Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"You wish! I don't have time to come out here every single day just so you can fire one shot," Shichen grumbled, stretching Megumin's cheeks.

"Mm… but it doesn't take that long."

"It's plenty of time."

"I only need one blast to be satisfied…"

"One blast is never enough."

"But I can only cast one… W-wait, doesn't this conversation sound kind of wrong?" Megumin suddenly asked with a dead-serious face.

"Does it?" Shichen blinked innocently.

"Shichen, you really are a lolicon—talking dirty with a little girl! Totally perverted."

"Oh, so you're turning the tables on me now?" Shichen tugged harder on her cheeks.

"Ow… sorry, my bad!"

"Hmph. Next time I'll spank you for real."

"D-do you like my butt or something?"

"Huh?"

"Sorry! I was wrong!"

"Too late."

Shichen flipped her onto her stomach so she lay prone on the ground, then raised his hand.

"Wait, wait, one more chance! I swear there won't be a next time! Please—have mercy! I'm really, really sorry!" Megumin begged.

He didn't strike—he'd only meant to scare her. "You said it yourself?"

"Uh-huh! If I act up again you can spank me all you want."

"So you know you're a brat."

Shichen shook his head, turned her over, and picked her up.

"Eh?" Megumin hadn't expected that. She reflexively hooked her arms around his neck. "I thought you were going to carry me."

"You're this tiny—easier to hold than piggyback." He smiled and strode toward town.

"Calling me tiny again…" she pouted.

"Small is cute, right?"

"Knew it—you real—"

"Go on, say it."

"Humph! Not if it means a spanking."

"Then behave."

"Um… maybe make it a piggyback instead?"

As they neared the gate Megumin grew embarrassed, hanging her head to avoid the guards' eyes.

"What, don't like being carried?"

"It's not that… it's just embarrassing."

"Heh, figure out my plan yet? I want the whole town to see you like this—teach you some humility."

"You're evil!"

"If you sneak out again to cast Explosion, I'll carry you back the same way. A few days of that and everyone will have seen it."

"I… I can ask Yunyun to help me!"

"I'll tell her not to—and she listens to me more than you."

"Grr!"

"Plus, Explosion's so loud I'd know instantly."

"Shichen, you're a devil!"

"Your choice: resist the urge or get paraded in my arms."

"Unfair…"

Luckily the streets were quiet—few people saw them because most townsfolk were outside, now that the frog threat was gone.

Halfway back they met Yunyun, who was cheerfully carrying a bag toward the inn.

"Yunyun!"

"Eek—Sh-Shichen? And Megumin? What happened to her?"

Startled, she hid the bag behind her.

"Long story. Didn't you hear that blast outside?" Shichen said.

"A blast? That was Megumin?"

"She just had to fire off an Explosion—left a crater in the plain."

"Haha—sounds like her."

"So, what were you up to?" Shichen asked.

"Ah? I, um, was heading back to the inn." She shuffled, hands still hiding the bag.

"What's behind your back?" he asked bluntly.

"Uh… er… just something I bought."

"Something private?"

"N-not exactly…"

"Then why hide it?"

"Well…"

"Is it a bra?" Megumin cut in.

"It is not!" Yunyun yelped.

"Really? Then why hide it? Don't tell me you got even bigger. What did you eat, huh?!"

"I did not get bigger! I'm exactly the same as last week!"

"Last week?" Shichen muttered, eyes drifting to the bit of pale skin visible at Yunyun's chest.

Noticing, Yunyun blushed deeper. "Shichen…"

"Ah—sorry." He yanked his gaze away.

"I-it's fine…" she murmured.

"Ewww," Megumin clicked her tongue. "Could you two not flirt right in front of me?"

"Quit spouting nonsense." Shichen hitched Megumin higher so she clung tighter.

"Big deal—just two lumps of useless fat. Nothing but dead weight!"

"Sounds like jealousy," he said with a grin.

"W-who's jealous?!"

"It's written all over your face."

"Grr!"

"Hehe, ignore her, Yunyun—you know how she is," Shichen said.

"I-I know…"

"You're okay now, right? Let's walk back together."

"O-okay."

Shichen, still holding Megumin, walked beside Yunyun—who kept darting shy glances at them and clutching her bag.

Back at the inn he set Megumin on her bed in the girls' twin room.

"Rest a bit. We'll grab lunch later."

"Got it."

After he left, silence filled the room until Megumin spoke. "What's up? You're not your usual self."

"Huh? N-nothing," Yunyun stammered.

"Come on—you normally won't stop talking. Spill it."

"I just… You're exhausted, right?"

"I don't buy that. You were chatting my ear off last night."

"…Well, can I ask you something?"

"Shoot."

"You… seem really stuck to Shichen."

"M-me? Stuck? No! Things just turned out that way. He's a boob maniac—why would I cling to him?"

"But you looked happy," Yunyun pouted.

"Happy? He keeps bullying me! I'm not a masochist. Why ask that?" Megumin deflected.

"No reason. I just wondered."

"Liar—tell me!"

"You said I could!"

"Fine!"

"I… I suspect you're using 'helping me' as an excuse to cling to Shichen…"

"You dare accuse me?! After I always stick up for you?" Megumin sat up, glaring.

"Sorry!"

"Hmph! I'm disappointed you'd doubt my motives."

"I'm sorry, really! Let me make it up to you!"

"Forget it. But… do you actually like Shichen?"

"N-no!" Yunyun's whole face turned crimson.

Megumin smirked. "…Why?"

"He's kind, handsome, strong, always helps me, agreed to team up… W-why are you making me say this?!"

"Wow—you're easy."

"I am not!"

"So that bag—did you buy something for Shichen?" Megumin asked.

"How did you kn— I mean, it's not for him!"

"What is it then?"

"A—a cape! It's magic-resistant. I thought it would suit him if he wore— Ugh! You made me say it again!"

~~~

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