Much like Rome, a union could not be made in a day. It takes time, planning, resources, man power, and conviction. Kazuma had some of the needed components, namely time and a plan, but he lacked capital and man power. This in mind, he started using his time in the training area not just to get into better shape but, more importantly, to network.

It was only his third session, but he had already started mentally referring to the training room as the 'gym' and had got to know most of the regulars spread throughout the room. It was nothing like he'd have expected back home, but that made some sense. Instead of weights and treadmills, there were a variety of boulders with hand holds on them. They were so perfectly smooth and the holds so carved that he could only assume they'd been formed by magic. That was only a relatively small corner of the room however, with most of it taken up with small fight areas where adventurers were practicing some form of combat with each other. There were also a few instructors floating around, making sure nobody got out of hand and that their form wasn't too off, but not nearly enough of them. Off to one side, he could see out an ajar door that led to what looked like a practice range based on the targets he could glimpse in the distance.

Even to Kazuma's amateur eye, most of the adventurers in Axel were… unimpressive, to say the least. Most, if not all of them, stuck around in order to take advantage of the abundance of lower ranked missions, instead of risking themselves on higher paying jobs. Honestly, in light of what he'd discovered of their pay structure relative to the risk, it made more sense. He could hardly blame them not trying hard, when it felt like they weren't being set up for success. Maybe, if his plan worked, he could actually promote people going to other higher leveled areas instead of just stagnating in the 'beginner town' of the kingdom. This kind of mentality might work in their favor though. It was clear that none of them really wanted to risk their lives, so if he offered them a safer way, some, if not most, of them would likely flock to him.

His plot in mind, he postponed his workout for the time being. Instead, he approached the oldest man in the room, Feldart. Feldart was a swordsman that had reliably served for thirty years with every ounce of it showing on his face. Lines, scars, bruises, and more peppered what skin he had showing, with even more hidden behind wraps as he taught a younger adventurer the importance of keeping their guard up. "Keep those hands up or you'll be going home with two black-eyes instead of just the one I gave ya. You won't always have your shield and spear on hand and that's what I am preparing you for" the old man bellows at the younger adventurer.

If Kazuma remembered correctly, the kid, for that's what he looked like next to Feldart, was around his age and had the Spearman class. A decent all arounder class that was great for going into advanced classes later. That wasn't important right now though. What was important was getting Feldart on his side. Since the old man seemed to love trying to keep newbies alive, he seemed like a natural choice as a figurehead for the strike.

Kazuma stood next to their ring for a few more minutes, making mental notes of his own, for whenever he felt comfortable enough to get in the ring. He wasn't sure such a time would exist considering how much it looked like it hurt, but he wanted to plan for it all the same.

Eventually, Feldart told the kid to take five and walked up to Kazuma, an amused grimace on his face. "Whatcha need Boyo? Luna send you to get me for a job or somethin'? Or are ya finally gonna man up and step in the ring?" he asked, having tried on both other occasions to get the scrawny boy inside a ring to toughen him up a bit.

Kazuma had been about to deny Feldart's words, but realized that the older man might have just given him a golden oppurtunity. "I suppose I could step in the ring and learn a bit… if you'd be willing to hear me out afterwards?"

Feldart's smile could have turned milk with the amount of sadistic glee rolling off of him. "Aye? Is that so? Well, if I'm gonna have to listen to you yammering on, ya best make it worth my while. Shirt off, wrap up your hands and we'll get started."

-Ko-No-Su-Ba!-

Kazuma looked more like a walking, talking bruise by the time Feldart's 'training' was done and the old man was satisfied enough to sit down with him. Aqua was fretting slightly over Kazuma, trying to reduce the swelling with mixed results. While healing magic was great for dealing with cuts and the like, bruises were a bit trickier because of the built up pressure from the blood.

Finishing a long swig from his tankard, Feldart slammed the container down with a content sigh. "Alright, what the hell ya want that you were willing to let me beat the shite out of you so badly?"

Aqua finally managed to bring the swelling around Kazuma's face down to tolerable levels just in time. It still hurt like nothing he could think of, but he could at least be understood. "I have an idea to help keep adventurers a bit safe and better trained. Right now we have a…" Kazuma stopped for a moment, looking around to make sure he couldn't be overheard. "Right now, with Gerald in charge, we have no safety measures set in place to keep people from taking fatal jobs. Just the other day, I had to send three guys out for a mission they were completely unprepared for because he told me I couldn't deny them. If I didn't send Aqua after them, they'd still be dead. And yes, they were dead when she got to them."

Feldart's eyes hardened at the tale. It wasn't terribly uncommon, especially since Gerald had taken over. That didn't make hearing about kids dying any easier though. "Aye, and what would you have me do, kill the sod? I might be old, but I'd like to enjoy my last few years, thank you."

Kazuma quickly shook his head, pushing a slip of paper with his ideas on it towards the seasoned adventurer. "Nothing so crass. I have a plan to dispose of him through more legal means and set up some safety precautions. I already have Luna, and by proxy, most of the staff on board with the idea. What I need from you, is to get any and all adventurers you think we can trust to join the cause."

Instead of giving an immediate reply, Feldart started reading the planned changes. The fact the first step was to 'replace Gerald' already made him like the idea. As he kept reading, his snarl turned into a smile. The kid might have been softer than the belly of a giant toad, but he was smart. Mentorship programs for newbies, suggested team compositions, mission vetoing, mandatory training… that and a lot more were listed that would cost the guild a fair chunk of change, but keep adventurers with their head firmly attached to their necks.

The entire time Kazuma had been talking while he read over the paper. He hadn't heard a word the younger man had said in minutes, but he didn't need to. "Shut up kid. I'm in. Give me a month and we'll all be set to do whatever it is you need."

-Ko-No-Su-Ba!-

One week. That was how long Aqua had managed to, with Luna's help, go without alcohol. The eighth day since she and Kazuma had struck their deal and she was starting to lose it. The first few days, she'd taken Luna's advice to heart and volunteered to help around the hall, healing anybody that came back with an injury. That worked for a bit, until she noticed the rest of them drinking. Dribbling drops of sweet ambrosia, wasted on lesser people and poured on the ground. She didn't even realize what she was doing as she bent over to try and lick some off of a table, only to be stopped by Luna pulling her away by the back of her shirt.

"Aqua, really? Have some dignity." Luna guided the despondent goddess away, even as she looked back over her shoulder at the raucous drinking and partying that was going on. "You've been doing so well too… Do I need to make you my personal assistant to help keep you in line?" she finished asking, a teasing tilt to her voice to show she wasn't angry.

Aqua sniffled, trying to make herself look as pitiful as possible before starting to beg. Once upon a time, the very idea of begging a mortal for anything wouldn't have been something she'd even consider, but dammit if she wasn't desperate! "I have, haven't I? That means that surely I've earned a drink, right?" she asked, hoping that her friend would cave and give her at least a taste.

"Nu-uh, none of that. You are an adult and I expect you to act like it. Look, I've seen dozens of adventurers drink themselves to an early grave. Be it at the end of a blade or withering away to jaundice and gout. Is that really how you want to go?" Luna pressed on, staring Aqua down.

"Pft, I'm a goddess! I can't get a disease like that. Just my raiment alone, if nothing else, protects me from such trivial manners" Aqua tried to deflect, puffing her chest out in pride at her argument.

Luna glared for only a second before trying another approach. The whole 'I am a goddess, worship me, little mortals' shtick was starting to get really old, especially in light of her very un-goddess-like behavior. "Okay, what about people relying on you? What if somebody showed up bleeding out and you couldn't save them because you were too drunk? What if that somebody was me? What if it was Kazuma? I'm not saying to quit drinking altogether, I am asking you to learn some self control."

Aqua felt an uncomfortable, icy punch where she'd never expected, the image of Kazuma, carved up like a drunken butcher's cast-offs, or Luna bleeding and broken before her. It was shocking, even uncomfortable to admit, but she'd become attached to the two of them in a way many of her more aloof peers would laugh at. Sure, she would still be in heaven if it weren't for that NEET, but he had been the closest thing to a best friend she'd had since she'd gotten mad at Eris. Luna was a borderline big sister figure already and she didn't even know her that well. What really made her start sweating though was a slightly selfish realization. If Kazuma died, she could kiss any chance of getting back to heaven good-bye! She shook herself of such thoughts, the need for a drink gone faster than she'd normally drain a bottle. "You're right. I'll… I'll hold out. But Luna, I… I might need you to… To stop me, if I'm about to break. Please?" she trailed off, hoping she wasn't asking too much.

Luna smiled, relieved to see her words had truly gotten through to the impulsive girl. "Of course I will, Aqua, that's what friends are for, right?" She closed in on the smaller girl, wrapping her arms around her and rubbing small circles on her back to help the sniffling 'goddess' calm down.

Aqua's crocodile tears were soon replaced with the real deal. Reluctant and confused joy welled up in her heart and just had to spill out. She couldn't think of the last time anyone had cared about her like this. Sure, her followers worshiped her but that was just so impersonal. Nothing had ever been quite as real as Luna holding her like a mother soothing a child.

-Ko-No-Su-Ba!-

That night, Aqua was in bed first. She had spent more time than she'd like to admit crying in Luna's arms and then just talking to the girl. They'd talked for hours and, if she was being honest, it was the best conversation she remembered having in years. They'd talked about stories adventurers had told, their favorite foods, her 'relationship' with Kazuma and a ton of other things that she'd never talked to anyone like that and it had helped her de-stress more than she thought possible. The only thing that would have made it better would be if Luna let her drink believed her the times she referred to herself as a goddess or when talking about her followers! Maybe Kazuma had a point and she should try to act as a priestess instead of their actual god. If nothing else, it would likely make making friends a touch easier. Sure, it was galling beyond belief, but she was already stuck in the mortal world. How much more humiliated could she get?

The unfortunate side effect of all of this emotional unloading though, was that now she couldn't sleep. She squirmed around on the bed for what felt like hours (closer to twenty minutes) but she just couldn't settle down.

The door to the room swung open, an exhausted and slightly damp Kazuma trudged into the room. Since his first conversation with Feldart, he had been put through the ringer nearly every day. The one demand he'd made of Kazuma was to put in work so he could see what adventurers had to deal with out in the field. It even led to them adding an addendum to Kazuma's proposed changes where job counter workers would go on occasional missions to learn how to better judge what people could do in the field combined with the idea of 'sentries' for common disturbance areas. Places like the fields where frost sprites spawned or where the giant toads roamed. It would allow the guild to have a better idea of how many needed to be defeated and if there was a surge in numbers.

Battered, bruised, and with only pajama bottoms on, he went through the motions of getting ready for bed. His more odious clothing he put in the corner farthest from the bed, not wanting him or Aqua to need to smell it. It was only after that he noticed Aqua sitting up on the bed, a smug smirk on her face.

"The old man kicked your ass again?" she asked, swinging her feet playfully as she watched him. He was still nothing much to look at, but he was never exactly ugly. And he had shaved the little bit of baby fat he had off.

Kazuma didn't even dignify that with a response, instead opting to crawl into bed.

Aqua rolled her eyes, her energy and good mood a stark contrast to Kazuma. Once he was fully in bed, she decided to do something nice for him. Once he was fully in his usual spot, she laid down and wriggled up so she was pressed up against him. She wrapped her upper arm around him, letting healing magic seep into him.

"Oi, what are you- oh, that feels so good" he trailed off, his indignant rant cut short as the pain he'd been suffering through is alieved. He knew she could heal, but thought she couldn't do much about bruises.

"Mmm, it's not healing, so much as numbing. Think of it like strong aspirin. I'll keep it going until you're asleep, okay?" she asked, her other hand ruffling his hair playfully. "You've been putting in so much work to help everyone here and… I've just made your life a bit of a hassle. I am your cheat item, so I should help you out a bit more. So, don't be afraid to ask for help, okay?" she finished, smiling fondly. She didn't even recognise it herself, never having experienced it before in heaven, but she was starting to fall for the hero-to-be. He had been thrown into a world he hadn't been prepared for and 'forced' into a job he never wanted. Despite that though, he had risen to the occasion better than she'd have ever expected, based on his previous life.

She didn't need to worry though. He had passed out seconds after she took away his pain, his exhaustion had whisked him away to dreamland. Once she saw that, she made herself more comfortable, unashamedly wrapping her arms around him to get comfortable. Her own sleep wasn't far behind then as his warmth lulled her off to sleep as well.