When the final episode of the second season aired in Japan, Kazuma's voice finished off the series by saying, "Thank you for the support, everyone! Our true battle has just begun, and this is just the beginning of our grand adventure in this wonderful world!" The Crunchyroll episode cut Kazuma off, but some have interpreted the full statement as an advertisement for the light novels since the season did not end with a cliffhanger like the first season. Other fans believe it was Studio Deen's way of saying they hoped KonoSuba Season 3 would happen.
The rumor that Studio Deen had KonoSuba Season 3 canceled started with YouTube videos which discussed a thank you letter from author Natsume Akatsuki. This note was published within KonoSuba Volume 11 in May of 2017. The note said that the "anime collaboration had ended for now, at least." Akatsuki thanked everyone involved with the anime project and expressed his hope to work with Studio Deen in the future. This thank you letter was not a confirmation that KonoSuba Season 3 would never happen, but some fans chose to interpret it that way.
— Noctᵘʷᵘ the mastah (@korewanoct) July 25, 2017
Despite the announcement being vague, it's probably safe to rule out that the voice actors were talking about the KonoSuba OVA 2 episode. The announcement of the second OVA was made last year, and it should have been bundled with KonoSuba Volume 12, which was released Monday, July 24, 2017. The "new anime project" was announced a day later on Tuesday, so it seems obvious the new anime can't be the second OVA episode.
Besides KonoSuba Season 3 or a movie, the only other option is a new anime spinoff series based on the Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Bakuen wo! light novel series. The Bakuen (Explosion) prequel focuses on Megumin and the story is up to four volumes so far, which is plenty of source material for an anime.
The ending of KonoSuba Volume 4 ended on a cliffhanger, with Crimson Magic Clan member Yunyun bursting into the mansion and announcing, "I…! I…!! I want to have Kazuma-san's children!" Despite that shocking statement, the next part of the story is really about shipping Kazuma and Megumin together. The party receives a letter from the Crimson Magic Village asking them to help fight back against General Sylvia and the Demon King Army so off they go to Megumin's homeland.
Audiences will get to see the history of Megumin's people. It turns out the Crimson Magic Clan was created by a reincarnated Japanese person who left behind artifacts that can be read by Kazuma. Perhaps because of this history, the clan puts more emphasis on looking cool during a battle rather than being effective. Megumin may love her explosion spells, but she has kept this ability a secret since her clan looks down on explosion magic.
Although KonoSuba is not a harem anime, Megumin is set up as the "best waifu" of the story. At one point, Megumin admits feelings for Kazuma in front of friends but then denies these feelings only moments later. Megumin's family is introduced and a there's also a scene that involves a locked room and a single bed.
Huge Spoiler Warning: Megumin's feelings for Kazuma begin in earnest when she offers to give up her beloved explosion spells to become a better mage for the party. This display of self-sacrifice showed how much she cared about the others. In response, Kazuma puts all of her points into the explosion spell, which moves her to tears. To give fans an idea where the romance story is going, by the epilogue of KonoSuba Volume 11, Megumin tells Kazuma that it's time to become more than friends but "below lovers."
The battle against General Sylvia is won by Megumin. Princess Iris of the kingdom invites the Kazuma and his party to the royal castle to regale her with tales of their adventures. Unfortunately for poor Kazuma, it comes out pretty quickly that he did not participate directly in any of the amazing battles. Instead, it's his party that is given credit. Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness defend their luck-focused comrade, but his ego is mercilessly stomped into the ground. Worse, his shame is compounded when he's beat during a small skirmish with the Demon King's army.
The main plot of KonoSuba Volume 6 is focused on divine relics; powerful items bequeathed to resurrected Japanese people. These divine relics are so overpowered that when their original owners die the gods desire to retrieve them before they can be used for evil. Kazuma discovers that Princess Iris possesses a necklace that's a powerful divine relic and the goddess Eris tasks Kazuma with retrieving it.
Meanwhile, a person known as The Chivalrous Thief has the nobility in an uproar because this person has been running rampant in the capital. After Kazuma had his reputation trashed at a royal dinner party, he finds himself dejected and separated from his party. Kazuma learns the identity of The Chivalrous Thief and this person wants him to help retrieve the divine relic from the castle.
What's more, there is a conspiracy to impersonate the royal family! Despite being humiliated, Kazuma resolves to infiltrate the capital without his party by becoming the Masked Chivalrous Thief. Without spoiling everything, the masked Kazuma manages to singlehandedly beat Claire, Rain, and Mitsurugi and leave Megumin star struck by his awesomeness. But he may find himself in a bit of trouble since he accidentally managed to steal a ring from Princess Iris -- a ring that requires the possessor to marry royalty! But, in the end, the story is really about Kazuma finding his own self-worth.
If KonoSuba Season 3 is anything like the first seasons, then it will probably end after adapting two volumes of the light novels. But fans will just have to wait and see what Studio Deen plans on doing next with this new anime project.
[Featured Image by Studio Deen]
