my package." Kazuma says to his group, looking a little annoyed.
"Package?" Haruka asks.
"Yes." Kazuma says. "We're going to stop at a blacksmith's."
The group stops in front of a blacksmith's store and everyone enters. The bell on the door rings, drawing the blacksmith's attention.
"Hi, welcome!" The blacksmith says cheerfully.
"What's up, man! Tell me, is my sword ready?" Kazuma asks looking excited.
"Yeah, I've already finished making it, and I made it the way you described." The blacksmith turns to take the sword from Kazuma. "Here it is." The blacksmith turns and hands over the sword.
"Woow!" Kazuma raises the sword and the whole group is impressed by his work.
"I don't usually have these crazy ideas that you have, but I have to say it was a very interesting job to do." The blacksmith says, looking happy.
"A machete?" Haruka asks, looking at the sword.
"That's right!" Kazuma says proudly.
"When did you order a sword like that, Kazuma?" Megumin looks at the sword curiously.
"Oh, it was when I learned some blacksmithing skills from this guy a while back," Kazuma explains, pointing to the blacksmith.
"Wait, you said you needed it for your new business, didn't you?" Darkness asks, remembering Vanir's proposal.
"Yes, and while I was negotiating I decided to place an order, as I knew it would be a great upgrade to my equipment." Kazuma says cheerfully, before noticing a piece of paper in front of him.
"Here." The blacksmith hands Kazuma a piece of paper. "All you have to do is write your partner's name on it and put it on the handle of the sword. But finally..."
[...]
Kazuma gives an excited shout when he sees a knight's armor in navy blue and green, looking very much like the armor in a Dark Souls-type game.
"And here is your complete armor. It's very exquisite, much more than most adventurers have out there." The blacksmith speaks proudly as he holds the shoulder of the armor. "Take good care of her."
"AHH she's perfect!" Kazuma says excitedly.
"I must admit, it's pretty cool." Aqua says staring at the armor.
"The material is really, really good and it's very well made." Darkness says, seeming to like the armor.
"I still think Haruka's Rider armor is better." Megumin says to the group.
"What is it?" Kazuma asks looking slightly indignant. "He doesn't even wear armor when he's transformed. It's practically his skin, so he fights naked."
"WOU!" Haruka says, looking embarrassed.
"But anyway..." The blacksmith interrupted the group. "Don't you want to put it on now?"
[...]
Kazuma stands inside the armor staring at his companions.
"Wow, I think this armor makes you look like a man!" Megumin says impressed.
"Not even most Crusaders could wear armor like that!" Darkness says, watching Kazuma.
"That armor makes you look like an... honorable knight." Haruka is impressed by the armor.
"Kazuma strikes a pose!" Aqua says excitedly.
Kazuma tries to move, but the armor only makes noises. He tries to move again, but the armor only makes noises and doesn't move.
"...Kazuma?..." Megumin asks in confusion.
"Haha... First of all, warriors don't show off their techniques just to boast." Kazuma tries to cover up, but it's no use.
"You can't move because you're too heavy, can you?" Darkness laughs lightly.
[...]
Kazuma gets out of his armor with a sad and disappointed expression on his face.
"Well..." The blacksmith tries to defuse the situation. "I think it's better to use equipment you're already used to, don't you?"
"I guess we'll have to make new armor..." Kazuma says with a slight sadness on his face.
After a while of moping, Kazuma places his sheathed katana from his belt on the back of his ass with the sword curved diagonally.
"I'm counting on you, partner." Kazuma speaks in an honorable tone indicating his sword.
Everyone is excited to see Kazuma walking in epic fashion towards the exit door. But his sword hits some swords and knocks them to the ground. Everyone looks at that scene, the blacksmith's things falling as Kazuma quickly turns around.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Kazuma quickly apologizes and puts the swords away.
"Okay then..." Kazuma says a little embarrassed. "Thanks again."
Kazuma turns around again and opens the door in epic fashion. He walks epically back to the exit, but his sword prevents him from leaving by getting stuck in the door. He has placed the sword horizontally at his waist.
Everyone stares at him in disbelief at what the boy is doing, still trying to get out of the door without moving his sword.
Everyone leaves the store and looks at Kazuma.
"This is nothing like I imagined!" Kazuma shouts angrily and throws the sword on the floor.
[...]
Kazuma is sitting at a guild table with a plate of food in front of him, but the boy just rests his head on one of his hands with a blank look on his face.
Megumin and Haruka are in front of him eating a plate of meat and vegetables.
"Your partner is looking shorter now." Megumin points at Kazuma's sword.
"Shut up!" Kazuma says angrily and picks up his sword. "I at least want it to have a cool original name. Olympic sword? Punisher Sword? Or Excalibur?" Kazuma asks as Megumin continues to eat. And Haruka gets pensive.
"Wouldn't that be misuse of an image?" Haruka questions the names.
"Guys!" Aqua shouts, drawing the group's attention.
"We've found a mission." Darkness says to the others.
The three of them get up and start walking towards the other two.
"In addition, Kazuma" Haruka says, catching her friend's eye. "Wouldn't it have been better if you had put the sword on the side of your waist or on your back? I think that would have been better than reducing its size."
Kazuma stops walking and thinks for a few seconds... The adventurer holds his head, crouches down and takes a deep breath before shouting with all his might... "FUUUUUUUUUUCKKKKKKKKK!"
[...]
"These monsters are called runner lizards." Luna explains to the group. "When they enter the mating season, the males hang around the runner princess. They form a large group and then compete for the attention of the runner princess.
"They compete?" Kazuma asks.
"Yes, they run. In a huge group, they run over anything in their way and the fastest male is crowned the great runner king and becomes the great runner king, and partner of the runner princess."
"That story sounds so..." Kazuma tries to speak, but Haruka cuts him off.
"Cliché?" Haruka asks.
"This mission consists of taking out the runner lizards." Sena indicates. "There are a lot of them, so it could be dangerous-" Sana is interrupted when Kazuma tells her to be quiet.
"Don't worry, Sena. This girl here." Kazuma raises his sword. "And I will take care of everything. Right, partner... Ahh Zangetsu? Sacabatou?"
"Chunchunmaru." Megumin speaks, leaving most of them confused.
"Oi, what's up?" Kazuma turns around looking confused.
"I said Chunchunmaru. That's the name of that sword. Chunchunmaru." Megumin says proudly.
"You'd think I'd choose such an idiotic name. Since it's my sword, it needs a really cool name..." Kazuma looks at the sword and sees the talisman on the handle.
The talisman disappears, leaving an engraving on the sword with the name Chunchunmaru on it. Kazuma despairs at what has happened.
"As of today, this sword is called Chunchunmaru." Megumin says in a proud tone.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Kazuma shouts indignantly.
[...]
After a while of Kazuma pulling the explosive mage's cheeks, Haruka finally manages to calm him down.
"All right, all right. Now that the worst is over, can we go on the mission?" Haruka asks as Kazuma rubs his face, still trying to calm down.
"Okay..." Kazuma takes a deep breath. "We'll see." Kazuma indicates the exit.
The whole group starts walking towards the exit.
"And, wait!" Luna says to the group. "It's just that Haruka has a request."
"A request?" Kazuma asks.
"A request, for me?" Haruka asks looking confused.
"Yes, we have a mission request for Haruka." Luna indicates, handing Haruka the mission poster.
"Let me see..." Haruka takes the poster and begins to read. "To explore a deep dungeon full of monsters... and who made this request?" Haruka questions before someone appears.
"It was me here!" A girl enters the conversation, greeting everyone.
"Chris?" Kazuma asks, seeing the thief.
"Hi, Kazuma!" Chris waves to the boy and turns to Haruka. "So, are you going to accept my request?"
"I don't know... it's just that I was already on a mission and..." Haruka tries to explain, but is interrupted when Megumin puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Haruka." Megumin says confidently. "You can accept the mission, I'll take care of everything."
"Waa Megumin, coming from you it's almost certain to go to shit." Haruka says in a cute tone.
"Hey!" Megumin snarls.
"But are you sure?" Haruka turns her attention to her group.
Kazuma just shrugged, while Aqua and Darkness raised their thumbs to indicate yes.
"Okay..." Haruka shrugs. "Okay, Chris. I accept your mission request."
(Mission started.)
(Explore the Dungeon with the Thief.)
PAUSE
Haruka and Chris were walking through a ravine. With very high mountains surrounding them.
"How far is this dungeon?" Haruka asked, as the two of them had walked quite a distance.
"We're almost there." Chris replies, looking at their surroundings.
Haruka sighs, hoping to find the place soon.
"Tell me, why out of so many powerful adventurers did you choose me for this mission?" Haruka asks, trying to pass the time.
"Let's just say you have what I need to explore this dungeon." Chris replies vaguely.
"Do I have what it takes?" Haruka asks, a little suspicious of the thief.
"Well it's just-" Chris finds the dungeon passage and changes the subject. "I found the entrance!" Chris says excitedly.
The two enter the dungeon. As they descend the stairs, everything starts to get darker and darker.
"Did you bring torches?" Haruka asks, unable to see anything else.
"Not really." Chris says. "I can practically see in the dark with the abilities I have."
"Just like Kazuma..." Haruka remembers the dungeon Keele was in.
"Ouch, I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be this dark!" Chris quickly apologizes.
"Don't worry." Haruka puts the Driver around her waist. "I can see in the dark too."
Haruka turns Driver's left lever and says "OMEGA-" Driver's eyes light up a little. Haruka takes a deep breath and says "AMAZON!" The Driver starts chanting "EVO-E-EVOLUTION!" Haruka engulfs herself in green flames, lighting up the whole place.
Chris covers his eyes so as not to burn them by the flames, she opens them a little to take in the scene.
"Nice." Haruka speaks, now transformed into Kamen Rider Amazon Omega.
"Right!" Chris nods.
[...]
The two of them are walking down a corridor that seems to have a lot of pillars.
"What exactly did we come here for?" Haruka asks, looking at the pillars.
"We came to pick up an item." Chris says, observing his surroundings.
"What kind of item?" Haruka asks, still in debt.
"An item that-" Chris tries to say, but ends up stepping on a button.
Thorns are thrown in the girl's direction, but Haruka steps in front and blocks all the thorns.
"Ahhh thank you..." Chris sighs in awe. "Thanks, Haruka."
"You're welcome. When you live with three troublemakers, you get used to getting them out of trouble." Haruka says, looking at the ground. Haruka says, looking at the floor. "There seem to be quite a few traps around here." Haruka says, seeing more buttons hidden on the floor.
"Really..." Chris sighs. "I guess I was so focused on finding the item that I didn't realize it." Chris scratches the back of her head, a little embarrassed.
"So we need to be careful." Haruka indicates, walking forward and avoiding stepping on any buttons. "To have these traps, this item must be very important, or someone doesn't want us to get to it." Haruka thinks for a moment.
"É... that..." Chris just says, wanting to get going.
The two of them walk for a while, managing to dodge the traps and reach the end of the corridor.
They stop to check their surroundings and see two paths.
"Which way do we go?" Haruka asks with a hand on her chin.
"This way." Chris indicates the left side and starts walking towards it. Haruka follows, still curious.
"You seem to know a lot about this place." Haruka indicates, still following the girl.
"And that's just it..." Chris tries to make an excuse. "It's just that I've been here before!" Chris replies, hoping that Haruka will accept this answer.
"But if you've come here before... then what did we come here for?" Haruka asks, still a little confused.
"Yeah, well, it's just that I forgot - AAHHH" Chris stumbles and almost falls into an abyss, but Haruka manages to grab his clothes and prevent him from falling.
"Watch where you're going." Haruka pulls Chris back.
"Whew!..." Chris sighs, almost having a heart attack. "Thanks... again."
"Look, Chris. If you don't tell me what exactly we came for, there's not much I can do!" Haruka says with her hands on her hips.
"Ahh..." Chris sighs. "It's a bracelet that I... I ended up losing around here." Chris explains.
"And this bracelet is that important?" Haruka asks, relaxing her body.
"Yes, it's very important!" Chris says seriously, hoping that Haruka won't ask any more questions.
"...Okay." Haruka says. "I'll help you get your bracelet back." Haruka says, approaching the abyss.
"Really?" Chris asks impressed.
"As you said, that bracelet is very important to you. And I have no right to know about your life, but you hired me so I'll help you." Haruka says.
"Ahh..." Chris sighs with relief. "Thanks, Haruka."
"No problem." Haruka looks into the abyss. "I don't think we can go any further."
"Actually, I ended up losing her in the abyss." Chris says, approaching the chasm and looking into it.
"So the bracelet is down there?" Haruka asks.
"Yes, but I don't know how we're going to get down." Chris said thoughtfully.
"I'll figure it out." Haruka approaches Chris.
"What?" Chris asks confused, before Haruka grabs her waist. "Ah Haruka!" Chris says embarrassed.
"Hang on!" Haruka approaches the edge of the abyss and jumps.
"HARUKAAAAA!" Chris screams in despair as he begins to fall.
Haruka uses one hand to grab the wall of the chasm, managing to slow her fall. He uses his foot to slow him down even more.
Haruka begins to see the ground approaching, he prepares to land while Chris still screams in desperation for his life. Slamming into the ground, he lands, raising a huge cloud of dust.
"We're here." Haruka puts Chris down.
"Ahh yes... we're here..." Chris looks a little dizzy from the impact of the fall.
"Chris, are you okay?" Haruka asks, approaching the girl.
Chris ends up getting dizzier and vomits on the floor, Haruka moves away so as not to get dirty.
[...]
"Are you better?" Haruka holds Chris's hand to help her walk.
"A bit, but don't do something like that again." Chris says, as he walks slowly with his hand on his stomach.
"We're getting deeper and deeper into this dungeon." Haruka says, taking in the surroundings.
"Yes, this dungeon is really big, but we're getting to the right place." Chris tries to pull himself together and walk normally again.
The two of them walk a little further until they reach the end of the corridor and are stopped by a huge gate. Chris puts his hand on the gate and closes his eyes, sensing something.
"It's here." Chris says to Haruka.
"Right..." Haruka approaches the gate and starts pushing it open.
Haruka starts pushing the gate and the room opens. A huge room with a gigantic pile of treasures. With lots of coins, diamonds, emeralds and... a bracelet at the top of the pile.
"There it is!" Chris says excitedly, running over to the pile.
Haruka follows her to the pile, but they feel a rumble, a tremor. And a dragon lands in front of them.
"Humans!" The dragon speaks loudly in a slightly hoarse, dry voice. "What are you doing in my territory?"
A dragon with legs and arms, a long neck, and one of two horns on its head (a classic dragon, but green in color).
"Not that one..." Haruka realizes that the situation has become complicated when she sees the dragon.
"What do we do?" Chris asks nervously.
"Answer me!" The dragon shouts in rage. "What are you doing in my territory?"
"Haruka, I don't think we should kill him." Chris says to Rider.
"Yes." Haruka agrees. "Besides, he doesn't seem to have murderous intent."
"Answer or..." The dragon shouts, as it raises its paw to attack.
"Chris, use the Spread. I'll take care of it!" Haruka and Chris dodge the dragon's attack.
Chris uses her ability to hide and not be noticed by the dragon, while Haruka holds onto the wall and tries to talk to the dragon.
"Look, I know we broke into your house, but let us explain." Haruka raises her hand to show that she is not a threat.
"Shut up!" The dragon uses its claws to hit Haruka, but Rider jumps to another wall and dodges the blow.
"Please let us explain!" Haruka says, still dodging the attacks.
"I don't want to hear your words!" The dragon shouts in rage and puffs out his chest.
"Not that one!" Chris mutters before leaving his hiding place. "Haruka! He's going-" Chris can't speak before the dragon launches its blast of fire at Haruka.
Haruka quickly jumps to another pillar, but the dragon doesn't stop spraying fire and keeps trying to hit Rider. Haruka continues to jump between the pillars and the walls, using the room to his advantage.
Haruka sees a gap and jumps from the wall to the dragon's head. Grabbing its horn, he goes to its eye, making it stop spewing fire.
"Please listen to me." Haruka says, looking into the dragon's eye.
"That's enough!" The dragon turns around, banging its head against the wall.
Haruka lets out a grunt from hitting his back against the wall. The dragon tries to use its claws, but Haruka manages to get out of the wall. Landing on the dragon's arm, the Amazon Rider starts to run for it.
The Dragon uses its other arm to attack Haruka, but the Rider jumps off its arm and grabs onto its neck. Using his leg to drive a knee into its chest.
The dragon lets out a grunt and staggers backwards. Clutching his chest, he stumbles and falls to the ground, clutching his chest as he breathes heavily.
Haruka lands on the ground and Chris approaches Rider.
"Haruka, are you okay?" Chris approaches Rider, breathing heavily with concern.
"Yeah, but I don't think he's okay..." Haruka indicates the dragon that seems to be suffocating.
The two of them slowly approach the dragon, walking slowly so as not to stun it.
"What are you waiting for?" The dragon asks in a very hoarse, dry voice. "Kill me at once..."
"What do you mean?" Haruka asks, approaching the dragon.
"I wasn't able to guard my treasure..." The dragon breathes heavily. "...I wasn't able to defeat a human..." The dragon breathes heavily. "...I'm a disgrace to dragons..." The dragon sticks out its tongue as it breathes heavily.
Haruka approaches the dragon's head and extends her arm.
"...You..." The dragon speaks tiredly.
"...Create Water." A small glow appears in Haruka's hand, and a small gust of water begins to fall into the dragon's mouth.
The dragon is surprised as it feels the water fall into its mouth.
"Haruka... what are you doing?..." Chris asks, approaching, a little worried.
"Don't worry... he's not going to attack us." Haruka reassures the thief.
The dragon drinks the water and stands up, feeling his throat hydrated again.
"Why... why did you help me?" The dragon stands up a little confused.
"Well... you didn't really seem to want to kill us." Haruka says. "So, can you listen to us now?"
The dragon nods, willing to listen to the boy's explanations.
PAUSE
"So you just want that bracelet that girl lost?" The dragon asks.
"Yes, that's right." Haruka nods. "We didn't come here to steal or anything, we just want the lost item." Haruka simplifies her explanation.
"Hmmmm..." The dragon looks thoughtful.
"Please... we promise not to bother you." Chris says shyly.
"Oh, don't worry." The dragon speaks, leaving them both in shock. "Since you helped me by giving me water, I'll give you back your bracelet." The dragon walks over to the pile of treasures and picks up the bracelet, walking over to the two of them and handing it back.
"Really?" Chris takes the bracelet in disbelief.
"Yes, since you saved me, I owe you a debt." The dragon crosses his arms. "Do you need anything else?"
"No, we just came to get the bracelet." Haruka bows her head in thanks to the dragon. "Thank you so much for giving it back!"
"Hahaha don't worry!" The dragon laughs comically. "Just take it as thanks for giving me water."
"Thank you very much, mister dragon!" Chris bows to the dragon.
"Haha you're welcome!" The dragon says a little embarrassed. "Even... can I ask you something?"
[...]
The two of them leave the chamber where the dragon was. Chris puts his bracelet on his arm, looking very happy.
"I'm glad I got it back!" Chris says excitedly.
"What's that bracelet for?" Haruka asks, approaching the wall they jumped over.
"Oh, it's good for a few things!" Chris laughs.
"Okay, Eris, get on my back." Haruka grabs the wall and Chris climbs on her back.
Haruka begins to climb the wall, quickly so as not to take too long.
"Even that dragon seemed to be dying of thirst." Chris says as he watches the ground move away.
"Yeah, right, Eris. He was here for a long time without water, he even had the monsters to feed on, but he had little water." Haruka says as she continues to climb.
"That's it..." Chris seems distracted.
"So, Eris, what are you going to do when we leave?" Haruka asks as she climbs.
"Well I-" Chris realizes what Haruka has said. "What did you say?..." Chris asks, still not believing what he's heard.
"What? Did something happen, Eris?" Haruka says, still climbing.
"Ehhe and eaahba haa!" Chris despairs and almost falls, but Haruka holds her up.
"Careful there!" Haruka holds Chris's arm.
[...]
"C-how did you find out!?" Chris asks incredulously as she walks through the corridors to get out of the dungeon.
"I've been suspicious ever since I saw you before we faced the Destroyer." Haruka explains as she continues walking.
"Ahh but, but, but..." Chris still can't understand.
"Eris, I've spent enough time with you to recognize your face and your voice." Haruka says to the Goddess.
"Ohh..." Chris pouts while looking sad. "Does anyone else know besides you?"
"Kazuma suspects too, but he's not sure yet." Haruka says.
"Right..." Chris says, looking a little down.
"But anyway, tell me, what's this bracelet for?" Haruka says as the two reach a ladder and begin to climb.
"It's basically for me to have total control, to know who dies and who is reborn in real time." Chris explains.
"And when did you lose her?" Haruka asks.
"Just before I met you." Chris says to the boy. "And I didn't?" Chris stops talking, feeling something.
"What is it?" Haruka asks.
"It looks like Kazuma's dead." Chris says.
"Again..." Haruka sighs. "If he's with Aqua, she'll be able to revive him."
"Still..." Chris says worriedly. "I have to open a portal for him to revive and..."
"Val there." Haruka said.
"But..." Chris hesitates a little.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine." The two continue walking, watching the exit approach.
Chris gives up and gestures with her hands, her body beginning to glow.
"Can you take care of my body?" Chris asks, his body still glowing.
Haruka is confused, the glow from the girl's body disappears and she faints. Haruka quickly holds her, preventing her from falling to the ground.
"Eris, Eris, Eris!" Haruka shakes the girl's body and gets no response. "Taking care of your body?... She's probably talking to Kazuma." Haruka sighs and takes Eris's body in her arms. "I'd better get back to the guild."
(Mission finished.)
(Explore the Dungeon with the Thief.)
[...]
Haruka and Chris are at the guild collecting the reward. Luna goes up to Haruka and hands the reward to the boy.
"That's all done, but why didn't you want to get the other dragon treasures?" Luna asks a little confused.
"Honestly, I didn't want the treasures. I just wanted to finish the mission quickly." Haruka explains to the receptionist.
"Well, all right then." Luna shrugged and said goodbye to the boy.
"What are you going to do now?" Chris asks.
"I think I'm going to go home." Haruka says goodbye to the thief. But Chris grabs his shirt.
"Hey, Haruka..." Chris hesitates a little. Chris hesitates for a moment. "Please don't tell anyone, okay?"
Haruka nods to the thief and says goodbye again.
[...]
Haruka arrives home and sees Aqua lying on the sofa and Darkness covering his face with a book.
"What did you hear on the mission?" Haruka asks, approaching the girls. "And where's Megumin?"
"Megumin went to spend some time with Yunyun, and let's say Kazuma-" Aqua says before Kazuma appears out of nowhere wearing nothing but a towel.
"WHERE'S MEGUMIN!" Kazuma bursts into the room angrily, embarrassing Darkness because he's only wearing a towel covering his lower body. "She'll pay for doing that!"
Haruka looks at Kazuma without understanding anything, but he looks at the towel and gets the point. For on its belly is written "Sacred Sword Excalibur" with a arrow pointing to the middle of Kazuma's legs.
"Easy there, man." Haruka tries to calm his friend down.
"HOW CALM?!" Kazuma shouts angrily. "After that..." Kazuma growls. "I, I, I..." Kazuma has a frightened expression and is very angry.
"Calm down, it was just a joke." Aqua says, still lying on the sofa.
"SHUT UP!" Kazuma shouts, bringing his face close to Aqua's. The Goddess is a little startled by his attitude.
Kazuma grits his teeth and marks begin to appear on his body. It looks like his veins and arteries have turned blue. Lines coming out of his chest and running all over his body. Steam begins to rise from the boy's body.
"Kazuma?..." Aqua asks a little startled.
"Kazuma..." Haruka is confused, but remembers where he saw it. "AQUA!"
Haruka leaps at Aqua, grabbing her and jumping away as Kazuma bursts into red flames.
Darkness turns away and sees a silhouette of a monster in the flames. Haruka worries as she watches her friend... transform...
(Continued...)
Note: In case you're wondering "Why didn't Vanir's powers affect Haruka?" Simple... because of the Driver. In this case, if the Amazon is transformed, it isn't affected by holy magic or demonic magic. And for Riders in general, they just need to have their Driver around their waist to activate this passive.
Now, do you know why Kazuma started spewing steam and having blue veins on his body?