77. A Crying Goddess

A day later.

Izumi and his party returned to Axel Town. Not only that but they were also accompanied by three beautiful girls who tagged along with them, members of Axel Hearts.

Even though the three of them were not only idols but adventurers as well. Their experience of meeting Daniel made them realize that being an adventurer in order to quickly level up doesn't make them feel safe. That was why they were willing to follow Izumi and asked him to teach them a close combat technique while asking to be met by someone who can restore Lia's memories.

Well, Izumi didn't mind their request since it was a trivial matter to him. Cielo is a support in her party who uses healing magic. However, she has hand-to-hand combat experience. Unfortunately, since Izumi knew she had androphobia, Izumi didn't know how to teach her.

Meanwhile, Lia is a person who fights using a spear. Let alone knowing the spear technique, Izumi never even touched it. Since Izumi had never used a spear at all, he didn't know how to teach her.

Lucky for Erika. She used a dagger. Incidentally, that was also Izumi's forte. Of course, Izumi taught an effective technique when wielding a dagger.

Teaches humans' weak points to paralyze, launch attacks with precision, to form movements which are techniques using a dagger.

Izumi taught everything like a master would teach a pupil.

— — — —

Izumi and the others walked toward the guild building. But with the four beautiful girls behind him, of course, it caught the attention of others. Moreover, a griffon was walking behind them.

When the locals looked closely at Lia, Erika, and Cielo. They realized that three of the four girls were members of the famous Axel Hearts.

Of course, some people started asking them for autographs. It's just that, as time goes on, more and more people are asking for it so Izumi uses his Devil Fruit power to create a wind barrier around him.

"Excuse me, everyone! I want to pass!" Izumi opened his palm, then a violent wind appeared and formed a hurricane. The wind was so strong that it blew away the people outside the barrier Izumi created.

Even so, Izumi made sure that no one was hurt even if they were blown away by his power. If they were smart, Izumi was sure they wouldn't dare try to approach him again.

When they arrived in front of the guild building, Izumi told the griffon to wait outside. Then he and the others opened the guild door to enter.

Everyone in the guild was aware of their arrival.

"Oh, the newcomers are back."

"Wait a moment. They're —"

"Axel Hearts?"

"How come Axel Hearts came with the newcomers?"

"If you ask me, who should I ask?"

Everyone in the guild started talking about the arrival of Izumi and his party accompanied by Axel Hearts.

Izumi looked around and then asked somebody. After he got the answer, he approached Lia while saying.

"Kazuma and his party are doing a quest. We can wait for them while eating. However, I will report my quest to the receptionist first."

Izumi walked over to the reception desk.

"Um, about the manticore and griffon extermination quest. Um, how should I explain it?"

Seeing Izumi's dubious face, the receptionist lady asked.

"How is it? Did you fail?"

"Well, I don't know if this counts as success or failure. We managed to kill the manticore, but we didn't kill the griffon, we tamed it."

"Ha? What did you just say?" She was dumbstruck. She felt that there was a problem with her hearing. But, Izumi made it clear.

"I said, we've tamed the griffon. The griffon is outside now. Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me!"

Immediately after, she dashed out which attracted the attention of everyone in the guild so that she was followed by them. Everyone stared at the griffon basking in the sunlight.

The receptionist lady went back inside while asking Izumi to make sure.

"You actually tamed that griffon?"

"That's what I said earlier."

Of course, that immediately shocked everyone in the guild. They did not expect the newcomer to be so promising.

Izumi waited for the receptionist lady for a few minutes to confirm with the client. After a while, the receptionist lady came and said.

"According to the client, even if you didn't exterminate the two of them, you are considered to have completed the quest. For that, we will reward you with a sum of 500,000 Eris."

— — — —

*Burp*

"I'm full." Luffy burped after the swallowed meat disappeared into his stomach.

The members of Axel Hearts had seen when they were on their way to Axel town how greedy Luffy was when he ate. So they weren't surprised anymore.

In the afternoon, they met up with Kazuma and his party. Izumi had a one-on-one conversation with Kazuma and told him about Lia's situation. Naturally, Izumi couldn't ask Aqua directly because she would make it difficult for him considering that he didn't come to this world because of her.

"Izumi, what should I do? Our mission said that we must prevent Aqua from destroying Axel's town gate. But I don't know when that will happen." Kazuma asked worriedly.

"You don't have to worry. Most importantly, prevent her from using large-scale magic! That's enough. If she already uses large-scale magic, you only have 1 way."

"What is it? Run?"

"Nope. But, use that magic wand and become a magical boy." Of course, what Izumi meant was the magic wand he got from the mission. How could Kazuma want to use something like that?

"What the fuck!"

"Well, it's up to you. Anyway, I'm going."

"Hey, wait! Tsk, he's gone."

After leaving the members of Axel Hearts to Kazuma. Izumi, Kuroneko, and Luffy went somewhere.

Meanwhile…

"Hey, Kazuma." Aqua called out to Kazuma.

"Yes, yes, it's Kazuma." Kazuma answered while nodding.

"What did he say to you?"

"He found a Japanese girl who had lost her memory."

"As I expected. He is also Japanese… Wait a moment! A Japanese girl?" It was only then that Aqua realized there were three girls behind Kazuma. And one of them had the traits of a Japanese.

— — — —

4 days later.

Izumi and his party gathered in the guild. They were just relaxing while eating breakfast. They suddenly heard Kazuma who was at the next table.

"Aqua, I don't really want to say this. But you haven't been of any use so far." Kazuma said. Aqua was stunned while Kazuma ignored her and carried on.

"Normally, you should give me powerful abilities or equipment, allowing me to live in this world without worries. I was blinded by rage back then, but choosing you instead of ability was my fault. And here you are the replacement of those abilities or equipment, but are you performing on par with those special abilities or equipment? Have you? You were acting so great and confident at the beginning, but totally have no use at all, a former something!"

"Ugh... No-not former, emm... In principle, I'm still a goddess." Aqua looked down but still argued. Kazuma turned on his switch and his voice grew louder.

"Goddess!!?? A goddess must guide the hero to defeat the Demon King, and she must seal the Demon King first before the hero is strong enough to take him down!!! However, your only contribution is getting eaten by a toad and those bullshit party tricks!!"

"Whaaaaaaa----"

Aqua cried out loud while hiding her face on the table. Then, she raised her head with her teary eyes and retorted with pride.

"I'm useful, alright, like healing spells and healing spells or healing spells! You're just HikiNEET! If you continue to play around, how long will you take down the Demon King? If you have something to say, SPILL IT OUT!!"

Veins popped out from Kazuma's head. But, he calmly said.

"Listen Aqua, I don't have a special power like the protagonist in stories, what I want to say is, it was hard for me to earn money as an adventurer. The reward from the quest was too cheap and not worth the effort. I felt the value of life was too low in this world."

"So with your knowledge, you want to sell Japanese products that are not available in this world to earn money?"

"That's how it is, so you think about it too! Think of a business that can earn cash easily, and teach your only good point which is healing magic! I want to learn that after getting more skill points."

"No..!! I won't teach you healing magic! Don't snatch away the reason for my existence! You will be fine even without learning it, Whaaaaaaaah!!!"

After that, Aqua put her face down on the table while crying.