After Darkness's departure, the team members used it as an excuse to be lazy, either idling around Axel or lounging about in their mansion all day.
This wouldn't do! How could they let the『Hero』Party's reputation be ruined by such behavior!
"Hey, you lot, is it really acceptable to be this idle all day?"
"Ehh—!" Hearing Adam's scolding, Aqua let out a dramatic sigh, "It's only been three or four days since Darkness left, and you already want us to go on quests, Adam? I don't want to!"
She was always perceptive about these things — with just one sentence, she had grasped his intentions.
She delicately picked up a grape from the fruit plate and popped it into her cherry-like mouth, thoroughly enjoying herself.
This girl — had she forgotten about returning to the Heavenly Realm? Could it be that she was content simply living in the Mortal Realm?
"Our team's ultimate goal is to defeat the Devil King, right?"
"That's true..." Aqua closed her eyes slightly, savoring the grape's sweetness. Then she said leisurely, "But I actually think living down here with Adam is better than working endlessly in the Heavenly Realm... At least I don't have to labor diligently under the watchful eyes of the other Gods. Nom!"
After speaking, she popped another grape into her mouth.
Seeing her , Adam immediately burned with anger and stepped forward to pinch her tender cheeks.
"Say that again if you dare!"
"Eh? Ehhh—? I'm sowy, I was wong, I apowogize, I apowogize!" Aqua apologized sincerely even with her cheeks being pinched, making her words unclear, though she didn't know what she had done wrong.
She truly believed living with Adam was better, and couldn't understand why he was angry.
"Adam, I think Aqua has a point — we really should rest properly." Megumin idly played with a chess piece as she spoke, "Besides, with Darkness gone, there's no one to protect me in the party, so I won't go on quests."
Since Darkness left and there was no one to play chess with her, she had resorted to playing both sides by herself.
Her gameplay and rules were bizarre — she would remove the king from the board only to bring it back later, making the game drag on endlessly.
Why make things so complicated for herself?
"Megumin, did you forget about me?" Adam felt compelled to remind her, "Though I'm a Sword Master, I'm also the party's secondary tank, so I can protect you too."
"Uh... that's true!" Megumin seemed to suddenly realize this, dropping the chess piece onto the board.
But to Adam, it looked entirely intentional.
Since she was cheating against herself anyway, this game couldn't continue.
"Um... sorry, Carter-senpai, but I'm going to explore the Dungeon with another party today." Kazuma's words, delivered with an apologetic expression, shocked everyone.
"Hmm—?!" Aqua immediately became upset, shouting at him, "Stupid Kazuma, what's going on? Why are you doing quests with another party?!"
"Yeah, yeah, has scumbag Kazuma abandoned us and joined another party? I can't believe I misjudged you!" Megumin joined in denouncing him.
But hearing the two girls' accusations, Kazuma's apologetic expression vanished.
His face darkened as he shouted back, even more angrily than Aqua, "It's because of you two! You're lazy all day, either staying at home or wandering around the village, and when I ask you to do quests you always make excuses — and now you're blaming me?!"
After being scolded by him, Aqua and Megumin began to recall the past three or four days.
They realized that Kazuma was telling the truth. He had asked them to do quests every day, but being lazy, they had instantly refused. This left him no choice but to temporarily join another party.
"No, something's not right!" Aqua suddenly felt suspicious, "How could Kazuma be so eager to do quests? He must be lying!"
Her suspicion wasn't without reason.
After all, when Megumin suggested taking a break earlier, Kazuma had been the loudest to agree, claiming he wanted to rest and avoid any more quests.
So why had he suddenly joined another party?
"Hey! You stupid goddess, want me to hit you?!" Seeing himself distrusted, Kazuma angrily raised his fist, ready to fight Aqua.
He had come asking about doing a quest, but the two girls, focused only on leisure, had refused without thinking — and now they were blaming him!
"Alright, Aqua, I believe Kazuma-kun will explain, right?"
"Well, it's not really a secret..." Kazuma explained straightforwardly, "Actually, a new Dungeon suddenly appeared near Axel, and since Taylor's party doesn't have a thief, I temporarily joined them."
"I see... sorry for misunderstanding you." Aqua clapped her hands together apologetically.
"That's how it is, well, it's about time, I should get going." Kazuma said goodbye to everyone.
Then he left the mansion.
"So, even Kazuma-kun is working hard. Are you two going to continue being lazy? At this rate, you'll never defeat the Devil King, you know." Adam's words carried a provocative tone.
Even Idiotzuma was going on quests to gain experience and knowledge, while they were just lying around at home — was that really acceptable?
"Y-yeah..." Aqua was extremely conflicted.
She didn't want to go on quests, but she also didn't want to lose to Kazuma — caught between these opposing feelings, she found herself in a dilemma.
Meanwhile, Megumin, fired up by the mention of the Devil King, declared with enthusiasm:
"Hmph, I'm the strongest mage of the Crimson Demon Clan! We've rested enough, so let's go on a quest! Besides, I haven't performed my daily explosion yet — I can't just stay here being lazy!"
Adam's face brightened with clear approval at her determined words.
"Oshi! That's the spirit, Megumin. You'll definitely become the strongest Arch-Wizard of the Crimson Demon Clan!" Then, turning to the conflicted Aqua, he asked, "So, what about you?"
"I—I'll go too!" She finally made her choice, refusing to let Kazuma get ahead of her.
"Mm, very good." Nodding with satisfaction at having finally motivated both of them, he began, "Well then, let's go do—"
"Adam Carter! Is Adam Carter here?!"
Just as the three were about to head out for their quest, someone called his name loudly from outside the mansion.
The three exchanged glances, their eyes filled with confusion.
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