Chapter 11: A Revelation For This Tsundere!
Part 1
"Oi, Satou! I told you to get up and answer the equation on the board!"
"Ow!"
Since I was spacing out in class, the Math sensei got mad and threw a piece of chalk on my forehead.
I went up to solve the equation while the class laughed.
After the incident with Aqua the previous night, I found myself spacing out in class.
I actually went and gave my first kiss to Aqua.
We even proceeded to keep kissing on the couch for quite a while.
During the lunch break, I took out my bento and was about to eat.
"Oi, Satou, a first year girl is outside looking for you."
One of my male classmates went up to my desk and told me this.
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue in irritation as I walked past.
I guess he was jealous of me.
"Hey, senpai! Wanna have lunch together for a change?"
Waiting outside my class was Rin.
With my mind preoccupied with Aqua, it was easy to forget that I just had a date with Rin.
"Alright… Where do you want to eat?"
"The courtyard is fine! The weather is pretty good out."
Since it was at the end of May, the sun was out and the clouds were clear.
To add to the nice conditions, there was also a cool breeze rustling the leaves of the cedar trees spread around the courtyard.
We sat down on a bench underneath one of these trees, taking out our bento boxes to eat them.
"I had fun on our date last time, senpai."
"Yeah, I had fun, too."
"I went ahead and used your present last night! I reread 'The Magic Tanuki Girl' and wrote down my thoughts on it."
"Hm? Can you really have new thoughts on a book you've read before?"
"Of course you can! Things like foreshadowing you missed before, or even just appreciating the ways the author uses certain words to elevate the tension in the scene, how they engage the readers with the use of irony… Sometimes you can't absorb everything after the first read through!"
"I see… I have to admit, I really liked the descriptions in 'The Magic Tanuki Girl'. The way the writer describes the scenery and the way the characters interact with it, as if it were a real physical world, really immerses you in the writing."
"I know, right?! A lot of Light Novel writers and amateur writers tend to avoid adding detailed descriptions to their stories. Maybe you'll just get a few sentences giving a brief description of the surroundings to describe the scene. Then what will follow is a long stretch of dialogue without any actions or descriptions interrupting it. Sometimes it becomes an eyesore…"
"Well… I heard that descriptions might be one of the hardest parts of writing. I guess for those kinds of writers, it's not worth it to invest that much time and effort into descriptive writing, especially since they're not even writing high literature…"
She giggled and said,
"So, senpai… Wanna go on another date this Sunday?"
Another date…
Was it fine for me to go on another date with Rin even though I went ahead and had that kissing session with Aqua?
It almost felt like cheating, in a way.
Except that I wasn't even in a relationship with any of these girls.
Something like a date was fine… Maybe.
"Yeah, sure. What do you feel like doing?"
"Hm… Last date we did something I wanted. What does senpai want to do for our next one?"
I tried to think of something I wanted to do.
I looked at Rin, at her slim figure.
With the warm weather, I figured that it was the perfect time to go to the pool.
Mostly, I just wanted to see Rin in a swimsuit.
"How about going to the swimming pool?"
"Oh…! That's a great idea…!"
Thankfully, she didn't assume that I was up to anything perverted.
What a good girl.
"I suppose I'll have to buy a new swimsuit… I'm looking forward to this!"
"So am I."
"That was a quick response, senpai."
After agreeing on our second date, we finished up our lunch and headed back to class.
As I did so, the guys in class surrounded me when I returned to my desk.
"Satou… It seems I underestimated you…"
"Please teach us your ways!"
I shooed them away.
…
…
During soccer practice, Mitsurugi came up to me and said,
"Satou, let's have you work on your shooting… Wait, why are you avoiding eye contact with me?"
Since I knew that Mitsurugi had a thing for Aqua, it made me feel a bit guilty that I kissed her.
"No reason… Wait, why do I need to shoot? I just need to pass to you and the wingers and let you pawns do the scoring."
"Why are you referring to us as pawns?! Listen… Midfielders also need to know how to shoot. You had some chances to score by yourself in the last matches, but you ended up passing it off because you weren't confident with your shooting."
I didn't want to add even more to my plate in terms of things I needed to learn in soccer, but I also felt like I owed Mitsurugi for what I did with Aqua behind his back.
With Mitsurugi's instruction, I focused the rest of the drills on finishing and shooting, both close ranged and mid ranged.
Since we had success with Mitsurugi at the False 9 position, he wanted to focus on me making runs to the penalty area and finishing decisive balls.
Your 'Dexterity' increased by +1!
After the practice, I changed and went to the train station.
Wanting to replenish the calories I lost, as well as get some protein after exercising, I ordered their special peanut butter and banana protein shake, which was a limited edition offer.
They added protein powder into the shake, which meant that it cost a bit more than the normal shakes.
Since it was limited edition, I made sure to get one before the offer went away.
Your 'Stamina' increased by +2!
The smoothie cost me 750 yen. That reminded me that I needed to ask my parents for my allowance for the week.
Part 2
"Gimme money."
I held my hand out to my parents when they got home.
"...That's the first thing you say to your parents when you get home? Fine, then…"
They placed 1,000 yen on my open palm.
"Gimme lessons."
I went over to Kazuto next, asking him for the lessons that would raise my charisma.
"Fine… But are these lessons even doing anything? Nii-san is just as unlikeable as ever…"
"I'll have you know that I'm going swimming with a kohai this Sunday."
"...Are my lessons really that effective?! Maybe I should start charging you money…"
"Oi, start the lesson already!"
I stopped him before he could get any funny ideas.
Your 'Charisma' increased by +1!
After the lessons were over, Aqua came down and we saw each other for the first time since we kissed.
"..." x 2.
We awkwardly glanced away from each other.
"Sigh… Are these lessons really working, nii-san? Aqua-nee isn't even looking at you."
Maybe they were working too well.
I still couldn't believe that I ended up kissing Aqua…
Was that just a spur of the moment thing? Or…
While we were having dinner, Aqua still avoided talking to me or making eye contact with me.
My parents were still enamored with her, though. They laughed at all her jokes.
…Sometimes it felt like they'd rather have her as a daughter than have me as a son.
Your 'Intuition' increased by +1!
Shut up!
After dinner, I decided to try and do some practice to raise my stats again.
…Or more like I was trying to avoid Aqua.
Since my parents were home, I couldn't just practice my magic in the backyard.
Instead, I changed into my tracksuit and prepared to go jogging.
Last time, my speed stat didn't go up until I ran for an hour…
Did that mean that I had to run for even more than that?
Or maybe increasing the intensity of the training was enough?
That was the advice that Mitsurugi gave me, anyway.
I decided to up the speed a little, going from a light jog that focused on endurance to a run that focused on maintaining my speed for as long as possible.
"Hah… Hah… Hah…!"
I couldn't even last twenty minutes keeping up a fast pace.
Your 'Speed' increased by +1!
I was right…
Increasing the intensity of the activity was much more effective.
With that, I walked back home, feeling the need to take a bath.
Once I got to the bathroom, after taking my clothes off and getting ready to dip into the bath…
"Hah…"
I enjoyed the pleasantly warm sensation of the bath, melting all my fatigue away.
That was when the door busted open.
"Kazuma…! This is urgent!"
"Kyaa~?!"
Aqua opened the door and went into the room, walking in on me while I was taking a bath.
Hold on… this is the wrong kind of fanservice!
Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?!
"W-What are you doing here?! Have you finally lost it?! Are you looking to continue what we did last night?!"
"I-It's not about that! Look, this is actually really urgent! Do you remember what I said, that the portals between this world and the other world have a chance of opening when there's a full moon in both worlds?!"
"...Are you saying that's happening now?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm saying! I just got a message from my kohai, Eris! The Demon King army… They're coming to invade!"
"I see… Well, I hope the others stay safe while fighting them."
"Why are you acting like this has nothing to do with you?!"
I grabbed a towel and prepared to stand up. Aqua's eyes widened and she turned around while I put the towel around my waist. I said,
"Look, the deal was that we had to defeat the Demon King in order for you to return, right? I also get a wish from the gods if I beat the Demon King. Fighting the generals and the mooks doesn't count, so why do we have to do it?"
"How are you so sure that the Demon King himself isn't coming through the portal?"
"In games and manga, the Demon King doesn't come out of his castle until all of his servants are defeated. They don't even reveal what the Demon King looks like until the very end. They always cover his face with some kind of shadow. The last boss won't come out this early, trust me."
"It's hard to argue with you when you sound so confident about it…"
After wiping myself dry with the towel, I put on the clothes I prepared to change into. Aqua turned around again once I was properly clothed. She said,
"Are you saying that we should just wait around and let the others handle the Demon King generals?"
"...We could even let them take care of the Demon King himself while we take the killing blow and all the credit. I can always use [Lurk] to hide and [Snipe] to take the last shot. As long as I end up killing the Demon King, that should be enough to get you back home."
"Kazuma, you're really despicable! Your plan makes sense, though…"
In the end, she agreed with it.
What kind of goddess is she?
"So, um… Are we going to talk about what happened last night?"
She was the one who finally brought it up.
I didn't think that I'd actually see Aqua acting shy, but there she was, glancing away and fidgeting.
It was actually possible for Aqua to act like a girl…
"W-Well… I guess we can talk about it."
With that, we agreed to continue the conversation in my room.
Part 3
"..." x2.
We were both sitting on my bed, trying to think about what to say.
Aqua was wearing blue pajamas that showed off her shoulders. I couldn't help but look at the exposed skin.
Ever since I met her, I couldn't find myself attracted to Aqua, her rotten personality preventing any kind of attraction to take place.
Now, I had this beautiful girl who was even a divine being in my room. It was a setup that wouldn't be amiss in some romcom manga.
Yet, I once viewed her as an annoying housemate who got better treatment from my own parents than I did.
…Did that kissing session really change my judgment of her that easily?
Hormones are a scary thing…
"What are you thinking about, Kazuma? You've just been staring off into space."
"...I was just thinking about how I didn't even view you as a girl when I first met you."
"If you want to pretend that nothing happened between us, then just say it?!"
"Ah, that's not what I meant…"
She gave me a skeptical look, then said,
"Look… Since I'm a goddess, it's natural that there's a religion based around me…"
"Why are you showing off all of a sudden?"
"I'm not showing off! I'm just stating a fact! Anyway, this religion is called the Axis cult, and one of the main tenets of that religion is that 'One should live life in the way they wish to'. That's really the only rule!"
"Sounds like an anarchist cult."
"It's not! It's a proper religious order with Arch-Priests as leaders and everything! There's a city in the other world called Alcarentia who dedicate themselves to worshiping me!"
She was very passionate when talking about her religion and her followers. She kept going and said,
"In any case… What I'm trying to say is that I take care to follow this tenet and do whatever I want! If there's something I don't want to do, then I don't do it. If there's something that I do want to do, then I do it!"
"So that's why you just laze around on the couch all day, huh?"
"Yup, that's right!"
She didn't pick up on the fact that I was criticizing her.
"What are you trying to say? That we should just give into our impulses?"
"Well… Yeah, I guess that's what I'm trying to say."
"What if we ruin things by doing this…"
"It won't get weird… I mean, it's just us. What's there to be all insecure about? It's not like we have any real expectations of each other… We both just want to have fun and try things out, right?"
That religion of hers aside…
Without worrying about how it'll affect our relationship, she was saying that we could keep doing pleasurable things with each other, like the kissing we did the night before.
As a guy… Wasn't this the best kind of scenario?
Having a girl offer some casual fun with no strings attached…
"...I suppose that's fine."
As I stated before, I, Satou Kazuma, will not fall into the herbivore male archetype found in manga and light novels.
If an opportunity presents itself before me… I won't chicken out!
…At least, that's what I'd like to think.
If Aqua didn't have such an easygoing personality, this would have been much more difficult for me.
"With that said… Want to continue where we left off, Kazuma?"
"...!"
Her mood changed, as well as her expression.
The usual clueless look I was used to seeing on her was replaced with that of need and desire.
…It was honestly a turn on.
Who knew that Aqua could have this kind of feminine charm?!
"Y-Yeah…"
"Oh? What's this? Is Kazuma actually feeling nervous? Don't tell me you're going to freeze up at the last moment…"
Her usual smug attitude that pissed me off before was different, now that she had that seductive look in her eyes.
In order to prove her wrong, I grabbed her shoulders.
Looking her directly in the eyes, following the motions we engaged in before…
I leaned in and kissed her, our lips uniting once more.
…It felt just as exciting as it was the first time around. Maybe even more this time, since there was a mutual understanding between us.
Rather than getting caught up in the mood, the nervous energy was gone. It was almost liberating, the feeling that we both really wanted this, that there wasn't going to be any awkwardness after we were done.
There was also the sense of freedom and experimentation in this second session. In the first one, it was honestly kind of overwhelming, since everything was my first experience.
This time, I could focus more on the sensations and even play around a little.
I caressed her shoulders, feeling the exposed skin left open by her pajama top. With the increased awareness of the entire experience, I could feel the taste and feeling of her lips pressed against mine, as well as the feeling of her smooth skin against my hands.
There were also the things going on with my own body. My heart was already beating hard in my chest, almost as much as it was when I was running earlier. How she felt in my hands and against my lips, the tingling in my spine.
It was hard to explain, but I guess it's the feeling of 'being alive'.
If this was how good a simple kiss felt…
When we parted, we opened our eyes again and I saw Aqua grinning.
"You really are lucky, Kazuma… Having a girl as hot as me on your bed… Getting to kiss me…"
This narcissist…!
But why was she actually so hot?!
The fact that she was aware of how beautiful she was compared to other girls… I used to find it annoying as hell, but now I couldn't help but think that she was insanely attractive for knowing exactly how hot she was.
…I suppose for an otaku like me, it was a breath of fresh air from all those purehearted heroines in manga and anime, who act all unrealistically modest.
In the first place, those works were written by virgin guys, anyway.
I leaned in again, this time more aggressively, confirming her words with my actions, agreeing with her.
As if to say… I did find this situation incredibly erotic. Even the fact that her very presence used to irritate me to no end added to the eroticism of it all.
What do they call that again? Enemies to lovers? Something like that…
Whatever it was, I loved every bit of it. The invisible tension that had been building between us, one that we were unaware of until recently… It was all spilling out.
I felt her tongue against my lips. A simple probe. It could have been an accident, but I didn't care. I did the same, probing my tongue against her lips, sending my intentions.
She parted her lips, giving me access. I hesitated for a moment, before slipping my tongue inside, letting it slip on top of hers.
She responded by letting her tongue wriggle underneath mine, before letting it circle around, this time ending up on top of my tongue.
What began as a slow, careful exchange picked up in its playfulness, until we were properly making out, not just exchanging long kisses.
I was actually making out with a girl in my room… on my bed.
…I could get used to this!
Your bond with Aqua has deepened!
Aqua (Water Goddess), Bond Rank: 6
At Rank 6, the dynamic of your relationship with Aqua has changed considerably. Are you housemates? Teammates? Perhaps something more? Tread carefully, as you are at an important crossroads in your relationship. Regardless of what happens, she sees you as an irreplaceable friend who will save her when she needs it. Since you two have been through a lot of things, she will never leave you alone.
Bond Reward: Faith +20
Part 4
The next morning, on my way to school, Rin found me again and caught up to me.
"Senpai… You have a big grin on your face. Did something good happen?"
"Ah…! W-Well…"
With all the excitement I had after what I did with Aqua, the fact that I also had something developing with Rin almost slipped my mind.
"Um… Erm… N-Nothing…!"
"...? Why is senpai panicking like that?"
Was I actually double timing?
No, no… I wasn't even dating anyone yet…
Just going on dates didn't really count as dating.
Wait, that makes no sense!
"Rin, can I get your advice on something?"
"Sure!"
"I have this friend…"
"Senpai… Whenever someone says that, they're always talking about themselves."
She was right on the mark!
Should I just come right out and say it?
Dating my kohai while I make out with Aqua at home without her knowledge…
If the situation was reversed and I found out that Rin had a guy who lived in her house, who she regularly made out with, while also going on dates with me…
That would be horrible, wouldn't it?
Even though I get called a 'scumbag' a lot, there were some lows I wouldn't resort to…
"M-Maybe we should talk about this afterschool, if you have time…"
"Sure, but doesn't senpai have soccer practice?"
"Ah, this is more important…"
"...Isn't senpai just using this as an excuse to slack off on practice? I'll just wait for you!"
This girl knew me too well at this point.
…
…
When I went to practice after school, I saw Rin in the stands. Like she promised, she was waiting for me.
She waved when she saw me. I grinned and waved back.
Having my cute kohai watching me at soccer practice…
This was some high-level normie shit, wasn't it?!
"Satou-kun! I need you to focus! It seems that Mitsurugi-kun is out of commission for a while… You can't get distracted since you'll have a lot of responsibilities from now on!"
"Eh? What's that about Mitsurugi?"
I looked around and just noticed that he wasn't in attendance.
That was highly unusual for him.
"...His parents reported that he got injured yesterday… They weren't sure how exactly he got injured, but… Ah, I shouldn't discuss his personal matters! The point is, you need to step up if we want to win the next game this week!"
Mitsurugi got injured?
Even though he was the ace of the soccer team, that reckless guy…
At first I figured that he probably overexerted himself in the dungeon.
Then, I remembered what Aqua said yesterday.
…Could it be that Mitsurugi got injured while fighting the Demon King army?
Since he was a high-level app user, it was possible that the Demon King army targeted him.
I wouldn't put it past Mitsurugi not to tell me about it, either.
That guy was the type to act tough and not tell people if he was hurt.
…Was I actually worried about that guy?!
"Satou-kun! I told you to focus!"
The coach, who was normally easygoing with me, started yelling because I kept getting distracted.
After practice was over, I changed and headed over to where Rin was waiting.
"What's wrong, senpai? You weren't in your top form in practice…"
As a result of the distractions, I couldn't focus during practice and didn't gain any stat increases from it. I might as well have skipped.
"I got a lot on my mind, I guess…"
"Does this have something to do with what you wanted to talk about?"
I had so much crap to think about that I couldn't even tell what I wanted to prioritize first!
There was the thing with Aqua, the thing with Rin, and now the thing with Mitsurugi…
Life was much simpler when I was a friendless NEET!
"Let's go somewhere we can talk, I guess…"
"Let's go to a cafe, then!"
I didn't really want to talk about this kind of thing where other people could eavesdrop on us, but I didn't know where else to go.
We chatted idly about our day on the way to the cafe.
When we arrived, we ordered some iced coffee, since it was getting hotter. We took a seat, enjoying the air conditioning in the cafe.
While drinking the iced coffee…
Your 'Charisma' increased by +2!
This cafe still had the charisma bonus from its trending status.
Rin sipped her iced coffee and let out a sigh.
"Whew! That really hits the spot. So, what did you want to talk about, senpai?"
"Eh… How do I even start with this?"
I didn't have any frame of reference for this kind of thing. Certainly not from my life experience.
In terms of anime and manga… The closest thing to this kind of situation was a harem romcom.
But in those kinds of works, the setting only works because the protagonist is usually a dense bonehead who has no idea that a bunch of girls are into him.
Besides, most of those harem romcoms never actually have any real romance. Most of them have open-ended conclusions where the MC doesn't really end up with anyone.
It's rare to find a scene where a protagonist has to actually address the changing relationships around him…
In that case… What could I use as reference for this kind of thing?!
"You can tell me anything, senpai. You're clearly nervous about this… Don't tell me… It's another girl?"
Was it really that obvious?!
"That… That's…"
"Ah… The way senpai is panicking… It's true, huh?"
I suppose in this kind of situation where a guy you've gone on dates with says they have to talk, and acts all nervous… It's almost always an 'another woman' scenario.
I decided to just bite the bullet and tell her what happened.
"You see… Due to circumstances beyond my control, I'm living with this girl right now. Well, I guess our hormones took over and we started, um… Doing stuff…"
"...Has senpai gone all the way with this girl?"
"N-No… Just kissing and stuff. Making out, I guess."
I lowered my voice, not really wanting to talk about this stuff in a cafe of all places.
"I see… Um… Why is senpai bothered about this?"
"E-Eh? Well… You and I kinda have a thing going and all…"
She stared at me, then blinked. Then she started laughing.
"Pffft! Senpai… We went on one date! Why are you acting like you just committed adultery?"
"Oi, lower your voice…?!"
"Ah, sorry, sorry… Pfffft!"
She couldn't stop laughing. Was it really that funny?!
Even though I was stressed out about it!
"I appreciate your honesty… But I don't think this is really my business… I mean, does senpai think that we've been lovers this whole time?"
"...I'm not that delusional!"
I may be a virgin and former NEET, but even I knew that going on one movie date with a girl didn't equal a serious relationship at all.
"Then you're basically a free agent, aren't you? Same goes with me. And I don't know about that other girl's situation…"
"Ah, she's definitely single."
She only stepped out of the house to buy snacks from the convenience store, after all.
And since I worked there, I was still the only guy she really interacted with.
Unless you count Mitsurugi spamming her phone with thirst texts.
"Then I don't really see the problem? Unless… Senpai is saying that you intend to make me yours someday?"
She said, grinning while giving me a flirty smile.
"A-Ah…! Well…"
She giggled when she saw me getting flustered.
"You know… I'm flattered, really. Even if you didn't need to, senpai told me that because you wanted to be honest with me. That's really nice of you."
I actually had more impure reasons for doing that.
Because I imagined Rin doing the same thing to me and I hated the idea.
…Was I a possessive kind of guy?
"And you know, senpai… It's not like I don't want to take things to the next step, too…"
"...?!"
Even though her words were bold…
She was blushing deeply as she said it.
That probably took a lot of courage to say.
"So… T-Then…"
"But! I also understand that we're still young and it's kind of stupid to just head straight into a serious relationship right away… I mean, we've only gone on one date and all!"
How surprisingly mature of her.
There probably weren't many first year girls in highschool who could think about relationships objectively like that.
"You want to take it slow, then?"
"Yup! Besides, it seems that senpai has some things to figure out with that girl, too. It's not like I want to make you feel pressured into making things official with me just because I told you I'm interested in you… In the first place, is senpai even ready to commit to a serious relationship?"
"Not really."
"That was fast!"
I was self-aware enough to know that I wasn't anywhere near mature enough for that kind of thing.
…Although it pained me to admit it.
Maybe back in my NEET period, I would have claimed that I was more mature than anyone my age.
Although the fact that I even had a NEET period goes to show that I wasn't nearly as mature as I thought…
"Senpai… We're only in highschool for a short while, so let's just enjoy it, alright? We shouldn't hurry to grow up. Even if we don't end up together, let's not have any regrets and just have fun!"
Wasn't that basically what Aqua said?
…What do these girls know that I don't?!
After we finished our coffee, we prepared to part ways.
"Thanks for telling me all that, senpai! Even if it was really embarrassing… I'm glad that we could clarify things between us."
"Yeah… Thanks for understanding…"
"Are we still good for our date on Sunday?"
"Yeah, we are."
"Great! See you at school tomorrow!"
We gave each other a small wave before parting ways.
Your bond with Hinamori Rin has reached a crossroads!
Be careful! Your decisions from now on will severely impact your relationship with her!
The app gave me a similar message to the one I got with Aqua…
I suppose there was always this important transition period right before reaching Rank 6…
If Rank 6 was in the territory of a very close bond, I guessed that Rank 7 might be the max level for bond rank-ups…
Just like how skills had max levels, perhaps it was the same with bonds.
Part 5
After talking to Rin, I headed over to my part-time work.
Since I had gotten used to the job, I didn't even have to think that much anymore, especially since it was a repetitive routine.
The hardest part of the job was dealing with elderly people who sometimes got confused.
I often had to explain things to them or help them purchase things with their debit cards.
Doing that took quite a bit of brainpower, as I had to think of ways to explain things in simple terms.
"Good job, Satou."
The manager gave me the 3,000 yen I earned for my shift.
Your 'Willpower', 'Bravery' and 'Intelligence' increased by +1!
Since I had to deal with a couple of elderly people on the shift, I even received an increase with my 'Intelligence'...
Before leaving the store, I saw some chips on sale that Aqua seemed to like.
"..."
I bought a couple bags.
After leaving the store, I made my way home.
"I'm home…"
I went to the living room, expecting to find Aqua slouched over on the couch again.
"...?"
Only to see Kazuto there but not Aqua.
"Oi… Is Aqua in her room or something?"
I said to Kazuto, as I looked around for Aqua.
"No… Actually, she left the house."
"Hah?"
It was rare for Aqua to leave the house unless she was buying snacks or something.
And since she knew that I worked at the convenience store, she would have come over while I was working and asked for a discount.
I took out my phone and texted her, asking her where she went.
A few minutes later, she replied,
I'm at Kyouya's place.
"...?!"
M-Mitsurugi's place?!
Not only that, she was calling him by his first name?!
I didn't know they got that close…
I shouldn't have given that bastard Aqua's number!
…After a few seconds, I realized that I was acting like some jealous boyfriend.
It wasn't like Aqua and I were dating. If she decided that she wanted to hook up with Mitsurugi, that was within her right.
Just like Rin said…
No, I still felt really pissed off just thinking about it!
I texted back and said,
What are you doing at his place?!
After I sent it, I only realized how desperate I was coming across.
Ah… That girl was actually driving me insane!
I immediately checked the reply once my phone vibrated.
It seems that he got injured last night. He came across a Demon King general. I'm healing him right now, so he should be fine.
"...!"
Suddenly, I felt like such a big asshole.
I left the bag of chips on the kitchen table and headed up to my room.
…
…
Thirty minutes later, I heard a knock on my door.
I tried to pretend like I didn't hear it, but Aqua opened the door anyway.
"Thanks for the chips! You got them for me, right?"
She was munching on the chips and sat on the bed while eating them.
"Oi… Don't eat while you're sitting on someone's bed!"
I sat up from under the covers and saw her in her casual outfit, munching on chips and leaving crumbs everywhere.
"Just clean it up afterwards. It's not a big deal."
"You clean it!"
I looked at her, trying to study her expression.
"If you're wondering if Kyouya is fine, he's fully recovered now. I'm a goddess after all!"
It was inconvenient how perceptive she was sometimes.
"I-I didn't ask, or anything…"
"...Kazuma… Male tsunderes aren't popular..."
"I'm not one!"
She sighed and laid the bag of chips down.
"You're probably feeling guilty because of what you said yesterday, right? About leaving all the work to the others?"
When I glanced away, she nodded and said,
"Good… Because I feel the same way. I mean… What kind of goddess am I to let some stupid Demon King generals hurt my dear subjects?!"
"I don't think Mitsurugi is your subject or anything…"
"Eh? But he said that he'd worship the ground I walked on…"
That guy…!
"A-Ah… He certainly is a devoted subject…"
"I know, right?!"
Since it was better for me that way, I didn't try to change her mind.
"Kazuma… We need to take revenge on these generals! I have to admit your plan was clever in a despicable kind of way, but they can't just come over here and do whatever they want!"
When I thought about leaving it to the others, I didn't think that anyone would get injured. Much less someone I actually knew.
…What if Megumin or Yunyun got hurt?
Or even Chris and Darkness…
Well… Darkness might actually like that.
The point was that I didn't think about this seriously.
This was a war, not a game. Even if it felt like that at the start.
If we didn't take it seriously, our planet could actually get invaded by demons from another dimension…
"Aqua… Did Mitsurugi give you any details about when he was attacked?"
"Hmm… He said that there were two guys. Both were really tall, but one was really tall. The really tall guy was wearing a suit of armor, while the other guy was wearing a mask…"
"Do you recognize any of these Demon King generals?"
"No, not really."
"Huh?! Don't you know anything about the Demon King army?!"
"Why should I be bothered to know anything about them?! They're the enemy!"
"That's exactly why you should know about them!"
I sighed and shook my head, already used to Aqua's dumbass ways.
"...Aside from the physical descriptions, does he know anything about their abilities?"
"Hmm… He said the masked guy seemed to know his moves, and even said that he intentionally targeted Kyouya as he was walking home from soccer practice. I don't know how they got that information, though… The really tall armored guy summoned a bunch of skeletons, too. He even used a death curse mark on Kyouya, but I lifted the curse!"
Since Kyouya was a high-level app user who even had a cheat artifact from Aqua, it would make sense why they'd target him.
Either they had information about us, or this masked guy had some way of getting secrets out of people…
Maybe an esper? Someone who could read minds… Or some kind of divination magic…
Whatever the case, these guys were clearly trouble…
After all, in battle manga, whenever a pair of two threats come to invade, it usually means they're a huge threat.
Especially if one of the two is taller than the other.
Part 6
After my discussion with Aqua, I texted Megumin and the other girls, telling them to stay safe and not go out at night.
The most I was worried about was Megumin, since she'd always go out and do her 'explosion walks' regardless of the time.
And she was the type to spout nonsense like 'My power is stronger when the moon is out'.
…No, actually, the one in the most danger was Darkness.
I shouldn't have given her a warning in the first place!
Since her mind was not that of a sane person, if she received a warning about dangerous threats lurking around, she would surely reject the advice to stay inside and actually go where the danger was.
As if to confirm this suspicion of mine…
I'm heading over right away! Kazuma said that these dangerous generals are in his area, right?! I'm heading there right now!
…What the hell was wrong with this girl?!
Despite sending multiple messages to her, she didn't respond.
She was probably on her way to the dungeon, about to traverse to Japan using the connected doors.
I sent a message to Chris, but she didn't even respond.
She was probably busy with something…
"Ugh… I gotta go!"
"Huh? Don't tell me you're gonna fight those guys?! Bring me with you!"
Aqua followed me out the door. I turned to her and said,
"I'm not fighting anyone! My main priority here is keeping everyone safe, and there's clearly a nutjob out there who is trying to stay as unsafe as possible!"
"Eh? You mean Megumin?"
"No, the other nutjob!"
"Well, take me with you! If there's really someone in danger, you need my healing, right?"
"..."
I couldn't really argue with that one.
Without much of a choice, I brought Aqua along.
We took the train and headed over to the dungeon.
During the ride, Aqua watched me as I nervously bit my lip.
"...Kazuma… I haven't really seen this side of you before."
"Huh? What do you mean… I always end up having to take care of other people's mess!"
"I know that, but… Well, you always act like you don't care. Even yesterday, with that speech of yours about not getting involved. But here you are, putting yourself in danger just to protect someone else…"
"Oi… Stop making me out like some generic protagonist you'd see on the pages of Shonen Jump… I'm not an 'ally of justice' stereotype who will go out of his way to save people…"
"Only those you care about, right?"
She smirked, leaning close to me. She whispered,
"...I think I really like that about you."
"...?!"
"Only that part, though. Well, I guess you're a decent kisser, too?"
"S-Shut up…!"
She was saying that only those two things about me were likable, huh?
With what she said…
I also didn't really expect to see this side of myself come out.
These past few days have been a revelation, really.
My attraction to Aqua… My possessiveness over Rin… And now I even wanted to protect Darkness.
Did I just have a soft spot for beautiful girls? Wait… That wasn't really a revelation!
My thoughts were cut short as the train finally arrived at the station. Aqua and I got out and ventured out into the city streets at night.
As we headed to the dungeon, we were greeted by an unusual sight.
"..." x 2.
We stared at Darkness, who was attracting quite a crowd.
One of the people gathered around taking pictures said,
"Eh? Is she a cosplayer?"
"So hot… She's a foreigner…"
"Is this a promotional stunt for FGO? She's clearly a Saberface…"
The crowd was saying those things, because Darkness was completely decked out in full armor.
She must have purchased that recently, or got it as a drop from the dungeon.
The material was clearly more expensive than my iron breastplate, as it was made of steel.
Full plate armor… She was either incredibly lucky, which was doubtful, or she was incredibly rich, which was more believable.
She did have a kind of ojou-sama feel about her…
Aside from that, she planted the tip of her greatsword on the ground and held the pommel in her palms.
…Maybe the Saberface comment wasn't too far off.
We walked over to Darkness, who was blushing and shaking from all the attention she was getting.
"A-Ah… Greetings, Kazuma and Aqua… Do you see? All these people… Are staring at me… Those men over there are staring at me with lust in their eyes… Hehe…"
Was this girl really one I should protect?
Or should I protect other people from her?
"Oi… What are you doing here, Darkness?"
I said, staring blankly at her.
"...If I come out with my gear like this, then those two fiends will surely show up! I can't let them do what they wish in Kazuma's country! Even if I have to sacrifice my body for everyone else… I… I'll gladly do so! Huff… Huff… As someone with the Crusader class… I feel obligated to protect the weak!"
"I feel obligated to report you to the police, pervert!"
She actually huffed in the middle of her speech.
"Hm…? Ah… I see you all got the same idea as me…"
The other nutjob showed up.
I turned around and saw Megumin. However, she was wearing a black witch hat and a black cloak, along with the staff she got from before.
The crowd saw her and said,
"Oh! Another cosplayer showed up!"
"She's cute!"
"Is there some kind of cosplayer meet-up going on…?"
They thought that some kind of event was going on.
…If Darkness's plan actually works, then that means that all these people would be in grave danger if the Demon King army generals showed up.
"[Wind Breath], [Freeze]..."
I subtly made frozen winds come out and waft over the crowd.
"Yikes! It got cold all of a sudden…!"
"Let's get out of here!"
"Aww… I feel bad for those cosplayers, having to deal with the cold…"
After feeling out-of-season icy winds at the end of May, the crowd predictably dispersed.
"A-Ah… Those men are no longer staring at me…"
Darkness was disappointed with the crowd leaving.
"Hmph… And here I thought I would give them an explosion show…"
It was a good thing I sent them away!
"Oi, Megumin… What are you doing here? And with that cosplay…"
"It's not cosplay. I got this hat and this cloak as a reward for completing my quests… As for why I'm here, I had the idea that coming here in full battle gear would attract those Demon King generals…"
"Oh! Great minds think alike, Megumin!"
"Right back at you, Darkness!"
They grinned at each other and bumped fists.
The fact that these two agreed meant that their idea was incredibly bad.
Fighting the urge to lose my temper and yell at them, I said,
"Darkness… Go back to your country."
"Kuh! Racism… Huh? You sure don't pull any punches, Kazuma…"
"I'm not deporting you! Wait… You technically didn't go through customs, so you're actually an illegal alien…"
Since she didn't go through the airport and went through the dungeon system instead, that meant that she was illegally crossing over to Japan.
"Eh…? I never considered that?!"
Aqua smirked and said,
"Leave it to Kazuma to find such weird things to think about…"
"...I seriously don't want to hear that from you!"
I was about to try and get Darkness and Megumin to go back home again, but…
That was when [Enemy Detection] activated.
And from the shudder I felt down my spine, I knew that this wasn't like when the skill warned me of goblins and the like before.
I turned around behind me and saw two figures approaching.
One of them was huge, perhaps about 8'0" tall. The other figure was also tall, but at least it was tall only by human standards.
Like Aqua described, the tall one was clad completely in armor. He also carried a large sword that was even longer than his body.
The other one was wearing a mask over his face, a mask that was split by black and white halves. He wore a tuxedo and didn't appear to have any weapons in hand.
The crowd had dispersed, but the streets were by no means empty.
And furthermore…
"Oh! There's more cosplayers gathering, huh?!"
"Wow… So tall… Is that just the costume, or…?"
"Whoa! The masked guy seems really handsome?! Do you think we can get a picture?!"
…Since they saw Megumin and Darkness in their gear, they assumed that these guys were cosplayers as well.
They took out their phones and approached, ready to ask permission to take pictures.
I had to do something to clear the crowd again…!
I thought about my options, all the skills I could use…
"...!"
That one seemingly useless skill…!
But would it work in the way I wanted…?
There was only one way to find out!
I cupped my hands together around my mouth.
"Brrring! Brrring! This is a sudden Earthquake warning! Please find shelter! Brrring! Brrring! This is a sudden Earthquake warning! Please find shelter! Brrring! Brrring!"
Using [Versatile Entertainer], I imitated the emergency announcement that all Japanese should know.
Like clockwork, those out in the streets stopped what they were doing and headed inside.
As the crowd headed inside the nearest building to take shelter, one of the figures, the masked guy, let out an amused sound.
"...Impressive… That one over there seems quick on his feet… Let's see… Satou Kazuma, is it…?"
"...?!"
He suddenly said my name!
It seems Mitsurugi wasn't exaggerating when he said the masked guy knew all kinds of things about him.
I guess he really was a mind reader of some kind…
"...! Wow! You really are impressive, aren't you, boy? Suddenly filling your head with useless noise… You catch on quick!"
He started clapping when I started thinking about random stuff to hide my thoughts from him.
"Ugh…! What is that stench?! There's an awful stench coming out from that masked guy! Yuck!"
Aqua said, pinching her nose as the masked guy approached.
"Could it be? I sense the detestable aura of a goddess among you…"
The masked guy seemed to sense that Aqua was a goddess…
The armored guy turned his helmet to look at us. He said,
"Oi, Vanir… I sense only weaklings here. None of these young ones are even level 10 yet. I'm not interested in bullying the weak. Let's hunt some actual strong guys. That magic sword user from last night was fun… He fought desperately and even acted like a proper hero. Thanks to him I had to use up a lot of my power and undead army reserves… I'll have to pick my fights carefully now… Hmm…"
He was talking about Mitsurugi, for sure.
"...These two are the fiends that are harming everyone, huh? I won't stand it!"
Darkness said, stepping forward and pointing her sword at the approaching threats.
Megumin chuckled and twirled her staff around, then posed afterwards.
"Finally… A worthwhile target for my explosion magic…"
Aqua cracked her fist and leered at the masked guy in particular.
"Oi… You're a devil, aren't you? As a goddess, it's my job to exterminate a pest like you!"
They were getting excited about this!
If I didn't do anything, they would surely fight these opponents that were way more powerful than them.
And who knows what would happen if they did that.
Thankfully, I had already made my move.
As soon as the crowd cleared, I took out my phone and texted someone.
A bright light appeared behind us, near the dungeon entrance.
"Kazuma-san! I came as fast as possible! You want to hang out, right?!"
Yunyun appeared in her pajamas again.
"That's right, Yunyun! We want to have a sleepover party at your house!"
I grabbed her hand and dragged her to the others.
"R-Really?! Megumin… And these two girls?! W-Wahhh… I'm so happy!"
"That's right! We're so excited! Teleport us to your house, quick!"
"Sure thing!"
As Yunyun grabbed Megumin and Aqua's hands, I grabbed Darkness and held onto Yunyun's shoulder.
"Oi, Yunyun! What are you doing…?!"
Megumin started to complain, but Yunyun had already finished chanting the spell.
"Teleport…!"
With a flash of bright light, we were teleported out of danger.
Adventurer Card
Name: Satou Kazuma
Age: 16
Class: Level 5 Adventurer
Armor (Iron Breastplate): +5 physical reduction
Health Points: 57/57
Mana Points: 39/45
Stamina Points: 52/52
Exp: 0/200
Money: 6,600 yen
Stats:
Physical:
Strength 56, Stamina 52, Speed 50, Dexterity 52 (+5), Health 57, Attractiveness 52
Mental:
Intelligence 63, Intuition 65, Creativity 67, Faith 45, Magic Power 37, Mana Capacity 45
Intangibles:
Charisma 35, Willpower 26, Potential 10, Cunning 79, Bravery 28, Luck 90
Skills:
[Improvised Weapon] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are proficient in using improvised weapons. Ordinary items that haven't been previously equipped deal +1 more damage than they usually would.
[One-handed Sword] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are proficient in using swords that require one hand to wield. You gain +10% weapon accuracy with attacks using one-handed swords.
[Enemy Detection] Skill Rank: 5 (MAX), Passive Skill
You can focus your senses to detect enemies within a 30 foot radius around you. Your 'Intuition' score (65) will go up against the enemy creature's 'Cunning' score when determining if the enemy creature is detected by you. If there is more than one enemy detected by this skill, you can determine the exact number. You can determine the threat level of enemy creatures. You can sometimes sense any form of danger, as if you have a sixth-sense, even if it's from an unexpected source.
[Lurk] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
You can hide your presence from enemies. Your 'Cunning' score (79) will compete against the enemy's 'Intuition' score to determine if the enemy creature detects you.
[Bow] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are proficient in using bows! You gain 10% weapon accuracy when using bows.
[Snipe] Skill Rank: 1, Active skill (5 mp cost)
Add your Luck modifier (90%) to Weapon Accuracy calculations involving bow-type weapons (Max total: 100%).
[Elementary Magic] Skill Rank: 3, Active skill (3 mp cost)
Unlock the ability to use the beginner magic spells [Tinder], [Create Earth], [Wind Breath], [Create Water] and [Freeze]!
[Tinder]
Shoot out a small flame from your fingertips
Spell Attack Accuracy: Intelligence modifier = 63% chance of hitting
Spell Damage: 1 Fire Damage + Magic Power (+3) = 4
Spell Effect: Summon a small flame from your finger tip. Range 3 feet (Magic Power 37).
[Create Earth]
Summon dirt in your hand.
Spell Effect: Summons 1 pound of dirt per 10 Magic Power stat points you have (3 pounds total)
[Wind Breath]
Summon a gust of wind when you exhale.
Spell effect: Objects lighter than 5 pounds can be blown away up to 1 feet per 10 Magic Power stat points you have (3 feet total)
[Create Water]
Summon water from your hand
Spell Effect: Summons 1 pound of water per 10 Magic Power stat points you have (3 pounds total). Does 2 water damage per second when in contact with Undead creatures.
[Freeze]
Freezes objects, especially water
Spell Effect: Freeze 1 pound worth of water per 10 Magic Power stat points you have (3 pounds total), halve the amount on other objects/creatures.
[Cooking] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
Cooking food ingredients dropped by monsters will give a slight increase to the bonus benefits gained when eating them.
[Nature's Beauty] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (10 mp cost)
Impress an audience with a wonderful party trick! Your 'Charisma' stat (35) will determine the effectiveness of your party trick!
[Smithing] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are proficient in creating and repairing items! The success rate of this skill is determined by your 'Creativity' (67). At Rank 1, you can create, combine and repair items of the 'Common' variety. Combining compatible items of the 'Common' variety might yield an item of 'Uncommon' variety.
[Spear] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are proficient in using spears. You gain +10% weapon accuracy with attacks using spears.
[Night Vision] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You have a 15-feet radius of night vision.
[Heat Resistance] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You can endure heat more than the average person can. When up against magical heat, the success rate of this skill is determined by your 'Willpower' (25).
[Quick-Draw] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
When you have a sheathed sword, draw it quickly to catch your opponent off guard. Use your 'Cunning' (79) against the opponent's 'Intuition' score. If the opponent is caught off guard, your attack damage will increase by +1.
[Enemy Reading] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
When facing an enemy you have encountered before, you will see their basic combat stats (Armor Score, Health Points). This information will hover above the enemy.
[Escape] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
Chance to escape hostile enemies increases by +10%. Ability to escape is determined by 'Speed' stat (50).
[Farsight] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
You can see objects and creatures 60 miles away. If your vision isn't 20/20 already, you will have perfect vision whenever this skill is activated.
[Fishing] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are now proficient in using fishing tools. Your fishing skill depends on your 'Intuition' (65) score. You can fish aquatic creatures that are ranked as 'Common'.
[Steal] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
Allows you to steal an item. If the target is a creature, you will have to be within 15 feet of the target to use this skill. Success depends on your 'Cunning' (79), contested against the target's 'Intuition'. Items that are not held or equipped by a creature can be stolen as long as you can see it and are aware of its presence. The value of the item you steal is determined by your 'Luck' (90).
[Trap Detection] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You can now sense traps within a 15 foot radius around you. Your 'Intuition' (65) score determines the success rate of discovering traps. You can only detect traps of 'Basic' make.
[Versatile Entertainer ] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
You are adept in mimicking the voice of someone you know. If you are mimicking the voice of someone you don't know, you must spend at least 15 minutes observing their speech patterns and mannerisms. Useful for making celebrity impressions.
[Signature Weapon] Skill Rank: 1, Passive Skill
Assign one of the weapons in your inventory as your 'Signature Weapon'. This weapon gains +5 durability. This weapon won't be destroyed even if it falls below 0 'Durability', but you can't use it again until you fix it.
[Lore Reading] Skill Rank: 1, Active Skill (5 mp cost)
Use your 'Intelligence' stat (63) to determine if you can learn information about a creature, object or location that you can see.
Inventory:
Hunting Shortbow (Uncommon)
Generic wooden bow used for hunting.
Ammo: 15/15 (Iron-tipped arrows)
Bow Accuracy: Dexterity modifier = 57% chance of hitting
Weapon Damage: 2 piercing damage + Dexterity modifier (+5) = 7
Sells for: 1,500 yen
Chunchunmaru (Unique) - Signature Weapon
Forged by Intermediate Blacksmith. Named by Megumin.
Durability: 17/25
Weapon Accuracy: Dexterity modifier + [One-handed Sword] = 72% chance of hitting
Weapon Damage: 3 slashing damage + Strength modifier (+5) = 8 damage
Sells for: 6,000 yen
White Panties (Rare)
Pure white, like the feathers of a dove. Perhaps this reflects the inner nature of the girl who once wore these?
Wearing these panties will increase your 'Dexterity' by +5.
Armor Score: 0
Durability: 30/30
Sells for: 10,000 yen
Ghoul Claw Caltrops (Common)
Made by Satou Kazuma. Caltrops that have a Paralyzing effect that will go against the target's 'Willpower' stat (30% effective). Does 1 piercing damage to those who come in contact with it.
Durability: 4/5
Sells for: 1,500 yen
Iron Breastplate - Medium Armor (Uncommon)
Reduces incoming physical damage by 5. Applies -5 penalty to stealth related stats when sneaking.
Sells for: 7,000 yen
Service Locator - App Upgrade (Rare)
An Upgrade For This Adventuring App! Use this to find useful services and stores in your city! Sign-up for news about promotions and discounts to relevant stores!
Quests:
Go on a thirty minute jog! Quest rewards: +30 exp, +1 speed, +1 stamina (Completed!)
Go to school! Quest rewards: +30 exp, +1 knowledge, +1 Bravery (Completed!)
Kill 3 monsters in the dungeon! Quest rewards: Random loot box (Completed!)
Get the librarian on duty to recommend a book to you! Quest rewards: +30 exp, +1 Bravery, +1 Charisma (Completed!)
Join a sports club! Quest rewards: +1 in all physical stats (Completed!)
Drink an Energizing Smoothie from the train station! Quest rewards: +30 exp, +1 Stamina, +1 Charisma (Completed!)
Kill 6 monsters in the dungeon! Quest rewards: Random loot box (Completed!)
Attend soccer practice! Quest Rewards: +1 to all 'Physical' stats (Completed!)
Ask Hinamori Rin for her number! Quest Rewards: +30 exp, +1 'Charisma', +1 'Bravery' (Completed!)
Get a part-time job! Quest Rewards: Starting pay of 3,000 yen per shift! +1 Willpower, +1 Bravery per shift! Bonus rewards available according to performance during the job! (Completed!)
Play in an official soccer game! Quest Rewards: +2 to all 'Physical stats (Completed!)
Go on a date with Himamori Rin! Quest Rewards: +2 Charisma, +2 Attractiveness (Completed!)
Max out [Enemy Detection] to Rank 5! Quest Rewards: Skill-Up Potion (Completed!)
Complete the spicy curry challenge! Quest Rewards: Learn the skill [Heat Resistance] (Completed!)
Kill the second floor boss! Quest Rewards: Random Loot Box
Give Chris her panties back! Quest Rewards: +2 Speed, +2 Bravery
Reconcile with Aqua! Quest Rewards: +2 Faith, +2 Willpower (Completed!)
Bonds:
Satou (Family), Bond Rank: 4
At Rank 4, your family will give you some leeway as you recover from being a NEET. Your parents will give you an advance on your allowance if you continue to go to school, as promised. Your brother thinks better of you and might say a few nice things to his friends about you. If you mention wanting a non-blood related step sister again, your parents will beat you and leave you with grave injuries.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: 500 yen bonus allowance per week (total 1,000 yen). Parents will call the school and request for days off if you ask (limited once per week).
Rank 3: Kazuto won't insult you as much when you talk to him, and he will also give you lessons that raise 'Charisma' once a week.
Rank 4: Parents will give you an advance on your allowance as long as you pay it back.
Aqua (Water Goddess), Bond Rank: 5
At Rank 6, the dynamic of your relationship with Aqua has changed considerably. Are you housemates? Teammates? Perhaps something more? Tread carefully, as you are at an important crossroads in your relationship. Regardless of what happens, she sees you as an irreplaceable friend who will save her when she needs it. Since you two have been through a lot of things, she will never leave you alone.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: You learn the skill [Nature's Beauty]!
Rank 3: You learn the skill [Night Vision]!
Rank 4: +10 Faith
Rank 5: You learn the skill [Versatile Actor]!
Rank 6: +20 Faith
Hinamori Rin (Librarian on Duty), Bond Rank: 5
At Rank 5, Hinamori Rin has developed a crush on you! The way you cheered her up has tugged her heart strings! At this stage in your relationship, she won't mind even if you constantly text and call her. She'll also go on dates with you if you ask, and there might be a chance she'll even invite you inside her apartment if the date goes well. If you flirt with her, she will readily flirt back. Have fun trying to become more than friends with her!
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: +5 Mana Capacity
Rank 3: You learn the skill [Enemy Reading]!
Rank 4: +10 Mana Capacity
Rank 5: You learn the skill [Lore Reading]!
Darkness (Masochist Crusader), Bond Rank: 2
At Rank 2, Darkness has decided that you have what it takes to be an excellent sadist. She will seek you out whenever she wants to receive your punishment. She also thinks that you have the face of a scumbag who likes to abuse women, and that your abusive slap is commendable. She believes that you can be the S to her M and would like you to proactively abuse her more in the future.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: +5 Health
Megumin (Explosion Mage), Bond Rank: 3
At Rank 3, Megumin considers you as a reliable guy who seems really perverted. She noticed the way you took the chance to grope her butt while you were carrying her, but she didn't mind it that much. She sees you as someone who saved her life and you have potential as an explosion sommelier… Or perhaps something more? If you offer to help her practice her explosion magic, she will readily agree.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: +5 Magic Power
Rank 3: Magic Skill Rank-Up
Chris (Silver-haired Thief), Bond Rank: 2
At Rank 2, Chris views you as someone she can potentially confide with! Her trust in you is slowly increasing! It seems that the key to deepening a bond with her is to show her that you can get along with Darkness and the other girls!
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: You learn the [Steal] skill!
Mitsurugi Kyouya (Soccer Club Ace), Bond Rank: 4
At Rank 4, Mitsurugi Kyouya will view you as a teammate who he can rely on and talk about personal problems with. He will gladly do favors for you if you help him get closer with Aqua. He will give you tips when it comes to the dungeon if you ask, even if he's busy. Even though he thinks that you're kind of scummy, he is starting to see you as a friend that he can confide in. Staying on the soccer team and working hard in practice will deepen your bond with him.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: Learn the [Quick-Draw] skill!
Rank 3: +10 Strength
Rank 4: Learn the [Signature Weapon] skill!
Dust (The Blond Delinquent), Bond Rank: 1
At Rank 1, Dust will remember that you bought him a bowl of ramen. You two share a common interest as patrons of the Succubus Shop. He views you as a fellow man of culture. Buying food for him and settling his many debts will deepen the bond between you two.
Rorisa (Rookie Succubus), Bond Rank: 1
At Rank 1, Rorisa will see you as a kind customer who forgave her even when she screwed things up. She thinks that it's cute how you're dishonest about your growing feelings towards your housemate. Continually using the dream service will deepen your bond with her.
Wiz (Lich Shopkeeper), Bond Rank: 1
At Rank 1, Wiz sees you as a cheap customer who doesn't buy any of her items. While she is grateful for the tip, and you helping her feed herself, she wishes that you will actually buy the items from her shop. Shopping in the store will deepen your bond with her.
Yunyun (Lonely Stalker), Bond Rank: 2
At Rank 2, Yunyun already sees you as her first male best friend. She thinks that you're the kindest guy she's interacted with. That said, aside from her dad, you're the only boy close to her age she's talked to.
Bond Rewards:
Rank 2: You learn the skill [Monster Talk]!