Chapter 3: The Beginner's Tutorial Phase
To make Satou Kazuma understand the cruelty of this new world—or perhaps, more accurately, to make them experience the same suffering he had—Kobayashi took the two of them on a "First Isekai Monster Slaying Experience" activity.
On the plains outside Axel, a slime-covered Aqua was kneeling on the ground, crying pitifully. If an outsider were to see this, they would surely think they were bullying her.
But in reality, it was because Aqua had recklessly charged forward and been swallowed whole by a Giant Toad.
"I'm a goddess! A goddess, you hear me!"
She repeated it twice, as if to add emphasis, clearly showing her unwillingness to accept the situation.
Aqua wiped the slime from her face and glared fiercely at another Giant Toad in the distance.
"Damn you! I'll show you the power of a goddess! For standing in my way, you will regret and repent in hell!"
With that, a powerful ball of magic gathered in her hand, and she charged quickly toward the Giant Toad.
"Die! God Blow! The God Blow is a finishing move that carries the wrath and power of a goddess! No one can stop the power of a god!"
Thud—!
A dull thud echoed as her fist created a small ripple in the Giant Toad's thick layer of belly fat, like a wave on water.
Our attack failed to penetrate the enemy's armor!
"Ah, hahaha, now that I look closely, toads are actually kind of cute... Uwaah!"
Aqua was eaten again.
At this point, Kobayashi said to Satou Kazuma, "Giant Toads are immune to physical blunt attacks. So, to defeat them, you need a weapon with a sharp edge, like a sword, spear, or bow. Also, they absolutely hate iron products. This is very important information, you should remember it."
"I see, I understand."
Satou Kazuma nodded, watching the goddess being slowly swallowed.
"Um... Kobayashi-senpai, shouldn't we go save her?"
"Wait a bit. Let her soak for a while longer."
A wicked grin spread across Kobayashi's face; he seemed to enjoy seeing others suffer.
Satou Kazuma's mouth twitched. He secretly warned himself never to get on Kobayashi-senpai's bad side, or he couldn't even imagine what might happen.
As for why he was tormenting Aqua?
It was because his anger hadn't subsided yet!
After three months of hellish suffering, if he forgave her that easily, he'd be a complete pushover.
It's fine, we can save her in a bit. She'll even have to thank us later.
After enjoying a good while of the goddess's flailing performance, Kobayashi finally rescued her from the toad's mouth.
"Thank you... sob sob sob, thank you, thank you, Kobayashi! Thank you so much!"
Aqua wailed, clinging to his legs and refusing to let go.
See? She's even thanking us.
Kobayashi turned to Satou Kazuma again. "As you can see, even the lowest-level monsters are quite difficult to defeat. That's why you need to recruit companions and form a party."
"Ooh, a party? That's a common thing in isekai fantasy stories!"
Satou Kazuma was clearly excited. But he was also a little worried. "But will anyone want to join our party? We're just rookie adventurers who just started."
"Don't worry, they will," Kobayashi said with a confident smile.
He first took the goddess for a bath, then returned to the Guild. After fiddling with the notice board for a bit, he sat down calmly in a chair, waiting for people to show up.
Satou Kazuma was very curious. "Kobayashi-senpai, what did you do?"
"Nothing much. Just posted our party's information and recruitment requirements," Kobayashi replied.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Seeing his lack of confidence, Kobayashi explained, "In Axel, advanced classes are in high demand. Especially an Archpriest from an advanced class who has also learned all her skills. Many adventurers will definitely come to join the party."
"Really? I feel like something's not right."
Satou Kazuma was reasonably sharp. After thinking for a moment, he realized the problem.
The problem was the idiot goddess.
Although Aqua was an Archpriest and a Goddess of Water, her unreliability was truly staggering. And Kobayashi had only shown her good side while hiding her unreliability...
"This is complete and utter fraud!"
"Where? It's a fact that we have an Archpriest, and it's also a fact that she's learned all her skills. We're not lying."
"The moment you said that last part, you already gave the game away!"
Satou Kazuma looked speechless.
However, he also wondered, were they really that pathetic that they had to resort to hiding information just to recruit companions?
He looked at the goddess beside him with disgust.
"What's with that look? It's very rude!"
Aqua couldn't stand being looked down upon. She puffed out her chest to prove herself. "I'm a goddess, a goddess! Believers? I can summon a whole crowd with just a wave of my hand, you believe me?"
"Heh."
"Ah! You dare to mock me!"
Eager to prove herself, Aqua slammed the table. "Fine, in that case, I'll show you the appeal of a goddess! Is there anyone..."
"I saw the recruitment notice."
"Eh?" x3
The three of them looked over in unison. A small loli dressed as a standard mage—robe, conical hat, and staff in hand—appeared behind them.
So soon? That's too unscientific!
Aqua's eyes widened as she looked down at her hands, muttering, "Someone came before I even finished speaking... Has my divine power become this strong?"
"Idiot! It's obviously a coincidence!" Kazuma hissed in a low voice.
Meanwhile, the self-introduction continued.
"This meeting is a destiny chosen by the world. I have been awaiting people such as you."
The little loli flicked her robe. "My name is Megumin! An Archwizard by trade, wielder of the strongest of attack magics—Explosion! I am the one who will ultimately master Explosion...!"
After speaking, her crimson eyes suddenly lit up, her aura powerful, instantly stunning Satou Kazuma.
Although they had just met, he could already confirm that the little loli before him was the ultimate chuunibyou!
Aqua, however, seemed to have noticed something.
"Those eyes... could you be from the Crimson Demon Clan?"
"Crimson Demon Clan?"
Satou Kazuma was puzzled.
Kobayashi explained, "The Crimson Demon Clan are born with high intelligence and magic power. Most of them are professional mages, and they all have strange names. As for the reason... it's just as you think, Kazuma-kun. The entire Crimson Demon Clan is hopelessly chuunibyou."
"No wonder..."
Satou Kazuma nodded, then asked in a low voice, "What do you think, Kobayashi-senpai? Can she be trusted as a companion?"
"Who knows? That's for you to judge. After all, this is part of becoming a qualified adventurer."
Kobayashi was telling him not to rely on outsiders for everything, and was also teaching him the necessary vigilance for survival in another world.
Satou Kazuma clearly understood this. After some thought, he invited the little loli to sit with them.
"Megumin... right? Please have a seat first, we can discuss the details. By the way, can I see your adventurer card?"
"No problem!" Megumin agreed readily.
But then she requested, "Before that, could you please get me something to eat? I haven't eaten in three days."
At the same time, her stomach let out a mournful cry.
Satou Kazuma rubbed his throbbing temples. He had a feeling that his fantasy isekai life was not what he had imagined, and he also realized just how hard Kobayashi-senpai must have had it.
An adventurer card was placed flat on the table.
Aqua exclaimed, "Her magic power is so high!"
Satou Kazuma nodded in agreement. The stats on it were terrifyingly high, not at all like what a normal level 6 mage should have... no, even a typical Archwizard didn't have stats this high.
Aqua added, "Adventurer cards can't be forged. She is without a doubt an Archwizard of an advanced class, a high-level profession capable of using attack magic. And if she can really use Explosion magic, then she's amazing. After all, that's the highest-level explosion magic that humans can learn!"
"Hiss—"
Satou Kazuma sucked in a breath of cold air, momentarily unsure of what to do. He subconsciously looked at Kobayashi.
Kobayashi gave a slight nod, indicating that Aqua was correct. Kazuma immediately felt more confident.
"Alright, you're hired!"
Satou Kazuma gave Megumin a thumbs-up and pushed the adventurer card and the menu over to her, indicating that she had been successfully recruited.
Megumin's face lit up with joy as she opened the menu to find her favorite set meal.
Kobayashi spoke up again, "Alright, the party's damage dealer is set. Now we just need a knight-type class for the front line."
Satou Kazuma strongly agreed.
He continued to provoke the goddess beside him. "Hey, Aqua, since you claim you recruited Megumin with your power, show me your ability again."
"Fine, I'll show you the power of a goddess."
Provoked, Aqua prepared to exert her power again. She stood up and waved her right hand.
"Is there any..."
"I saw the recruitment notice."
"Eh?" x4
No... it can't be...
Aqua became even more smug. "See, Kazuma? The power of my divine might!"
"It's a coincidence... right?"
This time, even Satou Kazuma had to wonder if it was really Aqua's ability.
Most importantly, the person who arrived was the front-line character the party needed most.
—A Knight!
And a super beautiful female knight at that!
Blonde hair, blue eyes, tall and slender, with the cool and proud air of a female knight. It was a pity her figure was hidden by heavy armor, but it must be very curvy.
Satou Kazuma was slightly excited.
But the female knight before him was even more excited than he was.
She introduced herself, "My name is Darkness... my class is Crusader. Please... please let me join your... your pa-pa-pa-pa-party!"
Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing was heavy, and she was fidgeting.
...Huh?
Satou Kazuma keenly sensed that something was wrong. He also noticed that the female knight who wanted to join their party had her eyes fixed on Kobayashi-senpai.
Could it be...
Ooooh~, I get it.
Satou Kazuma's smile suddenly turned lewd.
As expected of Kobayashi-senpai! He's only been in this world for three months and has already captured the heart of a top-tier beauty of a knight. I'm truly impressed!
"I don't know what you're thinking, but you've definitely misunderstood."
"Oh come on, don't play dumb now."
Satou Kazuma teased Kobayashi, then patted his chest and assured him, "Don't worry, Kobayashi-senpai, I'll handle this."
With that, he looked at the blushing female knight.
"Ahem, Darkness... right? May I ask why you want to join our party? We may look like a lot of people, but we're actually all rookie adventurers, completely different from a fully-armed and well-equipped person like you."
"Slime..."
"What?"
Darkness's voice was very soft. Kazuma thought he had misheard.
In his mind, Darkness should have either been evasive or gone straight to the point, but either way, her target should have been Kobayashi-senpai... that's how it was supposed to be.
"Um, what did you say?"
"N-nothing... I don't mind the slime, hmm, not at all! Haa... haa... haa... haa!"
N-not good!
What a depraved look in her eyes!
But her target seems to be Kobayashi-senpai. Would it be bad to refuse?
Satou Kazuma felt his internal danger detector blaring warnings at him. He had a feeling something was off about Darkness, a bad vibe similar to Aqua and Megumin. There was definitely some commonality!
What should I do? Should I refuse her?
No, absolutely not!
Think carefully, Satou Kazuma! I've received so much help from Kobayashi-senpai. If I refuse, wouldn't I be letting him down?! At this point, it doesn't matter what her class is, or whether she's any good or not! Those are trivial matters!
"O-okay, welcome to the party."
Satou Kazuma squeezed the words out of his throat.
Heaven knows how difficult it was for him to say that, but to repay Kobayashi-senpai, he forced himself to agree. He just hoped he wouldn't regret this decision later.
Feeling that she was being underestimated, Darkness immediately took out her adventurer card to prove herself.
"I am a Crusader. And although my attack is useless, I am very confident in my defense. You can just use me as a meat shield."
"Huh? An advanced class? An unexpected bonus?"
Satou Kazuma was clearly stunned. He had thought that just having a knight would be enough, but she was an advanced class?
He let out another sound of surprise. "Wait a minute, why is everyone who comes an advanced class?"
Kobayashi explained, "Because the recruitment notice I posted specified advanced classes. With the most popular Archpriest in the party, wouldn't it be a waste if the other members weren't advanced classes?"
"But I feel so much pressure."
Satou Kazuma was a beginner-class adventurer. Being in a party full of elites was very stressful. Fortunately, he had Kobayashi-senpai to keep him company.
However—
Seeing the four-person party successfully assembled, Kobayashi stood up and said to Satou Kazuma, "Alright, the beginner's tutorial ends here. From now on, your adventures are up to you."
"...Eh?"
"A parting gift for you: May you start small and end great. That's all, see you around."
"W-w-w-wait... wait a minute!"
Satou Kazuma grabbed Kobayashi's arm, not letting him leave. Their intimate posture could easily be misunderstood by certain women with... peculiar tastes.
Kobayashi asked, puzzled, "Is there something else?"
"What do you mean, 'something else'? Aren't you going to party up with us, Kobayashi-senpai?"
"Hmm? Why would I?"
"What do you mean, 'why'...? Aren't we companions? Weren't all these people recruited by you, Kobayashi-senpai?"
"That's not right. It was you who recruited them, Kazuma-kun."
After all, he had said before that recruiting companions shouldn't always rely on others' opinions; one had to judge for oneself.
Satou Kazuma remembered.
"W-wait... then what about Darkness? Didn't she come looking for you? Is it really okay to just leave her like this?!"
"That's not right either. She mentioned slime just now, you heard her too, right?"
"...So that wasn't my imagination!"
Satou Kazuma was dumbfounded.
He didn't regret his decision later; he regretted it now. He regretted it very much!
Kobayashi didn't want to form a party because it was too much trouble. Besides, if he wanted to form a party, wouldn't it be better to find Yunyun, Chris, or Wiz? Why would he want to team up with a bunch of problem children?
"Besides, a four-person party is the best configuration, isn't it? Damage, healer, tank, and crowd control. You're a perfect party, just like in a certain dungeon-crawling game."
"But the most popular MOBA games have five-person teams!" Satou Kazuma retorted loudly.
Hmm, I didn't think of that. I underestimated you.
Seeing Kobayashi hesitate, he pressed his advantage.
"Please think carefully, Kobayashi-senpai. Our party has a goddess! Although she seems unreliable, as an Archpriest who is also a goddess, she's much stronger than a regular priest, right?"
Although Aqua was an idiot, she was undoubtedly a goddess. Unlike a regular Archpriest, a goddess could use resurrection magic without limit. And with two goddesses working together, they could even resurrect someone who had been turned to dust. It was a seriously broken ability.
That point alone was enough to tempt Kobayashi.
The reason he hadn't left the beginner town was because it was too dangerous outside, wasn't it?
You mean the succubi?
What succubi? I don't know anything about that.
On the other side, Satou Kazuma was also trying his best to persuade him. After all, if he had to lead three problem children by himself, he would definitely be overwhelmed!
Besides, unlike him, who had brought the idiot goddess down with him in a fit of anger, Kobayashi-senpai was a genuine isekai transmigrator with a real cheat ability. He would definitely be a powerful asset in the quest to defeat the Demon King!
So, no matter how much he had to grovel, he had to make Kobayashi-senpai stay!
Satou Kazuma continued to press, "Besides, Kobayashi-senpai's cheat needs Aqua to recharge it, right? Isn't that right, Aqua?"
Kazuma frantically winked at the idiot goddess. It's unknown whether Aqua also wanted to keep Kobayashi around, but for once, her brain worked.
"...That's right, it needs to be recharged."
That's probably a lie, Kobayashi instinctively judged.
At the same time, Kazuma raised the stakes again.
"—From now on, Kobayashi-senpai is the leader of the party!"
This way, he wouldn't have to manage the problem children in the party, and his own life would be a little easier.
Kobayashi guessed his thoughts.
"The sound of your abacus is so loud I can hear it, Kazuma-kun."
"So, what's your answer, Kobayashi-senpai?"
"Hmm... alright, I agree."
"Alriiiiiiiiiight!"
Under his nervous gaze, Kobayashi finally gave a slow nod. Kazuma let out an excited cheer.
(End of Chapter)