Chapter 11 — The Crusader Who Was Definitely Not Normal
The day after the battle with the Demon King's General, Axel was unusually quiet.
Not peaceful.
Quiet.
There was an important difference.
Zach Grace sat at the Adventurer's Guild with his arms crossed, staring at the two people sitting across from him.
The blonde armored woman from yesterday's battle sat perfectly straight.
Beside her was the silver-haired girl named Chris.
Kazuma sat next to Zach.
Aqua and Megumin were on the other side of the table.
Nobody had said much for the past thirty seconds.
Finally, Kazuma broke the silence.
"So…"
He pointed toward the blonde woman.
"You're Darkness."
Darkness nodded.
"Correct."
"And you're Chris."
The silver-haired girl smiled.
"That's me."
Kazuma looked at Zach.
Zach looked back.
Neither of them knew what to say.
Yesterday, they had fought alongside these two against one of the Demon King's Generals.
Today, they were sitting at the same table.
Zach decided to start properly.
"I'm Zach Grace."
Darkness nodded.
"I know. You were the one who stood against the Demon King's General."
She looked genuinely impressed.
"You have incredible endurance."
Zach smiled.
"Thanks."
Kazuma pointed at himself.
"And I'm Kazuma."
Chris nodded.
"Nice to meet you."
Aqua suddenly stood.
"And I am Aqua!"
Chris blinked.
"I know."
Aqua froze.
"You do?"
"You're the goddess who was yelling about being a goddess during the entire battle."
Aqua's face lit up.
"See?! Someone recognizes my greatness!"
Kazuma sighed.
"That's not what she meant."
Megumin placed a hand against her chest.
"And I am Megumin."
Chris smiled.
"The Explosion girl."
Megumin's eyes sparkled.
"You've heard of me?"
"Everyone has."
Megumin smiled proudly.
"Excellent."
Kazuma leaned toward Zach.
"That's not something we should encourage."
Zach nodded.
"Agreed."
Darkness suddenly stood.
"I have a question."
Everyone looked at her.
"I have been observing your party."
Kazuma became suspicious.
"Why?"
"Because I believe I would be a good addition."
Silence.
Zach blinked.
Kazuma blinked.
Aqua blinked.
Megumin looked interested.
Darkness continued.
"I am a crusader."
She placed her hand against her chest.
"My defense is exceptional, and I specialize in protecting my allies."
Zach considered it.
That actually sounded useful.
Their party had powerful offense.
Zach could serve as their frontline heavy hitter.
Aqua provided healing and support.
Megumin provided devastating magical firepower.
Kazuma handled scouting, utility, and hit-and-run attacks.
A dedicated defensive fighter could help.
Zach nodded.
"That could work."
Kazuma looked at him.
"Really?"
"She's a crusader."
"Yes."
"She can protect people."
"Yes."
"That's exactly what we're missing."
Kazuma sighed.
"I guess."
Darkness smiled.
"Then I would be honored to join."
Aqua raised her hand.
"Wait!"
Everyone looked at her.
"We haven't discussed payment!"
Kazuma stared at her.
"Payment?"
"Yes! If she joins, she has to contribute to our expenses!"
Zach nodded.
"That's fair."
Darkness immediately agreed.
"I will contribute whatever I can."
Kazuma looked impressed.
"Finally, a responsible person."
Zach nodded.
"She might actually be the most normal person we've recruited."
Megumin tilted her head.
"Why do you say that?"
Kazuma pointed at her.
"You're an Explosion maniac."
He pointed at Aqua.
"She's Aqua."
Then he pointed at himself.
"And I'm stuck with all of you."
Zach looked at Darkness.
"Yeah. She's definitely normal."
Darkness smiled.
"Thank you."
Zach smiled back.
He didn't notice the strange expression on Darkness's face.
Kazuma did.
He narrowed his eyes.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
Darkness immediately looked away.
"I wasn't."
"Yes, you were."
"No."
Kazuma looked at Zach.
"Did you see that?"
"See what?"
"Nothing."
Darkness stood.
"Then it is settled."
She joined the party.
And for approximately twelve hours—
Everything seemed normal.
A New Party Member
The next morning, Darkness arrived at their apartment.
She was fully equipped.
Armor.
Shield.
Sword.
Everything.
Zach looked her over.
"You're prepared."
"Of course."
Kazuma nodded.
"This is what a real adventurer looks like."
Aqua walked over.
"Can you cook?"
Darkness paused.
"…No."
Aqua's smile disappeared.
"Then you're not perfect."
Megumin looked at Darkness's armor.
"Can you cast magic?"
"No."
"Can you use ranged attacks?"
"No."
"Can you hit an enemy reliably?"
Darkness paused.
"I…"
Zach noticed the hesitation.
"Yes?"
Darkness looked away.
"I sometimes have difficulty striking moving targets."
Kazuma frowned.
"What?"
Darkness nodded.
"My accuracy isn't very good."
Zach blinked.
"How bad?"
"Quite bad."
Kazuma laughed.
"Well, that's not a big deal. You can still defend us."
Darkness smiled.
"Exactly."
Zach nodded.
"We can work around that."
The party left Axel for another quest.
Everything seemed fine.
Until Darkness fought her first monster.
A group of weak monsters appeared.
Zach stepped forward.
"Kazuma, flank them."
"Got it."
"Aqua, support."
"Of course!"
"Megumin, conserve your magic."
Megumin frowned.
"But—"
"Conserve it."
She sighed.
"Fine."
Zach looked at Darkness.
"Hold the frontline."
Darkness nodded.
"Understood."
The monsters charged.
Darkness raised her shield.
CLANG!
The first monster slammed into it.
Darkness didn't move.
Zach smiled.
"Nice."
Another attacked.
She blocked it.
Another.
Blocked.
Another.
Blocked.
Kazuma struck from the side.
Aqua supported them.
Megumin watched.
Zach was impressed.
"This is exactly what we needed."
Darkness smiled.
Then the monster scratched her armor.
She froze.
Her face turned red.
Zach noticed.
"Darkness?"
She looked strangely happy.
"That felt…"
She stopped.
Kazuma stared.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Zach narrowed his eyes.
Something was wrong.
But before he could investigate, the battle ended.
The monsters were defeated.
Everyone returned to Axel.
Zach forgot about it.
Until the following morning.
The Flying Cabbage Quest
The next day, an alarm sounded throughout Axel.
Zach immediately recognized it.
"Emergency quest."
Kazuma groaned.
"Again?"
Aqua rushed into the room.
"What's happening?"
Zach opened the door.
"Guild's calling adventurers."
Megumin grabbed her staff.
"Is it another Demon King's General?"
"I hope not."
They rushed toward the guild.
Luna stood behind the counter.
"Attention, everyone!"
The adventurers gathered.
Luna explained the situation.
"It's the annual cabbage migration."
Kazuma stared.
"…What?"
"Cabbages."
Aqua looked confused.
"Cabbages?"
Luna nodded.
"They fly through the region during this season."
Kazuma slowly looked at Zach.
"Did she just say flying cabbages?"
Zach nodded.
"She did."
"The cabbages are dangerous?"
"Apparently."
Luna continued.
"Adventurers are permitted to hunt them. Each cabbage captured is worth a reward."
Kazuma's eyes lit up.
"Money?"
"Money."
He grabbed Zach.
"We're doing this."
Zach nodded.
"Agreed."
Aqua raised her hand.
"I don't understand why vegetables are flying."
Megumin looked serious.
"Perhaps they have transcended their earthly limitations."
Kazuma stared at her.
"Don't make this philosophical."
Darkness stood nearby.
"A quest involving dangerous flying creatures."
She tightened her grip on her sword.
"I am ready."
Zach smiled.
"Good."
The party headed outside.
Then they saw them.
Hundreds of cabbages flew through the sky.
Kazuma's jaw dropped.
"…Those are actually cabbages."
Zach stared.
"Yep."
Aqua pointed upward.
"Why are they flying?!"
Megumin raised her staff.
"Fascinating."
Darkness looked excited.
"We should engage them."
Kazuma looked at her.
"You mean catch them."
"Yes."
"Right."
The cabbages suddenly descended.
"Incoming!"
Zach raised his arms.
THUD!
A cabbage hit him directly in the chest.
He caught it.
The cabbage struggled.
Zach looked at it.
"…This is ridiculous."
Kazuma laughed.
"Just throw it into the basket!"
Zach did.
The party started collecting cabbages.
Kazuma chased them.
Aqua used magic to knock them out of the air.
Megumin tried to catch one.
It smacked her in the face.
"How dare you!"
She raised her staff.
"Explosion!"
Zach grabbed her wrist.
"No."
"But it insulted me."
"It's a cabbage."
"An arrogant cabbage."
Darkness charged forward.
"Cabbages!"
She swung her sword.
Missed.
The cabbage flew past her.
She swung again.
Missed.
Again.
Missed.
The cabbage smacked her directly in the chest.
Darkness froze.
Her face became bright red.
Zach stared.
Kazuma stared.
Aqua stared.
Megumin stared.
Darkness slowly smiled.
"…Again."
Silence.
Kazuma's expression changed.
"What?"
Darkness held her shield up.
"Again."
The cabbage flew away.
Darkness chased it.
"Come back!"
Zach slowly turned toward Kazuma.
"Kazuma."
"Yeah?"
"Did she just ask the cabbage to hit her again?"
"I think she did."
They watched as Darkness deliberately stood in the path of another flying cabbage.
THUD!
It hit her.
Darkness smiled.
"Wonderful!"
Kazuma's face went pale.
"Oh no."
Zach frowned.
"What?"
"She's weird."
"Everyone here is weird."
"No."
Kazuma pointed.
"She's REALLY weird."
Darkness turned toward them.
"Did you say something?"
Kazuma immediately looked away.
"No."
Zach looked at her.
"Darkness, are you okay?"
"Perfectly."
She smiled.
"I simply enjoy…"
She paused.
"Taking damage."
Zach stared.
Kazuma stared.
Aqua blinked.
Megumin tilted her head.
Darkness continued.
"Being struck by powerful attacks. Being beaten down. Being unable to defend myself…"
Her face became red again.
"…is rather enjoyable."
Zach's mouth fell open.
Kazuma slowly backed away.
"Zach."
"Yeah?"
"She's a masochist."
Darkness nodded.
"Yes."
Kazuma stared at her.
"You admitted it?!"
"Why would I hide it?"
Zach rubbed his forehead.
"This explains everything."
"What does it explain?"
"Yesterday."
Darkness nodded.
"Yes."
"When that monster scratched your armor."
"Yes."
"You liked it."
"Very much."
Kazuma pointed at her.
"Why?!"
Darkness smiled.
"I don't know."
Zach stared at the sky.
"Of all the people we could have recruited…"
Aqua nodded.
"At least she's honest."
Kazuma turned toward Aqua.
"That is not the point!"
Megumin crossed her arms.
"I don't see the problem."
Kazuma looked at her.
"You don't?"
"No. Everyone has their own preferences."
"You're an Explosion addict!"
"Exactly."
Zach sighed.
"That's somehow the most reasonable explanation I've heard today."
The Cabbage War
Despite the discovery of Darkness's unusual personality, the quest continued.
And surprisingly—
She was useful.
Very useful.
She couldn't hit anything.
But she could block almost everything.
Cabbages bounced off her shield.
Monsters couldn't knock her down.
She could hold the frontline while everyone else collected the vegetables.
Zach watched her block a giant flying cabbage.
THUD!
Darkness didn't move.
Another.
THUD!
Another.
THUD!
Darkness smiled.
Kazuma shuddered.
"She's enjoying this."
Zach nodded.
"Definitely."
Kazuma whispered.
"She's terrifying."
Zach whispered back.
"Agreed."
Darkness looked over.
"Did you say something?"
"Nothing."
The party eventually collected enough cabbages to fill several baskets.
They returned to the guild.
Luna counted them.
"Excellent work."
Kazuma smiled.
"How much?"
Luna handed him the reward.
Kazuma immediately hugged the money.
"We're rich!"
Aqua grabbed some.
"We're splitting this!"
Megumin demanded her share.
Zach made sure everyone received their portion.
Darkness stood nearby.
Kazuma looked at her.
"So…"
Darkness looked at him.
"Yes?"
"You're really like that?"
"Like what?"
"You know."
He made an awkward gesture.
Darkness understood.
"Yes."
Kazuma shuddered.
"Right."
Zach sighed.
"We're going to have to adjust."
Darkness smiled.
"I will do my best."
Kazuma whispered.
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Aqua walked over.
"Darkness, welcome to the party."
Megumin nodded.
"Indeed."
Zach extended his hand.
"Welcome."
Darkness shook it.
"I'm looking forward to our adventures."
Kazuma stared at her.
"Why do I feel like this was a mistake?"
Zach looked at him.
"Because it probably was."
Darkness smiled.
"Don't worry. I'll protect everyone."
She raised her shield.
Zach nodded.
Despite everything…
She was strong.
Her defense was incredible.
She could protect the party.
And perhaps most importantly—
She fit in perfectly.
Unfortunately.
Zach looked at his party.
A goddess with terrible luck.
A wizard who only cared about Explosion.
A rogue who complained about everything.
A martial artist trying to forge his own path.
And now—
A crusader who enjoyed being hit.
Zach sighed.
"This party is getting stranger."
Kazuma nodded.
"Way too strange."
Aqua smiled.
"Isn't it wonderful?"
Megumin raised her staff.
"Indeed."
Darkness smiled.
"I agree."
Zach looked at all of them.
Then laughed.
"Yeah."
Maybe this wasn't the party he had imagined.
But it was his party.
And somehow, against all logic—
They worked.
Mostly.
Until Megumin suddenly raised her staff.
"Since we have completed the cabbage quest, perhaps we should celebrate with an Explosion."
Everyone shouted at once.
"NO!"
Megumin looked offended.
"Why not?!"
And once again, Axel descended into chaos.
System Notification:
[New Party Member Registered.]
[Darkness — Crusader.]
[Party Defense Increased.]
[Party Stability: Questionable.]
Zach stared at the final message.
"…Questionable?"
Kazuma looked over his shoulder.
"Even the system knows."
Darkness smiled.
Aqua laughed.
Megumin protested.
And Zach realized something.
The system might be able to measure their strength.
It might be able to track their skills.
But there was no system in existence capable of calculating the sheer amount of trouble this party was going to cause.
And somehow…
Zach was starting to look forward to it.