"Shichen, let's have a baby!"
"Huh?"
Shichen stared blankly at Yunyun, whose face was burning red, and for a second wondered if he'd misheard. He'd only gone to the guild to see if there were any good quests, and the moment he got back Yunyun wanted to have a child with him? And the kicker: everyone was here except Frieren!
"Y-Yunyun? W-what are you even saying?" Megumin blurted, flustered.
"R-right! Having a child… ought to be my turn first!" Darkness chimed in, just as rattled.
"Darkness?" Megumin frowned and shot her a suspicious look.
"Uh… I was just kidding," Darkness hurried to explain.
"I see." Megumin nodded and looked away, though she clearly hadn't dropped her doubts. But now wasn't the time.
"Yunyun, what's going on with you?"
"Yeah, Yunyun—why the sudden outburst?" Shichen asked gently.
"I… I want to have a boy with Shichen!" Yunyun said, cheeks blazing.
"A boy? I like girls better."
"Shichen, you like girls? But having a son first is important!"
"How about twins, then?"
"If it's like that… I guess that works…"
"Hold it! Hold it! How did this suddenly become a debate about boys versus girls?!" Megumin demanded. "Yunyun, what exactly is happening? What's this about?"
"Um… look at this." Yunyun said, pulling out a letter.
"What's that?" Megumin couldn't help asking.
"Our Crimson Demon Village is doomed!"
"What?!"
"Let's see what it says first," Shichen said, signaling for Megumin to open it.
He'd already recalled what this might be about—he just hadn't expected it to rope him in.
"Okay."
Megumin tore open the envelope. There were two sheets inside, and the opening lines alone made everyone tense.
[By the time you read this letter, I will likely already be gone.
The Demon King's army, fearful of our power, is finally preparing to attack in earnest.
They have constructed a massive military base near the Crimson Demon Village.
And not only that—the Demon King's army has dispatched large numbers of troops, along with an officer who possesses strong resistance to magic.
Heh… that damned Demon King. Seems he's quite wary of us.
We've been unable to successfully destroy their base, and our options are very limited.
Yes, as the Chief of the Crimson Demons, even if it costs me my life, I will take that officer down with me.
My beloved daughter, as long as you live, our bloodline will not be cut off.
The chief's seat is yours now.
As the last Crimson Demon of this age, you must ensure the bloodline continues…
The Demon King's assault will bring the ruin of our village. The village seer has witnessed that day of despair—and also the light of hope: the only surviving Crimson Demon—Yunyun.
Holding fast to her vow that one day she will defeat the Demon King, she trains hard. In the starter town for adventurers, she meets a certain man—extremely reliable and exceptionally capable.
That man is the one destined to be her partner.
He may look like a pretty boy, but he is truly outstanding. Under his care, Yunyun grows from a clueless novice mage into a powerful archmage.
Those days are precious to her; the happy times pass in a blink.
The last Crimson Demon bears a child with that excellent man.
Before they know it, that child grows up, inherits his father's calling as an adventurer, and sets off on a journey.
But the boy does not yet know that he is the one who will avenge our clan—
the one who will defeat the Demon King…]
"Uh… this is from Yunyun's father—the clan chief, right?" Megumin said gravely, breaking the silence.
"Looks like it," Shichen nodded. The contents were more than enough to throw Yunyun into a panic.
The letter clearly said a Demon King officer had appeared near the Crimson Demon Village, leading many subordinates to build a military base, and that the officer supposedly had strong resistance to magic. The Crimson Demons couldn't destroy the base. Most importantly, Yunyun's father said he was prepared to stake his life and take the officer down with him. It read like a farewell—if not for that prophetic bit about Shichen and Yunyun's future child.
The "reliable and capable man who happens to look like a pretty boy" could only be Shichen. As for needing his child to solve things—Shichen didn't buy that, and the latter half read like a pulp novel anyway. He was this sure because he knew what should be happening around this time.
"Megumin, what do we do? Our Crimson Demons are going to be attacked by the Demon King's army! Shichen, we have to have a son," Yunyun said, at a loss.
"Easy—calm down first," Shichen said, drawing her into his arms.
Yunyun steadied a little, but worry still clouded her face. "Shichen…"
"Yunyun, I think there's something off about this letter!" Megumin suddenly said.
"Eh? Something off?"
"Yeah! Look here—'The chief's seat is yours now. As the last Crimson Demon of this age, you must ensure the bloodline continues…' What is that supposed to mean? There's obviously another Crimson Demon alive!" Megumin snapped.
"Uh…" Yunyun froze.
"Forget that for now—keep reading! There's another page!" Aqua urged.
[The Demon King's assault brings the destruction of the Crimson Demon Village—the seer has witnessed that day of despair.
She has also seen a light of hope: the only surviving Crimson Demon, Yunyun!
Holding the wish to one day vanquish the Demon King, she trains hard.
In the town where she begins her adventuring life, she meets a certain man—handsome, reliable, and strong!
He is the man destined to become her partner.]
At that, Aqua and the others couldn't help turning to look at Shichen.
"…Why are you all staring at me?"
"Because that can only be you," Aqua said.
"Agreed," Darkness nodded.
"Much as I hate to say it, this is obviously talking about you," Megumin said, eyes locked on Shichen.
"Yunyun, do you think so too?" Shichen smiled, shook his head, then glanced down at her.
"Mm… mm. If it's not Shichen, it can't be anyone else," Yunyun answered, blushing.
"Yeah?" Shichen's smile widened with genuine happiness.
Her meaning couldn't have been clearer: in her heart, her partner was Shichen alone. He tightened his arms around her.
"Mm…" Feeling him hold her closer, Yunyun flushed even harder; even her ears turned red.
"Hey, you two… we're still here, you know," Megumin warned darkly.
"Exactly!" Aqua chimed in.
"Ahem—keep reading," Shichen said, though he didn't let go.
"Fine, I'll continue."
[The two of them live a warm, happy life.
The years roll by.
The surviving Crimson Demon and that man have a child.
Before long, the little boy grows to an age where he can be called a young man.
He inherits his father's calling as an adventurer and sets out on a journey.
But he still doesn't know that he is the one who will avenge his people—
the one who will defeat the Demon King…]
"What?" Megumin exclaimed. "Shichen and Yunyun's child is going to defeat the Demon King?"
"Wait! That's way too weird! Shichen, you're not the type to believe in fuzzy fortune-telling, right?" Aqua said quickly.
"Right," Shichen nodded.
Hearing that, Aqua and the others sighed with relief.
But Shichen went on, "As for defeating the Demon King, I can do that myself. What I'm more curious about is—why does it have to be a boy? I prefer girls."
"Eh? You prefer girls, Shichen?" Yunyun asked.
"Of course. A daughter would definitely be as cute as you."
"Mm… but if it were a boy, he'd definitely grow up to be as handsome as you…"
"Hey, hey, hey! Why are we back to talking about having kids?" Megumin cut in, fuming.
"Don't you want to have a child someday?" Shichen asked back.
"Th-that's… that's a conversation for later…" Megumin mumbled, embarrassed.
"It's not that early—you're already fourteen," Shichen said.
According to Aqua, with the way time works in this world, you're actually in your Fifteen or Sixteen—either way is it quite possible?.
"Then… then I'd want a daughter…" Megumin admitted, face pink.
"Oh? Is that because I like girls?"
"N-no it isn't!"
"Megumin, what are you even daydreaming about? The letter was about Yunyun and Shichen having a child. What exactly are you expecting?" Aqua mercilessly popped her bubble.
"…!"
Reality snapped back into place. Scowling, Megumin tossed the letter aside. "I'm done! This letter has to be fake!"
"B-but…" Yunyun fretted. It concerned her father—of course she couldn't not worry.
"Yunyun, you know what our village folks are like. Do you really buy this?" Megumin asked.
"I… I'm still worried…" Yunyun tipped her head up and looked at Shichen with pleading eyes.
"Don't be," Shichen said with a reassuring smile, ruffling her hair.
"Shichen?"
"If you're worried, we'll just go to the Crimson Demon Village and see for ourselves."
"Eh?"
~~~
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