"You jerk, who's your good friend, you scum!"
Felt gritted her teeth, turned her head, and glared at Satou Kazuma, tightly clutching her panties in her hand.
This jerk!
But how did he do it?
This is the skill every thief dreams of, right?
Damn, I really want to learn it!
But there's no way I'll ever let that scum teach me!
"Kuzuma? Is that a nickname you two have?"
Crusch's face was full of curiosity.
And her gaze couldn't help but fall on Felt's face.
Blonde hair, red eyes...
She really looks like...
Crusch once had a very important companion by her side, Lugunica's fourth prince, Fourier.
A member of the royal family, they also had blonde hair and red eyes.
It's just that Fourier, like the other members of the royal family, eventually died from that strange disease.
Crusch was momentarily moved, but quickly regained her composure.
After all, all the members of the royal family are gone.
And these characteristics aren't really that rare.
"Nickname? I guess so. That's the word that fits him best!"
Felt said, sounding annoyed.
"Is there anything else? If not, I'm leaving!"
Although Felt's words were a question, she had already started walking and quickly left the hall.
After all...
She needs to put her panties back on first.
"It hurts... you damn angry kid!"
On the other side, Satou Kazuma, bruised and swollen, struggled to his feet, the panties in his hand having already been snatched back by Felt.
Just then, Crusch walked up to Satou Kazuma and smiled at him.
"Kuzuma."
"Huh?"
Satou Kazuma narrowed his eyes, frowned, and looked at Crusch with the face of a stranger.
Those words came from Crusch's mouth?
Her tone was just as solemn and serious as before, but she actually said the words "Scum True"?
It sounds so out of place!
"What's wrong, Kuzuma? Is something wrong?"
Crusch asked.
"Um... why did you suddenly say those three words?"
Satou Kazuma was a little embarrassed.
Calling someone "Kuzuma" seems a little weird.
"Ferris just told me that if you want to get closer, the first step is to give each other nicknames."
Crusch had a very serious expression on her face.
"Kuzuma called me 'Lie Detector' earlier. Although I don't know what it means, I'm sure Kuzuma True wanted to get closer to me. I'm sorry, I'm a little slow when it comes to relationships. I didn't realize it at the time. For me, Kazuma-sama, you're already more than just a comrade in arms. You're someone I can trust to watch my back on the battlefield."
"..."
Satou Kazuma didn't know how to respond.
Crusch really is a bit slow when it comes to relationships.
He did call Crusch a lie detector before.
But...
But where did you learn the name "Kuzuma" from!?
Felt!
Crusch, don't you think that so-called nickname sounds weird? How slow are you when it comes to normal relationships!?
"Is something wrong? Kuzuma."
"No, nothing's wrong."
Satou Kazuma forced an awkward smile.
It seems like he can't deny it in this situation.
"I look forward to working with you in the future, Kuzuma!"
Crusch smiled, and at the same time, made a fist with her right hand, and punched Satou Kazuma in the shoulder.
"I saw you interacting with your friends like this too!"
Crusch had seen Satou Kazuma joking around with Aqua and Felt before, and Felix said that joking around like that was a sign of closeness.
However, Crusch didn't realize that she was a well-trained swordswoman, with strength beyond that of ordinary people, and she didn't hold back at all – she seemed to be using all her strength when she watched Satou Kazuma interacting with his friends earlier.
And Satou Kazuma's physical condition can be described as tragic, especially since he hasn't been exercising lately.
In that instant, Satou Kazuma heard what sounded like a loud crash from his shoulder, and then he suddenly staggered back a few steps, almost falling to the ground.
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!!
My shoulder, my shoulder is dislocated!!!
"Kuzuma, did I use too much force?"
"No, not at all!"
Satou Kazuma forced himself to be brave and kept up appearances.
He can't fall here!
And he can't admit that he was just beaten up by Felt.
But now, it's my turn!
Satou Kazuma sneered and stepped forward.
Crusch, even if you're a beautiful girl, I won't let you off easy!!!
Even if you didn't mean to, if you're going to treat this behavior as part of your greeting, then I'll oblige you!
Prepare to feel it!
Satou Kazuma used his other hand, using all his strength, and punched Crusch in the shoulder!
Crusch –
Didn't move an inch.
"Kuzuma, please don't hold back."
Crusch said with a serious face.
Her misunderstanding of the behavior of 'joking around' is getting deeper and deeper.
Crusch has even imagined more meanings for this behavior in her mind, and even guessed that it might be a way to encourage each other.
...&%
Countless words appeared in Satou Kazuma's mind, but he couldn't say any of them.
"Did Ferris tell you all this?"
"Yes."
"That guy..."
Satou Kazuma's forehead was throbbing.
"Kazuma, what are you doing here?"
Just then, Aqua skipped happily to Satou Kazuma's side and asked.
"I, I'm chatting with Crusch-sama."
Satou Kazuma replied.
"Are you chatting? I just saw you almost get knocked away by Crusch. I thought you stole her panties too."
"Panties? Stole?"
"Haha, nothing, nothing!"
Satou Kazuma grabbed Aqua by the neck, dragged her aside, and smiled back at Crusch.
"Well, Crusch-sama, I need to talk to this useless goddess about some important things."
"Okay, Kuzuma"
Crusch nodded with a smile, seeing Satou Kazuma grabbing Aqua by the neck, she became even more certain that what Felix said was true.
When you meet someone close to you or someone you want to get close to, you should use nicknames and greetings like this.
"Crusch-sama, thank you so much for your hard work this time!"
Just then, Miklotov, also invited, raised his wine glass and slowly walked up to Crusch, speaking in a very respectful tone.
Crusch looked at him. Miklotov is the most respected member of the Council of Sages, and a senior person worthy of her respect.
In that case...
"Mr. Old Beard, you've been working hard too!"
Crusch had a polite smile on her face, and at the same time reached out and tapped Miklotov on the shoulder.
Something seemed to make a noise –
It sounded like a bone breaking.
This might be the most unfortunate year of Miklotov's life.
On the other side, Satou Kazuma had already dragged Aqua aside.
"What are you doing, Kazuma!"
"It's all because of you, you useless goddess! You can't stop spilling things! Hurry up and heal me! My shoulder and face really hurt! Not to mention that crazy kid, Crusch is a totally idiot person, and her brain is probably about as good as yours."
Satou Kazuma shook his head.
During the royal election, Crusch directly said the word "party."
In a way, she and Aqua are the same!!!!
How did he miss that before?
And that damn Felix!
So hateful after all!
"Hmph. If you ask me nicely, this goddess might consider healing you~"
Aqua raised her head, folded her arms across her chest, and said proudly, waiting for Satou Kazuma to beg her.
"Betty, come here, come help me!"
But Satou Kazuma ignored Aqua and waved to Beatrice, who was talking to Roswaal in the distance.
"Hey Kazuma, let me heal you!"
Aqua's attitude immediately changed by one hundred and eighty degrees. She didn't want to be replaceable. She had asked Satou Kazuma not to learn any healing skills.
"Really, really, let me heal you! You don't need Betty! I'll do anything!"
Aqua even grabbed Satou Kazuma's hand anxiously.
"Hmph!"
But Satou Kazuma completely ignored Aqua and kept waving at Beatrice.
"BaKazuma, what are you looking for Betty for?"
Beatrice walked up to Satou Kazuma with a slight pout.
"Oh Betty, please heal me. I, oops, I accidentally fell."
"Does Betty believe stupid Kazuma? You were definitely beaten up!"
Beatrice complained, and at the same time raised her small, fleshy palm, ready to cast a healing spell on Satou Kazuma.
But just then, she looked confused.
"BaKazuma! Are you kidding Betty?! Where are you hurt?"
"My shoulder feels like it's dislocated! And my face hurt just now! Huh? That's strange? Why doesn't it hurt?"
Satou Kazuma looked down at his body in disbelief. The pain from before had completely disappeared.
What's going on?
"Useless goddess, is this you!"
Satou Kazuma turned to look at Aqua, thinking that Aqua didn't want Beatrice to replace her, so she quickly cast a healing spell.
"Huh? I don't know what you're talking about?"
Aqua looked at Satou Kazuma instead, completely confused.
She didn't use any skills just now.
"What's going on?"
"No, BaKazuma, what's wrong with your mana...?"
Beatrice looked at Satou Kazuma seriously, reached out and put her hand on his chest.
"Betty can feel that your mana reserves are recovering rapidly...much faster than before!"
"Huh?"
Satou Kazuma was completely clueless.
"Don't you have any special feeling?"
"Special feeling..."
Satou Kazuma carefully felt his body.
There seemed to be a strange form of power flowing into his body.
And the source is... Aqua?
Satou Kazuma, based on his feelings, reached out to Aqua, and that feeling became even more obvious. He seemed to have used some skill without realizing it.
The thought of stopping appeared in his mind, and that feeling stopped as well.
Although he didn't know what was going on, Satou Kazuma felt like he had unlocked a new skill.
Could it be –
"Is it the Authority of Greed?"
Beatrice stared at Satou Kazuma. She could feel the witch factor in his body seeming to be churning.
"Is this the effect of the Authority of Greed?"
A look of pleasant surprise appeared on Satou Kazuma's face.
Did he finally get an Authority?!
Then his strength would have to take a qualitative leap.
"Betty originally thought that some special opportunity was needed to activate the witch factor in the body and activate the Authority. Kazuma, what happened to you just now?"
"I, I don't know."
Satou Kazuma immediately pretended to know nothing.
He was probably tortured by Felt and Crusch, and the witch factor considered it a life-threatening situation.
"It seems like my Authority can absorb life force and mana from other people."
Satou Kazuma looked at his hands.
Beatrice said before that the Authority is linked to people's desires.
Satou Kazuma had always been bothered by the fact that he couldn't become a great magician, and in this world he had been hurt by his teammates many times and had thought countless times about teaching these guys around him a good lesson.
To draw the life force and mana from his teammates, this power and his desires... seem to match.
He turned to look at Aqua next to him again. Just now, he could feel that the power flowing into his body came from her.
"Useless goddess, don't you feel anything?"
"Huh? What's wrong? I don't feel anything?"
Aqua said, completely clueless – the next second, a look of horror suddenly appeared on her face.
"What's wrong, you useless goddess?!"
Satou Kazuma asked worriedly.
"In that case, does that mean Kazuma won't need my healing in the future! Kazuma! Don't use this skill, please don't!!!"
"...Why can't my Authority shut you up?"
Beatrice, on the other hand, looked at Aqua in shock.
As Satou Kazuma's contracted spirit, she could clearly feel the flow of mana in Satou Kazuma's body just now.
The extent just now, probably an ordinary person would pass out in a few seconds because of mana depletion.
And Aqua, wasn't she even a little affected?