If you think about it carefully, today really was a total loss with zero gains.
Although they successfully subjugated the pack of White Wolves, Fang Li's entire group didn't receive any reward. Instead, they ended up with a debt of 10 million Eris.
For someone like Fang Li, who had once robbed a royal treasury, this amount was probably nothing. Not to mention, he had been constantly taking on high-difficulty quests before this and had accumulated a decent fortune. Repaying 10 million Eris wasn't exactly difficult for him.
However, Fang Li had no intention of paying off the entire debt by himself.
After all, his mood was terrible.
'Let's not even talk about the reward, just take the quest results.'
Originally, Fang Li had accepted this subjugation quest mainly to let Kazuma and Aqua level up a bit, using it as an opportunity to complete a side quest.
But in the end, although the monsters were taken down successfully, Kazuma, who spent the entire battle hiding on the sidelines, and Aqua, who was not only useless but even made things worse, didn't gain a single experience point. On the contrary, Megumin, who technically had nothing to do with the quest, wiped out the entire pack with one Explosion and her Rank soared.
In other words, today's quest had been a complete waste of time.
...Well, it was not entirely a waste.
At the very least, the White Wolf Subjugation Quest was considered complete, and Fang Li earned Quest Points from it. His current total had now reached almost 1000 Quest Points, with 4000 more needed to complete Main Quest II.
Precisely because he at least gained something, Fang Li was in the mood to cover part of the debt.
So, Fang Li immediately paid off his own portion of the debt.
As for the debts belonging to Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin? He left those for them to worry about, he had no interest in dealing with them.
One thing worth mentioning is Darkness's situation. Even knowing how utterly hopeless Darkness was as a Crusader, in the end, Aqua and Megumin still weren't swayed.
"It's fine even if she can't hit anything, after all, I'm the damage dealer!"
Declared the Crimson Magic Clan girl who's completely spent after one explosion.
"You're a Holy Knight, right? No problem! Just join our party and it'll be fine! But… you should probably believe in the Axis Church…"
The utterly useless goddess who only cared about recruiting more people into her cult tried to convert her, completely ignoring the needs of the party.
"Wait! I object! This team is already messed up enough! How can we let some weird Crusader join too?! …Huh? You're willing to take on part of the debt? …Uh… well… I guess letting you join isn't out of the question…"
The hikiNEET who initially resisted with all his might folded instantly in the face of debt. So spineless.
"Then, let me reintroduce myself. I'm Darkness, Class: Crusader. Due to my clumsiness, I completely can't land a single attack, but I'm very confident in my defensive power and endurance. Please don't hold back, use me as a shield however you want. You can even throw me into a swarm of monsters. In fact, I insist you do just that!"
This unfathomable super-masochist Crusader gave completely incomprehensible reasons and officially joined the party.
After that, this hopeless female knight started hounding Megumin, begging her to use her daily Explosion magic on her body.
"This is the reason I joined the party!"
That was the top-tier class Holy Crusader's heartfelt declaration.
Unfortunately, even the usually unhinged Megumin didn't dare accept such a request, and fled as if running for her life.
Fang Li silently stood to the side, watching the entire situation unfold before his eyes.
Because, aside from staying quiet, there was simply no other way for him to express his feelings.
"This party is finally doomed."
At the very least, anyone who understood this team's situation would absolutely think that.
A hikiNEET with the weakest class.
A useless goddess who couldn't contribute in battle.
A Crimson Demon girl whose worth was equivalent to just one Explosion.
A masochist knight who couldn't land a hit and could only defend.
And to top it all off, the only person in history with no class at all.
With a party like this… how could it possibly not be doomed?
That's why Fang Li made a firm and resolute decision.
"For the time being, we'll be acting separately."
Leaving those words behind, Fang Li walked away.
As for Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness, the group of four, at the time they were too busy arguing over how to split the debt, completely absorbed in their own little world, and didn't pay Fang Li's decision any real attention.
Three days later, however… each and every one of them regretted it deeply.
"Please! Please! Go on a quest with us again!"
In a corner of the Adventurer's Guild, Aqua clung to one of Fang Li's legs, bawling so miserably that it could move even the hardest of hearts.
"It was our fault! Please forgive us!"
Kazuma was holding onto Fang Li's other leg, tears streaming down his face as he wailed just as pitifully.
"…This is just tragic."
"…Though not entirely unexpected…"
Megumin and Darkness stood off to the side, watching the scene with somewhat complicated expressions on their faces.
Fang Li wasn't the least bit surprised to see Kazuma and Aqua clinging to him so shamelessly.
"Well then, tell me first." Fang Li said coldly. "What have you all been doing these past three days?"
At his words, Kazuma and Aqua instantly fell silent.
Only Megumin and Darkness straightened up proudly, acting as if they had achieved something great.
"I've been diligently completing my daily training without fail."
Of course, what Megumin meant by "training" was going outside the city once a day to unleash her Explosion Magic.
"I… I've also been completing my daily assignments…"
Darkness blushed as she spoke shyly, clearly referring to secretly following Megumin every day, hiding in the shadows until the Explosion was cast, and then rushing in to take the blast head-on for her own enjoyment.
"I… I didn't even do anything… but someone very violent came to my door every day to threaten me…"
Aqua sobbed as she said this, clearly referring to the debt collectors.
After all, this useless goddess not only owed money to Fang Li and the Guild, but she had also borrowed more all over town just to eat and drink lavishly three times a day. Eventually, the debt collectors had tracked her down.
"I can't take it anymore!"
Kazuma wailed even louder:
"Every day, I have to rent a carriage with the little money we have left to drag that Explosion-obsessed fake Crimson Demon who runs out of mana after one spell, and bring back the masochist knight who dives into every blast and ends up completely covered in injuries… and on top of that, because of the debt-ridden useless goddess who uses my house as a hideout, I've been chased down multiple streets by knife-wielding creditors! I've had enough! Please, come back! Don't leave me to die alone!"
His voice was so full of sorrow that even Fang Li couldn't help but feel a bit of pity.
Still, this was all within his expectations, which was exactly why he let them suffer on their own.
"If you want to go on a quest, it's not impossible."
Fang Li calmly stated the conditions he had already prepared in advance:
"But during the quest, you all must completely obey my orders. No exceptions. Understood?"
How could anyone dare refuse?
And so, Fang Li finally regained a little bit of control over this completely chaotic party.
(End Of This Chapter)
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