Chapter 3 — The Goddess Is the Cheat Item?!
The road to Axel was longer than Zach had expected.
Much longer.
Zach had been walking for what felt like hours.
His legs were sore from yesterday's training, his stomach was empty, and his feet were beginning to hurt.
Beside him, Kazuma looked surprisingly comfortable.
"How much longer?" Zach asked.
Kazuma shrugged.
"Maybe another hour."
Zach sighed.
"How do you know?"
"I don't."
"Then why did you say an hour?"
"Because it sounded reasonable."
Zach stared at him.
"You're going to be a problem."
Kazuma smiled.
"You're just figuring that out?"
The two continued walking.
For a while, neither said anything.
Then Zach suddenly stopped.
Kazuma took several more steps before noticing.
"What?"
Zach stared at the road behind them.
"Something feels wrong."
Kazuma immediately became alert.
"Monster?"
"No."
"Bandits?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Zach's eyes narrowed.
"I feel like we're forgetting something."
Kazuma thought about it.
"I don't think so."
Zach crossed his arms.
"We woke up in a fantasy world."
"Yes."
"We don't have money."
"Correct."
"We don't have food."
"Also correct."
"We don't have a place to stay."
"Unfortunately."
Zach frowned.
"There's something else."
Kazuma scratched his head.
"I don't know."
Then—
A woman's voice echoed from behind them.
"HEY!"
Both boys froze.
Kazuma's eyes widened.
Zach slowly closed his eyes.
"Oh no."
Kazuma looked at him.
"You know that voice?"
"Unfortunately."
Footsteps approached.
Fast.
Very fast.
Then a blue-haired woman came running down the road.
"Aqua!"
Zach and Kazuma shouted simultaneously.
Aqua stopped in front of them, bent over, and began gasping for air.
"Why… did… you two… leave without me?!"
Kazuma stared.
"Why were you following us?"
Aqua looked offended.
"Following you?!"
She stood straight and pointed dramatically at Kazuma.
"I'm your goddess!"
Kazuma's face went blank.
"…Right."
Zach looked at Kazuma.
Kazuma looked at Zach.
Then both looked at Aqua.
Zach suddenly remembered.
"Oh."
Kazuma's expression changed.
"Oh."
Aqua blinked.
"What?"
Zach slapped his forehead.
"We forgot about you."
Aqua's face turned red.
"HOW DO YOU FORGET A GODDESS?!"
Kazuma pointed at Zach.
"He knew you first!"
Zach pointed back.
"You're the one who picked her!"
Aqua's eyes widened.
"Wait! What do you mean he picked me?!"
Kazuma froze.
Zach froze.
Aqua looked between them.
"…Explain."
Kazuma sighed.
"Fine."
He pointed toward Zach.
"This guy already knew you before I met you."
Aqua's eyes narrowed.
"He knew me?"
"Apparently."
She looked at Zach.
"How?"
"Long story."
Aqua turned toward Kazuma.
"And you?"
Kazuma sighed.
"Apparently, when I died, you were the goddess responsible for sending me to this world."
Aqua proudly smiled.
"Correct!"
"And I was allowed to bring one thing with me."
"Yes!"
Kazuma pointed at her.
"And I chose you."
Aqua's smile disappeared.
"…Yes."
Zach covered his mouth.
He was trying not to laugh.
Aqua noticed.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Nothing."
"You know something!"
"No."
"You definitely know something!"
Kazuma looked suspiciously at Zach.
"You knew this was going to happen?"
Zach shook his head.
"I forgot too."
Aqua crossed her arms.
"Well, I am Kazuma's cheat ability!"
Kazuma looked at her.
"Don't say it like you're proud."
"I am a goddess!"
"You're also useless."
Aqua's eye twitched.
"Take that back."
"No."
"Take it back!"
"No."
Zach couldn't hold it anymore.
He burst out laughing.
Aqua turned toward him.
"And what's so funny?!"
Zach wiped his eyes.
"Nothing. It's just…"
He looked at Kazuma.
"You're telling me that the greatest cheat item this goddess could give you…"
He pointed at Aqua.
"…was herself?"
Kazuma nodded.
"Unfortunately."
Aqua raised both arms.
"HEY!"
The three continued toward Axel.
Zach walked between Aqua and Kazuma.
He couldn't help thinking about how strange the situation was.
In the original story, Kazuma had chosen Aqua as his cheat ability.
But now there were three people traveling together.
Kazuma had Aqua.
Zach had his Dragon Ball Training System.
And neither of them had any idea how different the story was going to become.
Zach looked at Aqua.
"So you're really coming with us?"
Aqua proudly nodded.
"Of course!"
Kazuma groaned.
"I was hoping you'd disappear."
"You can't get rid of me!"
"Unfortunately."
Aqua smiled.
"Besides, I'm incredibly useful."
Kazuma stared at her.
"Name one useful thing you've done."
Aqua opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
She thought harder.
"I…"
Silence.
Zach laughed.
Aqua pointed at him.
"Don't laugh!"
"Sorry."
"You don't sound sorry!"
Eventually, the walls of Axel appeared in the distance.
Zach stopped walking.
"So that's Axel."
The city looked exactly like something from a fantasy anime.
Stone walls surrounded the town.
People entered and left through the gates.
Adventurers walked along the road wearing armor, carrying swords, staffs, bows, and other weapons.
Zach couldn't help smiling.
"This is actually happening."
Kazuma looked toward the city.
"Yep."
Aqua proudly raised her chin.
"Welcome to the wonderful world of adventure!"
Zach looked at her.
"You say that like you've actually adventured before."
Aqua looked away.
"Well…"
Kazuma sighed.
"She hasn't."
The Adventurer's Guild
The first place the three went was the Adventurer's Guild.
The moment Zach entered, he was hit by the sound of conversation.
Adventurers were everywhere.
Some were eating.
Some were drinking.
Others were talking about monsters and quests.
Zach looked around.
"This is awesome."
Kazuma nodded.
"Yeah."
Aqua immediately walked toward the receptionist.
"We're here to become adventurers!"
The receptionist smiled.
"Of course. Please come this way."
The three sat at the registration counter.
The receptionist placed three cards on the table.
"These are adventurer cards. They will display your basic information, abilities, and class."
Zach picked his card up.
It was surprisingly light.
"How does it work?"
The receptionist explained.
"Your card will record your abilities and allow you to monitor your progress."
Zach looked at Kazuma.
"Pretty convenient."
"Very."
Aqua immediately grabbed her card.
"Let me go first!"
She placed her hand on it.
The card began glowing.
The receptionist looked at the results.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh my."
Aqua smiled.
"I told you I'm a goddess."
The receptionist continued reading.
"Your magical power is extremely high."
Aqua puffed out her chest.
"Of course."
"And your luck…"
She paused.
Aqua's smile disappeared.
"…is extremely low."
Kazuma burst out laughing.
"HAHAHAHA!"
"SHUT UP!"
Zach looked at the card.
"That is impressive."
Aqua crossed her arms.
"My luck doesn't matter!"
Kazuma continued laughing.
"It absolutely matters!"
Next was Kazuma.
He placed his hand on the card.
The receptionist studied the results.
"Your intelligence and luck are quite high."
Kazuma smiled.
"See?"
Aqua frowned.
"But your strength and magical power are mediocre."
Kazuma's smile vanished.
"…Oh."
Zach laughed.
Aqua immediately pointed at him.
"Now you know how it feels!"
Kazuma glared at her.
"Don't enjoy this."
Finally, it was Zach's turn.
He placed his hand on the card.
Nothing happened.
The receptionist waited.
Zach waited.
Aqua waited.
Kazuma waited.
"…Is it broken?" Zach asked.
The receptionist shook her head.
"No."
The card suddenly began glowing.
A series of numbers appeared.
The receptionist stared.
"Interesting."
Zach leaned forward.
"What?"
"Your physical abilities are unusually balanced."
"Is that good?"
"Very."
The receptionist continued reading.
Then she stopped.
Her expression became confused.
"What is this?"
Zach looked at the card.
A single word appeared.
MARTIAL ARTIST
Zach's eyes widened.
"Martial Artist?"
The receptionist nodded.
"Apparently."
Aqua looked confused.
"What kind of class is that?"
Zach smiled.
"I think I know."
He opened his system.
[CLASS DETECTED]
MARTIAL ARTIST
Class Type: Physical Combat
Primary Attributes:
StrengthSpeedEnduranceKi ControlReflexes
Class Specialty:
Hand-to-hand combat.
Class Development:
The Martial Artist class evolves through physical training, combat experience, and Ki mastery.
Class Skills:
Basic Ki ControlMartial Arts TrainingPhysical Conditioning
Future Skills: LOCKED
Class Level: 1
Zach smiled.
"So this is my class."
The receptionist nodded.
"It seems particularly suited to you."
Kazuma looked at Zach's card.
"Does it come with anything useful?"
Zach shook his head.
"Not yet."
Aqua tilted her head.
"Then why are you smiling?"
Zach looked at his hands.
"Because I think this is exactly what I needed."
His Dragon Ball system wasn't going to simply give him Saiyan abilities.
He wasn't a Saiyan.
He couldn't transform into a Super Saiyan.
But he had something else.
A path.
A class built around becoming stronger through his own body.
The receptionist handed the cards back.
"Congratulations. You are now registered adventurers."
Aqua jumped up.
"YES!"
Kazuma stood.
"Finally."
Zach looked at his card.
Zach Grace — Martial Artist — Level 1
He smiled.
This was the beginning.
Not of becoming a Saiyan.
Not of copying Goku.
But of becoming something different.
Something uniquely his.
The system suddenly chimed.
DING!
[CLASS QUEST UNLOCKED]
Path of the Martial Artist
Objective:
Reach Level 2.
Requirements:
Gain combat experience.Improve Ki Control.Complete physical training.
Reward:
New Martial Artist Skill
Bonus Condition:
Defeat an opponent stronger than yourself.
Zach's eyes widened.
"A quest."
Kazuma looked at him.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Aqua groaned.
"Why do you keep saying that?"
Zach smiled.
"Because I've got work to do."
Kazuma sighed.
"Of course you do."
Aqua raised her hand.
"Can our first quest be something easy?"
Zach looked at her.
"Like what?"
Aqua thought for a moment.
"Defeating the Demon King."
Kazuma immediately grabbed her shoulder.
"We're starting with cabbages."
Aqua frowned.
"Cabbages?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because we're broke."
Zach laughed.
The three of them walked toward the guild's quest board.
Zach looked at the enormous list of available quests.
Monster extermination.
Gathering herbs.
Escort missions.
Cabbage harvesting.
And somewhere among all those ordinary quests was the beginning of his journey.
He had no money.
No equipment.
No experience.
He was a Level 1 adventurer.
He was human.
And his dream of becoming a Super Saiyan was impossible.
But Zach Grace wasn't giving up.
If the system wouldn't let him borrow the power of the Saiyans…
Then he would build his own power.
One training session at a time.
One battle at a time.
One broken limit at a time.
Zach clenched his fist.
"Let's see how far a human can go."
Zach scanned the quest board.
There were dozens of requests.
Gather herbs.
Escort merchants.
Find lost pets.
Collect medicinal plants.
And then he noticed a familiar quest.
His eyes widened.
"Wait."
Kazuma looked over.
"What?"
Zach pointed at the paper.
Giant Toad Extermination
Location: Nearby grasslands
Difficulty: Beginner
Reward: 1,000 Eris per toad
Zach stared at it.
"Giant Toads."
Kazuma walked over and read the quest.
"Hmm."
Aqua looked over his shoulder.
"What's wrong with toads?"
Zach looked at her.
"These aren't normal toads."
"How bad could they be?"
Zach remembered the anime.
Very bad.
Giant.
Hungry.
And capable of swallowing adventurers whole.
"Bad."
Kazuma looked at the reward.
"One thousand Eris per toad?"
His eyes lit up.
"We're taking it."
Zach nodded.
"Agreed."
Aqua raised her hand.
"Wait!"
Both boys looked at her.
"Why?"
Aqua pointed dramatically at the quest.
"It says giant toads!"
"Yes."
"Those things are disgusting!"
Kazuma sighed.
"You're a goddess. Aren't you supposed to be brave?"
"I can be brave and still dislike being eaten!"
Zach laughed.
"We'll be fine."
Aqua looked at him.
"You don't even have a weapon."
Zach looked down at his fists.
"I don't need one."
Kazuma stared.
"You're planning to punch giant monsters?"
"That's the plan."
"You're insane."
"Probably."
Zach opened his system.
[QUEST ACCEPTED]
Giant Toad Extermination
Objective: Defeat Giant Toads.
Recommended Party: 3+ Adventurers
Reward: 1,000 Eris per defeated Giant Toad
Bonus: Combat experience
Bonus Condition: Defeat a Giant Toad using Martial Arts.
Bonus Reward: Martial Artist Skill Progress
Zach grinned.
"Perfect."
Kazuma looked at him.
"Why are you smiling?"
"My first real fight."
Aqua's expression became nervous.
"Maybe we should choose something easier."
Kazuma shook his head.
"No."
Aqua looked relieved.
"Really?"
"We're broke."
Aqua's relief disappeared.
"Oh."
Kazuma grabbed the quest paper.
"We're killing toads."
Later
The three stood outside Axel.
Zach stretched his arms.
Kazuma checked his equipment.
Aqua nervously looked toward the grasslands.
"So…"
She swallowed.
"How many toads do you think we'll have to fight?"
Zach shrugged.
"Probably a few."
Aqua stared at him.
"And if there are dozens?"
"We'll deal with them."
"And if they're stronger than expected?"
Zach clenched his fists.
"Then I'll train harder."
Kazuma looked at him.
"You realize that's not how fighting works, right?"
Zach smiled.
"We'll find out."
Aqua sighed.
"I have a terrible feeling about this."
They started walking.
None of them noticed the movement in the grass ahead.
Something large was approaching.
Then—
RIBBIT.
Zach stopped.
Kazuma stopped.
Aqua stopped.
Another sound came from the grass.
RIBBIT.
Aqua slowly turned toward the others.
"…Was that a normal frog?"
Kazuma shook his head.
"No."
The grass suddenly exploded outward.
A massive green creature leaped into the air.
Its enormous mouth opened.
Aqua screamed.
"GIANT TOAD!"
Zach's eyes widened.
The system appeared before him.
[COMBAT DETECTED]
Enemy: Giant Toad
Threat Level: Low
Host Power Level: 5
Enemy Power Level: 12
Warning: Enemy is stronger than host.
Class Quest Condition Activated.
Defeat an opponent stronger than yourself.
Progress: 0/1
Zach stared at the numbers.
Power Level 12.
His own was only 5.
He smiled.
"Finally."
Kazuma looked at him like he had lost his mind.
"Why are you happy?!"
Zach raised his fists.
"Because this is exactly what I've been waiting for."
The Giant Toad charged.
Aqua screamed.
Kazuma ran.
Zach stayed where he was.
"Let's see what this Martial Artist class can do."
End of Chapter 3