Journey Through The Kingdom of Croft

Walking along a rugged dirt road, Hajime walked with Kazuma and Thrax.

"HAHAHAHA, I miss the old times, pal!"

Kazuma looked annoyed, already regretting his decision.

"Why did I accept this?" Kazuma muttered, but Thrax heard it.

"HAHAHAHA, why did you accept, you ask? Well, it's because we're good friends, pal! HAHAHAHA," Thrax said, still laughing.

Wow, Kazuma really doesn't seem to like Thrax. Why though? He said they met on a mission and made an adventuring party, so why does he seem to dislike Thrax? Hajime thought, watching Kazuma and Thrax.

After an hour of walking, all three of them made it to the city gate. Unlike the first time Hajime was at the gate, the guards were actually wide awake, and right as they saw Kazuma's figure, they straightened their slightly slouched postures and greeted him.

"Greetings, Lord Kazuma." The man paused and shifted his gaze towards Hajime. "Greetings to you as well, Lord Hajime." The guard turned back to Kazuma.

"My lord, forgive my rudeness, but may I ask why no one was informed of your departure from the city?"

"I joined the monster hunt with my son so he could get some battle experience."

"I hope your hunt went well, my lord," the guard said as he motioned to a guard on top of the wall to open the gate. The gate slowly opened as a group of guards turned a wheel which pulled a chain connected to the gate to lift it.

Once the gate was just high enough for Hajime and Kazuma to walk under, they walked into the city.

After a little more walking, Hajime arrived at the very familiar home.

Finally home. Today was tiring and harder than expected, Hajime thought, walking towards their gate's entrance.

"HAHAHAHA, Kazuma, you have quite the nice house here! HAHAHAHA!"

Kazuma stayed silent as they walked up to the house's gate. Immediately, Hajime saw Bradly standing at the entrance, waiting and watching them walk up.

Does Bradly just stand there all day? Hajime couldn't help but think.

As they reached the gate, Bradly opened it elegantly, as if he had practiced it a million times.

"Welcome back, master. I hope the hunt went well?" Bradly said as Kazuma, Hajime, and Thrax walked through. Before Kazuma could answer, Thrax spoke first.

"HAHAHAHA, you even have butlers, you lucky dog!" Thrax said, smiling and nudging Kazuma's side.

"Bradly, prepare a guest room for Thrax here," Kazuma said, ignoring Thrax's nudging.

"Right away, master," Bradly replied before instantly disappearing.

Wait, where did Bradly go? He just disappeared, Hajime thought, looking around, trying to find him.

As if answering the question for him, Thrax started laughing. "HAHAHAHA, your butler is quite something. Is he a Rank 5 mage?" Thrax asked Kazuma.

"No, he's a Rank 6 mage," Kazuma replied.

They began walking again down the short, smooth stone path that led to the entrance of the mansion. Hajime saw the familiar two doors with a crest that showed a sword plunged into the earth. After learning to speak, he found out it was his family crest.

As they reached the double doors, Hajime couldn't help but think, I can't believe I'm actually in another world. He looked up into the sky, seeing the twin moons dethrone the sun from its place. Every time I think about it… What if I never ended my life? If I didnt end my life I would've never came to this world and met Kazuma and Rin. I need to change—otherwise, I'll end up the same way I did in my previous life: a fat loser with nothing.

"Hajime, are you coming in?"

Shit, I zoned out.

Hajime was standing in front of the steps, only a few feet from the door.

"Coming." Hajime walked up the neat, smooth stone steps, stepping inside his house.

Finally home.

Hajime set the two ork hearts he had been carrying on the floor, and right as he did, he was met with a warm embrace.

"Hajime, my sweet child! Are you okay? Did you get injured? How are you feeling?" Hajime couldn't help but giggle hearing his mother's concern. Her breasts pressed against his face, suffocating him, but he managed to escape her grasp.

"I'm fine, Mother. Didn't even get a scratch," Hajime lied, knowing if Rin found out how badly he was injured, she might never let him leave again.

"HAHAHAHA, hello again, Rin! You've got a nice place," Thrax said, interrupting Rin's reunion with Hajime.

"I know that annoying voice," Rin mumbled as she turned around to see Thrax standing next to Kazuma.

"Why are you here, Thrax?" Rin said, annoyed.

Thrax grinned. "Kazuma here said I could stay—just for tonight." Rin turned her gaze to Kazuma, giving him a death glare, staring him dead in the eye.

"HAHAHA, Rin, you have a strong kid," Thrax said, making Rin avert her deadly gaze onto him. "But at least show your son's savior some gratitude. He was almost killed by an ork."

Rin froze.

Hajime was standing there with a look of sheer panic on his face. Shit shit shit shit shit. This stupid idiot—I won't be able to leave the house again, and I can already imagine the look on her face.

Hajime couldn't see Rin's face, but he knew it probably looked like a serial killer's—which wasn't far off.

Veins bulged on Rin's forehead and her black abyss-like eyes were filled with anger. "Thrax, tell me more about this 'saving my sweet child.'"

Like the fool he was, Thrax started yapping. "Your son was fighting some orks, and when I saw him, he was on the ground, exhausted. His left arm was bent backwards."

Hajime wanted to run away before he could witness what was coming.

"I stepped in before the ork could crush Hajime and gave him a healing potion."

Rin, with fury, forcefully thanked Thrax. "Thanks for saving my son then."

Almost instantly, she turned around to meet Hajime's eyes.

"And you, young man—lied to your mother." Rin looked at Hajime from top to bottom, and that's when she started to notice the signs: blood on his ripped left sleeve, and a massive dent in his chest plate which she had failed to notice earlier.

"Young man, you are in trouble for lying to your mother and—" She turned to face Kazuma. "Dear husband, you let harm come to our precious son!" In a swift movement, she appeared in front of Kazuma, and with incredible speed, her leg shot upward and landed squarely between his legs.

Kazuma fell to the floor in agony, holding his groin with both hands. "I'm sorry, dear! I wanted our son to get battle experience!"

Oh, Kazuma has dug his grave, Hajime thought, staring at his father in such a pitiful state.

With a quick move, Rin appeared behind Kazuma, delivering a devastating kick to his butt.

"AAARG!" Kazuma fell flat on the floor again. "I'm sorry, dear! It won't happen again, I swear!"

Rin, who looked like she had finished venting her anger, slowly turned to Hajime.

Shit! No! No! No! No! Hajime panicked, seeing Rin staring him down.

In the blink of an eye, Rin appeared behind Hajime, grabbed him by the shirt, and with one swift motion, brought her hand up and then down.

SMACK SMACK SMACK

"OW! OW! OW! Mother, I'm sorrryyyyyyyyyyyyy!"

Rin continued to spank Hajime for another hour.