「Detected number of online chat group members: 10.」
「Limited-Time Sign-In feature unlocked.」
The announcement of the sign-in system instantly brought out all the lurking members of the dimensional chat group.
The Future Holy Sword Wielder, the Mistress of the Butterfly Estate, and a Gold-Rank Adventurer all appeared in the chat log.
After all, terms like "high school student," "NEET," or "hikikomori" were still somewhat alien to most of them.
As for Misaka Mikoto, being just a middle schooler and uninterested in adult matters, she didn't comment even when Aqua dropped her wild takes.
Mistress of the Butterfly Estate: Finally, we can start signing in… If I can gather enough points, does that mean I can complete missions and travel to other worlds?
Aqua: Heh! Behold the luck of the Goddess of Water!
Asuna: So chat group points are really important? They can even let us enter other worlds…
Gabriel: Going to other worlds sounds like a huge hassle… I'd rather stay home and play on my computer.
"…"
Shirakawa hadn't expected the sign-in function to have limitations. Scanning through the chat log, he found most of the replies reasonable.
As for Aqua…
If he hadn't already known just how terrible her luck was, he might've actually believed her!
The results weren't too surprising.
「Mistress of the Butterfly Estate signed in. Earned 13 points.」
「Asuna signed in. Earned 7 points.」
「Railgun signed in. Earned 8 points.」
…
「Aqua signed in. Earned 1 point.」
Mistress of the Butterfly Estate: Looks like I've got the best luck so far~ Aqua, you really need to work on yours.
Asuna: I didn't realize points were this useful… But with so little from each sign-in, it'll take forever to save up.
Future Holy Sword Wielder: There are also chat group missions that award points.
Aqua: Why?! Why do you all get so many, but I only get 1?! This isn't fair!!
Aqua: @Ordinary High School Student—hurry and sign in! There's no way I'm the only one with terrible luck, right?!
"…"
Being @ed by the so-called Goddess of Wisdom didn't bother Shirakawa. After all, Aqua's canon personality was rather chaotic and expressive—prone to dramatic faces and absurd antics.
At her core, though, she wasn't a bad person.
With the rest of the group signed in and no one having yet visited the "Konosuba" world to determine their luck stats, Shirakawa figured it was time to give it a shot.
According to most anime tropes, luck is a fixed stat that can't be improved—he was curious to see how he fared.
「Sign in?」
"Yes."
「Ordinary High School Student signed in. Earned 19 points.」
Overall, pretty solid.
It wasn't overly exaggerated like some web novels where the MC always rolled max stats—but still significantly better than average.
However…
While Shirakawa was satisfied with his points, to Aqua, it was nothing less than outrageous. She practically exploded in the chat.
Aqua: No way! This isn't fair! Why do I only get 1 point?! Are you seriously saying I don't even get a chance to leave this world?! Can I borrow some points?!
Aqua: …
Shirakawa ignored her rants.
What truly intrigued him now was the point exchange shop in the dimensional chat group.
What kind of items could he actually redeem?
The thought alone was enough to make his heart race.
Opening the shop menu, he saw that the layout remained minimalist. Only a few items were listed, but even so…
[Temporary World Teleport Anchor (7 Days)]
Price: 50 Points
[Basic Physical Enhancement]
Price: 100 Points
[Intermediate Physical Enhancement]
Price: 500 Points
"All focused on boosting physical stats… But this World Anchor looks useful. No prerequisites to travel anywhere… just limited to 7 days?"
With only ten members currently in the chat group—and all from relatively balanced worlds—Shirakawa figured that as membership grew and they began interacting with higher-tier dimensions, the shop's selection would also expand.
The thought made his heart beat faster.
Hanako, still seated in front of him, could feel his excitement resonate through her body, making her feel like she was being pierced from the inside out.
A rosy blush had already spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
But since she was the one who'd asked for this…
She turned her head, gripping the Holy Sword Curry Stick tightly, assisting in the exorcism herself.
Just a little more…
Just a little more and she would be free.
If she could just reach that place…
But no matter how hard Hanako-chan tried, it just wasn't enough. At last, turning her crimson face toward Shirakawa, her breathing ragged and pleading, she whispered:
"Please… Master Shirakawa… Don't hold back your Holy Light. Help me finish tonight's exorcism…!"
When one's desire burns strong enough, even the gods will cast their gaze.
Feeling her longing to be free from her fate as a vengeful spirit, Shirakawa, though not yet a god, wouldn't disappoint her.
Relying on the maxed-out stamina skill of the Exorcist class, he shifted from passive to active, unleashing the full might of the Holy Sword.
In this sacred ritual of endurance and purity—he completely took the lead.
Meanwhile, standing off to the side and silently observing—Mary.
Her petite, loli-like figure was trembling all over.
That level of exorcism… utterly unimaginable. At this rate, I'm going to fall apart when it's over, aren't I?
Just as Shirakawa began charging full speed ahead with single-minded focus...
—A private message notification popped up in the Dimensional Chat Group.
A familiar avatar blinked continuously in the corner of his vision—the other party had taken the initiative to message him directly, even knowing he was preoccupied.