My Favorite Isekai Adventure (Konosuba)

"I want money!"

In the guild, Satou Kazuma sat in a corner, moaning in agony, squeezing the words out through gritted teeth.

The rest of the party was surprised.

"Why would you suddenly think that?"

"Do you need a large amount of money for something?"

"Doesn't everyone want money?"

The group chattered, asking questions as they looked at Kazuma, who was hiding his head in his arms on the table.

"How should I put this..."

Kazuma kept his head down and said loudly, "Nowadays, whether it's for food or fun or any other activity, Kobayashi-senpai pays for it all! And on top of that, he even gives me a lot of allowance!"

"That's right. So what are you dissatisfied about?"

The group was even more mystified. Kazuma had clearly stated his wish before: to be kept by a beautiful older woman with black hair and a generous chest, and to idle his days away. Although the result was slightly different, half of his wish had already been fulfilled.

"But... but...!!!"

At least I want to pay for the succubus shop myself!

...He just couldn't bring himself to say those words in front of everyone.

In truth, Kobayashi had already thought of this and had set up a special budget just for him to go and relieve his stress. When Kazuma found out, he was extremely moved.

But it was precisely because of this that he felt a shred of shame.

If Kobayashi were a girl, he would definitely be clinging to her thigh, begging to be kept. But since he was a man, it was another matter entirely.

He couldn't stick his butt up for another man!

Thinking of this, Kazuma called out, "Everyone, let's go do a quest!"

"Ehh—"

Aqua was the first to object, letting out a disgusted sound.

"What, you don't want to go to work?"

"I don't."

Perhaps because her answer was so blunt, Kazuma was stunned for a moment.

"Hey, Aqua! If you don't work, you don't have money! You can't drink your sparkling liquor! Is that okay with you?"

"It's fine. Kobayashi will take care of me."

Aqua clasped her hands together, looking like a holy goddess, but the words she spoke were exceptionally grating.

"Unlike that scumbag Kazuma, who only sneaks around at night, constantly hitting on passing girls, never shows me any respect or gives me any offerings, and only ever yells at me... Kobayashi pampers me."

"You..."

My fists... they're hardening.

Kazuma slammed the table and shouted, "Hey! Have you forgotten that I was the one who brought you to this world? If you have any sense of shame, then stop bothering Kobayashi-senpai all the time!"

"Wait! I can't just pretend I didn't hear that!"

A hand came from behind him and landed on his shoulder.

Kazuma jumped.

He turned his head and saw a handsome man in jet-black armor, flanked by two beautifully dressed and scantily clad young women. For some reason, he just felt this guy was infuriatingly enviable.

"...Who are you?" he asked instinctively.

"Mitsurugi Kyouya. I think you've heard the name."

The handsome man confidently stated his name, as if he were certain they would recognize him.

However—

"Who?"

"Don't know."

"Never heard of him."

He had absolutely not anticipated that these people were complete and utter problem children who didn't care about anyone else.

"Mitsurugi Kyouya! You haven't even heard that name?!"

"I told you I don't know. If you don't have any business, can you please leave?"

Kazuma slapped his hand away with disgust.

Mitsurugi clenched his fist. Seeing that they really didn't recognize him, he turned to Aqua and said, "Lady Aqua, you are the Goddess Aqua, correct?"

"A goddess? That's right, I am a goddess!"

Aqua was stunned for a moment. Hearing the keyword, she finally remembered she had such a title and immediately stood up, her little nose pointing proudly in the air.

"It really is you, Lady Aqua!"

Mitsurugi excitedly took a step forward and pointed at himself. "Lady Aqua, do you still remember me?!"

"...Who are you?"

"It's me! Mitsurugi Kyouya! The one who brought the magic sword Gram to this world! The hero hand-picked by you, Mitsurugi Kyouya!"

"I-I'm sorry... Th-that is... I had to receive a lot of people every day back then. With so many people, it's only natural that I'd forget, right? Right?"

Aqua's unreliability was on full display again. When Kobayashi had come looking for revenge, she had acted the same way, as if she didn't remember.

This dealt a huge blow to Mitsurugi.

But what was more important were the words Kazuma had just said.

"You said just now that you brought the goddess down to this world? What is the meaning of this?!"

After a simple explanation.

"—HUH?!!!"

Mitsurugi let out a shocked cry. He excitedly grabbed Kazuma by the collar and scolded him, "You bastard, why would you do such a thing!"

"Wait, what do you think you're doing, Mitsurugi-kun?"

Kobayashi, who hadn't been there earlier, suddenly appeared. He slapped Mitsurugi's hand away and stood in front of Kazuma, stopping his attempt at violence.

"Kobayashi-senpai!"

Kazuma was incredibly moved looking at the broad back in front of him, and his heart was thrown into turmoil.

He really doesn't want to stick his butt up!

"Kobayashi?"

Mitsurugi was surprised to see him.

"Long time no see, Kobayashi."

"Long time no see, Mitsurugi-kun."

"I heard you subjugated the Dullahan. That's amazing. Even I'm not confident I could have beaten it."

"It was everyone's contribution. I didn't do much."

Their chat was very normal.

They knew each other, and their relationship was quite good. They had even planned to form a party together. But unlike when he had invited others, this time Kobayashi had been the one invited. In the end, though, he had refused.

It wasn't because of a problem like two transmigrators suppressing each other. Rather, it was simply that he would have been dragging him down.

That's right. At the time, he couldn't keep up with Mitsurugi, who had the magic sword Gram. The high-level monsters that the other party could easily defeat were a huge threat to him, and he could have died at any moment. After consideration, he had refused the invitation.

"Now that you're stopping me, Kobayashi, does that mean..."

"That's right. Let me introduce you."

Kobayashi pointed at Kazuma and said, "He is a member of my party. Although he's despicable, shameless, lewd, and a scumbag who's always pulling dirty tricks, he's actually a good boy and a junior I trust very much."

"Er..."

Hearing this introduction, Mitsurugi didn't know if Kazuma was a good person or not. Kazuma was also extremely embarrassed, but he just took it as a compliment.

"Your party..."

Mitsurugi looked at the members of his party.

A Crusader, an Archwizard, and an Archpriest who was also the Goddess of Water.

"It's an amazing party," he praised sincerely.

Although he had a tendency to be a bit narcissistic, he was, at his core, a person with a strong sense of justice. When he found out that Kobayashi's cheat ability hadn't activated due to Aqua's carelessness, he had even taken him on quests to level him up, helping him get through the most difficult initial phase.

That was how he had come to know Kobayashi's talent, and why he had extended an invitation to the lowest-class Adventurer.

"But... as I thought, he doesn't belong in this party."

Mitsurugi looked at Kazuma, feeling that a parasite had infiltrated this super-elite party.

That look, as if he were looking at a despicable small-time villain, deeply provoked Kazuma.

This guy is just having an easy, carefree time in this world thanks to his magic sword. Compared to me, his life is too easy!

"What right do you have to talk about me?"

"Aren't you ashamed to be a parasite in a party full of elites?"

"Huh?! Elites?!"

Kazuma looked at the party, who, despite being good-looking, were completely useless in terms of performance. His fists suddenly hardened.

Anyway, he's definitely going to say, "Let me test you," to see if I'm worthy of being in this party.

"Let me test you, to see if you're worthy of being in this party."

See? It always turns into this.

"So you mean a duel, right? Fine, I accept. Let's start right now, Aqua!"

"Okay, begin!" Aqua instantly gave the command.

"W-wait!" Mitsurugi fell into a panic.

However, Kazuma gave him no chance to prepare. Not caring if it was a sneak attack, he struck first.

"Steal—"

After the battle with the Dullahan, he seemed to have developed a new combat system, one where he especially loved to open with the [Steal] skill. Thanks to his own super-high luck, the [Steal] skill, which was highly compatible with him, would generally disarm the enemy.

Mitsurugi was no exception.

With a flash of light, his magic sword was stolen by Kazuma, who then slammed the hilt hard against his forehead, knocking the narcissistic pretty boy out cold.

"Ah, you bastard!"

"You despicable villain, launching a sneak attack!"

The two followers with him shouted angrily, but Kazuma didn't care about that.

His hands began to make an extremely obscene gesture. "You two, do you want to avenge him? Come on, come over here!"

"Eeeek~~~"

The two girls were terrified and quickly helped up the unconscious Mitsurugi and fled.

"Nice job, Kazuma!"

"A great sneak attack."

"For some reason, that was suddenly really satisfying."

The problem children praised him one after another, but Kazuma didn't react. Instead, he looked at Kobayashi.

Mitsurugi had called him a parasite holding the team back, and he actually cared quite a bit. Although he believed he was more useful than the girls, he didn't know what Kobayashi thought. So he was a little concerned about his opinion.

"That was amazing, Kazuma. Although it was a sneak attack, and the method was a bit despicable, you were able to defeat the kingdom's third-ranked adventurer. You can absolutely puff out your chest with pride. As expected of the junior I count on. Nice one!"

"Is that really a compliment?... Whatever, I'll take it as a compliment."

Kazuma sighed speechlessly. But to be acknowledged by Kobayashi still made him very happy.

"Since that's the case, I'll double your allowance!"

"Really?!"

Kazuma was overjoyed.

Seriously, would it be so bad to be kept by Kobayashi-senpai? He's considerate, generous, and domineering. Without even realizing it, I've been deeply attracted to him.

...No!

I will not stick my butt up for a man!

(End of Chapter)