BAMN: Chapter 45/47

Chapter 45: Satou Kazuma

"From now on, this will be our base in Axel."

With this villa, Rin could bring Shuna and Shion along next time he came.

"Poniii!!!"

Ogerpon didn't quite understand, but if Rin was happy, she was happy.

Darkness, however, was indifferent.

She came from a noble family, her family's estate was countless times larger than this.

Still, Darkness was somewhat curious about Rin's identity.

Such a large villa would cost at least tens of millions of eris.

Yet Rin bought it without hesitation.

His attitude of not caring about money at all made Darkness guess that he, like her, was a child from a prominent family experiencing life outside.

"Darkness, feel free to pick a room."

"Ah?"

Darkness had intended to say she had a place to stay at the inn.

But wasn't the current situation precisely the play she most desired?

"Are you, are you already impatient to humiliate my body?"

Darkness thought of Rin's command.

She carefully observed, only they were around, no one else.

So...

"Alright, I understand."

Darkness's breathing quickened. "Anyway, even if I refuse, you will definitely force me to stay here."

"..."

Rin and Ogerpon exchanged a glance.

Fortunately, both of them were already accustomed to Darkness's strange hobbies.

"So now..."

Rin slowly raised his hand, then brought it down sharply.

The next moment, a crisp smack echoed through the villa's courtyard, accompanied by a girl's low moan, a mix of pain and a hint of excitement.

"Your room is right next to mine."

"I, I understand."

Darkness nodded obediently, not daring to resist Rin's arrangement in the slightest.

According to the rules, from now on, Darkness was Rin's "possession," and the latter could do whatever he pleased with her.

Rin naturally wouldn't truly do anything excessive.

At most, he would strictly discipline Darkness, allowing her to experience the novel sensation of being humiliated.

"Ponooo..."

Ogerpon didn't know how to react.

To be honest, Darkness's appearance had indeed opened Ogerpon's eyes.

In this world, there were actually people who enjoyed being abused.

Ogerpon truly couldn't understand.

---

Meanwhile, at a construction site in Axel, the exhausted Kazuma and Aqua finally finished their day's bricklaying.

"Alright! Everyone worked hard!"

"That's it for today!"

The foreman handed out salaries to everyone. "Here, this is today's daily wage."

"Thank you."

"Foreman, you worked hard too!"

"Good work!"

As the foreman announced the end of work, Kazuma Satou and Aqua received their wages and bowed in greeting.

"Well, everyone, we're off!"

"Oh, good work! We'll count on you tomorrow too."

Kazuma greeted his senior workers, and Aqua followed suit.

Listening to their seniors' voices, the two left the construction site.

"Ah, ah, I worked all day again today."

Kazuma couldn't imagine that he, who worked so diligently, was a shut-in NEET just recently.

Clutching their day's wages, the two headed to the public bathhouse in town.

The public bathhouse was almost identical to a Japanese sento.

Converted at an average salary, the bathing fee here was more expensive than in Japan, but after work, one simply had to take a bath, and even if it was a bit pricey, they couldn't give it up.

"Ah~ I'm alive again~"

Kazuma submerged himself in the hot bath up to his shoulders, leisurely relieving the fatigue of work.

Since this place looked like a medieval setting, Kazuma had initially thought bathing in another world would be a luxury, but it seemed that was just his unilateral preconception.

"Thank you, thank you."

Muttering gratefully, Kazuma left the bath and walked out, just in time to see Aqua waiting for him at the bathhouse entrance.

"What do we eat today?"

Aqua had no self-awareness as a goddess whatsoever and was already enjoying her current life. "I want smoked lizard hamburger steak, and ice-cold Crimson Neroid!"

"I want meat too."

Kazuma said, "Then, let's go to the Guild and order two sets of smoked lizard hamburger steak meals."

"Agreed!"

Aqua raised both hands in agreement. "And sparkling wine! A hamburger steak without sparkling wine has no soul!"

For the past week, the two had been working on the expansion of the town's outer wall.

In other words, they were civil engineering laborers.

This was far from the adventurer's work Kazuma wanted to pursue in this world.

'No, why has Aqua adapted to this life without even the slightest question?'

'You're a goddess, aren't you?'

As if Aqua heard his inner thoughts, she said matter-of-factly, "Why, if you don't work, you don't eat, right?"

"You don't like working, do you? Honestly, shut-in NEETs are always so picky."

"In principle, there's also sales work in the shopping district you can do!"

"No! That's not it!"

Kazuma was speechless at Aqua, who said these things so earnestly. "How should I put it, what I'm looking for is that kind of thrilling combat against monsters! That kind of life!"

"Besides, where in this world is it being invaded by a Demon King or in crisis?"

"It's so peaceful, I haven't even seen the word 'Demon' from 'Demon King,' hey!"

This was what Kazuma wanted to complain about the most, Axel was as peaceful as a fairy tale's fantasy land.

The two chatted as they arrived at the Adventurers Guild.

As soon as they entered, they heard loud cheers coming from inside.

"Long live Rin!!"

"Long live sparkling wine!!"

"Rin! Rin! Rin!!"

"..."

Soon, Aqua learned about the current situation from others.

"A rich patron booked the place?"

"Sparkling wine is free-flowing, and everyone gets to order one set meal?"

"Ah!!!"

"Hooray!"

"Long live Rin!!"

With such exciting news, Aqua couldn't hold back. She immediately pulled out her fan and cast her banquet magic.

"Oh, oh, oh!"

This made the scene even livelier.

As for why Rin was throwing money around again...

It was, of course, because he was happy!

Recruiting Darkness and buying a new house, how could he not celebrate?

Anyway, Rin had plenty of money in the Konosuba World.

Let alone booking the place once, if Rin wanted to, he could easily buy the entire Axel.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 46: Opening the Door to a New World

"What is it?"

"Are there adventurers like that in the Guild?"

Kazuma was stunned. Still moving bricks at the construction site, he couldn't imagine how much it would cost to reserve the entire Guild.

But what did it matter?

He was the one being treated, after all.

"Please give me the most luxurious set meal!!"

Kazuma had no integrity whatsoever.

"Rin! Rin! Rin!"

Even though Kazuma didn't know who Rin was, it didn't stop him from cheering.

As for Aqua...

You couldn't expect an idiot to remember Rin's name.

And Rin didn't linger, avoiding an encounter with Aqua.

Over the next two days, Rin thoroughly satisfied Darkness's various twisted demands, playing every possible scenario without missing a single one.

"Can't I go with you?"

That morning, Darkness looked at the two who were temporarily bidding her farewell, curious about their destination.

"Not yet."

This time, Rin had essentially fulfilled Darkness's needs.

At least during Rin's absence, she would be able to maintain her image as a cool, aloof female knight and wouldn't dwell on her masochistic desires.

Well, to some extent, Darkness needed some time to digest the immense stimulation Rin had given her.

Additionally, over these two days, Rin and Darkness's relationship had grown much closer.

Now, suddenly hearing that Rin was leaving and not taking her, Darkness panicked a little.

'Am I going to be abandoned again?'

'That's right, I'm so useless. I can't give Rin any help, I'll only drag him down...'

"What are you thinking!"

Rin flicked Darkness's forehead, interrupting her spiral. "Ogerpon and I are leaving for something. How should I put it? You can say we're going to collect a debt."

"Collect a debt?"

Darkness said, "Like collecting rent?"

"Something like that."

Rin described himself as a landlord with a vast amount of land, needing to check on it periodically.

This was also why he could only be an adventurer two days a week.

"I see!"

Darkness wasn't stupid, she knew Rin was humoring her.

But what did it matter?

What Darkness wanted was Rin's attitude.

His willingness to explain to her showed that he hadn't abandoned her.

They were still teammates.

"These next few days, Darkness, you can do your own thing."

Rin tossed a set of keys to Darkness. "Also, please help me look after this place."

"Okay."

Darkness nodded, then watched the two walk away.

As for herself...

Darkness decided to go find Chris, who was Eris's human form, the adventurer with the thief profession.

They were very good friends.

If Darkness suggested teaming up, Chris would certainly not refuse.

Coincidentally, Chris, like Rin, would disappear periodically, making long-term team-ups impossible.

Thus, when Rin left, Darkness would team up with Chris.

When Chris left, Darkness only needed to rest for a day or two, and then she could team up with Rin again.

Being able to adventure with her friend, satisfy her preferences, and have two days to rest.

This kind of life was simply wonderful, wasn't it?!

"Are you ready, Ogerpon?"

"Poniii!"

Rin and Ogerpon were unaware of Darkness's thoughts. The two had already used the Traveler ability to return to the Cardinal World.

"Rin-sama!"

As soon as they returned, Shuna, who sensed their aura, rushed in. "And Ogerpon! You're finally back!"

"Pon-yo um..."

Held in Shuna's arms, especially feeling the weight from above her head, Ogerpon had a look of utter despair.

"You're back?"

Shion was a step slower than Shuna. She wasn't as idle as the latter and had a lot of work on weekdays.

"Ah."

Rin nodded. "Anything happen in the village these past two days while I was gone?"

"No, the village is very stable."

Shuna reported, "Everyone's strength is steadily improving, and they are diligently executing the expansion plan you set out."

"Mm."

"You've all worked hard."

Returning from the Konosuba World, Rin had no intention of resting.

On the contrary, he was already prepared to open the door to a new world.

The reason for the long interval was mainly to consolidate the significant power Rin had gained during this period.

While a new world was indeed intriguing, Rin understood the principle of not biting off more than one could chew.

Introducing a new system hastily without fully grasping his own power would only make Rin's future plans chaotic.

He needed a clear path for advancement, not aimless wandering.

And after this period of settling, Rin felt he had a thorough understanding of the power he possessed. It was time to embark on a new adventure.

Of course, due to cooldown, the next travel time was set for two days later.

And this time, Rin planned to take Shuna and Shion with him.

[Traveler (Cooldown: 0:59)]

"Almost there."

As time reached the third day, Rin looked at the one-minute countdown on the skill, then at the two girls. "This time, I plan to take Ogerpon, and you two, with me."

"Really?"

"That's great!!"

Shion couldn't hide her emotions. Hearing that Rin planned to take her, she jumped up with joy.

And with that movement, the full fruits in front of her instantly caught Rin's attention.

"Cough!"

Rin coughed, then averted his gaze.

Shuna naturally noticed Rin's gaze.

This made her secretly grit her teeth, complaining about Shuna's body, wondering why it was so vulgar.

Everyone was an ogre, so why was she only small and cute?

"My brother and Souei, aren't you planning to take them too?"

Shuna said, "For a new world, wouldn't it be unsafe with just Shion?"

"Isn't Ogerpon there too?"

Shion had grown stronger, but she still respected Ogerpon, regarding her as Rin's top general and her own big sister.

Well, in terms of age, there was actually no problem with this.

Ogerpon had lived for hundreds of years in the Pokémon World.

In terms of age alone, she might even be older than Rin, so Shion calling her "big sister" was well-deserved.

"I'll have to trouble Ogerpon again."

Rin stroked Ogerpon's small head, helping to smooth her messy hair and putting on her hood.

"Mm!"

Ogerpon raised her hand, energetically shouting, "Ogerpon will beat up all of Rin's enemies!"

"I will also protect Rin-sama!"

"Me too!"

Shuna and Shion also refused to be outdone.

Rin's Traveler ability couldn't carry people across worlds.

However, in the Traveler's judgment, dependents were not outsiders, but a part of Rin's power.

As long as Rin wished, he could actually bring five A-rank or higher combatants with him to explore other worlds.

"Are all the things ready?"

"Already checked!"

To be able to travel between worlds at any time, Rin always kept a large amount of supplies in his Sprit Space.

"Mm, that's good then."

Using the dependent connection, Rin informed Benimaru and Souei that he would be leaving for a while, asking them to manage the village well.

"Yes, Rin-sama!"

"Please rest assured, Rin-sama."

Souei and Benimaru replied to Rin almost simultaneously.

They were already accustomed to Rin's occasional departures.

This time was no different, some dependents went out, some stayed, and everyone performed their duties.

Additionally, Benimaru secretly contacted his sister Shuna, instructing her to take good care of Rin and not let their master suffer outside.

"Leave it to me, Brother!"

Shuna was meticulous, not only Rin, but also Ogerpon and Shion were under her care, making her practically Rin's grand steward and head maid.

Thus, with the activation of the Traveler ability, the figures of the four disappeared before Benimaru and the other ogres.

The four only felt a blur before their eyes.

By the time they reacted, what greeted their sight was a biting cold wind and an endless expanse of the extreme northern ice plain.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 47: The Fragile World

"What's going on?"

"Where did this send me?"

As space rippled, the moment Rin landed, he felt a cold wind assault his face.

"Whoosh~ Whoosh~"

Heavy snow fell, and the world seemed to be nothing but white. Gusts of wind whipped up snowflakes, sweeping like white tidal waves.

In the distance, colossal ice mountains stood like ancient castles, majestically towering over the vast snowy plains.

They shimmered with dazzling light under the sunlight, yet the shadows of the ice mountains were deep and cold, evoking a sense of profound mystery.

[Travel completed]

[Beginning rule parsing...]

The Voice of the World echoed in Rin's ears. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

'Rule parsing?'

Rin understood. This crossing was not a true body descent, nor was it like the queue-jumping in the Konosuba World.

"Pon-yo?"

Ogerpon looked left and right, clutching her Ivy Cudgel, ready to guard against any potential danger.

"The temperature here is so low."

With Rin at the center, Ogerpon stood in front, while Shion and Shuna stood behind their master.

"But it's strange, why does my body feel so light?"

Shion lightly leaped, and then her entire body, like a human on the moon, bounced hundreds of meters into the air.

Rin and the others only heard a tremor beneath their feet.

Looking at Shion again, the ground where she had stood was now a massive crater, like an impact site, and Rin and the other two were now at the bottom of this collapsed pit.

Undoubtedly, this was the result of Shion's single jump.

"What's wrong with this world?"

Shion was also startled by the commotion she caused. She instantly became cautious, fearing she might step into another large pit. "Is the ground here made of biscuits?"

"The rules of this world are a bit off."

Soon, Rin also discovered the problem. He bent down and picked up a frozen stone by his foot.

"Crack!"

Effortlessly, the stone crumbled into dust in Rin's hand. "Even matter is too fragile!"

"Shion, Ogerpon!"

Rin seemed to realize something and quickly instructed, "Control your strength. This world is far weaker than the Cardinal World!"

"Every move you make could cause unimaginable destruction to this world."

Because there was no comparison or testing, Rin was unsure of the exact difference between the two worlds.

But just the ground beneath their feet gave them the feeling that with just a little more force, they could shatter it into pieces.

"I will be careful."

"Poniii!"

Shion and Ogerpon immediately became extremely cautious.

They had also noticed.

The physical rules of this world were very strange.

To put it simply, compared to the Cardinal World, which was completely bathed in magicules, everything here, from grass to trees, felt like foam to Shion, it would burst with a single poke.

Shion, with her A-Rank strength, could even exhibit Special A-Rank or higher destructive power here.

And this was just a conservative estimate.

In the Cardinal World, a full-power attack from a Special A-Rank was already close to a nuclear explosion.

At S-Rank, a mere gesture could destroy a nation.

As for the even higher Special S-Rank, piercing the sky and sinking continents, that was power that could truly affect the stability and balance of the Cardinal World.

Like Milim in the original work, after going berserk, she could even destroy galaxies, and even the universe.

Therefore, being able to destroy the Cardinal World was almost equivalent to possessing the power to destroy the Tensura universe.

"There are special energy particles in the air."

"This energy is far inferior to magicules, even worse than spiritons."

A group of A-Rank individuals whose bodies were composed of refined magicules.

How terrifying the destruction they could cause in a world where the energy level was not even at the level of spiritons.

Not to mention Shion, the current Ogerpon could probably truly blow up the planet beneath their feet.

"It's just that the gap between worlds is too vast, isn't it?"

Rin was truly afraid that the three girls might accidentally blow up this world.

If that happened, Rin felt he would likely be forcibly expelled by the World Will, then blacklisted, and never allowed to enter this world again.

"In any case, everyone, control your strength."

"Hmm, let's limit it to one percent, no, one-thousandth."

Rin didn't know the specific situation of the new world. He didn't return immediately but took the three girls with him to wander around this ice and snow world.

All four carried many resistances and were not afraid of the severe cold.

Initially, they felt cold mainly because their bodies were adjusting. When Rin needed to, he could ignore this level of low temperature.

Although resistance was passive, it could also be adjusted.

Otherwise, things like hot soup and popsicles wouldn't even offer the most basic experience, would they?

"Rumble!"

"Hmm?"

Soon after the four walked out of the deep pit, the ground beneath their feet once again stirred.

"Shion?"

"No, it wasn't me, Rin!"

"Then…"

Before Rin could continue asking, a hideous head suddenly burst out of the snow.

This was a centipede about 20 meters long, covered in white crystals. It exhaled cold air, and its pair of violent blue eyes stared intently at these 'humans' who had caused such a commotion.

"Hmm?"

Seeing the ice crystal centipede show hostility towards them, Ogerpon raised an eyebrow, about to summon her Ivy Cudgel to teach the opponent a lesson.

"Wait, wait a minute!"

"Let me do it!"

"Ogerpon, please let me handle this!"

Seeing such a large wild monster, Shion excitedly stepped forward, looking eager to try.

How could Shion miss such an opportunity to show off in front of Rin?

"Well…"

Rin didn't mind letting Shion take action. "But I think we should try to communicate with it."

"Hmm, I understand."

Shion took a step forward and shouted, "Hey!! Can you understand what we're saying?"

Due to the influence of the Voice of the World's rules, Rin and the others had no language barrier.

Even for beings similar to magical beasts or monsters, as long as Shion needed to, she could convey her thoughts to them.

"We are Travelers who accidentally entered here. We have no ill intentions!!"

After speaking, Shion turned to look at Rin, indicating, "Is it okay for me to say this?"

"Yes!"

Rin gave Shion a thumbs-up. This girl had remembered his previous warnings well.

When arriving in a new world, don't be too conspicuous.

They were not invaders, but Travelers, and they needed to maintain basic politeness.

(To be continued.)