Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

"Damn Axis cultist—stop right there!"

"Blast it! You actually smashed the windows of our Eris Church with a rock!"

"We won't let you get away with this!"

"Hahaha! You Eris-church people—catch me if you can!"

The names "Axis Church" and "Eris Church" were eye-catching enough, and the arrogant yelling even more so. Shichen and Megumin hurriedly flattened themselves against the window to see what was happening.

Through the glass they saw several people chasing a young woman in a nun's habit, her exposed hair shining a brilliant gold.

Shichen and Megumin recognised her at once—it was Cecily, the one who had given them ten million for free the day before.

"Isn't that Cecily-san?" Yunyun crowded over as well.

Shichen shot Yunyun a warning glance, but his attention was immediately captured by the generous curves in front of her chest. It was all Darkness's fault—he still hadn't calmed down.

He pulled Megumin into his arms and, with his free hand, clasped Yunyun's.

Yunyun panicked at once. She stole a nervous look at Megumin; seeing Megumin staring out the window and not at them, she sighed in relief, then threw Shichen a coy glare.

Shichen answered with a smile and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

Yunyun's cheeks flushed, yet she did not pull away.

"That Cecily… what on earth is she doing?" Megumin kept her eyes on the fleeing nun.

"Isn't it obvious?"

Resting his chin on Megumin's head, Shichen said, "From what that crowd shouted, Cecily just pelted the Eris church windows with stones."

"Why would she do that?"

"She's an Axis believer—do I really need to explain?"

"…Fair point."

Eris was hailed as the state religion, while Axis devotees were notorious for their eccentricity; that they envied and harassed Eris followers was practically common knowledge in this world.

Paying it no further heed, Shichen released Yunyun's hand, sat back down with Megumin still in his lap, and used her as a human pillow—she was small enough to fit perfectly.

Megumin stayed obediently seated, showing no reaction.

"Yunyun, why is your face so red?" Megumin finally noticed something was off.

"Eh? I-Is it?"

Yunyun raised a hand to her cheek in fluster. "P-Probably just the heat."

"Heat? In this season—and while it's raining? Highly suspicious." Megumin eyed her doubtfully.

"D-Don't mind me!" Yunyun turned away and changed the subject. "You haven't fully recovered yet—please rest properly."

"Oh? Pushing me to rest so eagerly—because you're dying to share a little world of two with Shichen, right?"

"No, n-not at all…" Yunyun dared not meet her gaze.

"Hmph! Forgetting your friend the moment you see a guy—unforgivable! I won't have it. A 'world of two'? Impossible! You'll have to take me along!"

As she spoke, Megumin grabbed Shichen's hands and wrapped them round her own waist.

Megumin was tiny, her waist absurdly slim—Shichen could almost encircle it with one hand. But why use one hand when two were better? He tightened his hold, hugging her close.

"Uh…" Faced with Megumin's headstrong act, Yunyun looked helplessly at Shichen for rescue.

"What's the problem?" Shichen chuckled. "If Megumin wants to come, we'll bring her. It's not as if we're doing anything improper."

"R-Right…"

"Really?" Megumin still sounded sceptical.

"Come along and see for yourself."

"Hmph! If I come along, you wouldn't dare do anything at all."

"Please. If I wanted to do something, you think I'd be afraid of you watching?"

"…Eh?" Megumin was at a loss, and Yunyun's eyes went wide—did that mean he'd even kiss her in front of Megumin?

"Why so shocked?" Megumin frowned.

"It's n-nothing…"

"Suspicious! You two definitely did something behind my back yesterday—out with it!"

"We did nothing."

"I've decided! I'm sticking with you. Even if you try anything, with me there you can't. I'll stop you!"

"—"

"I told you, there really isn't anything. And if I feel like doing something, I'll do it even with you watching."

"I almost believed that."

"Then just come along."

…

That afternoon Shichen took Megumin and Yunyun out on a quest again.

With his own strength alone he could handle almost anything, but he refused to carry the party—missions had to match Yunyun's current level.

Two high-paying quests were posted: one to subjugate a griffon and one a manticore. The two monsters were fighting over territory and causing a commotion, but they were still beyond Yunyun, so Shichen passed.

He could support and make it feasible, but he disliked forcing growth. There was no hurry to become stronger in this world; he preferred to enjoy life leisurely.

He wasn't even keen on defeating the Demon King—after all, the fellow hadn't wrought much havoc, so it made little difference. Leave him be and one day he could bring other companions to experience a Demon King raid. An isekai without a Demon King felt incomplete; he certainly didn't want to play the part himself. Neither Aqua nor Megumin motivated him to launch a crusade, and thanks to his interference Kazuma probably wouldn't defeat the Demon King either. Besides, under normal circumstances no more people would be sent here.

In the end he chose a lizard runner extermination mission.

Lizard runners, comparable in threat to giant frogs, swarmed the outskirts each breeding season, disrupting merchant traffic. Slightly smaller than the giant frogs, they looked like oversized lizards, cheek-flaps spread like gills, sprinting on their hind legs, bodies mostly crimson—a sight that provoked the urge to kill.

Reaching the fields outside town and spotting the creatures, Shichen immediately unleashed magic.

Yunyun joined in; their appearance gave her mild nausea.

Megumin, able to do nothing else, clung to Shichen's back and watched them bombard the lizard runners.

"Lightning!"

"Fireball!"

Bolts and fireballs alternated; the lizard runners dropped before they could even break into a run.

"Not bad, not bad—Yunyun, you're getting better and better," Megumin said approvingly once the last monster fell.

"I don't need your praise!" Yunyun huffed.

"Heh-heh." Megumin didn't mind. "Though you're still far behind me."

"Not necessarily." Shichen grinned. "Yunyun will soon be able to learn advanced magic—then she'll catch up."

"What?" Megumin froze. "You levelled that fast? What happened—what did you two do yesterday?"

"Forgot all those Giant Toads you mostly wiped out? And she helped a lot on the way here."

"Ugh! I'm actually about to be caught up!"

"What's wrong with that?" Yunyun laughed.

"It won't do—people will think you're not under my command."

"I was never your underling!"

"Don't be shy."

"I'm not shy! You're shameless!"

"What? Yunyun actually scolded me? Shichen—did you teach her that?"

…"You two get along so well," Shichen sighed, ignoring them. "Time to head back and report in."

"So soon? Aren't you two going to… do something?"

"Megumin, what are you talking about? We'd never!" Yunyun denied loudly, but couldn't resist glancing at Shichen.

Shichen nodded with a smile. "There really wasn't anything."

"I almost believed that," Megumin muttered.

"Well, nothing to be done."

…

Back at the guild Shichen reported to Luna. After she verified their adventurer cards, they collected the reward.

But he didn't hurry to leave.

"Luna-san, are there any easy quests left?"

"Shichen-san—call me Luna, please. Are you in desperate need of quests?" she asked curiously.

"Yunyun is close to learning advanced magic; she needs to level up quickly."

"Is that so? Congratulations, Yunyun-san."

"No, no—I haven't learned it yet," Yunyun said shyly.

"So, any good quests?" Shichen pressed.

"There's no need to rush," Luna replied with a gentle smile. "You've just arrived, so perhaps you don't know: besides hordes of Giant Toads, Axel has another seasonal specialty."

"A specialty?"

"Yes—the Cabbage Harvest Season."

~~~

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