[Its time for our team of adventurers, to level up they overall game-play. But you shall already know, that is not a wise move to ask certain people for help. Especially to give certain arch-priest an idea. Our team having a prolonged discussion in Inn.]
["(Do not!); give a novel, game breaking idea; to overpowered character. Especially when it is a dumbass Aqua."
Forgive me, but this episode is an odd ball, that got unnecessary big in my attempt to complete it. It have two parts and it take too much time to write. So have a patience as its not a best quality of work.]
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Once again, Kazuma Sato having a (I am bored!) expression on his face. He and his team, seems to finish another crazy quest. They were once again in adventurer guild house slash-tag Axel town inn. But the usual wild celebratory feeling is missing, as the quartet sits on the table quietly. With a food and drinks on the table, green adventurer # hero, hold a beer mug handler lazily in one hand, and his head by cheek was resting in open palm of the other one. While he was thinking, he was even doing this thoughtful bark noises: "Hmmm..."
Eventually, red Arch Wizard Megumin siting across with noble Lalatina the yellow Crusader Darkness, noticed his stare into emptiness and that he dint touch that bubbly stuff. Because they don't allow her alcohol and he dint drinking it, annoyed she frown at him as if sharing at her. "What it is, Kazuma?"
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It taken him a second or two, to refocus on her. Yet he seem to not bite the bait, as he stays in his bored expression of a heavy thinker. "Nothing. How was you bath?"
The small red mage bark back, frowning at him even more. "We agreed, to not mentioning anything that happened on quest. Don't we?!"
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The green adventurer, still seem unfazed. "Yes we do. But, I do not mention that. *sigh* Never mind." His eyes move to the blue Arch Priestess next to him. "Hows was yours bath, Aqua?"
That girl cut him out short, whit unsatisfied bark. "Don't remind me that! I trying to forget about what lead to it." And she pour into herself a hefty amount of beer, as if she was going for short memory remove move by alcohol.
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Then this gentlemen move his gaze to noble yellow crusader. "And you, Darkness?"
That woman jitter releasing a little peep/yelp as if some cold water drop of dew fall right on naked skin behind her neck. So she hold her body like in shiver. But then glanced at the boy with defenseless lady gaze. "Its because you was not there?" The other two immediately call him a peeping ScumZuma while staring him down like If he was some ugly bug.
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This was enough to him to make a frown on his face, but he stay half-bored logical even in this moment. "Hey, do this team kinda suck without a mid DPS mage?" They stared at him, obviously not connecting the dotes of what he had on mind, he explain. "Listen, I do not directly proposing that we make Yunyun an official member of our team, to cover for our individual lacking. But she kinda fits that position. Plus she often strolling around."
Red mage tap the table with her palm to spoke up on behalf of her friend from Crimson demon village. "Kazuma, you know that learning an advanced magic is for Crimsons mages very important? Its a graduation condition for every student at Red Prison. But Yunyun is on intermediate magic and she is the future leader of our clan…" They as team knew, that Megumin is responsible for that Yunyuncondition and she feel quite guilty because of it.
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Boy dint bother to rise his head from his palm, as he stepped in like the responsible one. "I stopping you right there! I do not wanting to exploit her good heart, or harm her pride by offering her an easy way out, that will only lead to her regretting that choice lately. But that's not what I trying to point out here. What I am saying is; that we have a team composition problem."
Megumin start to freak of as if sensing possibility of losing her spot on team, but he saw right through her. "Rela~ax! If I ever kick out someone of your girls from this team, it will be Aqua."
Blue girl start to freak, but he only glanced at her. "Rela~ax! If I try to do that: You will be back like a boomerang. Then I will be arrested and end up on court again, for trying a money fraud or some other random crap. Plus, you will set next to me during that trail, again. *sigh* Can you see that I am trying to solve a problem for this party."
Blonde tried to mediate between friends, yet Kazuma was quick to state a thing that silenced the crusader. "Aren't we technically, married? Or engaged at last? Surely you all heard a gossip, or two? Plus, considering our reputation, finding someone on high level. who would be willing to join us will be much more difficult." Those fact, force this table of adventurers, to become silent.
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Yet he still continue. "Megumin; Lets take into account your spell, When Wiz [Unlucky Shi Shop keeper] cast it, shes fine. but when you do it, you eat dirt. Then when you have too low manna, the spell dint even start to channeling? What the heck?" That red girl lover her gaze filled with guilt. He knew well, that her love for her iconic magic. "I don't scold you. I just saying that there is a room to improve. To bring a variations."
Blue girl next to him tried too hard to not engage in conversation, but he still turn his gaze toward her. "Aqua; you are the core support character of this team, then start act according that!" She give him an angry (How you dare!; to talk like that to me?!) growl. Yet he stayed cool. "I completely get you. I do. When someone need to get my wrath, then the only satisfying outcome is, when I deliver it. Or at last, when I am the part of the plan. I get you frustration. Whoever! You must not act on your own, but as part of our team. You are the most impulsive of us. Like when you constantly ignoring the serious conditions for doing what-ever come to you mind, taking for granted that it always will work. But you mess every time. Which in most cases resulting in me dying." Without a word of complain she back down, giving her attention to food at table, while giving him (Say what you want!) attitude.
Then there was a time to deal with the muscle of the team. "Darkness, stop abandoning your team for heroics opportunities. You do realize?; that when aroused, then as a tank, you will be probably capable to ram through that wall." He bluntly make a slight nod with his head glancing at solid stone brick wall of the adventurer guild. i
Crusader make a complain, blushing while making a defensive gesture. "Hey!!; what kind of kink you had on mind? I am not some kind of light mannered woman."
Yet he seem to don't care. "Then stop get hipped over the idea, of an opportunistic moment, when you run into a stone wall at full speed." This comment hit the nail on head, because she grab and wiggle her body, as if cold run through her body. The blushing really tell that a clear kinky feeling was behind that body dance.
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As the table went silent, still in his thinker position he make another (Hmm) thinking noise. "What I am saying is, that we need to fix it! Or the main objective will be out of the grasp for this party."
Someone can expect that they start teasing Kazuma by asking question like: "Are you talking about your retirement plan of newer ever leaving the mansion?; be lazy leveling up you pervert level?; or how to became once again a NEET?" [Not in Education, Employment or Training.]
In direct response to his talk, arch-priestess jumped a little in shock, giving him (Hey! Don't you dare to quit!) glance.
Her dissatisfaction, that her body language radiated, acted like a summoning for someone else to enter the scene.
As if it was not enough for Kazuma thinking, to the guild house arrived Misurugi Kyouya, a sword-master in blue plate armor, the top adventurer of Axel, another reincarnated hero brought here by Aqua, and former owner of cheat item: cursed sword. He was followed by his two hang-out like female companions; Warrior Cremea and Fio the thief. Those two had this confused expression as why their blonde wonder boy approached this group of mischief, but tag along anyway. He not just step closer to they table, he arrived at side so all four of them can glance at the visitors. He was already doing a body gesture that demanded answers. "Fixing what?" Surely this supposedly strongest adventurer in city of beginners, caught on spot that when the other one outlander hero, is serious about something, then its a serious matter. But in contrast, the blue sword-master reacted to the silent alarm of his goddess in distress.
Immediately, Aqua throw an unfiltered aggressive stare toward the blond hero in blue plate armor. She radiated animal-like hostility at his presence.
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But Kazuma dint even rise his eye to meet the visitor as he glanced at Megumin. "Only a fact, that our demolition expert need to learn how to control the yield. For example: Its outrageous to burn the entire manna reserve for the biggest possible big bang, when all I need at that time is a single stick of dynamite." It was clear that this term was unknown for the girls around. Except maybe for blue girl who on spot throw at green boy a silent frown, as if she was unhappy about something with that statement. She then return to her alcohol.
Green adventurer received a pinch stare from the small red mage as if she demanded to know, what kink he is up to. Yet he stay in that same position with head supported on his palm. "We don't always need a boss finisher to clear the table, but something smaller. However you are stuck on maximum manna input output setting, burning every drop of manna every time." Red girl proudly rise her chest, talking something about always giving her best. Except he quickly drop the bomb. "Then your eating a dirt." She back off, returning to eating, so the boy continue to talk in general sense. "If we take it into account, an explosion is a rapid expanse of activated energy. It can be big as city destroyer, or small like a party firecracker, include the tiny ones that dint hurt you if it blow in your open palm. Until you close that palm, so that expanse don't have to where go and try to make its own way." Suddenly he became nostalgic remembering at something. "Poor frogs."
Misurugi dint walk away, as he reacted to that reference. "Are you referring to the certain fire work brand?; on witch they change its name, in order to stop kids from putting them into frog asses, to make them exploded as some kind of entertaining?"
Because this was an Inn and people on other tables were listening, some from them imagined; the giant frog on meadow fields to explode from inside out. Some of the listeners get paled from horror, or blue from disguised image.
Annoyed Aqua loudly bump her empty beer mug onto the table, clearly annoyed, she bark at them. "Guys!; you talking about slimy critters that were in size of a palm, croaking in small ponds, tarns and stream, hiding in grass or siting on waterlilies. Had you two already forget the house sized local nuisance with burrowing ability?! Its huge! No matter how satisfied, the blow-up image can look from distant, we still talking about physically tearing that monster into pieces. I don't wanna its parts, to fly all around in every direction, its sticky and smell terrible. And- and, don't even think, to use that thing as a frog lure! I warning you!"
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Blue sword-master was already part of this discussion as he mentioned something that shall be obvious from his perspective. "For the explosion invocation; do you tried a fireball collision?"
But green adventurer was skeptical as he finally glance toward the visitor. "The trope, that dare to say?; that when the two collide, a violent large explosion will happen? Aren't that just a story break to prevent the main character and his rival, from rapid shooting fireballs in all direction? Wait! Aren't the trademark Megumin's explosion move, a fire spell in its core? Because I trying to figure out, how our explosion mage will stay true to her name and still be multi-functional."
Not just listeners on other tables, got a nervous, but even the female duo of sword-master companions, standing right behind him, got a cold drop of sweet on they cheek. Whoever, seeing that the Axel strongest adventurer has up to something, like trying to prevent something stupid before it have chance to roll; they stay silent.
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In contrast to this trouble, a talented but shy magic item shop keeper Ice mage Wiz, [Ice Witch] with very large woman pride/asset, (actually an undead Lich), arrived to they table too.
No, she was actually only passing around, heading toward the bar counter. But because she glanced in direction of commotion, Kazuma noticed her and called out for her. "Hey Wiz, is there a way?; how to make an explosion spell a small? Like small enough to taking down a frog? But still cost effective to be used multiple times per day?"
That woman jitter like a scared cat, on that sudden question, already expecting a trouble for her, with a fear in her face. "Why?! Why?; do you even think about something like that?! What crazy quest you are on to do something like that?"
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Boy dint bothered with that freak out, explained. "Rela~ax! We need from our young mage to better control her powers. To level up her contribution, so anybody around can shut up!" Red mage silently freak-out with horror on her face, unintentionally drooping form her hands a piece of food, that made noise as it hit a plate below. He notice that, glancing her direction. "I am not trying to take away your finisher. You need to learn to control how much manna you spend."
Wiz, hearing that the previous question was actually about that young Crimson mage, shop keeper stop her toughs for a second. "He? Like?... a meditation?"
It hit a bell, as crimson arch-mage made this (Oh…) bark of realization, making her stop what she was doing to think. She already heard about this term, or at last read about it in books, like during her studies. But yet, it dint had a strong connection in her memory as crazy crimson mages probably chased a more interest and important topics to study. Because they had from beginning a crazy amount of manna, skipping the study of basic and intermediary magic is standard for them.
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Kazuma and Misurugi too, froze for a second as they know that term from they previous life. So as the green boy look up at shop keeper, he ask. "What? That's a thing? Can you teach her?"
It sounded so elementary from Shop keeper perspective. As if the little caster skipped a very important lesson in magic school, if we look up at fact that crimson mages are crazy. Yet Wiz hesitate for a moment, wiggling her body, as she tried to figure out a solution to this problem. "Ehm. My apology, but my version of meditation… is not… suitable? For…"
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Because green adventurer knew this woman secret of be actually a witch, he cut the case short. "Stop! I get it. It will be more trouble that useful." Then, as he close his eyes, he start think-full hum-mimg. Like if he trying to get into a zen state of meditation.
But it was blue priestess, who finished another beer mug, stomp it loudly on table and bark at him angrily. "Oh, don't even try! Pretending will not help you, at all! Of course, mediation in terms of spirit and mind is one thing. But we talking here solemnly about the manna muscles, that directly refers to pool of serenity. You two just taking the lazy approach to it. Its like trying to master a topic written in a thick book, by just hold it once and not even opening it."
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Kazuma directly glared at the water goddess keeping his lethargic expression. "What? I am being drilled/tutored/scolded by Aqua? No way. What kind of book do you read lately? Do you even understand, what you just say to wipe a floor by us?"
Switching to the fresh mug, she take another hefty pour of bubbly stuff into her mouth, until she bark back in sassy tone. "Ha!! Just for you to known, I have meditation skill, maxed out."
Misurugi tried to make a compliment. Something about praising her divine presence, dignity and other rambling. It was a sweet talk to get on priestess good side. Then during his blabbing he unintentionally make a gamer's like reference, connected to mediation skill in games.
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So obviously Aqua snap at both of them. "Don't you dare! I can already see, that you two taking the whole meditation thing in the simplified form of clearing and calming you mind and body, from everyday trouble, in order to claim a pace of your life at that moment. Which in contrast, according to some shady game pop-up note, taking that skill shall result in increased manna reserve. You two reducing years of mental strain training, into a single line. In your eyes, you take mediation as something simple like a bath, to clean you body, while spacing out."
She hit the table with a palm. "That's like master level stuff, compare to your silly beginners ideas. You two shall know, that for meditation to work as intended, you must go through endurance training. Like for example; standing under the waterfall to strength up your spirit, mind, will and determination. One must aim to refine its own soul to do the proper way of meditating."
On flip of mental switch, she was in role of a sassy teacher teaching the class. "For example: Monks oriented meditation, often focused on reaching enlightenment or lasting peace (nirvana), involves deep concentration and mindfulness through techniques like Samatha (calm abiding) and Vipassana (insight). Common practices include breathing techniques, such as Anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing), which stabilizes the mind, and observing thoughts without judgment to understand the nature of the mind. And I doing it every single day."
It was Wiz, who urgently tried intervene on behalf of the little red mage from crimson village. "M- Miss Aqua!; p- please, do not combine cult initiation to it! Actually, a meditation do not require hardening resolve by standing in pool right under water fall edge, enduring that stream of falling water onto your head and shoulders. I am not sure what ridiculous training you went through, but basically a simple meditation do not require those high level drilling."
Aqua stated that they shall not compare their hobby dozing-out meditation, to her refined version. Then she death glared at Wiz so intensively, that the shy woman take a refuge behind the sword-master back. Putting her hands on his shoulders, practically hiding behind his back, as if expecting that certain bully will bully her. Even through that plate armor and his cape he felt the weight of her assets pressing on him, so it show on his face. The duo of his female companion glared at this with a silent jealousy.
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Megumin joined the dialog with a skeptical question. "So it work? Can I rise my manna reserve with that?" Some people from the audience at other tables imagine how this crazy girl, standing atop a palisade walls of they Axel town, casting one explosion after another, while laughing like a maniac toward the inferno of destruction on fields down. (Oh, wait. There is some hint that it already happened, if we consider the Crimson mages.)
In front of Aqua a hefty collection of empty beer mugs created a family as she add to they group they new member. "Of course it work! I have *burp* mastery in meditation. But I don't saw anybody of you, to be chilled enough to patiently meditate every day. Or praying. I saw Kazuma doing it only to fall asleep fast."
The boys had a quick exchange, when blonde asked brunette, if that actually work for falling into sleep. The green adventurer confirm that by short hmm as if it work for him just fine.
But Kazuma observed his party healer, thinking. ("Do she tried to tell, that she having a grand mastery in meditation? But destiny prevented her to reveal that fact? She dint trying to tell me that she is dumb, because half of her brain is preoccupied by constant meditation?") Then a realization hit him. ("Wait! Did she truly maxed out her entire arch-priest route on the beginning? Then on what nonsense she spend all her skill point this entire time?") His head fall from his resting place on his palm, directly on the table, making a loud impact that resonated on dishes and cups. Everybody on table look at him as if he broke his brain. Yet he recover fast as he was now fully focused, glaring at that blue girl. "Aqua, show mi your adventure card!" And he reach out to her his hand in demanding gesture.
Yet arch-priestess was on defense. "Heck, NO! I am not giving it from my hands. Especially not to you! You will definitely, do something despicable." She clearly don't trust him, that he will only look at it. So he only note that, that he understand that she don't wanna show it here and he will take a peak later at home and for some reason she gave him a kinda (I don't like that.) expression, instead of denying it.
In contrast the shy shop keeper, still covering behind sword-master back, argue back. "Kazuma kun, please don't suggest something so vulgar. Those cards are quite private and intimate connection of every adventurer to this world."
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That make the duo of boys to look at this mage who posses the wisdom of sage. But it was Kazuma who spoke up a question in confusion. "Is that so? Then what about a hypothetical situation?; when certain girl show me her adventurer card, demanding that I will praise her for her level? Or what about other girl, that hand over it to me, while wishing that I will do that hard decision of selecting a certain skill for her? Or another one; who revealed too much about herself from her hidden dark side? The type of stuff, that shall stay hidden, and knowing it is actually a turn down? But because I keep that secrets for myself, its kinda expected from me to take care about her?" A certain trio of girls siting on the table showed a drop of sweat on they face. Yet he seems to not paying attention to that fact. "You do realize that at that moment, when I accept to who they are and they dreams; I am obliged to honor any decision I made regard of team composition and synergy."
In games, there is a common practice to plan ahead the composition of your entire party and synergy of they skills. Blue sword-master know that. But it was that sheer trust that bring him into a tears. So he make a reply, clearing his eyes with his arm. "I am not jealous at you, Kazuma Sato!" It was not just Wiz but the duo of his female companion Cremea and Fio who had hard time to understand as what kinks this crazy party is onto it. And why this wonder-boy of Axel is so emotional about it?
Green Adventurer noticed that this conversation started causing an unwanted attention on other tables with other visitors of the inn, so he glanced at the arch-priestess. But this blue girl bad glared back at him, giving him an explanation. "What I am trying to say is, that mediation is not something you just pick up and it work without any manage input. You must work on it every day with consistency, to have a significant effect. Its a drill, to build up a manna muscles above normal state." Shop keeper tried to spoke up that in terms of basic meditation this hardcore approach is to big overkill. Yet the goddesses of Water barked at her. "I have a bad felling of this solution at all. Who know how it can turn wrong. So I not doing it! And there is nothing, that anybody of you can say or do, to persuade me otherwise."
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That was a thrown glove of a challenge for a chivalrous righteous hero of water goddesses, because it was suspicious of why is she so against it. Kazuma, just like the rest of his party is competitive and take it as a challenge to prove that dumb girl wrong, out of spite. Strongest hero in starting town Axel saw immediately whats in mind of his fellow reincarnated hero, so he uttered (I warning you!) line to prevent any dishonor act against the goddesses. But the green boy risen his hand with a (Hold on!) gesture, toward blue blonde, while addressing blue girl. "I get it, Aqua. Due to your pride, you will not do it for the boys, who shall have a physical muscles in your eyes." She instantly give him a silent side glance. Then this adventurer make a conspiracy side glance toward the sword-master. "Maybe it dint look that way, but its true, that our party objective is, to defeat; (you know who)." He on purpose dint disclose the mission of defeating the demon king, they both received when reincarnated into this world.
Other reincarnated hero swiftly outstretch his hand toward the green one in strict (Hold on!) argument gesture. "How dare you! I never abandoned that quest. Its just foolish, to do it without a proper preparation." Kazuma on background replies (Oi!) as if he was on preparations all this time, but its not obvious.
Wiz, as a (former?) demon king general, on spot caught that it will be a painful problem for her if this boy too, turn against her to bully her. So she make a freak out half voiced: "E~eee~eh??" But from the perspective of the duo girls behind, it seemed that those people are talking about something that they two dint get it, and its quite a big deal when even this well know shop keeper is freaking about.
Yet it was the priestess who snap at them, her eyebrow twitching irritated. "Ha~a?! Can you two speed it up, already? Like wrapping it anytime soon? Like in a year? Three max?"
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In contrast Kazuma turn toward her, in a serious tone. "Oi! What do you think I trying to solve right now? Plus that time expectation of yours sound like a rush, that will result in a decade long delay. Of course if we survive long enough." That statement, make her pause for a moment whit a confused expression.
Megumin and Darkness knew, what mission those boys and Aqua are talking about, because Kazuma told them the party objective, the moment they joined this party. But it seems odd how secretive they are about it right now.
But while, the mage stay silent for a sneaky reasons, it was the crusader who stand up as it was her noble duty to protect the others from harm. "Kazuma!; you shall not drag others onto this really dangerous quest!"
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Yet, in the eyes of the green adventurer, that at first noble intended demand sounded like it hiding an ulterior motive. As if the masochist unintentionally wanted to secure her front tank position, the front tanking spotlight for herself, as if directly aiming for new types of receiving damage. He went directly to counter attack. "What are you talking about?; wall hugger… Don't forget to jump forward to hug it with open arms, and call him…" He tried to make an iconic noble lady expression with spark in his eyes as his voice soften to lady like speech pattern: "(My friend, long time no see!)"
It was enough for the yellow crusader to pip down whit moan, covering her blushing face. Yet the trio of females behind dewy sword-master had a confused expression. They even group together, to take a shelter behind his back.
Blue sword-master, had this half relaxed expression as he felt that pressure on his back and shoulder, but was focused on thinking as if it was a plan making in a party. "A training for a belly punch?"
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Kazuma reacted to it, with raised warning finger. "Don't you dare! This Adamantium tank having a six pack on belly. She literally have a bricks. She is not a martial-artist but a crusader trope. What if she starting using it in battle?; And it will become her iconic move?; Giving her nickname a titanium abs?; [abdominal muscles - belly] Because unless her dark swordsmanship skills, she will be actually a hitting someone with that move?"
Lalatina was wiggling her body while still hiding her face behind her palms, making this cute noises of a troubled lady in love.
But Aqua put her food down. "Stop talking about that ridiculous move! Its a direct fatty mockery to all elegant hips moves." Unintentionally as she sit on the bench, she wiggle her body slightly in a hint of side hip punch. "I can already tell, that in next moments, you two will try to organize girls in bikinis butt fights. While making boys pay a motivation participation fee for every girl that dare to enter the competition. Like letting challenger to stand at podium with a bowl in front of her.And if there will not be enough money in it, she will not enter the pool-ring to play the sport like game."
Megumin reacted to that part where money were mentioned. But when she glanced at gorgeous curved body of a crusader next to her, her motivation wittered in dreadful realization, that she will not receive a lot of money if she try to enter. Maybe a few coins as a pity spare change.
Of course that sport idea, sneaked into minds of many Inn customers, staff and visitors. But the expressions on they faces varied. Like some men were excited whit (Let them cook!!) and some women were hissing with (Somebody stop them!!) expression.
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Adventurer look at her with a curious expression. "Aqua?… Where did you get stuck after a certain legendary fail, that send you fly?"
In sudden realization, her eyes wide fully open in horror. She clearly make this traumatic experience response, as she grab her head both handed from sides and in (Don't talk about it!! Don't make me, to remember!!) expression she hectically cry-shriek. It was solid freak out.
Misurugi companion girls, observed how they boy interacting with that panties stealing perv and lunatic from Axis order. It was unsettling for them how they interact with each other as if they were on same party before. This duo understand that there was a need to level up they own team-play. But still, they were at odds with whats was going on. "What is with this dialog exchange?"
Megumin finishing all her food rise up a question. "So? How this blabbing about body training, have anything to do, with helping me casting a better explosions?"
There was this group noise of realization from people around, that the discussion was shifted from original point.
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It was time to move this plan to next stage. So Kazuma Sato, in order to skip the yapping excuses part, had a cheeky gentle smile as he stood up from his place. Full of pride he address the customers in this Inn/tavern part of adventurer guild. He address them like a diplomat or leader, trying to motivate them to do his bidding. [Insert here a suitable back ground music for a heroic moment/speech.] "Ladies! Damsels! Our dear female casters, hear me out! I wish to let you know about unique, one time opportunity to learn a rare skill in term of this region. As intense workout at gym target a physical muscles for strength, there is a personalized workout on spirit that target a manna muscles for increased manna reserve. I too, found myself in frustrating situation where my manna reserve got depleted and left me defenseless on ground. At that moment, I wished to have at last some drop of juice to cast one last spell. Or at last, not be at mercy of (whatever adversary I faced at that moment) while eating a dust. There may be a useful skill, just for it. So please, if you are interested; please step closer."
That speech of his, make him look like a sketchy seller of dubious wares/merchandise, but he continued. "There is not a catch except, it need to be treated as a work-out of spirit. But as you may noticed, that in this town of beginners, Axel, we already encountered a foes that shall be a late game challenge. So our dear lassies, you shall consider to do an extra effort based on increased difficulty we all as a guild facing. And if possible, please bring a tribute for our grand teacher Aqua." He make a gesture that looks like he was gently swinging a bottle from side to side, in (Do you want take a sip?) gesture. "To motivate our awesome arch-priestess, to teach her one time only class, as a service from goddess of Water, a blessing from Axis cult, to brave casters of Axel, for facing not just one event of destruction, but surviving many. No string attached! Except, for a humble request. That you will use your magic and skills, when the situation calls for it."
At one side of coin, what he was saying was a reasonable thing, it sounded as a reasonable skill to obtain. Kazuma was know for bringing up to table, a previously unseen an out of picture, smart solutions that work. But on other side of coin, he was the infamous Scum-zuma know for not holding back in harassment against females. So there must be some pervs like ulterior motive to this charade. On top of that, Axis cult is not having a best reputation around.
In that sense, it was on place, that there was a moment of full silence in Inn. If there was a cricket/cicada bug present, it will be heard screaming/buzzing, from other side of the hall.
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Because nobody moved, that diplomatic expression on speaker face got a recall crack of insecurity. As his female companions mocked him, especially wildly grinning arc-priestess, the boy start to sweat a lot.
Meanwhile Misurugi had already a several coins in his hand, that was side handing out to his female companions behind him. It was enough for trio of bottles of some fine liqueur if not more. Thief Fio take that money and as she exchange the glance with warrior Cremea, the duo understand they assignment.
In a swift moment, they brought a full barrel of beer from the counter. Clearly there were smaller barrels, but those duo went directly for the biggest one without even barging. That sealed wooden vessel/container was so heavy that in order to move it, they need to flip it at side. Still it was like half tall as them, and heavy to point, that both of them at same time, had to roll it toward the table. Of course everybody noticed that noisy delivery transfer, possibly holding inside a hundreds of servings of a fluffy stuff.
It required help of the sword-master to prevent that rolling barrel going wild and ramming onto table. When the blonde boy reach out with his arm to grab the container by its end, somehow he skillfully swung it, so by its own inertia, it parked directly to table, standing next to it like a table extension. The only thing that was needed to do was to put a pipe tap pump onto it and start serving.
Somehow the girls and other observer were amused by that on first glance a seemingly elegant move, that was actually a random stuff, but it worked. It was maybe unintentional on Misurugi side, but this show like move finally break the supposed Ice of stale mate. Soon other ladies, girls and female casters, join in, bringing bottles of various size and contest toward this table and placing it onto the barrel. Many got curious about what mysterious skill is the topic of talk. Especially when even the top ranked adventurer of they town and the veteran mage shop keeper are also invested in it. Plus it was hard to overlook that he practically money slap that crazy cultist.
In this world, the fastest way to learn a game skill, is to observed a person using this skill, in front of you, while making an explanation or some sort of teaching that thing. Then, it shall show in your adventurer card, and if the conditions are made, you can execute command to apply, as finishing step to learn that skill.
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Now it was not just Kazuma who glared unbelievably at that pile of alcohol and group of females (plus sword-master) surrounding the table staring at blue priestess.
Even Aqua had this sour expression, that so many jumped onto this gig on which she dint want to engage, (for some reason she dint spoke about). It almost looked that she for once dint want to touch the offerings of alcohol, she was so fond of it. She really aimed to make an outburst of (I don't wanna do it!!) emotions, hectically scratched her head, but she not get a chance for it. For once, women around put a hard mental stop on that freak-out. Because all those females around her start to make a positive talk and commentary, showering her by praises, compliment and positive affirmations. Like how helpful she is and so on. Most of them were just lies to tickle her ego, but it worked like a charm. Soon she was unable to resist as she was wide silly smiling.
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Whats followed, was surprisingly well mannered presentation, that was on equal level of a master scholar teaching young ones. The way she spoke, was as if she had in her possession a sage level of knowledge. (Or she was repeating what was drilled to her, word to word, expression to expression, down to the last detail.) Most of the girls around pulled out they eyes in surprise when she made a demonstration of actually summoning a raw natural manna into her palms, (sucking up a wild energy into a small glowing orb), as a prof that manna flowing around them. Then she refined it into something that was more like a manna in human body.
She went through principles of clarity of mind, controlling one owns chacras points and flow of magic, that totally confused people around.
But the break point where everything shall crash down come up when she moved to point of explanation what does it look like; a proper mediation technique of clenching yourself of all thoughts; into her Saint level focused version. All in audience got surprised that they don't look at meditating crazy cultist, but on actual glowing stature, an idol radiating a holly aura.
It was so much bright glare, that Darkness muss take Wiz away as she was becoming a transparent under that light.
It was an idyllic sight that some girls were checking they adventure cards while some of them stay staring at the holy object like bewitched. Still some of them had expression that this must be a party trick or something.
Blue boy uttered a note about a truly divine determination, but he was admonished/scold by the other hero, to not trigger this flag or it will end bad for them.
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Then the door to the guild got forcibly open with a loud kick-slam, and a group of people make a loud hasty entry. They were making a commotion about sudden heavy pour of rain, when just a minute ago there was a clear sky. They were soaked wet.
A heavy rain...
A certain duo of reincarnated heroes got an expression of doom. Both boys had this (Oh shit!) expression as they know, that this must be a side effect of certain goddess of water (in incognito) doing a high-end meditation. On spot they realize that she was probably a dedicated island in middle of lake where she do her full meditation, to not bother anybody else. That lead into realization, thatif she dint stop, summing the water, this heavy pour can soon turn into a mythical flood.
For better or worst, the audience group disbanded as everybody withdrawn for they own reasons, like discussing a weather.
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So the green boy place his hand on blue girl shoulder and try to shake the stature shoulder to wake her up. "Okay, Aqua, you make you point. The class is done, so stop meditating!" But there was no reaction from the arch priestess. So he place both of his hands on her shoulders and try to shake her violently. "Hey!!" But it had no effect as her body barely moved. No! It was the bench that barely moved, because she is pinned on it.
So he crouch down a little, to whisper in conspiracy tone directly toward her ear. "Aqua, you win. They already left, and you have enough of bubbly stuff for a week." It dint work so he frown. "Aqua, don't you dare to tell me!; that the moment you do the meditation at full, you will only awake at next morning."
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He tried to make a gently suggestive seducing blow of wind onto her ear. She dint budge.
He tried to gently tickle her on several places, even pulling off her boot and tickle her on bare foot. She dint budge.
He tried to apply a mind trick on her by trying to feed her a sip of beer. But her lips dint moved.
Or he tried to apply a (Look aqua, I drinking your bubbly stuff!) trick, to wake her up. But she dint budge.
Another people got into the guild, speaking something about chaos on the streets as people rushing out of the rain.
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Kazuma quickly involved Megumin, who tried to use several tricks. But instead of the boy she was merciless on her methods. First she use a real feather on the most ticklish spots, like the nostrils, or ears. Or she tried to blow a gentle wind onto ear while making a questionable commentary of fishy/doubtful meaning. Quickly turning onto pinching or pulling on a body hair. But still, the priestess dint budge. Mage even try to sneak into blue girl nose a little drop of spice left on her plate after food.
More and more people had get into the guild, seeking refuge in sturdy guild building, soaked by the sudden heavy rain, blabbing something about the heavens going crazy.
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Because one of the waitress arrived to they table, to take the empty mugs, Kazuma jump the opportunity and boldly borrow from the waitress her wooden plate/trail used to carry the stuff around. He give that piece of equipment a glare of evaluation with his thinker expression. In next moment he swung that plate and hit the blue girl across head. With no reaction from her, he start smashing that priestess and actually broke that trail. Still no reaction from Aqua.
But it was the waitress who state a complaint, so he interrupt her with serious calm expression that he will make a whole set for her. With other breath he ask her, if she have something to wake up a stone hard person from a sleep, stating that he will make them more nice. Seeing that she suddenly don't have anything to say, he let her withdraw. Then this Adventurer turn his head toward sword-master. "Its your turn."
It spark a sparkle in Misurugi eyes. So the blonde guy in blue plate armor, full on pride and youthful elan, heroically make a step forward and crow down like a knight in front of her lady. As he start to praise her, he literally start luring that girl to join his side, his party. Even reaching onto her personal space and gently touching her hands and such in a way that will normally make that girl to over reacted with a hiss and stand up of every body hair on her body in disguise. He went so far that he delivered a gentle kiss to her bare hand skin, in a way that gentlemen will do to bellowed lady.
Of course everybody near him give him a harsh deep stare down, including his female duo. But that priestess was stone cold. Especially when normally, at this moment her fist shall be burrowed deep into his cheek.
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Top member of adventurer in Axel finally realized he had been made for a fool, and turned his head directly on green boy. "Kazuma Sato, you do this on purpose!"
Except the other guy dint bite. "Not like I planed anything, or though you do that. And don't you ever dare to say, that I dint give you a chance with her." Of course blonde take it as mocking. Yet, as an another person arrived from outside, seeking refuge from heavy rain, brunette got serious. "But we need to level up our game."
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So Kazuma poured a glass of water directly at the top of her head. There was no reaction as if he was pouring it over a tombstone stone.
Then he put out his aces in sleeve, witch was a freeze touch, aimed by his finger on her back neck from point blank distance. A sure that thing work on anybody; Except master meditation.
Then he tried very secretly to use the Drain Touch, (a spell that drain hit points and manna points by touch), in a way that no one notice, even whispering that spell name. But for some reason, in moment when that spell got activated, it blow it into his face, like a slap. Like if there was an electric shortcut, kicking the boys hand. The spell has supposed to drain user manna. But instead the spell got overflowed by the ridiculous amount of manna, circulating inside the goddess at this moment.
Darkness was back and hasty galloped to the table. Offended by they harsh approach to defenseless maiden she heroically stepped in, harshly pushing the offending boys at side. She dint bothered to punish the duo as she too tried to awake Aqua, standing right behind the blue girl, by placing her hand on this girl shoulder and gentle shaking her teammate. But as a bodybuilder, she on spot realize that the blue girl is stiff out beyond any attempt to wake up. So she tried to use a (sense of falling) wake up method, declaring that she always wake up when she fall off from the bed at morning.
Both boys approve that move, because it had an actual scientific background in it, people do tend to awake on the feeling of falling. They receive a confused look from Megumin and the duo of Misurugi side kicks, as if the boys were some time useless to point, that both of them don't get it.
She tried to gently push onto Aqua, so that girl will fall over from her seat. So when that girl will fall from bench, this woman will caught her before her back and head will hit the floor. But she found that to roll over the meditating person is harder that it look, as she was too stiff to even move. It look nearly as if her teammate petrified into a solid rock and become one with the bench under her.
Both of boys wished her a good luck with this Buddha difficulty level setting.
So she used a lot of strength to roll over that boulder. No, she was failing to do, so she unintentionally knocked over the entire bench, witch was quite easy to do. Aqua body, attached to the bench, crashed onto the floor with a smash like tossed lither bag of veggies.
But still, no change on priestess status as she stayed in the same pose she began her meditation.
Darkens saw that her method dint worked, so she tried to pick up the girl with intention to get her out. But for some damn reason, this crusader was struggling to lift the priestess, like if this was a bodybuilding weight lifting where pros lifting up a 300 kilos bells (660 pounds) as a challenge.
Both boys saw that they goddess is rock solid like a stature and decide to help the crusader. But they also noticed the (no additional weight) trick with the bench, so they crouch each one to the end of the bench and grab it. They restore the knock out bench, actually fixing the fallen stature without even touching that girl.
Yet; as Darkness had a moment of her stretching her body, thinking that she returned her teammate back to siting position behind the table; both boys exchange a conspiracy glance. They exploit this woman inattention, not touching the blue girl. As they still hold on the ends of the bench, they lifted the entire bench only a little from the ground, only dealing with the actually weight of Aqua and the furniture. They both understand that the difficulty them and Darkness faced, are a direct response from the protective effect of master level of mediation. There is a saying that avatars who protect nature, must conceal its presence to become a part of nature, so the carnivorous animals will ignore them. But in this game like world, this girl push that to extreme by becoming an indestructible part of environment.
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At this moment the unnatural heavy rain start rising worries on people around. Number of people with towels on they hands or head, inside of the adventurer guild drastically increased as another group just arrived.
Between them was a secret trump card, that's get there to save the day. It was the platinum white (or silver haired) noble thief Chrisin a slim body, soaked wet like if she take a swim in a river. She displays a more boyish and laid-back side, plus she mischievous and reckless, often trying to outsmart Kazuma and Aqua. Yet this girl is hiding a secret on the same level as Aqua wear.
The boy on spot noticed his favorite thief cat, calling onto her, inviting her to theirs table.
As Chris, while hasty using a towel to at last dry her hairs a little bit, arrived to they table, her single focused glance on Aqua give Kazuma the answer; that she already know enough of whats going on to get involved. He was giving her an opening to do a trick while pretending to be something normal, like if she have in her possession, something like sneezing powder to awake the Axis cult priestess. He was literally asking her for a miracle, very well knowing about her big secret.
She on spot went onto creating a quick mixture, combining simple ingredients around like salt and spice on the table. Chris, not wasting any time and quickly went into action, by gently blowing a small amount of that suspicious powder directly into Aqua nose.
There were several seconds of waiting but nothing happened. So one of the side kick girls, (Cremea probably), make a note about dubious effect of the method. So Chris make a quick test on this girl, giving her only a small portion of what she used on priestess. It worked on spot and the bad mounting girl, start sneezing and shaking.
This platinum girl knew that her method failed, and tossed that wet towel over the blue girl. Somehow it worked, as if it concealed that holly aura radiation. Then she look around as if looking for something. That someone was Wiz.
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As the thief quickly found out, for some reason this unlucky shop keeper, had another mysterious merchandise item on storage. But because the sales stalled at (*ehm* zero) sold items, she tried to visit the adventurers guild with a free sample to test.
We muss highlight, that this woman having an odd sense of whats will sell and terrible market skills, so she stock her shop with useless items. Sometime those contraptions are quite dangerous for health and sanity of user.
This particular item on sale, allows you to summon a dream like image of important person, that helped you to progress in life. Wiz tried to empathize that is a safe thing, that dint displace the summoned person from where it is. It only summon a mirage copy, that will disappear after a third of a day, and the summoned will remember the entire thing as if it was a dream that occur during a dreaming. So the summoner must be specified in vague description, because just calling out a names don't work.
Kazuma on spot realized, that this description is like asking for a disaster to happen. Of course this can be a ground breaking magical handy tool, (clearly not misused for nefarious purposes), but on other side, (as experiences of Kazuma Sato will tell), this can be a trigger to very traumatic experience. Whoever, with an expression that he is about to do some mischief, he extend his hand in (Give it to me!) gesture, toward the shop keeper.
That woman was hesitant to agree, because of the suspicious face he was making. Same for everybody else here, were avoiding to test her goods in front of everybody, for promotional use. But he was nearly always willing to test her specials offers and keep Aqua from her.
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As the hero observed that weird looking item, especially making sure that the launch button will stay safe from any trigger accident, he glanced at Chris. "Any advice to who to summon?" It was a direct hint to idea, to summon directly the goddess Eris in charge of this world. He was fully ready to hand out that item and let everything in her charge.
Yet the silver platinum girl uttered something, that change that idea onto family of the priestess.
As response he lean toward thief, whispering a question if it dint cause a trouble if he tried to summon a goddess Eris, like creating a paradox that can shake this entire world. They expression said that this item is quite dangerous, as another mechanic that can broke the game. Instead she make a comment that they don't actually summon someone so grant or at all.
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Boy take it as a divination sign. But still, he imagine that if he tried to summon a father of his blue companion; something like ancient god, a half naked buffed dude as muscle mountain, in white tunics, wearing a crown of forever green leafs, exposed torso with a six pack on tummy, and white beard; will show up screaming something about (You dare to take my baby girl from me, thieving worm?!!), and it will start raining golden lighting there and here.
But then he realize the quirkiness of his daughter, so it can really turn into hopeless rizzler who will try to seduce any girl here. Or it can turn even worse. Just the amount of options of how it can turn bad, he abandon all hope to call daddy.
The first idea for a mommy of Aqua was that image of gracious Angel, a woman who surrey dint aimed to kick out certain someone from house at first opportunity; now descended from ceiling radiating a heavenly aura. Things can got very weird for they group if Aqua start calling that blonde beauty a mom. Or in worse situation, (because assuming that she can be her mom can turn wrong), by trying summoning Aqua's mother, something like eldritch monster will arise instead, that is far worse that any local calamities, like daemon king general.
Chris realize what he was thinking and also raise an opinion that they shall play safe.
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Misurugi noticing that doom flags, and once again step in, warning Kazuma about not get any kinky ideas. On purpose, sword-master was vague to not revealing anything that will cause a trouble for them all.
Yet green adventurer bark back that he will not step on landmine as summoning certain destined priestess parents to a principal carpet, because an (Upsie~e!) happened on a field trip.
In contrast, to current status quo, the stone cold body of Aqua show a sudden subconscious reaction. Her body jitter in shock, to such extent; that the bench make a creak noise.
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Everybody notice it, especially Kazuma who knew that this was not a jitter from a cold weather or disgust. That was a trauma response. "Oh yes! During a meditation your senses still working and you are kinda fully aware about your surrounding. The only thing you turn off is your wandering mind to not be bothered by thinking." A sudden realization reached his eyes. ("Wait! Do she is in meditation state all the time? Like walking around while her brain is half-turned off by meditating? Then when she got into hardcore mode?…") A spark of cunning plan showed in his eyes, as he crow to her her, forming a half hand sign of directing his voice to whisper into her ear, as if trying to gently wake up a sleeper. "Oi, Aqua chan. Your Mammy and daddy is going to visit you."
Her mind was maybe disconnected from her body at this moment, but the will was desperate to respond. She shaken so violently like a stature of petrified person who desperately trying to break that egg shell and get out, that the entire bench was rattling.
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He continue to whisper. "They are right behind the door. They knocking."
Megumin joined the gig, and use wooden spoon to knock on some wooden dishes to boost the subversive feeling.
Chris whispered something to other ear in such a silent voice, that nobody heard it. But she was probably cheating, mimicking the voices of her actual parents that was maybe: (♪Hone~ey, we coming in!)
Stature Aqua was shaking like an egg ready to hatch. Yet her expression was stone cold. Anybody who was paying attention to this surreal theater performance, has this sour expression of new low for this boy.
The reaction on blue girl was purely a muscle memory of body trying to get away from (danger), while the mind was still absent. But the rising up inner pressure, reached up a point, where something snapped. With a sound of something glass like shattering into a shards, some powerful technique break apart.
In a three second she speed run through everything, people do to her while she was meditating. Experienced every hit and sneeze. Aqua was back. No, she was out of her mind, freaking out in panic. She make such and explosive move of her hands, throwing them random in every direction, that she knock out Chris on floor.
In a haste, Aqua tossed herself on Kazuma, entering his personal space. With a tears in her eyes and expression of fear, she grab his collar. She lean on him, staring at him from too close distance, with a terrified expression. She beg him: "Anything but that!!" It feel that if he dint comply, she will awake a rabies and attack him with her teeth.
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As she shake him violently, he tried to calm her down with (it was an emergency) apology as she blabbed something hardly comprehensible about youthful teacher. But she was violent, pushing him toward the pathway between the tables. They body to body struggle got to the point, where the duo crashed onto Mitsubishi.
That magical item slip from boy hand, flying up. It make loop in air, and fall directly on her head, making that hitting empty bottle sound. Then there was this click, of a button being pressed, as the item got activated.
Everything stooped! Trio froze in place with a shocked expression, eyes open fully. They watched in deadly silence, as that magical item, bounced off her head, and with a loop fall onto the floor onto pathway between the tables. It bounce once making another smaller loop, while bright light enveloped that item. Then on its final land, it vanished, while a bright red pentagram magical circle draw itself on its place. (What was this?! A demon summoning ritual?!)
[Continue on next episode]