"No! Please don't go!"
In a guest room at the Royal Capital, Aqua clung to one of Fang Li's legs, sobbing as she begged him.
It wasn't just Aqua. Kazuma had tightly wrapped himself around Fang Li's other leg, crying out in utter despair as though the world were ending.
"If you leave, won't I be the only one stuck leading these useless teammates all day? Please don't go!"
The heart-wrenching sobs were enough to make anyone who heard them grieve and anyone who saw them shed tears. Anyone witnessing this scene would have felt pity.
But anyone who knew the full story would understand that Kazuma truly was in despair.
The three girls in the party might all have advanced classes, but they were also genuine deadweight teammates. Even with Fang Li keeping them in check, they caused plenty of trouble. If Fang Li left, what would become of Kazuma when he had to face these disasters alone?
Just thinking about it made Kazuma's vision go dark and his future seem utterly bleak.
That was why he had to cry. He had to beg.
Aqua's reason for crying and pleading was even simpler.
"Who'll be responsible for my food, clothes, and lodging from now on? Do I have to go back to living in a stable like before? Do I have to work again? Who'll pay for my drinks? Who'll clean up after me when I cause trouble? And when I go out to preach, I won't even be able to use a line like, 'I'm the best friend of the princess's fiancé! If you don't believe me, I can call him over anytime and show you!' anymore? I don't want that!"
Like Kazuma's, her cries were full of desperate intensity, but there was nothing remotely pitiful or sympathetic