Legend of the Crimson Demon

Time flew like quicksand slipping through fingers. No matter how hard you tried to hold it, it slipped away.

In leisurely days filled with eating, drinking, playing, and enjoying a wonderful childhood with the little girls, Zunzun was now 12 years old.

12 years!

Do you know how I spent those 12 years? Do you!?

Looking back, my childhood was very happy, like soaking in a honey pot.

But just as crops break out from the soil, he had to leave childhood and enter adolescence—whether he liked it or not—and join the only school in the Crimson Devil Village.

—Crimson Prison.

It's neither crimson nor a prison.

It's just an ordinary elementary school.

At the right age, children in the Crimson Demon Village enter this school to learn general knowledge and receive training for the prestigious magician profession called Arch Wizard. Then they begin practicing magic.

Crimson Demons, born with high intelligence and magical power, usually stay in school practicing magic until they graduate.

Here, learning magic means graduation.

Depending on which magic you want to learn, you need different amounts of skill points. The more powerful the magic, the more skill points required.

Advanced magic is the coveted skill for all magicians. Once learned, you can wield powerful magic and gain status as a capable adult in the Crimson Demon Village.

For example, Soketto learned the advanced magic Purgatory Flame two years ago and graduated first in her class.

Zunzun wanted to follow her footsteps and graduate top of his class!

I thought life would be as smooth as the first half—but I met my rival.

"Zunzun, why are you here?"

Megumin held the wizard hat Zunzun gave her two years ago, her red eyes wary as if guarding against the handsome boy looming over her by a head.

Zunzun's lips curled with a faint, arrogant smile.

"Do you care that I'm here?"

"Damn it! You chased me here… You bit me so hard! But I won't give up! Just watch—I'll learn the ultimate magic, Explosion Magic, and defeat you!"

"Hehe, I'll wait. But not many can learn Explosion Magic. Can you?"

The two faced off at the school gate.

Seeing this, Yunyun said, "Megumin, what are you talking about? Zunzun is 12 like us. It's normal for him to be here."

"Yunyun, you're such a freak."

"Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Megumin frowned, but Yunyun didn't understand what she said wrong. Even now, she didn't get the Crimson Demon Clan's "second-year syndrome."

"Megumin, you haven't forgotten our bet yesterday, right?"

"See whose adventurer card has higher value? Humph, of course not!"

The first step in becoming a student wasn't the opening ceremony, but opening your adventurer card and choosing a career.

Yesterday, full of anticipation and anxiety, the three had talked about entering school and their card values.

In "Konosuba," profession choice depends on literacy. If your literacy meets the standard, you choose that profession. If not, you pick a lower-level profession. If none meet the standard, you default to beginner adventurer.

"Yunyun, come. Let's bet today's lunch. If I lose, I'll massage your shoulders and legs. Don't chicken out—you're the daughter of a noble clan leader. Afraid to lose?"

"Don't always provoke me! Fine, fine! I won't lose!"

Though Yunyun knew it was provocation, she agreed.

They arrived at the school gymnasium.

Here they opened their adventurer cards, then held the opening ceremony.

"Surprisingly, not many people here."

"It's a small village."

About 20 students gathered in the gym, with a near 1:1 male-female ratio. Even with the clan leader boasting of a bumper harvest, the numbers were low.

"Next."

Seeing the empty spot in front, Zunzun stepped forward and opened his occupation card on the strange instrument.

Light flickered for a while before fading.

Outside, that would shock others—but it was normal in the Crimson Demon Village. Still, Zunzun noticed it took a bit longer than others.

"You… your magic power is huge. I haven't seen such magic power for a long time. A bit stronger than the little girl earlier."

Even the teacher measuring his stats was impressed.

After getting his card, Zunzun found he could choose not only Arch Wizard, but nearly all high-level professions—Crusader, Sword Master, High Priest, Fighting Master, and more. That was the gift of a godly body.

But he casually chose Arch Wizard.

No other reason: the Crimson Demon Village rules said if you don't choose Arch Wizard, you can't enter school or enjoy benefits.

And the benefits are many.

Meal allowances, transport, access to expensive labs, teachers ready to answer questions anytime—the educational resources were enviable.

Here, a bottle of skill point potion worth tens of millions outside could be easily obtained with good performance.

Speaking of skill points...

Zunzun looked at his adventurer card. It showed level one and 30 skill points.

30?

He blinked.

Basic magic needed 5 skill points, intermediate 10, advanced 30, and Explosion Magic 50!

That meant he could learn advanced magic and graduate immediately.

No, that'd be too dumb.

As said before, learning magic means graduation. But if you don't learn any, you're useless.

For example, Megumin earned 50 skill points and learned Explosion Magic before graduating.

Who wouldn't want that?

But 30 skill points…

Compared to the stupid goddess Aqua, who chose High Priest and still had leftover skill points to learn talents…

I'm still far behind.

"Yunyun! Let's compare values!"

Little loli Megumin held her lunch box proudly and strode forward, with Yunyun trailing behind.

No doubt Megumin would win.

"Obviously, in strength, stamina, and agility, I'm better. But Megumin says if her magic power is higher, she wins."

Yunyun wiped her eyes.

"Megumin, you really have no advantages except magic."

Zunzun glanced at Megumin's chest.

She ate full meals, yet her chest was flat and pitiful.

The little loli's eyes flashed dangerously.

"What do you want to say? Speak up! If you want to criticize, I accept! Crimson Demons respond to all challenges!"

"I don't want to. But if you want to compare numbers, here we go."

Zunzun pulled down the little loli climbing on him and showed her his adventurer card.

"Humph, you'll definitely lose! My teacher says my magic power is the strongest he's ever seen!"

"Only until he met me."

"What?!"

After comparing stats, the little loli was stunned.

If this were a game panel, she had an A in magic, but the lowest scores in strength, stamina, agility, and endurance. Only luck was average.

Zunzun had a real 6A panel!

"Wow, amazing."

Yunyun gasped.

Zunzun looked at the dumbfounded little loli and laughed.

"—Life is so easy!"

-End Chapter-

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