After parting ways with Megumin and Darkness, the trio returned to the stable to talk.
"Carter-senpai, I'm curious about something."
"What is it? Go ahead."
"You learned such powerful skills in just one night. Why didn't you stay longer?" Kazuma asked, puzzled by his quick return.
It was a natural reaction. After all, who wouldn't want to stay and learn even more powerful techniques after easily mastering such formidable sword skills in another world?
"Actually, learning those powerful skills was pure luck." Adam chuckled, "I came back so quickly because something was weighing on my mind."
"The flow of time." He continued, his expression turning serious, "Time is a tricky thing. Its speed represents a world's flow rate! I was worried that if I stayed too long, you might have already defeated the Demon King here!"
Unsure about the time flow between worlds, Adam had returned after just one night to be safe. This experience, however, helped him realize that the time flow between the two worlds was 1:1.
"That's true, confirming the time flow between worlds is crucial. But come on, Carter-senpai, you're pulling my leg. Us misfits? Taking down the Demon King? Fat chance, even if we had a century," Kazuma chuckled, getting Adam's point but still not buying it.
"Hey now, don't be such a downer, Kazuma-kun!" Adam said, patting his shoulder, "I'm telling you, you've got this Demon King thing in the bag, with or without me. I'm rooting for you, buddy!"
"Carter-senpai!" Kazuma blubbered, getting all emotional.
But before things could get too sappy, someone decided to rain on their parade with a snarky little sound.
"Tch!" The sound came from Aqua, who looked thoroughly displeased.
She couldn't forget how she ended up stuck in this lame mortal world - no fancy food, no cute outfits, just a bunch of hard work. Seeing Adam give Kazuma props just made her even more annoyed.
What's the big deal about that perverted Kazuma anyway?
"Hey, you useless goddess, got a problem with me?" Kazuma shot her a dirty look.
His male pride was in full swing. Realizing someone was despising him naturally made him feel displeased.
"Look at Kazuma, getting all cocky after a few nice words." Aqua mumbled under her breath.
Kazuma immediately counterattacked, "Aren't you talking about yourself? Just because Carter-senpai called you 'Goddess-sama' a couple of times, you were so happy you couldn't find north!"
"Excuse me?! I AM a goddess, you know!"
"You don't have a single goddess-like quality, yet you have the nerve to call yourself one?"
"It's all your fault I'm !"
And just like that, Kazuma and Aqua were at it again.
Their non-stop squabbling drove everyone else in the stable up the wall all day long.
But perhaps it was precisely this unpredictable chemistry between them that would enable them to defeat the Demon King with their endless stream of tricks.
"Halt, little kids!" Adam stepped forward like a mother hen to break up the fight, pulling the two apart, "Aqua, although Kazuma-kun has flaws — like being useless, perverted, lecherous, shameless, and vulgar — he does have the potential to become a first-class adventurer. I'm sure defeating the Demon King is just a matter of time for him."
Adam's words weren't far from the truth. Kazuma did eventually defeat the Demon King, and in a one-on-one battle, no less!
— Granted, he had Aqua's weakening magic to help him.
Still, it's undeniable that defeating the mightiest Demon King while having the least impressive 「Adventurer」 class was quite a feat.
Hearing Adam's words, Kazuma was torn between pride and irritation, "Carter-senpai, your compliments are... unique, hehe..."
He chose to interpret it as praise, for now.
Aqua let out a derisive snort and turned away from the perverted high schooler.
It seemed her anger had cooled somewhat.
Adam then addressed them both, "Back to our earlier discussion — I'm planning another trip to the other world, and this time I'll be staying longer."
"You're going again?" Aqua asked.
"Indeed, I am." He nodded, "The sword techniques there suit me perfectly. I want to make the most of this chance!"
Kazuma perked up, "Carter-senpai, make sure to learn some practical, cheap skills to teach me when you return!"
"Certainly!" Adam agreed with a hearty laugh, "Now then, the team should stick to my previous plan. Finish the {Purify Cemetery} quest, and after that, you're free to take on whatever quests you like."
He then communicated with his anchor point.
"Well, it's time. I'm off!"
"Have a safe journey!" Kazuma and Aqua called in unison.
The three bid each other farewell.
Adam closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the scenery had transformed. He had once more arrived in the world of " Demon Slayer ".
It was still Mount Natagumo, the central battlefield.
He stood in the shadows, watching as sunlight pierced through the tangled leaves, directly hitting the ground.
"Ah, the sunlight feels so good~"
It was now noon. After experimenting with sword techniques and returning to the stable, only half a day had passed — it was still early.
A barely audible sound of a sword being drawn came from behind, accompanied by a sharp breeze aimed at Adam's neck. The killing intent was palpable.
'The speed is impressive.' After sensing it, he sighed, then rolled forward to dodge.
He knew the attacker; this was already the second time.
"Still with the sneak attacks? Shinobu, you're not fighting fair!"
"Oh my, Carter-kun actually dodged it." Seeing her sword miss, Shinobu sheathed her blade and smiled at him.
"Shinobu, I've told you many times: I'm not a demon!"
"I know." She nodded, then said pointedly, "Yesterday, when it was almost dawn, Carter-kun suddenly disappeared. I thought you had deceived me."
In her understanding, demons invariably dissipated when exposed to sunlight. He had vanished just moments before sunrise. In Shinobu's mind, wasn't this evidence that he feared being killed by the sun and had fled?
'I'm certain of it — Adam Carter is a demon, and he even deceived me!' She thought to herself.
But this assumption dissipated in the next second.
Having rolled to dodge the sneak attack, Adam now stood in the sunlight, basking in its warmth.
"Do you believe me now?" He fixed her with a deadpan stare. He knew Shinobu still distrusted him, which explained her test.
"Yes, Carter-kun is not a demon. I understand now." She said with a smile.
"So, Shinobu, were you waiting here for me?" Adam doubted she was just passing by. She must have stayed after the battle at Mount Natagumo, specifically to meet him.
Shinobu nodded, "Carter-kun, the master of the Demon Slayer Corps, Ubuyashiki-sama, requests your presence."
"Kagaya Ubuyashiki?" He stroked his chin with interest. "Is it okay if I don't go?"
"It is. But will you not go?"
A vein popped on Shinobu's forehead. Though she was smiling, she was seething with anger.
"Ah, one more thing — call me Takeshi Suoh. That's my name here in Japan, and it might be less troublesome for everyone." Adam suddenly requested.
Though he didn't mind using his usual name, his experience getting Japanese people to pronounce "Carter" correctly had been challenging.
"Oh, so... Suoh-kun is a traveler." Shinobu's eyes sparkled momentarily. Aware of other countries' existence, she finally understood why his name was so strange. Yet, inwardly, she grumbled, 'Why didn't you introduce yourself from the start?'
Adam was too much for her to handle; she found him exasperating.
'I'm furious, but I still have to keep smiling.'
T/N: If you want more chapters , check out my Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!Keep reading on NovelHub - where stories come alive!com/mrblackwing