Doing my best not to frown as my comment caused the irritating loli to sport a triumphant smile, I patiently waited for my fellow otherworlder to recover from this understandably upsetting news before he tried to convince me to reverse my decision.
"Wh…why not? I mean, if it's a manner of money then I'm sure…"
"It has nothing to do with money and more about group dynamics."
Seeing that I had the attention of the entire table, plus my relieved, but nonetheless interested companion, I counted my reasons.
"First off, the Loli is the type of girl who has to be first no matter what. Which means if you place her in a party with one or two more mages who are both more skillful and competent…"
"LIKE HELL YOUR MORE SKILLFUL THAN ME!"
Ignoring this outburst I continued.
"She will likely prioritize anything that gives her the chance to claim that she is the only magic user you need. And while I have no problem proving that she isn't as tough as she thinks she is, I don't relish the thought of wasting my high-level slots to keep her in line. Although if I cast Feeblemind on her once a month it would solve that particular problem. But then we can't use her during the rare times when we would need a nuke."
Sparing a brief moment to once again enjoy the look of fear that had come over the girl's face at the reminder that I could potentially render her powerless for a month, I felt my expression morph back into a frown as I continued my list.
"Secondly, I don't think it's a good idea to work with someone who treats death as a source of amusement. I don't want to make assumptions, but I'm guessing that in the time you have been here you have been involved in a fair number of life-or-death situations that could have gone easier IF she took the concept of mortality seriously?"
Receiving yet another of confirmation, as well as another hostile glare from the thankfully muted deity, I briefly cast my gaze towards my thoughtfully frowning companion before listing my third reason.
"Lastly, I generally don't believe that our presence in this party will do anything to bring the type of stability you so desperately crave. So on that note, I wish you well in your efforts. If you need help with 'our mission', be sure to come up with a valid argument as to why we would want to subject ourselves to working with you."
…..
As someone whose life was filled with constant rejection, either by attractive childhood friends or the adult figures in his life, Kazuma could say that this one ranked in the top 10.
For not only did his fellow reincarnated earther list plausible reasons as to why he didn't want to join forces, he also managed to articulate it in a manner that, while somewhat cruel, was nevertheless insightful.
Still, Kazuma wasn't one to let the chance for an easier lifestyle pass him by without a fight.
"Are you sure? I mean, I'm kind of stuck with Aqua, Megumin is easily replac.."
"Finish that sentence and I'll tell everyone about that time when you followed me into the bathroom."
He wasn't sure which was worse.
The fact that HIS Crimson Demon was threatening to twist his actions in trying to promote true gender equality. Or the fact that Darkness was now squirming in her seat like the pervert she was.
Luckily she was keeping her mouth shut.
But it wasn't nevertheless enough to convince the yellow-eyed wizard that the meeting was at end.
"And I think we're done here. Yunyun, I know that it's not really my place to say this, but I think it would be best if you limit your contact with 'these' people."
Fighting the urge to whimper as the more curvaceous red-eyed girl nodded her head in hesitant acceptance, Kazuma waited until the pair were away before he turned on his so-called party members.
"Thanks a lot, you guys. We were this close to having some competent members on our team. And you blew it for us."
"US?! Well maybe if you weren't spending so much time staring at my rival's meat bags, you could have managed to say something to convince them to stay. Not as equals of course since those two, especially that asshole, will never match my awesome casting skills, but they could have served as bait."
And right on cue, Darkness decided to voice her objection to anything that prevented her from fulfilling her preferred role.
"Megumin that is uncalled for. Even if they had been inclined to join us, my position as a crusader demands that I shield all of my party members from harm. Even if one of them turns out to be as much as a brute as Kazuma, it is my duty to weather every blow…blast and….mmmmm"
Tuning out Darkness's moans of anticipation as she fantasized the various ways she could satisfy her masochistic tendencies, Kazuma spared a brief moment to stare at his first companion before coming to a decision.
His fellow otherworld was an ass. A particularly perceptive one but still an ass.
But he did have things worth admiring.
A companion that wouldn't cause others to mistake him for a pedophile.
And the ability to silence the bag of hot air that was otherwise known as the Goddess of Water.
…
"You…you didn't have to do all that you know."
Earning an intimidating, but nonetheless inquisitive stare from Sarlor, Yunyun hurried to clarify what she meant before she lost her nerve.
"I mean you didn't have to talk to Megumin like that. She's a bit…prideful at times. But she's my friend, and she means well."
She wasn't sure which was worse.
The fact that Sarlor was giving her a look that made her feel that she said something stupid. Or the fact that he was speaking a truth that she had often ignored.
"Considering that she denied knowing you, mocked your abilities to make herself feel superior, and showed little hesitation in blackmailing what appeared to be the only functional member of her party, you'll have to forgive me if I feel less than charitable towards her."
Frowning a little since she sensed that Sarlor was talking about the rather crass boy instead of the polite crusader, Yunyun was prevented from trying to list the positive qualities of her friend/rival when her companion decided to change the subject.
"So do you think you'll be up for another quest tomorrow? Or do you want to take the day off and head out again the next day?"
Frowning a little since she had wished to continue discussing how he talked about Megumin, if only because it might have given her the courage to confess her own frustrations with her rival, Yunyun nevertheless answered Sarlor's question with the consideration she thought it deserved.
"Maybe. I mean, since its just the two of…of us, our reward for today's quest should last us a few weeks if we're careful. But if you want to go out tomorrow, I won't say no."
Cheeks flushing a little as she realized the potential misunderstanding her words could cause, the red-eyed girl quickly nodded her head in agreement with Sarlor's decision.
"Honestly, I think taking a day off might be the smart thing to do since I have no real idea what this town offers."
Happy that she wouldn't have to make a decision, even though she appreciated having someone want to know what she wanted to do, Yunyun opened her mouth to give a more verbal response to Sarlor's decision.
Only to be immediately silenced thanks to the unfolding spectacle that was her rival's party.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK PERZUMA! I'M 10 TIMES THE MAGE AND WOMAN THAT SHE IS!"
"THE ONLY THING ABOUT YOU THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED A 10 IS YOUR AGE! NOT ONLY DO YOU LOOK LIKE A LITTLE GIRL, YOU ALSO ACT LIKE ONE CONSTANTLY!"
"WELL THEN WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT YOU THEN?! I'VE SEEN YOU SNEAKING ABOUT, SNIFFING OUR LAUNDRY WHEN YOU THINK..."
"Cause Deafness."
Eyes widening in panic as her hearing disappeared quicker than her school lunch whenever she 'allowed' Megumin to help herself, Yunyun was prevented from devolving into a stuttering wreck thanks to seeing Sarlor shoot her a look of apology.
She still had every intention of making him know just how much she disliked being a target.
But she was at least thankful that her companion had quickly revealed that he was the cause for her current situation instead of spending hours agonizing over something that should have been apparent in the first place.
A thought that sadly sent her into yet another depressive funk as she recalled her days at the academy when her earnest efforts to make friends found her being either ignored or taken advantage of.
However, since Sarlor was treating her with a degree of respect and thoughtfulness that she had only really gotten from her father, Yunyun was beginning to believe that perhaps her fears might prove to be wrong.
If only because he was the type to share his 'feelings' instead of hide them.
….
How dare they?!
How fucking dare they?!
It was bad enough that a Goddess like her was abducted from heaven just because some stupid mortal couldn't see the humor in his situation. Though to be fair maybe she should have waited a teensy bit longer for Kazuma to process his death before trying to inject some levity into his afterlife.
But to be silenced by a basement-dwelling dweeb, with the abilities that SHE had generously allowed him to choose before her undeserved exile?
That was going too far.
Especially since her so-called colleagues should be rewarding her for creating a potentially useful tool in the quest to defeat the Demon Lord.
But she would bet every last gold coin that she, or more accurately Kazuma had, that her flat-chested junior had stolen credit for transforming the basement-dwelling nerd into a credible agent of Heaven.
His attitude was appalling of course, being similar to Kazuma's if more articulate and minus the obvious perversions, but she couldn't deny that he would probably turn out to be more useful than the Loli-Neet.
She would of course have to remind him that he owed his abilities to her generosity. Which meant that she should get a percentage of any future rewards he would receive.
But Aqua was confident that she could get him to agree to her terms.
She was a goddess afterall.
And while Kazuma might be too thick to treat her with the respect she deserved, the boy who was now named Sarlor would prove to be more pliable.
…..
ANNNND I think this is a good place to end.
Happy to see this story attract interest. And pleased with how the interactions are playing out between the characters.
I will point out, since this issue has been raised a few times now, that this story occurs early on in the Konosuba plot line. So the full extent of Aqua's abilities are not fully known to the characters. Minus the Remove Curse spell, and potentially Resurrection. Plus the relationship between the main party is still developing (i.e., No Demon generals have been killed yet). Will also state that the OC's idea of useless nobles will be addressed since he still has a modern/western viewpoint when it comes to aristocracy. In this universe of course, nobles have the power to face off against major threats, but have yet to enter the story.
Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this.
Unsure when I'll next be posting.
Plz review. No flames.