The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

Ugh!

The goddess Eris covered her face, looking ashamed and embarrassed.

Her reaction was so obvious it seemed like she was trying to cover something up; even if she didn't care, it would still arouse suspicion...

Akia hadn't paid much attention at first, but when she saw the female thief's appearance, she instantly realized... she might be her junior, Eris?

"Why are you here?! Why can you come and go as you please, while I'm stuck here like an idiot?!"

Although it was a recognition ceremony, the goddess Aqua did not show any pretense. Instead, she grabbed Eris's frail shoulders with a dissatisfied expression and shook her vigorously.

It seemed to be resenting its bad luck, as what should have been a routine task had turned into this mess.

"Why is this happening?! Waaaaah!"

Recalling all the experiences she had had since being brought into this world, Akya's tears flowed uncontrollably.

She secretly vowed in her heart that when she had the chance to return to the upper realm, she would definitely teach this junior who came down here to laugh at her a lesson!

Wait, no, we can teach them a lesson right now!

Thinking of this, the sadistic desires of the foolish goddess suddenly surged, and she directly grabbed—Eris's breast pads.

"You flat-chested goddess!"

"ah!"

Feeling humiliated by her senior, Eris immediately blushed and began to struggle wildly, but Aqua was far too perceptive.

She grabbed Eris's wrist, lifted Eris's arms high above her head, and then used her other hand to pinch Eris's waist.

Their playful bickering was, to be honest, a bit noisy.

Kiana didn't seem to mind, after all, it was just a friendly interaction between a senior and a junior.

"Uh, but it seems like they're having a bit too much fun..."

She looked around and realized that their attire had attracted the attention of everyone around them.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!" Eris's face turned red from Aqua's pinching, but she still reminded Aqua.

"Hmph, flat-chested goddess~~~!"

"Ugh! Senior, you, you, you bad guy! How dare you call me the flat-chested goddess? What's wrong with the flat-chested goddess? What's wrong with the flat-chested goddess? The flat-chested goddess is prettier and more popular than you!" Goddess Eris covered her face, muttering with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.

Generally speaking, in situations like this, it's best to know when to stop and take profits.

However, faced with her resistance... Aqua became even more arrogant, chanting incessantly, "Flat-chested goddess, flat-chested goddess, flat-chested goddess," making Eris so ashamed and indignant that she wished she could disappear into the ground.

"Useless flat-chested! Cowardly goddess! Flat-chested goddess no one will ever want in this life!" Aqua kept muttering. Eris felt a chill run down her spine as she heard Aqua repeatedly reciting her title of flat-chested goddess.

"You're so mean, senior..." Eris muttered to herself.

"Hmph! Flat-chested goddess!" Akia muttered as she shook Eris.

"No, stop shaking, stop shaking..."

Poor Eris was tossed around by her predecessors, and who among the onlookers could have imagined that these two were actually goddesses of this world?

However, this did not stop them from casting strange glances at each other.

I have absolutely no idea what happened.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Kiana realized that if she let Aqua continue to act recklessly... Eris would be too ashamed to show her face!

Well, right now she looks like she's ashamed to be seen by anyone.

If I hadn't been desperately tugging at my clothes, I might have been inexplicably humiliated by my senior.

Oh, this idiot...

Kiana shook her head, then delivered a chop to the neck.

'when!'

With a muffled thud, the goddess Akya collapsed to the ground, her vision blurring.

The goddess Eris was completely dumbfounded...

...

After seeing Eris off, Kiana carried the silly goddess on her back and embarked on the journey back to the haunted house.

The scene in the beginner city remained the same as always. Although the adventurers were temporarily out of work, Kiana had generously shared her rewards with all the adventurers in the city, instead of keeping them all for herself during the previous battle.

As a result, taverns, blacksmith shops, jewelry stores, and many other shops are now packed with customers.

Almost the entire city was praising her as a benevolent and charitable heroine.

"Hey! Hero, let's drink to you!"

"Hiccup... Praise the hero!"

"Hahaha, is this priest drunk? What a loser... hiccup!"

The expressions of gratitude varied from person to person, and the tones of the expressions differed.

Some felt jealous, some grateful, some helpless, and some both amused and exasperated.

They are all kinds of people, all of whom are part of this world.

Although they were just a group of ordinary people, you could still see the spirit and energy that belonged to ordinary people.

Though weak, they are not blind; though timid, they are courageous.

"Despite traversing many worlds, many things are actually the same... System, what do you think?"

The host is right.

Surprisingly...

It actually stopped playing dead?

The system's response instantly snapped Kiana out of her daze.

Although she continued to carry the silly goddess slowly, her attention was completely drawn to the system in her mind.

"Heh... I thought you would stop talking to me."

[The host hasn't done anything wrong, so why are you worried? I've already made it very clear that my initial silence was primarily to protect you and guide you onto the right path.]

"The right path... unfortunately, it's only the path you think is right."

But only in this way can the journey continue. Isn't that right?

Although the tone was unusual, it had to be admitted.

The system makes a lot of sense...

Although it was very subtle, Kiana could now sense that... the world seemed to be rejecting her.

"Is time running out... Sigh, I was thinking of saying goodbye to Wiz."

Kiana pushed Aqua's fidgeting hand back and continued walking casually.

Just like her casual travels over the past few days, guided by this system...

[Oh? Is the host ready to continue the journey?]

"I'm always ready, but..."

Kiana stopped in her tracks, looking somewhat forlorn.

"I still want to go back, I have to go back no matter what."

A Certain Infernal Affairs in Another World (Konosuba): Chapter Thirty-Six: The Time of Farewell, the Time of Return

Kiana's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Just from hearing her tone, the system knew it had no room to dissuade her.

That's just how she is; once she makes up her mind, she will see it through no matter what, whether it's the path in her heart or a farewell to the past.

It's hard to imagine Kiana choosing to give up so directly...

Or perhaps, because they once ran away from it, they no longer want to go back to that past...

[Host, are you unhappy with the trip?]

Despite the emotionless, mechanical voice, Kiana could still discern a hint of impending doom in its tone.

It's like knowing it's impossible, yet still inevitably needing to try.

It...maybe it's also under a lot of pressure?

"I don't really feel dissatisfied. But what's the point of this aimless journey?"

Kiana continued to take steps, but she was slow to actually move.

Her actions were not so much a wavering as a reflection on whether her behavior was reasonable and whether it followed her conscience.

Such reflection is absolutely correct, because it is through such reflection that the system is forced to confront this problem...

[Wandering without a destination is true travel; having a purpose is a journey undertaken to uphold one's beliefs and will. Honestly, why can't you simply enjoy...this solace?]

"Huh? Hmm, what does that mean?"

Okay, maybe I'm being a bit too abstract. Let me give you an example: if someone's journey ends, what will happen to them next?

Does this system also have some serious flaws?

Kiana felt inexplicably annoyed by the system's endless ramblings.

What does this have to do with anything? Why am I suddenly talking to it about the meaning of travel?

At this moment, Kiana desperately wanted to hear the word "agree" from this guy's mouth.

Instead of listening to it spout grand theories about the meaning of life and the purpose of travel!

"What else can we do but find a place to live a peaceful life?"

[That might not be possible.]

"why?"

Because...sigh, she can no longer get along with her companions. She's changed...so all she can do is keep traveling. It's a kind of solace for her, and also an embrace of the world...