9 Reincarnated against Reincarnated

The party turned around and saw a man wearing a full armor except for the helmet heading towards them.

He grabbed the bars and easily bent them, it was impressive since Alex needed to use a demonic sword to cut them.

But before the man could grab Aqua, Darkness stopped him.

Darkness: Hey, don't act familiar with my companion. Who are you? If she knew you, why is Aqua not reacting at all?

She seemed such a good woman now… Why she can't be like this the entire time?

Tha man glanced at Darkness and sighed, before shaking his head, pissing off Darkness.

Alex went to Aqua and whispered.

Alex: ...Hey, it's someone you know, right? He called you Goddess just now. Go and handle that man.

After hearing what Alex said, Aqua came out from the cage with a 180° turn on her behavior.

Aqua: ...AH! Goddess! That's right, I'm a goddess. And? What problems do you want this goddess to settle? You guys are really helpless!

...Did she just forget about being a Goddess?

She saw the man and tilted her head.

Aqua: ...Who are you?

She didn't know him… No wait, Hana said that Aqua's job was helping many dead souls, it would be obvious not remembering them all.

?: Why are you saying this Goddess! It's me, Mitsurugi Kyouya! I received the magic sword, Gram, from you!

Aqua: ...Uh…?

This guy seemed a pain in the ass…

Aqua: Ah! Yes, there was such a person! Sorry, I totally forgot about you. I sent a lot of people here, so it can't be helped if I forgot!

Mitsurugi's face was a bit awkward, but he kept smiling.

Mitsurugi: Eh, it's been a while, Lady Aqua. As your chosen hero, I've been working hard every day. My job is Sword Master. I'm already at level 37… Oh right, what is Lady Aqua doing here? Or rather, why were you locked in a cage?

He stole glances at him, it seemed that Aqua fed up lies to him… So Alex started to explain the situation to Mitsurugi… But…

Mitsurugi: ...Preposterous, this is too illogical! There's no way that Lady Aqua would do such things! You did something to her, didn't you?! And you even locked her in a cage and threw her in the lake for this quest?!

Mitsurugi grabbed Alex's collar in fury, thinking that he was in the right. But Aqua restrained him in a hurry.

Aqua: You, what are you doing? This is nothing. I'm living every day happily, and am not angry about being brought to this world! And I can go back after defeating the Demon King! Today's quest was a bit scary, but it was resolved smoothly. No one was hurt and the reward is 300'000 Eris! And I would take everything!

Mitsurugi looked at Aqua with pitiful eyes and said.

Mitsurugi: Lady Aqua… I don't know how this man talked you into this, but you're being treated too illogically. After such a sacrifice, you only earned 300'000? You are a goddess! For a goddess to be treated this way… By the way, where do you stay at night?

Aqua: At the beginning we would stay in a cheap inn, but when we don't have any money we would be in the stables.

Mitsurugi grabbed Alex's collar with more force, making Alex grit his teeth in anger.

Darkness: Hey, watch yourself. You've been unreasonable all this while. This must be the first time you've met Alex, so there should be a limit to how rude you can be.

Then Mitsurugi let go of Alex and excitedly observed Darkness and Megumin.

Mitsurugi: ...Crusader and an Archmage? And… They look rather good too. Seems that you had great luck in finding companions, but that doesn't make sense. Don't you feel ashamed in letting Aqua and these two excellent members sleep in the stables or a cheap inn? 

And what is your jo-

Alex sent a knee attack at Mitsurugi, who blocked it with a single hand, both of them looked at each other's eyes.

Alex: That's enough. You are annoying, if you don't stop, you can forget one of your limbs. You are just someone who started with everything as you liked, this is why your standards are too high. 

However, Mitsurugi just ignored him and spoke to the other three girls with a charming smile.

Mitsurugi: It must have been hard on you all so far. Please join me from now on. Of course, I won't let you all sleep in the stables, and will buy the full set of premium equipment for you. the balance of the team is great. 

Me as a Sword Master, my Warrior comrade and you as a Crusader, along with my Thief comrade, this Archmage and Lady Aqua. What a perfect combination, it's a match made in heaven.

Alex glared at Mitsurugi, but he closed his eyes and calmed down, these terms were not bad for the three girls, if they accept him, he can't blame them…

Aqua: It feels wrong. The self righteous way in which he talks made me cringe. And his narcissistic tendencies frighten me.

Darkness: What should we do? I feel physically repulsed by this man for some reason. I prefer active people over passive ones, but somehow that guy makes me want to beat him up.

Megumin: Can I cast my magic? Can I throw an explosion spell into the face of that elite who's talking down to us without ever experiencing a day of hardship?

After that conversation, Aqua tugged on Alex's sleeve and said.

Aqua: Hey Alex, let's hurry to the guild, okay? I might've been the one who gave him the powerful sword, but I think it would be better not to get too close with such people.

Alex smiled at this, they may be a bunch of useless people, but it is HIS bunch of useless people…

As Alex tried to move away, Mitsurugi blocked his way.

Alex: ...Please move out of the way.

Mitsurugi: Pardon me, but Lady Aqua is the one who bestowed this sword to me. And seeing my benefactor who granted me power fall to such a state, I can't simply ignore it. You can't save the world, the one to defeat the Demon King will be me. 

It would be better for Lady Aqua to follow me… How about making a bet? If I win a fight, you must give me Lady Aqua to me; If you win, I can promise you one thing, anything.

Darkness: W-What absurdity! An high-level adventurer fighting against a mid-level adventurer! Alex, let's lea-

Alex: ...No, I will accept the fight.

Megumin/Aqua/Darkness: What?!

Megumin: B-But his level is twice than your level!

Alex: I need to show off the reason that I am the leader of the group, should I not?

He murmured those words low enough so that they couldn't be heard, and put an hand on his back, before taking out an Oblivion Blade of Nulgath, as if he unsheathed it.

Mitsurugi: Interesting blade… Hmph! It can't be compared to my Gram! Let's start!

Mitsurugi unsheathed his magic sword Gram and slashed at Alex, who grinned. He deflected the magic sword with his own sword before striking at him. However, as expected of a high-level adventurer, he seemed to have used a skill already.

Mitsurugi: [Acceleration].

Mitsurugi's blade reached a new speed and deflected Alex's Oblivion Blade of Nulgath upwards, and then got in a thrusting stance.

The girls of Alex's party gasped in shock, but Alex grinned, surprising Mitsurugi.

Alex: [Shackle]

*Boom!*

Mitsurugi was flung some meters back, while his blade was moved upwards from the force of the shockwave. Meanwhile a blue glow surrounded Alex as chains coming from nothing binded him, as if making an armor around his body.

Meanwhile Alex abandoned the Oblivion Blade of Nulgath and summoned the Overfiend Blade of Nulgath, the massive sword was immediately caught from the gravity and slammed on Mitsurugi, splitting in half his armor and knocking him out with a bloody head.

Alex: He shouldn't have underestimated me, if he got all out from the beginning I would have lost for sure…

?/??: Kyouya!

Two girls rushed towards the unconscious man, and glared at Alex.

Girl 1: How dare you do this to Kyouya!

Girl 2: We will fight you! Prepare yourself!

The two of them put themselves in a stance and got ready to fight, meanwhile Alex summoned 3 more Overfiend Blades of Nulgath and made all 4 of them float beside him.

Alex: Go on, let's see how much you will last.

Girl 1: Eek!

The two girls held on Mitsurugi and tried to leave, but an Overfiend Blade of Nulgath shot against Mitsurugi and blocked him on the ground, surprising the girls.

Girl 2: W-What is the meaning of this?!

Aqua: H-Hey Alex! Don't kill them!

Alex: Don't worry, I won't kill them. I just want to get my own reward for winning.

Alex walked towards Mitsurugi and picked up the magic sword Gram.

Girl 2: What?! You can't take that! Only Kyouya can use that magic sword. That sword chooses its owner, and it chose Kyouya as its master! The blessing of the sword won't work on you!

Alex turned towards Aqua, who said.

Aqua: It's true. Regrettably, the sword Gram is the exclusive weapon of that unpleasant guy. It bestows one with arm strength beyond the human limits when equipped, and the sword is a sharp weapon that can cut through steel like a vegetable. 

But in Alex's hands, this would just be a normal sword.

Alex: ...So there was such a thing… Wait, since the sword chooses its own owner, does it mean that it is alive?

Aqua: Yes.

Alex: ...

Alex made the Overfiend Blades of Nulgath disappear and left with his party.

Alex: I'll take the blade.

Girl 1: Wha-?!

Aqua: You can't use it, Alex! ...No, wait, you want to sell it? I will support this decision!

Then they left Mitsurugi's party and headed to the adventurer's guild dragging back the broken cage. Since they decided all of the reward would go to Aqua, Alex left the task of reporting the completion of the quest to Aqua and the others while he returned the borrowed horse. 

Then he went outside the town with the magic sword Gram and took out the Combat Soulreaper of Nulgath...