The sun rose majestically in the blue sky as Aqua and I walked through the streets of Axel.
Even though it was already past noon, a quick glance around showed me several groups of adventurers rushing back and forth. Apparently doing last-minute shopping to make sure they had everything ready before heading out on some quest.
"Oh, there's that shop," Aqua pointed out suddenly.
"Is that a shop?" I asked while inspecting the wooden door. "Wow, I must have walked past here thousands of times and never noticed it. It's kind of hidden, don't you think?"
The goddess shrugged.
"What can I say? The owner isn't exactly the brightest when it comes to business."
Now I was even more curious to see what kind of products they sold.
I placed my hand on the handle.
"Hey! Wait! Are you sure you want to go in? I don't recommend it."
"And why not? Maybe we can find items here that they don't sell in the other shops."
"I know, I know… it's just that… does it have to be this shop right now?"
It was clear Aqua really didn't want to go in. Did she owe the owner money? Now that I thought about it, she had called them "incompetent." Maybe they didn't get along. That only made me more curious about who ran the place.
"Look, Aqua, we don't know what kind of demon we're up against. So it's best to take all the help we can get. I don't really understand what your problem is with this shop or its owner, but you don't have to come in if you don't want to. You can wait for me here."
"It's not that," she explained. "It's just that, if it were possible, I would have preferred not to go in. At least not right now. But since I'm already here I guess I don't have a choice."
Aqua clenched her fist tightly and her blue eyes filled with determination.
I simply stood there watching her, not sure exactly what to say.
"Okay… then let's go in, I guess."
"Fine! I'll do it!"
"I'll do it"? What is she talking about? What a weird girl…
I pushed the door open and immediately heard the soft jingle of bells.
"Welcome…" a soft, kind voice greeted us. When I looked forward, I saw a woman with long brown hair. Even though it was a little messy, her features were elegant and very pretty. The purple robe she wore gave her the look of a mage, or at least someone quite skilled in the field of magic.
"Good morning," I replied. "I'd like to see what potions and magic items you have for sale, if you'd be so kind."
"Of course, that won't be a prob— Oh! Lady Aqua! What a pleasant surprise!"
Suddenly, I don't know why, I began to feel the air in the shop fill with tension. And then, without saying a single word, Aqua strode forward with big steps. Before I could react, she had already launched herself at the shop owner.
"Aqua?" I called out. "Hey! What the hell are you doing?"
The crazy goddess I had for a companion had jumped over the counter and was now gripping the poor girl's robe tightly with both hands, shaking her back and forth.
"Kyaa!" the girl began to shriek. "Lady Aqua! Lady Aqua, you're hurting me!"
"I was thinking of sparing your life for a while, but it seems fate has other plans for you, you filthy lich! And it wants me to give you what you deserve right here, right now!"
"WAAAH! Please! Forgive me, forgive me!" the shop owner kept begging. And what made me feel the most sorry for her was that she wasn't even trying to resist the goddess's firm grip. Aqua, of course, didn't stop hurling all kinds of insults.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
Suddenly Aqua let out a scream so intimidating that even I shuddered.
I had no idea what was going on, but in the next moment the goddess had managed to throw the girl onto the wooden floor and then sat on top of her, pinning her down with her knees.
"Kyaaaa! Lady Aqua, I already told you I don't have any bad intentions! Please don't purify me, I'm begging you!"
But the poor merchant's words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
"I'm sure that sooner or later you'll show your true colors, so I can't trust the words of an undead! My reputation as a goddess is at stake!"
Aqua, drunk on power and with a smile bordering on malicious, raised one hand and slammed it firmly against the floor.
"Turn Undead!" she shouted.
Almost instantly a magic circle materialized beneath the two girls as a bright blue light spread throughout the entire room.
"Waaaaaah! I'm starting to disappear!" the owner screamed, completely horrified.
I started running toward them. It didn't matter if she was a lich or an undead. There was no reason to treat her like that, especially when she wasn't doing anything wrong.
"Aqua, don't do it!"
"I'm just doing my job as a goddess! Don't interfere!" she answered, never taking her eyes off her prey.
And then I threw myself into the magic circle.
"Hey! What do you think you're— AAAAH!"
"WAH!"
There was a loud thud and the next moment all three of us were rolling across the wooden floor.
When we finally stopped, I felt something soft and cushiony against my face.
"I knew you were a perverted hikikomori," I heard Aqua say.
"Huh?" I still didn't understand anything.
Then, when I finally opened my eyes, I realized I wasn't on the floor at all. I was on top of the shop owner. My face and my hands pressed against the biggest breasts I had ever seen in my life.