Far away from Axel's city, a large cloud was moving slowly. It covered the sky gradually, turning the warm sunshine into cold shade and bringing chills to anyone in the vicinity.

The cold breeze was slightly blowing across the forest and hills before some sounds appeared from the distance. The sounds continued to increase slowly before some figures became clearer.

*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*

With the sound of footsteps echoing, a huge army appeared in sight. They were dressed in different armors and holding a variety of weapons, which made them more like mercenaries than an army, however, they couldn't care less because they were dead.

In addition to the sound of footsteps, the clicking of bones, the fleshless skeletons, the low grunts, and decaying flesh walking normally was enough to get the identity of this army, it was a horde of undead.

However, unlike some mindless undead, this horde was walking at a stabilized pace, like it was being commanded by someone.

In Konosuba, the undead are rather a normal phenomenon, which plague the whole world. An undead is born from a torment, grudges, suffering, or resentment soul of a previous living being. When a person dies while holding a huge resentment and some amount of power, there's a chance that they'll not pass to the afterlife, but they'll turn into an undead.

The stronger the power they had in the previous life, the stronger they'll be as undead, although the normal people can be raised as undead as long as magic is being used.

The army advanced slowly, but at a constant pace towards a hill at the side of the forest. In the hill, there was a gloomy old castle, filled with some undead, but when the army arrived, those undead joined the horde before moving to the side.

When the wave of corpses and skeletons moved to the side, the slow footsteps of a horse echoed in the middle of the low grunts.

A horse entered the castle slowly with a knight riding it, however, both of them didn't have heads, even the knight was holding his head in his arm. This is Dullahan, Beldia, one of the Demon King's Generals!

He was wearing black armor and holding a giant sword. His eyes that shone red, glared through the hamlet like a vengeful spirit.

When Beldia entered the castle, the undead followed him, but only after an undead in a luxurious robe, yet filled with holes and mud, moved first.

Beldia descended from his horse before he looked at the Lich and said " It seems you adapted well, rookie"

"It's all thanks to Lord Beldia's help" The Lich, which is a player from the Horror Space, replied with a humble tone, even if his voice was hoarse.

"No, I didn't do a lot. Your ability to rise and control the dead has even surpassed me, it was only because you met" Beldia shivered slightly and his eyes in the hamlet flickered with terror before he said " Them…"

The Lich shivered despite being an undead when he remembered the maniacs at Axis Order. After all these years with the dead, feelings like fear should already left him, yet, he saw something more fearful than death itself!!

"I know your pain. Don't worry about it, you're safe now." Beldia patted Lich's shoulder like comforting him as the Lich felt that he'll cry if his eyes weren't just a torch of flames.

"Follow me, we need to talk" Beldia said before walking forward towards the stairs before Lich followed him.

During this time, Lich had a very difficult life. Although he escaped the claws of the mad cult, he lost all his minions and army, leaving him with only his spells. But he doesn't have a lot of attack spells, so he had to work fast, yet, reality hit him again.

The madmen in Axis Order actually went over and purified all cemeteries around their city, they even took the trouble to purify any corpse they met in the wild!! They were waiting for him to come to them, so they could greet him… warmly.

Using the advantage of the dead, Lich walked day and night without stopping. Only until he left the city with great distance, he felt slightly safe. However, when he wanted to create his army again, he sensed a huge dead energy. And that how he met Beldia, who also sensed him and went to meet him.

He thought that he'll have a battle, but instead, he was welcomed warmly! Especially after saying that he escaped the Axis Order, Beldia almost cried for him while admiring his capability, making him his assistant.

Lich didn't care about it. He's in a very bad situation and Beldia is heading towards Axel, so he might join them, however, the main reason was that he was very, very grateful!

Who said that lichs doesn't have feelings?! He was almost moved to tears three times during this journey! He used to think that other undead are just slaves and minions for him, but after today, he'll treat them nicely, they are far better than humans!!

"You've a great opportunity in front of you, rookie" Beldia was walking and Lich behind him before he said " I have already acknowledged your capabilities after surviving… them"

"To actually survive one of the main causes that the Demon King's side and humanity are on completely bad terms, you've earned my utmost respect! But! This mission is also a good opportunity!" Beldia and Lich shivered again, it seems this shadow will follow them for the rest of their lives.

"I've been ordered by the Demon King to investigate a mysterious light that appeared around the city of Axel" Beldia crossed the long hallway of the castle before reaching a room.

{The Demon King.... If I could get his support as fast as possible} Lich was thinking in his head before he heard Beldia's voice.

"As long as you perform greatly in this mission, with your capabilities and my recommendation, you'll get an important position in the army!" Beldia said with confidence before opening the door.

What appeared in Lich's 'eyes' was a huge hall, it was wide and had several pillars in it. A tattered red carpet was on the floor, leading towards a giant chair in the back of the room. For Lich, this was basically the classic final boss room.

"I see, I'll never disappoint you!" Lich said with a grateful, yet excited voice while watching Baldia moving towards the chair.

"Hm, that's the spirit. Now, let's start the mission" Beldia said as his head that was in his arm, nodded slightly.

"I can send undead to capture some living and turning them into undead to get some information" Lich said immediately, but Beldia shook his head before saying " Good plan, but I already thought of a perfect one"

Beldia sat on the chair before he looked at Lich before saying " My plan involves all the aspects, it's a plan from the Demon King himself!"

"The Demon King?!" Lich was surprised by this mysterious figure he never saw being mentioned here.

"Hm" Beldia nodded as his eyes shone with dreadful red light before saying " We'll… wait"

"Ah, I see… Eh?" Lich nodded before the flames in his eyes flickered before saying " What?"

"Waiting. We'll wait for those foolish adventurers here!" Beldia said with a deep, scary, and serious voice, which left Lich with his flames flickering slightly, showing his deep confusion.

"But, but, don't we have a bigger force and that city is just a beginner town?!" Lich couldn't help but say that as Beldia shook his head.

"As the Demon King's General, I can't use those scummy tactics you're speaking of" Beldia's words made Lich dumbfounded. Aren't they already dead? Who cares about scummy crap!

"We're monsters and evil creatures, but even we have standards!!!" Beldia's voice shook the hall. Lich's jaw opened wide, almost falling from the nonsense he's hearing now.

"Then why did we gather this huge army?! Why did we even train them slightly?! Why are you even using magic to change the weather if you're not going to fight??!!" Lich asked quickly as the flames in his eyes were going wild.

They went around most of the cemeteries in their way and gathered an enormous army. Lich even saw the dark clouds following them, which made him admire Beldia because the undead usually get weaker under the sunlight!

"Change the weather? No, that wasn't me" Beldia gravely said as his expression under the hamlet changed.

"To think about it, it's that time." Beldia's tone made the Lich nervous "Those creatures should have woken up and this weather is because of them"

{What wrong with this world! Danger after danger, is this really a fucking easy world!} Lich shook his head before he said " What it is?"

"They're…" Closing his eyes for a moment, Beldia opened his eyes and said with a light and normal voice " The Flying Cabbage!"

The seriousness in the scene popped like a bubble as the flames in Lich's eyes became small and said" Eh?"

"Uh, um, excuse me, but can you repeat that?" Lich asked with caution as Beldia replied casually " The Flying Cabbage"

"Oh… I thought I heard that" Lich said before lowering his hand, which made Beldia look at him with confusion. Did he say something wrong?

With that, an awkward silence filled the hall, leaving only the grunts and the moaning of the undead outside as a green cloud was flying in the sky.

Meanwhile, unaware of the great danger, Kazuma was having one of the most difficult times in his life.

{I should have known that something wrong was going on with her} Kazuma felt his head hurting while looking at Darkness, whose eyes were sparkling.

{My senses were spot-on! Like Aqua and Megumin, she also had some loose screws} Kazuma felt like he's a very difficult situation before he said " I'm sorry, but I don't think my party is suitable"

"No! On the contrary, it's wonderful!" Darkness said with great vigor that made Kazuma retreat a little.

"No, no, let's talk ab-" Kazuma wanted to refuse again, but Darkness stood up from her chair and caught Kazuma's arm.

"As a knight, I can't allow those two girls to suffer such fate!" Darkness said as her breathing was heavy.

{Her eyes are scary! Super scary! My danger radar is going off again!} Kazuma's face twitched as he sweated a little.

Leone grabbed a bear from the side while Chris shook her head while also taking a one.

"Didn't you hear me? My party is trash. Look there, our priest actually knows party tricks more than spells" Kazuma took the chance and pointed at Aqua on the second floor of the guild, performing party tricks.

"I'd advise against j- ow, ow, ow" Kazuma tried to be reasonable, but Darkness tightened her grip. Her strength was so strong it made him scream immediately before she let go of her hands quickly.

"That's even better! The truth is, this was a bit difficult for me to say, but while I have confidence in my strength and stamina, I'm clumsy… So, um… None of my attacks hit their marks" Darkness said with embarrassment while Kazuma was staring at her blankly.

"So, like you said, I'll charge in the front and you can use me as a shield!!" With some madness in her eyes, Darkness got very close to Kazuma as their noses almost touched.

{CLOSE! Too close!} Kazuma widened his eyes as his mouth opened from the surprise.

{The negative effect of my long life as a Neet is kicking in now?!} Feeling his heart beating loudly, Kazuma swallowed his saliva {No, that wasn't it! This is just too stimulating for an adolescent virgin like me!}

{No, Kazuma! Stay calm, don't get seduced by her womanly charm! Think, think! I need a rejection, a big rejection! Do I know some- Ah! Yes, think what Leo would say in this situation!} Kazuma closed his eyes while thinking deeply. The grand asshole is a master of the art of rejection against anyone.

'You filthy carbon-based creature' The image of Leo with a disgusting face like looking at an ant appeared in his head before Kazuma snapped {No, that's too extreme and it'll play the complete opposite effect! Tone it down, tone it down!}

{I'll just play my winning card, the 2D is better than the 3D! But… do the people of this world, except for the reincarnators, know what does that mean?} Kazuma sighed before he looked away and said " No"

"Please, let me joi-" Darkness was going for another fight, but Chris finally had enough and stood up and stopped her.

"C'mon Darkness, you can't be that pushy. Take it slowly in these situations and you, Dio" Chris said with a smile as Kazuma flinched and lowered his head.

"Pfff...." Leone covered her mouth while looking at Kazuma's reaction. She didn't know the meaning of Dio's name, but his reaction was funny nonetheless.

{That bitch!} Kazuma clenched his fist while looking at Leone's before he heard Chris' voice.

"I heard you were paying some adventurers to teach you their skills, but you stopped, why?" Chris said with a smile, but her smile became awkward when Kazuma lowered his head again.

"It's not like I wanted to, but I've no money and a huge debt on my head. Hehe, even until now, the debt only increased, hehe" Kazuma laughed lightly as Chris felt a chill down her spine.

"Ha-haha-hahaha, don't worry, don't worry, I'm sure you'll be okay! However, for now, how about I teach you some thief skills, like trap detection, steal… It's free, don't worry" Chris laughed awkwardly before her words made the light go back into Kazuma's eyes.

He got some skills of thieves, but because he wanted more power, he focused on ranged skills. Totally not because he doesn't want to engage in any close combat! Also, Chris said the magical words for Kazuma… FREE!!

"Really? Thank you" Kazuma thanked her sincerely, which made Chris smile before saying "Okay, it has been decided, let's go outside"

Chris and Kazuma went outside before Leone and Darkness followed up, however, no one knew that on this day, Kazuma would receive an unimaginable power, a power that made him completely famous, especially with women… Just, not in a positive way.