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

Countdown: 14 days until the hunt.

The bonfire flames acted as their only light source in the starless night they faced. Kazuma continued to finish a small report for the guild while Wiz observed the small crystal sample they had placed inside a glass vial for the researchers on the Black Daggers.

"It never ceases to amaze me how many forms and powers demons can have. It's scary to think that each of them was once a normal person- an elf, a dwarf, a beastmen, a giant, a human, Majim, or even a half-dragon…. Goddess, I almost became one too. Now we need to worry about boosted demons being a regular thing." Wiz says with a concerned tone as she puts the crystal away.

Kazuma glances at her before he puts his pen and paper away. "I hope that our fears don't turn into a reality. One was already a lot. We need to ensure that they don't get to spread whatever method or item is being used to boost regular demons. I want to avoid demon lords using said boosted demons as extra bodies to attack us without showing up in person."

"You think any other demon lord besides Fulcan can do that?" Wiz asks.

"I'll pray to prevent that from happening. Another demon lord taking control so directly would be troublesome. I want to avoid a direct fight unless it's the real demon lord. The less they know about us and our abilities, the better chances we have at victory….. Back in my homeland, I learned not to let others know about all your cards. Knowledge can be used against adversaries and yourself." Kazuma says with confidence.

Wiz seems to acknowledge his statement as she nods. "We, you're right about that; knowledge is a powerful weapon. Lucky for us, I believe we have nothing to fear regarding other demon lords taking direct control of their troops. What we should fear is what Fulcan did…. You said the body was already dead when Megumin used her strongest spell, right?"

Kazuma nods. "I sensed no life signals from that body… heck, I barely saved Irene because I sensed the incoming danger and not because the body was alive, it almost seemed as if Fulcan was puppeteering that demon's body although it was dead."

"... Necromancy, that's the only possibility…. Fulcan might have obtained the skill at some point. It is a skill that affects corpses and "brings" them back to life, but in reality, it is just a skill that controls corpses. But I never heard a case in which a corpse was controlled from so far away. I doubt Fulcan was close by." Wiz suggests as she considers the possibility.

"..." Kazuma thinks about it. "We did sense an ominous aura coming up from that demon…. Maybe it is necromancy or a more advanced form of it, or he is using that demonic connection they possess to use necromancy at long distances….. Either way, that puts us in a troublesome situation… Can the holy element take care of such things?"

Wiz nods. "Irene's blade will be highly effective against any undead produced by necromancy. We'll be in deep trouble if we don't have anything usable against it. Does Aqua know any spell that could be used against them?"

"I'll have to ask. Her magic repertoire mostly revolves around her level and the spells her scepter teaches her. The higher her level becomes, the more spells she learns. She might have something by now, but we must confirm it." Kazuma says before his eyes turn to the bonfire. "With that out of the way… there's only something else that worries me."

Wiz raises an eyebrow. "... Irene?"

Kazuma says nothing for a moment or two. "I'm concerned about what she will do when the time comes. I convinced her this time, but what if she loses it when we face the real Fulcan? That traitor might push her to a point where her desire for vengeance overwhelms her survival instinct. She has the right to want to kill him herself, but when the time comes, I wish for her to put her safety and that of the team first."

"Trust me, I understand your concern, but we need to have hope in Irene. That girl might not look it, but she can overcome her darker emotions. She will live past the moment we eliminate Fulcan. Her guardians won't allow he to move on to the next life before her time." Wiz smiles after saying this with complete confidence in her words.

Kazuma continued to stare at the flames. "I hope that is the case, or I'll drag her back myself. When this war is over, I don't want to go to the funerals of any of you. I want to leave this land knowing that my actions allowed all of you to continue with your stories."

Wiz seemed curious about his statement. "Are you really set on leaving once it is all over? I thought that Darkness was enough reason to stay."

"... I'm still indecisive….. I don't doubt that Darkness truly wants me to stay around, and Aqua has shared the desire for me to stay in this world. Aqua claims to want to watch me live a different life here, but the decision is not one I can make so easily. I must commit to leaving my past behind, throwing away my promises, and letting go of my brother and what I was back in my homeland…. None of it is easy to let go." The reaper claims.

"Leaving the past behind….. Want to hear how I did it? I am the closest thing to your current situation. I left my family, my past friendships, even the life I knew before, because I couldn't live outside due to my condition."

"... I'm all ears."

Wiz nods before she looks up. "It was painful. I won't deny it. I cried many nights, not just because of the pain my condition caused me, but because time kept moving forward and I kept longing to go back. I was my family's only daughter; I wanted to show my parents and older brothers that I was alive, that I had survived. One of my friends told me that he would wait for my return from the academy to propose. I could be a court spellcaster if I went back home, or even open a shop. I had a life that awaited me outside the academy walls, but I couldn't. I had to give up; my condition wouldn't allow me to do as I pleased, and although it took time, I accepted the cruel fate that awaited me, and instead, I put my mind into other things. The relic prosthetics, my magic spells, and offering my aid to others in difficult situations, I found other things to fill the void, and I even made new friendships. Some regrets never truly disappear, but we mortals can get up when everything else fails. There's always another door when one closes, Kazuma. You might not see it now, but you can take a step forward with time. I personally want to see more of you when it's all over; I owe you my freedom. You can't understand how much I appreciate you for giving me my humanity back, so please consider the possibility. If not for Darkness or Aqua, do it for me. Heck, do it for Megumin and Yunyun as well. I don't know if you can see it, but even those two are growing attached to your presence. Take the time to share as many experiences with us and the denizens of this world, someone as yourself is worthy of a place in this world with or without your powers."

Kazuma cracks a laugh. "Even without my powers?"

Wiz stares at him. "We had 12 reincarnated individuals with an array of different blessings. Fulcan has a sword capable of splitting mountains in half, and if you were to lose your powers, you would still be a better adventurer, leader, and ally than any of them. Powers don't define if you're someone worthy of a place in this world; your actions do. Tell me, what do you feel when you think about the lives that the 12 demon lords have ended with their actions?"

"... Anger, disappointment, disgust, they were given a new chance at a life, and instead of aiding this world, they choose to destroy and ravage it. Power corrupts people."

Wiz shakes her head. "People let power get to their heads. You have infinite revivals, the ability to fly, and a scythe that could slay anything on its path, but you haven't let it get to your head. You know that people are suffering, and you have accepted the task to aid this broken world by eliminating the demon lords. You also helped the orphanage back in Axel, which tells me you don't ignore this ailing world."

Kazuma looks at his hands. "I'm not that kind. I saw the need for a base."

"By also helping to rebuild the old orphanage? Kazuma, you are one of the very few adventurers who have actively sought to aid the orphans of this world. In a world like this, few have time to waste on orphans who hold no connection to them."

"I'll argue that we gain way too much money from our quests. Giving some away won't hurt us."

Wiz smirks. "And I argue that you truly wanted to aid them. You're morals didn't allow you to ignore them. Maybe one specific orphan made you take action to aid them."

"... You got me…" The reaper admits that he doesn't see a way out. "When I came to Axel, I met an orphan who walked right into me. She was starving, and her eyes had lost hope. Her name is Coral, and she reminded me of my brother after we lost our mother. He lost all hope at that time, and I forced myself to aid him in any way I could. I saw Coral and couldn't ignore her or the other children. Things went my way in this case, but I was already prepared to plead my case as many times as necessary to secure at least a place for them to live and food to eat. Children should have to endure the hardships that adults face."

Wiz seemed happy after hearing his words. "And that's what makes you different from the other reincarnated individuals. None of this would have happened if they had even a speck of your morals. Don't lose that part of you, Kazuma. As long as you are this way, we'll follow you to the end of this war." Wiz then stands up. "Don't stay awake for long. Get Darkness to replace you. I'll send Irene in a couple of minutes." Her face seemed at ease, and her bright smile showed hope for the future; Hope for the one that Kazuma was helping to build.

Kazuma nods before he sees her depart for the tent. Once alone, Kazuma reflects upon the day's event in silence until a voice invades his mind.

"Kazuma, Lord Thanatos told me about what happened. Are all of you alright?"

"Eris-sama, we're fine. Tire but unharmed…. Maybe it was a miracle that we evaded any injuries that Aqua couldn't heal."

"Miracles are far and few in this world, Kazuma. I believe that your team is more effective at facing any challenges than others. Now tell me all about it."

"Right…. We found a demon inside a dungeon. It seemed to have a mysterious crystal ability that spread like a disease across the entire dungeon. Monsters were far stronger due to these crystals. After we faced the demon, we thought that the fight was over when Darkness destroyed the main crystal that protruded from its chest, but our luck turned for the worse. Wiz infers that Fulcan used necromancy on the corpse while not being directly present before he used it to attack us. The traitorous bastard seemed obsessed with Irene."

"... Fulcan…. I didn't know he had that skill, but his obsession doesn't surprise me. I inferred that he had made some kind of agreement with Rephilis since she was the only royal he sought to capture that day, based on the testimony from her guardians."

"What sort of agreement? I betray an entire nation and join your side, while you let me keep my young bride? What kind of maniac does that? It makes zero sense for him to betray his allies…. Unless…."

"He was a coward who didn't have what it takes to face the demon lords directly, Kazuma. He had five years, an entire army at his disposal, and not a single demon lord was slain by him. I was willing to offer him our aid, but I backtracked when the reports came in. He was too proud, too much of an attention seeker; he boasted to be the hero the world needed, which rubbed me the wrong way. I'm tired of so-called heroes, Kazuma. I have seen way too many of them. The mere fact that you accept the fact that you're not a hero speaks volumes to me. This world needs you, someone who has thoughtfully taken the task that he was presented with. I see why Lord Thanatos chose you; he wouldn't have given such blessings to someone he didn't trust, so keep pushing forward. I'll be right behind you until the very end. There are only 14 days left. Reach the coast and be ready for the next hunt, Kazuma. I've moved my agents across the land; we have already prepared everything to keep Judas away while we eliminated Geldas."

"What have you planned for Judas? I heard things that don't paint an easy adversary."

Kazuma hears a creepy laugh from the goddess. "Oh, don't worry. I'm just going to drop three suns on him."

Kazuma gulps as several ideas come to mind. "... Suns? Eris-sama, what are you looking to do?"

"Don't worry. We have sent messages to anyone near coastal areas. It won't be enough to kill him, but Judas won't forget the day. Sweet dreams, Kazuma."

The reaper feels the cold touch of a hand across his right cheek before he no longer hears Eris's voice. "... Goddesses can be truly scary when angered." The reaper learned another lesson before his body sensed a new presence approaching from behind. "Irene?"

"... Yes." The girl replies as she sits next to Kazuma, using a rock as a chair. She's fully dressed with her armor and sword.

"Are you feeling better?" Kazuma asks as he turns to face her.

"..." Irene seems to have something on her mind as she looks into the bonfire flames. "I'm doing fine in terms of my body…. But I….. my mind is in chaos. Fulcan…. I didn't think I was going to meet him so soon. His voice…. It almost seemed as if he had gone mad looking for me."

Kazuma shakes his head. "Don't. That monster doesn't deserve your thoughts. Whatever he said was all lies. A person who loves someone wouldn't do everything he did. He had no reason to betray you or your nation."

"... I know…. It's just hard to forget the past. I can't erase the memories that torment me. I… loved him. To me, a young princess, he was everything I hoped for. Mitsurugi was my knight, my hero, the one my father chose for me. He had our full support, my father even said that if my brother fell, Mitsuguri would be the next king with me as his queen. He had everything within his grasp."

Kazuma pats her shoulder after he sees the distress in her expression. "He wasn't a true hero. Fulcan likely gave up on playing the hero. Fulcan might have faced Rephilis within his dreams and come to the conclusion that he couldn't defeat him. No holy sword, army, or divine blessing will win a war if there's no determination behind it. You're more of a hero than he ever was, Irene. Don't cry tears for him or the past that you shared with him. The man you knew, the knight you dreamed about, and the hero you trusted were all a lie that he couldn't continue until the end. He was only a coward who gave in to the temptation of an easier path. To him, you're just a way to justify his actions."

"... None of it mattered…. Goddess…. If I could go back." Irene was already thinking about what she would do to the demon lord if she got the opportunity.

Kazuma doesn't seem to agree. "The past is what makes us who we are today, Irene. Changing is impossible, but if it were, you shouldn't test your luck by interfering with the past. Look towards the future ahead of you, Irene. Think about what you want to do once all of it is over. Always think about the future, your future. I won't allow you to die on me or the team. Fight for a future, not just for revenge. Darkness faced Talus and lived to tell the tale. Yunyun and Megumin will face Geldas soon; I will ensure they make it out alive as well. You'll get your time to face Fulcan, and Wiz will face Rephilis too, as your ally and leader, I will do anything under the sun to ensure that each of you makes it out. Just promise me that you won't sacrifice your life for the sake of vengeance, Irene."

"..." Irene doesn't say anything.

"Irene."

"... Why do you care if I risk it all for vengeance? You shouldn't care about my well-being."

Kazuma extends his hand before he taps the front of her face. "You're really like a child sometimes. Listen well; when you joined my team, your life became my issue. As long as you're my teammate, I will do everything to save your life. Hate or distrust me as much as you want, but I won't betray you. I'm a man of my word. I imagine your father and brother wouldn't want you to die either, nor will Claire and Rain accept anything but you coming back to them alive and well."

"You…" Irene stops herself as she has no comeback. Her face reddens a bit.

Kazuma then gets up with a calm expression on his face. "I'll send Darkness. Keep your eyes open and wake me if anything shows up."

"...Alright…. Goodnight." Irene says as she looks away.

Kazuma smiles. "Goodnight to you, too."

The reaper walks away a few steps until he reaches the tent. As soon as he enters it, his armored boots disassemble alongside the rest of his armor until he is left with a dark-sleeved shirt and a pair of long pants.

Small blueish spheres of light float around the tent, which is big enough for the entire team to sleep in.

On one side of the tent, Megumin and Yunyun rested. Megumin was playfully pushing Yunyun's breast away as if saying that they were getting in the way. Chomuzuke was nearby as it shared a spot with the gold orb, which almost seemed like a second mascot of the party.

Not far from those two were Wiz and Darkness. Wiz had fallen deep asleep as she settled within her sleeping mat with a bedsheet covering her body, while Darkness seemed to have reacted to his footsteps as she opened his eyes.

"... Is it time?" Darkness asks as she sits up with a sleepy tone.

"I could go back if you feel too tired?" Kazuma asks.

Darkness shakes her head. "I'm ready. Help me to get up." She extends her hand to him.

The reaper gladly takes it, but as soon as she's up, Darkness wastes no time to trap him within a hug. "I really wanted to share the night with you." She kisses his lips.

"We don't always get our way." Kazuma reciprocates the kiss.

"... Have you…. Opened up with any of them?" Darkness asks.

"What do you mean?" Kazuma asks.

"... Let me know if Megumin or Yunyun takes the step. I fear it won't be long until they seek you out. I knew that your charms wouldn't take long to grab their attention." Darkness says as she releases.

Kazuma raises an eyebrow. "What charms are you talking about? I haven't done anything."

Darkness smirks. "I told you. Women in this land are attracted to someone they can trust. You might not see it, but you're drawing them in. Regardless of that, I'm not giving up. Go to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow. I hope Aqua can genuinely use that spell to create bone horses."

"... We'll see about that tomorrow. Be careful and do wake me if you find anything."

"I will." Darkness walks towards a corner where her armor and weapons were found.

Kazuma takes a few steps until he finally settles within his own sleeping mat right beside Aqua. The reaper lay awake for a few moments until Darkness exited the tent. Once she was gone, he allowed himself to give in to the embrace of the god of sleep, but not before he felt the hand of someone grabbing his own.

He barely opened an eye before he saw how Aqua reached out to grab his right hand. To him, it seemed she was deep asleep, but in reality, she had been awake since he came into the tent.

Kazuma didn't know why, but Aqua preferred to sleep around him.

Aqua would use his shoulder as a pillow or make physical contact to assure her of his presence.

Kazuma didn't ask questions or object to the contact, but it still made him curious. Was she afraid of his possible departure? Did the fear come from a different place? Or was she growing so attached to him that she couldn't rest without knowing he was safe?

Regardless of the answer, he allowed her these small actions, reaffirming their connection.

No matter how hard things got or how many opponents they faced, Kazuma would be there to protect her and the rest of the team. That mere fact gave Aqua the safety needed to finally let herself be drawn to the realm of dreams once more.

With a smile, the dark priestess resumes her dreams, knowing that 'her' reaper would be by her side.

Author's note:

The previous chapter and this one were originally meant to be far darker, as Kazuma was meant to sacrifice himself after being infected by the crystals within the cave. I planned to give him a one-on-one fight with Fulcan, which would end with a painful death at the mercy of the magma, but that plan wouldn't have allowed Irene to have this kind of development, nor would it have given the rest of the team the reassurance that they are needed. They are a team first, which is the story's core.

I want to provide Kazuma with his proper one-on-one fights, but they can't be regular occurrences since he's not an overpowered protagonist. I also want to limit the times Kazuma dies since Aqua has to endure each one with him. Too many deaths could prove detrimental for Aqua, who can be negatively affected by constantly seeing Kazuma die. This is not Re:Zero, so we won't see Kazuma dying more than 12 times across the story.

Thank you for all the support, and look forward to the next chapters.