I Knew It.

"So, Captain Gome — what do you want with me? Treating me to more drinks?"

"It's Gomez! You're adding stuff to my name!"

I'd just found a very interesting toy called a Golem.

… Wait. That Golem looked like it belonged to Gomez's company.

Which means…

"We're betting that Golem on a match this time!? Ooh! Let's go already! If it's a drinking contest, I've got it in the bag — I'll be sure to thank the gods!"

"Eh? No, that's… I don't know the details—"

"Th-this way. Follow me!"

Flustered, the pirate underlings guided me. Destination: apparently a warehouse.

"Get in."

"Sure thing."

I strode in as instructed — only for a plank to come smashing down at me. Of course, I had my Spatial Magic invincibility up. The only thing that shattered was the wood.

I'm not dumb enough to show up defenseless to such an obvious setup.

The man holding the broken plank gaped. A dozen more thugs lurked inside the warehouse.

No Captain Gomez in sight.

"Oho? What kind of welcome is this? Pull this kind of stunt and even the Goddess won't let it slide, you know?"

"Y-you… G-get her!"

Bear witness, dear Goddess — well, it'll be pretty one-sided, so maybe not that entertaining, but still.

"Tsk. I told you all not to mess with me."

I punched and kicked in rhythm, slamming goons into the walls with satisfying thuds before pinning them in place. No freedom for you.

"W-what are you!?"

"I'm your poor victim. Eeek, so scary. What were you planning to do, dragging a delicate maiden to a place like this? Pervs. Degenerates. Half-rapier-having skanks."

I kicked another one. He hit the ceiling and stayed there. Don't worry, there's no actual hole — just a little Spatial Magic trick.

"Damn it, this isn't what I was told! She's a monster!"

"A-all at once! We can't back down now!"

"Y-yeah!"

They all lunged at me at once. I ducked into a cross-guard stance and took the charge like a rock.

"Haaaaaaaaah!!!"

"Hiiiii!?"

With a crack, I broke my guard and sent the whole lot flying in one burst.

I've always wanted to do that! The power-burst sendoff! Just like in an action movie! So hype!

Now, who's next—

"Oh. That was all of them, huh."

They did say "all at once," I guess. Everyone was down, pinned and conscious but immobile — no getting back up for them.

Now what…

Taking the contents of the warehouse as compensation was tempting, especially since I wasn't supposed to be in town right now.

Witnesses who saw Karina-chan? Just a lookalike.

The real Karina Shounin-chan is already sprinting back to Solasidor to avoid pirate trouble! A retroactive backstory, sure, but it works.

And this is where the boss makes his entrance, right…?

"What is the meaning of this! You! You broke into my warehouse to steal, didn't you!?"

Oh? That eyepatched captain looks familiar. With him were a merchant-looking fellow and two pirate goons.

Looks like the boss finally showed up. Thanks, Goddess — this just got interesting!