Eris Festival Chaos
Axel was still in reconstruction. Wooden frames replaced broken walls, workers shouted across streets, and the smell of fresh lumber mixed with dust filled the air. Even after everything—the Destroyer, the chaos, the debts—the town refused to stay down. Life kept moving. For the past few days, the party had fallen into a strange routine. Training here and there. Running errands. Arguing over useless things. Eating together. Laughing. Ruko mostly stayed quiet. Watching them. Thinking. Something inside him still hadn't settled after everything that happened—but he didn't show it. Then—Three days later—The Eris Festival arrived. The entire town transformed overnight. At morning, colorful banners stretched across buildings. Lanterns lit the streets. Music echoed from every corner, and the smell of food filled the air. People laughed. Children ran. Vendors shouted. It felt… alive. Ruko stood at the entrance of the crowd, hands in his pockets. "…So," he said lazily, looking at the group, "what are you all going to do... since this is a festival?" Silence.
Kazuma looked away. "…Stuff." Aqua crossed her arms. "…Important goddess business." Megumin adjusted her hat. "…A grand undertaking." Darkness coughed. "…Official duties." Then—They all left. Different directions. Just like that. Ruko blinked. "…Wow. Wow my foot." "…You all really just left me like that." He stood there for a second. Then smirked. "…Alright." "…Let's see what nonsense you're up to." First—Megumin. Ruko followed the direction he felt she would go. Then—BOOOOOOOOM. A massive explosion lit up the sky. The festival froze. People screamed. Smoke rose. Ruko slowly turned his head. "…Of course that would happen." He walked over. Megumin lay on the ground, completely drained—but smiling proudly. "…Behold! A far superior display to fireworks!" Ruko stared at her. "…What is actually wrong with your head these days?" Before she could respond—Guards rushed in. "YOU AGAIN?!" Megumin didn't even resist. "…I regret nothing." She was carried away. Unable to move.
Ruko crossed his arms. "…Yeah." "…That's exactly what you deserve." He stepped back into the crowd, disappearing again. Next—Darkness. Ruko found her near the center of the festival. She stood tall, dressed in noble attire, giving orders, speaking with workers, organizing everything. "…Huh." "…She's actually doing her job for once." Darkness spoke firmly. "As temporary lord, I'll ensure the festival runs smoothly!" People listened. Respected her. Ruko nodded slightly and give a thumbs-up. "…Impressive indeed." Then—Reports came in. Explosions. Darkness rushed to investigate. Ruko followed quietly. She examined the area. "…Mine Mushrooms…" "…They're reacting to explosion magic…" Ruko tilted his head. "…So that's why it's getting stronger…" Then—A figure bumped into Darkness. Chris. A smile. A light movement—Gone. Darkness froze. "…M-My wallet…" Ruko cat–stared blankly. "…Seriously?" He rubbed his face. "…Never mind. She's still useless." Then—Later—He saw something worse.
Darkness leaned toward Kazuma. "…Would you like to bathe together…?" Kazuma froze. Megumin instantly appeared. "…Absolutely not!" They started arguing immediately. Ruko turned away. "…Yeah, I'm definitely not watching this." He moved through the crowd again. Then noticed back there—Megumin. Standing. Perfectly fine. Arguing Darkness for Kazuma. "…Didn't she get arrested?" He blinked. "…I guess she escaped already or Darkness confined her out?" Ruko look back. She was now arguing with Darkness again. Competing. Fighting over Kazuma. Ruko sighed. "…I don't even want to know." Next—Aqua. She was impossible to miss. Standing on a platform. Shouting. "…I HERE BY THIS SHOULD BE AN AQUA FESTIVAL!" Ruko blinked. "…Oh my god! Here we go now…" "…Why does Eris get all the attention?!" Ruko looked at her. "…Is this a goddess…" "…or just jealousy?" Then—He saw it. A "dragon." Small. Round. Feathered. Ruko is h
Shocked in site. "…That's a chicken."
Aqua pointed proudly. "THIS IS EMPEROR ZEL!" Ruko stared. "…That's still a chicken." Then chaos began. Aqua started recruiting people. Selling things. Forcing Eris followers to join her Axis cult. Megumin joined her by force. "…I will support this!" Darkness protested— "…This is blasphemy of you Aqua!" Then somehow— "…Fine, I'll fund it…" Ruko looked at all of them. "…You're all so insane." "…And somehow I'm the problem with them as well." "Ehh! I find the last person." Finally—Kazuma. Ruko found him at a food stall. "…Hmm? Is that Yakisoba…" He watched quietly. The stall was packed. Customers lined up. Money flowed nonstop. Kazuma moved efficiently. "…Next! Hurry up!" Ruko surprisethat hos jaw dropped. "…He's actually doing something smart for once." Then—Kazuma leaned toward the workers. "…Wear these." "…This is a swimwear cosplay." "…Trust me." Ruko whistled. "…Yeah… that a 10 out of 10."
The plan worked. Sales skyrocketed. Ruko smirked. "…Of course it did. Why else people won't be interested." He stayed hidden. "…But If I show up, since I do lewd things to some of the girls and they saw me... I'm dead." Then—A stage. A crowd gathering. Kazuma stood proudly. "…Welcome to the FIRST Goddess Eris Beauty Pageant!" Ruko blinked. "…Eh What the wah…?" The crowd cheered. Then—She appeared. A girl in white. Radiant. Calm. The goddess Eris. Ruko froze. His heart suddenly pounded. Fast. Too fast. "…What… is this…?" His body reacted instinctively. Danger. Warning. "…My body tell me to don't interfere…" "…Or you'll die…" His breathing tightened. "…Why…?" He stepped back deeper into the crowd. Hiding. "…What is this feeling…?" He clenched his chest. Then forced himself to calm down. "…Yew." No response. "…Can you explain the confused event." [Request denied.] "…Okay? Then say it differently." A pause.Then—
[Festival Overview Initiated] [Costumes: Participants dress as Eris.] [Fireworks attract monsters.] [Axis Festival interferes.] [Kazuma created a beauty pageant.] [Chris uses chaos to hunt divine relics.]
Ruko blinked. "…So that's what's going on…" But his eyes returned to Eris. That feeling… Didn't go away.."…No…" "…Something's wrong with me around here…" But he couldn't figure it out. Not yet. So he turned away. "…Eh! Whatever." The festival continued. Explosions. Arguments. Laughter. Scams. Business. Chaos. Everything at once. Ruko walked through it all. Silent.
Observing. "…Same as always…" But deep inside—That warning stayed. Something is unseen. Something dangerous. And for once—Ruko didn't understand it.