Chapter 178: The Legendary... Mimi and the RifleWith Megumin's final roar echoing through the heavens— "——[Explosion]!!"The destructive energy, originally sufficient to turn miles of the surrounding area into scorched earth, erupted forth.However, the anticipated massive explosion did not detonate on Sylvia; the moment that violent crimson magic touched the air, it seemed to be drawn by some powerful magnetic field, swirling and rushing frantically into the misfired rifle in Satou Kazuma's arms!"Eh? Eh eh eh?!" Megumin remained in her staff-waving pose, completely dumbfounded, "My Explosion Magic... was eaten by that clothesline pole?!"Vroom——!!!!Having absorbed the dual enhancement of holy magic and Explosion Magic, the rifle was no longer a mere weapon; it vibrated violently, and the high-frequency noise it emitted even caused the surrounding rubble to float into mid-air.Satou Kazuma's tiger's mouth was split by the terrifying recoil, causing blood to spray; he let out a miserable scream as his entire body was pressed flat against the ground, forcing him to desperately brace the butt of the gun against his shoulder while his legs kicked two deep trenches into the muddy ground."Lin, Haru! Help me! This thing is going to explode! It's draining my lifespan!!"Kazuma's face trembled from the vibration, his eyeballs nearly popping out, "Its power right now... I feel like it could punch a hole straight through this planet!!"Haru looked at the gun barrel, which had changed from silver-white to an eerie purple-gold; the pressure, as if facing an ancient god, made him involuntarily take half a step back:"Hold on! Kazuma! You are a man with EX-rank luck! Aim at that perverted mecha and fire!!"Sylvia was completely panicked.Her prized Magic Killer core was now emitting desperate screams, the alarm sounds having turned into shrill wails.Looking at that pitch-black gun barrel spewing an aura of destruction, Sylvia's massive mecha body actually twisted into an extremely feminine pose; she used her huge steel arms to cover her chest, her voice carrying a hint of seduction and pleading:"W-wait a moment! Mr. Kazuma! Can you really bear to do this?" A pitiful expression appeared on Sylvia's synthetic face, "Didn't you just stare at my chest earlier? Didn't you say... that this kind of full, mature charm was the one thing you couldn't resist? As long as you put down that stick, I... I can let you experience a feeling even more real and warmer than that dream just now, you know? Do you really want to destroy this softness with your own hands?"Satou Kazuma's movements froze.His bloodshot eyes stared fixedly at Sylvia's heaving chest; his originally ferocious expression gradually became dull, a suspicious transparent liquid even flowing from the corner of his mouth, before he suddenly began to grit his teeth as if thinking of something."Softness... reality... big oppai..." Kazuma muttered to himself, "Although it's really perfect, the moment I think about how you have things on you that shouldn't belong to you, I can't help myself, hey!""Don't be in such a hurry! Mr. Kazuma, I can cut them off! I can become anything you like!" Seeing this, Sylvia twisted her water-snake-like (steel) waist even more intensely, "Come, come into my arms... let us go and create a new world with only big oppai together...""A new world with only big oppai..."The light in Kazuma's eyes gradually faded, as if his soul had been sucked away by those spheres.Just as Sylvia was continuously twisting her metallic water-snake waist—which was devastating to one's sanity—releasing a physical attack called Ultimate Seduction, her huge electronic eyes suddenly contracted, emitting two eerie and deep red lights.That was the mind control of a Demon Kings Army General—[Crimson Charm]!"Mr. Kazuma... come... throw away that cold iron rod... come into my arms..."Sylvia's voice seemed to ring directly inside Satou Kazuma's mind at this moment.Satou Kazuma, who had still been gritting his teeth in resistance, felt his entire being drain away the instant the red light swept over him.His bloodshot eyes completely lost focus, and his fingers, which had been tightly gripping the trigger, actually began to loosen bit by bit."Hehe... big oppai... it doesn't matter if you cut them off... as long as there are spheres, it's fine..."Satou Kazuma revealed an extremely scum-like and idiotic smile, the drool from the corner of his mouth already flowing onto the rifle's body."Hey!! Kazuma! You lecherous piece of trash! Wake up!!"Haru was so anxious on the sidelines that he wanted to rush over and slap him, but the residual magic emitted by the purple-gold rifle acted like an invisible wall, making it impossible for ordinary people to get close.Just as Sylvia's massive steel foot was about to take advantage of the situation to crush everyone's skulls, and at the critical moment when the rifle, having charged to its critical point, was about to self-destruct due to losing control—A short, red figure with twin-tails darted out from the shadows of the ruins like a bolt of lightning.No one saw where she popped out from, and even fewer expected that this little loli, who had always been cared for as a mascot, would appear in the center of such a hellish battlefield.It was Mimi!In her small, purple-red eyes flickered a certain light, more dangerous than Sylvia's, belonging to a top-tier predator.She pounced, riding directly onto the back of the dazed Satou Kazuma; her two small hands accurately gripped the gun body, which was already hot enough to bake a sweet potato, and without even a moment's hesitation, she pressed down hard on the trigger!"F·I·R·E!!"BOOM——!!!!!!In an instant, the night sky of the entire Crimson Demon Village was dyed a pure white-gold.That was no longer a bullet or a beam; it was a light of judgment, mixed from holy magic and Explosion Magic, capable of piercing through causality.Sylvia didn't even have time to let out a scream; within a ten-millionth of a second of touching the beam, her prized Magic Killer shell began to disintegrate at the atomic level, vaporize, and finally turned into a wisp of red smoke that dissipated into the void.The massive shockwave instantly cleared the surrounding ruins, forming a flat, circular crater with a radius of one hundred meters.And in the very center of the explosion, amidst the falling ash and sparks, Mimi was not blown away by the recoil as everyone had expected.She stood steadily beside the completely ruined rifle, which was emitting wisps of smoke; one hand was on her hip, while the other skillfully covered her left eye, her cape (actually just a rag she had just picked up) snapping in the wind."Hmph... I am Mimi! The Crimson Demon Clan's number one genius Archwizard—Megumin's younger sister! Also the ultimate young girl who will turn Demon Kings Army Generals into her meal and master the power of destruction in the future!"Mimi issued a crisp yet chuunibyou-level declaration, "Mere scrap metal, daring to disturb my snack time—this is your end!"There was a deathly silence all around.The Crimson Demon Clan villagers who had just teleported back widened their eyes, and then erupted into thunderous cheers."Oooooh! As expected of Megumin's sister! This timing for kill-stealing and this POSE are simply the model of the Crimson Demon Clan!""That child... when she grows up, she will definitely be an incredible arch-fiend!"Megumin, at this moment, couldn't care less about being exhausted of magic; she lay on the ground, tears of emotion streaming down:"Mimi... have you finally, finally embarked on this path of no return too... Big sister is so gratified!"Haru looked at the little girl striking a POSE in the aftermath of the explosion, then looked at Satou Kazuma, who was still lying on the ground, rolling his eyes due to the mental shock and recoil, and couldn't help but sigh gloomily:"Truly worthy of the Crimson Demon Village. Is this the legendary... Mimi and the Rifle?"
Chapter 179: There Will Always Be a Place for YouThe morning sun spilled over the chuunibyou-infused red-tiled roofs of the Crimson Demon Village. Haru rubbed his sleepy eyes as he stepped out the door, only to freeze in place.Just yesterday, this place had been nothing but broken walls and towering flames, with scorched earth everywhere from the rampage of the Demon Kings Army General, Sylvia.Yet now, the streets were orderly, the walls were freshly painted, and even the clothing store whose back door Haru had kicked in, along with its clothesline rack, stood there as good as new."Hey, Kazuma, wake up. Did we fall for some massive illusion spell? Or are we actually dead, and this is Heaven?"Haru kicked awake Satou Kazuma, who was snoring beside him and likely still chasing after big oppai in his dreams.Kazuma jumped up abruptly. Looking at the overly prosperous scene outside the window, his eyes nearly popped out of his head:"Is—is this the efficiency of the Crimson Demon Clan?! No, that's not right. Look over there at that person wearing tattered blue clothes, holding a brush and painting everywhere..."Aqua was seen frantically waving a paintbrush in the village square, shouting:"Watch closely! This is the miracle of a Goddess! Holy Paint Repair! Holy Cement Mixing! Wahahaha, worship me! Be grateful! Bring out all the fine wine and offerings from your homes!!"With the infusion of Aqua's demolition-grade Goddess mana, combined with that group of bored Crimson Demon Clan Archwizards who each possessed [Building Magic], rebuilding a village really only took one night.Just as Haru was lamenting that common sense in this world was indeed meant to be fed to the dogs, Megumin suddenly walked up to Kazuma with a flushed face.For once, she wasn't wearing her signature black cloak, but had changed into light casual clothing, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her clothes."Um... Kazuma. About yesterday... that gun thing, and... anyway, come with me for a second. I have something I want to tell you in private."Megumin kept her head down, her voice as quiet as a mosquito, then pulled the bewildered but gradually expectant Kazuma toward the hillside behind the village.Haru watched their retreating figures and couldn't help but click his tongue:"Tsk tsk, what's with this sense of deja vu of a post-battle confession? That guy Kazuma, his luck is so good it makes one want to call the police."With nothing better to do, Haru wandered around the village and eventually found Darkness under the huge red-leaf tree at the village entrance.The Crusader who usually rushed to the front to block blades was now leaning quietly against the tree trunk, clutching a freshly opened letter in her hand. Her eyes were deep and somewhat distant; she didn't even notice Haru approaching."Yo, Darkness. Why are you striking a pose all by yourself here? Is it because Sylvia died too quickly and you didn't get to enjoy her steel ravaging, so you're feeling empty, lonely, and cold?"Haru stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned in, half-joking.Darkness jumped up in surprise like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, frantically stuffing the letter into her bosom, her face instantly flushing bright red:"Li—Haru?! When did you get here! No—it's not like that! I wasn't thinking about being tied up by monsters or being trampled... I really wasn't!""I didn't say you were thinking about those things." Haru dropped his smile, his gaze landing on her slightly trembling fingers. "Looking at your expression, it doesn't look like you want to be scolded, but rather... like you've encountered some troublesome family business? Is there a problem with your territory, or is that idiot father of yours urging you to go back for matchmaking again?"Darkness fell silent. She lowered her head slightly, her blonde bangs covering her eyes, and her voice carried an unprecedented weight:"...I just received an urgent message from home. Father's health... seems to have suddenly deteriorated. And, because of this attack by the Demon Kings Army General, the capital's assessment of the Dustiness family... in short, I might not be able to continue following you guys around as I please anymore."She looked up, the light of struggle flashing in those azure eyes:"Haru, if you were me, between the burden of the family and this group of hopeless companions, how would you choose? Should I... really go back and be a proper noble lady?"The breeze under the red-leaf tree blew gently, causing a few fiery leaves to swirl and fall.Haru looked at Darkness before him, who had shed her hard armor and appeared unusually fragile, and felt a slight stir in his heart.He reined in his usual flippant smile, his tone becoming unprecedentedly gentle."Darkness, listen well. If you are truly tired and want to put down this heavy greatsword and go back to rest, that's fine too. Whether it's as a noble lady or something else, as long as that is the life you want, we will all support you."Haru reached out, pressing lightly on her shoulder, looking straight into those somewhat dazed azure eyes,"But don't forget, in that mansion in Axel, there will always be a place for you. We will keep your room for you forever."Darkness's body trembled slightly. She opened her mouth, seemingly wanting to refute her responsibilities as a noble, wanting to recount those inescapable dogmas, but looking at Haru's deep and sincere gaze, all those words were stuck in her throat.For once, she didn't show that perverted expression, but instead looked like a truly confused young girl, appearing both conflicted and hesitant."Of course," Haru suddenly changed the subject, a confident (even slightly arrogant) smile appearing on the corner of his mouth,"If you are still willing to mess around with us hopeless lot, to challenge those monsters that simply can't be hit, to endure Aqua's idiocy and Megumin's Explosion Magic... then, no matter who wants to stop you, whether it's pressure from the capital or some bullshit engagement, as your leader, I will absolutely not give up on you! I will snatch you back, understand?""Li—Haru..." Darkness's eyes instantly turned red.This feeling of being needed, being protected, and even being forcefully kept by his side, precisely struck the softest (and most perverted) corner of her heart.She gazed at Haru's face, her heartbeat so fast it felt like it was about to jump out of her chest.At this moment, the burden of the family seemed to become as light as a feather, and the man before her became her only harbor.Darkness closed her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes trembling. Following the palpitations of her heart, she slowly, bit by bit, leaned toward Haru.The air was filled with a sweet, cloying scent called ambiguity. Their nose tips were almost touching, and Haru could even smell the faint scent of sweat on her (that fragrance after battle) and some kind of high-end perfume."La la la, the weather is so sunny today, beautiful scenery everywhere~"A humming sound full of cheerful vibes, even carrying a hint of smugness, came from behind the tree without warning."Yo! Haru! What are you doing here? And Darkness, are you two leaning so close to study how to block?"Satou Kazuma walked out with his hands behind his head, his face beaming. He looked like he had just won the jackpot, radiating an annoying air of 'I have won at life,'"Let me tell you, Haru, Megumin actually said those words to me just now. Hehe, as expected, a man like me with money and luck is the ultimate destination for a Crimson Demon Clan girl..."Darkness sprang away as if electrocuted, so ashamed she was almost steaming. She covered her face with her hands and crouched on the ground, making strange whimpering sounds.As for Haru, his movements froze in mid-air, his originally gentle eyes instantly becoming colder than the glaciers of the Far North.He slowly turned his head, his neck making a "crack, crack" sound, staring fixedly at Satou Kazuma, who was still chattering away, completely unaware that he had ruined such a sacred moment."Ka...zuma..." Haru's voice was as low as a curse crawling out from the depths of hell, his right hand already subconsciously reaching for the dagger at his waist. "You just said... you are very happy? You are in a good mood? You think life is full of sunshine?""Yeah! What's wrong?" Kazuma hadn't sensed the danger yet, even raising his eyebrows. "Are you jealous? Oh my, after all, not everyone has my kind of charm..."Haru took a deep breath and flashed an extremely brilliant yet hair-raising smile:"That's great. In order to let that happiness of yours be sublimated, I've decided to send you to Heaven right now, so you can have a good chat with Goddess Eris about that damn charm of yours!!"
Chapter 180: Hahahaha! We are truly something!Watching Darkness's back as it almost steamed, she muttered, "Th-thank you, Haru..." while darting away like a startled ostrich toward Aqua, who was drinking with some people in the distance.Haru had already rolled up his sleeves, having even decided whether to use [Forced Strip] or direct physical force to make Satou Kazuma, that mood-killer, feel what a captain's wrath was like.But looking at that punchable grin on Kazuma's face, which screamed "I'm in a good mood today, do whatever you want," the anger in his heart was actually suppressed by a surge of intense curiosity."Hey, Kazuma. What kind of jackpot did you hit? Or did Megumin finally get tired of your scum behavior on the hillside just now, decide to bury you on the spot, and you ended up digging up a secret treasure of the Crimson Demon Clan?"Haru eyed him sideways, his tone filled with undisguised disdain.Kazuma chuckled, rarely failing to retort, but instead leaned against the trunk of a red-leafed tree with a touch of emotion, looking up at the distant hillside:"Just now, that chuunibyou girl actually told me with a serious face that she wanted to give up Explosion Magic, switch to learning those useful Advanced Magic spells, and become a qualified Archwizard who can actually help everyone."Haru froze for a moment, frowning slightly:"Really? That Megumin who would risk her life for Explosion Magic? You agreed? Given your personality, you should have raised both hands in approval, right? After all, a mage who can cast skills several times a day is much more cost-effective than a human landmine who collapses after one shot.""Yeah, that's what I originally thought too."Kazuma shrugged, a rare flash of gentleness and determination in his eyes, "But in the end, I refused her. I told her that if she gave up Explosion Magic, then Megumin wouldn't be Megumin anymore. A scum like me might like efficiency, but I like that idiot who yells about blowing something up every day even more. So, I put all her skill points... into Explosion Magic."Haru was completely stunned.He stared at Kazuma for a long while, until Kazumastarted to feel creeped out, then couldn't help but scoff and patted his shoulder hard:"Pfft, hahaha! Who would have thought, Kazuma! A total loser like you is actually capable of such a moving act? I thought you'd make her learn Create Water to save some money on water. It seems I underestimated you. You guy, occasionally you can actually act like a real protagonist.""Shut up! I just didn't want to hear her crying in my ear every day about how my romance was gone!"Kazuma looked away, blushing slightly, then countered, "What about you? You were being all lovey-dovey with that masochistic knight just now, don't think I didn't see it. What kind of love potion did you feed her to make her show that expression of a normal girl?"Haru smiled without hiding anything, briefly recounting the words he had just said to Darknessabout not giving up on her no matter who stood in the way.After hearing it, it was Kazuma's turn to be dumbfounded.He looked at Haru as if he were a monster: "Wow, Haru, I didn't expect that you, who always pride yourself on being scum and can even go without underwear without batting an eye, could actually say such sentimental words? This 'Bossy Captain Falls in Love with Me' act of yours has more lethality than Megumin's Explosion Magic, right? You're the real lady-killer!"The two stood under the red-leafed tree, exchanging a glance. One was a captain who looked serious but was scum on the inside, and the other was a shut-in who looked like a loser but was reliable when it mattered. At this moment, they seemed to see a kind of aura called "kindred spirit" in each other."Heh, when it comes down to it, our party really is just a bunch of hopeless people."Haru said with a smile."Yeah, but isn't that what makes it the most interesting?"Kazuma also laughed."Hahahaha! We are truly something!"The two erupted into a hearty (and to others, somewhat sinister) laughter simultaneously, causing passing villagers in the distance to look over.When Haru and Satou Kazuma arrived at the village square with their arms around each other's shoulders, the scene before them could only be described as a cult gathering.Aqua was sitting swaggeringly on a magnificent throne carved from the Crimson Demon Clan's specialty red wood, holding a bowl of the Crimson Demon Village's secret aged liquor that emitted an eerie red glow, while a row of fanatical, chuunibyou Crimson Demon youths knelt before her."Watch closely! This is the sacred art that cleanses the soul! [Natures Beauty]!! Hey-yah!!"Aqua let out a delicate shout, her two small fans dancing in her hands, as two thin streams of water sprayed from her sleeves, precisely forming a blooming lotus in the air, while incidentally drenching the faces of several youths nearby."Oh, oh, oh! As expected of the Goddess who could repair the village overnight! This kind of meaningless yet incredibly flashy party trick is simply the romance of our Crimson Demon Clan!""Goddess! Please, one more! This jar of Explosion Red-Braised Liquor is yours!"Aqua looked at the jar of liquor, her eyes almost shooting out tangible golden light. She wiped the liquor stain from the corner of her mouth heroically, while letting out her signature "guhehe" laugh:"No problem! As long as there's liquor, even if it means turning the entire Demon Kings Castle into a fountain, I'll do it for you! Come, next! You there, red-haired boy, I see you have remarkable bone structure, would you consider joining our Axis Order? Joining gets you a gift personally blessed by the Goddess... Eh?"Haru walked over expressionlessly, grabbed hold of the pair of blue ribbons on Aqua that were fluttering about, and dragged her backward like a kitten."Hey, Intellectual Disabled Goddess, there should be a limit to scamming food and drink, right? The villagers here aren't quite right in the head to begin with; if you keep brainwashing them, the Demon Kings Army is going to be put out of business by you.""Let go! Let go, Haru! You disrespectful shut-in number two! This is called spreading the divine oracle, it's a legitimate job!"Aqua struggled desperately, still clutching the unopened jar of strong liquor, "And the liquor here is super delicious! It feels like fireworks going off in your stomach when you drink it. I've decided, I'm going to live here until the end of time!""Oh? Is that so?" Satou Kazuma sneered from the side, crossing his arms and saying, "That's a real pity. Haru just said we're taking the teleportation circle back to Axel first thing tomorrow morning. Since you can't bear to part with the liquor here, then you can stay behind by yourself. Anyway, once we're back in Axel, all those fine wines at the guild and the novel snacks at Wiz's shop will just have to be enjoyed by us in your stead."Aqua's movements froze instantly. Her little face, which had become flushed from alcohol, underwent a perfect transformation from shock to hesitation to despair in just three seconds."Eh? Go, go back? Now? But... I haven't had enough of the sweet potatoes here, and there are still over a dozen types of liquor I haven't tasted..."Aqua looked at the liquor jar in her arms, then at Haru's "I'm really leaving" expression. Her eyes instantly filled with big, heavy tears, and she began to gush like a broken faucet."Waaaah! You guys are so mean! Why do you have to say such cruel things when I'm at my happiest! Haru! Kazuma! You two demons! scum! Perverted captain!!"She lunged forward, clinging tightly to Haru's thigh, wiping her tears and snot all over his pant leg, "Take me with you! You have to take me with you! Bu-but before that, can you help me pack up all the inventory in the village wine cellar and take it with us?! Please! Aren't you the captain? Go talk to the village chief, just say this is the reward for saving the world!!"Haru shook his leg in disgust, only to find that this thing was clinging even tighter than a Slime: "Don't dream, that's robbery! Besides, didn't you just say you wanted to live here until the end of time tomorrow?""Who cares about that! The end of time doesn't compare to the soft beds and high-quality sparkling wine in Axel!"Aqua cried without any decorum, even starting to roll on the ground, "I don't care! If you don't bring the liquor back, I won't get up even if I die! I'll stay here and curse you so that on your way back, your carriage tires blow out, the teleportation circle shorts out, and you find cockroaches in your food!!"Haru and Kazuma exchanged a look, both wearing expressions of profound exhaustion."As expected, no matter where this one goes, she always ends up looking this pathetic."Haru sighed and looked up at the Crimson Demon villagers who had gathered around, "Everyone, sorry, our mascot is broken. If you want her to quiet down, I suggest you go fetch two cases of liquor right now to plug her mouth. We will... depart on time tomorrow."
Chapter 181: Go Create Your Own Harem...The Crimson Demon Village in the early morning was shrouded in a light mist, but this tranquility was soon shattered by bursts of chuunibyou-level goodbyes.At the village entrance, hundreds of the Crimson Demon Clan villagers uniformly struck various twisted yet cool poses.Some covered their eyes with one hand, others had their capes dancing wildly, and some even spared no mana early in the morning to set off colorful, dud fireworks in the background to set the mood."Goodbye, heroes from another world! May your journey be filled with Explosion Magic and chuunibyou!""Megumin! If you can't make it out there, just come back! The village sweet potato field will always be waiting for you!"Megumin carried her signature staff. Although she muttered with a look of disgust, "Seriously, enough with this, these hopeless guys," the slight redness at the corners of her eyes betrayed her true feelings.Meanwhile, Yunyun was carrying a bundle larger than herself, standing uneasily behind Haru, her fingers constantly twisting the hem of her clothes. She looked both excited and nervous—after all, this was her first time officially traveling far away with everyone as a companion.Just as everyone was preparing to board the carriage to the teleportation circle in the neighboring village, the chief of the Crimson Demon Village—that old man who always wore flamboyant robes and claimed to be the strongest leader—suddenly walked over with a serious expression. Without a word, he grabbed Haru's shoulder and forcibly dragged him into the shadows behind the carriage."Hey, Chief, is there something you can't say in front of everyone? Aqua is already biting Satou Kazuma's thigh on the carriage because she couldn't get the window seat, and I have to go break it up."Haru tried to break free with some resignation.The Chief, however, looked grave. He snuck a look around, then leaned into Haru's ear and whispered:"Lord Haru, listen well. Last night, I heard that guy Hyo Saburo bragging while drunk that the dead-fish-eyed shut-in in your party seems to have almost conquered his precious daughter, Megumin? He's even managing her skill points?"Haru was stunned for a moment, then thought of Satou Kazuma's smug, triumphant expression yesterday, and couldn't help but twitch his lips:"Ah, although that guy is indeed a loser, his luck in these strange matters is really good enough to make one want to call the police.""That's exactly the problem!"The Chief suddenly became excited, pressing both hands firmly onto Haru's shoulders, his eyes burning with a flame known as competitiveness,"As the chief of the Crimson Demon Clan, I absolutely cannot allow that guy Hyo Saburo to beat me when it comes to the quality of a son-in-law! Look, my daughter Yunyun, whether it's her figure, her mana, or that sense of loneliness—though a bit pitiful, it makes people want to take care of her—she's top-tier in the Crimson Demon Clan, right?!""Huh? Wait a minute, Chief, isn't your logic jumping a bit too far?""No refusing! This is for the honor of the Crimson Demon Clan!" The Chief patted Haru's chest deeply, his tone as grave as if he were entrusting the future of the entire kingdom,"Listen well, as the captain, you absolutely cannot lose to your team member! Although Yunyun has some social anxiety, she is actually a very easy girl to handle. As long as you talk to her three times a day, she'll be so moved she'll want to marry you! So... my daughter is officially entrusted to you! Go give it to me and beat that dead-fish-eye in terms of romance!!"With that, the Chief gave Haru no chance to retort, performing a magnificent backflip and jumping back into the crowd, waving and shouting:"Set off! Young people! Go create your own harem... no, I mean, legends!!"Haru stood there, watching Yunyun, who was being bullied by Megumin until her face was beet red and was casting a pleading gaze toward him for help. Then he looked at Satou Kazuma in the carriage, who was giving him a lewd, hehehe smile, and couldn't help but sigh deeply."Seriously, from top to bottom, there really isn't a single normal person in this village."He walked back to the carriage and plopped down opposite Satou Kazuma. Satou Kazuma immediately leaned in, eyebrows raised with gossip:"Hey, Haru, what did the Chief just say to you? Looking at that father-in-law-looking-at-son-in-law expression of his, is he going to betroth Yunyun to you?"Haru glanced at him sideways and sneered:"Yeah, he also told me to do my best and definitely not to lose to a loser like you who can't even fix his own dead-fish eyes."The carriage creaked along the bumpy path, but the atmosphere inside the carriage instantly became heated because of the word "bounty"."Hey, Haru, have you calculated it yet?"Satou Kazuma took a tattered little notebook from his bosom, scribbling rapidly with a charcoal pencil, his eyes glowing with greed,"Sylvia is a Demon Kings Army General, after all. According to the Adventurers Guild's bounty standards, plus the special thank-you money given by the Crimson Demon Village... when we go back this time, we can at least collect this much!"He held up three fingers, waving them in front of Haru, his voice trembling:"300 million eris! A full 300 million! After deducting the debts Aqua owes, the remaining money is enough for us to buy a real mansion in Axel, hire ten maids to take turns feeding me grapes every day, and live that kind of useless life where I don't even have to lift a finger!""Huh? 300 million?" Haru raised an eyebrow. Although he was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel his heart race when he heard the number."In that case, I plan to first book the most expensive blacksmith shop in Axel and have all my equipment reinforced with adamantite. As for the remaining money... maybe I'll consider buying a plot of land on the outskirts of the city to build a training ground specifically for bullying you.""Who wants something like that! You should invest the money in more meaningful places!"Aqua had stopped crying at some point and interjected righteously:"Instead of that, hurry up and collect the bounty! I want to buy that bottle of Ragnarok Sparkling Wine worth 1 million eris! And I want to buy out all the fried chicken in the Adventurers Guild! If you don't satisfy me, I'll stuff mustard up your nostrils while you're sleeping!""I also want to buy the latest magic amplification staff!" Megumin waved her small fist in the back row. "One of those top-quality ones that can withstand the mana flow of my Explosion Magic! That way, after I fire my shot, the staff won't burn my hands due to overheating!""If it were me... I hope to buy a set of heavy armor with spikes and bondage effects..."Darkness blushed like a ripe tomato, hugging her chest with both hands and squirming her body,"It would be best if it's the kind that makes strange sounds the moment it's touched by a monster... Ah, just thinking about it makes me...""Enough, you perverted knight, shut up!"Haru, Satou Kazuma, and Megumin shouted in unison.Amidst this chaotic commotion, the carriage passed through the dense forest and crossed the clear stream.Finally, at the end of the horizon, the familiar, lively beginner town of Axel slowly revealed its silhouette."Finally back." Haru looked at the towering city walls, and a subtle sense of belonging unexpectedly arose in his heart.As the carriage slowly drove into the city gate, the familiar scent—a mixture of cheap ale and the sweaty odor of Adventurers—rushed to meet them, and everyone in the carriage became excited."We're home! Axel! I, Lady Aqua, have returned! You foolish mortals, come out and welcome your goddess!"Aqua jumped straight out of the carriage window and ran wildly through the streets, drawing sidelong glances from passersby as if they were looking at a madwoman.The door of the Adventurers Guild was kicked open by Haru, and the Adventurers who were drinking and bragging inside all turned their heads in unison."Yo! Everyone! We're back!" Haru announced loudly, "And we brought back the head of the Demon Kings Army General, Sylvia!"The entire guild fell silent for three seconds, and then erupted into earth-shattering cheers.
Chapter 182: From Now On, This Is Your HomeThe air in the guild hall was stiflingly hot due to the news that a Demon Kings Army General had been defeated. Adventurers surrounded Haru and Satou Kazuma, slapping their shoulders and offering drinks; the scene was so chaotic it felt like a cult gathering.Just as Haru was enjoying this (albeit a bit noisy, but undeniably satisfying) hero treatment, a voice full of resentment, as if it had crawled out from a crack in the ground, drifted eerily from behind the two."Yo, isn't this our great hero of Axel, the scumcaptain Haru, and the light of the shut-ins, Satou Kazuma? What's the matter? Back after striking it rich, and you can't even spare a glance for your poor buddies who are still gnawing on black bread?"Haru and Kazuma both shivered simultaneously and turned to look.There, the delinquent youth Dust, with his messy blonde hair and shabby armor, was squatting in the shadows of the guild corner, holding half a shriveled sweet potato, his eyes even more resentful than a jilted woman's."D-Dust." Kazuma wiped the sweat from his forehead with a guilty conscience. "Don't say that. Didn't we come straight to the guild as soon as we entered the city? Besides, we had a really hard time in the Crimson Demon Village, being chased by Orcs and trampled by Sylvia…""Stop lying! I've heard all about it!" Dust stood up abruptly, pointing at the heavy bounty proof in their hands, and shouted indignantly,"Three hundred million eris! That's three hundred million! Do you know how I've been living lately? To pay off my debts, I even pawned my underwear. This pair I'm wearing now was stripped off a Goblin! Don't your consciences hurt, you two money-grubbing traitors?!"Looking at Dust's miserable state, and then touching the proof in his pocket that would soon make him a multi-millionaire, Haru felt a rare twinge of something called a conscience (though it only lasted for a split second).He turned to look at Kazuma and found that he was wearing the same conflicted expression."Tch, true. I guess we have been a bit unfair to this guy lately."Haru sighed, then waved his hand magnanimously and wrapped his arm around Dust's neck,"Alright, alright! Stop playing the victim! Listen up, Dust. All your expenses today, whether it's the finest liquor or the most expensive dragon steak, are on us! Even if you want to go to the Succubus Shopand order the full supreme dream package, we'll cover it!""Really?!" Dust's face, which had been written with misery, instantly radiated a divine glow. The speed at which he changed his expression left Haru in awe.He tossed aside the sweet potato in his hand, threw his arms around Haru and Kazuma, and grinned so wide his mouth almost reached his ears:"I knew it! Even though you two are a bit scum-like usually, at critical moments, you are definitely the most loyal men in Axel! Hahahaha, as expected of our Axel Three Musketeers! Boss! Bring me a barrel of the most expensive ale first! Make it ice-cold!!""Hey! You're really pushing your luck!" Kazumaretorted, though he couldn't help but laugh,"Forget it, we're happy today anyway. Ms. Miss Luna! Please hurry and settle our bounty, or this guy is going to drink the guild into bankruptcy!"Behind the counter, the receptionist Ms. Miss Luna, who was almost buried under a mountain of paperwork, took the Sylvia subjugation proof with trembling hands.She pushed up her glasses, stared at the exaggerated number on it, and fell into a daze:"Three… three hundred million… Um, Mr. Lin Jin, Mr. Satou, regarding the payment of this massive bounty, we need to… we need to apply for an emergency allocation at the bank first… Please wait a moment, I'm going to go faint for a bit…"With that, Ms. Miss Luna really did collapse behind the counter with a thud, and the cheers in the guild hall blew the roof off once again.The lights in the guild hall were dim and vibrant. Dust was hooking his arms around Satou Kazuma's shoulders, and both of them wore that incredibly lecherous smile that only experienced veterans would understand."Hehehe, Haru, Kazuma, since we're getting the bounty, how about we go celebrate at that man's dream paradise tonight?"Dust suggested, winking suggestively,"I heard from the Succubus there that they just launched a new theme dream: 'The Otherworld Reincarnated Hero and the Secret Garden of the Five Princesses.' It will definitely let you experience what true peak performance is!""Ohhhh! As expected of Dust! This intel is so timely!" Satou Kazuma's eyes lit up, and he immediately raised his hand in agreement. "We're going! We absolutely have to go! To reward myself for the mental trauma I suffered in the Crimson Demon Village, even if it rains knives tonight, nothing will stop me!"However, just as the two looked at Haru with anticipation, Haru calmly put down his glass and waved his hand with a look of disdain:"Count me out. You two guys with heads full of dirty thoughts go yourselves. Don't you see that Yunyun over there is almost burying herself in a crack in the ground from embarrassment?"Haru pointed at Yunyun, who had been shrinking behind him, her face flushed red and steam rising from her head after hearing words like Succubus, princesses, and secret garden.As the only normal person in the Crimson Demon Village, Yunyun clearly couldn't understand this open (and lewd) way of celebrating in Axel."Eh?! Haru, you've changed!" Kazuma looked at him in shock, as if looking at a traitor,"You actually gave up the Succubus Shop for the sake of… no, wait, for the sake of taking care of a teammate? Are you still the same Haru who could go without underwear without batting an eye? Could it be that you're really planning to carry out the Village Chief's romance competition and strike first?""Cut the chatter. I just think that compared to dreaming, the big bed in our mansion is more comfortable in reality."Haru ignored Kazuma's sarcasm and turned to look at Yunyun, his tone softening slightly,"Let's go, Yunyun. I'll take you back to where we're staying. There are plenty of rooms there, you can choose one you like. By the way, I also need to calm down, organize the insights I gained from this level-up, and learn some new skills.""Ah… yes! Okay, Mr. Lin Jin!" Yunyun felt as if she had been granted amnesty, her beautiful eyes filled with gratitude. "Um… I'm really sorry, because of me, Mr. Lin Jin can't go to the celebration…""No, don't think that at all. That is definitely not a proper celebration."Haru's mouth twitched, and he pulled Yunyun's arm (incidentally dodging Dust's dirty hand as he tried to drag him into it), and strode out of the noisy guild hall.Behind them came the sour-sounding jeers from Dust and Kazuma:"Tsk tsk, is this the captain's privilege? Taking a pretty girl back to the mansion to 'learn skills'—it really makes one so envious they want to curse him!"The streets of Axel under the moonlight seemed much quieter."Mr. Lin Jin, can I really become your teammate in the future? And can I live here too?""Of course. From now on, this is your home."Haru said it casually, but it made Yunyun's face turn red to the ears once again.
Chapter 183: The Lonely Girl with a Self-Selling Atonement FantasyPushing open the heavy mahogany doors, the faint woody fragrance and luxurious tranquility inside the mansion instantly shut out the clamor of the guild.Yunyun hunched her shoulders, as if afraid she might ruin the expensive carpet, and her large eyes darted around uneasily, finally resting on the massive crystal chandelier in the center of the living room."U-um, Mr. Lin Jin, can I really choose any room? Even one with a balcony that has a panoramic view of Axel?"Yunyun's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, her index fingers twisted together, her face full of self-doubt that clearly asked, "Do I really deserve to live in a place like this?"Haru tossed his coat onto the back of the sofa and turned to look at the girl who was treated as an outcast in the Crimson Demon Village and couldn't make friends outside because she was too shy. He smiled helplessly:"I already told you, this is your home from now on. As long as you aren't afraid of Aqua getting drunk in the middle of the night, entering the wrong room, and using you as a body pillow, or Meguminpracticing Explosion Magic in the yard early in the morning and shaking you out of bed, you can pick any room on the second floor. If you really can't choose, I'll just assume you've picked the one next to mine?""Eh?! N-next door?!" Yunyun's face instantly turned as red as if it were about to drip blood, and a visible wisp of steam even rose from the top of her head,"T-that won't do! That's too improper! No, I mean... that's too much of an honor! No, no, no, I'll just pick the one at the end of the hall! Please, let me pick that one!"Watching Yunyun scurry up to the second floor, clutching that huge bundle like a startled little rabbit, Haru shook his head, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth."What an easy girl to handle, that old village chief didn't lie. However, compared to wooing a beautiful girl, what's more important now is..."Haru sat cross-legged on the leather sofa in the living room, which was so soft it made one want to sink into it, and pulled the shimmering Adventurercard from his pocket.As a reincarnated person, he knew well that in this world filled with all sorts of bizarre monsters, only by mastering sufficiently unreasonable magic could he live like a villain amidst the upcoming troubles."Let me see what kind of power I can awaken as a noble mage after experiencing a battle on the level of Sylvia."As he poured his will into it, the text on the card began to jump violently, and terms exuding an intellectual (as well as dangerous) aura gradually appeared in the original skill slots.Haru's fingers swiped through the air, precisely allocating the attribute points he had accumulated for a long time into the items that could maximize magic power.He could feel a surging magic power flowing from his heart throughout his entire body; it was a wonderful sensation of controlling natural elements, completely different from the pure feeling of strength he had before.Just as he was immersed in the pleasure of becoming stronger, a scream from Yunyun suddenly came from upstairs, followed by the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor."Uwaa! I'm sorry! I accidentally crushed that glowing sphere (sensor light)! Mr. Lin Jin! Do I have to sell myself to be able to afford the compensation?!"Haru opened his eyes abruptly and held his forehead helplessly:"That's why I said, the number of normal people in this house, including me, is probably only about half."Haru leaned back on the sofa, staring at the Adventurer card, lost in thought."Megumin, that girl with a head full of explosives, is a mobile nuclear weapon, but her stamina of only one shot per day is really a headache; Yunyun is that textbook Crimson Demon Clan genius, with all sorts of flashy attack magic at her fingertips, making her the perfect secondary damage dealer. So, what about me?"Haru stroked his chin, his eyes gradually becoming profound (and scum).As an Adventurer who had to survive in a lawless place like Axel, he valued efficiency and suppression power more than pursuing those flashy but impractical large-scale ritual spells."Since that's the case, I'll just carry 'fast' and 'ruthless' through to the end."He hesitated no longer and tapped his fingers rapidly on the card.He spared no expense, consuming 15 skill points to unlock the two extremely expensive passive skills: [Magic Power Enhancement] and [Instant Cast].As the last bit of starlight merged into his body, Haru felt as if the mana in the air had become tentacles extending from his body; with just a single thought, he could condense it instantly.He stood up and strode to the mansion's backyard, which was spacious enough to run a horse.Moonlight spilled over the neatly trimmed lawn, and Haru slowly raised his right hand toward a large decorative boulder in the distance."Fireball."There was no long, drawn-out chanting, nor were there any embarrassing, shameful lines.As his words fell, a Fireball the size of a washbasin, with a core that was incandescent white, formed almost instantly in front of his palm, and then whistled out with a piercing sound of breaking air!Boom!!The Fireball struck the boulder precisely, and the scorching flames instantly engulfed it; the shockwave from the explosion even ripped up a layer of turf around it.The originally hard rock actually developed cracks under the high heat; this power had completely surpassed the intermediate magic cast by ordinary mages."Whoa, this feeling..." Haru looked at his slightly warm palm and showed a satisfied smile, "The chant time has been shortened by at least 70%, and the power has increased by about half. If I were to fire a barrage at Kazuma now, that guy probably wouldn't even have the chance to scream, right?"Just as he intended to try an Ice Needle spell to test his accuracy, a shout with a sobbing tone came from the broken window upstairs from Yunyun:"M-Mr. Lin Jin! Please stop! Although I broke the light bulb, please don't burn down the house with Fireball! I-I'll come down and apologize right away! Please don't hunt me down like a monster! Wuwuwu..."Haru looked speechlessly at the girl who was lying on the windowsill, desperately waving a handkerchief in an attempt to surrender; the originally cool test session was instantly washed away by this thick, Crimson Demon Clan-style tragedy."Hey, Yunyun! I was just testing a new skill, I didn't plan on burning the house down! Calm down, and stop waving that white flag there, or the lord next door will think our house has been captured by the Demon King's Army!"He put away the card and sighed helplessly.It seemed that before becoming the strongest mage, he would first have to learn how to soothe this lonely girl who might fall into a self-selling atonement fantasy over the smallest thing at any moment.When Haru pushed open the side door leading to the living room, he happened to see Yunyun preparing to dive downward in a posture that was standard to the point of being eerie—it was the Crimson Demon Clan's unique, theatrically tense apology style: dogeza.Her eyes were tightly shut, tears were swirling in her eye sockets, and she was muttering some outrageous declaration like, "Since I cannot repay the debt, please use me as a gargoyle in the mansion."Just as her forehead was about to strike the expensive marble floor, a warm and broad palm gently pressed down on her silky black hair."Alright, stop. If you bang your head any further, the cleaning fee for the carpet will be much more expensive than that sensor light."Haru's voice carried a hint of helpless amusement, sounding exceptionally gentle in the empty living room.Yunyun was frozen in mid-air, as if someone had pressed the pause button on her.She felt the heat coming from the top of her head, and that sensation of being treated gently traveled down from her scalp all the way to her toes, making them tingle.She tremblingly raised her head and met Haru's eyes, which appeared exceptionally profound under the moonlight.
Chapter 184: The One Responsible for Entering Dreams Tonight Is Me." M-Mr. Lin Jin? "Yunyun's voice still carried a hint of sobbing, her cheeks as red as a sweet potato that had been left out in the sun for three days in the Crimson Demon Village." Come over and sit down. Stop acting out a tragic drama over there. Since I promised your father I would take care of you, don't take such a small matter to heart. "Haru took the opportunity to ruffle her little head and pulled her over to sit by the sofa.The two sat side by side on the spacious leather sofa, the living room filled only with the sound of sparks occasionally jumping in the fireplace.Yunyun nervously pressed her legs together, her hands gripping her skirt tightly, her heart beating so fast it felt like it might jump right out of her throat." Yunyun, what do you think... a home should be like? "Haru looked up at the giant crystal chandelier on the ceiling and suddenly asked." Eh? A home? " Yunyun was stunned for a moment, her eyes looking a bit desolate," Back in the Crimson Demon Village, even though everyone was together, I always felt... like I didn't quite fit in. Because I couldn't recite chuunibyou lines as coolly as Megumin, and I couldn't accept those strange common senses as naturally as everyone else. To me, a home... is probably just a place where I don't have to worry about being left behind, and don't have to desperately pretend just to fit in. "" That's quite a coincidence; I think so too. "Haru turned his head to look at Yunyun's profile, which appeared exceptionally moving in the dim light," Although this mansion is home to a useless goddess who only knows how to cause trouble, a violent loli with nothing but explosions in her head, and a perverted knight who wants to be trampled by monsters at any time... Oh, and now we have to add a shut-in with a head full of trash. But strangely, no matter how much trouble I encounter outside, as long as I return here and see that bunch of idiots arguing, I think, 'Ah, this place really is the most comfortable.' "Haru paused for a moment, his tone becoming serious:" So, Yunyun. Stop talking about selling yourself to pay off debts or becoming a gargoyle. This isn't a hotel, nor is it a shelter. From the moment you stepped through this door, this has been your home. Even if you blow up the whole house (though I hope you don't), we'll just dig you out of the ruins and go hunt bounties together to earn money for renovations, understand? "Yunyun listened blankly, and the tears at the corners of her eyes finally couldn't help but slide down.But this time, it wasn't because of fear or grievances, but a sense of security that was fulfilling and warm, unlike anything she had ever felt before.She sniffed hard and flashed a smile at Haru that was so radiant it made one's heart tremble." Yes! I understand, Mr. Lin Jin! I, I will try my best to be a family member who doesn't blow up the house! "" Hmm, very ambitious. Then let's start practicing by learning how to use the motion sensor lights normally. "Haru stood up with a smile, looking at the girl who was finally no longer so tense.The moonlight tonight was indeed beautiful, and what was even more beautiful was that he seemed to have truly found an anchor called home for himself (and these oddballs) in this different world.Just as the atmosphere in the living room was becoming so warm it was about to bubble over with pink, a very faint, stealthy sound of a door opening suddenly came from the entrance.Haru raised an eyebrow, signaling Yunyun to stay quiet, and the two quietly walked to the corner.They saw Satou Kazuma hunched over like a dehydrated mantis shrimp, sneaking along the wall toward the stairs.His dead fish eyes, which usually lacked spirit, were now flickering with a strange light called anticipation, and he was humming an unknown tune, wearing a look of intoxication as if saying, 'Tonight, I shall attain enlightenment.'" Yo, Kazuma, back from 'Dream Paradise' so early? I thought you and Dust would stay there until the bounty arrived tomorrow. "Haru's voice rang out abruptly, startling Kazuma so much that he jumped up, nearly slamming his head into the banister." Waaah! Haru! Do, do you not make any sound when you walk?! "Kazuma patted his chest while trying to evade eye contact, attempting to hide the red reservation slip in his hand," Ahem, I just think... as an ambitious Adventurer, one cannot indulge in wine and women all day! So I resolutely refused Dust's second invitation and decided to come back to rest early, to maintain plenty of energy for collecting the reward tomorrow! "" Oh? Is that so? " Haru looked at Kazuma's impatient demeanor, looking as if he couldn't wait to dive into his bed, and sneered inwardly.This kid must have filled out some incredible wish list and is waiting for the Succubus to provide dream service tonight.Just then, Aqua walked out of the kitchen, swaying while holding an expensive bottle of red wine that she hadn't finished yet, hiccuping and muttering:" *Hic*! Kazuma, what were you saying about energy just now? Haven't you already overdrawn that stuff long ago? Why don't you let the great Lady Aqua use Purification Magic to cleanse that dirty soul of yours! "" Who wants you to cleanse anything! You blue-haired idiot who only knows how to waste money, go to sleep! "Kazuma rushed upstairs in a panic, locking the door tightly before leaving.Haru watched the direction where Kazumadisappeared, then turned to look at Aqua, who was preparing to return to her room to continue drinking, and flashed an extremely radiant (and malicious) smile." Aqua, do you want to drink another bottle of top-tier red wine worth 500,000 eris? "" Eh?! 500,000?! "The goddess, who had been bleary-eyed just a moment ago, instantly straightened her back, her eyes shining like two light bulbs," Haru! Have you finally realized the importance of offering to this goddess? Speak quickly! As long as there is wine, I'll even go cleanse the Demon Kings Castle! "" It's not that much trouble. " Haru lowered his voice and pointed to the entire mansion," I've felt recently that the home security isn't quite good enough, especially against those unclean low-level monsters. I need you to immediately set up the strongest Saint-level barrier around this house. There is only one requirement: any monster with magic power that attempts to enter dreams (like a Succubus) is absolutely forbidden from stepping even a single step inside. Can you do it? "" Huh? This little thing? " Aqua snorted disdainfully, waved her hand casually, and a dazzling, sacred radiance instantly enveloped the entire mansion," Done! Now, even if a mosquito monster tries to get in, it will be purified into ashes by this goddess's divine power! Alright, where is my 500,000 erisbottle of red wine? "" I'll give it to you tomorrow after we collect the bounty. "Haru patted Aqua on the shoulder and watched the overjoyed goddess return to her room.Yunyun, standing to the side, looked at Kazuma's door with some sympathy:" Um, Mr. Lin Jin... will Mr. Kazuma... not be able to wait for the person he wants tonight? "" No, he will get to wait for someone. " Haru flexed his wrists and revealed a scum smile that made Yunyun feel a chill down her spine, " It's just that... the one responsible for entering dreams tonight, is me. "Late at night, the whole mansion fell into a deathly silence.Haru silently used the [Lurk] skill (although he hadn't learned it, he could achieve it with his agility and mage perception) to sneak into Kazuma's room.Kazuma was lying on the bed, a trail of extremely lewd drool hanging from the corner of his mouth, muttering:" Hehehe... Your Highness the Princess... don't be like that... I'll be shy... "Haru stood by the bed, looking at his bad friend who was having a nice dream (actually just normal sleep, because the Succubus was blocked outside), and slowly raised his hand.
Chapter 185: I will make you feel pleasure like never before...Haru stood by the bed, using the faint moonlight streaming in from the window to look at Kazuma's face—a face full of the desire to be ravished—and a cruel arc curled at the corner of his mouth."Since you are looking forward to the Princess so much, I will start by giving you a set of abyss-level hospitality etiquette of total sensory deprivation."Haru chanted softly, and subtle magical fluctuations flowed from his fingertips.Relying on the precise control brought by [Instant Chant], he did not release any offensive magic, but instead condensed his magic into two pitch-black veils, which silently covered Kazuma's eyes and ear canals.This was an advanced application of magic for a mage—Sensory Block.Now, while fully conscious, Kazuma would be unable to see any light or hear any sound; he would be plunged into a sense of absolute, lonely void."Next, it is time for artistic creation."Haru pulled out a special magic ink pen from his pocket that he had bought from Wiz's shop, which was claimed to require scrubbing off three layers of skin to wash away, even with holy magic.He leaned down, preparing to write the words "I am an Axis Cultist"—words sufficient to cause Kazumasocial death—neatly on Kazuma's forehead.However, just as the tip of the pen was about to touch his skin, Kazuma's body suddenly shuddered violently!Damn, is this guy's Adventurer intuition working in a strange place?Kazuma opened his eyes wide, but all he saw was a void of darkness.He tried to listen, but there was only deathly silence in his ears.This sudden turn of events left this shut-in hero stunned for half a second, and then, catalyzed by his desires, his brain reached a conclusion in a twisted way:"Woah, woah, woah! Is this the high-end service of the Succubus Shop?! Total sensory deprivation! This sense of shame waiting for salvation in the darkness... It's amazing! Succubus, have you arrived already? I can already feel your oppressive aura!"Because he couldn't hear anything, Kazuma's internal monologue was practically roaring.Not only was he not panicked, but he also revealed a smile ten times lewder than before.Haru was stunned by the guy's reaction, only to see Kazuma suddenly attack, his whole body like an octopus catching prey in the dark, his hands lunging forward!"Hehehe, caught you! My Princess!"Before Haru could dodge, he was tightly choked by Kazuma's arms, which were filled with the hand speed of many years of being single, and then his whole body was violently dragged onto the bed by brute force."Ugh?!"Haru let out a muffled sound as he fell directly onto Kazuma's chest."Whoa! This boniness! This solid muscular feel! Is tonight's setting a dashing Princess Knight?"Kazuma didn't let go; instead, he wrapped himself around Haru like an octopus, using both hands and feet, rambling into Haru's ear (though he thought it was a Succubus) while desperately burrowing into Haru's arms, "Although your chest is a bit too flat... but that's okay! I like this kind of contrast! Come on, don't hold back, ravish me to your heart's content!"Haru, who was in a chokehold and tightly hugged by a man reeking of alcohol, felt his brain go blank for a moment.He could feel Kazuma's stubble rubbing against his neck, a nauseating sensation that made all the hair on his body stand up."Satou Kazuma... you damn perverted shut-in... let me go right now!!"Haru roared angrily in his mind, and due to his excessive force, the magic ink pen in his hand left a long black mark on Kazuma's pajamas.Being tightly entangled by Kazuma like an octopus, Haru felt an indescribable sense of nausea rush to his head.The smell of sweat on this bastard, along with the strange hormonal scent emitted by his desires, was even more lethal than the toxic gas of any monster.He struggled to push Kazuma away, but Kazumabecame even more excited and wrapped himself tighter."Oh, oh oh! Princess, are you playing hard to get? This kind of wild resistance is even more irresistible!"Kazuma's face, twisted with excitement, looked exceptionally lewd even in the dark.He completely misunderstood Haru's struggle, viewing it instead as a playful part of the Succubusservice.Haru felt like he was suffocating; he tried to use his elbow to push against Kazuma's chest, but the other's body was eerily soft yet resilient, like a lump of mud soaked in alcohol, and he couldn't muster any strength.Just as Haru felt a wave of despair, Kazuma's sleazy hands actually started groping downwards, aiming directly for his belt!"Hehehe, Princess, since you are so enthusiastic, I cannot be too reserved either. Come, let us be frank with each other and welcome this wonderful night together!"As Kazuma said this, he actually started unbuttoning his own pajamas!His hands, trembling with excitement, clumsily pulled open the collar of his pajamas, revealing his chest, which was not exactly solid and even a bit malnourished."Stop! You pervert! What exactly do you want to do?!"Haru's mental defenses completely collapsed; he used almost all his strength to firmly pin down Kazuma's restless hands.However, to Kazuma, Haru's resistance was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire."Ah! So the Princess likes this kind of active shyness?! Okay! No problem! I will satisfy you! Although I am usually the passive one, for you, I am willing to make a change!"Kazuma mistakenly thought Haru was stopping him from taking off his own clothes, implying he should be more proactive in his attack.His eyes became even more fanatical, and an unprecedented power erupted from his thin, weak body.He flipped over violently and actually pinned Haruunderneath him!"Ugh!" Haru let out a grunt as his back hit the mattress hard.He felt like all the bones in his body were about to fall apart, and what shocked him even more was that in Kazuma's hormone-fueled state, he was completely unable to resist!Kazuma's thin, weak body seemed to possess monstrous strength at this moment.He used his knees to pin down Haru's legs, while his hands domineeringly clamped down on Haru's arms, looking down at him from above."Princess, your body is so stiff. Is this your first time spending a wonderful night with a Succubus... no, with a charming man like me? It's okay, I will be very gentle... hehe..."Kazuma's face, brought close, reeking of saliva, made Haru feel waves of nausea.He could clearly feel Kazuma's heart beating violently with excitement, as well as the dangerous and disgusting aura emanating from his body.What is going on?! I am a mage! I am a man who can shatter huge rocks with Fireball!Why can't I resist this shut-in?!Is this the legendary power of desire?!Help! My innocence is about to be lost! I would rather be ravished by a Demon Kings Army Generalthan be defiled by this pervert, Satou Kazuma!Haru was screaming and wailing in his heart, but his body was pinned down tightly by Kazuma, unable to move.He could even feel Kazuma's cold, damp breath spraying onto his face."Hmm? Princess, are you trembling? Don't be afraid, I will make you feel pleasure like never before...!"Kazuma mistakenly thought Haru's trembling was shyness and anticipation; his eyes became even more intense, and his mouth even started to lean in toward Haru's cheek...
Chapter 186: I Will Be Responsible for Resurrecting Him!"Kazuma! You bastard, wake up! I am Haru! Not some Succubus! If you don't let go, I'm going to use Fireball to light that tuft of hair of yours on fire!"Haru's voice already carried a hint of a shrill tremor.He struggled desperately to twist his body, but that damned sensory-blocking magic had not only sealed Kazuma's hearing but also plunged himself into some sort of subtle magical disorder, causing him to be unable to cast other high-level spells smoothly.What made him even more devastated was that Kazuma's hands, honed by years of playing games and typing on keyboards, were currently displaying astonishing gripping strength, pinning his shoulders tightly.Kazuma's face, filled with ecstasy, was constantly leaning closer, and the air was filled with a suffocating mix of male hormones and cheap alcohol.Just as Kazuma's fingers were about to touch Haru's belt buckle, and Haru was preparing to abandon his dignity and bite off the other's fingers in the nick of time—Bang!The bedroom door was slammed open."Kazuma! You idiot, how dare you secretly hide alcohol and not share it with this goddess! I just smelled the scent of red wine—"Aqua stormed in, swearing, holding that half-finished bottle of red wine in her hand.However, when her gaze landed on the scene on the bed—the two of them tangled together, in an extremely philosophical and suggestive position—her voice came to an abrupt halt.Haru was pinned under Kazuma, his clothes disheveled, collar wide open, while Kazuma was rubbing against Haru's neck with an intoxicated expression, his hands still in the pose of about to undo the restraints.The air froze for a full three seconds.Aqua's originally angry expression vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely strange, eerie smile, as if she had discovered a new continent.Her blue eyes sparkled with excitement, the corners of her mouth curled up, and she even subconsciously hid the red wine bottle behind her back, fearing she might disturb this good show."Oh my... I see, I see."Aqua let out that kind of teasing laugh only heard when watching cheap late-night dramas,"Haru, I didn't expect that while you look so proper normally, you actually play so wildly with Kazuma in private? I really couldn't tell, the two of you actually have this kind of... special hobby?"In his entire life, Haru had never been so eager to see the figure of this blue-haired idiot goddess.He screamed in his heart, almost with tears in his eyes:Aqua! Stop talking nonsense! Hurry up and use your Sacred Fist to blast this pervert away! I have never looked forward to your Sacred Strike this much in my life! As long as you save me, I'll buy you ten bottles of red wine tomorrow! No, one hundred bottles!"Help! Aqua! Hurry and pull him off! This bastard is under a Succubus's illusion; he thinks I'm a Succubus!"Haru finally regained a shred of his voice and croaked for help.However, Aqua did not act immediately. Instead, she walked a few steps closer with great interest, even pulling out a recording crystal from somewhere in her bosom, and began adjusting the angle toward the two on the bed."Oh my, a Succubus illusion? To make Kazuma work so hard, it seems you are quite charming, Haru."Aqua laughed even more happily,"However, if such a wonderful scene isn't recorded as evidence to threaten Kazuma into washing dishes later, it would be a real waste. Let me finish recording this... hmm, about ten minutes should be enough, it won't be too late to purify you then!""Ten minutes?! You blue-haired idiot! By the time you're done recording, I'll have been... Mmph mmph mmph!"Kazuma seemed to hear something and pressed his body down even more excitedly, even attempting to use his mouth to block Haru's protests, looking just like a starving wolf pouncing on its prey."Hurry up, I'll cover all your alcohol for the next month!"When the words "alcohol for the next month" popped out of Haru's hoarse throat, Aqua, who was still adjusting the angle of the recording crystal and trying to capture the best philosophical moment, stood bolt upright as if struck by lightning.Her eyes, originally filled with teasing and greed, were now brighter than the stars in the sky, and one could even vaguely see countless expensive wine bottles spinning and dancing in her pupils."Deal! Haru, you said it! If I don't see a whole case of Blitz premium red wine tomorrow morning, I'll project this recording on the big screen in Axel's plaza and play it on a loop for three days and three nights!"Aqua let out a heroic laugh, stuffed the recording crystal into her collar, and gracefully and swiftly traced a trail of holy light in the air with her right hand."Oh suffering believer, under the brilliance of the great Goddess Lady Aqua, awaken from this filthy illusion! Sacred High-Level Purification!"A blinding white light that made it impossible to open one's eyes exploded instantly within the narrow bedroom.This small problem that only required a basic purification was forcefully dealt with by Aqua with a spectacle sufficient to purify the entire Demon Kings Castle.Satou Kazuma, who had been rubbing against Harulike a rutting bull and trying to seal the princess's protests with his mouth, was struck head-on by this holy magical power.The pitch-black veil before his eyes melted instantly like snow burned by fire, and the deathly silence in his ears was replaced by Aqua's sharp laughter.The moment his senses returned, Kazuma was still immersed in the pink fantasy that the princess was finally about to reveal her true face to him. He opened his eyes, full of joy, and muttered:"Hehe, let me see, what my beloved princess looks like..."However, what appeared before his eyes was not some peerless beauty, nor was it some shy and moving Succubus.Instead, it was Haru's face, twisted from excessive anger, shame, and long-term oxygen deprivation, with veins throbbing on his forehead.The most critical point was that Haru's current position was extremely terrible—his clothes were half-torn, his hair was messy, and he was being pinned tightly beneath him in the posture of a victim who had been ravaged, while his own hands were squarely pressing on Haru's shoulders, and one of his legs was hooked extremely suggestively around Haru's leg.The air froze completely in that second."Yaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!"A scream capable of piercing the roof erupted from Kazuma's throat.He sprang off the bed as if electrocuted, and due to the excessive force, he slammed his head directly into the bedroom wardrobe, making a loud bang."Lin, Haru?! Why is it you?! Where is my princess? Where is my Succubus?! Why are you lying in my bed in your pajamas, making such a misleading expression!!"Kazuma shrank back in terror while clutching his collar tightly, as if he were the innocent girl who had almost been assaulted.Haru slowly sat up from the bed, his movements as stiff as a rusty golem.He kept his head down, his gloomy aura almost coalescing into tangible black mist on the floor."Satou Kazuma..."Haru's voice was so low it seemed to come from the depths of hell. He slowly lifted his head, revealing a scum smile that even made Aqua involuntarily step back, and the magic ink pen in his hand was squeezed until it creaked,"You just... said who was too flat? And said who to ravage to your heart's content? Hmm?""Wait, wait! That's a misunderstanding! That's an illusion! I was tricked by the Succubus Shop!"Kazuma felt the tangible killing intent, and his survival instinct made him instantly sober.Meanwhile, Aqua, who didn't mind making a scene, slapped her thigh and laughed wildly, while also fanning the flames from the side:"Wahahaha! Kazuma, the way you looked just now was really pathetic! 'Princess, hold me tight' and all that, oh my, my stomach hurts... Haru, don't be polite, hurry up and use your Fireball to burn him to ash, I'll be responsible for resurrecting him!"
Chapter 187: In recognition of Mr. Lin Jin's outstanding contribution to the exorcism process last night!"Brother Haru! Master Haru! I was truly wrong! I was blinded by a succubus, I swear I have absolutely never had any improper thoughts about men!"Satou Kazuma was currently kneeling on the floor with zero integrity, his forehead pressed firmly against the floorboards; the posture was so standard it looked like a refined, thousand-times-tempered dogeza."Tomorrow's bounty! I'll split it with you half and half! No, sixty percent! As long as you don't tell anyone about what just happened, even if you make me scrub toilets for a month, I'll accept it!"Haru gritted his teeth while buttoning up his torn pajamas, staring at Kazuma with a murderous gaze, and lowered his voice:"Deal. But I'm keeping a record of this debt. Also, destroy that recording crystal of Aqua's, otherwise I'll still consider hanging you from the Axel city gates to air-dry.""Hehe, want to destroy this goddess's source of booze money? Not a chance!"Aqua was proudly patting her chest when suddenly, dense footsteps echoed in the hallway."Kazuma? Haru? What the hell are you two doing in there? I think I just heard a scream that was enough to inspire some Explosion Magic!"This was Megumin's question, filled with her chuunibyou aura."Could it be that a Thief has infiltrated? Or is... some kind of torture filled with humiliation and suffering taking place? If that's the case, please, by all means, let me also..."Darkness's voice, accompanied by suspicious blushing and panting, also rang out."Li—Mr. Lin Jin? Are you alright? I heard a loud crashing sound!"Yunyun's voice sounded like she was about to cry.The three of them instantly turned pale.If those three problem children saw the current scene—Haru with disheveled clothes, Kazumakneeling and begging for mercy, and Aqua laughing like a villain—they would never be able to hold their heads up in Axel again in this lifetime."Quick! Act!" Haru growled, his brain operating at a speed beyond human limits, "Kazuma, pretend to be the victim! Aqua, pretend to be purifying! Hurry!"The very moment the door was pushed open, the mood in the room changed abruptly.Haru stood by the bed with a solemn face, his hands moving rapidly to form seals (actually just waving them around randomly), muttering:"Evil spirits, begone! Is this the 'Late-Night Lust Demon' lurking in the shadows? To dare possess Kazuma, see if I don't drag you out!"Kazuma took the opportunity to lie on the floor, his limbs twitching, eyes rolled back, frothing at the mouth (possibly just drool from being scared earlier):"Ugh... Ah... So hot... So holy... The demon inside me... is being purified..."Aqua's acting skills exploded; she raised her hands high, sacred radiance instantly filling the entire room, shouting with a mournful face:"Kazuma! Hang in there! Although you're usually a hopeless shut-in, this goddess will absolutely not watch you get your virginity—no, wait, your soul—stolen by such a low-level demon! Exorcism!"Megumin, Darkness, and Yunyun, who had pushed the door open, froze at the entrance.What they saw was:Haru casting spells at the air with a righteous face, Aqua scattering sacred aura, and Kazuma flopping around wildly on the floor like a dehydrated fish."Eh? A demon?" Megumin narrowed her eyes suspiciously, the tip of her staff glowing slightly,"Why don't I feel any magical aura? But since there's a demon, can I use Explosion Magic on this room—""No!" The three of them screamed in unison."Ah... A Late-Night Lust Demon?"Darkness keenly caught the keyword, her breathing becoming rapid, clutching her shoulders, looking at Haru with a dazed gaze,"Haru, that demon... is it still nearby? Will it... also possess a frail Crusader and do those kinds of... rough things to me, like it just did to Kazuma?"Haru looked at Darkness, who seemed like she couldn't wait to be possessed by a demon immediately, his mouth twitching slightly, cursing inwardly:This woman's intuition is truly terrifyingly accurate in a certain sense!"Ahem, it's already been resolved." Haru wiped away some sweat while feigning composure, and casually hauled Kazuma up from the floor,"The demon has already been purified into ash by Aqua. Kazuma was just taken advantage of because of too much mental stress, but now he's awake. Right, Kazuma?"Kazuma leaned weakly on Haru's shoulder, suppressing his nausea as he cooperated:"Ye—yes, that was so dangerous just now. Thanks to Haru and Aqua, I managed to save... save my soul."Yunyun walked over timidly, tugging at the corner of Haru's clothes:"Mr. Lin Jin, thank you for your hard work. I didn't expect you to have to deal with such a dangerous demon at night. I—I'll help too, I can use Light to help you check the corners of the room!""No need, Yunyun! Everyone, go back to sleep! Staying up late is the enemy of beauty!"Haru practically shoved everyone out of the room.In the early morning of Axel, the sunshine was so bright it made one want to treat everything that happened last night as an absurd hangover.At the mansion's dining table, the atmosphere was as eerie as if it had frozen over.Haru elegantly sliced bread covered in jam, his gaze occasionally sweeping across the dining table.Kazuma was currently sporting two huge dark circles under his eyes, expressionlessly stuffing dry toast into his mouth; that dead-fish face—wondering who he was, where he was, and what the meaning of his life was—perfectly interpreted the aftershocks of social death.Aqua was in a great mood, humming a tune, gulping down a bottle of red wine she'd gotten in advance last night, and occasionally flashing an ambiguous smile at Haru that said 'we're accomplices'.Megumin was still staring at Kazuma suspiciously, occasionally scrutinizing him with that 'are you hiding some evil ritual from me' look;Darkness was blushing, occasionally sneaking a peek at Haru; her gaze actually contained a sense of anticipation that made Haru's skin crawl—clearly, she was still savoring the memory of that so-called lust demon from last night."Ahem, since everyone is here, let's get down to business." Haru put down his dining knife, breaking the awkward silence, "The demon incident from last night has been completely resolved. Today's main task is to go to the Adventurers Guild to collect that bounty.""Oh! The bounty! 300 million eris!" Aqua instantly dropped the wine bottle, her eyes turning into the shape of gold coins, "With this money, I can buy that limited-edition goddess statue! And I'll book the highest-class tavern for a private party!""Shut up." Kazuma interrupted her listlessly, then turned to Haru, his eyes revealing a strong, unquestionable determination for hush money, "Haru, what we agreed on last night... sixty percent. That 20 million, transfer it to me directly."Megumin and Darkness widened their eyes simultaneously:"Sixty percent?! Why does Haru get sixty percent of yours? Kazuma, did a demon eat your brain?!"Kazuma's mouth twitched, his gaze toward Harulooking exactly like he was staring at a demon holding his lifeblood.He gritted his teeth and whispered:"This is... this is in recognition of Haru's outstanding contribution to the exorcism last night! After all, he was almost... ahem, anyway, it is well-deserved!"...Inside the Adventurers Guild, when Ms. Miss Lunahanded the full 300 million eris reward to Haru with trembling hands, the entire guild erupted.Haru calmly accepted the money bag, and under the pressure of Aqua's wailing for him to hand over the money and Kazuma's look of 'hurry up and split the money, shut up', he completed the distribution on the spot."Haru, this 20 million, this is yours."Kazuma was bleeding internally as he handed over the money."As for the rest, you guys split it yourselves."Haru hugged the thick stack of money, feeling that heavy sense of satisfaction, and was in a great mood."Wuwuwu, my booze money! Haru, you greedy demon! Give the money back to me!"Aqua lunged over to snatch it, but was kicked away by Kazuma."Alright, stop messing around." Haru clapped his hands, looking at this group of teammates with such diverse personalities, the feeling of 'home' in his heart was actually even stronger than last night—although this group of people were all idiots, at least, in this absurd world, they were indeed his family.
Chapter 188: Being Alive... Is Truly Wonderful.Sitting in the most luxurious private room of the guild, Haru and Satou Kazuma exchanged a glance, reading a determination known as a life-and-death alliance in each other's eyes.The table was filled with the most expensive red wine in Axel, each bottle costing enough to keep an ordinary Adventurer struggling for half a year.Aqua was currently holding a bottle of Snow Brew in her left hand and a bottle of Sparkling Red Magic in her right, like a little mouse that had fallen into a rice jar, her face flushed with happiness as she occasionally let out silly giggles, saying, "Hehehe, good wine, truly good wine.""Lady Aqua, come, this bottle is the oldest vintage of eris's Tears; although the name is a bit annoying, the taste is top-tier."Haru flashed an extremely perfect, professional smile as he personally poured a full glass for Aqua."That's right, that's right, Aqua, you've worked hard at your job (meaning causing trouble), so drink as much as you want today! If it's not enough, there's more; we just received our bounty, and we have plenty of money!"Kazuma was on the side, eagerly handing over peeled snacks for the wine, his sycophantic appearance simply impossible to look at.Aqua let out a drunken hiccup and looked through hazy eyes at these two men who usually wished they could stuff her into a sack and throw her away. Although the alcohol had paralyzed her already limited intelligence, a divine instinct still made her feel a hint of incongruity:"Umm... you two, why are you so kind today? Don't you usually call me a useless goddess or a money-burning machine? Could it be... you are coveting this goddess's beauty? No way, gods and humans are forever separated, give up!""How could that be! We just purely want to express our respect for you!"Haru and Kazuma shouted in unison, cold sweat running down the back of their heads."Whatever, who cares! As long as there's wine to drink! Cheers!"Aqua downed it heroically.After three rounds, Aqua had completely entered the preparatory state of Natures Beauty, her whole body slumped on the chair as she began to ramble.Seeing that the time was ripe, Haru gave Kazuma a look.Kazuma quietly reached out, aiming directly at the wide sleeve of Aqua's divine raiment—according to his observations, that damn recording crystal was stuffed right there.However, the moment Kazuma's fingertips were about to touch the crystal, Aqua suddenly sat up abruptly, grabbed Kazuma's arm, and wailed loudly:"Waaaah! Kazuma! I knew you were a good person! Even though you played so intensely with Haru in bed last night, you were still willing to treat me to such expensive wine... Don't worry, I will definitely keep that recording safe; it is the witness to your friendship!"With a thud, Megumin and Darkness, who were eavesdropping at the next table, fell straight off their chairs."The... witness to your friendship?" Megumin stood up eerily, her eyes flashing with dangerous red light, her staff already in her hand,"I felt something was wrong last night. Haru, Kazuma, you two... what kind of friendship were you conducting behind our backs in this mansion?!"Darkness covered her burning cheeks, her eyes having completely lost focus:"In bed... intense... could it be that the randy demon last night was actually you two... Uwah! This kind of development, this kind of moral corruption! Please, you must tell me in detail!"Haru looked at Aqua's flushed, drunken face, then at Megumin next to her, who was already preparing to chant Explosion Magic, and felt a string in his brain snap with a pop.Satou Kazuma, is this your plan? Treat her to wine to make her spill the truth while drunk?! Are you freaking kidding me, do you think we aren't dying fast enough?!Kazuma was also dumbfounded at this moment; while desperately trying to pull his hand back from Aqua's embrace, he explained to Megumin:"It's a misunderstanding! That was just drunken babble! Megumin, calm down, put out those sparks first! That really was just an exorcism!""Evidence! Hand over that recording crystal!"Megumin pressed on step by step.Aqua was still giggling, patting her chest:"Not giving it! This is my... hiccup... pension!""Haru! Cover me! Right now!!!"Satou Kazuma let out a roar that seemed to shatter the ceiling, a sound filled with the madness of despair.Haru understood in almost the same instant.He slammed the table, his internal magic power surging wildly, and pushed his hands out flat:"Breath of Wind! Plus... Create Earth!"With a boom, a violent hurricane mixed with fine dust temporarily created by Haru instantly exploded within the narrow private room.This was originally just a combination of two Basic Magic spells, but with the augmentation of Haru's far-above-average intelligence, it instantly created an artificial sandstorm where one couldn't even see their own hand."Cough, cough! So much dust! Haru, you bastard, to actually cast this kind of magic in the guild!"Megumin was choked and coughed repeatedly."Uwah! This feeling of being treated roughly... could this be the prelude?!"Darkness let out some strange noises in the dust that made people want to call the police.Just in this chaos, Kazuma's right hand reached out like lightning, his five fingers spread, his eyes flashing with a light of almost holy scum:"Steal!!!"A white light flashed.When the dust slightly dispersed, Kazuma had already jumped onto the windowsill like an agile monkey, clutching a recording crystal emitting a faint blue light in his hand, his face wearing the wild laughter of a villain who had succeeded:"Got it! Haru, retreat quickly!!""Don't think about running! Leave the evidence behind!"Megumin wiped the dirt off her face and swung her staff angrily."Retreat!"Haru vaulted over the table, grabbed an unopened bottle of expensive red wine, and followed right after Kazuma, jumping out of the second-floor private room window.The two landed in a haystack in the alley behind the guild, not even bothering to pat the dirt off themselves, and began sprinting through the streets of Axel.Behind them was Darkness, chasing with her heavy sword and an excited face, along with the dead-drunk Aqua shouting from behind, "My pension! Give it back!", and Megumin, who had already started chanting Explosion Magic, ready to blow the whole street to the sky at any moment."Faster! Kazuma! Run towards the city gate! It's open there, Megumin won't dare to cast magic easily!"Haru looked back while running, seeing a red beam of light constantly exploding at their heels.The two sped along, passing through the crowd of astonished Adventurers, and finally panted as they hid in a bush outside the city wall.After confirming that those three terrifying women hadn't caught up yet, Kazuma held the recording crystal up in front of Haru with trembling hands."Haru... we succeeded... we preserved a man's dignity..."Kazuma's eyes welled up.Haru took a deep breath, a flash of determination in his eyes:"Destroy it. Now, immediately, right now.""Oh oh oh! Die, dark history!!"Kazuma let out a roar, slamming his hands together with force.Crack!That recording crystal, which carried all the philosophical awkwardness, all the shameful moments from last night, and the greatest crisis in the professional careers of Haru and Kazuma, shattered into countless crystalline powders under their combined force, drifting away with the wind in the wilderness outside Axel.Watching those powders, Haru felt a wave of exhaustion wash over his whole body; he slumped on the ground without any image, looking at the blue sky and white clouds, and sighed sincerely:"Being alive... is truly wonderful."Kazuma also roared to the sky:"That's right! From today on, I, Satou Kazuma, am still that pure Adventurer! No one can slander my innocence!"