I don't own anything. All characters and all rights belong to Natsume Akatsuki*

M for mature topics. No children allowed. *

Konosuba (Not): Thanatos Blessing Upon This Broken World

By Try Another Time

Our story continues inside one of the base's labs. Doctors and researchers of the Black Daggers analyzed several blood and tissue samples they had taken from Megumin after they were informed of the future surgery that could take place if Megumin's body could accept the relic eye of her choosing.

The spellcaster sat alongside Yunyun and Kazuma inside the lab as the staff members walked around while running an array of tests that neither understood.

"... A 25% compatibility is a good sign, although it is not great. We'd like to run more tests before we agree on the results. I'll let you know about the decision by tomorrow. Now run along. You three are free to do as you please until we decide whether to push on or cancel the surgery." Wiz said as she walked away to continue with her tasks.

"25%... I expected a much higher result after the initial tests." Kazuma admits as he stands up. "I'm starting to regret all of this."

"But you seemed to support it initially," Yunyun said.

"At first, yes, but now I'm growing concerned about it. I'm beginning to fear what could happen to Megumin if this surgery were to fail. Could it lead to Megumin developing an infection? Or maybe even a bigger issue?" Kazuma seemed concerned as he thought about the many things that could go wrong.

"Infection? Are you really doubting Wiz and the agents of the Black Daggers?" Yunyun asks as she glances at Megumin, who is still seated.

"Even in my homeland, the safest of surgeries could lead to such outcomes. I do want this surgery to succeed. Giving her full eyesight back to Megumin is something extraordinary. Those who lose their eyes back in Japan do not have such a possibility in most cases. It is rare for a person to get an entire eye replaced. It is a complex process, and from what I heard back home, there are many things to consider. It seems that the same applies to such surgeries here, and even far more factors can decide whether the process is successful or not. As a leader, I must be concerned about this; if this fails, I don't want to imagine what could happen." Kazuma admits once more as he turns to face Megumin. "We can backtrack if you don't feel entirely sure about it."

Megumin locks eyes with him briefly before she shakes her head. "I still want to try. If Wiz decides that the surgery is possible, I want to try to get it." Her hand touches her eye patch. "I never dreamed about getting this eye back, but now I want to try, even if it fails. I want to face Konekko with both eyes."

Kazuma stays silent before he sighs in defeat. "I won't object, but if all fails, do know I'll drag you back here from the other side if necessary."

Megumin chuckles. "Thanks for the reassurance. I'm glad to know that you're willing to do the same for me as you did for Wiz, but let's not go that far. Let's not jinx this surgery before it even begins. I'm feeling a bit hungry; let's go for a bite."

Yunyun and Kazuma nodded before they exited the lab.

Surface level.

"What should we get? Soup? Meat? Maybe seafood?" Kazuma asks as he considers all the choices.

"... No seafood," Megumin says as she adverts her gaze.

"Megu." Yunyun calls her out.

"No, I'm not doing it. They are creepy. The creatures from the deep are scary. They have multiple legs or tentacles, and I hate all of it." Megumin says as her face shows complete horror.

"Good to know that Aqua is not the only one with a phobia. Relax, I won't force you to deal with Seafood. Could I least know if fishes are fine?" Kazuma asks.

"... Fishes are fine, but anything else is a complete no. I can fight sea creatures, but eating them is a giant no." Megumin continues as her face shows complete repulsion for the creatures that come from the depths of the sea.

Kazuma turns to face Yunyun. "Context?"

"... Bad experience with live crabs and tentacles during our first years as adventurers. You'll be amazed how two creatures could merge into a creepy, tasty main course dinner. I'll tell you about it at another time." Yunyun says as she senses Megumin's stare digging holes in her chest.

"Alright, let's go for something simple and as far away as seafood. I thought I saw a barbecue spot around here last night. Some meat should satiate our hunger." Kazuma said as he took the lead.

The girls didn't object and soon moved along while Kazuma guided them to the restaurant. After they reached the business, it didn't take long for them to be seated at a table.

"Let's see what they offer….. Behemoth's ribs… Cockatrice spicy wings….. Full course leviathan meal…. It seems massive for such a price tag." Kazuma said as he read the menu.

"We could share. I think we'll be fine with anything you choose. I'm not picky about what I eat, and Megumin does enjoy this type of meal." Yunyun said as she read the drink section of the menu.

Megumin nods as she examines the different cuts of meat with visible interest.

"Alright." Kazuma raises his hand to catch the attention of the waiter.

"How can I help?" A young male with wolf ears approaches them.

"We're ready to order. I want a large cold beer and an order of Behemoth's ribs. Anything else, girls?" Kazuma asks as he faces his teammates.

"A large beer for me as well," Yunyun says.

"Wine for me and a side of blazing rudras (Potatoes)," Megumin says.

"Very good. I'll be back with your drinks in just a bit. Can you pass me your menus?" The waiter stretches his hand forward.

Kazuma collects the menus before he gives them to the waiter.

Once the waiter goes away, the team relaxes into their seats.

"We finally got you to ourselves for once. I thought that Darkness and Aqua would take all of your time." Megumin starts.

Kazuma sights. "They were busy with a few things. Darkness wanted to talk with Irene's guardians, and Aqua had things to discuss with Chris."

"... Chris and Aqua do seem to know each other from long ago. Do you know anything about that?" Yunyun asks.

Kazuma shakes his head. "That's private information best left unknown. You both know many things about me, but Aqua is where the line is drawn. I can't give information that is so personal away when it comes to Aqua. It would put her at risk if anything were revealed."

"Really?" Megumin joins in.

"Really. Chris will hunt both down if you try to get any deeper. Best left unknown… until someone else drops the ball." Kazuma admits. "Even if we tried to keep it a secret, the truth might surface as we face the other demon lords. I only ask that you don't let your emotions get the best of you when you learn the truth."

"Huh? You really think we'll learn the truth about Aqua in the future?" Yunyun asks.

Kazuma nods. "You learned the truth about me. I didn't want to reveal my past or my deal for being here, but Irene forced that to the surface. Heck, I think the Black Daggers knew all about me before we even got here."

"They do seem to know a lot due to Chris's intervention. I wouldn't be surprised if they also knew everything about Aqua." Megumin suggests.

Kazuma shakes his head. "That I'm not so sure about. I'm fair game; Aqua is a whole different affair, so let it go before Chris shows up in your room at night. We all know that she's not to be tested."

Both spellcasters gulp as they imagine the organization's mysterious leader appearing like a monster straight from the tale they read as kids.

"Alright, we'll let it go. Too much curiosity will get us in trouble." Yunyun says while Megumin nods as they settle the affair.

"Good, now let's talk about other things. How's Wolbach? Any news about her recovery?" Kazuma asks.

"... She is still asleep at the moment. The Black Daggers placed her inside a recovery tank where healing potions and other supplements were injected into her. Her body did seem to react positively as her chest cavity forced itself close after they removed anything that wasn't supposed to be there. They think it might take her a couple of months to regenerate her body entirely. Chris said that she knew what goddesses were capable of, so we should be calm and await the end of her recovery." Megumin taps her top hat. "We'll get a signal that everything is going well when Chomusuke recovers her former appearance."

"So we'll have a giant sacred beast with us when that time comes. That sounds good for us…. If that's the case, we might need to figure out other travel arrangements." Kazuma thinks as he imagines how big Chomusuke could get.

"There's no need for it. Chomusuke can fly on its own and change shapes as needed. She might even replace Rust. I can fly without getting tired with my boots, and you can fly while carrying Aqua. That would leave Megumin, Irene, and Wiz to ride Chomusuke or the wyvern alongside Rust. We have choices in terms of transportation." Yunyun explains.

Kazuma agrees as he reflects on this. "I guess Dust won't always be available, so having a different method of transportation will be good. I just hope we'll be able to face any flying enemies or anti-air defenses from our enemies. We're bound to meet some of those in the future."

Megumin smirks. "Chomusuke will face any challenges once she recovers her powers. Don't worry too much. I know Wolbach-sama will fully recover, and once she does, we'll have her fighting alongside us."

Yunyun smiles as she sees the bright expression on her friend's face. "She won't sit around and wait for us to take care of everything when she recovers. Now, our only concern remains with our kin. All of them are asleep and under treatment as we speak."

Kazuma notices the sadness on Megumin's face. "... Megumin… do you want to talk about her? About your sister? As an older brother, I understand your pain and concerns."

"... She….. Konekko is dealing with several traumas due to all of this…. I can't imagine how much pain she had to endure and how deeply it will affect her from now on. Konekko might remain asleep for much longer if things don't improve, but I still hope for the best. I believe she will learn to overcome these traumas, and I'll support her as her big sister. I haven't lost hope in her like I did before. I once thought I had lost her and everyone else except for Yun, but I have gotten that hope back. Our path is clear, and I can't sit around; I'll continue to follow you, and when Konekko wakes up, I hope to face her with good news. I'll fight to end this war for her sake, and everyone else's. I only ask you for your support, Kazuma. We didn't start with the best of feet, but I had grown to trust you and your actions, Kazuma. I know you won't betray us, so I'll continue to follow you until the end." Megumin says with total confidence in the future ahead.

Yunyun seems happy with Megumin's choice. "We both lost hope of finding them, and for years, we thought we were the last ones of our kin. That changed because you appeared in our lives, Kazuma. No matter where you came from, you have pushed on against the challenges of this world and fought against an enemy that many thought impossible. I know you'll continue to push on against the challenges that await us in the future, and I desire to stand by your side until the very end. When Konekko and the others recover, I want to face them and tell them everything is over. As the chief's daughter, I want our people to know that we can return home without fearing another attack."

Kazuma acknowledges their desires as he nods after listening to them. "Geldas is likely our next target—the demon lord behind what happened at your village. I know emotions will run wild, and I assure you I'll give you two the chance to face Geldas, but don't lose sight of your surroundings. Don't let anger make either of you lose sight of me, the rest of the team, and whatever other enemies are around us when the time comes. If either of you falls, I will bring you back to life, but let's try to avoid that situation. You two have been adventurers for much longer than I have. I hope neither of you two allows Geldas to get inside your head and drive you to make a mistake that could put you or the team at risk."

The spellcasters grow quiet as they consider the next fight against Geldas. The demon lord attacked their home and enslaved their kin and goddess to use them as batteries for war. Neither wanted to admit it, but deep inside, their hate and anger grew.

"... Is going to be hard," Megumin admits.

"We're talking about the one behind our suffering. Behind our tragedy. The one that led to the deaths of many of our people, including Megumin's mom." Yunyun joins in as she slams her hand on the table.

"... But we see your point. We can't ignore our feelings in this case. We want to face her and make her pay for everything she did. For every death that she caused, for every year that Konekko and the others had to endure while being trapped inside those cubes, we will make her pay…. But if we lose sight of our mission, I ask you to wake us up. I also ask you…. If by any chance we find…. Our fathers turned into demons…. Put them out of their misery." Megumin says as she lowers her face.

Yunyun lowers her face as well. "There's a chance that Geldas might have turned them into demons…. We might not be able to finish them on our own."

Kazuma raises an eyebrow. "We could capture them. The possibility of a future cure is in the cards. Vanir and the Black Daggers are working on it."

Yunyun shakes her head. "Even then, we could be risking it. If we don't see a way to secure them without putting the entire mission at risk….. Eliminate them for us. Eliminate any crimson eyes that are turned into monsters like Geldas. Don't doubt once."

"But they are your kin, your family…. Can you two live on with this decision?" Kazuma asks.

Megumin covers her face as she imagines a demon with her father's face. "I…. prefer eliminating him than seeing a monster with his appearance. I don't want Konekko to see it either….. If everything fails, if we cannot capture them without risking everything else, I plead to you to end it. I'll face the guilt once more. I'll face a future without my father in it."

Yunyun seems to agree, although her face shows the growing guilt she is starting to feel. "A future in which father is my enemy is one that I don't wish to face. So please, end it. We'll assume all responsibility."

Kazuma sighed as he didn't see a way out. He can tell that this is hard for them, yet he can't ignore their pleas for help. "If there's no way out. If we can't stop them and secure them for safe transportation, I promise to be the one to put an end to them. As your leader and ally, I'll free them from their prisons as demons."

Megumin tears up for a bit before she wipes her tears away. "Thank you."

Kazuma shakes his head. "Don't. If I do this, I won't deserve your thanks. You two will have the right to hold a grudge against me for the rest of your lives since I will be the one to eliminate the possibility of two daughters reuniting with their fathers."

Yunyun shakes her head. "No, we couldn't blame or hate you, Kazuma. We're asking you to do what we can't do with our own hands. This proves that we're weak in some ways, even with all the spells we have."

Kazuma faces them with an expression that seems to disagree. "I won't call that weakness. No child that cares for their parents wants to be the one to take their life. The situation in which we could find ourselves is difficult, and you two are brave enough to even ask me about this. Other children would have risked it all to save their parents, but you two know the situation's stakes. That takes a lot, and for that, you're strong. Don't call yourselves weak for asking for help. Your parents should be proud of how far you two have come since the tragedy."

Megumin looks deep into his eyes. "Do you really believe it? That…. They are proud of us?"

Kazuma nods. "No doubts about it. Between you two and me, your parents will have more reasons to be proud than mine about me. You survived a dangerous situation and picked yourself together amidst a war without any support besides each other. I, on the other hand, lived in a country that offered me many choices, and yet I couldn't do the same when my parents did their best to support me. It took me losing my father and having my mother at death's door to wake up and step up. I waste too much time and lose the ability to demonstrate that I can be a proper adult to my father. I had to face even more regret when my mom passed away, leaving me to face a home where my brother only had me as his support. I forced myself to work as much as possible to pay for everything while attending school at night to complete my education. I barely slept a couple of hours while waking up on time to support my brother until he graduated. I did the impossible, and yet I still have regrets about it, for I couldn't show them all that while they were alive. People like you two, Darkness, Irene, and everyone else in this world showed me that I didn't do enough when I had all the opportunities presented before me."

"..."

"..."

Neither spellcaster knew how to come back after hearing Kazuma's words.

They had regrets, but Kazuma's regrets seemed to cut much deeper. Here was their leader, the fearless man who faced a demon lord, a man who was willing to face death multiple times if he was to protect his team, a brave reaper who had not run away once since they met, and yet he still had his own demons.

"... I see why Darkness continues to fall for you. There's an undeniable beauty in you. You are a fearless man who continues to push on against adversity while carrying regrets and not denying your faults…. If only you didn't fall for Darkness." Yunyun says.

Megumin nods unconsciously. "I wonder what attracted you to her. What made you feel attracted to her?"

Kazuma seems to be taken aback by the question.

The reaper stops himself as the wolf-eared waiter comes with their drinks. Megumin and Yunyun take sips from their drinks, but Kazuma remains motionless as he stares at his beer.

"Her forwardness caught me by surprise," Kazuma admits. "Someone so open about their emotions and desires, someone so bold as to tell me so directly that they like me even after I tell them that I might not be around for long drew me in. People in my homeland tend to be subtle and hide their genuine emotions behind walls until they see the need to break someone else's heart. I was genuine when I said that this 'me' is fake and far from the person I am, yet Darkness doesn't back down. I…. sometimes wonder if her feelings are just temporal, but I can't sense lies when we talk or face each other. My heart tells me that she's being genuine with me at all points, and that is something I can't easily ignore."

"... She wears her heart out in the open. A fearless lover who won't deny their emotions." Yunyun takes a sip of her drink. "So a path to your heart does not involve lies or tricks…. I understand you, but I wonder about something."

Kazuma raises an eyebrow. "What is your question?"

"... If someone else were to show the same level of boldness and affection for you. We're talking about genuine affection. Would you reject them? Would you reject their advances because you already have Darkness?" Yunyun continues.

Megumin gulps as she senses where the question is going.

"..." Kazuma takes a sip from his beer. "... I never found myself in such a situation. I don't see myself as worthy of being chased by multiple partners. I'm far from an adequate boyfriend or future husband. But if by any chance something like that were to happen…. I don't think I'll have it to reject their feelings. I… appreciate other people's sincerity, and if someone takes a step like Darkness and approaches me with genuine feelings for me, I… can't reject them. I would find myself in a difficult situation as I must consider all possibilities….. It would put more pressure on me as I would need to think about my path forward with someone else added to the mix. Japan, Darkness or moving onto the afterlife…. I'm reflecting on those three paths at the moment…. I fear what could happen if another one joins the list."

Megumin looks at him, confused. "You're considering accepting death?"

"... It was the path I was initially meant to take. When this started, I was offered a path to heaven or a new life in this world…. I was going to choose the afterlife. Japan wasn't in the plans first, nor was Darkness, but now those two have been added to the list. My old life, a life alongside Darkness or finally resting after so long…. Two of them pull me from each hand while the third one sits in the back as a possibility silently awaits me. I'm still thinking, but I must make a choice one day." Kazuma admits as he takes another sip.

"I see… Keep reflecting on that choice, but do keep this in mind. There will come a time when another path might present itself before you. You claim to be unworthy of being loved, but I can see more than one reason for other girls to seek you out. In our world, a man like yourself tends to attract others." Yunyun says.

"..." Megumin takes another sip from her drink, but this time she drinks much more. "Any girl wants a male who can put everything on the line to protect them. Any girl wants a male who won't stab them in the back. Any girl wants a male who will stand by their side even if facing a giant dragon. Don't be surprised when 'someone' new gathers the strength to confess their growing emotions for you."

Kazuma shakes his head. "I doubt that there's anyone else out there besides Darkness who can like someone like-"

Kazuma is interrupted as both spellcasters reach out to put a finger on top of his lips.

"Life is full of surprises, Kazuma." Megumin.

"You never know when life will offer you a new path forward." Yunyun.

The two spellcasters show genuine smiles as they settle back into their seats, leaving Kazuma a bit surprised by their statements.

"I don't think that's possible." Kazuma pondered.

If only he knew what the future had in store for him.