Chapter 177: The Evil Desire Amplifier
The crystal ball only displayed a few simple words. There were no annotations and no sudden enlightenment; he had no idea what its effect was.
"'Inappropriate Narrator-kun'... what does that mean?"
Aqua picked up the crystal ball and examined it closely.
The trash goddess was best at fiddling with strange and bizarre things, so he didn't stop her from touching it like Kazuma would have. Although she always caused big trouble, at least she could figure out how to use magic items, so he just let her be.
"Hey, you lich over there! Do you have any idea what this means?"
"I-I'm sorry, I also just recently acquired this magic item, so..."
"Tsk, you useless thing."
The bullied Wiz quickly bowed and apologized, and Aqua pouted, annoyed.
"But..."
"What?!"
"I-I'm sorry! It's just that I think the color of the font on it is a little off!"
Wiz closed her eyes in fear and mustered her courage to voice her concern.
He had the same thought.
Logically speaking, the color of a positive prompt is usually gold, yellow, or purple, or at the very least, white, without any strange signs.
But the font that had appeared on it now was red, and it even had a little bit of black.
He had a bad feeling.
"Mmm... you're right. I think so too," Aqua said, her eyes shining as she nodded in agreement.
I think you're only just realizing it now.
Seeing her like this, he knew that this was just a simple agreement.
[It seems a Goddess + a Lich isn't a very good match. But it's fine. As long as you provide a little bit of white lubricant, I'm sure the two of them will smoothly merge into a bicycle. Riding on the road won't be a problem.]
"I think you're already on the highway!"
He subconsciously retorted.
If it were normal, this retort wouldn't have been noticed. But now, all of their attention was on him, so naturally, any reaction he had would be discovered.
"M-Mr. Kobayashi...?"
"Kobayashi, are you alright!"
Wiz's moist eyes were full of concern.
Aqua even used purification magic again. In her simple-mindedness, she thought he had been possessed by the evil lich and wanted to use her powerful purification ability to remove the negative effect.
But she used too much force, and it affected Wiz.
"W-wait, Lady Aqua! I'm ascending to heaven! I'm ascending to heaven!"
Wiz begged for mercy, her face full of tears.
Poor Miss Lich, being repeatedly tormented by a brain-damaged goddess. It's just too painful.
"Alright, alright. Any more of this and Wiz will disappear," he said, chopping Aqua on the forehead with his hand. After she cried out in pain, he gently stroked it. "Thank you, Aqua. But I'm fine, and I think I already know what its effect is."
Having experienced high-intensity surfing in his previous life and having read many classic novels, he naturally knew the role that a "Narrator-kun" plays.
At present, it seemed that it had no other effect than to say a few lewd things. It was just that, as Wiz had said, the red font made him uneasy. He had a feeling that if he let it go unchecked, it would, just like the problem children in his party, cause a big incident for him.
It seemed it was not a good day to go out. It was better to go back and wait obediently for the 24 hours to be up and the effect to end.
After saying goodbye to Wiz, he stood up and left.
It was winter. The residents and adventurers of Axel were either drinking in the guild or squatting at home, living a lazy life. On the way, the "Narrator-kun" also didn't speak, as if it didn't exist.
He returned to the mansion smoothly.
The other members of the party were nowhere to be seen. It was rare for them not to be lazing around at home like NEETs.
Aqua took the magic item back to her room, trying to find out something.
And he went to the living room to rest.
RyuZU, who had been waiting for a long time, stood up, poured him a cup of black tea, and at the same time said, "Master Kobayashi, you don't look well. Don't tell me you ate a cockroach?"
"...It's even more unpleasant than eating a cockroach."
He sighed. But before he could pour out his grievances, the voice in his head came again.
[A sharp tongue? I love a sharp tongue! A mere maid dares to speak ill of her master! It seems it's time to teach her a lesson! Go on, let her taste your power! What? She's already tasted it? Then never mind.]
You'd better be talking about something other than that kind of tasting! Besides, if anything, she's the one who's tasted me!
He unconsciously looked at her rosy lips. To be honest, even now, he still couldn't figure out why an automaton would have the same soft and sweet touch as a human.
"Master Kobayashi?"
"Sorry, I was spacing out."
His reminiscence was interrupted. He shook his head, sighed wearily, and then lay back on her long, soft thighs.
Seeing this, she did not tactlessly ask what had happened. Instead, she considerately placed his head on the softest part of her legs, her slender, smooth, small hands passing over his forehead, smoothing his slightly furrowed brow.
As an attendant, she was qualified.
Smelling the scent that was different from Aqua's, his thoughts gradually drifted away, and he fell into a deep sleep.
After relaxing, he was as if his power had been cut off. He had no perception of the outside world. When he woke up, it was already evening.
He opened his eyes and saw her delicate, pretty face.
This position... it was a pity not to see her pretty face, but it was even more of a pity to see it.
If you understand, then applaud.
Keenly aware that the person beneath her had awakened, she lowered her head, the corners of her mouth lifting imperceptibly, and said softly, "Are you awake, Master? I wonder if using your attendant as a pillow for three hours has allowed you to sleep to your satisfaction?"
"...Sorry," he apologized softly and quickly sat up.
"It is fine, Master. Have you forgotten? I am an automaton. Even if I sit here for a whole year, it is no problem."
She was right.
But she had feelings. Even if a part of it was her settings, he still treated her as an individual, not a tool.
That's right. She was family.
"Oh, you're awake, Kobayashi."
"Megumin, you're back?"
Only then did he see her on the sofa opposite him.
Because she was lying on her stomach, her small body was sunk into the sofa, and she was limp and unable to move. It was needless to say that she had just finished her daily homework—an Explosion.
Oh right. I wanted to talk to her about magic.
"Megumin, I've actually heard some bad news."
"What is it?"
"One Explosion a day is bad for your body."
"...Eh?"
"Not only does it affect your physical development and stop you from growing taller, but because of the excessive draining of your body, it can also lead to symptoms such as weakness in the lower back and knees, mana emptiness, and depression. You see, every time you cast Explosion, isn't your body limp and powerless? That's an early symptom."
"R-really?!"
"It's true. So, you'd better not have a shot every day. It's best to have two to three shots a week. Any more than that will damage your body."
"How could this be..."
She looked a little flustered, as if she believed this completely fake story.
The corners of his mouth curled up in a smug smile.
Fool her, keep fooling her.
He wasn't asking her to quit Explosion, but if he could just reduce the frequency a little, that would be fine.
He was like a戒吧 (rehab) instructor, extending a helping hand to her, who was addicted to indulgence and liked to have a shot every day.
She closed her eyes tightly, her expression ferocious, as if she were caught in a difficult choice.
Finally—
"No!!"
"...Hmm?"
"Even if my body is drained and I can't grow taller or bigger! Even so, I still have to cast it! No one can stop me!"
She said this with incomparable decisiveness, which was moving.
"But..."
"No means no!"
This woman...!
He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, glaring with annoyance at the stubborn, chuunibyou explosion Archwizard.
Does this loli have any idea how much money I've spent?
A month. In just one month, of the hundred-plus magic crystals, only a few were left. Selling her wouldn't even be enough to pay for it.
If this went on, how in the world was she going to pay him back?
[It's time to give the headstrong girl who won't listen to advice a loving education. After spending hundreds of millions and still not repenting, why not just give her a few hundred million more? Don't be afraid, the loli in front of you is already an adult, so just go for it! Konosuba-style, I think it'll work!]
It's "I think I'll go to jail" (我看刑)!
Don't be ridiculous. If I dare to make a move on her, I'll be arrested on the spot in the next second.
How could I make a move on her?
I forgot. There's also Narrator-kun.
"Kobayashi?... I'm sorry. I'll be more careful in the future. But one shot a day is my bottom line. I will absolutely not compromise on this!"
Seeing his dark expression, she thought he was angry. So she quickly softened her stance a little, then peeked at him from the corner of her eye.
This loli was the best at reading the room.
He hadn't expected that, by a strange coincidence, she would choose to back down. He was secretly pleased.
But on the surface, he didn't show any abnormality. After all, if he showed a smug smile, she would surely protest fiercely, causing an even bigger backlash.
Phew—
He let out a light sigh. "I hope you can keep your promise."
With that, he turned and left.
In fact, he was afraid that if he had too much contact with them, it would cause unnecessary trouble, so he had returned to his room early to not be with them.
Darkness happened to be walking over from the opposite direction. She asked curiously, "Kobayashi, where are you going?"
"I'm going back to my room."
"What about dinner?"
"You don't have to call me for dinner. I'm not feeling well today."
He waved his hand, walked up the stairs, and disappeared around the corner.
Megumin looked at his back with an extremely conflicted expression, it was unknown what she was thinking.
And he, after returning to his room, nodded with satisfaction.
The pattern on his forehead indicated that [Spectator] had been activated. He had seen the expression on the loli's face with his X-ray vision. It seemed that this time, it was settled.
In the evening.
Kazuma returned and knocked on his door.
Knock, knock, knock—
"Please come in."
A calm voice came from inside the room.
He pushed the door open and saw him sitting in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, leisurely drinking black tea.
"Please sit, Kazuma-kun."
"Oh."
At his invitation, he sat down opposite him.
RyuZU, at the opportune moment, poured him a steaming cup of black tea. The whole process was quiet and graceful, and he was involuntarily drawn into it.
He picked up the teacup and took a light sip.
"Mmm—, delicious."
A smile appeared on his face.
RyuZU was quite pleased. "I didn't expect that even you, Master Satou, could taste its deliciousness. It seems you are one level higher than an insect."
"Wait, I'm on the same level as an insect in your eyes?"
Kazuma, who believed in gender equality, really wanted to shoot back, but when he thought of their combat power (sharp tongues), and the fact that she was Kobayashi's maid, he held it in.
He was silent for a moment.
With a good sense of the situation, he changed the subject. "What happened, Kobayashi-senpai? You didn't even eat dinner."
"Actually..."
He told him about the magic item.
Although he was also a scumbag, at least his brain was brighter than the other few. He should be able to help.
"Mmm-hmm, so that's how it is."
After listening to the whole story, Kazuma nodded in understanding, and then couldn't help but complain, "As expected of Wiz. The things in her shop are as bizarre as ever."
"You said it."
He completely agreed on this point.
But the fault was not on her this time. It was entirely his own choice to try it, which had led to this situation.
He couldn't help but sigh.
Kazuma, thinking he was distressed about this, gave him a thumbs up to comfort him. "It's fine. Doesn't this effect only last for 24 hours? During this time, I'll block those idiots Aqua and the others for you. And, if by some chance it can't be removed, we'll just go and find other adventurers or post a quest. I'm sure someone will know how to remove it."
"Kazuma-kun..."
He was slightly moved.
It had to be said, he was really reliable at times like this, much stronger than those problem children who only caused trouble.
[Terrifying! To be so insightful at such a young age! After he grows up, he will surely become a stumbling block to your harem! This child must not be allowed to live! In the future, he will surely be a great disaster! Quick, use 親X (Intimacy) Entanglement!]
...
I'm begging you, be a decent human being!
How could Kazuma's kindness be misunderstood like this?
And that last sentence was a hint, right? It was definitely a hint!
His expression was all wrong.
Kazuma thought he had said something wrong, but his clever mind thought of the magic item, and he knew that a negative effect had occurred again.
"We still don't know what's abnormal about it. Just in case, it's better not to have contact for the time being. I'll go back to my room first, senpai. If anything strange happens, be sure to call for help."
"Mmm, I understand."
He nodded and watched him leave the room.
Late at night.
"It's about time."
He got up and walked to the bathroom.
No matter what, he had to take a shower before going to bed.
But when he arrived at the bathroom, he found that there was a hazy, graceful figure inside. A well-endowed figure... it was needless to say that it was Darkness.
Don't tell me that idiot knight is doing this on purpose?
Ever since he had bathed with her last time, she had developed a habit of bathing late at night. He had a feeling she was expecting something.
[Without a doubt, she is doing this on purpose. Not only will she not resist, but she will even welcome you with open arms. Since that's the case, there's only one thing you have to do—walk in and let the bathroom be filled with loud cries for help. But not yours. Hers. I'm sure she's already prepared to sing a high-pitched song.]
If I go in, what comes out won't be a cry for help, but some other strange sound.
He complained slightly.
The usual lewd talk, but this time, it had made him understand the prerequisite for activating the ability.
In short, it was the dark thoughts in his heart.
As long as he had even a tiny bad thought or fantasy, it would trigger the "Narrator-kun" in his head. And it seemed to also deliberately amplify his evil thoughts and cause some strange emotions.
It seemed it really was a negative effect.
But why didn't Aqua purify it? Was it because it hadn't been triggered yet?
Suddenly, he found that his body was out of his control. At the same time, the voice of "Narrator-kun" sounded in his head.
[Evil value is full. Activating action mechanism. Action in progress.]
[Action in progress...]
And then, he found that he was walking towards the bathroom.
N-no way?!
As he got closer and closer to the bathroom, the figure inside became clearer and clearer. His expression gradually became flustered, and he cried out for help.
"RyuZU, save me!"
Swish—
The sound of clothes rustling slightly, and a figure appeared at his side.
It was the elegant attendant, RyuZU.
But she didn't stop him. On the contrary, she pushed him into the bathroom.
"Ryu-RyuZU?"
"Haven't you already had this experience once? It's fine. I'm sure Lady Darkness will welcome you."
And then, he enjoyed a special experience that he hadn't had in a long time.
Let me state again, it was really green!
(End of Chapter)