Mistress of the Butterfly Estate: Thank you, Lady Aqua. Thank you so much for clearing all the demons from our world.
Mistress of the Butterfly Estate: My sister and I can finally live like normal people.
Blue Ribbon: Aqua?
Blue Ribbon: Aqua, didn't you take on a rescue mission from the group chat yesterday? And you even cleared all the demons from that world?
Mai Sakurajima: ...Yeah, I saw the stream yesterday. Lady Aqua's holy light seemed especially effective against demons.
Bronze-Level Adventurer: Luck's not your strong suit, but that did feel very goddess-like—though your words are always a bit unlucky.
Ice Queen: Aqua, your power's impressive. Want to spar sometime?
Aqua: As the sacred Water Goddess, such weak demons are nothing for someone of my caliber.
---
In the Konosuba world
After replying to the dimensional chat group, Aqua raised an eyebrow, her pride written all over her face. She looked smugly at Shirakawa.
She suggested again, "Shirakawa, are you really not going to team up with us?"
"I, a noble Water Goddess, have invited you so many times already. If you keep refusing, it's getting rude!"
Having helped Hanako and the Slit-Mouthed Woman become Chosen of Pleasure, Shirakawa didn't stay long in the Demon Slayer world. Considering how poor Megumin was—she even lent him her staff—he stopped by the supermarket for supplies and teleported to Konosuba's world.
He looked at the loli girl eating voraciously with her staff in her arms. This time, he didn't refuse immediately and began seriously considering it.
He had already filed a long leave request with Shizuka-Sensie. No need to keep living the normal high school life—he could now focus on other worlds.
And if he were to build a party, besides Megumin, there was another clear candidate.
A Crusader.
A muscle-bound, masochistic knight with a perverted streak—Darkness, real name Lalatina Ford Dustiness, a noble lady of the Dustiness family.
With defense so high she could tank Megumin's explosion magic, her personality was both unfixable and perfect for becoming Chosen of Pleasure.
Looking at Aqua's hopeful expression, Shirakawa gave a slight nod.
"Alright."
"If we're building a party, we'll need a few more people. Megumin and I are both top-class Arch-wizards, and you're a top-class Archpriest."
"To form a party to defeat the Demon King, we'll need a tank. A top-class Crusader should do."
"That makes sense!"
Getting Shirakawa's agreement, Aqua was instantly thrilled. As a member of the dimensional chat group, she knew full well—
This guy was insanely strong.
And with her own support as a goddess, defeating the Demon King and returning to heaven didn't seem all that far away.
She pulled out some parchment from who-knows-where and said excitedly,
"Any other requirements? I'll write them down here and post them on the Adventurer Guild's recruitment board. We'll definitely get someone!"
"Mm."
"You must unconditionally obey the captain's commands and meet all the captain's needs. High defense is a must—otherwise, your damage resistance won't be enough..."
Shirakawa was trying to describe the ideal candidate based on Darkness's personality as closely as possible.
With the highest-tier job—Crusader—he could filter out most of the freeloaders. Once the team setup was about done...
They could start taking on quests.
Earning some Eris, buying a staff with magic amplification effects—watching Aqua finish writing the recruitment notice, Shirakawa nodded slightly.
"This should do the trick!"
"I'll leave the candidate screening to you, then."
Not sensing anything off about the notice at all, Aqua, who wasn't exactly the brightest, cheerfully pinned it to the guild's bulletin board.
Meanwhile, Megumin, who had been focused on her food...
When she finally looked up, she gave Shirakawa a strange look. As the world's strongest Explosion Magic user...
She felt something was seriously off!
But Shirakawa had treated her to food, so she held back her urge to complain. What she was more curious about was the feeling of using Explosion Magic.
"Shirakawa! I can sense residual magic from the staff—you definitely used Explosion Magic!"
Excited by the residual energy in the staff, Megumin grabbed Shirakawa's hand eagerly. "Quick... Tell me how it felt!"
"..."
As for calling Explosion Magic the strongest... Shirakawa couldn't bring himself to say something so exaggerated. After thinking for a moment, he borrowed a line from a certain character and said seriously:
"Art...Is an explosion!"
"You do feel the same as me! Only Explosion Magic gives me peace of mind. If I can't unleash an explosion every day..."
"My life feels meaningless!"
"Art is an explosion"—this line hit Megumin right in the heart. Being able to team up with someone who shared her passion for Explosion Magic...
That had to be the blessing of the Goddess of Luck!
"I found a great place! The environment is perfect, and I could use Explosion Magic every day without complaints from residents!"
"It's an abandoned castle on top of a mountain."
Megumin casually shared her routine, completely skipping over the key detail that Aqua had to drag her home every time—fearing it might get her rejected from the team.
She didn't notice Shirakawa's odd expression.
Blasting explosions at an abandoned castle every day—why did this plot feel so familiar? If he remembered correctly, that should be...
The home of the Demon King's general—the Headless Knight?
Shirakawa's silence finally caught Megumin's attention. Her youthful face filled with curiosity. "Shirakawa, what's wrong...?"
"Nothing. Sounds great."
As an important officer of the Demon King's Army, the Headless Knight had a hefty bounty from the Adventurers' Guild. Taking him out would solve any money issues.
Shirakawa shook his head slightly.
Now that the staff and team were basically handled, all that was left was to lure Darkness into the party using that recruitment notice.
Once that's done, everything would be set.
Not planning to linger in the Konosuba world any longer, Shirakawa explained the situation briefly to Aqua, then used an inter-world teleport anchor...
To travel to the World of the Apocalypse.
With four Chosen of Pleasure now available, his first goal was to help Saeko Busujima, Shizuka Marikawa, and the others awaken supernatural abilities and ensure their safety.
Most importantly...
The most obvious benefit from increasing Gods Chosen was the rise in personal stats.
At the adventurers' guild bulletin board, a cool, golden-haired girl in armor—her long hair tied in a ponytail—was scanning the recruitment notices like always.
She glanced through party listings looking for magic users.
Currently, her team needed a male mage. Those interested were to contact the bartender at the Cat's Tail Tavern.
Urgent need for a priest! Our team has a highest-tier class member!
"..."
The girl skimmed over the notices but didn't find any team matching her criteria. Just as she was about to leave, her gaze landed on a notice in the corner.
Her steps paused briefly.
"Seeking Crusader for party. Interested applicants please contact the Adventurers' Guild."
"..."
Darkness halted completely. The ink was still fresh on the parchment—clearly posted just recently.
It matched her class perfectly.
But then...
As her eyes moved to the detailed requirements, a spark lit in her gaze: the team demanded full obedience to the captain, no complaints allowed...
"Th-this... this must be some kind of shameful... domination play!"
"High damage resistance—does that mean... I'll be getting attacked by monsters in battle? Th-this is the perfect team for me!"
"..."
After reading the notice, Darkness was breathing heavily. Her eyes glowed with anticipation as she decisively took the paper down.
Then looked ahead at the Adventurers' Guild and walked forward without hesitation.
Back in the Apocalypse World, the teleportation anchor made travel incredibly convenient. With just a brief moment of dizziness, Shirakawa's awareness returned—
And he found himself standing in front of Rika Minami's detached house.
A few undead still wandered the street, probably drawn by noise. But that number posed no threat to someone like Saeko Busujima.
That much Shirakawa felt confident about.
In fact, there were ways to completely eliminate the undead threat. For example, if he summoned Aqua to this world and used her divine authority...
She could probably purify all of them.
But doing that...
From his perspective, it made no sense. Killing undead granted EXP, and there were plenty of them to farm.
It was the perfect farming ground.
"Once I grant them the power of Gods Chosen, I won't have to worry about their safety anymore."
Standing at the door, Shirakawa rang the bell. After a brief wait, he heard footsteps approaching. The one who opened the door was Rei Miyamoto in her school uniform.
"...Lord Shirakawa."
Recalling the madness of the day before, Rei's face instantly flushed red the moment she saw him again. She bowed and greeted him formally.
Thanks to Saeko-senpai's explanation...
She now understood: this seemingly ordinary high school boy was actually a powerful individual from another world. There was no need to worry about safety anymore.
The anxiety in her heart finally lifted.
However...
Standing before Shirakawa again, she still couldn't calm her nerves. She knew clearly—this was the man who now held her fate in his hands.
Her body tensed.
But she quickly fetched indoor slippers from the rack and respectfully placed them in front of him. "Lord Shirakawa, welcome."
"Mm."
The tsundere personality... it only lasts until reality smacks them around.
Like Rei here—Shirakawa rather liked this attitude. Watching the others in the living room rise when they noticed him enter...
He didn't bother making the mood too serious.
Speaking casually, Shirakawa smiled and greeted them. "I'm here today because I need a favor from you all."
"Lord Shirakawa!"
Before anyone could react, the airheaded Shizuka Marikawa leapt forward and hugged his arm tightly—right in front of the others.
She expressed her feelings plainly.
"I missed you. So... can we have some time alone together tonight?"
"That depends... on what other plans I have."
If no rescue missions came up in the chat group, and nothing urgent happened, staying in the Apocalypse World sounded just fine. As the God of Pleasure...
Of course he wouldn't let any chances go to waste.
Feeling the soft pressure on his arm, Shirakawa stepped into the living room, casually scanning the girls. His tone remained calm.
"Saeko, you're aware of superpowered individuals, right?"
"Yes, I am."
Saeko Busujima nodded seriously. After all, most members of the dimensional chat group were supernatural beings. As normal high school students...
Only she and Mai Sakurajima really counted.
[Note: Asuna?]
The others—Saya Takagi and Rei Miyamoto—also turned to Saeko. They'd only ever seen Shirakawa's powers and didn't yet fully understand what supernatural powers meant.
As for why he suddenly brought it up—they hadn't quite figured that out.
"I'm here this time mainly to help you all become stronger. That way, even if you encounter undead, you can easily wipe them out."
He didn't beat around the bush.
Lying back on the sofa with his head resting on Shizuka Marikawa's, Shirakawa smiled casually and looked around the room.
"Only if you're willing."
"Rather than saying you'll become espers, it's more accurate to say you'll become the chosen ones of a god."
"..."
The girls looked at each other in silence.
In the end, it was Takagi Saya who, despite her confusion, took the initiative to ask, "Lord Shirakawa, are you saying you want us to become your chosen ones?"
"That's right."
Shirakawa had always acted based on equal exchange. Becoming one of his so-called chosen meant there was definitely a price to pay.
They had already developed... intimate relationships with him.
Takagi Saya didn't dare assume gaining supernatural powers would come without any cost. She asked seriously, "So, what's the price?"
"Offer me your loyalty!"
To become a chosen of a god, one must show absolute loyalty to the god they worship. The fact that Takagi Saya could still think clearly at this moment reassured Shirakawa.
"Loyalty?"
If this were the Sengoku era, that might mean a retainer pledging loyalty to their lord. But Takagi Saya didn't think it was that simple.
"That's right. Your body, your mind, and your faith must all offer unconditional loyalty. Betrayers will, of course, be dragged to the Tribunal."
"The decision is yours. I won't force any of you."
Shirakawa didn't like forcing them into anything against their will. Everything should happen naturally. The price was complete submission—body, mind, and belief.
In exchange, they would gain the chance to become extraordinary beings.
"I'm willing!"
Breaking the silence was Busujima Saeko, who smiled gently and walked up to Shirakawa. She already had strong feelings for him.
She had long since given herself to him wholeheartedly.
Now...
Pledging loyalty and becoming one of his chosen would grant her extraordinary powers—and at least from a safety standpoint, Shirakawa wouldn't have to worry about her anymore.
That was already quite good!
Shizuka Marikawa leaned close to Shirakawa's ear, her breath warm as she whispered, "If Lord Shirakawa doesn't mind... I-I could also do it."
"..."
Only Takagi Saya and Rei Miyamoto remained undecided.
But once they locked eyes and walked forward together, their actions spoke louder than words—their decision was clear. They would become Shirakawa's chosen.
They would become supernatural beings.
Even if they couldn't keep up with Shirakawa, at the very least, they wouldn't be forgotten so easily!
"Good."
With four new Chosen of Pleasure added, their overall attributes would increase significantly.
Shirakawa was in a good mood. He hadn't expected that his god profession panel would reach eight members so quickly—just two more to unlock the next panel.
Once again, it was the familiar divine bestowal ceremony. But this time, in front of Saeko, Shizuka, and the others, he didn't bother restraining his divinity.
A soft pink mist slowly filled the living room.
After they were granted the status of gods chosen, silver marks on their lower abdomen glowed in the mist.
Shirakawa examined the girls—each one had noticeably improved in both looks and figure.
Nodding with a smile, he said, "Now, it's time for you all to show your loyalty... my chosen ones."
In a zombie apocalypse...
Not throwing a party would be a waste of time!
---
"Captain, are you really resigning?"
"With this zombie outbreak getting worse, we're already overworked. Now the world's gone to hell, and we still have to worry about everyone else's safety?"
"No one's ever worried about me."
Clad in a black SAT uniform, her long purple hair tied into a high ponytail, Rika Minami had tanned skin from years of missions.
After everything she'd experienced these past two days...
She'd grown tired of her profession, tired of the hopeless future. Instead of holding her post in a broken world, she chose to enjoy life.
She unilaterally resigned.
Instead of driving a special ops vehicle, Rika revved up her motorcycle. The engine roared as she sped off down the road toward her home.
The explosion from last night was still fresh in her mind. She still hadn't figured out what caused it.
"I wonder... how that ditz Shizuka is doing!"