Name: Renji Takamura
Species:Human (Crimson Demon)
Age: 21 years old
Class: Adventurer
Level:6
- Strength: 20
- Agility: 19
- Intelligence: 30
- Luck: 50
- Magic Power: 54
- Health: 32
Available Skill Points: 3
Skill:
- Archery: Level 4
Magic:
Basic Magic:
- Tinder: Level 4
- Freezer: Level 4
- Create Water: Level 5
- Wind Breath: Level 1
- Create Earth: Level 1
Intermediate Magic:
- Lightning: Level 2
"Are you stupid or what? You were seriously injured not too long ago, and this gorgeous goddess healed you... but not even the slightest offering?!"
Despite Aqua's complaints, I stayed focused for a moment on my guild card, thinking about my future direction.
Which... looks slightly grim.
Why?
Because I used a lot of skill points at the shogun's colony in an emergency.
If I had been strong enough back then, I wouldn't have been forced to spend so many.
Now, I would've had enough points to get another intermediate magic.
Sigh.
It's too late now.
Given the situation, I absolutely had to save my points to acquire a very specific skill from a Demon King general.
It's the only known method, as far as I know in the Konosuba universe, to get skills without having to spend my own points.
"Are you listening to me?"
Too close.
While I was lost in thought because of the points lost at the shogun's hill, Aqua had gotten too close to me.
"Thanks for healing me, I'm just a bit tired, Lady Aqua."
As usual, I stroke her ego.
After all, I want to learn all her skills.
Priority? Resurrection magic.
This spell will be extremely useful on the island, since I plan to return there after leveling up during these 10 days.
Yes, 10 days.
If I'm right, then time will remain frozen in Gabimaru's universe until the end of this delay.
A hypothesis based on information drawn from my skill and the suspended time until my return.
"Hmm... I'll forget your insolence this time, but don't forget that this goddess saved your life, hehe," she said, rubbing her fingers to indicate her demand for money.
I just smiled at Aqua, despite her blatant extortion attempt.
"But Renji, you didn't tell me the origin of your injury... It wasn't a creature outside the town that—"
I immediately interrupted Kazuma's train of thought, since he was going to become defeatist again.
It would be potentially dangerous for me if he wastes too much time doing manual labor in Axel.
After all, Megumin needs her daily explosion dose, and that'll end up attracting a Demon King general to Axel sooner or later.
Unless I prevent her from using her magic on his castle during this period... an impossible mission.
"No, I injured myself because of my cheat," I said honestly.
As expected, Kazuma threw a contemptuous look at Aqua before showing a sympathetic expression toward me.
Of course, Aqua didn't let it slide.
"Hey, it's not my fault if his cheat is dangerous!"
She crossed her arms to try to regain some semblance of authority... a useless attempt.
Me and Kazuma, we know her too well.
"And besides, he's the one who chose it... or even straight up created it."
At Aqua's words, Kazuma's eyes turned toward me.
A glimmer of curiosity clearly shone in his gaze, but I feigned ignorance.
"Thanks for the healing, Aqua. Here, enough to buy yourself some booze. And soon, let's go eat together."
I slipped away before this Japanese guy with above-average intelligence could press me for answers.
"How do we organize our dinner?!"
Despite Aqua's words, I didn't stop.
A one-on-one dinner with a goddess? Hell yeah... but Aqua?
In that case, I was just being polite.
Anyway, Megumin already costs me enough right now, and I still need to buy myself a bow and arrows.
I had already slept on the island, but there... I collapsed like a log on the stable straw.
...
At dawn, I immediately prepared to head to the meeting place with Megumin.
On the way, I decided to make a slight detour through a weapon shop.
No, it's not a special or particularly well-known shop. I just went there to buy a bow and some arrows.
Fortunately, I didn't have to search long to find what I was looking for among the displayed weapons.
So I was able to equip myself properly before leaving for this new adventure.
"What are we gonna hunt?!" she said with an enthusiastic voice.
Once inside the guild, Megumin wouldn't stop harassing me about what quest we were going to take.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to use your magic," I replied calmly.
At these words, she nodded, then pulled her witch hat over her face to hide her expression.
I pretended to ignore the red tint coloring her neck, an obvious sign of her excitement.
It took me some searching on the quest board to find one that met my specific criteria.
A quest that pays well, without being suicidal, capable of making me gain an interesting skill and offering a good amount of XP.
After a long moment examining the posters, I finally spotted an interesting quest.
"Exploration of a dungeon defended by a golem..."
If I remember correctly, Megumin had been able to destroy that thing in one shot in the original story.
The only problem was the stylish appearance of the mechanical creature, which had seriously made Megumin hesitate to eliminate it.
Yet the bounty of several million Eris would be more than enough to get us out of our predicament.
"Whoa, the bounty's pretty high."
Megumin's words caught Luna's attention.
She was handling some documents, but our words captured her attention.
"It's a quest that's been hanging around for a long time. No adventurer has managed to finish it... or wants to take it."
She looked a bit worried without us really knowing why, looking at the poster in my hands.
"If I complete it, will it count as one of the three quests from our little bet?"
Megumin seemed a bit lost by the conversation, while Luna just sketched a brief smile before coughing slightly to regain her seriousness.
"Yes. I admit this quest is problematic for the guild's image."
I smiled before taking this quest, as well as the one concerning the Giant Toad.
Both could be done at the same time: the dungeon was located not far from Axel, and the Giant Toad was also prowling in the area.
"Don't worry, Luna. You can consider this quest as already accomplished."
After these words, I left the guild with Megumin at my side.
However, because of what Luna had said, she seemed hesitant to engage in such a dangerous quest.
Honestly, I would have avoided it too... if I didn't have the incredible weapon that was Megumin's explosion magic.
"Shouldn't we start with a more normal quest, for a first adventure?"
I gave her a mysterious smile before gently pulling her toward me, with an almost familiar gesture.
Obviously, this unexpected gesture took her by surprise, and the blush rising to her cheeks betrayed her confusion.
"Listen, Megumin... Haven't you ever dreamed of pushing your limits? Of seeing how far your magic can really take you?"
It was low, I admit. Using the dreams and hopes of a passionate teenager to manipulate her in my direction...
But in my eyes, it was necessary.
"I-I know, but..."
I didn't give her time to hesitate further.
"But what? You think you'll advance by letting 'ifs' and 'buts' decide for you?"
Maybe I had hit a sensitive spot, or maybe it was my imagination, but something changed in her.
A strange aura began to emanate from Megumin. A wind from nowhere lifted her cape, as she adopted a theatrical pose, her eyepatch glowing with a scarlet gleam.
"You're right... I am Megumin!! The sovereign of explosive magic! Member of the prestigious Crimson Demon Clan!"
She gave me a look that was both intense... and surprisingly gentle.
Then she murmured a few words that were enough to create a pang of guilt deep inside me.
"Thanks, Renji... I doubted the path of explosion for a moment... But you reminded me who I am."
I nodded quickly, while looking away.
... I'm a real scumbag