Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

" Pretty bold of you to try using a skill on me, huh?" Aqua looked at Wiz with a vicious grin.

"I‑I had no choice. Anybody else might not be able to take it. Aqua-sama, you're a goddess—you can withstand my skill… " Wiz explained, flustered.

"C'mon, Aqua—help us out. Do it for our sake, and we'll buy you some sparkling wine later," Shichen said.

He could have offered himself as the test subject—he could even learn the skill without getting hurt—but there was no need to show off right now.

"If you put it that way, Shichen… fine—go ahead."

Aqua glared at Wiz and threatened, "You undead monster, what skill are you planning to use on me?"

"U‑uh… Drain Touch (Life Absorption), maybe? I'll only take a tiny bit," Wiz stammered.

A goddess and a lich, yet here the "goddess" was the scary one and the lich was the timid one—any outsider would surely mix up their roles.

"Drain Touch? Whatever—drain away. Come on." Aqua offered her hand.

"T‑then… pardon me."

Wiz gingerly took Aqua's hand and cast Drain Touch (Life Absorption)—but nothing happened.

"Eh? That's strange. Why isn't it working?" Wiz wondered.

"Heh~ What's wrong? Weren't you going to sap my stamina or magic? Hurry up! Aren't you the undead boss? Can't even drain a little power?—Ow! Shichen, why'd you hit my head?" Aqua looked at Shichen, aggrieved.

Expressionless, Shichen withdrew his hand. "All right, knock it off and let Wiz-san demonstrate."

"Tch—fine." Aqua gave up teasing.

"Wiz-san… Aqua was only joking," Shichen said.

"Heh‑heh… No need to explain, Shichen-san—I understand. I am a lich, after all," Wiz replied weakly.

"Just call me Shichen," he said.

"Then… Shichen, call me Wiz."

"Hey! Why are you two suddenly so friendly? Show the skill already so we can go home!" Megumin cut in.

Shichen shook his head, then turned back to Wiz. "All right—please continue."

"R‑right… excuse me." Wiz took Aqua's hand again and cast Drain Touch.

Drain Touch is an undead‑exclusive skill. Despite its name, it mainly siphons stamina or mana from the target—but it can also give one's own stamina or mana to someone else. The caster becomes a relay point and pays no cost.

Shichen's mana is limitless, so he could supply it himself—meaning Megumin could theoretically fire Explosion forever… though setting it up would be more trouble. Still, Shichen prefers fun shared by everyone. Unless it's an emergency, a little hassle is fine if it makes Megumin happier. A man, he felt, should aim to satisfy women and erase the word "can't" from their dictionary. Maybe Drain Touch deserved a better name—Mana Replenish.

This time the spell worked, and both Shichen's and Kazuma Satou's adventurer cards gained Drain Touch (Life Absorption).

Shichen spent skill points and learned it immediately; Kazuma couldn't.

"Big Bro, looks like I'm short on skill points."

"Normal—it's a lich skill. Level up a bit more."

"Damn, so I can't use it yet? Was this trip a waste?"

"No way. The card recorded the skill. Once you've got the points, you can learn it instantly," Shichen reassured him.

"Fine…"

"Wiz, could you show another skill?"

"No problem, but… Aqua-sama, could you let go of my hand? It's starting to sting for some reason…"

Aqua was now gripping Wiz's hand with both of hers, a mischievous grin on her face.

"A‑Aqua-sama? Excuse me, could you release me? It's getting hotter—no, it hurts! My body feels like it's being purified! I'm evaporating—disappearing—!" Wiz screamed.

"What're you doing?" Shichen smacked Aqua on the head.

"Ow!" Aqua let go. Wiz collapsed, sighing with relief as her body turned solid again.

"Aqua really is a goddess," Megumin murmured.

"Yeah, even a lich can't resist her purification," Yunyun added.

"Wonder what Goddess Eris is like," Darkness mused.

"Probably… more normal than Aqua?"

"Hey! I can hear you bad‑mouthing me!" Aqua glared.

"Heh‑heh…" The others laughed awkwardly. Even knowing Aqua was a goddess, it was hard to treat her reverently.

"Wiz, ignore them—let's keep learning."

"Okay, but I still need a target…" Wiz glanced at Aqua, then quickly away.

"Aqua, behave this time, or I'll get angry."

"Fine, fine—I get it," Aqua pouted.

…

They finished learning lich skills by midday.

Shichen took Megumin and the rest back to the inn for lunch.

He'd wanted to treat Wiz to thank her, but she refused—no meal was worth risking purification. Shichen could only find another chance later.

After lunch, Kazuma went off on his own. Shichen and the others returned to their rooms.

Soon after, Aqua slipped into Shichen's room.

"Shichen, where's my sparkling wine?"

"…I'll go buy it right now, okay?"

"Heh‑heh, I knew you're the best."

"Since you know that, be obedient, okay?"

"I am obedient—I just can't always control myself," Aqua pouted.

"I'm not mad. Just keep it up."

"Okay!"

"I'll go buy the wine."

"Wait!" Aqua ran in front of him.

"What is it?"

"Um…" Aqua blushed, turned around, and bent forward slightly. "Want to… give them a squeeze first?"

Shichen's eyes fell on the lifted hem of her skirt, revealing more of two round curves. He didn't hesitate—his hands clawed in and squeezed each side.

They were wonderfully springy, silky, and cool.

"Mm‑!" Aqua gasped and nearly lost her footing.

"That's enough for now—we'll continue tonight," Shichen said, then left the room.

Aqua remained, cheeks flushed, savoring the memory.

When Shichen returned, Aqua lay sprawled on the bed, looking nothing like the temptress from moments ago—a jarring contrast.

"I got the sparkling wine—three bottles."

"That many?"

"Take your time. If you get drunk, just crash on the bed; don't go wandering. I'm heading out again."

"Where to, Shichen?"

"Just looking around."

"Oh."

Shichen left the room, stayed within the inn, and knocked on Darkness's door.

"Shichen? What brings you here?" Darkness asked, surprised.

"Take a guess."

"Huff—huff—seriously?" Darkness's breathing quickened with excitement.

~~~

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