A/N: Updates, updates and oh yeah... UPDATES.
Chapter 1: Our Change (REVISED)
Change...
It has a lot of forms. Adaptation, adjustment, modification, refinement, and etc. But they all have one thing in common... The person becomes better.
Whether it would be for a perverted masochist crusader, an explosion crazy arch wizard, and worst of all...a self proclaiming useless goddess.Change always happens when you face off the WORST of the three problems on This oh-so wonder Wonderful World.
And sometimes...the WORST one experiences this too.
(The story begins just after Episode 7 of the anime...)
Kazuma POV
"Gah~…" Sighing, I continue to stare at the ceiling. "What to do?"
'Nothing comes to mind... The fact that we still have our debt in destroying the city gates because of some party member that actually summoned a natural calamity in point blank range... Yeah, nothing really comes to mind.' I stare blankly as I lay in the fertilized horse-crapped hay.
The life of laying on a haystack, love NOT blossoming with a party member, no harem in general, and a whopping debt in the hands of my party. I do have money, but...I don't want to spend it because of a low reason like, paying the debt this party member caused on her OWN!
Proves to be the reason why I can't even think of something to do.
'Tch! Our effort of killing Verdia the Dullahan, is handed back to us in full throttle.' Unconsciously my eyes turned into a glare.
"I'm doing my best to save up so I can leave this..." I take a look around my..."our" room. 'If you can even classify this as a room...'
*stare~...* A rope tied in the ceiling, hanging some clothes...
*stare~...* A pitiable sized table just in front our bed.
*stare~...* Feeling something solid-liquid thing in my elbow.
"...This is where animals live... literally." I just shake my head in disbelief, as I shoo the fertilizer off my elbow.
'Hmmm... How about I think of my party members' perspective when they get their hands on moooneeeeey~' Even the thought of money makes me drool.
I stand up... Pretending of a cape flowing through the wind... I hold my left eye... And bend my knees...for height.
"Explosion...of money! I am the loli with a small body but with a one-shut punch!" I exclaimed happily~.
"Oyyy! Shut-up there! Be that crazy explosion girl somewhere else!" The landlord yells as he bangs next stable-door.
'...You actually recognized who this is?' I shake my head blankly, as I realized I'm getting off topic.
"Uehehe! Money? . . ...EXPLOSION~" I exclaimed as I take off my imaginary eyepatch.
Not...gonna happen. Don't need to spend my precious money for some weapon I rarely even use... Oh yeah, I don't really use my sword since I'm the brains here.
I just shrugged as I switch to another perspective. "Ahhhh~! Ahhhh~! Ahhhhh~! Ahhhh~! More~!" I wriggle as I get in the mood.
"Shut up there! The horses are getting uncomfortable here!" The landlord yet again complained like the complainer he is. "One more and you're dead!"
I... ignore that warning.
"Motto~! I want new gear to keep up with the Strong! Firm! Hard! Blows of the buffed-ass monsters~!" I screamed, imagining something gushing out of me as I followed our crusader's perspective.
'Now...I think that was too much of masochism right there...' I signed as I remove my wrapped arms slowly out of my body.
Gear... I don't like big gears anyways... I'm pretty comfy with my gear, don't need to spend for expensive equipment... I don't get hit much anyway...
Not because I'm afraid of getting hit of course... I'm just good at dodging. *...whistle~*
"...Well! I'm changing to my adventure gear.." I beamed up as I remove my tracksuit.
Hmmm~ Hmmm~ Hmmm~* I hum calmly as I do so... Feeling like I'm forgetting something again.
..."Nandeyoooo~"
I shake my head as I heard something scream pitiably in my mind...
"*plop!* Oh yeah, I forgot about one last perspective..." I hit my palm as I finished changing into my adventure gear.
'...How did I forget?' I stare blankly in disbelief.
I relaxed for a while... I slowly hold out my hands, like I'm delivering a divine speech.
"Hm!" I unleash my hand holding an imaginary beer mug.
"Hut!" I unleash the other hand holding my fan for party tricks.
"Guehehehe! Witness my new party trick! Nature's Beauty!" Imagining the fountain emerging from my imaginary fan, I feel the flower sprouting out of my head.
'I can't believe that I can copy her properly...'
I memorize her actions like a book. Her actions are so natural to do.
My body slightly shivers because of that thought.
I know this useless goddess like the back of my hand. Probably because...I've known her the longest.
"I have only one useful skill. I'm so physically weak that I always stay at the back of the party, and when worst comes to worst I'm always the the very first one to run when danger comes." I describe in that annoying tone of hers.
Feeling something red emerging in my very soul I let it out. Not hearing the gradually increasing sounds of unnatural big feet stepping into our horse room.
"I always have huge spiraling debts! Wasting my skill points for the most useless kind of skills! Gah~!" I clutch my shaking head as I reach the end of my outburst. "NATURE"S...USELESSNESS~!" Bending my back, I scream almost unleashing all the remaining parts of my tongue.
"What's wrong with you!? The horses are shaking in fear!" The landlord bulldozed into the room.
"Crap, crap, crap!" I panicked as I did the 1st thing that came to mind... I grabbed the neatly folded pajamas of my useless roommate, using it as a sacrifice to block his vision, I then dashed away out of the stables.
"YOU DESPERATE PERVERT!" The landlord yelled towards me.
'Now you made me look like a pervert!'
"*sigh~~!* No choice... Guess I'll walk around the town for a while." Saying that lazily, I slowly strutted my way to town.
Making my way into the town square, I saw Darkness, our blindfolded masochist of a crusader and Chris the thief girl... Who taught me the Thief skill I adore and love for its "usefulness" of course.
"Hey, guys. What you up to?" I just walk casually to them, as I hide my hyper right hand at my back.
"Oh, greetings Kazuma. Me and Chris here, were just talking...about something." The first comment, she was normal... But the other half triggered something in her again.
"Oyy! Darkness! Don't tell him that!" Chris with a slight tinge of red in her face, nudged Darkness.
"Tell me about what?" Curiousness triggered.
"I-It's none of your business!" Chris embarrassed, yelled with a loud tone.
"Ohhh... Is that how it is?" Revealing my devil grin, I summon the demon right hand, that made countless of girls run home, screaming "Pervert.."
"O-Okay! Ihhhh~! This is your fault Darkness!" Chris clearly mad at the crusader. "I-It's just that... I was asking on where can I find pants here." She said looking down.
'Pants?... Why?' Clearly surprised, I just stare.
"Why?..."
"So, she wouldn't wear panties anymore and you wouldn't be able to steal them-!" Darkness being the honest type as she is, is interrupted by Chris's shaking.
"What is wrong with you Darkness~!?" Chris with tears in her eyes just shakes her friend, that is currently in delight.
"Ohhhh~ Is that so?" Unbelievable amount of aura shines in my right hand.
"Ihhhh~!" Chris, crying in as she shakes Darkness, only closes her eyes.
"If that's the case then this is the last time that I'll have to steal them." I pull my hand back."Steeeeeal~!" I just scream as I did not chant Steal.
"Darkness, have you seen Aqua?" I whispered to Darkness.
"I think she's working in the construction area, first thing in the morning." Darkness grinned slightly as she enjoys Chris's expression.
'She's...working?' I widened my eyes in shock.
"Thanks.. I'm off then." After saying goodbye I just walk towards the construction site. Chris's eyes still shut tight as she's waiting for the feeling of "freedom" on her shorts.
Making my way to the guild, and with the the events of meeting our crusader earlier, of course I saw Megumin snarfing down her daily meals for her "still" growing body.
" Hey Megumin." I greeted holding a hand up as I went to her table.
"Gr-Greetungs..." she barely managed to say as her mouth was still busy chewing.
" Don't talk with your mouth full... It's rude and overly disgusting." I said probably in a blank tone.
Hearing my statement, Megumin quickly chewed the food in her squirrel like cheeks and gulping down, she raised a brow and pointed at me. "Hey, just because I'm a little girl-" she twitched for a second. "Doesn't mean you can tell me off."
'Oho~? Finally accepting it?' Weakening my piqued interest, I try to return back to my earlier goal.
"Hai, hai soooorrryyy~, have you seen Aqua by the way? I wanna see what she's up to." I said, while Megumin was starting another snarfing session.
"Yip...Siw hir wirkeng ierlier... (Yep... Saw her working earlier.)" she let out, clearly forgetting my warning earlier.
'I thought Darkness was just hallucinating earlier... So it really is true.' I thought out, clearly shocked in what I heard.
My thoughts quickly died out as I saw our "still" growing arch wizard desperately trying hit her chest.
"W-W-W-W-." she muttered out to me.
I just shook my head to her as I walked slowly away... after I chanted "Create Water" in a glass of course.
She drank it eagerly, giving me a thumbs up slowly after. "Arigatoooo~!" she exclaimed wiping off her mouth.
" See ya" I waved and went to find the useless goddess.
My feet slowly took me to the very first place I gave off blood, sweat and tears in my whole life. Seeing my very first blue haired co-worker and the best plasterer this construction site ever had (Not a feat), the useless- goddess with no heroine route whatsoever.
"Hey~! Aqua!" I yelled , trying to catch the useless goddess's attention.
" Nani?!~" she yelled back, trying to move a boulder.
'I think she has a fever or something... Why the heck is she working?'
"Can I talk to you for a second?!"
" W-Wait a minute!" she replied, trying to quicken the pace of her work.
'Oyy, oyyy I don't think that's a good idea. I can already see that Aqua's arms are already shaking from the weight, doing it quickly will really make it worse.'
"Don't rush or you might hurt yourself, useless goddess!" I tried to warn her.
And unfortunately it triggered her self proclaiming act with her cocky goddess face.
" Huh?! You think this rock is to heavy for me? You still don't know the beautiful goddess of the Axis sect Aqu-!" Aqua then tripped to a nearby pebble. With the boulder making her fall much more heavier, it made the impact much more worse. "I-ITAI~~~! KA-KAZUMA~!"
I only sighed away as I ran...slowly towards her.
"I warned you."
Aqua sat up holding her injured leg, with a painful expression on her face.
"Itai~! *hic!*... *sniff~!*" she cried like a little kid, holding her leg. Her ankle then started changing color, damaging the beautiful color of her skin. One of the only things going for her.
I think she twisted her ankle, good thing the rock didn't damage her in a more lethal way.
" Aqua your ankle is starting to swell. Good thing it's just a sprain or you could've really been injured badly." I said to her, checking the injury. "What a baby." I exclaimed.
Hearing that, Aqua quickly sniffed out as she tried to lift herself up. "H-Hah! This is nothing!" Again, with her cocky persona.
She stood up and then tried to walk slowly. She looked at me with a shrug of her shoulders.
" See? Im not hur-"
I ran quickly to her and grabbed her arm to stop the fall. I really don't want to deal with her crying again.
"Doesn't look fine to me... Just heal the damn injury... Use the only spell you've got going for you." Remembering what happened this morning, still made me have a bad taste in my mouth. I expected a light bulb hang from her head but unfortunately I get a pissed off face. And unfortunately Aqua starts saying her usual pride-talk.
" If the followers of Axis see me make a big deal out of just a sprained ankle, I'll lose their devotion("Absolutely.")! If it gets out that I used my magic from a little injury the name of the beautiful and stunning Aqua-sama will fall by the wayside! (It already has.)"
And here's my usual comeback, she gets loans from everybody, also a good and hard drinker most of all. And boy! Can she puke after drinking and eating too much! She even drools while she sleeps in the stable. It's just a little too late to complain about being "dirty".
"Just heal it, useless goddess!" I said blankly.
"Never, Hiki-NEET!" she replied back.
I look at her pouting face and just sighed. I think she's not going to give up at this debate... I've got no choice. I don't want to bother fighting with her.
"*sigh~* Ok fine. Wait here." I leave Aqua for a while and I go to the boss of the workers.
"Hey, boss is it ok if I take Aqua home? She sprained her ankle trying to move a big boulder." I asked.
"Huh? What'd you say punk- Oh it's you Kazuma." The Boss said widening his eyes. "Sure, sure I don't mind. Been a while since we saw your wife's amazing plastering technique, I won't deduct her pay so don't worry about it." he said slapping my back.
'For some reason... The first day we worked here, everyone thought out that me and Aqua were engaged... I can see why they thought of that... You wouldn't see a girl(goddess) being the best plasterer(Not a compliment) in this age.'
" Arigato." I bowed, turning around I felt a slap being made on my butt. 'Oh yeah, the boss always has a soft spot for me and slaps my butt... That's a pretty normal skinship between co-workers...Right?'
Shaking my thoughts, I slowly returned to where Aqua is.
"Nee Aqua, I asked the Boss for you to take the day off. He said yes and also said that he'll also pay you for your work."
Hearing this made her release a sigh of relief as she stretched her arms.
"*sigh~* I can finally rest." Aqua tried to stand up and almost fell again. And again, I stopped her from falling.
"I'll get you a walking stick stay there." I said blankly towards her.
"I'll look stupid! No way!" she complained.
"Then I'll get Darkness, she can carry your horse weight body."
"I'm not a horse, Hiki-NEET! And no! I don't need any help!" she complained again as she shrugged off my hand.
'Tch... Fine then.' I thought out with gritted teeth as I walked ahead first.
After gaining some distance I looked back towards her.
"I...tai~... It hurts... It really hurts..." she expressed out, trying desperately to walk, her face showing out a pained expression.
I just shrugged my shoulders as I continued walking.
"Hey...Hey.. Look."
"The sadist adventurer is back at it again."
My walking stride suddenly halted as I heard the whispers on my back.
"What'd he do this time?"
"It seems he's bringing home an injured girl this time."
"Uwah~ What a creep."
I only stared blankly at the floor as I heard the gossips of the townspeople.
"First, he brought back Giant Toad slimed girls, then a locked up slave on a cage, and now he brought back a physically injured one."
"Perverts like him are the ones who stain our perfect world."
"Yeah, and sooner or later he'll do the creepy movement in his hands."
'I have no choice here...' My eyes again went to the goddess walking limply behind me. 'They'll think that it's one of my fetish to beat up women... And I can't live with a town that are traumatized from seeing my face!'
I walked back to Aqua.
"What is it?" she questioned, as she stopped in her tracks.
I faced the other way, and knelt in one knee. "Here." I muttered out angrily.
But instead of a ("Arigatou, Kazuma-san! I'll forever be in your debt!"), she instead backed away with a disgusted expression on her face.
"Who are you?" Aqua said covering her body.
"Kazuma desu~." I only said, not giving a crap anymore.
"Huh!? You're not Kazuma! That NEET is NOT like this! And will never be like this! Impostor! Impostor! You're a clone!" She sarcastically screamed. "He only targets barely legal girls and a decoy work loving sweaty knights!" That comment of her made the townspeople look at me with worsening disgusted expressions.
'STOP IT~! You'll start spreading terrifying rumours about me again!' I just casted my gaze down to the floor to try and ignore their piercing gaze.
"Oh come on! I'm trying my best to help you! Be thankful that I'm not leaving you! You useless-goddess!" I screamed back at her.
" Shut up you shut-in NEET!" she yelled again. "If that's the case, then I give you permission to carry the great water goddess-" As she went on I just walked away. "Gume! Gume! Come back, Kazuma-san!~"
Aqua slowly limped closer to my back. I was a little surprised as I felt her hand touch my shoulder. 'Huh... I never noticed that her hands were really like the hands of a normal girl... And completely forgetting that she was a girl is clearly a huge feat on its own.' I only stared as I thought of that.
"I feel like your thinking about something rude about me again." she expressed as she gets ready to put her injured leg to my hand.
'...Her legs are pretty smooth... And again I forgot she was a good looking girl again...'
I heard her grunt in pain as she finished placing her injured leg.
"You okay?" I asked worriedly...for the very first time.
Aqua sensing this had a slight blush hitting her face...also for the very first time. "O-Of course I am!" she answered finally placing the last leg. She tapped my shoulder hinting that she's ready.
'My arms...Please be strong... Don't dislocate on me...' I prayed... to a god that doesn't exist in this parallel world.
Getting ready, I now stood up...rather easily. 'Huh?... She's not that heavy?' My eyes widened to the sudden realization...
For only for a while.
Suddenly my legs started to tremble and my arms also started to shake to the suddenly heavy "horse" in my arms.
"I'm not heavy, Hiki-NEET!" she yelled next to my ear, shaking my shoulders.
"Yes you are! My arms are already being hurt here, useless goddess!" I complained, trying desperately to walk.
"You shouldn't say that to a girl, Hiki-NEET!" she smacked me in the head. "It's because your just composed of skin and bones! You don't have any muscles!"
"HUH!? YOU DO KNOW WE WERE LABORERS RIGHT?!" The anger that was kept within me was suddenly unleashed. "If this body, that was trained through hell and back, can't carry your saggy fat body... Then your FAT!"
...A light breeze just passed our body accompanied by this uncomfortable silence.
"YOU WENT TOO FAR KAZUMA!" Aqua wailed as she now shook my head.
"Your the one who went first!" I yelled, trying to remove her hands of my head.
That went for a while, my legs (That were currently being abused) now took us to the public baths.
"Kazuma, wait here her for a sec, I still have to take a bath." Aqua, finally calming down, turned my head to the side as she pointed at the public baths.
"Oho~? Finally being conscious with your smell?" I let out a smug smile as I asked.
"N-O, Hiki-NEET!" she said with a little blush entering her cheeks. "You do remember that we always took a bath after working right?" she said blankly as I walked towards the baths.
I went closer to the entrance and slowly brought her down. And boy the moment she got off was the best moment in my life, even my birth is only second compared to this moment.
"Wait for me there." she said pointing at the spot where she always sat when she waits for me. And afterwards she slowly limps towards the womans' bath.
I only breath out a tired sigh as I just stretch my exhausted arms.
'Oh yeah...' My eyes slightly widened as I thought of an idea.
"I better buy pain nullifiers."
"Be thankful I'm carrying you." I said kneeling in one knee again.
"You said that with a gentleman tone?" The not so thankful goddess replied blankly.
She again slowly puts her legs and gently puts her arm on my back. With a light pat, I slowly stood up from my spot.
'Thank god, I bought those pain nullifiers.' I thought out gratefully as I didn't feel the arm breaking pain I was getting earlier.
'But...' I looked at my arms, the arms that were shaking so much from this weight.
"This is way worse than our laborers jobs." I muttered out as I started walking back towards our stable.
"What'd you say, Hiki-NEET?" Unfortunately Aqua had sensed my complaint.
"Nothing~." I whistled blankly.
The night sky showed its full splendour as I continue to walk back towards our stable. Mysteriously enough, there were no townspeople walking around the area. But the most unbelievable thing right now is the useless-goddess's silence. The limit of her big mouth is only for about 10 seconds, so this is her biggest achievement so far.
'Speaking of her silence...' I turned my head, seeing her looking at the sky with a serious expression on her face. 'She really is cute...'
Aqua noticing me looking at her, she gave off a grin and raised a brow cockily. "Finally seeing how beautiful I am Kazuma?" she smugly said.
'Really, if she can just shut her mouth...'
Silence again surrounded us as my steps continued to take us to our destination. I suddenly remembering my curiosity throughout the day.
"Aqua why are you working in that construction site again?" I asked her.
She let out a gasp, and she averted her gaze from me. "W-Well you know, I have debts I have to pay." she said nervously.
"Figures." I said with a shrug. "What kind of debts you got yourself this time?" I let out an irritated tone. "Keep in mind Aqua, we still have to pay the huge debt "we" made. Keep in mind to make sure to not have anymore debts since we're doing our best to pay off that huge debt YOU made." I felt anger fill my voice. "Here you are still making debts not even giving a care in the world to pay off the debt WE should be paying BECAUSE of you."
Silence filled our atmosphere again... Suddenly feeling slightly guilty on the words I just spat out unconsciously, I tried to find the words to cover them up. I tried to look behind me again.
"Hey-" My voice suddenly went off as I saw the useless-goddess.
She was covering up her eyes as she silently bawled at them. Huge amount of tears flowed down her face as she tried wiping them off. I didn't notice until now, but I felt my back being wet.
'Crap.' Now I felt like a scum making her cry like this... I mean I do make her cry all the time but not like this...
"O-Oy sorry for saying that... I didn't mean every word I said so ... just stop..." I tried saying it gently, as I felt coldsweat flowing down my body.
"*hic!* You...went too far *sniff~*, Hiki-NEET!" she cried out wiping the ever flowing salt water on her eyes. "I...*hic!* was just trying t-to help...*sniff~!*"
"Huh? Help with what?" I asked.
"Pu-Put me down! *hic!*" she demanded with tears in her eyes.
And that I did. Setting her on the ground, I turned towards her direction, seeing her rummage through her boots, she pulled out a little money pouch. And still trying to wipe her tears she held out the money pouch to me.
"...Eh?" I muttered out shocked.
'What the heck is happening right now?' I mentally thought trying to analyse the situation right now.
'I see Aqua working- I complained on how useless she is- She cried genuinely this time- She said she was just trying to help -And she's giving the money she was hardly working for throughout the day to me.'
...What does that mean!?
To start things off I took the money pouch on the still crying goddess in front of me. 'This has to be a joke! Yes! It's probably a prank!' I shook my head, as I unzip the money pouch. And again my eyes widened as I saw the little bronze coins inside the pouch.
'5,000 eris... The worth of one Giant Toad' My gaze turned towards the still crying goddess wiping away her tears.
"I *hic!* wanted to at least help *sniff~!* the debt I made..." she confessed sadly to me.
I just stared at her, completely overwhelmed. Seeing her crying and giving me this miniscule amount of money to try and help and apologizing genuinely for the 1st time really hit me.
Miraculously a blush entered my face...
The very first blush this useless-goddess made me...
The useless-goddess who I didn't even think of a heroine...
Realizing my line of thought, I tried and shake my head to remove this miracle emotion I felt from her. "Oy, useless-goddess."
Getting her attention, I immediately threw the money pouch to her, and forcefully carried her on my back again, not caring the injury she made earlier.
"I-Itai! *hic!*.. What is up with you, Hiki-NEET!" Slowly her usual self tried to return, so that helped me also return to my old self.
"SHUT UP! Don't look at my face! " I yelled, trying to shake off the feeling.
Aqua just blinked in surprise as she sniffled. Her face got closer and she saw the expression on my face. Her face that was currently crying turned into face that was utterly confused on what she was seeing. "Why is your face red?" she asked oblivious.
'Thank God she's so dumb.' I heave of a relived sigh. 'There's just no way I can tell her that it was because of what she said... There's no way at all!'
"I-It's nothing." I said trying to avert my gaze.
"Do you have a fever or something? Want me to heal it for you?" she asked...rather sweetly (creepy for me).
'WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!'
"I thought you shouldn't use your healing spell that much as it would damage your great name?" I asked giving off a raised brow.
"That only goes for me, but when it comes to other people I always use it. Even if its just for a light injury." she replied.
"... Who the hell are you?" I tried to not scream at this person who was trying to be the useless-goddess. "The useless-goddess I know would never think of this... She would just use all the eris she pleases and use her own money (or the money I lend her) to pay off her own debts and just drink around booze all day, not even of trying to work." I said with an irritated tone.
And that saying made the fake useless-goddess puff out her cheeks to try and not cry in what I had just said. "*uhhh~!* *sniff~!" she does her best to not retaliate with what I said.
And the most unbelievable thing she did...
"I'm...*sniff~!* sorry for being a useless-goddess..."
"..." I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
'...She apologized...' Instead of being happy in this situation, I was instead unbelievably scared.
"I'm *hic!* sorry alright, Hiki-NEET!" she finished, yelling at me.
And mysteriously enough, the anger I felt this morning had completely removed off my chest... But the most unexpected thing that happened, was the small smile forming in my face.
"That's a useless goddess for you." I finally replied with an exhausted tone.
"I apologize OK!?" she yelled again.
"Gah~! Stop yelling in my face!" I yell back wanting to pick my ears.
"I APOLOGIZE, HIKI-NEET!" Not caring about what I said... She again yelled almost making my ears deaf.
"YOUR NOT USELESS OKAY!?" I yelled as I turned to her, wanting to shut her up, not realizing what I had just said.
"...Eh?" We both muttered out as we stared at each other. Aqua stared at me her, mouth open-wide, her eyes still storing tears.
"That...was just a joke... You are useless." I said nervously as I continued to walk, trying to get away from this situation. "I was just trying to shut you up... So, just continue apologizing about how your a useless goddess and all."
"*sniff~* Naniyo!? Just when I was thinking that your finally being nice to me." she said finally wiping off the last of her tears.
'Making me feel guilty because of that line will not work on me... It will not...'
"Well... I guess your not THAT useless, I guess?"
'It will not work in the future anymore.'
"..." Aqua again only stared... *bonk* until she lightly hits my head. "Then why do you always say that to me!? Everyday you make me feel like a failure because of that!" she confessed as she shook me.
'...I guess that's true.' I felt slightly guilty as I knew what she had always felt when I say this.
"Well... usually you are quite useless." I said blankly, hearing her getting hit by that comment.
"You spend money every chance you get."
"Guh!" she cringes.
"You get drunk almost every night, whenever you have the money."
"UGH!" she grunted.
"You pick the worst quests, and whenever we do the quest YOU requested, if it gets troublesome your the 1st one to run away ALWAYS (Me being 2nd)"
"Ugiii~!" she muttered out in pain, holding her head.
"And..."
"S-Stop, Hiki-NEET. I don't want to hear anymore." she interrupted almost on the verge of crying again.
"But... in serious situations, you do matter." I confessed trying to look away again.
"...Why do you think so?" she asked rather embarrassed.
Unexpectedly my mouth didn't stop blabbering irrelevant information. "If it wasn't for you, this town would have already been dominated by that Dullahan. The townspeople wouldn't have an archpriest that can always resurrect someone. The city wouldn't have the cleanest toilets...And."
"...And?" Her face again tried to get closer as her face started to blush at my sudden change of attitude towards her.
"If it wasn't for you... I would have killed by that Winter Showgun now, I guess?" I finished, feeling a blush being released from my face.
I blinked questioningly as I slowly realized what I had just said. I stared horribly ahead of me as I cursed my big mouth.
'She's not going to let this die... And she'll always rub it in my face...' I thought out my last thoughts as I get ready for the endless onslaught of her.
Turning my head to look, I now saw her lips turning into a smug grin as held her chin expectedly. "Of course! Of course!" she said nodding. "This town would have been dominated by that Demon Lord commander, the town wouldn't have a great and powerful arch priest like me, and of course! You'd already been dead by now and had been reincarnated as a flea if it wasn't for the great Aqua-sama!" she finished pumping her fist in the air.
I just gritted my teeth as I felt a vein pop out in my temple. 'Keep calm... Keep calm... Stay freaking calm...'
And...suddenly I felt her arms slowly wrap around my neck as I felt her body gently leaning on my back. "A-Arigatou for the compliment... Hiki-NEET." she finished hiding her face in my back.
"I-It's not a compliment, useless-goddess." I managed to squeak out trying to avert my line of vision. I just continued my walk back as I don't want to bother talking anymore.
'Tsk... Just... Who the heck are you?' The two thought out in sync as their faces burned.
Reaching the stables, I entered inside and NOT feeling the scent of hone sweet home, I then entered to our room(horse stable).
"You need to spoil the great water goddess more, Kazuma." Aqua blankly said as she eyed the room.
"Shut up." I replied with the same tone. As I slowly brought the horse weighted goddess down. And the moment she removed herself from me, then I realized how hungry and tired I got carrying her.
"Come to think of it... I still never had dinner." I said holding my chin. "Hey, Aqua. I'm going to eat at the guild for a sec."
"I'm coming too! Wait for me, I'm still finding a change of clothes." she replied going around the room.
'*sigh~*... So much for my effort in carrying her home. I have to repeat them all over again. And I don't think the pain nullifiers can help this time.' I just facepalmed as I let out a groan. 'But...'
"Where are my clothes... They were folded neatly here this morning... Oy, Kazuma! You didn't give my clothes to a random pervert did you?" she said as she pointed at me.
'Seeing her usual self like this... And realizing she does have some good points... Maybe can make my efforts worthwhile.' I let out a troubled smile.
"Just find them later, I want to go eat now." I replied as I stretched my arms for Round 2 of Horse back riding. "Let's go not...so...useless-goddess..." My voice trailed out as I finally saw her feet.
Aqua let out another smug grin heard what I said. "What's wrong?" she let out happily as she walked towards me.
My hand slowly pointed out in anger. "WHERE'S... YOUR... INJURY?" I slowly spelled out as my finger pointed at the spot where her injury was made.
"Huh?" Aqua looked at the spot where I was pointing at. "Oh yeah~, I healed it when I was in the bath earlier!" she remarked scratching her head. "I couldn't take a bath properly with an injury like that so I healed it halfway through." she finished happily.
'...My hands that were completely abused throughout the day... It was all... It was all...'
"Come on~. Carry me now, Hiki-NEET~! Let's go eat~!" she cooed out shaking me.
"YOU REALLY ARE USELESS, USELESS-GODDESS!" I yelled finally bonking her head.
"ITAI~!" she screamed in pain, disturbing all of our neighbors.
The huge unnatural big steps of the landlord quickly shook the hard floor again, as the footsteps slowly went towards our spot.
"I'VE FINALLY CAUGHT YOU, KAZUMA!" The landlord broke through the door as Aqua's pajamas were still intact in his face.
"KYAAAH~! PERVERT~!" The two of us screamed out hiding in our crap filled haystacks.
Yeah...
This is ABSOLUTELY the WORST change hands down, I'll ever experience in my whole ENTIRE life.
CHAPTER 1 END
A/N: Okay! This summer vacation, I would update and enhance the old chapters with proper dialogue and scripts. May you guys enjoy it, and have a great time reading it! :)