「この不浄な温泉街に女神を!」 (Kono Fujouna Onsen Machi ni Megami o!)
“A Goddess for This Corrupt Hot Springs Town!”

Poor Aqua. She deserves every moment of this. Hah!

There are several take aways from this episode. First: Kazuma knows how to push Aqua’s buttons. No surprise there, and it was funny, but it was so overshadowed by later funny that I almost forgot about it. It was the opening joke that softened us up for the onslaught to come.

Second, onsen time! Note to all kids: as funny as he is (“Don’t mind me.”), don’t be like Kazuma. It’s refreshing to have someone be so baldfaced in their perversion, but you don’t want to be that guy. Even if she was beautiful.

Also, though I was for a second worried that the onsen moments would be short and entirely focused on Kazuma, nope! My favorite part was not actually the naked, fanservicey Darkness and Megumin, though, yeah. Definitely top two. For me, it was them talking about Kazuma, and—earnestly!—praising him despite his faults. I mean, sure, they still knew he was probably listening, and it ended up that he was and they found out, but their words had the ring of truth to them. It’s nice to know that they still do like and trust Kazuma, just as it’s nice to see him reciprocate that from time to time—even if, where Aqua is involved, there’s no honesty. Just salt. So much salt.

Speaking of, this was definitely Aqua’s episode. While Megumin may still be best girl—something about how she and Kazuma reacted the same to the Axis hustle reminded me or how comparatively non-bonkers she is, which is saying something given her explosion fetish—Aqua was killing it all episode. Once again, Amamiya Sora deserves a ton of credit—I can’t imagine a better seiyuu cast than the one they’ve got. But the whole thing was just a gas. The head priest and Kazuma; Aqua’s hot spring jealousy, leading to her speech; her failed coming out as a goddess, and the literal friggin’ mob that resulted—hah! Half of me says “poor Aqua,” while the other half knows she richly, supremely, absolutely deserves everything that happened to her. Your followers are turbo crazy; that’s your bed, and now you get to lie in it. And we get to laugh!

Random thoughts:

  • I don’t know what I think about the water-on-the-camera effects. Honestly, I don’t think of them much either way—doesn’t add anything to me, but doesn’t detract either.
  • Some commenters mentioned last time that Verdia wasn’t initially the one waving at Wiz from the other side, but her old party members from when she was an adventurer—and, lo and behold, here they are. I think this was a good change, because the visual gag required immediate understanding, and was most potent the first time around; this second time, when it wasn’t going to be as funny anyway, might as well get in the exposition. Plus, that works best done by Wiz when she’s awake, which we had this time. Good adapting, that!
  • Looks like Megumin might be nopan this time. Or hastily drawn #probablythatone

My SECOND novel, Freelance Heroics, is available now! (Now in print!) (Also available: Firesign #1 Wage Slave Rebellion.) Sign up for my email list for exclusive content. At stephenwgee.com, the last four posts: The Carcer Principle; Fire, further; Fire; and Starting a story with a bang—and when not to.

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45 Comments

  1. Ginobi47
  2. Boy, that confessional scene was really something. Having Kazuma utterly devastate Aqua’s pride through the subtext of mean things he did to her was really clever- and completely evil. “I broke the cup you use to do party tricks.” [Subtext- Your tricks are stupid and I hate them.] “I drank all of your expensive alcohol and replaced it with the cheap stuff, because I knew you wouldn’t be able to tell anyway.” [Subtext- You’re a stupid alcoholic.] “I put out an ad for an Eris priest to replace you.” [Subtext: You’re bad at your job as a priest, and worthless as a goddess; Eris is far superior.]

    Witty, to be sure, but it also serves the (rather serious) purpose of showing just how close Aqua and Kazuma have become- his exploitation of her deepest insecurities demonstrating knowledge only attainable through substantial mutual intimacy…

    Zen
    1. Just as much, the fact that he admits he was lying about the third part (replacing her with an Eris-priest), shows that he does actually care about her. Even though she’s so prone to those tricks and is a dumb alcoholic.

      EspyLacopa
    2. Indeed, Kazuma also often takes pity on her (like giving up his seat on the cart several episodes ago). On another note I wonder why Wiz is so nice to Aqua. Is it because Wiz is just an extremely kind person, or because being undead she inherently subconsciously seeks redemption and is drawn to Aqua like a moth to a flame? (As has been implied to be the case with lesser undead.)

      Zen
  3. https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2035.jpg
    Even Aqua’s own faithful cannot recognize her. Then again, her statue at the plaza is far too dignified for the lovable moron she really is.
    https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2029.jpg
    On the other hand, is it just me, or is this guy even more shady than all the Axis cultists?
    https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2008.jpg
    P.S.: As someone deep into the light novels (minor spoiler), Show Spoiler ▼

    Stilts edit: If it’s a spoiler, minor or not, tag it! Fixed.

    zero5889
  4. Thou shalt love big breasts. Thou shalt love small breasts. The Axis faith teaches forgiveness in all things. Whether you’re a lolicon, a NEET, or a questionably-human fan of animal-eared girls. As long as you’re not interested in undead or devil girls, you have love in your heart, and you don’t break the law, all will be forgiven.” -Aqua, 2017-
    WHERE DO I SIGN IN?!

    One Pinch Man
    1. Calm down, man. Read the fine print. Can’t be interested in devil girls… that means no Succubi!

      I can’t follow a church that forbids me from having good dreams.

      Yellow Mellow
    2. While I do hail breasts whatever their size (I don’t discriminate), if such a religion doesn’t allow me to like Wiz (a buxom undead lich) and Satou-sensei (different series, but still a succubus–ditto Kurumu Kurono from Rosario to Vampire), then I can’t help but have second thoughts about it. (Also, is there already a “Church of Waifuism”?)

      Makes me wonder if the Eris sect really is better… Based on how nice and kind the titular goddess is, perhaps she’s open to beings that the Axis cult instantly abhor (the aforementioned undead and succubi who happened to have a heel-face turn).

      Still had a laugh at the “magical incantation” though…

      “Eris pads her breasts.”

      https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
      Also, poor Megumin. That kind of experience would probably tick me off as well.

      Incognito
  5. As I mentioned last time Megumin is no panties in the Opening, way don’t I have that capture 😛

    Stealing from another poster another site board
    https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2035.jpg
    The look when you try to release a silent fart but shit your pants instead. No me original which would be really bad in Aqua’s case as their is no pants or panties to deal with.

    Except for extreme embarrassment and tarnishing a already ruined image maybe still a advantage of no panties for Aqua her skirt is so high she might only need to wash off not change clothes or remove stain. 😉

    Am a tad surprised Megumin did not Explosion the church when she was overwhelmed, she almost did in the ghostly dolls episode.

    It has been inferred that Aqua does not have to purify everything around her but that she has to mentally turn off the ability, in example the making tea joke does not work as well if Aqua does not have ability to turn it off.

    Why have a mixed bath when you have women and men’s sections? Other than the joke of course.

    Stilts edit: Fixed the link for you.

    RedRocket
    1. It has been inferred that Aqua does not have to purify everything around her but that she has to mentally turn off the ability, in example the making tea joke does not work as well if Aqua does not have ability to turn it off.

      Nah, it’s been mentioned and shown a few times that she purifies water she touches directly. The tea joke works just fine because normally you don’t touch the boiling water when you brew tea/coffeee.

  6. Whoa, whos the red head elf girl, pretty hawt! I like how a Goddess called Kazuma a apostate. I also like how much a Goddess literally did not forgive Kazuma. So I am not sure but Aqua seem to accept the most deprave people into her cult how can they be strong where the Demon King don’t mess witht hem? They seem preetty weak over all both in terms of numbers and what not.

    I am surprise that Darkness protest getting peeped on by Kazuma. Girl gotta be more consistent with her Hentai!

    However, the most surprising thing is the AWESOME artwork for this episode. Just amazing!

    Duzz
    1. Darkness is consistent. She’d probably fold and enjoy it if Kazuma demanded that she strip for him and do some humiliation play, but when she gets surprised she doesn’t always like it (like when he drained her to save Wiz). Plus, Rule of Funny.

  7. https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2008.jpg
    What an attracting Dark Elf, I think she is a dark elf. Anyway, I will make a guess that she is not just some “mob” character. I mean, she doesn’t give off that “mob character” feeling.

    https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2033.jpg
    And I wonder if Aqua had ever noticed how different the statue is compared to her real self. Or if Eris noticed how a certain painting hardly resembles her. That feeling when most anime turn mythical male figures into cute little girls.

    https://randomc.net/image/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo/Kono%20Subarashii%20Sekai%20ni%20Shukufuku%20Wo%202%20-%2009%20-%20Large%2039.jpg
    ………Well, in the bible, I think it was said that Jesus was crucified, where he was painfully nailed on a cross and so forth, because people didn’t believe he was the son of God. For Aqua to be the target of hatred of her own followers……wow the heavy irony. If this was a really dark Genre, then Aqua would be Crucified in her own town of worship. I did laugh in that one comment where people suggested to throw the Goddess of Water into the bottom of the lake; that sounds reasonable, I mean logically a god of the volcano should be fine being thrown in a volcano.

    Aqua’s misfortune is priceless, especially since she was thrown out of her own church.

    Anyway, now would a good time for Mitsurugi Kyouya to pop out and “save Aqua.” Sadly Heroes like him are useless because they never show up when there is an Actual time of crisis.

    On the side note, they call this the Axis “Cult”………..so I assume it’s not an official religion.

    L002
    1. >And I wonder if Aqua had ever noticed how different the statue is compared to her real self. Or if Eris noticed how a certain painting hardly resembles her.

      Aqua: “What do you mean? Seems to accurately reflect all my wonderful and noble qualities accurately.”

      Guile
  8. Megumin reacting just like Kazuma does in this city is one of the major reason why i love her character. As stilts said, she is comparatively more down to earth than the other two females (but has enough quirkiness to make her antics very animated and prominent) and so it makes it easier for me (as an audience member) to relate with her (and her interactions with kazuma). She and kazuma make the commentary that we’re thinking, all while being funny at the same time. It’s one of the reason’s why i think the character writing is the best with megumin out of the three girls, with aqua following suit (even though i dont like her as much as darkness as a person) for the reasons so eloquently stated by Zen, and with darkness last. Well to be more clear, aqua is character is always being a hopeless case, but the chemistry/interactions she has with kazuma and the writing that demonstrates that is a bit tighter and packed with slightly more nuance than how darkness is written, which is not to say that darkness is a bad character because she’s not. But her character is meant to be bombastic (ironic considering megumin is the explosion junkie) and scene-hogging; by composition, darkness’ character is designed to be a mind field of nuance. Even so, konosuba manages to slip some bits of it into her character to make her a bit more dynamic and save her from being completely one note. Anywho, that’s how i would rank the girls in terms of writing

    sonicsenryaku
  9. I think the censoring during the onsen scene deserves some awards for ingenuity. Water sliding down the 4th wall camera to just slightly cover a butt crack. That’s some novel stuff there!

    emptybox
  10. Some info on the red haired lady, that was cut from this episode:
    Show Spoiler ▼

    Meep
  11. I like how it kind of feels like Kazuma and Megumin have joint custody of Chomusuke.

    /Hugging cat: “Don’t throw the cat!”
    “Then wash him in exchange for your peeping!”

    Guile

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