"Psst Hey Kazuma! Kazuummaaa!"
This feminine whine sounded too awfully familiar. Much to Kazuma's displeasure,
It was probably the nightmares of Aqua acting up again...
...
"Huh its probably nothing ... Go away Aqua."
...
"Kazumaaaa!" The voice grew louder with every passing echo.
...
"Give me five more minutes, and go bother someone else for once in your life."
...
"I AM TELLING YOU TO WAKE UP!"
Kazuma shot up from his bed, his eyes darting across the room only to find a distraught Aqua kneeling at his bedside. Despite the darkness and Kazuma's sleep deprived state, the moonlight that permeated through the window allowed him to see the bright crimson that emanated from her cheeks and her bulging cerulean eyes, sore from all the crying.
"What is it you good for nothing goddess?We have an important kill quest tomorrow and I need my rest..."
...
"I have something important to tell you and you probably won't like it..."
Aqua spoke shakily before drooping her head down to continue her weeping. This surprised Kazuma to a great extent. Unlike those highly volatile and disruptive tantrums Kazuma was awfully familiar to, her current cries were much softer and genuine. Truth to be told, Kazuma actually felt sorry for the goddess of water kneeling before him.
...
"Tell me what is bothering you, I will try my best to help."
As if on cue, Aqua finally mustered the strenght to hold back her sobs, this time however struggling to find the right words.
"Kazuma...I am pregnant with your child..."
...
...
"Eh...?"
Kazuma gave her a stupefied look before dismissing it as some sort of practical joke.
After all, it was probably one of her little childish charades again.
She probably has some sort of hidden agenda in mind.
"What? You can't be serious right now, go get some rest. After all you are probably drunk or something"
...
Unfortunately for him, Aqua could not tolerate her frustrations any longer. Prompting her to pull out a pregnancy kit she hid inside her pajamas and shoved it directly on Kazuma's face.
...
"Now where on earth did you get that?"
Kazuma himself was suspended in disbelief as he picked up the forgone article, intently studying the digital screen. From the corner of his eyes, Kazuma found Aqua shifting her head away, stringing her fingers to dispel her anxiety
"Well, I did procure some gadgets from the previous victims during my time in the afterlife..."
...
Thief.
Anyways.
The two red lines are separated from each other, this clearly indicates a positive result.
...
"Eh..."
It took Kazuma some time to process all this information.
"WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!"
Kazuma released a horror-stricken outburst, causing Aqua to jolt to her feet.
Meanwhile, both curiosity and stress surged violently within his mind, creating pressure so intense that it was drove him close to the brink of insanity. Needless to say, Kazuma was mortified beyond words.
...
...
He had too many questions, but he did not care and he demanded answers.
"How did this happen?"
Kazuma mouthed his words slowly, all the while still trying to digest the shocking turn of events that had transpired.
Aqua and I as parents? That's impossible, Shes like a sister to me...
...
"It was during the night after one of the parties... We had an overdose of alcohol and then we lost control over ourselves and then we had unprotected sex and then and then..."
Whatever else she said was muffled by the choking of tears.
Kazuma casually shrugged, not fully grasping the significance of the situation at hand.
"Well, We could get an Abortio..."
Aqua jerked her head upwards, causing Kazuma to be caught in her grudgeful, broken eyes.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Aqua squealed in terror as the tears resumed rolling down her cheeks. She then proceeded to tightly grip unto the collars of Kazuma's tracksuit, shaking him repeatedly with such fervor that it was wringing the life out of him.
"AQUA PLEASE STOOP..."
She gradually released her hold, slumping her arms to her side before burying her face into Kazuma's body.
Aqua was broken right now and only desired comfort.
"DO YOU THINK ITS A JOKE! Its a human life, please not that... Promise me that you would find another way to get past this."
Her words hit Kazuma hard, allowing him to finally realize the gravity of the situation at hand. He was shaken to the core, being overwhelmed by a newfound sense of responsibility. Feeling regretful of the way he treated Aqua initially, Kazuma apologetically brought his hands around Aqua and locked her in a warm and comforting embrace.
"I am sorry, I will do whatever I can for the child, please do not worry or cry anymore."
The night's events flew by as if they were a blur, with Kazuma opening his eyelids once more against the glare of the morning sun rays that pierced through the window panes. He shifted his head to the side, only to be found inches away from Aqua's elegant face. With memories of the previous night instantly flooding back into his memory, racking his head with a great deal of pain.
Strangely enough, rather than bringing up his hands to palm his forehead or massage his temples like any normal person would. Instead, Kazuma just left himself as he was. With his eyes finding their way onto Aqua, merticulously studying the goddess's delicate facial features, her soft morning breathing against his and her rich, silky cyan hair that streamed elegantly down her sides.
Something about yesterday night felt different, asides from the obvious fact that she was pregnant.
Kazuma remembered how devastated Aqua was. To even think that she would humbly seek him out for comfort and reassurance, which lead to them ultimately sharing the same bed together that night. Everything felt absurd.
Still, it does bring me back to the times we were at the barn.
...
It was a moment of epiphany for Kazuma.
For the first time ever, Kazuma had experienced her sincerity; The priceless value she upheld for human life. Why couldn't she exemplify these positive qualities more often, as opposed the constant whining and bitching that he was so accustomed to.
I have never seen her in such disarray, it does not even come close to the time I dragged her into this world along with me.
After all, these newly discovered traits were really fitting for a beautiful goddess like her.
Wait... What am I saying?
...
Aqua eyelids fluttered open, revealing her deep blue cerulean orbs which met his immense pine green ones.
...
"AAAHHHHH KAZUUUMMAAA DONT SCARE ME LIKE THATTT!"
Aqua launched his hands forward at Kazuma's face, forcefully sending him flying off the mattress and crashing onto the dense, mahogany floor. The resulting noise was relatively deafening, able to rupture the serenity of the mansion.
Furthermore, acting as a cue, the door was carelessly flung open, slamming onto the wall leaving behind an earth-shattering ring. Following suit was a distressed Megumin and Darkness storming in, fanning out across the room, scanning for any signs of threat with their weapons at the ready. Totally unprepared for the sight of Aqua and Kazuma, lying on the same bed in a suggestive fashion.
Part of them wanted to shriek out in horror, but their rational half made them behaved otherwise; Resuming straight poker-faces and dismissing any misleading thoughts.
...
"Oh, it was just you two... Shouldn't both of you be ready for the kill quest..."
Megumin casually remarked as she tried to shove that scene out of her mind, with all the excitement she possessed initially vaporizing in a heartbeat.
On the other hand, Darkness glanced at Aqua and Kazuma repeatedly. Her face suddenly turning red hot and blushing like crazy.
"Ooh what sort of insidious acts have you two committed without me."
Kazuma narrowed his eyes, casting onto her with the bitter look of judgement. However adding to Kazuma's dismay, Darkness responded in kind by clasping her hands together and moaning in pleasure.
"Ooohhhhggh, that agitated look is driving me insane. Let me be the subject of your impending judgement Kazuma, it must have been so so SOOOO frustrating for us to barge in during love making session with Aqua san..."
Kazuma was flabbergasted and was about to give darkness a piece of her mind. But was cut short by Megumin's hysterical cries of laughter.
What terrible timing!
The shadow temple was now a long abandoned place of demonic worship. Its shoddy structure consisted of pitch black stone walls and blood red veins of cement that held the stone bricks in place. On top of that, an intense fog and a musty smell of corpses only serve to intensify the series of ominous vibes that surrounded the area around it.
"ALRIGHT, we are here at this temple to slay a hundred skeleton warriors. For every skull we present to the guild house, we will get 100,000 Eris!"
"Thats a lot of money for a measly skeleton, I bet I can blow them all away with my EXPLOSIONS!"
Megumin did a twirl dance with her staff while Chomusuke to meowed delightfully, reciprocating her master's mood.
...
Unfortunately for them, it was evident from Megumin that her mood shook a complete one-eighty upon their arrival at the landing site.
...
Megumin was strikened with pure horror, with her hands and feet shaking violently.
"Now I know why each skeleton is worth 100,000 Eris..."
...
The three females looked at Kazuma with fear scribbled all over their faces. Eyes wide open and teeth chattering so audible that could have heard from a mile away.
First things first, Kazuma had decided to unveil his master plan to his party in an attempt to calm their raging nerves.
"We ARE not going in there, but rather we are going to use you to bring them out!"
He pointed his index finger at Aqua, his lips turning into a dark sadistic sneer.
Heh heh heh...
"Undead Skeletons are attracted to holy auras that you priests possess after all..."
...
"NOOOOO KAZUUUMAAAA I OBJECT TO BE USED AS MERE BAIT!"
Aqua once again started her full blown panic attack, launching herself at Kazuma's shoulders and rocking him back and forth with godly vigor.
...
"WAIT I AM NOT DONE YET YOU USELESS GODDESS."
...
Aqua was visibly disturbed by Kazuma's degenerative insults, with tears once again streaming endlessly down her face, marring the goddess's natural beauty
Oh bother here we go again...
"KAZZUUUMAAAH THE FEAR IS MAKING ME SO STRESSED OUT! AND STRESS IS NOT HEALTHY FOR THE BAB... MMMMMM"
Kazuma instinctively cupped Aqua's mouth preventing any more of her words from escaping her lips and adverting disaster.
The last thing I want to do is to attempt damage control, thank you very much!
Much to the confusion of Megumin and Darkness, Kazuma exhaled a sigh of relief.
...
"As I was saying... once the skeletons make their appearance, Darkness will be up front and center to draw away their attention... Then Megumin, you will blow everything up around Darkness with your explosive magic."
The blushes across Darkness's face deepened in shade at the mere prospect of being ravaged by vengeful, bloodthirsty skeleton warriors while being incinerated alive by giant pillar of destructive fire.
This girl is hopeless...
...
"Aye aye!"
Megumin responded eagerly with a playful salute, not long after shifting up unto her position along the various elevated height granting her additional field of vision, as well as tactical advantages in her preemptive attacks.
...
Meanwhile, Aqua was perplexed at her role in this kill quest.
"Wait Kazuma, I am an Arch Priest! I am supposed to be super effective against the undead! Why am I merely being used as bait?"
Kazuma only responded in kind with a sigh, pulling her closely to him and parking his lips mere inches away from her ear.
The warm breath against her earlobe sent tingling sensations traversing across her entire being.
"That is because you should save your strength for the baby, after all isn't it the most important thing to you right now."
...
"Oh, so right you are Kazuma! You know, with your amazing intellect and my natural godliness, our child will be the greatest blessing to this wonderful world!"
...
"OH MY GOD CAN YOU EVER BE DISCREET FOR A MOMENT... THEY COULD HAVE HEARD US!"
...
Nevertheless, the action began faster than expected.
A Shout could be heard across the field where Darkness was situated. She was waving her sword in the air, smiling widely and salivating like an idiot.
Behind her was what looked like a giant rumbling dust cloud which was gradually increasing in size.
"KAZUMA LOOK! HERE THEY COME!"
A mob of skeletal warriors could be seen emerging from within the cloud itself. Most were clad in dark, ancient armor and armed with heavy weaponry. What used to be their eyes were replaced with glowing green orbs, while the skeletal constructs held together by sticky, threaded violet vessels.
...
Meanwhile, the collective stench of the undead was so intense that it sent Aqua spiraling into a series of convulsions, squatting down before Kazuma in a poor attempt to ease her discomfort.
"AAAHHHHAHHAHAHAHHA KAZUMMA SAVE ME!"
Kazuma irritably grumbled before her, resuming his focus on the undead horde ahead. All the while anticipating the moment for Darkness to intervene.
...
The timing was perfect regardless.
"Darkness now!"
The burly crusader excitedly leaped between Aqua and the approaching undead skeleton army. Reaching into her pockets and pulling out a bottle of mystic holy water, uncapping it and dousing herself with the said liquid. The rich aroma emanating from the water rendered the undead army momentarily frozen. Forcing them to re - adjust their senses as they desperately tried to identify the source of this divine aura.
It only took them a second to zero in on Darkness's position, stampeding towards her with even greater zeal as opposed to Aqua.
Everything was going according to the plan so far.
On the other end of the field, Megumin began her magical incantations, conjuring giant red rings which aligned themselves above the target zone.
However, being too close for comfort, Kazuma encircled his hand around Aqua's, bringing her up forcefully and tugging her along.
"Quick lets get out of here, its not safe!"
...
A magnificent pillar of fire burst through the skyline, piercing the cloud lining and smashing the earth with violent force, creating tremors so powerful that it tore apart the landscape. Waves of searing heat and bright red ash spewed relentlessly in all directions, along with any traces of nearby greenery erupting into a deadly wildfire. Ultimately only leaving behind a smoldering crater and the skeletal remains of the undead army.
Darkness slumped onto the parched ground, her face beet red from all that excitement. Thankfully, she did not have any serious injuries aside from minor burn marks. Despite how horrid the condition of her armor appeared to be: Large boils and cracks running down her breast plate, with her winged shoulder plate liquefied by the extreme heat. The fact that she could maintain such maniacal smile, proved that Darkness was generally unharmed.
...
Nevertheless, Darkness and Megumin were effectively out of commission, Leaving Kazuma and Aqua the only ones standing.
Extricating them was of utmost priority.
Upon Kazuma's judgement and request, both of them ultimately had to shift their respective limp bodies into the caravan, leaning them in a comfortable position before heading off to gather the skulls.
"Lets make a deal..."
Aqua declared as she dusted the ashes off a skull and dropped it into the potato sack.
Despite how aqua was grinning innocently, It was blatantly obvious given the tone of her voice, that was being her deceitful self once again.
"Huh?"
Kazuma had already prepared to reject the proposition. After all, nothing constructive ever comes out from Aqua anyways.
...
"If I can get more skulls than you, I get to keep your share of the money for the newborn!"
...
A vexed Kazuma made slowly made his way in front of Aqua, aggressively pinching her soft cheeks to teach give her a piece of his mind.
"HHHUUUUUHHHH HEY HEY HEY YOU ARE JUST USING THE NEWBORN AS AN EXCUSE TO EXTORT MORE MONEY OUT OF ME AREN'T YOU! THE BABY IS NOT EVEN BORN YET AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT CHILD SUPPORT NOW?!"
"UUUEEEGGGG IDD HURDSS, SDOP ID BLEASEE."
Pathetic goddess...
Kazuma released her cheeks from his grip and resumed picking the charred skulls laying scattered all over the crater.
...
"Say, Kazuma..."
Given Aqua's usual energetic personality, her voice was oddly low.
"What is it now?"
Kazuma flung the remaining skull in the potato sack before securing the opening with a knot.
"What does it mean to be a mother?"
...
"I guess its a job that encompasses a great deal of responsibility and sacrifice: To love and cherish your offspring and bring the best of them."
Aqua's eyes narrowed from what seemed like disappointment.
"I can't remember my mother, if I even had one in the first place."
That's right, despite how useless many people perceive her to be. The fact of her being a goddess still remains.
A new thought floated about Kazuma's mind.
Do gods have parents?
...
"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"
...
"I mean our child is a human life much like me and you, that means that his life is in our hands."
"If we view our lives with great importance, that means that our child's life is equally if not more important than our own."
...
Tired of said conversation, Kazuma exhaustedly lifted the sack over his shoulder and started making his way to the caravan.
"Yeah like you could even take care of yourself, and you expect yourself to even handle a child."
...
...
Kazuma could identify the subtle whine behind him, with that, he tilted his head over only to be greeted by a ticked off Aqua.
Her cheeks were puffed up immensely, at the same time wdesperately trying to hold back her tears.
It seems that I had crossed a line... Here we go again...
"Oh Yeah!" She shrieked between snivels while rubbing her eyes forcefully.
...
She cried out a string of words at Kazuma which froze him in his tracks, dropping his potato sack in the process.
"I will show you that I am perfectly capable of caring for my child. On top of that, I will make sure that it will turn out so much more likable than you Kazuma!"
...
Kazuma straightened himself, casting his direct gaze onto Aqua's cerulean blue orbs.
For the first time, he had noticed Aqua genuinely caring about someone other than herself.
The child she was eventually going to bear did not promise any sort of immediate benefits, yet she had placed the value of human life above what seemed like everything else.
For the first time, Kazuma saw her in a different light from that whiny, bitchy and self-entitled goddess.
She may be useless for now, but not hopeless after all.
...
Kazuma feeling apologetic for his actions earlier, slowly closed the distance between them.
"Hey..Hey ... What are you trying to do Kazuma?! You have already tainted me once and now you want to do it again? Nonononono!"
A hysterical Aqua wrapped her body tightly with her arms in attempt to ward off any sort of perverted maneuver Kazuma has in store for her.
...
"Kazuma... What do you think you are doing?"
Aqua asked again, this time even more softly. Slightly frightened at the manner in which Kazuma's forest green eyes were intently studying Aqua's fear-ridden ones.
As she turned her eyes to avoid his gaze, light pink sprinkles helplessly started to form across her cheeks.
Aqua heart was beating out of control.
Please do not defile me any further you...you...
...
...
Heh.
Kazuma palm found its way onto Aqua's belly. The lips on his face curling into a mischievous grin.
"I just wanted to feel the baby. What else did you expect you dirty goddess?..."
...
"KAAAZUUUUMAAAA! DO NOT EVER FRIGHTEN ME LIKE THAT AGAIN!"