"First of all, I have no intention of joining any religion. Secondly, we still have work to do."
Setsuna firmly rejected the two goddesses' attempts at conversion.
"After defeating the Demon King, there are still companions I want to recruit in this world, and I'd like to bring back some local goods as souvenirs."
"Considering our limited manpower, I'll need to bring in some reinforcements."
Beep—
Setsuna opened a communication link to the Starsea Empire's capital.
Richelieu's image appeared in the holographic display.
"Have Kanae, Kanao, Akame, and Jeanne d'Arc come over. I have a small mission for them."
"Understood."
Richelieu immediately began organizing the expedition team from the capital.
The KonoSuba world had many potential recruits scattered across its lands. It wasn't practical for Setsuna to personally visit each one, and the Angeloids weren't exactly good at holding conversations.
The simplest solution? Bring more girls from his own forces—they could help gather recruits and test their strength against the remaining demons and Demon King officers.
Whoosh—
Before long, a small shuttle passed through the teleportation anchor and arrived in the KonoSuba world.
"Whoa—"
The Butterfly sisters gazed curiously down at the world below.
Medieval-style towns and villages, dense forests, and roaming monsters filled the land.
A textbook swords-and-magic world.
The only unusual detail was the bizarre wildlife—cabbages marching across fields and saury fish growing from the soil.
"Alright, I've got a small mission for you all."
Setsuna transmitted a map and a list to the expedition's shuttle.
It displayed several marked names and coordinates.
"Recruit these people. Also, collect anything interesting you find."
"Oh, and if you've got time, feel free to spar with the remaining demons or Demon King officers. Don't worry—they're not dangerous now that the Demon King's gone."
"Commander, you're just finding excuses to pick up more girls," Shinobu grumbled, puffing her cheeks.
"Says the one who was picked up herself. Who was it that refused to leave the Citadel once she got there?" Kanae teased, giving her a light tap before nodding to Setsuna.
With a graceful motion, Kanae activated several smaller ships from their shuttle's hangar.
"Alright, Shinobu, Kanae, Akame, Mine… split into three teams. First unit heads for Belzerg's royal capital. Second unit…"
"Don't make the Commander wait too long~" she added with a playful smile.
Over the years, Kanae had grown from a local recruit into a capable squad leader.
"Understood~"
Whoosh—
The smaller vessels each locked onto their assigned coordinates and flew off in separate directions.
...
"Oh…"
The two goddesses watched in astonishment. Setsuna's way of operating could only be described as swift and decisive.
"Hero, what are you doing exactly?" Eris asked, clearly puzzled.
He had gone from slaying the Demon King to recruiting companions almost immediately. The way he acted showed he already knew this world inside out—something that made no sense to her.
"My purpose here's simple," Setsuna replied calmly. "I promised Aqua I'd eliminate the Demon King. I'll also recruit some companions and then return home."
"Once that's done, we'll leave."
He briefly explained the situation.
Normally, upon entering a new native world, he would simply deploy Angeloids for total planetary control.
But since this world was under Eris's jurisdiction, there was no need for force. Once he brought Eris back with him, the world would naturally become part of the Starsea Empire—as both a vassal and a gift.
There was no need for violent conquest.
"Oh…"
Eris listened with a faintly confused but intrigued expression.
She at least understood that this world contained people Setsuna cared about.
"In that case, Hero, I can lend you a hand," she offered softly.
"Oh?" Setsuna raised an eyebrow. "You're planning to descend yourself?"
"No, no…" Eris waved her hands quickly. "With Lady Aqua already here, it wouldn't be appropriate for my true body to descend as well…"
She still seemed a bit wary of Aqua.
"Most of Belzerg Kingdom's people are my followers. If they receive my oracle, your interactions with them will be much smoother."
"Your victory over the Demon King deserves to be known across the world, so that all may sing of your deeds."
Shua—
Heaven.
In a vast, serene chamber sat a silver-haired, blue-eyed goddess—her expression calm, her features radiant and divine.
She wore a flowing blue-and-white dress, resembling a nun's robes from medieval times, and a priestess' headpiece adorned her hair. Compared to her human form, Chris, her divine body was far more graceful, her attire curving elegantly with her figure.
Eris, Goddess of Fortune—the ruler and overseer of this world.
Clap—
She pressed her hands together, releasing a burst of sacred light.
"My followers… hear my words."
...
On the mortal plane—
Axel, the Great Cathedral of the Eris Church.
Inside, priests led their congregation in prayer before the statue of their goddess.
"We thank the great Goddess Eris for her blessings…"
"Please guide us forward. Grant us the power to triumph over monsters and the Demon King. Bring peace and prosperity to this world…"
Not long ago, the launch of a mysterious flying ship from Axel had caused widespread panic.
Some thought it was a hero's vessel. Others believed it was the Demon King's weapon.
Then came reports of destruction near the city walls, deepening the confusion.
Citizens flocked to the cathedral to pray for answers.
In this world where monsters and magic existed, divine prayer truly worked. Almost everyone had their own goddess to worship.
"Goddess Eris, protect your faithful from the monsters' wrath, and grant us peace in our lives…"
As the priest recited the final lines of the prayer—
Humm—
The statue of Eris began to glow with golden light.
The brilliance filled the entire cathedral, so intense that no one could open their eyes.
"An oracle!"
"An oracle!!! The Goddess Eris is manifesting!!!"
The faithful gasped, then erupted in excitement, falling to their knees and bowing deeply before the radiant statue.
"..."
Everyone knelt in reverence as divine light enveloped them.
Then came a voice—melodious yet incomprehensible to most. Only the high priest could understand the sacred tongue of the goddess.
Her expression shifted rapidly—from ecstasy, to confusion, to astonishment, and finally to solemn devotion.
After five full minutes, the divine radiance faded.
"What did the Goddess Eris say?"
The congregation crowded around, eager for the message.
"Lady Eris has declared… the Demon King has been vanquished," the high priest said, her voice trembling.
"The hero who arrived in the flying ship traveled to the Demon King's Castle and slew him."
"From this day forth, peace shall bless our world."
"???"
Everyone exchanged bewildered looks.
"Him??!"
"That man was the hero?!"
"There are heroes like THAT?!"
They could hardly believe it—the mysterious spacecraft that had thrown the city into chaos was actually the hero's.
The locals had never seen anything like it.
"Perhaps it was some kind of mobile fortress…? Maybe this hero specializes in machinery?" someone reasoned.
But none dared to doubt the oracle.
If the Goddess Eris proclaimed it, it was truth.
If they couldn't understand it, that was their own shortcoming.
"The Goddess also said," the high priest continued, swallowing nervously, "the hero is now recruiting companions to journey with him… to other worlds."
"Any follower of Eris may follow the hero without fear—the goddess will bless them."
"Eh—!!!"
The crowd erupted in shock.
The implications were staggering.
Who was this hero? How could he defeat the Demon King so quickly? And what did she mean by other worlds?
They didn't understand—but they didn't need to.
For the faithful, one truth was absolute:
Follow the goddess's guidance.
The hero had been acknowledged by Eris herself. That was all that mattered.
Across the land, word spread rapidly.
In the Kingdom of Belzerg, the Kingdom of Elroad, the Kingdom of Brydle—every branch of the Eris Church received the same oracle.
Throughout the world, Eris' followers learned of the hero who had saved them—and who was now recruiting companions.
Excitement and anticipation swept across the nations.
"Let me see the hero! I must meet the savior of our world!"
"Praise the Goddess Eris! Praise the hero!!!"
Countless maidens blushed and dreamed of the day they might meet him.
In a world of swords and magic, there was no greater fantasy than being blessed by a goddess and joining the hero who saved the world.
"So this is the power of Eris' influence… No wonder she's the most beloved goddess," Setsuna remarked, genuinely impressed.
"Ugh…" Aqua ground her teeth, trembling with frustration.
For some reason, she felt utterly defeated—and silently vowed that one day, she'd have the Axis Church show Setsuna what real devotion looked like.
...
Clack—
When the starship returned to Axel, Setsuna was greeted with overwhelming enthusiasm from the townspeople.
Thanks to Eris' divine oracle, word of the hero who had slain the Demon King had spread rapidly throughout the city via priests and faithful followers.
Although a few Axis Church believers insisted it must have been some dark goddess' conspiracy, they were quickly drowned out by the overwhelming number of Eris worshippers.
"Hero!!"
"Hero!!! Take me with you!! I'll bear your children!!!"
The streets below were packed with people, cheering wildly toward the ship hovering overhead.
The citizens were thrilled not only because the Demon King had fallen, but also deeply curious about this mysterious hero who had saved their world.
Some adventurers who had been idling around the starter town felt a twinge of jealousy—
But that vanished the moment they looked up and saw the colossal starship blocking out the sky.
They couldn't even muster envy.
The difference in power was on an entirely different level.
A hero like this defeating the Demon King? Of course it was inevitable.
Many silently comforted themselves with that thought.
Clack—
The shuttle descended slowly, landing in the open plaza at the center of Axel.
As the hatch opened, Setsuna and his companions stepped out, greeted by a roaring sea of applause.
He surveyed the crowd with satisfaction—it wasn't so different from inspecting a vassal nation back home.
"Whoa…"
The crowd quieted for a brief moment before a chorus of whispers broke out among the women watching.
"This hero's actually kind of handsome. I thought he'd be some shirtless muscle brute…"
"Hmm, but his clothes look weird…"
"What do you think his class is? Swordsman? Mage? If he's piloting that ship, maybe he's some kind of scholar-type hero?"
"Wait, who are those girls with him? I've never seen them before! Oh, the silver-haired one—she's that thief, right?"
"Wow… the hero who defeated the Demon King and received a goddess' blessing really is something else…"
The young female adventurers whispered excitedly among themselves.
Setsuna radiated an aura that clearly set him apart from the locals. His calm authority and commanding presence were unmistakable.
One look at him was enough to tell he wasn't like the native adventurers who struggled daily against monsters in the wild.
They weren't even in the same league—nor the same world.
"Ugh, I think I just saw another girl swoon. Commander, are you some kind of maiden killer or something~?" Tohru muttered under her breath.
No matter where her Commander went, he seemed to attract a crowd—from heavenly goddesses to native girls alike.
She couldn't decide whether to be proud or exasperated.
"So much pink in the crowd…" Griseo murmured softly, tugging gently at Setsuna's sleeve.
"Hero!!"
A blonde woman in uniform stepped forward, raising her hand to address him.
"Um… are you the hero the Goddess Eris spoke of? The one who defeated the Demon King?"
"Yes," Setsuna replied with a gentle smile.
He casually pulled out an artifact taken from the Demon King's Castle and held it up for all to see.
"The Demon King and his castle have been completely eradicated. From this day forward, this world will know lasting peace."
"If a new powerful monster or Demon King ever arises, we'll eliminate it immediately."
He spoke from the perspective of world administration—he fully intended to assist Eris in governing this world.
The Sophon network would monitor all activity, erasing any trace of evil at the first sign of resurgence.
But the people only heard the words as a hero's vow to protect their world, and they cheered with renewed fervor.
"Waaah—!"
Hearing both the goddess' oracle and the hero's own confirmation, and seeing the tangible proof in his hands, the crowd erupted in celebration once more.
"Thank you, Hero! Oh, come to think of it… the Adventurer's Guild never had the honor of officially welcoming you. That's… terribly rude of us."
The blonde woman bowed apologetically.
Setsuna recognized her immediately—the receptionist from the Adventurer's Guild, Luna.
"So, what are your plans now that you've returned to Axel, Hero? Are you going to rest here for a while?"
Luna kept edging closer to Setsuna.
"If you were injured while fighting the Demon King, I can arrange the best priests to heal you…"
"???"
"Have you been single too long, or do you just throw yourself at every hero you meet?!" her fellow guild staff shouted, dragging her back as they squabbled.
"No."
Setsuna looked out over the crowd with a calm smile and shook his head.
"I plan to recruit new companions—to come with me to another world."
"Beyond this one, there are countless other worlds across the vast multiverse waiting for us to explore. There are stronger Demon Kings yet to be defeated."
"So I'll be staying here for a while to recruit the people I need."
He phrased it in a way that the locals could easily understand.
To the adventurers of a fantasy world, a hero who had already defeated the Demon King now seeking comrades to travel to another world was simply irresistible.
Sure enough—
"Whoa!!!"
The crowd froze for a split second before erupting in cheers.
"Pick me! Pick me, Hero!!!"
"I'm an advanced mage—I can use fifty-five different spells!"
"I'm a priest! I can heal you, bless you, remove curses—anything you need!!!"
The crowd surged forward, everyone eager to get closer to Setsuna.
To journey with such a powerful hero—especially one chosen by the Goddess Eris herself—was a once-in-a-lifetime dream.
As for danger? Impossible. The goddess's oracle had made it clear.
"Hm…"
Setsuna raised a hand, gesturing for the overexcited mob to calm down.
"Everyone, return to your usual routines. If we decide to recruit anyone, either I or my subordinates will reach out to her personally."
...
The commotion caused by the savior hero eventually died down.
Still, the entire city buzzed with anticipation.
Every adventurer secretly hoped to be chosen. To board a great ship, venture across worlds, and fight alongside the hero blessed by the goddess—just imagining it filled them with excitement.
Some even began performing in front of the starship daily, hoping to catch Setsuna's eye.
The Adventurer's Guild was busier than ever, swamped by applicants hoping to volunteer for the hero's expedition.
Unfortunately, most didn't pique Setsuna's interest.
In fact, his selection criteria baffled nearly everyone.
Axel Adventurer's Guild, corner lounge.
Dozens of adventurers sat in small groups, chatting over drinks and gossiping about recent events.
"Did you hear? Another batch of strange adventurers showed up recently—they arrived by ship too, and they're insanely strong…"
"Yeah, I heard they went to the royal capital to find Princess Alice!"
"Whoa—so even the princess wants to go with the hero? Huh, heroes and princesses do kind of fit together…"
"I also heard someone flew toward the Crimson Demon Village. No way the hero's interested in those weirdos, right?"
"I heard the new generation of Crimson Demon mages are all little girls…"
"The hero isn't like that! Take that back!!!"
"..."
The room was filled with chatter, laughter, and speculation.
In one corner of the hall—
A petite girl wearing a red mage's robe and a wide-brimmed witch hat sat slumped over a table, sighing heavily.
She was cute, with black hair and crimson eyes, but her expression was full of exhaustion. Pulling a piece of stale bread from her pocket, she began nibbling quietly.
All this talk about heroes, spaceships, and goddess blessings meant nothing compared to the rumbling in her stomach.
"Ugh… out of money again…"
Checking her wallet, she found not a single Eris coin inside.
If she didn't find a job—or a party to join—soon, she'd be skipping her next few meals.
With that thought, Megumin stood up, heading for the guild's quest board to search for a simple request or a team looking for members.
Suddenly—
Shua—
A tall woman appeared beside her.
"Oh, you're the Crimson Demon girl, right? Want to join the Commander—ah, I mean, the Hero's expedition party?" Kanae asked brightly, smiling down at her.
"Eh?"
Megumin blinked in confusion, turning to face her.
"Does it come with free meals?"
...
—
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