I Knew It.

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

"It's Gomez! You're adding too much!"

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!? Hyuuu! Let's go already! If it's a drinking contest, it's a guaranteed win — I'll offer thanks to 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 told — only to have a plank smashed down at me. Of course I was in invincible star mode via spatial magic. 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 stuff like this and even the Goddess won't stay quiet, you know?"

"Y-you… G-get her!"

Bear witness, dear Goddess — well, this will be one-sided and 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 a thud, then pinned 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 struck the ceiling and stuck. Don't worry, there's no actual hole — that was 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 together. I lowered my head into a cross-guard and took the charge like a rock.

"Haaaaaaaaah!!!"

"Hiiiii!?"

With a crack, I flung the lot of them away in one go as I broke guard.

I've always wanted to do that! The power-blast send off! Just like an action movie! Hype!

Now, who's next—

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

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

Now what…

Taking the contents of the warehouse as compensation is tempting, especially since I'm supposed to not be in town right now.

Witnesses who saw Karina-chan? Just a lookalike.

The real Karina Shounin-chan is sprinting back to Solasidore to avoid pirate trouble! Retroactive backstory for sure, but still.

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: a merchant-looking fellow and two pirate goons.

Looks like the boss came. Thanks, Goddess — this just got interesting!