Chapter 30: The Second World-Crossing
Kobayashi couldn't help but feel like a huge idiot.
His preconceived notions, coupled with Aqua's ridiculous and deceptive boasting, had made him think that divine power was some kind of especially precious and rare commodity.
Still, he agreed to the demand for two bottles of sparkling liquor. If he wasn't even willing to give two bottles, what was the difference between him and some incredibly stingy freeloader, or one of those readers who enjoys a story without ever leaving a like or a favorite?
...
"Phew, charging complete."
Aqua wiped the non-existent sweat from her forehead, trying her best to look exhausted to make Kobayashi feel like the two bottles of sparkling liquor were worth it. But seeing her same old dopey, silly look, Kobayashi once again doubted how precious divine power really was.
But regardless, as long as he could cross worlds, it was fine.
He found Satou Kazuma and told him he was about to make his second world-crossing.
"Oh, you're starting the second one now?"
Kazuma wasn't as excited as the first time. He thought for a moment and said, "Kobayashi-senpai, you're not going to come back as quickly as last time, are you?"
"If nothing unexpected happens."
World-crossing was full of uncertainties. If he encountered danger, his own safety was naturally the top priority. He couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't flee back in disgrace like last time.
This was called being prudent, not chickening out.
"So we can just be shut-ins at home during this time?"
"That's exactly what I was about to say."
Kazuma was reasonably reliable, but Aqua and the others were pure troublemakers. Rather than letting them go out on quests to earn money, it was more reassuring to let them be shut-ins at the base.
"Don't worry about money."
Kobayashi took out a banknote and handed it to Kazuma. "Besides the 200,000 Eris we have for current party funds, I've actually deposited 1,000,000 Eris at the Adventurer's Guild as emergency funds. If anything happens, Kazuma-kun, you can use it."
"Ooh! I'll take it!"
Kazuma hadn't expected the party to have so much in savings. He solemnly stuffed it into his pocket.
Seeing the money go into someone else's pocket, Aqua couldn't accept it. She yelled, "Wait! I don't agree! Why give the money to Kazuma? I can manage the party's savings too!"
"You're such a spendthrift. How could we possibly give the money to you?" Kazuma said with a look of disdain.
"Huh?! That has nothing to do with it!"
"How does it have nothing to do with it? Didn't you forget last time when you threw a tantrum on the ground, crying and screaming for expensive sparkling liquor?"
"I'm a goddess! What's wrong with drinking something nice?"
"What kind of goddess throws a tantrum on the ground, begging someone to buy her sparkling liquor? You idiot!"
Kazuma had no concept of respecting a goddess. His tendency to just start yelling perfectly exemplified the concept of gender equality.
"Kobayashi, look at him..."
The aggrieved Aqua hugged Kobayashi's arm, looking up at him with watery eyes, as if hoping the party leader would teach the bullying Kazuma a lesson for her.
Kobayashi, who knew her true nature, naturally wouldn't side with her. But if he ignored her, she would just start whining about being treated differently.
To deal with someone like this, you had to distract them with another reward.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "If you stop making a fuss about this, Aqua, how about I buy you another bottle of high-grade sparkling liquor when I get back?"
"Deal!"
She agreed a little too quickly.
It made one suspect that her pitiful act just now was all to win sympathy and get the high-grade sparkling liquor she craved.
Kobayashi was a little angry.
Just as he was about to scold her and take back his promise, Aqua suddenly pulled a blue crystal necklace from between her mountain peaks.
"Since you might encounter danger, you should take this with you."
"What is this?"
He held up the necklace and examined the crystal closely. Other than emitting the same pure aura as Aqua's body and refracting a somewhat brilliant, divine blue light under the sun, it was just an ordinary-looking blue crystal.
Kazuma pointed at it and said, "Isn't that the useless necklace you bought at the weapon shop last time?"
Hearing him say that, Kobayashi also remembered. This was the very same useless blue crystal necklace, priced at a steep 80,000 Eris, that Aqua had insisted on buying, even resorting to throwing a tantrum on the ground. He remembered at the time, when Aqua said she wanted to buy it, Kazuma had scolded her for a long time for wasting money.
But now it was different. You could tell from the pure elements constantly emitting from within the crystal.
"Hehehe, this is no ordinary item!"
Aqua lifted her head, smugly sticking her little nose in the air, and boasted, "Originally, it was just an ordinary blue crystal that could store mana. But after I continuously infused it with my divine power for half a month, it has completed its transformation and now has many incredible uses!"
"What kind of uses?"
"Not only can it speed up mana recovery and increase affinity with the water attribute, but most importantly, it can also block mental attacks! And if, by some chance, an accident happens, the blue crystal on it will save your life! It is an item I—the Goddess of Water—personally created, comparable to a national treasure... no, a divine instrument!"
"Heh."
Kazuma let out a disdainful scoff.
Keep boasting. Aqua loves to exaggerate. Even if it has all those functions, the effects are definitely not on par with a divine instrument. And 'saving your life' is even more impossible.
Kazuma instead advised Kobayashi, "Kobayashi-senpai, don't believe a word of it! You know how unreliable the idiot goddess is. Just take what she says with a grain of salt."
"Mmm, I know. But it's the thought that counts. I'll gratefully accept it."
He took the necklace and put it around his neck. He immediately felt his mind become clearer, and the surrounding mana became more active. The effects were quite noticeable.
"Thank you, Aqua."
"You're welcome! You are my precious believer, Kobayashi, so of course I have to treat you well! It's okay. No matter what setbacks or hardships you face, please always remember that I will always be by your side. I am also your most reliable backup."
As she spoke, a stunningly beautiful smile appeared on her face, and a goddess-like radiance emanated from her body.
Only at times like this did she act like a proper goddess.
Looking at the beautiful Goddess of Water, Kobayashi's heart began to beat faster, his blood circulation speeding up. He had the illusion of a Crystal Deer running wildly in his heart.
A strange feeling was slowly growing.
No, no, no! She's Aqua!
He quickly shook his head, throwing the improper thoughts from his mind. Kobayashi wasted no more time and prepared to cross over.
"I wonder if RyuZU can come with me."
The divine ring was very powerful, but its drawback was that it couldn't bring people along. To be precise, it couldn't bring living beings along. Although RyuZU was a mechanical automaton made of gears, she spoke, thought, and acted just like a human. The reason he could bring her back before was that she hadn't been activated. Now, he didn't know how the ring would judge her.
With an uneasy heart, under the encouraging gazes of Aqua and Kazuma, Kobayashi raised his right hand, held up his index finger, and slowly said:
"—Cross!"
The next second, his figure vanished.