The legend of the Crimson Demon clan started from Suqing.

Chapter 616 Truly, he can do whatever he wants.

"I didn't find you in the Demon King's Castle, and I thought something had happened. I didn't expect you to all be here. Seeing that you are all safe and sound, I am relieved."

"You...you...!?"

"You're back!"

"Welcome back!"

"Where did you go? I was so worried about you!"

Although the companions said different things, and some even blamed and complained, everyone had a relaxed and happy smile on their face, warmly welcoming their returning companions.

"I'm back, everyone!"

Zun Zun also greeted them happily.

At that moment, Aqua, like a little puppy, trotted over to his side, sniffing something with her little nose.

"What? Do I smell bad?"

Zun Zun also smelled it.

Even though everything was reset in that world, after living there for so long, one inevitably picks up some smells, such as the particularly pungent and unpleasant smell of black ash, or the smell of burnt elves.

"Aqua, you've gone too far."

"It hurts!"

Kazuma Sato slapped her on the back of the head, telling her to stop smelling it like that, as her companions were becoming embarrassed.

"No, it's not an unpleasant smell. On the contrary, it's a peculiar smell."

"……What's the meaning?"

"Can't you smell it? Zun Zun has a very familiar scent."

Not only him, but everyone, including Zun Zun, had a bewildered expression.

The old angel on the sofa had been looking thoughtful until he heard Aqua say that, at which point he suddenly understood.

"It's the aura of God!"

"Yes, yes, that's it!"

Aqua also clapped her hands.

"You mean the aura of a god... so that means only a god can emit that aura? Let me clarify, it's not some divine artifact or anything, right? That means..."

"Zunzun has become a god!?" xN
As expected, it was exposed. I was planning to give them a surprise, but this silly goddess ruined it.

Zun Zun also readily admitted it.

"That's right, I've become a god."

"...Really?!"

The old angel was the first to get excited. He seemed to care a lot about Zun Zun becoming a god, even though it had nothing to do with him.

"Becoming a god, it's becoming a god! Kazuma, why don't you have any expression at all?"

While Darkness was excited, he saw that Sato Kazuma was acting very normally.

"What's so exciting?" He shrugged and said, "Thinking about it carefully, the goddesses I've met include Aqua, Eris, Warbak, and Regina, the goddess Serena worships. These girls are all idiots in their own way."

That makes so much sense, I'm speechless.

In terms of personality, there's Aqua, who's an idiot; Eris, who's actually quite mischievous; Vorba, who was forced to become an evil god, likes hot springs; and Regina is even more frighteningly weak in terms of power.

Having seen so many goddesses, there's nothing to get excited about anymore.

Aqua, in particular, has completely eroded Kazuma Sato's reverence for these deities.

"But this time it's different!"

"What's different?"

"Zun Zun, you... have your own world now, right?"

"what?"

Kazuma Sato paused slightly, seemingly not understanding the meaning of those words.

Zun Zun smiled and said, "Yes, it's my own world."

"so envious!"

This was the first time Aqua had shown such blatant envy and jealousy, which puzzled Kazuma Sato even more. Only after asking her did he learn just how significant the difference was.

As the goddess of water, Aqua's real job in the heavens was to be in charge of the reincarnations in the Riben region, selecting heroes and sending them to this world, but giving them power-ups also required certain conditions.

As the goddess of fortune, Eris's job in the heavens was to send the dead to heaven and to help them reincarnate. Even to resurrect someone, one had to submit a written report.

None of the above are necessary for Zun Zun.

In simple terms.

If we compare a planet to a 'company', then Aqua and Eris are employees in charge of a certain department of the 'company', at most holding the position of minister.

Zun Zun is the chairman of the board, and he has complete control over this planet, so he can do whatever he wants.

Although they don't belong to the same 'company,' their job titles clearly indicate who is more powerful. It's impossible for an employee to hold the same position as the company chairman, right?

Furthermore, the realm of gods is like a corporation.

They control more 'companies' and naturally have more employees.

"So... does that mean Zun Zun can do anything to that planet? Like in Minecraft... no, like in Minecraft with God mode activated?"

"That's it. Whether it's the weather, continental plates, races, or ecosystems. Besides, even if I want vegetables to be alive—cabbages flying everywhere, potatoes jumping up and hitting people's legs, or bananas in water, or saury planting in paddy fields, I can control it all!"

"Stop! Don't be so cruel to the people of that world!"

Kazuma Sato screamed loudly.

Clearly, even someone as thick-skinned as him had had enough of the bizarre ecosystem of the Konosuba world.

However, after a brief gasp, nothing more came of it. After all, the realm Zun Zun had reached was far inferior to his, and it was impossible for them to move to another planet to live now. As for the others, they didn't care at all.

Huihui and Youyou, however, were concerned about something else entirely.

"Your Excellency, will you still go to the trial?"

"Won't it disappear again in the blink of an eye?"

Their expressions were very worried.

“Don’t worry, it will never happen again.” Zun Zun said with a smile, “I have become a god now, and I feel that my crown has completed its evolution. Even if I am taken away, I can use that world as a stepping stone to come back.”

...unless a more powerful being forcibly takes him away.

"By the way, would you like to touch my Star Cup?"

"Star Cup? What's that?"

"In terms that you, Kazuma, can understand, it's about having control over that world. You could call it a symbol or a tool. In short, you can only control it to do whatever you want."

"Oh, that's it!"

Kazuma Sato seemed very interested.

Zun Zun would bring it out, of course, with the intention of showing off. Returning home in luxury is like wearing fine clothes in the dark; having acquired such a valuable item, he naturally wanted to boast about it to his companions.

Huihui and Youyou couldn't help but gasp in surprise when they saw the exquisite pentagonal dodecahedron.

When Aqua saw the Star Grail, her heart finally died, and she squatted in a corner with her knees drawn up to her chest.

Head bowed, shoulders slumped.

Her dejected appearance was like that of someone who had been in the workforce for 30 years, not only without a raise but also quickly becoming the boss of a newcomer who joined the workforce later than her. It was heartbreaking and made people feel sorry for her.

But Zun Zun knew that she had only herself to blame.

Despite being a noble goddess of water, she is consistently at the top of the list of those "least wanted to be one's boss." If she isn't banished to the frontier, who will be?
"He actually... became a god...?"

Zun Zun then noticed that there was another unfamiliar old man there, kneeling in the living room in a dejected posture, with the same expression of collapse as Aqua.

"This person looks familiar, who is he...?"

"The old angel who fought me before."

"Huh, he's still alive?"

I thought that when Huihui fought the opponent, she would mercilessly blast him to smithereens with her explosive magic, but I never expected that she would survive to this day.

"I don't necessarily have to eliminate my opponent. Besides, the opponent has already begged for mercy, so of course I'll stop."

"Why didn't you do this before?"

"No one begged me for mercy before."

Huihui spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, but Zun Zun realized that normally, a single burst spell would leave nothing but ashes, so how could she possibly beg for mercy?

I never imagined that her raging heart could contain such tenderness. She really... I'm so moved.

Zun Zun pointed to the old angel.

"By the way, what happened to him?"

"Who knows?"

Others were equally puzzled.

The old angel's eyes were lifeless, and he kept muttering, "A god... he's become a god. Then what about the hero? Who will play a role in the story of the Demon King and the Hero? Will my long-cherished wish ever be fulfilled?"

More than the difference in strength, he seemed more troubled by the difference in status. As a god, Zun Zun seemed incapable of being a hero, and that responsibility naturally had to be delegated to someone else…?

Kazuma Sato seems to have realized this as well.

"Zun Zun, are you still going to fight the Demon King?"

"Of course! That's my goal!"

Definitely.

His answer, given without hesitation, conveyed his determination.

Kazuma Sato puts his hands together in a prayer-like gesture.

Is the opponent a god? The Demon King is really unlucky. Hopefully, he's alright.

"But is it really a good idea?" He glanced at the old angel subconsciously, then hesitated before saying, "Is it a bit much for a god to go to war against the demon king? Will it be allowed?"

Was it because he was poisoned by the old angel's demon king and hero tropes? Sato Kazuma even subconsciously had such thoughts, however—

"What are you talking about, Kazuma? Aqua is a goddess too."

"!!!?"

He had to admit, he hadn't considered that. Seriously, constantly calling Aqua a stupid goddess, yet forgetting her true identity at such a crucial moment—wasn't that a bit much?
Yes, since I brought Aqua down to the mortal realm, doesn't that mean the gods in the heavens actually want things to turn out this way?

Kazuma Sato during a brainstorming session.

"In the end, we still have to defeat the Demon King." Huihui suddenly said with relief, "That's great! I was planning to do it myself if you wouldn't take action. Then, I'll make you the Demon King's man!"

"No, if that's the case, then I'll take action! Don't underestimate me just because I don't know explosion magic; my advanced magic is quite powerful!"

Youyou retorted, not to be outdone.

After exchanging a glance, the two started bickering in perfect unison, seemingly having become closer after Zun Zun left.

As expected, I'm the outsider here.

While Huihui's house was in complete disarray, the front door was suddenly opened again.

"Kazuma! Kazuma Sato! We're going to defeat the Demon King... Zun Zun!?"

Appearing before me was Miken Hibiki.

And his two friends.

(End of this chapter)