My Favorite Isekai Adventure (Konosuba)

In this world, there is a group of people known as adventurers. They spend their days and nights fighting monsters that threaten the people, living a life of "live today as if there were no tomorrow."

Therefore, trying to get adventurers who have come into money to work hard is an absolutely impossible task.

However, there is one exception!

This kind of thing is seen as a proof of acknowledgment, so they generally don't refuse.

—A designated request.

"I... I've been designated!"

In the main hall of the mansion, Aqua boasted loudly to everyone.

"...Eh?"

Hearing her words, the entire party was in a stunned state.

"Designated?"

"It couldn't be what we're thinking, could it?"

"No, no, no, this is Aqua we're talking about. How could she possibly get a designated quest?"

They denied it one after another. After all, this was something they instinctively did not want to believe.

This attitude of disbelief deeply wounded Aqua's pride. The idiot goddess, with tears in her eyes, protested aggrievedly, "Why? Why don't you believe me! I really was requested! I'm not lying to you!"

"But even if you say that..."

"Right?" x3

The party members still didn't believe her.

Aqua flicked her long, water-blue hair and said with a proud and smug look, "It must be because I shone so brightly during the Dullahan subjugation and the exorcism of the evil spirits. That's why I was designated. Unlike that idiot Kazuma, there are people who can recognize my abilities! In the future, my name will surely resound throughout all of Axel, and I will receive the reverence of all! So, now that you know, hurry up and offer me your pork cutlet from dinner!"

"I'm not giving you any! Besides, it's just one designated quest. What's there to be so proud of!"

Kazuma was not about to indulge her. This was just how the idiot goddess was. If you weren't careful, her nose would be in the air, she'd get carried away, and then she'd inadvertently do something stupid and cause huge trouble, and in the end, they'd be the ones to clean up her mess.

They were already sick of this happening every time.

However, Aqua was unaffected. She covered her mouth and let out a series of "pfft, pfft" laughs. "Don't tell me you're jealous, Kazuma? That I'm more famous than you, that I got a designated quest before you..."

"Wh-what are you talking about? I don't understand."

"There's no need to hide it! You're just jealous!"

"Of course not!"

...was impossible.

To be honest, he was very jealous.

And it wasn't just Kazuma; even Kobayashi felt a pang of jealousy.

He had a great reputation in Axel. Almost all the adventurers spoke highly of him when they mentioned him, thinking he was the most suitable companion.

But even so, he had never received a designated quest.

Is it because I'm just a low-level adventurer, so they don't ask me? Hey, hey, hey, I helped subjugate the Dullahan, too! I'm this strong, shouldn't that at least make others look at me in a new light?

Oh, wait, the one who purified the Dullahan was Aqua. Okay, never mind.

"Ahem."

Kobayashi cleared his throat, attracting everyone's attention, and said, "Kazuma-kun, you don't actually need to be jealous."

Kazuma asked, puzzled, "What do you mean, senpai?"

"Kazuma-kun, what part of Aqua do you think leaves the deepest impression on people?"

"When she's being an idiot."

He's so right, I can't even refute it.

But that wasn't the point!

"...That's part of it, but we're talking about her outstanding abilities right now."

Kobayashi continuously guided him.

Kazuma thought about it carefully and said vaguely, "Aqua is a goddess. She's very good at purification magic, and she's also skilled in healing and resurrection. Other than that... it seems the only other thing she has to offer are her party tricks."

"That's it! That's the one!"

"...Eh?"

"It's the party tricks, Kazuma-kun!"

Kobayashi stood up and shouted excitedly, "The thing that leaves the deepest impression on people about Aqua are her useless party tricks! For her, the so-called 'Party Goddess,' what kind of quest could she possibly be designated for? Can you say, Kazuma-kun?"

"Hehehe, that's obviously to perform her party tricks at a banquet!"

Kazuma also understood. He played along with Kobayashi to deliberately provoke Aqua, making the idiot goddess puff up her cheeks, her eyes filling with tears as if she were about to cry.

"In other words, Aqua is going to be a performer, to put on a show for people at a banquet!"

"Oh, so it's that kind of designation."

Kobayashi and Kazuma were like a comedy duo, and what they said was so plausible that even Darkness and Megumin subconsciously believed it. They really couldn't believe that Aqua could be requested for an adventure quest.

Pitying gazes were cast upon Aqua. For some reason, they suddenly didn't feel jealous anymore.

"N-no... don't look at me like that!" Aqua explained anxiously, "It's not... it's not what you think! I'm not going to perform at a banquet! You have to believe me!"

"We've always believed in you, Aqua."

"Kobayashi!"

"We believe that your talent performance is top-tier."

"Kobayashi?!!!"

Aqua instantly burst into tears and threw herself into his arms.

Oh dear—

Did the joke go too far?

By the way, why is she throwing herself into the arms of the bad guy who just made her cry? What is she thinking?

"Sorry, sorry, I went too far."

He quickly comforted her. As expected of the Goddess of Water, his chest was soaked in just a few seconds.

"Hey, Aqua..."

Kazuma also looked at her with an apologetic expression.

"You two are really too much!" Megumin loudly condemned them. Just a moment ago, she had also been incredibly jealous when she heard Aqua had a designated quest and had subconsciously sided with them to bully her. Now she was turning around and blaming them.

As expected of a quick-learner; that (verbal) punch was pretty fierce.

As for Darkness, she was looking at Aqua with an envious expression. She probably really wanted to be the one being insulted and misunderstood.

It was best to just ignore her.

Kobayashi patted Aqua's back and comforted her, "Alright, alright, I know you're amazing, Aqua. You're already at the level where you can receive designated quests. I was just being a petty, jealous person, so I deliberately bullied you... So, can you please let go of me? Being soaking wet is really uncomfortable!"

"Sob... sob..."

After a great deal of coaxing, he finally stopped her tears. But his entire body was already soaked, as if he had just climbed out of a pool.

That's way too much water!

"Getting back to the topic, we really are surprised that you were designated for a quest, Aqua," he said, pinching his chin in thought.

"That's right!"

Aqua instantly recovered her energy and continued to show off, "I wasn't requested as a Party Goddess, but as an Archpriest! I'm in negotiations right now! It seems that I, as an Archpriest, am also famous!"

By the way, has she already accepted the title of "Party Goddess"? And she's so readily accepting the title of "Archpriest." Does she not want to be a goddess anymore?

"Just asking, what kind of job is it?"

"I probably can't say. Why? Because designated quests have a confidentiality agreement! If I say anything unnecessary here, the job might be ruined."

This woman...

That smug, proud-of-herself expression... both Kobayashi's and Kazuma's fists were hardening. But to prevent her from wailing again, it was best not to provoke her too much.

But something still felt off.

He smelled the scent of a major incident about to be triggered. And this feeling was confirmed when Aqua returned, hugging a super-expensive bottle of high-grade sparkling liquor.

(End of Chapter)