“Hey, Megumin, what are you doing with these ingredients? What about the healing potion? Kuro is currently very weak. If possible, make some for this little thing…”
Yunyun, who was next to me, said as she watched me gather the ingredients. She looked worried.
“This is a secret between me and my friend, so I cannot tell my rival Yunyun.”
“Ah! What, what is that about! Is this a revenge for what happened recently!?”
I ignored noisy Yunyun, and put the expensive ingredients into the mortar.
“Enough. Kuro will be saved by me instead…”
I turned and glanced at Yunyun. She put the unconscious Kuro on the table, and enthusiastically started to make a healing potion.
“My family’s education system is Spartan style. Don’t pamper my cat too much.”
“Putting it in a school bag and swing it around is not Spartan, it is torture! It is still only a kitten!? You should dote on it!”
Yunyun said in a fit of anger, gently stroking Kuro.
Although Yunyun was so worried, I did not think this cat would die so easily.
After all, it could climb onto another’s shoulder and frequently displayed an arrogant att.i.tude. It was just a kitten, yet it was choosy about food.
It did not feel cat-like. Was it because it adapted to the rash living conditions of my family?
“Anyway, more action, less talk! Start making the potion! It’s time for me to show my special potion creation technique! Watch me annihilate the b.a.s.t.a.r.d known as ‘sickness’! Hahahaha…!”
“Meg-, Megumin. I don’t know what you are doing, but you aren’t making poison, right? You must be making a beneficial potion, right? I thought I heard dangerous words like ‘annihilate’!”
Yunyun remained uneasily next to me, as I started to make this difficult potion—
Firstly, grind the dried Fire Drake’s liver into powder.
Next, use the mandrake root which possessed a strong life force…
“Ugh! Megumin’s mortar is producing sparks! Hey, Megumin, what are you making!?”
“Ah! It is also burning here! Ahahah, fire! Teacher, teacher!”
“Create Water!”
I ignored the anguish cries of people around me and took the knife to cut the mandrake root…
“Hey, there are some mandrake roots running around! Who took out the mandrake roots!”
“……!? Uh, the plant Megumin is cutting should be mandrake root… right…?”
I ignored the noise made by everyone around me, and cut the struggling mandrake root. I placed the root pieces into the crucible… but this was not enough.
I must capture those mandrake roots that escaped…
“Here, I caught one. I don’t know what you are making, but it looks very interesting.”
Arue held the mandrake root tightly by its leaves, pressing on her eye patch with one hand. She smiled maliciously and handed the mandrake root to me.
“I’m making a high difficulty potion for curing sickness. Arue, are you done with your own potion? If you are so free, come and help me.”
“No problem. Okay, we must first cut this guy into pieces…”
“Listen, Arue. You must press it down like this, or this guy will struggle really hard! It is a plant monster after all, so there is no need to be merciful! How annoying, stop struggling! Be obedient and let me cut you up!”
After Arue joined in, we continued the difficult work. Yunyun looked on with a pale expression.
“Wah…. Wahhhh……”
Under Yunyun’s teary gaze, we were eventually done with the mandrake roots. Next, we finally started on the last ingredient.
A cute duck-like creature which constantly carried onions as a source of food— Onion Duck.
I needed the Onion Duck’s—!
“I won’t let you! I won’t let you continue this!”
Yunyun shouted suddenly and grabbed my hand from the side.
“What are you doing? Don’t interrupt my work.”
“But, but— this, this cute Onion Duck will……!”
Yunyun shook her head vigorously, and said tearfully.
The surrounding students unwittingly looked at me with an expression of grief.
Even the bewildered Onion Duck tilted its head and looked at me with its big round eyes.
Yes, really very cute. Although it was very cute……
“Megumin, this thing is cute, but it is still a monster. There are many monsters in this world that look harmless and are actually very scary. You should known of the Tranquility Girl monster near the village, right? The monster can trigger human’s sense of protectiveness, entice people not to abandon it, and finally starve themselves to death. No wonder how cute a monster is, one must not be merciful.”
“That is true! But, but!!”
Arue put her hand on Yunyun’s shoulder, who was still trying to argue. She said.
“Calm down. Megumin, which part of the Onion Duck do you need as ingredient? If it is the innards , then we just have to kill it. Otherwise…”
Hearing this, Yunyun timidly glanced at me.
I said to Yunyun.
“I need the Onion Duck’s onions… You can relax now, right?”
I said and smiled to help her relax.
Yunyun relaxed and exhaled, letting go of my hand.
“After all, onions have curative properties. There are many uses for onions. You can eat it, roll it up, and even poke it in. And the Onion Duck’s onions are the fighting onions, right?”
Arue said and retrieved a few onions from the Onion Duck.
I watched Arue cut the onions and said to Yunyun.
“Seriously… what kind of person do you think I am? I still have protective feelings towards cute creatures. If possible, I don’t want to kill either.”
“You-, you are right. Sorry, I misjudged you, Megumin! This is great… Because I heard killing an Onion Duck would yield a lot of experience points, and it can also be made into very delicious food…”
“…… ……”
A rare monster that gives a lot of experience points?
Very delicious food?
“I’m really sorry. After all, it can be used for making medicine, increasing experience points, as well as becoming a meal. So I thought Megumin would say ‘Truly killing three birds with one stone’ and then……”
“Hand of Explosion!”
The Onion Duck suffocated and groaned miserably as I ruthlessly strangled its neck.
I examined my Adventurer’s Card and noticed that I gained two levels in an instant, as well as two skill points.
I flashed my Adventurer’s Card at the dumbstruck Yunyun in high spirits.
“Megumin leveled!”
“Megumin, you big idiot! Ahhhh!”
PART 6After school.
“What is it, Onion Duck murderer? What do you want with me?”
“Megumin, you should apologize to Yunyun. The incident this morning deeply upset her. Even now, she is still crying about it.”
I asked Funifura and Dodonko to meet me behind the school. They said this upon arrival.
“Call me Onion Duck murderer again and I will beat you up. And the disturbance this morning that cast a shadow over our cla.s.smates, including Yunyun, was fundamentally because of you. Do you know how much I have done for you?”
Hearing my words, they looked at each other…
“Don’t tell me…”
“The potion you are holding is…”
“Yes. I made this potion for curing sickness.”
Both of them displayed a very disgusting expression.
“I know you are cautious, but this was made according to the teacher’s formula, so there should not any problem. I used a bit more ingredients, but this should make the potion more potent. Come, come, no need to polite.”
“Uh…”
Funifura took my potion unwillingly. She looked very uneasy.
“You won’t need to borrow Yunyun’s money now. Thus, hand over Yunyun’s money.”
“Eh! Wait, wait. We don’t know if this potion is really effective…!”
Without waiting for her to finish, I loudly interrupted.
“This has nothing to do with me. By the way, whether Funifura’s brother is really sick or not also has nothing to do with me.”
I said decisively, causing them to be silent.
“Uh… no, this…”
“No, no… He, he is sick! Funifura’s brother is really sick!”
Dodonko said loudly, defending the speechless Funifura.
But this was irrelevant to me.
“I’m talking about you manipulating the lonely and friend-less person’s conscience to scam money. That kid’s intelligence is second only to me. She is not an idiot. Even I think this event is suspicious. She definitely can sense it too.”
I said and moved forcefully towards them. They turned pale and said hurriedly.
“I know, I know! I will return the money! Hey, you-, your eyes are turning bright red!”
“Don’t be so serious. It-, it’s really scary!”
They begged for mercy as they handed over Yunyun’s money.
Ugh, so embarra.s.sing. It looked like I was really very angry.
When a Crimson Magic Clansman became excited, their crimson eyes would glow.
With this incident, my image as an ice queen was ruined.
“……So be it. I will hand this money back to Yunyun. If you get close to her because you really want to be her friends, then I guess it’s fine. But if you merely want to exploit her kindness and gullibility— I advise you not to do so. Or after I learn magic, you will become my first target.”
“I, I understand! You say that, yet your eyes are still bright red! How deeply do you like Yunyun!”
“We won’t bother both of you in the future. We won’t interfere. You two can be lovey-dovey…!”
Funifura and Dodonko said this anxiously…
“……You must have misunderstood something. My relations.h.i.+p with Yunyun isn’t that good… And we are not really friends.”
“Fine, fine. No need to explain further.”
“Then again, for you to do so much for her. If this isn’t a friend, then what is it?”
Both of them impatiently fanned at their faces.
As if saying “Hot! Hot!”.
“If you ask me our relations.h.i.+p, it should be… purely, purely, rivals…”
“Fine, fine. Stop explaining. We understand. But to an onlooker, both of you are totally yuri*.”
Note (*): See “Megumin’s eyes are totally crimson. This really is Crimson Magic Clan’s natural weakness— we cannot lie under such condition.”
…… ……
“Okay, we will stop here for now. You should not be too conceited just because you are Number 1.”
“Right, right. While you are being intimate with each other, we may overtake you. If I become Number 1, maybe your loving wife will become my rival instead? So if you want to get intimate, do so now…”
I did not listen to their rumblings of defeat to the end. I simply pounced on them.
“Wait! Ahah! Don’t attack the magic potion that was so difficult to make! You are too cunning! Despicable! No, stop it…!”
“This person just can’t read the mood! That was just a speech to make our defeat look cool…! Ah, don’t…!”
PART 7After defeating them successfully, I happily returned to the cla.s.sroom, planning to retrieve my school bag and Kuro. At this time, only Yunyun remained in the cla.s.sroom.
“……What are you doing here alone?”
“What is this sarcastic remark!? I’m waiting for you! Where did you go, abandoning Kuro here!?”
It looked like she wanted to go home with me.
“Nothing much. I had something to handle with Funifura.”
Unwittingly, going home together after school became our common practice. I thought of what Funifura last said.
……Well, after all, the evil G.o.d’s minions were roaming in the village. We should temporarily end our rivalry.
Yes, we are not friends, but in this dangerous time, we should…
Yunyun still sounded angry, but she was also gratified. Probably because she was lonely after being here alone for too long.
“This is rare. Megumin actually had a matter to do with Funifura. Let’s go home. The teacher said the ritual to seal the evil G.o.d will start this evening, we should go quickly…”
“Here. This is for you.”
As Yunyun tidied her things in preparation to leave, I handed over the money I received from Funifura.
Yunyun held the small bag of money, looking perplexed.
My job was done here.
I took my school bag and tried to put Kuro inside, but for some reasons, Kuro was unwilling to enter the school bag.
It used its claws to cling to my shoulder, resisting vigorously.
“Hey, this money…”
“It’s from Funifura. The issue with her brother’s medicine was resolved, so she returned the money. Congratulations.”
I answered Yunyun as I struggled to remove Kuro’s claws from my shoulder.
This, this guy… resented the school bag this much…!
As I started a fierce battle with Kuro, Yunyun said.
“Hey, Megumin. Did you do something for Funifura’s brother? For example, making… a potion for curing sickness or something…”
She asked timidly.
See, Funifura and Dodonko? This kid’s intelligence was second only to me.
“As a realist, why would I do something that does not profit me?”
“When you put it like that, it is super convincing!”
…… ……
“Hey, why did you leave with a word!? I was waiting for you all this time, don’t leave me behind!”
—After leaving the school, the sun was already close to setting.
It was almost evening.
Yunyun hurriedly caught up from behind.
Since Kuro refused to enter the school bag, I left it on my shoulder and walked home.
“Hey, Megumin. You really did not do anything?”
“You are too suspicious. Even if I made a potion for Funifura’s brother, n.o.body will complain, right? Isn’t that great?”
“Then the disturbance that troubled everyone this morning was…?”
I chose to remain silent, quickening my pace. Yunyun hurriedly caught up again.
Then, she said to my side.
“……Hey, Megumin. Want to go there for a stroll… No-, not to repay you, just a sudden impulse… Since I got the money back, let me treat you.”
I stole a glance at her. She was smiling happily.
……My clever rival already had a general idea about what happened.
PART 8“I said I will treat me. Ugh, yes, I really said I will treat you.”
We walked out of the shop, intending to go home.
Yunyun examined her money bag, and sighed deeply.
“Thanks for the treat. I have never ate so much in my life. It looks like I really cannot eat anymore today.”
“That’s great! Sigh, really…! Although I said you can order anything…!”
I listened to Yunyun’s complaints, while walking slowly on the road dyed red by the setting sun.
“Huu… It’s really agonizing to walk after eating too much. Want to rest for a bit first? Let me digest my food.”
“Seriously… Seriously…! Why did you insist on eating so much? How desperate were you…!”
I brought Yunyun, who was slightly angry and slightly resigned, to the park in the Home of the Crimson Magic.
It was called a park, but there was only a small pond, some benches, and a few small structures as shelters from the rain.
I took Kuro down from my shoulder and lay down on the bench.
“Meg-, Megumin! Your skirt has flipped— Your panties can be seen! Ah, really…! So uncaring. It isn’t like a girl…”
Yunyun meticulously arranged my skirt.
“Yunyun would make a good wife someday. After graduation, do you want to take care of me as your mistress? Even if you feed me plain rice daily, I will still say, ‘It’s delicious!’”
“N-, no! Why would I do that! You think I would be happy if you simply say my food is delicious!? …Simply saying daily it’s delicious… daily… Ugh, ugh…”
Like a super loser, Yunyun started to be seriously troubled.
She was always like this. This was probably why Funifura said she was yuri.
“Speaking of graduation. What would Yunyun do after I graduate? I can graduate with just one more skill point.”
“Eh, why? Megumin, didn’t you say that you are still short of four points to learn magic? After getting the Skill Up Potion yesterday, you should be short of three points, just like me… Ahah!!”
Yunyun understood as she spoke.
“The Onion Duck in this morning! After killing the Onion Duck, your level…!”
“Yes, killing the Onion Duck increased my level by two. With the Skill Up Potion, I have gained three skill points. Just one more point to learn magic. I probably will graduate after the next test.”
Kuro climbed onto my belly as I lay on the bench.
This thing is too shameless.
—Yunyun said softly and tearfully.
“Wh-, why is it like this… cannot graduate together… I intentionally slow down to match Megumin’s pace…”
Yunyun said sadly—
—I jumped up from the bench.
I ignored Kuro who fell off my belly and interrogated Yunyun.
“What did you say? Did you adjust your skill points just to graduate together with me? So the previous test result was not an accident. You intentionally did not get into the top three, so as to avoid receiving the Skill Up Potion, right?”
“!?”
Yunyun s.h.i.+vered, “Oh no”— Her expression seemed to say.
There was no need for confession. This reaction was more than sufficient.
“Look at this silly thing you did! If you want to graduate with me, it could be achieved simply by refusing to learn magic after acc.u.mulating sufficient points! You do not know this trick, and yet won’t tell me that you want to graduate together. You secretly did this on your own— How clumsy are you!”
“Be-, because! Megumin, who was always ahead of me, suddenly fall behind! I always thought Megumin would graduate before me…!”
“Ah! You just said you have surpa.s.sed me!? Dream on! You never surpa.s.sed me! I’ll be honest with you. I don’t intend to learn advanced magic like the rest of you! I want to learn an overwhelming powerful magic that far surpa.s.ses advanced magic! Look at my Adventurer’s Card! I have more than enough points to learn advanced magic long ago!”
I excitedly stood up and flashed my Adventurer’s Card in front of Yunyun’s face. Yunyun stared at my card, as if she wanted to swallow it whole.
“Re-, really like this…! What, Megumin is better than me as expected…!”
“Uh… Hm, right. I’m really good. So don’t think you can easily surpa.s.s me.”
Yunyun smiled really happily. I did not know how to respond to this reaction.
As expected, she wished her rival to be better.
“Th-, then, I’m sorry I intentionally shaved my points. By the way, a magic more powerful than advanced magic… are you going to learn Blast magic? Or is it Detonation magic…”
“Explosion magic.”
…… ……Hearing this, Yunyun suddenly became silent.
“Uh, you just said, what? I thought I heard ‘Explosion magic’……”
“Correct, it is Explosion magic. It is the one known as the most powerful magic.”
After Yunyun spent another moment in silence—
“What are you talking about! Explosion magic, as in really that Explosion magic? The Explosion magic that is considered useless? The one that requires the most skill points out of all the skills in all the jobs. Even if it is learned, most people cannot activate it due to insufficient mana. Even if it is activated, the caster would be unable to move due to mana exhaustion……”
“Yes, that Explosion magic.”
I nodded vigorously. Yunyun sucked in a deep breath and—
“Are you stupid!? What are you saying, Megumin! What are you going to do with that!? That magic basically cannot be activated by anyone. Even if activated forcefully, it is only possible once per day. That is a faulty magic with harsh requirements and impractical usage! What are you thinking? The difference between a genius and an idiot is just one step apart. Megumin, if you persists like this, you will become an idiot, okay?”
“Ev-, even if it is Yunyun, I won’t accept being called an idiot. Or I will make you suffer! …Anyway, I understand everything you said so far. I researched Explosion magic thoroughly. I dare say that I’m the one who understands Explosion magic best in this entire village.”
“If you understand it so well, why do you still want to learn it!? If it is Megumin… You can definitely learn a lot of advanced magic, acc.u.mulate a lot of experience, and finally become an arch wizard who make her mark in history…! Hey, what exactly is the reason!?”
I could not understand why Yunyun was shouting so agitatedly. This was my personal decision.
“Obviously, that is because I love Explosion magic.”
I gave the most honest answer.
Yunyun thought I had more complicated reasons. Hearing my answer, she widened her eyes.
“……As expected, Megumin is not a genius, but an idiot.”
“I just warned you not to call me an idiot!”
After saying this, I pounced on Yunyun.
PART 9“Ha… Ha…! I won…! My first victory over Megumin…!”
Yunyun was overjoyed. Her face was flushed red.
Dam-, d.a.m.n it…! My first loss to Yunyun.
“Well, I did not fully expert my power just now. I cannot do so until there is a full moon.”
“That’s impossible since you are not a demon! Just admit defeat!”
I fought with Yunyun in the empty park for a while. Eventually, I was pressed down by Yunyun.
My hot sweaty body was pressed down on the cool floor. It felt very comfortable.
The sun had almost set, so the surrounding darkened. Both of us were panting in the park.
In a moment of impulse, I engaged her in melee combat, in which I was disadvantaged.
“Sigh… I will admit defeat. Let go of me. I admit defeat. I lost, okay?”
So Yunyun obediently released me.
“……Hu. I admit defeat. Sigh. After eating so much food, it’s almost natural to lose. Thinking about it, I did not even exert half of my true strength.”
“Ahah! It’s too cunning to make excuses after I released you!”
I said to Yunyun as I cleaned the dirt off my knees.
“It’s great for you to win once before I go on my journey. Yunyun will succeed as the chief of Crimson Magic Clan one day. During my tour of the world to become an arch wizard, it will enough if you can become the next chief and spend your whole life peacefully in the Home of the Crimson Magic.”
“Can’t you praise me for winning just this once!? You are saying such sour words because you are just unhappy about losing! …And, you… after graduating, intend to travel?”
I carried Kuro who ran over to my feet, then said to Yunyun, who was feeling uneasy.
“Correct. I intend to travel. Actually, there is a reason why I love Explosion magic. I will reveal this reason only to you.”
Kuro held firmly onto my cloak at my shoulder, maybe he really liked this spot. I patted its head and told Yunyun what I did not even tell my parents.
“When I was small, I was attacked by a monster. There was a big sister, a wizard pa.s.sing by, who used Explosion magic to defeat the monster. The devastation caused by the Explosion magic then was so great. It was an overwhelming power, an absolute force. It was really so awesome that it deserved to be called the most powerful magic. When you have seen it once, you won’t be interested in other magic.”
I cannot remember the cloaked sister’s voice and aura clearly anymore, but the scene of Explosion magic was deeply engraved in my mind.
Whenever I remembered it, I felt my chest getting hot and painful.
I wasn’t interested in gossip like Funifura and Dodonko. I did not have a great ambition like Yunyun, who was working hard to become the next chief.
I only wanted to meet that cloaked sister again and showed her my Explosion magic.
To meet her again and thank her… And ask her—
—My Explosion magic which I learned from you… How was it?
After hearing my only dream, Yunyun did not seem dissatisfied as before, but had a clear, understanding expression. She sighed.
“Since there is such a reason, there’s nothing more for me to say. But life as an Explosion-using wizard would be really difficult. With Megumin’s mana, you may be able to activate it, but after that, you would be helpless due to mana exhaustion. Going on a journey is great, but if you are alone, wouldn’t you be attacked by other monsters after you are unable to move? Do you have a way to find travelling companions?”
“I am like Yunyun who have no friend. What can I do?”
“Why are you saying such things so boldly!? Hey, even if you are going on a journey, it won’t be immediately after learning magic, right? You would still be staying in the village for a while?”
“Hm, yes. I can’t just abandon my sister. I will train my level near the village. After some time, I will leave the village when my preparations are done.”
Yunyun relaxed.
“Yunyun will be staying to succeed as chief, right? After all, the chief of Crimson Magic Clan is hereditary.”
“Yes. I felt I will succeed as chief, but I must acc.u.mulate various experiences before that. Currently, I am being taken care of by Megumin, but one day, I……”
At the moment when Yunyun was about continue, Kuro who was sprawled on my shoulder suddenly reacted to a small noise.
It was the sound of paddling in the water.
I turned and looked—
“Ah, this is rare! A wild Onion Duck! To think it would appear inside the village…!”
An Onion Duck was paddling in the pond of the park, coming towards us.
It was delicious, yet for an unknown reason, it was never attacked by other monsters. This was an unique attribute of the Onion Duck.
A certain monster biologist once said that its cute appearance aroused the protectiveness of other monsters.
The Onion Duck left the pond and walked towards us in swaying steps.
To avoid scaring off the duck, Yunyun squatted down slowly. She looked at it gently, and continued the conversation.
“……Up to now, Megumin has been taking care of me, but one day I will become the village’s most powerful wizard and be capable of protecting delicate life forms like the Onion Duck……”
“Gah!”
I did not intend to let the Onion Duck escape. Without waiting for Yunyun to finish, I strangled the Onion Duck’s neck.
I held up the limp Onion Duck’s neck.
“Megumin, dinner. GET ☆ DAZE!”
“Megumin, you big idiot ahhhh!”
Yunyun cried and pounced on me.
—Round Two!
PART 10“……Really, it’s all Yunyun’s fault. The sky is almost completely dark now.”
“Me!? It’s my fault!? Why is it that Megumin can ruthlessly kill such adorable creatures? Although Megumin can do anything, it is still too brutal! Can’t you have a bit of compa.s.sion!”
Yunyun walked angrily ahead by herself.
After that, because of the second round, the surrounding became dark.
The magic lamps around the village lit up, illuminating the road as if it was daytime.
“Today is basically one victory and one loss. In other words, a draw. We’ll count it as nothing ever happened. You don’t mind, right?”
“Of, of course I do! It is a fact that I won once!? As the perpetual loser, it doesn’t matter if I lose again. But this cannot be considered a draw or cancelled. One victory and one loss, that’s it! Eh, eh. I must write in my diary— Today, I won Megumin.”
“Also write down that you were pressed down helplessly on the ground by me after that.”
“I won’t admit that! And you shouldn’t always use Kuro as a s.h.i.+eld! …Why is it so close to you, even though you keep abusing it?”
Perplexed, Yunyun turned to look at Kuro, who merely sprawled on my shoulder and sneezed.
It really was a strange cat.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, after being subject to so many abuses, it would not be unusual for it to run away or be angry.
I happily took the Onion Duck as my victory prize, and hurried home.
Although I was full after Yunyun’s treat, my little sister was still starving.
I must hurry home and cook this duck for her to eat.
Yunyun stared straight at me, who was humming a song while holding onto the duck.
“Is Megumin really a girl? Where are your gentleness, consideration, and looks?”
“Is Yunyun really the chief’s daughter? Where is your n.o.ble taste of Crimson Magic Clan?”
After a while, both of us silently stopped and smiled maliciously at each other.
Today’s result was one victory and one loss.
Why not let’s settle it now— But Yunyun suddenly turned away.
“Sigh… Seriously. Why is every day like this when I’m with Megumin?”
“That’s my line. Why do you find fault with me every day?”
“Uh… This, this…”
Yunyun tried to gloss it over by walking on ahead, ignoring me, who was smiling and coming closer.
I continued to smile maliciously as I followed behind Yunyun.
“…How annoying! To think I finally achieved a beautiful victory today! Is Megumin uncomfortable if you don’t do this daily? When you join a party in the future, you will surely trouble others!”
“What are you saying? After I learned Explosion magic, I will be the party’s strong damage dealer. The demon king’s cadres won’t even be my match. With a rare genius of the Crimson Magic Clan like me, the party will be famous worldwide. It will be an elite party full of advanced jobs…!”
I shared with Yunyun my imagined future. At this moment—
—Dang, dang, dang. Sharp noises echoed through the Home of the Crimson Magic.
I remembered this bell towed only for emergency situations.
What happened? —I turned back to look……
A countless number of flying monsters in the dark sky entered my vision.
They seemed to be searching for something, dispersing and looking everywhere…!
“Meg-… Meg-, Megumin! That! Isn’t that—!”
“Ca-, ca-, calm down, Yunyun. The homeroom teacher said they will forcefully seal the evil G.o.d! And that irresponsible homeroom teacher also said that even if it fails, there is still ‘that thing’ to use! Therefore, this matter will be resolved quickly!”
Or rather, the homeroom teacher was hoping for the seal to fail.
So there should be nothing to worry about.
I even thought that the homeroom teacher would mess up the sealing ritual on purpose.
Kuro, who was lying on my shoulder, hid itself into the school bag, which he refused to enter previously.
Although it was a rude kitten, it would still be afraid of monsters.
“Hey… Meg- Megumin!”
I closed my school bag over Kuro. At this time, Yunyun pulled on my sleeves.
She looked at the sky with a pale expression.
“Did… did you notice they are flying towards us?”
She pointed at the monsters flying towards us.
“We are running! My home is closest from here! Yunyun, if something happens to me, don’t bother with me. And don’t look back. I’ll leave this place to you, I’m leaving now!”
After Yunyun heard this…!
“Id- idiot! What are you saying! How can I abandon Megumin an-… and… Eh, uh? What did you just say!? Hey, what did you just say!?”
Yunyun, who noticed my attempt to gloss things over, protested angrily and nearly cried.
I ignored her words, turned to look, and discovered that the monsters were closing in on us.
“Yu-, Yunyun! How many skill points do you have!? You still don’t have enough to learn advanced magic!?”
“Of course not! If Megumin give up on Explosion magic and learn advanced magic, these monsters won’t stand a chance! Hey, just do it!”
Yunyun cried out. But this was the only thing I would not compromise.
The reason I worked so hard until now was to learn Explosion magic.
“We are finished, they caught up…! …Eh?”
“……It looks like they merely flew pa.s.s.”
Some monsters ignored us and flew off somewhere.
I exhaled in relief, turning to look at where the bell was towing.
Between each bell tow, white light flashed across the dark sky.
Surely it was the adults in the village who found an opportunity to vent and unleash their power.
The monsters should be suppressed by them soon, but we should still hurried home.
“Yunyun, come to my home. Stay over for tonight.”
“Eh!? Sta-, stay over at your house? Is that really okay!?”
“No problem. Anyway, there are monsters about, do you intend to go home alone? You can wear my pajamas, but if you dare to complain about the chest area being too tight or size is too small, I will let you sleep naked.”
“I, I won’t say that! I can endure such trivial things!”
Yunyun did not deny that the clothes might be too small or chest area too tight.
Although I very wanted to start Round Three, now was really not the time.
“My house is just ahead, let’s hurry. Only my sister will be home today. Even if she is hungry, she will obediently watch the house with the door and windows closed. Although it’s a small and broken house, if the windows and door are closed properly, even those monsters won’t—“
Get in— I wanted to say.
—And I saw the completely ruined front door.
I dropped the school bag in my hand, and said softly.
“…… …… ……Komekko?”
INTERLUDE: SCENE 4—Oyakodon* For the Femme Fatale little Sister!—
Note (*): Rice with chicken meat and egg. See “Sigh. Finally solved that puzzle, and another one appeared again, Komekko.”
“I can’t read the words on them. Lord Hoost, please read.”
…… ……
“Better not call me Lord Hoost. I will call you Komekko directly too.”
“Okay.”
After both agreed, Hoost read the words that appeared on the tombstone.
“‘Ye who desire to break the seal, present thy oblation of a female bird and its child. Offer thy oblation and pray……’ I can’t read the last part. Basically, need to present an offering. Female bird and child, huh. The offering to break the seal should be more formal. But it is difficult to find such creatures in this forest…”
Annoyed, Hoost smacked his fist on his palm.
“Right! Hey, Komekko, I will give you money. Go into the village and buy a female bird and its child. Make sure it is of high quality!”
“I understand!”
I took Hoost’s money and returned to the village.
—One hour later.
“I’m back! I bought it!”
“Oh, well done, give you a bit of… uh, what is this?”
I was holding a bowl carefully in both hands, so as to not spill it. Hoost tilted its head and looked at me in confusion.
I put the bowl respectfully on the altar.
“This is the offering, okyakodon.”
“Are you an idiot!”
Hoost opened the cover of the bowl and looked inside…
“Oh… You are right. It is indeed in line with the tombstone text. It’s a female bird and child. But I have neve