He does... Sucker.

"Very well, I accept your terms!" Kyouya declared, getting into a stance.

"Then we're agreed!" Kazuma shouted, running forward with his new sword out, and startling Kyouya, who hadn't said "start." "Victory goes to the decisive!" he declared, swinging at Kyouya, who hastily dodged.

"Wait, that's not fair!"

"I don't wanna hear it from you, you coddled idiot! All's fair in war!" Kazuma pressed his attack.

"Coward... I will not leave Aqua-sama in the hands of one such as you!" Kyouya declared, drawing his blade and slashing it at Kazuma, who narrowly ducked it... Good thing too, otherwise, the tree the magical slash hit could have easily been him, given how it fell, cleanly cut through.

"I'm afraid that you are nothing but fodder for my magical sword, Gram," Kyouya stated. "Though you may be a mere adventurer, the weakest class, I won't hold back. You haven't the power to save this world. Only I, the chosen of the Goddess, am strong enough. If you understand, then yield Aqua-sama to me."

Kazuma paused, then lowered his head. "I get it... I know when I'm- gonna win!" he suddenly changed his tone, using Wind Breath to lift the skirts of all the watching girls, except for Darkness who had worn her armor, and was now regretting it. Kyouya was speechless and red in the face as he saw this. "Got you now!" Kazuma shouted, charging the distracted Kyouya.

"That's twice now you've fought dirty!" Kyouya exclaimed, recovering and making to swing.

"Too slow! Steal!" Kazuma declared, using the skill on Kyouya, successfully swiping Gram from him.

"Eh?" Kyouya asked, staring quizzically at his empty hands. THUD! Kazuma took the opportunity to knock Kyouya out with the flat of his sword.

"...he's out! I win!" Kazuma declared, Cremea and Fio horrified and going to try to rouse Kyouya.

"You coward! Are you too afraid to fight like a man!?" Cremea pointed at Kazuma.

"Coward? You're calling me a coward?" Kazuma asked casually. "If anything, HE'S the coward. Level 37 Swordsman with a powerful magic blade, challenging a level 13 Adventurer getting by on starter equipment? It was a blatantly unfair duel, and you know it. In a fair fight, he would have killed me, true, but that's not exactly incentive for me to fight fair, now is it? He also willingly bet you two as party members..."

"So did you!!!" Aqua, Megumin, Darkness, Cremea and Fio all shouted at once.

"Well yeah, but he did it first, demanding I bet Aqua," Kazuma yawned, digging his pinkie in his ear. "All I did was play his game, and beat him at it. Frankly, you two don't even have to join my party, that's your call, and neither he nor I can **** you. I'm willing to point that out."

"Hrrk!!!" Cremea blanched. "You think we're going to back out of a deal our party leader made?"

"I never said that, just pointed out that you could," Kazuma shrugged, mentally cheering at how easy it was to peg them as the honor before reason types. "Now, I believe he owes me a favor now... I think I'll take his sword..."

"W-wait!" Fio protested. "It will do you no good! It only works for Kyouya!"

"Eh? Really?" Kazuma blinked.

"It's true, it might as well be an ordinary blade for anyone else," Aqua agreed.

"...ah well, it still looks good enough to sell to me," Kazuma shrugged.

"W-wait!!! You said it was our choice to join you or not, right?" Cremea asked.

"Backing out?" Kazuma quirked a brow.

"Only if you don't choose something other than the sword!" Fio piped up, catching onto Cremea's thought.

"...fine, but I'm taking his coin purse instead. He can pay for Aqua's next debt, let him walk in my shoes for a bit..." Kazuma grumbled, putting the sword back in Kyouya's scabbard, and taking his fat coin purse. "... probably has more in it than I could have gotten for the blade anyway," he acknowledged.