The next morning came with the sound of church bells faintly ringing across Axel. Ethan stirred awake, a mild headache lingering after all the drinks he'd had last night, and an unfamiliar weight pressing against his chest. Blue hair draped across the covers—Aqua was drooling on him, softly snoring.
"Well, I'm not gonna complain," Ethan thought to himself as he carefully extricated his chest from the blue-haired koala wrapped around him.
"Alright," he muttered, sitting up and staring out the small, wooden-framed window that overlooked the cobbled street below. Merchants were already setting up their stalls, the smell of fresh bread and roasted meats drifting up with the cool breeze. "Alright, day two in Konosuba. Time to set some of my plans in motion."
Later, sitting in a booth and sipping coffee, Ethan pulled out his adventurer's card, tapping the surface with his finger. The glowing interface flared to life. His level now read 6, thanks to the frog massacre from yesterday, and the neat list of his growing skills gave him a little thrill. But power without direction was just wasting time.
"I didn't come here to just mess around—I have goals. Clear ones." He leaned back, setting his coffee on the table, and smirked. "Otherwise, I'll just drift around like Aqua on a bender."
Ethan thought back to the solid outline he had sketched for himself. Potential worlds to travel to, what he wanted to accomplish in them, and what order to approach them. The plan was flexible, of course—he wanted the freedom to do whatever he pleased. And with his ability to save a world file and freeze time when entering or exiting, he had no worries about missing out or people questioning his absence.
"Okay then. First goal here…" Ethan murmured.
Goal 1: Level to at least 20."First things first, power. If I'm at least level 20, I'll have enough strength to keep Kazuma and Aqua alive—and I'll also be able to travel to more dangerous worlds without getting my cheeks clapped. Plus, with my 10x boon, I'll have so many skill points I can max out some fun spells." He tapped the parchment, nodding. "Explosions, Light of Saber, definitely teleport. I'm not here to be some weak background character."
Goal 2: Buy the mansion.He grinned at the thought. "That haunted mansion from the anime. Cozy, roomy, way better than this shoebox inn. And hey, free pest control if Aqua handles the spirits early this time. Imagine living there with a crew of hot adventurers. Yeah, that's happening."
Goal 3: Build the harem.Ethan scratched his chin, jotting names under the heading.
Aqua – "She can be annoying, useless half the time, but undeniably hot. With the right guidance, she could actually be reliable. Deep down she's a good person and can be surprisingly sweet."
Luna – "Sweet, caring guild receptionist. Down-to-earth compared to the chaos of my party. Definitely waifu material. Plus, I already have a date lined up."
Darkness – "Masochistic crusader. Strong as hell, tanky, hilarious. I'm not personally into her brand of BDSM kinks, but I could play along. Variety is the spice of life."
Wiz – "Lich shopkeeper. Gorgeous, stacked, and a magic powerhouse. Yeah, technically undead, but Aqua can shut up about it. Eventually, I can fix that—maybe head to the DxD world and pick up some peerage pieces."
Yunyun – "Megumin's rival. Cute, awkward, desperate for friends. With a little encouragement, she'd join like a lost puppy."
Ethan chuckled, leaning back. "Not bad. I'd call that a pretty solid five-star lineup."
He stared at the list for a long moment before smirking. "Yeah, this is good. Now… onto the fun part."
The guild hall was lively that afternoon, sunlight slanting through tall windows and catching motes of dust above the crowd. Adventurers laughed, gambled, and argued over quests while servers hustled between tables carrying tankards of ale and steaming stew.
Luna was at her station as usual, blonde hair catching the light as she politely chatted with an armored party. Ethan leaned casually on the counter until she noticed him.
"Oh, Ethan!" she said warmly, eyes brightening. "It's good to see you."
"I did promise, didn't I?" he replied with an easy grin. "The party's done questing for the day, so I thought we could grab a meal together tonight."
A faint blush colored her cheeks, and she quickly cleared her throat. "R-right. I'm off duty in about five minutes. I'll freshen up and meet you outside the guild doors?"
"Works for me. Don't keep me waiting too long, though—I might get dragged off by Aqua for another round of 'help me, Ethan' shenanigans."
That earned him a giggle. "I'll do my best."
Fifteen minutes later, Luna stepped outside, trading her uniform for a light green dress that flowed to her knees—simple but elegant, cinched with a slim leather belt. Ethan blinked, momentarily stunned.
"Wow," he said honestly. "You clean up nice."
She flushed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're flattering me already. Come on, let's not waste the evening."
They wandered through Axel's streets, weaving past lantern-lit stalls and groups of laughing adventurers. Street performers played fiddles near the fountain while bakers handed out samples of honey cakes. Ethan had to admit—the town had a charm he never appreciated on a screen.
Eventually, they settled at a small tavern on the town's quieter northern edge. A candle flickered between them as they sat across from each other in a booth.
"I recommend the roasted boar with berry glaze," Luna said shyly. "It's a local specialty."
"Then that's what I'll take. And a bottle of wine, too. Something decent—don't hold back."
Her brows rose slightly. "Confident, aren't you?"
Ethan smirked. "Comes with the adventurer job description."
The food arrived, fragrant and mouthwatering—the boar glistening with sauce, steaming potatoes on the side, and a few vegetables Ethan didn't recognize. The wine was surprisingly smooth, not the cheap swill he half-expected.
As they ate, they talked. About Axel, about how Luna had grown up wanting to help adventurers but never had the courage to become one herself. Ethan shared carefully edited details about his "previous life"—a world without magic, where adventure existed only in books and games.
Luna's eyes softened as she listened. "It sounds lonely, in a way. No magic, no guilds… no chance to chase dreams."
"Exactly," Ethan said. "That's why being here feels like a second chance. I don't want to waste it. I want to set goals, push myself, and build something meaningful. Friends, power, maybe even a family one day. I'm not gonna just coast."
Her blush deepened. "You sound… very determined."
"I have to be. Otherwise this world will chew me up like one of those frogs yesterday."
They both laughed, easing the tension.
After the meal, they strolled back through Axel, the streets quieter now as lanterns flickered against the night sky. Luna walked close, her arm brushing his every so often. Ethan smoothly took her hand.
At the front of the guild lodging, she stopped. "Thank you for tonight, Ethan. I… had a really wonderful time."
He smiled. "So did I."
For a moment, neither moved. Then, with a burst of courage, Luna leaned forward and kissed his cheek, face lighting up scarlet.
As she stepped back, Ethan slid an arm around her waist, pulling her against his chest. His hand brushed over her ass—firm, soft, with just enough give. Hmm, nice, he thought.
"Y-you're bold," Luna whispered.
"Only when it counts," he said softly, leaning closer.
Their lips met. Luna gasped, giving Ethan the opening to slide his tongue in, circling hers. Her heartbeat pounded against his chest as the kiss deepened, lasting until she finally pulled away, breathless, a thin bridge of saliva snapping between them.
"Sweet dreams, Luna," Ethan whispered.
She gave him one last shy smile before hurrying inside, leaving Ethan by the door, the cool night breeze tugging at his cloak.
"I'm definitely gonna hit that once I buy my own place," he thought, picturing the mansion and its massive bath.
Exhaling slowly, he grinned. "Not bad for day two. Goals set, first date a success, and plenty more to come. This world doesn't even know what's about to hit it."
Turning on his heel, cloak fluttering in the wind, he headed back to the inn—where Kazuma and Aqua were surely causing trouble. Tomorrow would bring new quests, new challenges, and new opportunities.
And Ethan couldn't wait.