Chapter 3 : Planning

"Everyone, gather around! We need to discuss what we're going to do next."

Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness didn't say much and immediately sat in front of Kazuma.

"Alright, first, let's summarize what's happened to us. It seems like we've accidentally been thrown into another world, and in this world, there are many gods and goddesses living alongside humans and forming adventurer groups or Familia."

"Hahaha! Isn't that awesome, Kazuma? I can't wait to try my explosion magic on them. Let's see if they can survive it or not!"

"Megumin, shut up! Stop making things more complicated. And this is all your fault! If you hadn't jumped into that magic circle, none of this would've happened!"

"Kazuma, don't blame Megumin. If you need someone to blame, then blame me instead!"

Darkness, hearing Kazuma blaming Megumin, couldn't stay silent and offered herself as a sacrifice to protect Megumin.

"You shut up too, you perverted Crusader! If you don't, I'll use my skill to you in public."

"Ahhh!! Kazuma, that's unfair! You can't do that!"

Hearing Kazuma's threat, Darkness reflexively jumped a little from her seat, hugging herself with a flushed face.

"So, what should we do, Kazuma? It seems like we can't go back. I've tried contacting Eris, but it's never worked."

"Aqua, we have no other choice but to adapt and survive in this world. Don't forget how I brought you down from heaven. "We'll survive here until we know how to go back to our previous world, even if we have to sleep in a stable or work as laborers."

"What?? A stable? Kazuma, don't tell me you're planning to force us to sleep in a stable with you? AAAAAAH!"

Darkness's face turned even redder at Kazuma's words, and it seemed she was having trouble breathing, imagining something that normal people wouldn't even think of.

.....

.....

.....

After a long discussion, Kazuma announced his final decision.

"So, here's the plan. We're going to establish the Aqua Familia, and we'll become the strongest familia in this city!!!"

Even though Kazuma felt frustrated about not being able to return to his original world, deep inside, there was still a small flame burning, hungry for the amazing adventures awaiting him in this new world.

"As expected of Kazuma, you're amazing at this! That's right, we'll spread the name of Aqua across this world and make everyone worship me, yeah!!!"

"That's a great idea, Kazuma. You can use my body as a shield to protect the Aqua Familia from any enemies."

Darkness supported Kazuma's plan, saying it with the same flushed face as before. It seemed she had heard many things from Kazuma during the meeting, which left her in this state.

"I agree too! I'll show everyone how powerful my explosion magic is and make the whole world fear me, hahahaha!!!"

....

Knock... knock... knock...

The sound of someone knocking on the door could be heard from outside. It was Eina who was knocking.

Eina entered the room, accompanied by a young adventurer with white hair.

"Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Bell Cranel, a beginner adventurer under Goddess Hestia."

"Hello everyone, I'm Bell Cranel from the Hestia Familia."

Bell introduced himself to the four people in the room.

"I am Aqua, the goddess of water! I came down to the lower world to help Kazuma, but he's more trouble than he's worth! Still, with my divine powers, we're bound to have a great adventure!"

"Um, I'm Darkness, the Crusader. I may not be the strongest, but I'm here to protect my friends—even if I have to sacrifice my mind and body."

"I'm Megumin, the greatest archmage in all the land! I specialize in the ultimate spell, Explosion Magic!"

"Hi, I'm Satou Kazuma. I'm the most normal person in this party. Nice to meet you."

"Hahaha, you're quite a unique group."

Bell was slightly surprised by their introductions.

"So, Bell, as I mentioned before, they've just arrived in Orario, and Aqua-sama doesn't know how to grant Falna to her followers. Could you introduce Aqua-sama to Hestia-sama so she can teach her how to grant Falna? In return, they'll accompany you in the dungeon for a while."

Eina got straight to the point without any hesitation.

"Eh, I don't mind, but why do they have to accompany me into the dungeon?"

"Bell, don't you understand yet? Being an adventurer is dangerous, especially since you've been adventuring alone without a party. I'm really worried about you, which is why I've asked them to go into the dungeon with you. Besides, isn't it good for beginners to help each other out?"

Bell was touched by Eina's words. She was concerned for him not just because she was his advisor, but because she genuinely cared about him as a person.

"Well, If that's what Eina-san want, then I'll accept."

"Yosh! In that case, hurry up and take them to Hestia-sama."

...

After that, Bell led soon to be Aqua Familia to meet Hestia. The five of them made their way to the place where Hestia usually sold Jagamaru-kun.

"Everyone, we've arrived. The woman selling Jagamaru-kun is my goddess, Hestia-sama."

Hestia, who was enthusiastically promoting her goods, suddenly noticed that Bell had come to see her.

"Bell-kun! I miss you!!"

Hestia quickly ran over to Bell and hugged him.

"Hestia-sama, please stop that. There are people behind me!"

Bell said this shyly because a group of people was following him.

"Hmm? Bell-kun, who are they? Why are they following you?"

"Hestia-sama, this is Aqua-sama. She's a goddess who just came down from heaven and doesn't know how to grant Falna. Aqua-sama wants to learn how to grant Falna from Hestia-sama, and in return, her familia members will accompany me in the dungeon for a while."

"Um, hello! I'm Aqua, the goddess of water. I still don't know much about you, but Eina from the Guild recommended that I learn from you. You see, I want to learn how to grant Falna to them! Of course, later I will send my three faithful followers to help Bell in the dungeon!"

"Wow, a goddess asking for my help? This is the first time a goddess has asked for my help! I'd be happy to help you, Aqua! Granting Falna is a special and private process, so we can't do it in a public place like this. Let's go to my base. I'll teach you there!"

....

The five of them walked together to Bell and Hestia's temporary residence.

It was an abandoned church that looked quite simple, with walls covered in moss, broken windows, and a roof full of holes.

When they arrived in front of the abandoned church, Aqua couldn't help but comment.

"H-Hestia, please tell me you don't live in a place like this?"

"Ah, I know this isn't a decent place, but I just started building my Familia with Bell. But sooner or later, Bell will definitely get a proper place for me."

Without stopping to talk, Hestia guided Aqua and her followers to enter the basement of the abandoned church.

"Please, make yourselves comfortable."

Despite feeling a bit hesitant, they sat down on the slightly tattered sofa.

"So, Aqua, you want to learn about Falna?"

Hestia confirmed Aqua's intentions once again.

"Yes, I want to create the Aqua Familia and grant Falna to these three."

"Then let's get started right away!"

..... 

.....

1 Hour later. 

Hestia chatted a lot with Aqua, explaining everything about Falna to her. Kazuma, Megumin, and Darkness just listened from the side.

Finally, Aqua understands how to give Falna to adventurers.

"AAAH, it's finally done. It turns out giving Falna is really easy!'" 

"..."

Hestia fell silent and did not comment on Aqua's words.

Other gods and goddesses might only need five minutes to learn how Falna works, but Aqua, with her low INT, needed 12 times longer than the average god or goddess. So it wasn't surprising.

"Alright, then let's start with Kazuma. Kazuma, quickly take off your clothes!"

"Aqua, don't tell me you want to do it here?! Didn't you hear from Hestia-sama that granting Falna is a private matter??"

"Stop talking and quickly take off your clothes. Why are you being shy now? We've seen everything from you. You have nothing left to hide from us. Don't tell me you've forgotten about your Excalibur incident..."

"Okay, stop, stop! Alright, I'll take off my clothes."

Kazuma quickly removed his shirt and prepared to receive Falna so that Aqua wouldn't spread his embarrassing experience.

"In that case, Bell and I will wait outside."

Hestia led Bell outside to give them some privacy.

"Ah, there's no need. You can stay here and watch how I grant Falna to Kazuma."

"Aqua, is that really okay? This involves the secrets of your Familia. If other familias find out, they might take advantage of it."

"Ah, there's no need to worry. Besides, Kazuma is a weak adventurer; he has nothing to brag about."

Kazuma lay on the sofa, without wearing a shirt. He was ready to receive Falna from Aqua.

"Alright, Kazuma, get ready. I, Aqua, the goddess of water who blesses this world, will grant you Falna."

Aqua pricked her hand with a needle and drew a straight line with her blood on Kazuma's back.

As Aqua placed her hand on Kazuma's back, a faint glow began to emerge. The light slowly formed into a diamond shape, with a smaller diamond inside it and a straight line coming from the lower right inside the little diamond. It was none other than the emblem of the Axis Order, Aqua's divine mark. The Falna had been bestowed, and Kazuma was now bound to the goddess of water herself.

Image

A lot of unreadable letters appeared alongside Aqua's divine mark. Aqua's divine mark and the letters gradually moved toward Kazuma's back and etched to it like a tattoo. With this, the granting of Falna to Kazuma was complete.

The final step was for Aqua to attach a piece of paper to Kazuma's back so that his status could be read by others.

"Okay, all done! Let's see Kazuma's status," 

Aqua called for Megumin, Darkness, Hestia, and Bell to come and check Kazuma's status.

(To be continued)