---
We returned to our mansion a little after dawn. There, we found Yunyun, Darkness, and Wiz having tea together in front of the fireplace. They waved at us kindly after we arrived and the former greeted us.
"Welcome, have you finished the meeting?" then Yunyun noticed the depressed looking Aqua standing beside me supported by Megumin. "Ano… What happened to Aqua?"
"She was uhh, well, this is actually a matter we need to discuss," I sighed a little and sat down on a nearby table. "Megumin, Yunyun, you're all Crimson Demon with high intellect right? Give me a hand at this, I can't do it by myself…"
Yunyun just tilted her head in confusion. Megumin on the other hand just shook her head in regret. "I'm sorry Kazuma… But those demands, I…" she bit her lip. "It's impossible! You know it is!"
"Megumin, this is your fault too,"
The Crimson Demon stiffened after hearing that.
"Wh-what are you talking about, Kazuma kun?"
I looked at her flatly and bonked her head.
"I didn't mention it since I don't want Lady Paradox to know, but it's your fault the Axis Cultist became what they are today," I told her.
Megumin looked down a little. "You're right… it was my fault…"
"I'm glad you understand, now help me fix up your mess."
Just like that, my brain worked overdrive…
"Darkness! Grab the dining table, we're making a war room. Wiz, get me five stacks of paper and charcoal pencil. Yunyun, go out of town and gather information on economy. Megumin, tell me everything you know about the Axis Cultist and your trip to Alcanretia."
Everyone went to work. Darkness was the fastest and a large dining table is up as ready to be used as a meeting spot. Wiz was the second and handed me a very large stacks of paper and a charcoal pencil. Then, Megumin sat beside me and started telling me everything she knows.
It took us approximately half an hour to narrow down everything about the Axis Order. Apparently, they are not only avoided by the general population, the Demon King army are also avoiding them like plague, this in turn makes them quite invincible.
Most Axis Order members are gifted with powerful divine magic and large mana reservoir, just like their goddess. They're also fanatics who will very aggressively persuade anyone who stepped into the city to join their cult.
People who joined the Axis Order usually suffers from decreased intelligence and analytical thinking, becoming something of a hive mind with the entire cult. They will then spend their days just praying to the goddess Aqua, insulting the goddess Eris, and simply think off devious plan to grow their cult.
The latter of which only happens after Megumin's visit.
Okay… Now let's think about Alcanretia…
Basically, the town is known for its hotsprings and tourist vacation spot. That's it, that's why it's called banana republic. Take away the hotsprings and they will be wiped out by the economical collapse from the backlash.
"Thank you, Megumin," I said, tidying up the stack of papers in front of me. "Do you know any redeeming quality of the Axis Order that we can improve upon?"
"No, they are indoctrinated to be lazy and cowardice. To blame others when something doesn't work their way, to take the easiest path, and to prioritize short term happiness over long term happiness."
Well, nobody said it would be easy…
"How do you imagine we could do this?"
"I think it's impossible without some sort of wide area mind control magic."
"Hey, I think we're on to something, okay, how are we going to this? Mass preaching?"
"If you can manage the angry mobs, they're all fanatics, remember?"
I clicked my tongue and looked at Darkness and Wiz sitting across us. "You two, any ideas?"
Darkness raised her hand. "I know a thing or two about politics…"
Wiz raised her hand. "I know a thing or two about economy…"
I am not trusting a masochist to run a city nor am I trusting an impoverished shop owner to fix a banana republic.
This is going to be a long night…
---
It was midnight. Yunyun and Darkness has already went to sleep and Wiz has returned to her shop. All that's left is Megumin and I, surrounded by dozens upon dozens of discarded plans. I gave up cataloging these plans long ago, opting to just throw stuff and see what sticks.
Beside me, Megumin has her head on the table, fast asleep. I decided to call it a night and gently lifted Megumin off the table. I carried her bridal style through the living room and was about to walked upstairs when I heard it.
"Ne… Kazuma…"
I turned around and saw Aqua, still sitting in the corner of the room, staring down on the floor with a hollow look in her eyes. I really have no idea what to say and I really do not want to disturb Megumin's sleep.
"Am I, useless?"
Fuck it, Megumin can beat me up tomorrow. This is more important.
I gently slapped my girlfriend while whispering her to wake up. She blearily opened her eyes and looked at me in annoyance before quickly changing into that of concern.
"What is it, Kazuma?"
I lowered her on to the floor and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's Aqua… do you mind if I take care of her tonight?"
"I understand, take care of her Kazuma. I'll be sleeping in Yunyun's room."
Megumin then walked upstairs, leaving me alone to deal with a very depressed goddess.
I walked towards Aqua. Her form somehow looks even more pitiful than before. She doesn't really glow, but it felt like she's much dimmer than usual. Her eyes were hollow, like she's dead inside, which is a possibility at this point.
Without saying anything, I sat down next to her. Really, the girl has screwed up a lot and most of the time she bounces back like nothing's wrong. This is the first time I saw her like this and I have no idea what to do.
Should I say no? That would be lying isn't it? Wait…
"You were, but not anymore," I took out my adventurer card and held it in front of her face. "See? The useless teammate has been replaced by useful teammate,"
The girl slowly turned towards me. Her eyes are still hollow and her voice are still monotone. But in this dim room, I can see tears has started trickling down her face.
"Ne, Kazuma, do you think Eris would forgive me if I apologize to her?"
"Of course she will,"
"Really? Because I wouldn't…" Aqua turned away from me and looked back at the floor.
"I wouldn't forgive her if she were to push all her responsibilities to me and blaming me when I did something wrong. I wouldn't forgive her if she were to teach her own worshipper to mock and ridicule me and my worshipper despite everything I've done to her,"
I don't know how to answer that…
"Ne, Kazuma… Do you know? I still couldn't forgive her if she were to do that to me… If she were my senpai, she should be taking care of me, right? If she were my senpai, she should be helping me, right? If she were my senpai, she should be the one I can always rely on, right?"
Damn this reverse lament is painful to hear…
"Ne, Kazuma… Do you think Eris would forgive me if I apologize to her?"
"Yes, yes, she will,"
"Why? How do you know? Have you met her before?"
I have never met Eris in person my whole life. Shit, I'm digging my own grave here.
"No, I haven't…" I curled my fist and looked down. "But, you don't know either, right?"
Aqua said nothing for a solid three minutes. She just sat there, making some lines on the floor. I was tempted to use create earth to make some dust to see what's she's drawing, but that's not my priority right now.
Then, Aqua looked back at me. Her expression hasn't change one bit and tears kept flowing gently on her face.
"Ne, Kazuma… Do you think my worshipper would forgive me if I apologize?"
Oh no, please, not again… I can't do this, I'm not equipped to deal with emotional stuff like this!
"There is a possibility that some will and some won't…" I replied.
"Really? Because I wouldn't," Aqua turned back to the floor and started drawing some lines.
"I wouldn't forgive an uncaring goddess who forced me to dedicate my entire life to praise her. I wouldn't forgive a stupid goddess who forced me to make enemy of people around me. I wouldn't forgive a horrible goddess who forced me into her religion and make others to do the same."
Aqua, please, stop… Come on, Kazuma, think! What are you supposed to do!?
"Ne, Kazuma… Do you know? I still couldn't forgive that goddess. Isn't a goddess supposed to be a wise and powerful figure you can always rely upon? Isn't a goddess supposed to be someone who would teach me the right way? Isn't a goddess supposed to be someone who bring peace and prosperity to those around her?"
Aqua, I don't want to lose you, please, just forget all this and return to me… Aqua, I'm begging you, stop this!
"Ne, Kazuma… Do you think my worshipper would forgive me if I apologize?"
Fuck it, I'm not dealing with these shit tonight.
I cast a silent steal to steal her hagoromo. To which she didn't react at all. Then I cast sleep and the girl fell unconscious in my embrace.
"I'll be back for you Aqua…"