chapter 0

It was a normal day in this peaceful, uneventful town.

“Kazuma-san, Kazuma-san, pass the soy sauce.”

“Here.”

Unlike Megumin and Darkness who woke up early in the morning, Aqua and I were helping ourselves to a late breakfast.

Upon receiving the bottle, she said thanks and proceeded to—

“Hey, you just touched the soy sauce, didn’t you?”

“No I didn’t.”

This girl has about a one in five chance of purifying the bottle of soy sauce whenever she handles it.

“Then go ahead and spread it on your meal. It isn’t water, so it won’t ruin the taste, right?”

“… Say, Kazuma, why are you being so harsh? We’ve been together for quite some time, haven’t we? So you must know what is going on, right?”

With a gentle smile, I pushed the plate of grilled fish to Aqua.

“You keep saying that you didn’t purify the seasonings every time it happens, right? So go ahead. Pour some soy sauce on this fish and dig in.”

“Oh, fine, I’ll do it! What’s the big deal, I just changed a little of the soy sauce to water! Thinning the sauce a little will surely make it more delicious!”

Aqua tipped the bottle over and poured a stream of water onto the plate.

“… Do you have anything to say?”

“… I’ll go buy more soy sauce later, so please pass me the salt…”

With a regretful expression, Aqua shook the salt shaker over her meal.

Just then.

“Ah! What are you doing!? That’s mine! Give it back, you beast!”

Chomusuke jumped onto the table and snatched her meal away.

The cat crawled to my feet to enjoy her meal. At the same time, Aqua rose to her feet and glared at it.

“… This thing really looks down on me. Move aside, Kazuma. It’s about time someone taught this evil black furball about the hierarchy in this house.”

“Oh come on, it’s just breakfast. Can’t you just enjoy your meal quietly…?”

Aqua furrowed her brow and pounced upon the cat.

“Ow! This horrible demonic beast! It actually dares to scar the flawless skin of a goddess! Fine, if that’s how you want to do… Hot!”

I can understand her cries of pain, but hot?

I was a little curious, but I ignored the grown girl having a deathmatch with a cat and continued eating…

“Kazuma! Kazuma! This demonic beast just breathed fire!”

“Hey, cut it out! Don’t shake me while I’m drinking soup! Besides, didn’t I already say it in the past? That cat can breath fire and uses it to cook her fish.”

Perhaps spooked by Chomusuke, Aqua quickly distanced herself.

“I knew it. I always knew this thing wasn’t an ordinary cat from the moment I saw it, but… Oh, I see it! I see it now! I see its true form!”

So you finally realized it.

Glancing over while finishing my meal, I saw Aqua staring intently at the cat.

“Your true form is… Yes, a really devil-like form! Hey, let me sniff you! Don’t think you can mask the scent of devils from a goddess!”

She kept stealing glances at me while she said that. It seems like she’s not completely confident in her deduction.

“I don’t have full confidence in her identity either, so go figure that out by yourself.”

“… Well, it doesn’t really reek like a devil… Why does a cat have the smell of soap on it? Come on, I’ll give that fish to you, so tell me your true identity. I’ll keep it a secret.”

Aqua crouched before Chomusuke as she dug into the fish and asked with a straight face.

“Hey, if you mess with her too much while she’s eating, she’ll get angry—”

“Waaaah! Stop! Stop! I get it! I get it! I won’t pester you about your identity, so don’t scratch up my precious hagoromo!”

Looking at Chomusuke attacking Aqua after she ignored my warnings, I let out a contented sigh.

“… It’s so peaceful…”

“What do you mean by peaceful, you shitty NEET! I’ll give you some of my side dishes during dinner, so hurry up and stop this thing!”