Konosuba: A different path

Chapter 4: A united team

The adventurers were silent for a minute due to the unfortunate scene but little by little things went back to normal, even if it hurt they couldn't give Aqua any comfort and they were not willing to let her be in their teams and take unnecessary risks, while Megumin and Darkness couldn't help thinking about how Kazuma saw them.

Megumin refused to learn any other magic and although he prided himself on that due to the fact that there was no other magic that compared to it in his personal opinion, that obviously didn't endear him to Kazuma who only accepted it after blackmailing him in public.

While Darkness to Kazuma was simply a hopeless case and had only joined because Kazuma had no other choice as the 3 useless girls became close friends too fast for his misfortune and he knew that arguing would be a waste of time.

However due to recent events they both thought it most likely that Kazuma would simply abandon his newly formed team and become a successful merchant.

Both of them had already been rejected too many times by other adventurers, so they knew how bad it would be for Aqua if they too left and for that very reason they would stay by his side, with the one person who never judged them, rejected them and even considered them friends.

But the longer they stayed together with their friend, the more concerns arose, although Kazuma certainly had the "luck" to get members with first level jobs, their situation in the adventures would be complicated because Megumin although he had an ability to defeat large amounts of enemies or giant targets, he could only do it once in open places to avoid friendly fire and would become a burden, while Darkness although he was a perfect human shield, simply lacked the ability to attack and his only "attack" would be to disturb and disconcert the enemies with his sick masochism.

While Aqua had a job designed to be in the rear, she had 2 special attacks due to her status as a goddess, but she did not have the ability to attack at long range and if all 3 were ambushed in a trap by several enemies in an enclosed place they would simply be lost.

So all 3 would be severely limited in their missions in which they would have to concentrate the monsters in one place and wait for Megumin's explosion to finish them all off, otherwise they would have to retreat and try again.

Although considering their personalities and without Kazuma to guide and take care of them it is unlikely that they would elaborate such a plan and if they did they would not know what to do if something unexpected happens.

It was for 30 minutes they were waiting for Aqua to calm down to talk to her until she fell asleep and Megumin dared to speak.

-I never thought that Kazuma and Aqua would come to an argument like this, before I joined their team I had seen them together and I always saw them giving their best,I never thought that they would get along badly.

- I knew Kazuma was brutal and a lustful beast but I never thought he was insensitive, I don't know what he thinks now but I don't think he was happy to say all that and although I understand his anger to some extent... he should apologize for the way he said it.

-It seems he had enough stress taking care of Aqua even though he never openly showed it.

-And then we came along and apparently only to give him more trouble than he already had, d-don't worry Megumin if Kazuma also d-wants to d-take it out on n-us! I'll protect you and a-accept w-with pleasure t-your b-brutal c-punishment, haaa~~, I-wonder h-how far Ka-Kazuma will go until h-he s-satisfied!

She said that last part while hugging herself and moaning at the same time.

-This is no time for your fantasies Darkness, we must find Kazuma and get him to reconcile with Aqua if we want to have a team and go on adventures, I didn't join this team just to see it dissolve, I won't stand by and watch my last hope vanish before my eyes!

He stood up doing one of his typical poses and then extended his hand to Darkness.

-Will you help me on my journey to reunite our beloved group?

Darkness stood up animatedly and with a strong handshake support ke replied:

-Even if I lose my dignity or have to suffer horrible punishment, I will follow you to the end!

-That's the attitude!

-Thank you for the compliment but we can't leave Aqua alone!

They both turned to look at the lonely goddess and noticed her mumbling

-Zzzzzzz... don't ....zzzz... let me ....zzz... let...

-What do we do? as a Crusader I refuse to leave the defenseless Aqua alone, some suspicious guys might come and take her to their lair to h-harm her or take advantage of her weak state, I'll stay and take her place, haa haa~ don't worry Megumin, I'll protect her with my life, they can have my body but never my heart!

This instead of reassuring Megumin only worried her.

-I-I think we can wait a while for Kazuma to come back, I don't think he is cruel enough to abandon his faithful teammate to her fate and leave without apologizing, besides I know they sleep in the stables, if Kazuma doesn't come back we can leave her there and meet her tomorrow when she wakes up in the stables.

-W-Well, but.... what if Kazuma doesn't come back we will always be a team right?

Darkness asked really worried about Megumin's answer.

-Of course Darkness, don't doubt it for a second!

She said with false confidence, as Megumin wasn't really sure if they could remain a functional team with one less member to back them up and she doubted that with their reputation as troublemakers anyone else would join willingly, with the exception of a certain lone mage desperate for friends, though it wouldn't be soon as she had set off on a journey of "self-improvement" in order to defeat her.

-Thank you Megumin, it's really reassuring to know that I can count on you.

-Of course we will overcome it together, no matter what happens, we will always overcome any obstacle, this is just a small setback for our bright future full of fun and exciting adventures, have faith that we will, I'm sure of it!

Although she had been told that she would have an "amazing" group, along with "good companions", the future can change because it is not carved in stone.

Eventually he would realize that from the first minute Kazuma became a merchant, his future would be different from what he was told and to some extent... unpredictable.