I love time travel the most!

Kobayashi then looked at Sato Kazuma.

“Sato-kun, like me, although we haven’t known each other for long, I know you are a reliable companion. I can anticipate that your flashes of brilliance will bring us surprises, and I’m already looking forward to it. Even if you’re just an ordinary adventurer, it doesn’t matter. I think you have the potential to become a strong one, and I firmly believe that you will.”

He received more praise than the other two.

"Oh dear, I'm getting shy just saying that."

Kazuma Sato rubbed the tip of his nose with his index finger. Although he said he was shy, the upturned corners of his mouth showed that he was in a good mood.

As expected, it was the right thing to do to keep Kobayashi-senpai here.

He's handsome and has a nice voice; he really likes him.

As for the mentally challenged goddess...

"Aqua is an indispensable member of the team; those who know, know."

"...Just this one sentence?!"

Everyone else showered them with praise, their words conveying high regard, but when it came to her, all she got was a dismissive "You know what I mean..."

That's way too perfunctory!

Aqua leaned against Kobayashi's back: "Hey, say a little more! It's okay to praise me a little more, after all, I'm a goddess!"

"Alright, let's leave it at that. Although we all have different interests and hobbies, I hope we can find common ground while respecting our differences."

"Hey, please."

"If anyone has any requests, please let me know now, and I will try my best to fulfill them."

"Hey, hey, hey, tell me, tell me."

Aqua kept chattering in his ear, but Kobayashi selectively ignored her, allowing the team members to speak up.

Huihui raised her right hand: "I want to unleash explosive magic every day."

"No."

"……Eh?"

The rejection was so abrupt that she didn't even have time to react.

"Your explosive magic is too powerful, often affecting towns. The forest to the west has been blown up to the point where it needs to be reforested. And weren't you the mastermind behind the huge riot a while ago, you chuunibyou explosive grand mage with a screw loose?"

"But, but I'll die from an excess of magic if I don't unleash the Explosion spell."

"Then die."

Kobayashi's answer was so cold and ruthless.

Next up was Darkness: "I want to raise a tentacle monster!"

"No."

"Well……"

"Monsters can cause disturbances in towns, and since there are mostly women in the party, we need to be considerate of their feelings... Don't think you can avoid getting punched just because you're a woman; sometimes, fists can be just that unreasonable."

"Rejected, wow—ha—wow—ha—great!"

Logically, being rejected should make her as heartbroken as Huihui, but instead, her face was flushed and she was panting heavily, looking like she was enjoying it.

"Well, I think..."

"no!"

"I haven't finished speaking!"

Before Aqua could finish speaking, Kobayashi decisively refused. Although she didn't know what Aqua was going to say, it certainly wasn't anything good.

Megumin: "I want to defeat One-Punch Bear."

"No."

Darkness: "I want to grow the Magic Vine."

"No."

Aqua: "Well, I think..."

"No."

"I haven't finished speaking!"

They then made many more demands.

For example, they might ask for high-difficulty tasks, monsters, or high-profile parties, but no matter what the request is, it will be rejected outright.

At this point, everyone finally realized that something was wrong.

Kobayashi, seated at the head of the table, resembled a ruthless tyrant sitting on a throne, brooking no argument. The terrifyingly low pressure emanating from him made the air seem to freeze.

Her sharp eyes emitted a terrifying light even more scarlet than Huihui's, scanning the people sitting below as if they were a group of noisy traitors.

"Who else?!"

“…………”X4

The four fell silent instantly.

This is completely different from the gentleness just now!

Kazuma Sato shuddered as he recalled the fear of being dominated by his cold and ruthless mother.

Where is democracy? Where is the promised democracy?

Does democracy mean that these few people want to be led by Kobayashi, this ruthless tyrant?

"Ah, democracy."

"Sato-kun, what did you just say?"

"No, no, I didn't say anything!"

Kazuma Sato, terrified, quickly lowered his head and shook his head, completely unable to meet Kobayashi's bloodshot eyes.

Being pragmatic is also one of his greatest strengths.

After a while, there were no more discordant voices in the team, and the atmosphere that had just been stirred up was instantly extinguished, as if the laughter and joy from before had been an illusion.

At this point, everyone's opinions were (forced) to reach a consensus.

Sato Kazuma felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. Was this kind of team really okay?

He expressed concern about the team's future.

However, he would soon realize that Kobayashi was the only one in the team he could truly trust, and he would soon understand Kobayashi's good intentions in doing so.

"Now that we've formed a team, let's go on a mission. This will allow us to clearly understand the strength of each team member and prevent us from getting flustered in battle."

"Oh, oh~~~~" X4

The four of them didn't seem very enthusiastic.

Hmm, it must be an illusion. Look, they're all shaking with joy.

------

P.S.: Hey! Don't force me to beg you on my knees to add this to my favorites and follow this story!

Chapter 5 Illustrations

On the plains outside the town of Axel.

Huihui raised her wand high, aiming it at the giant toad in the distance, while chanting an obscure and ridiculously cheesy spell.

"Blacker than black, darker than darkness, let my true crimson golden light reside here!"

When the time of awakening comes, the corrupt principles of the absurd church will become invisible and distorted and revealed!

Dance! Dance! Dance!

The collapse of the very source of my power, a collapse unmatched by anyone, will burn everything in the world to ashes. Descend from the abyss!

Watch it!

This is humanity's strongest attack method, and also the most ultimate attack magic!

Explosion——————! "

Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, sand and stones flew, the sky darkened, and a terrifying ball of light was brewing in the sky.

A large amount of magic power surged from Megumin's body, followed by a bolt of lightning that struck from the sky.

The blinding, intense light, the waves that shook the surrounding air, the deafening roar, and the fierce gust of wind pushed the team members back several meters.

boom! ! ! ! ! !

A dark red ball of light exploded in the distance, sending up a cloud of smoke that blotted out the sun.

Endless sandstorms swept across the scene, scattering the flesh and blood of the giant toad as it was blasted into pieces, leaving only a massive crater.

The edges of the giant crater were even crystallized due to the high temperature, and at the same time, terrifying heat remained, making people feel unbearably hot.

"Wow, so powerful... Is this really a level that humans can reach?"

Kazuma Sato's legs went weak, and he let out an embarrassing groan.

What is a self-propelled humanoid nuclear bomb?! (Tactical lean back)

Words cannot describe the shock; only by seeing it with one's own eyes can one understand just how terrifying the power of Megumin's explosive magic truly is.

If that hit him on the head, he would be blown to bits.

As expected, his previous decision was correct. If he wanted to live a comfortable life in the future, he would have to curry favor with this chuunibyou little loli.

Pfft!

After releasing the magic, Megumin collapsed forward in a daze.

"Eh?"

Kazuma Sato was startled. "Megumin, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, I just don't have the strength."