Compassion above Stupidity

When we made it back to the guild, I told Aqua and Megumin to take Darkness to bath so she could recover while I turn in our bounties. There's a reason why I did this and the reason is simple.

I can't let Megumin and Darkness know about my curse.

I went straight towards Luna. The guild receptionist has that relieved look on her face once she saw me.

"Welcome back Kazuma san," Luna greeted us with a smile on her face. "How was the mission? Where's everyone else?"

I took out my adventurer card and put it on the counter. "Why don't you look for yourself Luna san?" I asked with a grin. "Also, the girls are taking a bath now,"

The girl nodded and began processing her cards. Her eyes widened after seeing the result. "Oh my! You cut down ten evil trees?" she looked at me in amazement. "Amazing! Your prize will be one million Eris, please wait for a moment,"

That means 250.000 Eris for each one of us, right?

After a minute, Luna took out a huge sack of money. "I'm sorry Kazuma san, but we only have 850.000 Eris in the guild for now. You'd have to wait until tomorrow for the rest of the pay. I'm sorry…"

Wrong, it's 250.000 Eris for everyone else and 100.000 Eris for me.

"Ahh, that sucks, by the way, can you split a hundred thousand Eris from the main bounty for me? I don't feel like I deserve that much bounty. I mean, I'm just going around barking orders you know? My teammates did all the heavy lifting."

"My, how kind of you Kazuma san," Luna picked up a smaller sack and filled it with one hundred Eris from the main sack.

Suddenly, another guild receptionist walked up from behind Luna. She whispered something to Luna and she smiled brightly. "Great news Kazuma, today's guild fund just arrived,"

Yep, it's the curse alright. I literally cannot have more than 100.000 Eris with me at all times. I have to literally rely on the generosity of my teammates if I want to get anything above that amount.

"Thanks, Luna, see you later,"

With that, I went to the nearest empty table and simply waited. I also thought about what I would do with Darkness. I mean, yeah it's the Useless Teammate curse, but damn, it was frustrating.

I can't punish her because that's a form of encouragement for her. Damn it, what should I do with her anyway? Even verbal abuse is compliment to her.

After a few minutes of pondering. They finally arrived. Aqua led the way at front with an excited smile on her face.

"Over here Aqua!" I shouted and the goddess head straight towards me with Darkness and Megumin following closely from behind. The Crusader looked like she has made a complete recovery, though Megumin still have that dissatisfied look on her face. Probably because she didn't get to use explosion.

"How much do we got Kazuma?" Aqua asked while staring hungrily at the two pouch of gold in front of me. I handed her the biggest one and the goddess quickly opened it with stars in her eyes. "All mine?"

"Of course not, share it with Darkness and Megumin," I waved mine a little. "I already took my share,"

Aqua narrowed her eyes and pointed her index finger accusingly. "You better not cheat Kazuma!" she exclaimed. "If you cheat, there will be divine retribution," she then turned towards Darkness. "Darkness, count the gold in this pouch,"

Darkness and Megumin sat down facing me. The former just sighed a little and began counting. "Kazuma is the party leader Aqua, it's alright if he wants to take a little more," the crusader expertly counted all the coins like she's been taught how to do it by an accountant.

"Darkness is right, besides, a powerful Archwizard such as myself has no desire for monetary value," Megumin added. "Kazuma can take my share if he wants."

"Exactly nine hundred thousand Eris," Darkness smiled a little. "Three hundred thousand Eris for each of us is quite a lot for a single mission,"

Megumin on the other hand narrowed her eyes. "That's funny, I swear Kazuma only get ten trees back there…" she muttered.

I cringed a little at that. Damn it, this girl's perceptive.

"Well, he obviously got more," Aqua held up her hand. "Hand over your money! Let the scale of justice judge your honesty!"

I really do not want to have this conversation. "Alright, I'll show you, why don't you come closer?" I pat a spot beside me.

Aqua sat next to me and looked at my pouch in suspicion.

I opened it in front of her and her eyes widened. Her expression fell a little and she turned towards Darkness.

The Crusader is giving Megumin her share. The Crimson Demon on the other hand already ordered herself something to eat.

"Ano, Darkness, how many gold coins are in there?"

"Ninety," Darkness without looking away from the coins she's counting. "A gold coin worth ten thousand. Ten gold coin worth one hundred thousand," she pushed thirty gold coins towards Megumin.

Aqua lowered her gaze beside me and handed me back the pouch.

"Sorry… I forgot…" she muttered.

"It's alright," I whispered to her. "Just tell everyone it's the same amount."

After a moment, Darkness pushed thirty gold coins towards Aqua. "Well, Aqua? Did he cheat?"

Aqua shook her head vigorously. "No, not at all, he didn't cheat," she cleared her throat and grabbed the thirty gold coins in front of her. "Anyway, we should celebrate, ne Kazuma?"

I grinned in response and gave her a thumb up. "Yep! We got tons of money! Let's grab something to eat," I looked at Megumin and saw a waitress putting down a tray of food in front of her.

"Waitress! Cabbage stews and swish please!"

"Fried toads and beer combo!"

"Roasted Lizard please,"

…

It was evening when we get back to the stables. Aqua was just a little bit tipsy after recovering herself with healing spell. The goddess yawned a little in exhaustion once she made it into the stables.

We're not even bothered by the smell anymore. We just plopped ourselves on a blanket draped over a hay and sighed in relief. It's been quite a day and I'm honestly pretty satisfied for what happened.

Except, of course, the part with Darkness. I mean, I don't really mind her being a disgusting masochist and all, but giving up without a fight? Seriously? That's where I have to draw a line.

Hmm… Also…

I turned towards Aqua who just sat down beside me.

"Ne, Aqua… I don't think the curses applies to you as well," the goddess turned towards me and tilted her head. "I mean, you're carrying around three hundred thousand Eris with no problem at all, right?"

Aqua blinked a little before looking at the pouch of money she put on the corner alongside mine. "Yes, what about it?"

"That means you don't have to force yourself to sleep in the stables if you want," I smiled a little. "You have tons of cash don't you? Why not treat yourself a nice warm hotel to spend the night?"

The Goddess was silent for a few minutes. She then slowly shook her head.

"No…"

"Hmm? Why not? I thought you hate sleeping here?"

"No, I mean yes, but," the goddess turned towards me and looked down. "I don't really mind, sleeping with you…"

Eh? Is this it?

YES!

No, wait, we don't know yet, let's not jump into conclusion…

Well obviously she likes me!

But… I don't even like her that way…

Shut up loser Kazuma!

Don't call me loser Kazuma, Kazuma!

Ahhh!

AAAH!

Aqua snapped her finger and pulled me back to reality.

"You're zoning out again Kazuma, what are you thinking now?"

"Nothing… I mean, why don't you sleep in a hotel?"

The goddess looked down shyly and played around with her hair.

"I told you… I don't really mind… sleeping with you…"

I smirked at that. "What? You fell in love with me?"

Aqua punched me playfully. "Don't let it go over your head Kazuma. A goddess like me is just doing this out of the kindness of my heart," she said.

"Right, thank you Megami sama,"

The girl smiled sweetly at me before lying down beside me.

"Well then Kazuma kun, sleep well so you can get tons of money to appease the goddess."

"Your wish is my command, Megami sama…"

I plopped down beside her and closed my eyes. I realized then how much her presence has warmed me over these past few days. I don't even know if I can sleep well without her around.

Guess I'm also kind of dependent on her…