Chapter 2: The Mentally Challenged Goddess, the Sadist, and the Truth

“Waaaaaaahhhhhh!”
“Waaaaaaahhhhhh!”

On the streets of Aksel, Kobayashi and Aqua were tangled up, glaring at each other and screaming loudly.

Kobayashi was angry; Aqua was in pain.

Because Kobayashi was furiously rubbing Aqua’s cheeks.

Angrily rubbing the dog’s head.gif

“Owwww! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!”

Tears streaming down her face, Aqua looked desperately at the athletic boy beside her who was watching the scene unfold.

“Help! Help me, Kazuma, please help me! Kazuma!!!”

The boy in the tracksuit was also completely baffled.

“What…what’s going on here?”

“Help! Lord Kazuma!!!”

“Y-yes, yes, I’ll help you.”

Their quarrel had already drawn the attention of passersby, so to avoid further disruption, Kazuma Sato quickly stepped forward and rescued Aqua from the merciless grip of Kobayashi.

Kobayashi felt a tinge of regret.

The goddess’s tender, smooth cheeks were as flawless as a peeled egg, soft like a fluffy bread roll—an incredibly pleasant sensation to the touch.

For a moment, he felt a bit reluctant to stop.

Kazuma turned his head and quietly asked, “Hey, Aqua, do you know him?”

“Who would know him?!”

Aqua used her divine power to heal her swollen cheeks, glaring at Kobayashi with a mix of anger and grievance.

Kazuma nodded in agreement.

He and Aqua had only just arrived in the mortal world less than two hours ago and had not interacted with anyone else; they shouldn’t know this guy.

Thinking this, Kazuma said, “Sorry, my companion and I have just come to this town. Are you sure you’ve got the wrong person?”

“That’s right! I don’t know you at all!”

Aqua shrank behind Kazuma and loudly protested to Kobayashi, as if she were the one being bullied… which, judging by what had just happened, was true.

“Hehe… really? You forgot me already… and it’s only been three months…”

Kobayashi’s smile faltered.

Just imagine—the culprit responsible for his miserable life standing right before him, and she acted as if she couldn’t even remember him. It was hard to keep a good mood.

But after venting his frustration, Kobayashi felt much better.

He looked at the brown-haired boy in the green tracksuit and extended his right hand.

“Let me introduce myself. I’m Kobayashi.”

“Kobayashi? Could it be…?!”

“That’s right. Like you, I’m a traveler from another world.”

“Ohhh! I’m Kazuma Sato. Nice to meet you, senpai!”

“Nice to meet you, kohai.”

They shook hands warmly.

Kazuma was still curious, “Senpai, you know Aqua is a goddess, right? So why are you bullying her?”

“Yeah, why?”

Kobayashi immediately recounted how he had received his cheat ability upon seeing Aqua, how due to the goddess’s carelessness it hadn’t activated, and how miserable his life had been in the mortal world.

“I see, I see, so that’s how it is.”

“Hmm, there’s no doubt, it’s all Aqua’s fault.”

Kazuma looked at the goddess speechlessly.

Though they had only known each other a short time, he was already fully aware of how irritating and unreliable Aqua was.

If it weren’t for being provoked by this foolish goddess, he wouldn’t have chosen to bring her to the mortal world in a fit of anger.

Of course, he also sympathized with Kobayashi’s hardships.

Aqua was also very upset and shouted, “Why?! Why are you blaming me?! It’s not my fault! If only he had warned me, none of this would have happened!”

Even now, she was trying to shirk responsibility!

When it clearly was her job that she failed at!

Kobayashi’s anger surged again. He rubbed her face fiercely once more, yelling, “Three months… do you know how I spent those three months?! Do you know?!”

Digging ditches, planting crops!

Sleeping in stables, eating frog legs!

Any job that could earn money, no matter how hard or tiring, he did it. In three months, he had painstakingly saved 1,000,000 Eris; only he knew how difficult it had been.

“Oww, oww, it hurts! I’m sorry! I know I’m wrong!”

Tears welling up, Aqua begged for mercy.

Then she proposed, “Alright, I’ll help you activate your cheat ability. That way, you can forgive me! No, actually, you should be admiring and flattering me instead!”

“What did you say?!”

“I’m sorry, I got carried away!”

Aqua was quick to soften.

“That’s your job, idiot.”

Kazuma looked on with disdain. The fool before him didn’t seem to have the slightest air of a goddess, shattering all his illusions about her.

—Half an hour later—

Wiping away her tears and still sniffling, Aqua said, “Okay, the ring has been activated.”

“Ah, thanks for your hard work.”

As the black crystal on the ring glowed with a single light, Kobayashi knew his cheat ability had successfully activated.

The gloom in his heart lifted instantly, and his spirits brightened.

Kazuma asked in confusion, “That’s it?”

“Of course! I’m a goddess; such a small matter is a breeze! So Kazuma, you better start flattering me!”

After showing off a little, Aqua curled her nose proudly, a signature smug gesture.

Kazuma scoffed.

“Flattering, huh? A useless goddess who doesn’t even know where the Adventurer’s Guild is—what a joke.”

“Ah! How dare you call me a useless goddess!”

“Isn’t it true? You can’t even do your job properly. How can you be called a goddess? Goddess failure, goddess failure!”

“…I’m sorry, I was wrong.”

Just having arrived in the mortal world and still unblemished, Kazuma easily handled Aqua’s tantrums. But in time, their roles would surely reverse.

“By the way, Kobayashi senpai.”

Kazuma asked, “Do you know where the guild is? We just arrived and could you take us there?”

“No problem, I’ll take you.”

—Page 2—

Kobayashi was in a good mood and happily agreed since there was nothing else to do.

They arrived at the guild.

They were greeted once again by Miss Luna.

As the most popular receptionist at the guild, her outstanding beauty and gentle personality were widely praised… though it was unclear whether her ample bosom counted as a plus.

Kazuma, still in a back-and-forth quarrel with Aqua, immediately shrank back upon seeing the mature beauty.

With no other choice, Kobayashi stepped forward to explain their purpose.

“Please register these two as adventurers.”

“Very well, this way please.”

As expected, the two were utterly penniless and looked embarrassingly at Kobayashi with pathetic eyes.

Kobayashi quickly pulled out 2,000 Eris, allowing them to become adventurers smoothly.

Being a goddess, Aqua naturally chose the advanced class of High Priestess, while Kazuma, due to his very low stats, had to pick the same beginner class as Kobayashi—Adventurer (Novice)—earning Aqua’s ridicule.

After leaving the guild, Kobayashi said, “Alright, let’s buy some equipment.”

Kazuma was slightly surprised, “But we don’t have any money…”

“No worries, I’ll pay. Consider it a gift for my juniors.” Kobayashi was generous.

Though Kazuma was a bit of a scoundrel, a rogue, and shameless, he was still a good kid.

His occasional flashes of brilliance often brought surprises, and with his grateful nature, he was a junior worth investing in.

“Thank you, Kobayashi senpai!”

Kazuma wiped the corners of his eyes, deeply moved, thinking that this senior he’d just met was truly a good person.

Without his help, they’d probably be digging ditches or planting crops like him—or worse, forced to become bricklayers at the city gate.

Winding through the town, the three arrived at a blacksmith’s shop.

Kicking open the door, Kobayashi called out, “Bill, business is here!”

“Oh, welcome!”

They were greeted by a muscular, one-eyed bald man in his forties, whose fierce appearance exuded a strong sense of intimidation.

He looked like a man with a mysterious past, but was in fact just a shady businessman.

There were actually some amusing stories between Bill and Kobayashi, but due to space constraints, they would have to be shared another time.

Pointing at Kazuma, Kobayashi said, “Pick out some suitable equipment for him.”

“No problem, leave it to me!”

Bill efficiently selected appropriate gear for Kazuma: a shortsword, a longbow, leather armor—everything he needed.

Though still a level one rookie, his equipment was now on par with more experienced adventurers, making future adventures easier.

Seeing Kazuma equipped, Aqua looked envious. Even though she was a goddess and didn’t need gear, she didn’t want to be ignored.

“Hey, hey, hey, what about mine? Where’s my equipment?”

“Hm? You still need equipment?”

“Ugh…”

Aqua looked up at Kobayashi, eyes brimming with tears, seeming to say, “If you don’t buy it for me, I’ll cry.”

“No, I want equipment! I want equipment!”

She clung to Kobayashi’s leg, rolling on the ground, kicking her legs wildly in the air.

Is she a child or what?

Let go already, it’s embarrassing!

Kobayashi and Kazuma looked at Aqua speechlessly.

Where was the dignity of a goddess? She was clearly a spoiled kid throwing a tantrum because others had candy and she didn’t.

Bill had never seen anyone like her and didn’t know what to say.

Letting her continue would be bad.

Reluctantly, Kobayashi symbolically bought her a staff worth 5,000 Eris.

It had no attribute bonuses—only when casting magic would the flower bud at the tip bloom, making the staff look prettier, nothing more.

But even so, Aqua was extremely happy. Already a bit silly, now she smiled even more foolishly.

The easiest goddess to deal with was definitely her.

———

By the time they left the smithy, night had fallen.

Looking up at the high-hanging moon, Kazuma frowned, “It’s already dark. That’s a problem.”

Darkness meant no quests, which triggered a chain of problems: no dinner and no place to stay.

Unlike the foolish goddess, Kazuma had many considerations.

Kobayashi smiled, “No problem, dinner’s on me tonight, and you can stay at my place.”

“Really? Thank you, senpai!”

Kazuma didn’t know what to say to the kind man before him.

He nudged Aqua, saying, “As a thank-you, she’s yours now.”

Kobayashi grumbled, “Hey, are you repaying kindness with ingratitude?”

“What? What?”

Aqua, pushed and stumbling, didn’t understand what was going on. She lay in Kobayashi’s arms, looking up innocently at the man holding her.

“Nothing.”

Kobayashi let go and flicked her forehead, making her cry out in pain.

“Why’d you flick my forehead?!”

“Because I like it. Let’s go have dinner.”

“Alright!” “Alright!”

They cheered together.

For adventurers, the best place to have dinner was the Adventurer’s Guild.

Cheap, plentiful, lively.

Many adventurers enjoying the cheerful atmosphere gathered here, singing and dancing joyfully.

Kobayashi was no exception.

Unlike usual, he didn’t order the cheapest fried frog legs but chose expensive beef, fine bread, seafood soup, and other delicacies, treating Kazuma and Aqua to a welcome feast.

They wolfed down the food, repeatedly thanking Kobayashi.

After eating, the three staggered out.

Kobayashi helped the drunk Aqua walk.

Kazuma was still relatively sober, but Aqua had no sense of restraint and had drunk several glasses of sparkling wine.

—Page 3—

Wasn’t it supposed to turn any liquid she touched into pure water?

Kazuma really didn’t understand how a water goddess could get drunk. It was baffling.

“You really are a foolish goddess…”

Kazuma looked at Aqua with disdain. He deeply regretted bringing the goddess down to the mortal world. Had he known, he would have ignored her provocations and chosen a powerful cheat instead.

“Kobayashi senpai, maybe we should…”

“If you say that, I’ll beat you up!”

“Sorry!”

Kazuma quickly admitted his mistake.

He had just thought of passing the trouble onto someone else—especially someone he was so grateful to. That was unacceptable.

He felt deeply ashamed.

To ease the awkwardness, Kazuma changed the subject, “Kobayashi senpai, would it be a bother if we stayed at your place?”

“No problem, I live in the stables.”

“Huh?”

“You heard right, I really live in the stables.”

It was like wearing designer clothes, driving a luxury car, eating gourmet food—but living in a dilapidated bridge underpass—a stark contrast.

Kazuma was very curious, “Why?”

“Because I spent all my money on magic crystals—1,000,000 Eris,” Kobayashi answered.

“I see, I understand.”

Kazuma expressed sympathy.

If Aqua hadn’t messed things up and prevented the cheat from activating, Kobayashi would surely be a famous adventurer at the peak of success.

Instead, he had to live in the stables…

Kazuma worried again about Aqua’s unreliability.

Just then, the drunken Aqua suddenly shouted, “Living in the stables? No way! I’m a goddess, a goddess! How could I live in the stables?!”

“Hey! Foolish goddess! Now’s not the time to be picky!”

Kazuma scolded her, then secretly watched Kobayashi’s expression, afraid he might get angry and leave them on the street.

But Kobayashi was seriously thinking.

He had scrimped and saved to buy the magic crystals, and now that his cheat was activated, why should he continue living frugally?

Money is meant to be spent!

Kobayashi decisively declared, “Fine, we’re staying at an inn tonight!”

“Yay! An inn! An inn!”

Aqua cheerfully shouted, still tipsy.

Kazuma hesitated, “Kobayashi senpai, you don’t have to go to so much trouble. The stables are fine…”

He hated the stables too, but he couldn’t shamelessly ask for more. He wasn’t some foolish goddess.

Kobayashi patted his shoulder and flashed his ring, signaling not to worry, “Don’t worry, no need to save anymore.”

“I see, thank you, senpai.”

Kazuma nodded, accepting the kindness and determined to repay it someday.

However—

“Guests, we are terribly sorry, but the inn is fully booked. There’s only one room left.”

“Only one room left?”

“Yes. But don’t worry, it’s a deluxe single room, so the three of you can stay in it. However… two guests will have to sleep on the floor.”

The clerk explained the situation to them.

“What should we do, Kazuma?” Kobayashi asked.

Kazuma sighed, “It’s troublesome to bring extra people. No choice, let’s stay here.”

“Since you say so.”

After getting their approval, Kobayashi told the clerk, “We’ll take it. Also, please prepare some thicker blankets, thank you.”

“Yes, understood.”

The clerk quickly prepared the arrangements.

Led to the room, it was spacious but had only one bed. Kobayashi naturally took the bed, while Aqua… well, she simply didn’t deserve it.

After a hard day’s work, they could finally rest.

“Good night, kohai.”

“Good night, senpai.”

Lights out, ready for sweet dreams.

…But that was impossible.

Kobayashi was too excited.

His long-awaited cheat was finally usable. His mind was already filled with fantasies about the vast landscapes he would explore, the top experts he would meet, and the powerful skills he would learn.

A jumble of wild dreams filled his mind, keeping him restless.

After tossing and turning for a long time, he finally drifted off.

Even in his dreams, he was locked in a fierce battle against a formidable enemy.

A terrifying, unseeable god unleashed countless tentacles like an octopus, tightly binding him.

He couldn’t breathe, suffocating!

…Wait, can’t breathe?

He woke and realized Aqua was pressing his head firmly against her chest like a sloth.

“Ummmmmmmm!”

He frantically patted Aqua’s arms and back, but she clung tighter.

Aside from intelligence and luck, Aqua’s other attributes were top-notch; at Kobayashi’s current level, he simply couldn’t break free!

So painful! Nearly suffocating!

Being held by a beautiful girl of perfect figure should have been wonderful, but Kobayashi struggled to breathe, his consciousness drifting away.

When he opened his eyes again, it was morning. Kazuma and Aqua stood by the bed, looking awkward and unsure.

Kobayashi seemed to realize something but wisely didn’t ask.

After all…

Getting “breasted to death” was just too embarrassing!

——————————————

P.S. What? Charming mansion? Lowbrow, but I’m watching!