Chapter 90: Journey to Konosuba – The Goddess Eris

The God profession couldn't be leveled up. The only way to gain strength was to expand the scope of the subspace.

SAO's virtual world seed—on a cosmic scale, it wasn't even that significant. Within a galaxy, it was merely a drop in the ocean. Gaining country-level combat power was already good.

Nothing too unexpected.

Keeping Kayaba's soul in subspace wouldn't do. The world of Konosuba had Eris. Although she couldn't manage other worlds—

She could handle reincarnation just fine.

Using a cross-world teleportation anchor, Shirakawa decisively set the destination to Konosuba. With more jumps, he was getting used to the feeling.

He opened the dimension chat group.

Normal High School Student: Aqua, where are you?

Aqua: I'm lying around at Darkness's house. Her place is huge. Megumin's here too, along with one of her Crimson Demon friends.

Aqua: Why?

Blue Ribbon: Ordinary High School Student, any plans for where to house your familia?

Normal High School Student: I'm in Axel. I've got something to discuss with you, Aqua.

Aqua had fully settled into a lazy lifestyle after moving into Darkness's mansion. She bought sparkling wine with her own money and wasted time—iccasionally heading out with Megumin to unleash some Explosion Magic.

Defeating the Demon King?

Not exactly urgent. She could put it off until they had more money. Swirling her glass of bubbly, she sobered up and slowly got up from the plush sofa.

Megumin, also in slacker mode, looked at her in surprise. "Aqua? What's up?"

"Shirakawa's here..."

"Probably has something to ask me. After all, as a great goddess, if a party member needs help, I obviously have to lend a hand."

Aqua stretched lazily.

She wore a pale blue feathered robe that perfectly outlined her curves. But aside from Shirakawa needing something—

She also had news for him.

As the record-holding hero who took out the Demon King's headless general faster than anyone else, Shirakawa had apparently caught the interest of royalty.

Meeting royalty...

Aqua hadn't been in Konosuba very long, so it didn't feel like a big deal. But based on Darkness's attitude—

It was probably a very serious matter?

She arrived at the Adventurer's Guild and quickly spotted Shirakawa in his adventurer gear. Waving, she said, "Shirakawa."

"What did you want to ask?"

Looking at the blue-haired goddess who'd dragged herself to the guild, Shirakawa asked directly, "Can you reincarnate a soul into another world?"

"Huh? Are you trying to reincarnate into Konosuba's world?"

"That's not easy. You have to die unexpectedly. Besides, don't you already have the ability to travel back and forth between our worlds?"

"Why the sudden question?"

Aqua's eyes were filled with confusion. Normally,if someone dies an unexpected death, reincarnating into another world was simple.

But now...

This sparkling wine really was good.

"It's an agreement I made with someone a while back. He has something I want. In return, I offered him a chance to reincarnate."

He didn't go into detail about the SAO game world.

Shirakawa gave a brief explanation, then shifted his gaze to Aqua. Using her as a channel to contact the goddess of this world—Eris—was the real goal.

Or rather, to find the thief Chris and pressure her into admitting her true identity.

"...You..."

After hearing all this, Aqua's eyes were filled with deep suspicion. No matter how she tried to imagine it, Shirakawa just didn't come off as a good person to her.

Not even close.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said in an unusually gentle voice, "Hey, Shirakawa-kun, are you sure it's not just that he has something you want—"

"And since he wouldn't give it, you beat him up and then offered to reincarnate him into another world?"

"..."

Shirakawa's fists clenched instinctively. His eyelids twitched wildly as he shot back, "You're a goddess—can you do this or not? If not, I'll just ask the dimension chat group."

"I can!"

"Of course I can!"

"If it's reincarnating into this world, then all you need to do is find my junior goddess Eris. Just so happens the reincarnation rate here is really low."

Feeling her divine authority challenged—

Aqua agreed without hesitation. She tried to use her divine authority to contact Eris, but even after a while, she got no response.

"Maybe Eris is just really busy or something."

"Uh..."

With a slightly awkward expression, Aqua could only come up with a weak excuse. At that moment, a silver-haired girl wearing a revealing outfit walked into the Adventurer's Guild.

It was Chris—the tomboyish girl who'd been with Darkness earlier. When she spotted Shirakawa and Aqua, she approached and greeted them.

"Shirakawa, Lady Aqua."

"..."

"Oh, it's Chris!"

Aqua greeted her halfheartedly. She knew this silver-haired girl was a friend of Darkness. They'd met when forming their adventurer party.

"Are you two going on a quest or something?"

Chris glanced over at Shirakawa before focusing her gaze on Aqua. She asked casually, "Where's Darkness?"

"Nope."

"Shirakawa has something he wants to ask... Eris for help with. Do you know where her temple is?"

No matter what, Aqua absolutely refused to go visit her junior goddess's temple. But now that a suitable errand girl had shown up, Chris should be willing to help.

"If it's okay with you..."

"Could you take Shirakawa there? I'll treat you to drinks afterward!"

"..."

Chris didn't know much about Shirakawa—just that he was supposedly a hero summoned by her senior Aqua, famous for defeating a Demon King general.

Known as the strongest adventurer in Axel.

She blinked her blue eyes and asked curiously, "Shirakawa, you want to go to Eris's temple? I can take you."

"Sure."

On the way to the temple—

Chris curiously studied the young man walking beside her, then asked, "With your strength, is there really anything you need help with?"

"There is."

Shirakawa wore a gentle smile, his clean-cut face glowing with sunlight. His tone carried a hint of helplessness. "I want to have someone's soul reincarnated into another world."

"Can you help me with that, Lady Eris?"

"!!!"