"So over there is a pretty good restaurant. And that road leads to the stables if you ever need to rent a horse or carriage."

We were walking around the town sightseeing. The goddess seemed to know her way around pretty well. I guess that's a goddess for you.

"Lots of adventurers sleep in the stables too if they can't afford a hotel and don't live in a mansion like we did. Unfortunately the Demon King destroyed our old mansion."

She looked like she was really enjoying showing me all the different places.

"You sound like you used to live here," I said.

"Didn't I tell you? We used to be the most well-known party in Axel! There was me, of course, the beautiful goddess and arch-priest who kept everyone in tip-top condition, then a powerful archwizard who could cast the world's most powerful spell, and a crusader so durable she could even withstand blows from the Demon King's generals."

"Woah!" I was impressed. "So if you had such a good party, how close were you to taking on the Demon King?"

"...Oh, that's, well…"

She hesitated to reply.

I probably said something I shouldn't have. This Demon King sounded like serious stuff. He must have done something really terrible if such a powerful party didn't exist anymore.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something uncomfortable."

"Hey, let's go check out that small magical shop down there! I know the shopkeeper, I'll introduce you!"

The moment I tried to apologize, her attitude completely flipped and I wondered if she even heard me. She was already running down the street like an excited child.

Was she really a goddess? No, she had to be, I'm just second-guessing myself.

"Hey, Wiz! Are you here?"

I caught up to the goddess just before she threw open the door and called what was probably someone's name. Right as I stepped in, a well-endowed lady who appeared to be in her early twenties came into view from the basement.

"Lady Aqua! Welcome back! It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it certainly has!"

There were a ton of random and strange looking items on display, but before I could take a good look at the merchandise or the shopkeeper―

"What is that detestable bright light that has burst into our shop? Doth moi ears hear the voice of that annoying goddess with a penchant for showing off useless tricks?"

"Sacred High Exorcism!"

"And whoosh! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! With my all-seeing eye, do thee ever think thou will land that attack on moi unawares?"

"Zaaaaahhh!"

A tall man in a rather strange mask and wearing a tuxedo had walked in only to be ambushed by the goddess, but he threw away his mask before the light reached him. That was when his body disappeared before my eyes, only to regrow itself out of the mask a second later.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper was hit by the full brunt of the goddess' magic, making her scream in pain.

Just what in the hell was going on?

Hold on, the shopkeeper looks―transparent, somehow. Yeah, totally transparent, like she was fading away.

Definitely not normal.

"Hey, does she look okay…?" I tried to ask, but―

"Vanir-style death ray!"

"Barrier!"

"Here is some tea, Lady Aqua."

"Thank you, Wiz. Ah, this tea is cold."

"I'm terribly sorry! I'll brew you a fresh batch!"

"It's fine. I'll drink this one as is."

What a mess the shop had turned into. Plenty of items had been destroyed during the scuffle, which only ended when the goddess and the tuxedoed man realized the condition the shopkeeper was in.

I wasn't able to do anything. The shopkeeper, Wiz, was still looking dangerously transparent, yet the goddess was having her wait on her with fresh tea in her own store, while delivering a routine sounding so rehearsed it was like they had practiced it before. Why did she look about to fade away?

"Now then, boy who feels useless because he didn't have the nerve to step in and stop a fight between a higher devil and a blighted deity."

"M-me?"

The masked man turned to acknowledge my presence for the first time. Up close, he was sort of scary looking with that mask on. Especially after seeing firsthand the magic he was capable of using earlier.

"Although your negative emotions are appreciated, fear is not particularly to my taste. Moi foresees that thou may become a valuable customer in the future, so as a commemorative gift marking our first meeting, thou may have this item free of charge! It is a powerful magical incense that will send every living thing that breathes it into a deep slumber! Moi guarantees it will put even strong monsters who may be nearby instantly to sleep! A perfect item for someone who plans to become an adventurer, wouldn't you say? Be wary when using it though, for this incense will affect every living thing that breathes it, including the one who activates it, with no chance of awaking until the incense burns out."

…Isn't this junk? You would just wake up to find yourself surrounded by fully-rested monsters.

I accepted the gift anyways on account of it being my first day in this world. Anything was better than nothing, and I would definitely get better items later.

"So, my name is Wiz, and I am the proprietor of this magical item store. This is Vanir. He helps me out since I don't always have a good eye for business."

I nodded at her introduction. "My name is Kazuma Satou. I'll be in your care!"

Wiz tilted her head when she heard my name. "You are named Kazuma Satou?"

Come to think of it, the goddess reacted to my name strangely as well. "I know it is a very common name―at least, it is where I come from, but it's the one my parents gave me."

Wiz smiled warmly. "I see. That must be tough. Well, if you plan to become an adventurer, you can come see me at any time. I was once a well-known adventurer myself, so I would gladly give you some tips and pointers if you ever need any."

I felt at ease. Wiz seemed genuinely kind. She was also rather easy on the eyes. Perhaps I will take her up on her offer sometime.

"Satou plans to defeat the Demon King, with my help, naturally." The goddess swept her hair aside with an air of nobility. "We were just headed to the guild so he could register as an adventurer."

"That sounds lovely!" Wiz put her hands together. "If you are able to defeat the Demon King, I'm sure it will make many people happy!"

Make many people happy, huh? Well, the goddess did give me that new special ability. Beating the Demon King sounds pretty difficult, but with my new power, it definitely isn't impossible.

And if I did beat the Demon King, I bet a lot of girls would be interested in me.

"Hey, goddess? Before we head to the guild, I want to try my new ability out first."

The goddess nodded. "That sounds like a good idea! I like your proactive attitude. I knew I made the right choice not picking a NEET this time!"

This time? So does that mean she really has brought other Japanese people to this world before me? And just what kind of losers were they for an average guy like me to be ahead of them already?

I shivered when I wondered what happened to them and decided not to think about it.

"Alright, this street doesn't have anyone passing by. It should be safe to try out my new power here."

We were in a small alley next to an empty road with a few buildings standing close by. I didn't want to get anyone hurt during my first attempt, and going outside the city walls would probably expose us to monsters, so this would have to do.

"Okay! So, how do I activate it?" I turned to my guide, the goddess, to begin the standard early-game tutorial mode.

"I don't know."

…

...

...

"What do you mean, 'you don't know?'"

"I don't know."

…Just what kind of a goddess is she, exactly?

I let out a deep sigh. "Maybe I just have to try to visualize it. Focus."

The power I chose was a magical bow with unlimited arrows that didn't cost any MP. It could even be leveled up to shoot elemental arrows, but those did cost MP.

I wanted a safe weapon that would keep me off the front lines. Plus, being an archer sounded cool to me.

That having been said, I acted like I was drawing back an arrow. Maybe doing this would cause my trusty new bow to appear.

"Magical arrow!"

I cringed as soon as I said it. Saying your attack name out loud wasn't as cool in real life.

In any case, nothing happened. Pantomiming shooting a bow and arrow earned me nothing except a snicker from the goddess.

"Pfft! Kso kso kso!" She was clutching her sides, doubled over in laughter.

There was nothing I could do but face the other direction to hide my blushing.

After she had her laugh and wiped a tear from her eye, the goddess gave me a gentle pat on the back. "Ah, there's nothing like having a good belly-laugh to raise your spirits!"

I'd like to know precisely when and where this goddess learned to act like this.

We never could figure out how to get my magic bow to work, so we decided to go register with the guild for now. The goddess led me to a distinct stone building near the main gates of town.

As soon as we walked inside, I took a look around. The interior was like a tavern with a number of tables strewn about. Rowdy looking men in suits of armor and scantily clad young women carrying staffs or daggers were scattered everywhere. Many were seated in small groups at the tables, others were standing over by the far wall congregating around a bulletin board.

A waitress carrying a platter full of frothy mugs glanced our direction. "Welcome! If you are here for food, sit anywhere! If you are looking to register as an adventurer, head on over to that counter over there!"

I looked where she pointed and nodded at the goddess before making my way over.

A large-breasted woman who didn't look especially young but didn't look especially old either was wiping down the counter as we approached. She looked up and raised her eyebrows.

"Oh, Lady Aqua! It's nice to see you again! It sure has been a while!"

This guild employee must have been working here for a long time if she recognized the goddess. Either that, or the goddess has brought a number of my countrymen and women to this world in recent years.

Seriously, if they all got super powerful equipment or abilities like mine, why is the Demon King still around?

Then again, I couldn't even get my new powers to work earlier. I hope I haven't gotten scammed.

The large-breasted guild employee turned to face me. "And I don't think I have seen you around here before. Are you looking to become an adventurer as well?"

I really can't shake the feeling this onee-san knows this is the drill when the goddess walks in with a stranger.

"Yes, please," I simply responded.

"Right. I can take care of that for you, do you have the payment for the registration fee ready?"

"Registration fee?" I glanced at the goddess, hoping she'd throw me a lifeline.

"Whoops! I forgot about that part!" She stuck out her tongue and noogied the side of her head.

The receptionist sighed. "Well, I suppose I can put it on your tab for now. Out of deference for the overall positive relationship the guild has with Lady Aqua."

What does she mean by 'overall positive,' exactly? And great, my first day here and I'm already going into debt.

"Right this way, please!" The guild employee said with a smile before I could voice my thoughts.

She led me to a fascinating little device with a glass ball and a spindle. "Just hold your hand over the glass, and we will begin with creating your adventure's ID card."

"Okay, like this?"

I did as I was told, and the spindle whipped into action, moving all on its own. Within seconds, a small card was formed into existence like some sort of high-tech laser printer.

Just like that, the process was finished, and the guild employee reached out to appraise the card.

"My goodness! Your name is Kazuma Satou?" she said with a startled look.

"Is my name really that weird? Are Japanese names that different in this world?"

"I mean, as far as weird naming goes, the Crimson Magic Clan probably has yours beat, but…" She looked quizzically at the goddess.

I sensed something was being hidden from me. Reacting to my name like this three times out of three was definitely out of the ordinary.

"C'mon, spill the beans. What's the reason everyone gets a bit worried whenever they hear my name?"

"Sorry! It's nothing against you personally, it's just that, um…"

I looked back and forth between the employee and the goddess. "'Just that um,' what?"

"Well, since it seems you don't know, this may be coincidence but the Demon King also happens to be named Kazuma Satou. The whole world knows and fears the name of the man who is the enemy of all women, the Demon King Kazuma Satou."

The guild employee told me with a pained face.

"...Hey, goddess, I want to go back to Japan."