After everything they had been through, Kazuma found himself basking in the most beautiful sight he had ever laid eyes on:
The inside of his mansion.
Collapsing onto the couch, he let out a content sigh and stretched his limbs.
"Ahh… finally, we're home. You know what? I think I'm never leaving this place again. We're rich now, right? Plus, I'm going to get my money from Vanir tomorrow. No need to take any more quests, no more near-death experiences, no more lunatic nobles to deal with. I'm officially retiring."
"If you say so. But if you refuse to go on any more scenic walks with me, then I suppose I'll just have to leave Axel. I'm sure my prized student would be more than willing to take me for a ride."
Megumin, who was sitting on the carpet while playing with Chomusuke, said with a sigh of her own.
Kazuma's relaxation was immediately shattered. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up.
"H-Hey, wait a second. Are you referring to that prized student? So he isn't dead after all! Or rather, why would you want to go on a scenic walk with that literal terrorist!?"
"Oh? Why would that be a problem? You wouldn't have to leave your mansion, right?"
Megumin asked with mock-surprise, causing Kazuma's face to turn red.
"N-no, I'm just concerned for your safety… But if you want to go on walks, then fine! I guess it's not too much trouble."
Kazuma muttered while averting his gaze, and the mage smirked.
"Pfft… Kazuma's such a tsundere."
"S-stop teasing me! If you like me, just say so already-"
"I do like you, Kazuma. That's why I'd rather go on scenic walks with you."
Megumin's expression softened, and she tilted her head as she spoke.
Kazuma's brain short-circuited.
Wait, hold on a second. Did she just-
Before he could even attempt to process it, footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs, and Naruto and Yunyun came into view.
Kazuma, in a sheer moment of panic, clamped up, his face still burning.
What did she mean by that!? Where did she get off casually saying such an incredible thing like that out of nowhere!?
He glanced at Megumin and found that she was looking at Yunyun expectantly, but when her fellow clansman passed by the living room without so much as glancing at them, she pouted.
This girl…! Was she just trying to get a rise out of Yunyun!?
How dare she toy with his feelings over her stupid rivalry! Forget this! He needed to talk to Naruto anyway!
Naruto, completely unaware of the crisis Kazuma was going through, was too busy fending off Yunyun's desperate attempts to drag him outside.
"Come on, we have to go to Wiz's shop!"
"Yunyun, I just want to relax at home today."
"But Wiz-"
"I know, I know… I want to see her too, thank her for watching over Jerry, and maybe even bring her some ramen. But you know something troublesome will happen the moment we step into that shop."
After everything that had happened in the capital, he just didn't have the energy for Vanir's nonsense right now.
Yunyun's shoulders sagged. What could she do to convince her friend to go to Wiz's shop? While it was true they had only just finished unpacking, she couldn't wait!
"Ah! Perfect timing! Naruto! Can we have that wine ramen now? Pretty please?"
Aqua suddenly skipped into the room, her eyes sparkling.
Naruto pretended to think about it, tapping his chin.
The goddess deployed her ultimate technique… Goddess Style: Divine Puppy-Dog Eyes!
"I guess I can go make the preparations."
Naruto "relented" with a sigh, prompting Aqua to cheer and run off to find some way to pass the time.
'Ah…'
Yunyun trailed behind the ninja into the kitchen, silently searching for another chance to bring up Wiz.
"Yunyun, can you grab some bowls for me?"
"Y-yes!"
The mage dug into the cabinets, but her mind raced to come up with a strategy.
Should she insist that she wanted to see Wiz? No… Naruto would tell her to just go by herself.
Maybe she could invite Wiz over here? No… That would be rude to invite someone over when this wasn't even her own house!
Oh! Maybe she could-
"Hey, Naruto. Got a second?"
Kazuma suddenly asked, pulling the awkward mage out of her thoughts.
"A-ah! I'll give you two some privacy!"
Flustered by the sudden intrusion, Yunyun quickly retreated out of the room.
Now flustered himself, Kazuma hesitated for a moment before exhaling.
"So… I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. For… you know. The body swap incident. I went on a total power trip, and we both died because of it. And because of that… you lost Kurama."
A brief silence stretched between them.
Then, Naruto broke the silence with a chuckle.
"I never resented you for what happened."
Kazuma blinked. Naruto… Didn't resent him?
"Kurama made his own choices. Honestly, I think he and Vanir somehow planned for this to happen… Anyways, it sucks that he's gone, but I don't blame you."
Naruto finished with a sad smile.
"Still… I feel like I screwed everything up."
Kazuma said while rubbing his arm uncomfortably, but Naruto clapped him on the shoulder.
"You helped me find Jerry, helped with Darkness's family debt even if that was ultimately a wasted effort, and helped me prepare for the trial. I appreciate it."
"…"
For the first time in a long while, Kazuma felt the weight of his guilt truly lift. Naruto never hated him. He had just needed time to process everything.
In a way, it made him feel kind of stupid.
"I'm happy my favorite men made up."
A familiar voice rang out, and Kazuma stiffened as Sylvia manifested from his chest.
"Sylvia-chan! Where've you been?"
"Resting. I did help quite a lot with the Amber Essence, you know."
The former general responded while stretching, causing Naruto to frown.
"...Are you okay?"
"Of course, but now that you and Kazuma have no more soul rifts, I don't have a proper host anymore."
Sylvia casually said with a shrug.
Kazuma scratched at his cheek. He remembered the spirit saying something ominous like that during their conversion the other day. Was it finally that time?
"Wait… What does that even mean? You need another host in order to stay here?"
A flash of panic struck Naruto's chest. But who-
"Use me!"
Darkness suddenly entered the room, a serious expression on her face. She was wearing a puffy yellow dress with a sun-hat reminiscent of the gown she'd worn during her marriage interview.
Was she planning on going out or something?
Or rather-
"Let me guess… you want to be spiritually violated, don't you?"
Kazuma asked with a deadpan expression.
"I-I would gladly sacrifice my body to protect that spirit's next victim! Now come, Sylvia! I will take you head on!"
Darkness declared with open arms, now looking a little too eager.
Sylvia smiled and glided toward the Crusader, gracefully circling around as they inspected her with a keen eye.
"Interesting… I should be able to hang onto the rifts in your soul for the time being."
And just like that, the spirit merged into Darkness.
The female knight shuddered as she felt a chilling sensation. It felt like she had swallowed a bucket of ice water… It was an incredibly uncomfortable sensation. She could get used to this.
Naruto shook his head in exasperation, but he was grateful that the knight had offered to help.
Although, that begged the question… Why did Darkness's soul have rifts? Didn't they already talk about why friends helping friends was a natural thing? Was she still feeling guilty?
"Well, I guess I'll let Darkness have her turn to talk to Naruto. See ya."
Kazuma said his quick farewell and left the kitchen, not wanting to get caught up in whatever was about to happen next.
Darkness, however, remained frozen in place, her face steadily turning red.
'Wait… how did he know I wanted to talk to Naruto?'
Kazuma had an infuriating habit of being perceptive at the worst possible times. Did he overhear something? Was he teasing her? How much did he know!?
And worse, how dare he distract her from enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime possession experience!?
"Did you want to talk about something, Darkness?"
Naruto's casual question snapped her from her spiraling thoughts.
"O-oh yeah, where's Kiki?"
She blurted out, immediately regretting the stutter in her voice.
Naruto tilted his head slightly, but answered anyway.
"Kiki went out to do some training. I told her it was fine to rest for today, but…"
He trailed off, a wry smile on his lips, unwilling to admit that his partner had been sulking ever since being caught off guard by Elementary Level Magic.
Darkness barely registered the response, still trying to gather herself.
"But what do you really want to talk about, Darkness? I can tell you've got something on your mind."
Naruto pressed, his expression softening.
"I…"
Darkness bit her lip.
'Just ask… You know he won't say no.'
Sylvia's voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
Darkness jolted in surprise, her hands gripping the sides of her skirt. Was this a part of the possession experience!? Just how much of her privacy was being violated!?
'Every bit. Your mind is a lot… Different than I pictured it.'
Sylvia chortled, which brought Darkness's face to a new level of redness.
"Darkness?"
Naruto frowned slightly, noticing her reaction.
"I-I was wondering if you could… accompany me somewhere…"
She finally managed to say, her eyes locked onto the floor. That's right, she could berate this spirit later. She had more important things to take care of right now.
Naruto blinked.
"Sure…? Where do you need to go?"
He was beginning to feel a little concerned. Darkness wasn't usually this timid.
Darkness sucked in a quiet breath, steadying herself before finally responding.
Later…
"Ah… Maybe I should have changed before coming here."
"That's okay… The servants could bring you a suit to change into if you want?"
Naruto and Darkness stood in front of the largest mansion in Axel; the Dustiness Manor.
The shinobi had been taken aback when Darkness invited him here, but the look in her eyes spoke louder than anything she could have said.
She needed his support.
"That's okay, I'll just use ninjutsu."
Naruto made a hand sign, resulting in his form being consumed by a cloud of smoke. When it cleared, he was revealed to be wearing a burnt orange suit and black pants. Much better than his casual white shirt and black pants.
"...Not that it particularly bothers me, but why orange?"
Darkness inquired as she stared at the arguably flashy color. Come to think of it, the man had originally worn an orange jacket everyday when they'd first met. She wondered what happened to it.
Naruto smiled fondly as he looked at his outfit.
"I grew up with next to no money, so I had to spend it super sparingly. Most of the clothes that were heavily discounted were orange. I guess the color stuck."
"I see…"
Darkness watched as he opened the door, allowing her to step inside first. She'd have to ask him about his past sometime.
"...Thank you for coming here with me."
"Of course."
Naruto offered a supportive smile before looking over his shoulder, but he found nothing but an empty yard.
Strange… It felt like someone was watching them. Was he imagining it?
They silently walked through the grand halls of the Dustiness Mansion. As they passed, the mansion's servants bowed respectfully, their curious gazes lingering on the unexpected visitor at Darkness's side.
Taking in a deep breath, the Crusader steeled herself, clenching her fists as if gathering the courage for what was to come. With a final glance at Naruto, as if drawing strength from his presence, she lifted her hand and knocked firmly on the door.
"Father, I am coming in."
It was dark inside the room as heavy curtains blocked out most of the sunlight, and the scent of medicine lingered in the air.
Laying in the bed in the center of the room was Ignis Ford Dustiness, who appeared to be sleeping.
Naruto frowned.
The last time he had seen the man, Ignis had been tall, broad-shouldered, and full of life. But now, his skin was pale, and his body had withered. He looked more like a frail old man rather than the proud noble he once was.
No wonder Alderp had been so confident in his plan… The Dustiness head looked like he was on death's door. Had things been different, the bastard probably would have gotten his way.
Ignis looked up as they entered, his tired eyes softening upon seeing his daughter.
"Lalatina… I wasn't expecting you."
"I wanted to see you, Father."
Darkness stepped forward, clasping her hands together as she approached the man's bedside. Her expression was tender, but the smile she wore was strained.
No wonder she had been so hesitant when asking him to accompany her.
Ignis's gaze shifted to Naruto, his expression thoughtful.
"And you… I remember you. You were at the marriage interview, were you not?"
"It's an honor to see you again, sir."
Naruto replied with a nod, and the nobleman turned back to his daughter.
"I received word of some troubling events that took place in the capital… Lalatina, what happened?"
"It's… A long story, father."
Darkness went on to explain the events of Alderp's trial, how the man's corruption had finally been exposed, as well as his surprise escape and disappearance. Her face was apologetic and remorseful as she spoke, apologizing every now and then. But despite this, Ignis listened with a smile on his face.
"There was a theft in the royal palace as well, but I can tell you about that later… Father, I am truly sorry for acting on my emotions without consulting with you first. I just felt so confident with the support of my comrades… But that is no excuse. I put our family name in jeopardy… Can you forgive this foolish daughter?"
"I see… So the landlord has disappeared. It seems you have found adventuring companions you can trust then, Lalatina? Are you happy?"
Ignis asked, his eyes twinkling as he looked at his daughter.
"Yes… I have made precious friends, and everyday has been an adventure with them."
Darkness replied, and her lip began to quiver from the emotional buildup.
The man closed his eyes and hummed before centering his gaze back on the shinobi.
"Thank you, Naruto Uzumaki. For keeping my daughter safe."
"It was only natural. Lalatina is my friend, I'd do the same for any of them."
Naruto responded with a sheepish grin, earning a silent glare from the girl.
Ignis hummed, then suddenly, an amused glint flickered in his tired eyes.
"Tell me, are you and that Arch Priest still a thing? That other young man… Kazuma, was it? He seemed quite convinced."
"!?"
Naruto nearly choked.
'Damn it, Kazuma!'
He mentally cursed his friend for running his mouth back then.
"Uh… No, Aqua and I are just friends. You see, someone has to keep an eye on that girl otherwise she'll run off and cause trouble… Kazuma and I take turns."
"I see… Good."
Ignis nodded his head, causing Darkness to tilt her head in confusion.
"I want you to take care of my daughter."
"!?"
Darkness's entire body locked up, and her face turned bright red.
Naruto, however, met Ignis's gaze and nodded firmly.
"I will. I'll do everything I can to protect her."
"Wha-!?"
Darkness felt her heart stop.
Her father basically just asked Naruto to marry her… and Naruto had accepted it without even flinching? Just like that!?
Ignis, on the other hand, simply closed his eyes in satisfaction.
"…I leave the rest up to you."
"..."
Darkness looked like she had more to say, given by the look she was sending the shinobi, but she kept quiet and held her father's hand.
"You are so beautiful… Just like your mother…"
"Father, thank you for raising me… When you recover, tell me all about my late mother!"
"Yes… I shall tell you how I met your mother… Next time…"
Naruto looked out the window, content to let them have their moment. He wished he could do something, but not even magic could save a man from a terminal illness. Being the head of one of the most prominent families in the kingdom, surely they must have tried everything.
'To think Darkness had been shouldering this on top of everything Alderp was putting her through…'
He would make sure to support his friend through this loss… Maybe even go along with some of her strange fantasies during training-
Slam!
"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE! THE SMELLY DEVIL STENCH IN THIS PLACE IS UNBEARABLE!"
The door burst open, and both Naruto and Darkness turned just in time to see Aqua storm inside, dramatically fanning her nose.
Yunyun appeared behind her, looking extremely flustered.
Before anyone could say anything, Aqua lifted her staff.
"Sacred Break Spell!"
A wave of divine light engulfed the room as the head of the house was hit by the goddess's skill.
Naruto tensed, worried that the sudden burst of magic might actually hurt Ignis, but when the light faded, Ignis's complexion drastically improved. He still looked skinny, but the bags under his eyes had all but disappeared as color returned to his face.
"...Eh?"
Ignis breathed and sat up.
"Eh?"
Darkness blinked and looked at her father in astonishment.
'What… Just happened?'
Naruto turned to his party member, and the timid mage shuffled under his questioning gaze.
"I-I'm sorry… I shouldn't have listened to Aqua-san…"
Earlier…
"Naruto~! When's the ramen gonna be… Eh?"
Aqua came running down the stairs just in time to see Naruto and Darkness leave through the front door. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Just where were those two…
Her eyes instantly fell on Yunyun, who was alone in the living room with some playing cards.
Was that some kind of solo game she was playing? That silly lonely girl… Didn't she know that playing cards were meant for magic tricks or gambling?
Shaking her head, Aqua strode over to the mage and instantly grabbed some of the cards.
"Ah! I was on my last set!"
Yunyun cried as she helplessly watched Aqua shuffle the cards into her hand.
"Now watch! This is how you use playing cards!"
Aqua chimed and proceeded to stack the cards in a peculiar fashion.
"T-that's… That's actually amazing!"
The timid mage gaped in awe as she watched the Arch Priest create something incredible right before her very eyes. How was she doing that!? Were cards allowed to make a shape like that!?
"Fufufu… If you think that's impressive, you should see my Eiffel Tower-Wait, this is wrong!"
Aqua snapped and swiped a hand through the cards, causing Yunyun to cry out in dismay as the creation fell apart.
"I was too distracted by your lonely game… Hey, Yunyun! Where is Naruto running off to with Darkness? My goddess intuition is telling me they're up to no good!"
"It was so beautiful… U-umm, Naruto and Darkness-san said they had some business to take care of… Kazuma-san and Megumin went out for their daily scenic walk, so I decided to kill some time while everyone was out together…"
Yunyun said as she picked up the cards. Some of them retained their strange shapes, but it would be impossible to put them back together.
"M-maybe you could show me how to fold cards like that while we wait for the others to come back?"
"No! Don't you see!? We have to follow them! Naruto and Darkness have been having strange developments recently… The more time Naruto spends with that hopeless Pervsader, the more he's likely to have an awakening!"
Aqua barked and grabbed onto the mage's arm, causing the cards to fall on the floor again.
"W-wait! They'll know we're following them! Won't it look strange?"
Yunyun asked as the Axis Cultist dragged her towards the door, and this caused the bluenette to pause.
"Hey, you're an Arch Mage with Advanced Magic, aren't you? Can't you use Invisibility on us? That way we'll be able to follow them without needing to hide!"
Aqua proudly puffed out her chest, but Yunyun only grew more apprehensive.
Although it was true that she could use Invisibility, she didn't really like using it because it reminded her of that group from the Home of the Crimson Magic. Plus, the thought of following her friend was a little… not to mention they looked rather serious when they left.
Seeing the hesitation on the mage's face, Aqua sighed.
"I can see why you might not like this idea, but it's for a good cause! You know how Darkness is, right? Also, Naruto is a helpless man who secretly likes to play with women's hair while they sleep. If those two keep spending time together, something's bound to happen!"
When Yunyun's eyes widened, the goddess smirked. She was hooked.
"As that man's party member, do you really want him to continue down that dark path?"
"N-no!"
Yunyun answered with newfound determination.
"Atta girl! Now, let's get a move on!"
Aqua cheered and they set out the door.
Present…
"There, all better! Thanks to me, that smelly Death Curse is toast! You're welcome!"
Aqua grinned, hands on her hips.
A curse?
Naruto looked at the nobleman, and now that he was paying closer attention, the room felt a lot lighter than before. Like a weight had been lifted from everyone.
Darkness had gone completely silent as she retracted her hands, and both her and her father awkwardly looked away from each other.
Aqua, still oblivious to the emotional disaster she had just caused, smiled brightly at the Crusader.
"Honestly, I was worried that you and Naruto were going to elope or something, but isn't this great? Now you and your father can talk all about your mother!"
"...!"
Darkness let out a strangled noise.
Meanwhile, Yunyun nervously looked down at her attire and began to feel a little self-conscious.
"Ah… Maybe I should have changed before coming here."
"Pfft…!"
Naruto snorted, and Darkness shot him a teary-eyed glare.
…Maybe it would be best to leave now.
As Naruto was preparing dinner, Darkness hesitantly entered the kitchen. No longer wearing her frilly dress, she wore her office woman attire which consisted of a tight black jacket and matching black skirt.
"Oh, I wasn't expecting you to surface until tomorrow. How are you feeling?"
"T-that's what you ask someone after they experienced something so embarrassing!?"
Darkness barked, and she had to fight the urge to run off again. But she bit through the embarrassment and approached the shinobi.
"A-about what you said earlier… to my father. Did you mean it?"
"Of course."
Naruto absentmindedly replied as he rounded up some vegetables from a bag.
Darkness gripped the hems of her skirt as she studied the ninja.
How could this man say such things with a straight face? There was no hesitation, just a response. Did he not understand the gravity of what he'd just agreed to?
'That man can be quite… dense. From what I've gathered from his memories, I'm certain my love was being sincere. However, I doubt he interpreted it the same way you and your father did. But that sincerity of his is quite endearing, is it not?'
Sylvia's voice echoed in Darkness's head, and the girl stiffened in surprise.
Luckily, Naruto didn't seem to notice this time as he continued his dinner preparations. The onions appeared to be giving him some trouble.
That made Darkness wonder. If Sylvia had gone through Naruto's memories-
'Ah, I'm going to stop you there, Crusader. While it's true I have the answers that you seek, I'm not inclined to share this information to a rival in love.'
Damn it.
'W-wait! Are you looking through my memories!? Are you going to expose me!?'
Darkness suddenly began to panic. First the trial, and now this! If people were suspicious of her before, an outright admission from this spirit would end all speculation for sure!
How would she be able to face Claire? Her friends!? Or rather, how would she be able to face Naruto himself!?
'Peace, Crusader. I have no intention on exposing your deepest darkest secrets… Although there are quite a few of them. Those late nights spent hesitantly staring at that secret box in your room are especially endearing-'
'NOOOOO! THIS ISN'T THE KIND OF HUMILIATION THAT I DESIRED FROM THIS POSSESSION!'
Darkness clutched her head in her hands as she screamed into her mind.
Sylvia merely laughed at her dismay.
This damned spirit…!
'Tell you what. Since I am in a good mood, why don't we do something together that'll make that man happy? That is what you wanted to do when you gave me a chance the other day, isn't it?'
The former general's voice was lewd as they spoke, causing Darkness to grow nervous.
But a little excited as well.
'W-what are you planning, you monster… Will you take control of my body and do horrendous things to that man? I will resist it… But your overwhelming hold on my body will prove too much…! I will have no choice but to endure the humiliation of feeling every bit of-'
Darkness was cut off when Sylvia surged them forward.
Wait, this was happening too fast! She wasn't mentally prepared for this!
Her hands attached themselves to a pair of… Eggs?
…Huh?
"Hello, love. Would you like a hand? I would love to make up for the last time we were in this kitchen together."
Syvlia asked as she manifested from Darkness's chest.
"Oh, hey Sylvia-chan. Sure, could you boil some more water? I'm still preparing the vegetables... These guys are feisty!"
Naruto replied with a foxy grin, slamming his fist into the face of an onion when it tried to bite him.
"Of course~! Come now, Crusader. Let us make ourselves useful~!"
"O-okay…"
Sylvia chirped, and Darkness awkwardly picked up a pot. Kazuma had refilled their water supply with Create Water the moment they got home, so it should be full right now.
After filling a pot with water, she placed it over the kettle and lit a match. From her experience, it would take a couple minutes for the water to boil. She wondered if Naruto needed help with anything else in the meantime-
'Wait, this is wrong! What are we doing!? Weren't we supposed to make that man happy together!?'
Darkness protested internally, her thoughts frantic.
The spirit sighed before placing a ghostly hand on the Crusader's face, gently squishing her cheeks until her lips pursed. Then, with little effort, she turned Darkness's head until she was facing Naruto.
'We are. Look at that smile… Doesn't it just warm your heart?'
As if sensing their gazes, Naruto glanced over. A genuine smile spread across his face as he laughed at their antics before moving to the other side of the counter.
Darkness's heart skipped a beat. Naruto always smiled, it was practically one of his trademarks. But this time… that smile felt different. It was warm, shining with an unmistakable happiness.
It filled her with a giddiness she'd never felt before.
No… It was similar to that night back in the capital. Her emotions had been all over the place, but this feeling was familiar.
It was kind of-
'Addicting, yes? Believe me, if I could have my way, I would mend that hero's soul every night with my Succubus techniques. But after seeing the hardships he's gone through in his memories, and a little chat with my former fellow resident, I realized what that man needs is moments like this. Companionship. That has been my strategy, and dare I say it has proven quite effective.'
Sylvia explained while nodding sagely.
Darkness became thoughtful as she collected the eggs.
Companionship… Naruto was lonely?
If the boy had that kind of history, it only made sense that the loss of Kurama had affected him so much.
She was no stranger to loneliness either… Before she met Chris, she didn't mingle with others too often as she found it difficult to interact with her fellow nobles for long periods of time.
Couple that with her desire to become an adventurer, and her quirk…
Shaking her head, Darkness became determined. She still didn't know how to approach these feelings of hers, but one thing was for sure.
She wanted to make Naruto smile like that again!
As Aqua lounged on the couch by the firepit, a certain smell hit her nose. Her eyes widened, and she leapt to her feet and made her way over to the kitchen.
"Is the wine ramen ready?"
"Yeah, can you get the table set up?"
Naruto replied, and the goddess was about to turn on her heel to do as she was asked when she noticed something strange.
Darkness was helping out in the kitchen with that weird spirit protruding from her chest. But that wasn't the weird part...
All of them looked… happy.
Naruto was watching Sylvia with an oddly soft expression, and Darkness looked unusually shy when getting too close to him.
What was going on here…? Wasn't she mistaken earlier at Darkness's family's house? Then why were they all making such tender faces?
Then it hit her, and Aqua's eyes widened.
"NARUTO'S AWAKENED!"
The ninja jolted at the sudden shouting. What was that girl going on about all of a sudden?
All the noise seemed to have drawn the attention of the rest of the household as Kazuma and Megumin poked their heads inside.
"I-I need to purify them! I was a fool to have trusted you, spirit! Don't worry Naruto, Darkness! The great me shall purify you all with my divine grace!"
Aqua shouted while pointing a shaky finger at the spirit.
"...Should I even ask?"
Kazuma inquired, but Naruto shrugged.
"Are you worried you won't get enough to eat? Don't worry, Aqua. I made enough for everyone."
The shinobi said with a reassuring tone, but the goddess wasn't having any of it.
"No! No! No! You've been tricked! Bamboozled! Hornswoggled! Why else would you and Darkness be making goo-goo eyes at each other!?"
"Goo-goo eyes…?"
Megumin looked at Darkness with suspicion, and the Crusader averted her gaze.
"See!? She's admitting to looking at Naruto with lewd eyes! Lewdness! Homewrecker! Lalatina!"
Aqua spat insult after insult, causing the noblewoman to gape.
"D-don't say my name like it's an insult! But also, don't call me those names!"
Darkness's voice fell into deaf ears as Aqua glared daggers at Sylvia, who was watching with an amused expression.
"Repent! It's time to repent for your sins and go to the world between life and death!"
"Very well, Aqua-sama."
Sylvia agreed, and the brunette growled in frustration.
"You have no right to refuse… wait, what did you say?"
Aqua blinked, and all eyes turned to the former general.
"Sylvia-chan, what are you saying? You don't have to listen to that girl, ya know? Aqua's just cranky because she's suffering from Ramen Withdrawal Syndrome or something…"
Naruto stuttered as he stepped forward, but the spirit put a transparent hand up.
Wait… Had Sylvia always been that see-through?
"Love, you and I both knew this moment was coming. It's been increasingly difficult for me to maintain my form, or even stay conscious. It must be because all of the resentment I held on this world has been vanquished… I have you to thank for that, ya know?"
The spirit said in a teasing tone, and Naruto found himself smiling at their word choice.
Although they had started as enemies, heck, Naruto wanted nothing to do with the former general when he was possessed, he had come to consider Sylvia a friend.
Naruto swallowed the lump in his throat and maintained his smile.
That's right, just like Kurama, this was Sylvia's choice. As their friend, he had no choice but to respect their wishes and send them off with a smile.
Kazuma watched the scene play out before him with a flat expression.
What was this, some kind of tragic love story? Just how close did those two become while he wasn't looking?
Actually, come to think of it. Weren't they befriending way too many Demon King Army Generals?
Wiz, Vanir, Deidara, and Sylvia…
If Naruto had been the one to fight Beldia, would the guy have befriended the Dulahan as well?
Sylvia detached from Darkness's body, and it was revealed that only the upper half of their body remained.
"...I was lucky to meet you. I spent so long chasing after meaningless things in the Demon King's Army, but in the end… I think I just wanted someone to look at me the way you did."
"Sylvia-chan…"
Naruto bit the inside of his cheek, forcing himself to push back the lump forming in his throat.
The Chimera let out a laugh, though it was fainter than before.
"Heh… That's the first time you've said my name with such passion…"
They reached out towards each other, but the ghost of Sylvia, the former general of the Demon King's Army, faded out from existence.
The kitchen remained silent for a few moments. Even Aqua, for once, had nothing to say, though the surprised look on her face spoke volumes.
Darkness put a supportive hand on Naruto's shoulder, and the shinobi took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.
"It's funny, actually. Sylvia-chan traumatized me back in the Crimson Demon Village, but she changed… We became friends, and she even helped me obtain a new power that I'm going to use to kick Kurama's ass when I find him."
That last bit earned a chuckle from the group, and the shinobi turned to face them with his trademark grin.
"I don't want to make Sylvia-chan sad by moping around. Been there, done that. Now, who wants some ramen?"
"Yes please!"
Kazuma and Megumin instantly raised their hands.
Darkness hesitated at first, unsure if the boy was telling the truth that he was fine. But ultimately, she raised her hand too. She would chew him out later if he wasn't telling the truth.
All that was left was Aqua, who seemed to still be processing what had just happened.
Chuckling, Naruto gave the broth one final taste test.
Clang!
The shinobi dropped the ladle to the floor, his eyes turning wide.
"This… This tastes just like Ichiraku."
"!?"
Hearing the sacred word snapped the goddess out of her stupor as she, along with everyone else, peered over the shinobi's shoulder at the beautifully crafted bowl of noodles.
Ramen that tasted better than anything Naruto had ever made with a maxed out Cooking skill… A dish held above all others, and one that he had only ever managed to recreate once before.
Naruto tested the other bowls, confirming his suspicion.
"Just as I thought… This is the bowl that Sylvia helped me put together. The other bowls don't taste any different than usual."
While delicious, his ramen was always missing that Ichiraku feel… It was hard to pinpoint just what that was, even after all of his experiments.
"So…"
Aqua trailed off, tapping her fingers together timidly. She didn't have to finish her sentence, as everyone seemed to have the same thought going through their heads.
Who was going to eat the Ichiraku ramen?
"It's obvious who should eat it."
Kazuma suddenly said, and everyone turned to the smug boy.
"Yeah? Who might that be?"
Megumin asked in a challenging tone, already knowing the answer.
"Naruto, of course. My friend has been through a lot these past few weeks. Plus, he's the one who made it. It's only natural that he should enjoy something that reminds him of home."
Kazuma said with a sagely nod, and the others awkwardly shuffled their feet.
Hey, of course he wanted to try that legendary ramen. But what else was he supposed to say? "I don't care what you went through, give me that ramen!"? Absolutely not. He was a new man, one who put his friends above himself.
"Actually, I'm satisfied with the nostalgia I get from taste testing. It would make me happier to share these flavors with one of you."
Naruto said with a shrug, and the room fell silent once more.
. . .
"I should be the one to eat it! Do you have any idea how much trauma I've been through these past few weeks!? Axis Cultists, terrorists, Demon King Army Generals, mutant fox-girls, Orcs, pranks, and literally dying! Not to mention the all-nighters I pulled developing the Amber Essence, which, by the way, I didn't even need to do in the end!"
Kazuma roared, his frustration spilling out all at once.
His party members gawked at him, completely caught off guard by his sudden outburst.
"You killed yourself, you shitty NEET! If anyone should have that ramen, it's me! I was forced to watch my kohai eat that perfect bowl of ramen… and she didn't even share any of it! That gluttonous padder! Also, I made Naruto that beautiful cloak that reminds him of his home. That sacred treasure alone deserves two bowls of Ichiraku ramen!"
Aqua rebuked while gesturing to herself with pride.
"You entitled little… How should that put you above me!? If anything, Naruto should file a restraining order on you after that revelation, you stalker goddess!"
Kazuma shot back, and the Arch Priest reeled back in disgust.
"S-stalker goddess!? You take that back, you loli-NEET!"
While the two glared at each other, Megumin raised her hand.
"I, for one, say that Darkness deserves the ramen. She was the one who went through a lot babysitting us in the capital, and was the target of the landlord. Ah, while I'm on the subject, sorry for causing you trouble, Darkness…"
"Megumin… T-that's okay, you can have it! I've been putting on a little weight as it is, what with the lack of quests lately and should probably cut back a little…"
Darkness mumbled the last bit, her hand subconsciously hovering over her stomach.
"Rejected."
Kazuma and Aqua said in unison, causing the Crusader to falter in her stance.
"W-why!?"
"Easy! Megumin's just saying all those nice things to get you to offer it to her."
"Exactly. Just how easy can you be, Darkness?"
The two said, with the other nodding as their counterpart spoke their piece.
"Wha-!"
Darkness turned to confront Megumin, but she quickly averted her gaze.
"Megumin!?"
"What!? I barely did anything worth mentioning this time around, so of course I had to resort to such tactics! F-fine, just give the bowl to Darkness…"
Megumin grumbled, but Kazuma and Aqua crossed their arms in an "X".
"Rejected."
"Wha-! Ugh… What's your reason this time?"
The Crimson Demon pinched the bridge of her nose. Why did those two synergize so well during times like this?
"Because, Naruto said Darkness was completely useless during the trial, and even made some parts harder for them. Not to mention she locked herself in her room and didn't help us make any money for HER family's debt."
Kazuma said while shaking his head, causing the Crusader to whirl around to face the shinobi.
"Naruto!?"
"D-don't look at me like that! You couldn't even answer a simple question like "how do you feel about Naruto Uzumaki" without activating the lie detector! You even pushed the question onto me! But that's not all! After I flawlessly answered the question, you weren't satisfied with my answer for some reason and demanded I elaborate further! The audience, and even Claire convinced the judge to ask me to be more specific! For a second, I almost forgot which side you were on!"
Naruto barked in frustration, and the noblewoman had to bury her face into her hands out of embarrassment when the others stared at her flatly.
"Suspicious! Tell me more about that trial later! Anyways, the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach, you know? Susness's muscles have to eat, so if she eats that perfect bowl, then she'll become obsessed and start making strange deals for more food like offering to pay with her body-Ack! S-she's angry! K-K-Kazuma-san! Heeelp!"
"E-even I have my limits, Aqua! Owowow! Stop pulling on my hair!"
Clearly pushed beyond what she could handle, Darkness pounced on Aqua.
As the two wrestled against each other, Naruto huffed and crossed his arms.
"I already know who I'm going to give this ramen to anyway."
Silence filled the kitchen as every eye turned to Naruto.
The shinobi grabbed the bowl of Ichiraku ramen and turned toward the corner of the kitchen.
"Yunyun."
A startled gasp escaped from the shadows, surprising everyone. The awkward mage stiffened like a deer caught in headlights, her mouth slightly agape.
"When did Yunyun get here!?"
"I didn't even notice…"
"I-I've been standing here this entire time…!"
Yunyun stuttered with teary eyes, but she quickly shook her head. This was her chance to get Naruto to go to see Wiz-
"You were there for me, Yunyun. Not just in the capital, but ever since you became my party member. No matter how crazy things got, you never abandoned me. You always had my back… Even when I didn't realize I needed it."
Naruto said with a fox-like grin and offered her the bowl of steaming hot noodles.
"I know you might not see it yourself, but you're the best party member a guy could ask for."
"..."
Yunyun's mouth opened, but no words came out. She had wanted to suggest giving it to Wiz, but now, she could barely remember that thought.
Naruto's words weighed heavier than she expected. She wasn't just a party member to him… She was the best party member.
Her vision blurred as her hands trembled. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't.
With shaky hands, she reached out and accepted the bowl of ramen.
The kitchen remained completely silent as Yunyun slowly sat down at the table.
Kazuma rubbed the back of his head awkwardly while Megumin crossed her arms, pouting slightly but not arguing. Darkness nodded in understanding, smiling softly.
But Aqua…
"W-WHYYYYYYYY!?"
The goddess dramatically collapsed onto the floor, flailing her arms and kicking her legs like a toddler mid-tantrum.
"This is the second time I've had to watch someone else eat Ichiraku ramen! It's not fair! I deserve happiness tooooo!"
Everyone ignored her as Yunyun brought the bowl closer, her face still red with emotion.
She slowly picked up the chopsticks, her fingers still trembling slightly.
Gathering a few strands of noodles and lifting them gently, she brought the ramen to her lips and took her first bite.
Everything around her blurred.
The sounds of the kitchen, Aqua's distant wailing, everything faded into nothingness.
When she opened her eyes, she wasn't in the mansion anymore.
She was somewhere else.
A quiet evening breeze rustled through the cloth banner hanging above her. The smell of rich, simmering broth filled the air, mingling with the comforting scent of freshly cooked noodles. She found herself sitting on a simple stool, elbows resting against the smooth wooden counter of a small ramen shop.
A strange looking lantern cast a warm glow over the space, illuminating a kind, wrinkled face of an old man standing behind the counter. His smile was gentle, his movements practiced as he prepared another bowl.
"This is… Ichiraku Ramen."
Yunyun murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
She had never been here before, but she recognized it instantly.
Naruto had told her about this place.
About the tiny ramen stand where he used to eat as a kid. About the old man who never turned him away, even when he had no money. About the warmth of a bowl of ramen that, for just a moment, made him feel like he had a family.
And now, somehow, she was here.
It felt so real. The warmth of the bowl in her hands, the gentle flickering of the lanterns, the distant murmur of the village.
For a moment, she imagined Naruto sitting next to her, grinning as he slurped down his own bowl. She could almost hear his voice, see his younger self, laughing and thanking the kind old man for the meal.
Then, as quickly as it came, the vision faded.
The warmth of the ramen in her hands remained, grounding her back into reality. She was still in the mansion, her friends watching expectantly, but she could still feel it—that brief, bittersweet moment of experiencing something deeply precious to him.
Her chopsticks trembled as she slowly lowered them into the bowl.
She swallowed.
"This is… the best thing I've ever eaten."
Yunyun whispered, her eyes glazed over with bliss.
Naruto blinked, momentarily surprised by his friend's reaction. Then he grinned.
"Glad you like it."
Everyone else watched in quiet understanding, their previous jealousy giving way to the touching moment between party members.
"I-I'll never be able to taste Ichiraku ramen…"
Aqua, however, continued to sob on the floor.
"Now now, you can be the first one to try the wine ramen tonight. So don't cry, alright? I promise you'll be able to try Ichiraku ramen as soon as I learn how to consistently make it. You did make me that awesome cloak, after all."
Naruto assured the girl while patting her head, and she looked up while sniffling.
"I-I… Sniff! I guess I'll settle for wine ramen for now… But I can't believe you gave a loner mage and a goddess who pads her chest Ichiraku ramen before the mother of your child…"
Aqua sniffled before heading off to the dining room to sulk.
'This girl…'
Naruto thought while smiling wryly, but he turned to the rest of his friends who were patiently waiting for their own bowls.
It was good to be home.
A/N: A bittersweet homecoming for these fools... Farewell, Sylvia. You shall be missed(by some).
On a brighter note, a secret rare Ichiraku ramen appears! Looks like Yunyun was the lucky one this time around~! But not as lucky as Darkness's father was that the stalker goddess practiced her new calling! xD
As always, review and let me know what you thought!
Spirit out.