"W-what is even happening?"
Darkness stood beside Shichen, mouth agape, staring blankly at the unbelievable scene before her. They'd arrived a bit late; the battle was already in its final act.
The Crimson Demons were ridiculous.
The Demon King's army couldn't stand up to their magical bombardment at all. Most of the soldiers were swept into the sky by tornadoes and then slammed to the ground as bloody pulp. It was downright brutal. If you didn't know better, you'd think the Crimson Demons were the Demon King's army.
"I told you the Crimson Demons are monsters," Shichen said with a laugh, shaking his head.
"B-but… isn't this a little too monstrous?"
"Did you forget they're all Archmages once they come of age? Learning advanced magic first is basic common sense to them—well, unless you're Megumin."
"Right…"
Between the antics of that "Bukkororii Squad" and the goofiness of Yunyun and Megumin's parents, Darkness had, for a while, forgotten how overwhelming real Archmages are.
"Okay, so this is what a proper Crimson Demon looks like," she couldn't help but sigh.
"Heh. Careful how you phrase that—don't go calling Megumin a counterfeit Crimson Demon to her face," Shichen joked.
"That's not what I meant. Megumin's still amazing…" Darkness said, a little embarrassed.
"I'm teasing. You can say it to her face; she'll just bicker with you."
"True." Darkness couldn't help smiling. After being together this long, she knew Megumin's personality well—easy to get along with, even if her obsession with Explosion was hard to grasp. Not that Darkness had room to judge; she had her own quirks. Birds of a feather and all that.
"All right, if we're done here, let's head back."
"Mm."
"So why did you even bring me out here?" Frieren suddenly looked up; she'd just finished her manga.
"I brought you because I felt like it. Why so many questions?" Shichen grumbled, tugging her smooth cheeks.
"Mm… I want the next volume."
"No."
"Gimme!"
"All you do is read manga all day. You can have it after dinner!"
"Ugh, cruel!"
"C'mon."
Shichen took Frieren's hand and was about to head to Megumin's house when a familiar voice rang out from afar.
"Shichen!"
He turned and saw Yunyun running toward him, her front… bouncing. Good thing he'd given her a few shawls to cover her "Northern Hemisphere," or it would've been blindingly white.
He glanced around. Good—no outsiders.
"Yunyun, what are you doing here?" he asked once she reached him.
"Hah— I just took part in the mission to drive out the Demon King's army."
"Yeah? Impressive." Shichen ruffled her hair with a grin.
"Hehe~" Yunyun beamed.
"Oh, and from now on, no more running around outside," Shichen added.
"Eh? Why?" Yunyun blinked, confused.
"What do you think? I don't want strangers seeing." His gaze dropped, making his meaning very clear.
Following his eyes, Yunyun slowly looked down—couldn't even see her feet. She understood, cheeks flushing crimson.
"Mm… o-okay."
"Good girl. Come on, let's go together." Shichen took Yunyun's hand as well—one on each side—and started toward Megumin's place. As for Darkness… leaving her hanging would probably just make her happier.
"Wait a second!" Darkness called out suddenly.
Shichen looked back and saw her touching the stone statue at the village entrance—the griffin statue they'd just mentioned over the loudspeakers. He'd noticed it on the way in but hadn't cared; Crimson Demons loved random cool-looking things just to show off their style.
"What is it, Darkness?" Yunyun asked, curious.
"Yunyun, this griffin statue is so lifelike. Is it the work of some master sculptor from your village?" Darkness examined it with genuine appreciation. She was a noble's daughter, after all; she had some taste.
"Darkness, that isn't a sculpted statue," Yunyun said with a smile. "A long time ago, someone in the village used Petrification magic on a griffin that wandered in and got lost. It looked so cool we kept it as a tourist attraction… but nowadays it's mostly a landmark where people meet up."
"Huh? Seriously?" Darkness pulled her hand back, half disbelieving and half spooked.
"It's true~"
"…Let's hurry back," Darkness said, taking the lead toward Megumin's house.
"Back where?"
"To Megumin's. We're staying there tonight," Shichen said, tugging Frieren along.
"Eh? Why her place? Can't you stay at mine?" Yunyun blurted.
"Can't be helped. Her parents already insisted."
Mainly, he'd already promised Megumin.
"Aw, come on…"
"Relax, we're staying here a few days. We'll spend a night at your place too," Shichen soothed.
"Okay then!"
When they got to Megumin's, only Hyoizaburoo was in the living room—Yuiyui was cooking. Megumin wasn't around either; Shichen learned she'd been sent back to her room to rest. Aqua was outside playing with Komekko. She was surprisingly good with kids—though that might just be because they were on the same IQ level.
"Well if it isn't Yunyun. What brings you here?" Hyoizaburoo naturally knew her—not because of his daughter, but because Yunyun was the chief's daughter.
"Um, hello, sir. Sorry to intrude," Yunyun said shyly.
"Ah, right, you're one of Megumin's party members too."
"Mm…"
"Which brings me to the question…" Hyoizaburoo fixed Shichen with a grave look. "Why is your party made up entirely of girls?"
"Huh? Pure coincidence, I guess. Wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't said so, Uncle," Shichen replied with an easy smile.
"Tell that to a banshee! Why are you holding Yunyun's hand then? And holding two at once! And who's she? The quiet one with the elf ears?"
"Her name's Frieren. Didn't Megumin mention her?"
"I think she did… but every letter from her was all about you."
"I see…"
"Explain why you're still holding both their hands! You're not trying to build a harem, are you?!"
Uncle, bullseye.
"No way. Total coincidence. You're overthinking it, Uncle."
Even as he said it, Shichen didn't let go. He sauntered over and sat opposite Hyoizaburoo with a girl in each hand. Yunyun looked down, mortified; Frieren was off in space, imagining the next chapter of her manga.
"…" Hyoizaburoo's eyebrow twitched.
"What's all the noise? Oh, you're back!" Aqua came in with Komekko just then. Hyoizaburoo hadn't exactly been quiet.
Shichen looked at Komekko. The little thing was genuinely adorable, delicate—no less cute than Kanna and the rest. Komekko stared back, curious; after all, this was the man her sister brought home.
Shichen remembered he'd stashed a bunch of candy in his Gate of Babylon, prepared for picking up Kanna and the others from school. Now was the time to win over Megumin's little sister.
"Hi, Komekko. I'm your sister's good friend. Want some candy?" With a magician's flourish, a few pieces appeared in his palm.
"Whoa!" Komekko's eyes sparkled.
"Komekko, don't go near him—stay by big sis," Aqua blocked her.
"That's right, Komekko, this man especially likes little girls, so you must—uh, I didn't say anything," Darkness clammed up under Shichen's flat stare.
Even so, Komekko tilted her head at Shichen. Adorable.
"It's okay, Komekko. I've got plenty. Take as much as you want. I'm your sister's friend—no need to be shy," Shichen said with a gentle smile.
"I see." Komekko smiled with narrowed eyes and scampered over.
He handed her all the candy and, while she was unwrapping it, rubbed her little head. So small—fit right in his hand. Pretty soothing, actually.
"Just so we're clear," Hyoizaburoo said suddenly, serious again, "no matter how many nice things you give us or how nice you are to Komekko, I'm not handing her over to you."
"…Uncle, that's a misunderstanding."
"Is it? Doesn't look like one."
"…"
By evening, Yuiyui's cooking was done, and they enjoyed a pretty decent dinner. The rooms were arranged—not that the house was big enough to fuss over. Since Yunyun had her own home and was too shy to stay over, Shichen walked her back. It was fully dark by then.
Leaving Megumin's house, Yunyun slipped her hand into his of her own accord. He glanced at her face in the moonlight, faintly flushed, squeezed her hand, and strolled through the village with her. Hardly anyone was out at night; the streets were unusually quiet.
~~~
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