The winter was growing ever colder.
During such a frigid season, Adam should have been nestled by a warm fireplace, chatting and enjoying himself with a group of pretty girls, living a happy and peaceful life.
Instead, he found himself freezing outside with the foolish Goddess Aqua.
"I’ve been meaning to ask — you know I’m a genuine Goddess, right?"
"Yes, though it pains me to admit it, you are indeed a Goddess, Aqua — the Goddess of Water, no less."
"Pains you to admit it..." Aqua was taken aback by Adam’s comment but quickly brushed it aside, "Hey, Adam."
"Am I fulfilling my role as a Goddess properly?"
"Ah! Aqua, you’re absolutely fulfilling your role as a Goddess right now, I guarantee it!"
"Heh, heh heh... You have no idea! Adam, you know nothing!" Aqua cried out in frustration, "I am the Goddess of Water, that’s true, but why must I, a Goddess, suffer —!"
At this moment, the Water Goddess was serving as a human tea bag in the water treatment plant.
She thought she had escaped her fate as the Caged Goddess purifying lake water. Yet here she was, once again reduced to being a tea bag.
{T/N: He’s referring to the quest they did where Aqua was caged and put into the dirty lake so the alligators wouldn’t eat her while she purified the water.}
Here’s what led to this situation...
Due to the extreme cold, Axel’s water treatment facility had frozen and malfunctioned, rendering it inoperable.
The situation was dire. Without a functioning water treatment plant, the villagers of Axel would have no access to drinking water.
When other Adventurers proved unable to help, the Adventurers’ Guild dispatched a messenger to Adam’s lord’s mansion, requesting assistance in purifying the water source until repairs could be completed.
Adam had no alternative — the villagers needed clean water, and this problem demanded a solution.
"Adam, haven’t things been getting worse and worse for me lately?" Aqua, soaking in the freezing pool water, said with a pitiful expression, "I understand we need an alternative way to purify the water while the treatment facility is broken, but why do I have to soak in freezing water in the middle of winter!"
"Because you’re the Goddess of Water...?"
"..." Adam’s cold joke only made Aqua more dejected. Tears sparkled in her eyes as she wallowed in self-pity.
"But Aqua, you’re the one who insisted on taking this job, aren’t you?"
With winter approaching and fewer people venturing outside, the Water Goddess had been struggling to recruit new followers. She thought this would be her chance to prove herself and attract more devotees.
That was her little scheme.
But she hadn’t anticipated just how frigid the pool water would be — so cold that even she, a Goddess, could barely endure it.
"Yes, yes, that’s right!" Aqua frantically splashed the water surface, spraying Adam.
"I did volunteer for this job, but even with my Goddess powers, this isn’t what I had in mind!"
Her wild splashing intensified, dousing Adam with more water.
"Sigh, isn’t this still counting as a divine miracle, Aqua?"
"No way! I wanted to perform grand, spectacular miracles — not this!" The Goddess’s voice grew more pitiful.
Aqua wanted to be like other Goddesses, regularly performing miracles to recruit followers to her religion. That’s how it was supposed to work.
Instead, here she was, floating in freezing water like a tea bag with no spectators to witness her divine acts. How could she possibly recruit new followers or members to her Familia ?
"...Aqua, I think you can’t recruit new followers because you’re too focused on profit and have forgotten your dignity as a Goddess."
"Not at all! Besides, all Goddesses are , Adam — stop picking on me!"
"But you’re the highest-scoring among all Goddesses."
"The other Goddesses."
"What?! And how could you possibly know other Goddesses?! You’re lying!"
Determined to punish Adam for his lies, Aqua scooped up pool water and splashed it at him, soaking his front.
"Aqua, it’s freezing!"
"Hmph, now you know how the cold water feels."
The suffering Goddess clearly wanted her follower to share in her misery. What a selfish deity...
Adam, refusing to back down, scooped up some cold water and splashed her back.
"Ah, how dare you retaliate!"
Their squabble evolved into a full water fight in the cold winter air.
After their playful battle, the pool water had been purified. As Adam helped Aqua out, she shook herself like a puppy, sending water droplets flying — mostly onto him.
"Thanks." Aqua let Adam dry her off, acting every bit the regal Goddess enjoying her follower’s service.
Wait, she actually was a Goddess...
The thick towel absorbed the moisture from her body. Though the air remained frigid, with the water no longer stealing her warmth and Adam’s quick assistance, Aqua’s temperature soon returned to normal.
"Mm." Hearing his words, Aqua nodded.
But she didn’t move, instead standing in place with her arms spread toward Adam.
"...What’s with that pose?"
"I said, carry me!" Aqua demanded childishly, "I worked really hard today, but there’s no reward or praise, so I want Adam to carry me back."
...Though Adam wanted to say that, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse. He’d consider it compensation for her hard work today.
"Alright... come on, I’ll carry you back." He crouched down, his back facing her.
He heard Aqua shout "Yay!"
Then came a soft rustling sound, followed by gentle breath on his neck, and a cool, soft body pressed against his back.
Aqua was now lying on his back. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of her pure white, delicate feet.
He just realized that since Aqua had been soaking in the pool, her shoes must be wet too — which explained why she wanted to be carried.
Perched on his back like a general astride a warhorse, Aqua commanded Adam — her gallant steed — to charge toward the lord’s mansion in the suburbs.
"Your bottom is freezing."
"Well, I was sitting in pool water the whole time!"
Is that really the issue here?
Adam wanted to retort but thought better of it.
"You’re too close — I can feel your breath."
"But I’m really tired, and besides... I don’t mind if it’s you."
Though it was just a simple statement, her words stirred something unexpected in Adam’s heart.
In the setting sun, their two shadows stretched longer and longer.
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