My Favorite Isekai Adventure (Konosuba)

"So, I still don't have any powerful skills."

Kobayashi looked at his adventurer card, which was filled with a huge list of skills, almost filling the entire card.

But he was still not satisfied.

All the skills he had learned so far were all beginner-level skills, such as [Stealth], [Probe], [Steal], [Snipe], [Beginner Magic], [Body Resistance], [Cooking]... and so on. He didn't have a single one of the skills like Megumin's Explosion or Wiz's frost magic.

In other words, he had no ultimate move.

"Explosion magic! Do you want to learn Explosion magic?!"

Hearing his words, Megumin quickly came over and said excitedly, "When it comes to the ultimate in magic, it can only be Explosion! So, do you want to walk the path of Explosion with me, Kobayashi?!"

Explosion magic is the ultimate human offensive magic. He definitely had to learn it, but he wouldn't be able to reach Megumin's level of being able to cast it instantly with such ridiculous power.

"Calm down, calm down, little loli! The prerequisite for learning Explosion magic is having enough skill points, and I'm still far from that." He pushed her approaching little face away.

Whenever magic was mentioned, she would excitedly bring up Explosion magic, just like a salesperson.

Hearing that he had no skill points, the little loli instantly wilted.

How can I get more skill points?

Although resetting his level and starting over wasn't a bad method, it wasn't without its drawbacks. Even if all his skills were retained, the stats he had gained would be completely reset to their initial values. And since super-powerful magic and skills required a lot of mana and stamina, which were linked to stats, it was very likely he would end up in a situation where he knew the skill but couldn't use it.

That would be putting the cart before the horse, so very few people did it.

Darkness asked, "What about a skill point potion?"

"A skill point potion..."

As the name implied, it was something that could increase one's skill points.

Compared to other methods, skill point potions were quite simple and convenient to obtain and use. Apart from being a little expensive, they had no drawbacks.

But in front of him, that wasn't a problem at all.

Who told him to have over 200 million in savings?

"Alright, let's go find Wiz."

He made the decision. This was the kind of thing Wiz would usually have in stock. She loved stocking luxuries that novice adventurers couldn't afford.

Arriving at Wiz's Magic Item Shop.

"Welcome!"

Wiz's energetic voice followed.

It was clear that business had been good recently. In the past, she was often lying listlessly on the counter, waiting for customers. Now, she could take the initiative to greet them.

"It's because I don't have to go to the market to pick up rotten vegetable leaves to eat anymore!"

The words she spoke were extremely heartbreaking. It was too miserable to even look.

So tragic!

Also...

"Hey, Aqua, don't pounce on her. You absolutely cannot pounce, got it?"

Kobayashi held the idiot goddess's shoulder, afraid that she would vent her dissatisfaction with liches on Wiz.

But the goddess, who usually turned into a mad dog upon seeing an undead, had no reaction at all this time.

Instead, she said strangely, "Why? I wouldn't do that!"

"...Eh?"

"As long as she obediently hands over her tribute to me, I won't bully her. On the contrary, I'll even protect her."

Aqua said this rather domineeringly.

This is a line from a yakuza, right? Are you some kind of Yakuza Goddess?!

"Thank you, Lady Aqua!"

Wiz's grateful gaze towards her made him feel that her situation was even more pitiful. To be grateful just for not being bullied... he couldn't watch this anymore.

The horseplay ended there.

"I was wondering, what is your purpose in coming here today, Kobayashi?"

Wiz skillfully got to her shopkeeper duties.

Although this shop was in the red every month thanks to her efforts, her work-ethic was still trustworthy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have come to her specifically.

"I'd like to buy some skill point potions," he said, getting straight to the point.

They had cooperated many times, and he was likely her only loyal customer. She would absolutely not scam him when selling products.

In fact, if he were to throw a fit, she would probably do anything to keep him, including certain... things.

"Skill point potions..."

Wiz tilted her head.

They were a relatively hot-selling item and were quite popular among adventurers. But the problem was that their high price made them unpopular among novice adventurers. It was precisely because Wiz had overlooked this point that the potions had been gathering dust on her hands for a long time.

"I was wondering how many bottles you need, Kobayashi? I have 20 bottles here..."

"I'll take them all."

"...Huh?"

"Your stock. I'll take it all."

"Really?!"

This filthy rich declaration made her cheer with joy after a brief daze. 20 bottles of skill point potions was a considerable income. This way, she was one step closer to her goal of not being in the red this month. How could she not be happy?

And on top of that.

"Oh my, this piece of jewelry looks very nice. I can feel a strange magical power..."

Aqua was standing in front of a magic item, starting to comment on it.

Hearing this, Wiz's spirits were immediately lifted. She quickly rushed over and recommended it enthusiastically, "As expected of Lady Aqua, your eye is so good! This magic item is a wonderful thing! It's a magic item that can 100% awaken the latent power sleeping within the body!"

"Isn't that an amazing magic item?!"

Aqua also excitedly picked it up and said, "If this is used on a goddess like me, who is an integration of latent abilities, I wonder what will happen?"

"If you'd like, would you like to try it?" Wiz did her best to promote the product.

Kobayashi immediately tried to stop her. "No, this is..."

"Can I? Then I'll just hurry up and—"

Aqua answered a step ahead of him and put the jewelry on.

Then, a blinding light flashed.

Aqua's appearance underwent a great change. Her usual goddess robes turned into a dark blue, lace-trimmed dress. She had transformed from a Goddess of Wisdom into a Valkyrie.

This drastic change in style gave her a fresh look.

"Huh? My... my clothes actually changed?"

She was a little flustered.

Wiz comforted her, "It's alright! Your appearance also changes after you put it on. This is proof that your power has been drawn out to its maximum! But..."

"My true goddess power has been completely unleashed?! Alright! I have to go tell Kazuma and the others!"

Aqua was incredibly excited to hear this. She turned around and was about to run out to show off to the other party members, but was stopped by Kobayashi, who was quick of eye and deft of hand.

"Kobayashi?"

"Wait, Aqua. It's clear that Wiz still has something to say."

No matter how good or exciting the words at the beginning were, if there was a "but," the important part was always at the end.

This was the art of language.

And...

This is an item from Wiz's Magic Item Shop. It would be strange if it didn't have some kind of bizarre side effect!

"Wiz, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you to tell us the side effect."

"Th-that is..."

Wiz wrung her hands together and said hesitantly, "The drawback of this forbidden magic item is... is... while it draws out all of one's potential, the person who uses it becomes completely unable to do the one thing they most want to do. That is, no matter what they do, it will become the opposite."

"...Eh?"

"In other words, if Lady Aqua wants to drink sparkling liquor, she will only be able to taste water, not sparkling liquor."

"You're lying!"

Hearing her say this, Aqua's face instantly changed.

It was one thing to make her work without pay, but it was another thing to not let her drink sparkling liquor.

Hearing Wiz's explanation, Kobayashi's eyes lit up.

This magic item might not be suitable for Aqua, but it was perfect for him. As long as it could stop her from drinking, he was more than happy to pay up.

"Alright, I'll buy it!"

"Whyyyyyyyyyy!!!"

Aqua's aggrieved wail followed.

(End of Chapter)