"What's that?"

"There's an adventurer like this in the guild?"

Kazuma was stunned. Still toiling at the construction site, he couldn't fathom the wealth needed to reserve the entire guild.

But what did it matter?

He was the one being treated.

"Give me the most deluxe meal!!"

Kazuma had no shame. Whoever treated was his benefactor.

"Damien! Damien! Damien!"

Though he didn't know who Damien was, it didn't stop him from cheering.

As for Aqua…

You couldn't expect a dimwit to remember Damien's name.

Damien didn't linger, avoiding an encounter with Aqua and Kazuma.

Over the next two days, he indulged Darkness's various perverse requests, running through every play she desired.

"Can't I come with you?"

That morning, Darkness watched Damien and Ogerpon prepare to leave, curious about their destination.

"Not yet."

This time, Damien had fully satisfied Darkness's needs.

At least while he was gone, she could maintain her cool Crusader persona, free from masochistic thoughts.

In a way, she needed time to process the intense stimulation Damien provided.

Over these two days, their bond had grown closer.

Hearing Damien was leaving without her, Darkness panicked.

'Am I being abandoned again?'

'Of course, useless as I am, I can't help Damien and only drag him down…'

Snap!

"Ow~~"

"What are you thinking?"

Damien flicked her forehead, breaking her spiral. "Ogerpon and I have business to attend to. Think of it as… collecting debts."

"Debts?"

Darkness asked, "Like collecting rent?"

"Something like that."

Damien likened himself to a landlord with vast fields, checking on them periodically.

That explained why he could only be an adventurer two days a week.

"I see!"

Darkness wasn't foolish; she knew he was brushing her off.

But what did it matter?

His willingness to explain meant he wasn't abandoning her.

They were still teammates.

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

Damien tossed her a set of keys. "Also, help look after this place."

"Got it."

Darkness nodded, watching them depart.

As for herself…

She decided to find Chris, the human form of the goddess Eris, a Thief-class adventurer.

They were close friends.

If Darkness proposed teaming up, Chris wouldn't refuse.

Conveniently, Chris, like Damien, disappeared periodically, unable to party long-term.

So, when Damien was gone, Darkness could team with Chris.

When Chris was away, Darkness could rest a day or two before rejoining Damien.

Adventuring with a friend, indulging her quirks, and having rest days... what a perfect life!

"Ready, Ogerpon?"

"Bwoh!"

Unaware of Darkness's thoughts, Damien and Ogerpon used Planeswalker to return to the Cardinal World.

"Lord Damien!"

Sensing their return, Shion burst in. "And Ogerpon-nee! You're finally back!"

"Bwoh…"

Hugged by Shion, especially feeling the weight on her head, Ogerpon looked utterly defeated.

"You're back?"

Shuna arrived a step behind, not as idle as Shion, busy with her duties.

"Yeah."

Damien nodded. "Anything happen in the village while I was gone?"

"No, the village is stable."

Shuna reported, "Everyone's strength is steadily improving, and we're following your expansion plans."

"Good."

"You've worked hard."

Back from Konosuba, Damien wasn't planning to rest.

He was ready to open the gates to a new world.

The delay was to consolidate his recent power surge.

New worlds were enticing, but biting off more than he could chew was unwise.

Without mastering his current strength, adding new systems would muddle his future plans.

He needed a clear path to growth, not aimless wandering.

After this period of reflection, Damien felt he'd fully grasped his powers, ready for a new adventure.

Due to the cooldown, the next trip was set for two days later.

This time, he planned to bring Shuna and Shion along.

[Planeswalker (Cooldown: 0:59)]

"Almost time."

On the third day, watching the one-minute countdown, Damien turned to the girls. "This time, I'm taking Ogerpon, you, and Shion."

"Really?"

"Awesome!!"

Shion couldn't hide her excitement, bouncing with joy at being included.

Her movement drew Damien's eyes to her ample chest.

"Ahem!"

Damien coughed, looking away.

Shuna noticed, inwardly grumbling about Shion's figure.

Why, as fellow Kijin, was she only petite and cute?

"What about Onii-sama and Souei?"

Shuna asked, "For a new world, is just Shion safe enough?"

"Isn't Ogerpon-nee there?"

Though stronger, Shion still revered Ogerpon as Damien's top fighter, her big sister.

Age-wise, it made sense.

In the Pokémonverse, Ogerpon was centuries old.

She might even outdate Hakurou, so Shion's title wasn't misplaced.

"Ugh, troubling you again, Ogerpon."

Damien patted her head, smoothing her messy hair and putting on her hood.

"Mhm!"

Ogerpon raised her hand, full of energy. "Ogerpon will smash all Damien's enemies!"

"I'll protect Lord Damien too!"

"Me too!"

Shion and Shuna, not to be outdone, each grabbed an arm, making Damien both exasperated and secretly pleased.

Planeswalker couldn't bring outsiders.

But subordinates weren't outsiders... they were part of his power.

If he wished, Damien could bring five A-rank or higher fighters to explore other worlds.

"Everything ready?"

"All checked!"

For world-hopping, Damien's spatial storage held ample supplies.

"Good."

Using the subordinate link, Damien informed Benimaru and Souei he'd be gone, tasking them with managing the village.

"Yes, my lord!"

"Rest assured, Lord Damien."

Benimaru and Souei replied almost simultaneously.

They were used to his occasional absences.

This time was no different... some subordinates went, others stayed, each with their roles.

Benimaru also privately messaged Shuna, urging her to care for Damien and ensure he didn't suffer.

"Leave it to me, Onii-sama!"

Shuna, ever meticulous, looked after not just Damien but Ogerpon and Shion, acting as his steward and head maid.

With Planeswalker's activation, the four vanished before Benimaru and the Kijin.

Their vision blurred momentarily.

When they regained focus, they were met with biting cold winds and the endless expanse of a northern ice plain.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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