The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"that...."

The headless horseman's questioning voice echoed in everyone's hearts.

They hadn't noticed Megumin at all until Kazuma pointed it out, and only then did they belatedly realize...

"Oh! It's you!!!"

Once the culprit was found, the rest was simple.

Poor Huihui hadn't even managed to escape when she was bound hand and foot, a white cloth stuffed in her mouth, and carried over by the crowd like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Waaaaah! Waaaaah!!!"

Unexpectedly, these adventurers were so in sync that she looked to Kazuma for help, somewhat distraught.

It seems that he hopes his friend will have mercy and save him.

Unfortunately, it is very unfortunate.

Kazuma, who had just been given a good beating, wouldn't forgive her so easily.

"Heh! Serves you right, you'll pay the price for your mistakes—!"

"Hey! Kazuma, I've found Darkness. We should still have time, right? Wow! Today's a great day to make a killing... Huh? What are you guys doing?"

The sudden, carefree female voice caused everyone who was about to hand Huihui over to stop what they were doing.

They turned their gaze to the blue-haired girl who swaggered over, and the blonde girl in cross-knight armor beside her.

Well... two more problems have arisen?

Upon seeing these two appear, many adventurers had the same thought in mind.

They had a systematic and comprehensive understanding of these guys' character, if not an intimate knowledge of it.

Therefore, it's clear that their arrival is definitely not a good thing.

And that is indeed the case...

"Hey, ptooey! What's going on with you guys? Why did you arrest my companion?"

Despite having lost most of her power and her once-proud goddess status.

However, Akya, whose intelligence level was far below normal, didn't care.

She spat on the ground arrogantly, and then, like a seasoned thug, started shouting menacingly.

"Put her down right now, you bastard, or I'll teach you a lesson!"

"Hey, you guys, what are you planning, dawdling like this?"

The long wait had worn down Beldia's patience.

The headless knight scratched his head in frustration, speaking with an arrogant tone as if he thought I didn't exist just because I didn't say anything.

"Hand over the culprit now, or I'll kill you all! I didn't even want to deal with you newbies, but you keep coming to provoke me! Today is the day you pay the price!"

The headless horseman angrily whipped the reins of his warhorse, and the skeletal iron fist protected by the iron gauntlets became exceptionally ferocious because of his actions.

Even just looking at it is enough to instill fear in those adventurers.

Just how much power does such an iron fist contain...?

"Next..."

The hesitant crowd fixed their gazes on Huihui.

The answer seems self-evident.

However, just as they were about to throw the magician out to settle the matter, a knight stepped forward.

"Everyone, phew... I guess I should do it!"

The female knight, using the alias Darkness, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, as if she couldn't wait to be ravaged.

This scene left her companions speechless.

"I'm talking to you—!"

However, just as the goddess Akya was about to tease the female knight a bit...

A ball of fire suddenly appeared on the horizon...

The fire that suddenly appeared on the horizon was so dazzling and captivating.

As a result, everyone's gaze, including that of the headless horseman, turned to look at him.

As the fire appeared, everyone's initial anxiety and unease were gradually replaced by doubt.

"What?! Another explosion spell?!"

Because he was deeply affected by Megumin's explosive magic, the headless knight Beldia immediately turned his horse around, ready to take cover at any moment.

However, he and those adventurers were actually mistaken about one thing.

That was the fire; it wasn't magic.

Instead, it was a white-haired girl dressed in formal attire who attended the battle.

"Ready, ignite!"

"Varied--"

It wasn't until Kiana got close that Beldia finally realized she was an enemy.

He raised his hand, attempting to block the giant sword that was slashing down from above.

However, faced with the overwhelming pressure from Wang Jian, his actions seemed utterly powerless.

As the fiery sword struck, the overwhelming flames instantly engulfed the headless knight.

Along with the flames came Wang Jian's sharp sword blade.

With a single sword strike, the armor was instantly cleaved in two.

With just this one sword strike, the headless knight Beldia, who had been blessed by the Demon King and possessed high holy resistance, was defeated.

He died on the spot in despair...

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for successfully defeating the rare enemy: Demon King's Army Officer - Beldia, and receiving a reward of 10000 Herrscher Points!]

"Wow, System, when did you become so generous?"

This is your well-deserved reward, host. There's no need for gratitude.

"Hey? Why are you being so modest?"

Kiana sheathed her sword and slowly turned around to look at the stunned adventurers.

Somewhat wondered what earth-shattering feat they had done that would attract such gazes from them.

"The Demon King's army officer... has been cut down with a single sword strike!!!"

After a long while, Kazuma, who was so shocked he was frozen in place, finally came to his senses and, along with Megumin and Darkness, stared at Kiana with eyes wide as saucers...

A Certain Infernal Affairs in Another World (Konosuba): Chapter Six: Eek! I've been targeted by a strange female knight!

At the gates of Axel, a considerable number of adventurers gazed at the white-haired girl before them.

For a moment, I didn't know what expression to wear when facing this Valkyrie who had descended from the sky.

The corpse of Beldia, a cadre of the Demon King's army, was burning under the intense heat, and the inextinguishable flames further proved how terrifying the flames inflicted upon it were.

Therefore, everyone can deduce just how powerful this white-haired girl is.

"Is this...a princess from some country? Such magnificent clothes, not something adventurers like us can afford to wear..."

"I don't think it's very likely that she's a princess. I don't know anyone who has such a powerful princess. Could it be... a goddess descended to earth to save us?"

"It must be! Look at her hair color! It's exactly the same as Eris's!"

The adventurers looked at each other in confusion, mistaking Kiana, who had just displayed her strength, for someone below Eris.

However, their mistake was quickly denied by the parties involved with a smile.

"Um, my name is Kiana. I'm just an unnamed traveler. I saw that you seemed to be in trouble, so I stepped in."

Kiana scratched the back of her head, looking both amused and exasperated.

Although the system specifically prompted you to lend a helping hand, the initiative to do so is in your own hands.

However, this time, the move...

Has this caused any negative impact?

"Uh, um... were you guys actually playing a game with him just now? Did I accidentally hurt him?"

"Uh..." The adventurers looked at each other, then shook their heads repeatedly, "No, no, no, that's not true."

Good heavens, this girl didn't even know the Demon King's army officer, yet she cleaved him in two with a single sword strike?

That's a bit scary...

The adventurers looked at each other, all agreeing that it was best not to provoke the white-haired girl for the time being.

If she gets upset, she might become an enemy even more terrifying than the Demon King's army officers...

"Huh? Why are they all staring at me, System? Am I...?"

[It's nothing, host. Just stay calm. They're all staring at you because you're good-looking.]

"Why are you suddenly saying this? Hmm... it sounds a bit like you're just trying to fool me."

Kiana mentally complained about the system, then, amidst the surprised gazes of the crowd, slowly approached Kazuma and the others—alongside Aqua.

"Hi, long time no see, Goddess of Water."

"You? I feel like I've been somewhere... Oh! I remember now, you're the one!"

Akya's overreaction undoubtedly attracted the attention of the adventurers and Kazuma.

They all turned their attention to this extremely unreliable woman, wondering what connection she had with this goddess-like and powerful young woman.

"Hmm?" Huihui, who was tied up like a caterpillar, tilted her head back and spat out the white cloth in her mouth. "That?"

"Who is that?"