Legend of the Crimson Demon

Fight him off? Not really. After the superior demon Hoster flew away, Zunzun didn't bother chasing him.

The more urgent task was to find Komekko.

Besides, Hoster had made it clear—he wouldn't hurt a Crimson Demon. Something about Komekko not 

wanting to play with him if he did.

How embarrassing to be blackmailed by a little loli.

Zunzun continued running through the forbidden area.

Let it be known: the Crimson Demon Village's forbidden zone is huge.

Why? Because it contains the Evil God's tomb, an observation tower, a magic altar, and the Technology Prohibition Warehouse. In fact, the forbidden zone covers more ground than the actual village itself—at a rough 3:2 ratio.

Zunzun was currently near the altar, close to the field he'd personally reclaimed.

Since Megumin and Yunyun were busy with school, the job of tending the crops had gone to Komekko. She often came here to play.

But she wasn't here now.

So where—

BOOM!!

An explosion erupted deeper in the forbidden zone. The ground trembled, and flames shot into the sky.

Was that... Yunyun's magic!?

Zunzun's heart skipped a beat. He told them not to wander! Why the hell were they here!?

He turned and sprinted toward the blast.

Moments later, Zunzun spotted Komekko standing in the middle of a dirt path, gazing up at the lightning and fire dancing across the sky.

There wasn't even a trace of fear in her eyes.

In fact, she was clapping excitedly.

"Komekko?!"

"Sister Zunzun!"

"No, it's brother!"

Zunzun dashed to her side and checked for injuries. Aside from some dirt on her clothes, she was totally unharmed.

He sighed in relief. "What are you doing here?"

"I came out to play!"

She said it with a kind of righteous innocence that made it hard to scold her.

Ordinary kids go home when there's thunder and lightning. Crimson Demon kids? They stand in the storm, strike a pose, and yell things like "Split the heavens with thunder!!"

"Besides," Komekko added, "my sister's here too!"

"Megumin..."

Zunzun went quiet. He could sense Yunyun's magic—so he could already guess what happened.

"Sis said she was gonna help me get Chomusuke back, so she ran off."

"...Really? That's... that's a good sister."

"Yup! A great sister!"

Komekko beamed with pride.

Zunzun smiled, rubbing her head. "Alright, in that case—your brother will go bring your sister back!"

"Really!? But... it looks really dangerous."

"Hah! Who do you think I am?"

He struck a dramatic pose—left fingers pointed to the ground, right fingers to the sky.

"I am the goddess's chosen warrior! The vessel of divine power! The pride of the new generation of Crimson Demons! The one destined to be the strongest of all time! I am—THE ONE AND ONLY!"

"Wooooaaaah! So coooool!!"

The fire and lightning flashing behind him perfectly matched the moment. Komekko clapped like she was watching a stage play.

"Komekko, stay here—"

"I want to come too!"

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes! Even if Sis's next battle isn't as cool, I want to see her! I want to cheer her on!"

She clenched her fists with fiery determination.

Zunzun grinned.

Yep, definitely a Crimson Demon.

She's going to be someone when she grows up.

"Alright! Let's go together!"

He hoisted Komekko onto his shoulders and charged toward the flames and thunder bursting ahead.

Meanwhile—

Megumin was yelling toward a certain figure unleashing spell after spell.

"Yunyun! I'll help you!"

"Wait, why are you here?! Didn't you run off!?" Yunyun didn't even look back as she kept firing spells at the monsters dropping from the sky.

"Hmph! Like I'd ever owe a favor to my so-called rival by running away!"

"You're the one who called me a rival in the first place! Besides, I've already learned real magic—unlike you, Miss Fake Magician Yunyun!"

"Fake!? I'm an intermediate magician!"

"'Intermediate magician' sounds like a fancy way of saying dead weight. Don't call yourself that!"

While they bickered, a monster leapt at Yunyun from behind.

But she'd never let her guard down in a fight. Grabbing Chomusuke at her feet, she rolled aside—and flung the dagger from her belt in the same motion.

Whether by skill or sheer luck, the blade pierced the monster's throat.

Pffft—!

The beast deflated like a popped balloon, grabbed its neck... then evaporated into black smoke.

More monsters glided down.

Megumin stepped up beside Yunyun.

"Looks like you're in trouble, Intermediate Magician Yunyun! Don't worry—soon-to-be Senior Magician Megumin is here to help!"

"Wait, what?! That's not how promotions work! You think I learned intermediate magic just for fun!?"

Yunyun extended her hand toward the descending enemies.

Megumin was still rambling.

"From today forward, I'll officially recognize you as my rival! And just because you're graduating first doesn't mean I'll let you win! I'm going to—!"

"Fireball!"

Before Megumin could finish, Yunyun cast her spell.

The fireball—charged with every last drop of her magic—exploded in the center of the horde.

BOOM!!

The shockwave shook the trees. Seven monsters were instantly vaporized in the blaze.

It was massive—far beyond the scale of normal intermediate magic.

Exhausted, Yunyun fell to her knees. Megumin rushed to her.

"I did it…" Yunyun flashed a triumphant smile, pale from mana depletion.

"Hah... Guess that means... Megumin doesn't need advanced magic after all..."

But just as Megumin opened her mouth to argue—

More monsters filled the sky.

Endless. Relentless.

Yunyun felt despair rise.

But Megumin stood tall, eyes glowing a fierce crimson, body trembling not from fear—but from anticipation.

"W-Wait... Megumin?"

"Don't worry, Yunyun. These shrimp soldiers and crab generals—I'll wipe them out!"

"Megumin, are you gonna... learn advanced magic!? What about Explosion Magic!? You always said how much you loved it—!"

"Hah. A genius like me can handle this no problem! I'll rack up 30 skill points in no time and learn Explosion Magic after I crush these guys!"

That's right.

Whether it takes years or decades...

She will learn Explosion Magic!

Megumin opened her adventurer card and moved her trembling finger toward the advanced magic column.

To be honest, she wasn't ready.

She was still short one skill point.

Yesterday, she was short four. She got two from that Farfetch'd. One more from the teacher's reward after the braised duck incident.

So close.

Yet so far.

Still—there was no other way to protect Yunyun now.

Her eyes filled with resolve.

She was just about to select the skill when—

Thunk!

Something bonked off her oversized magician's hat and landed in her arms.

"A bottle?"

She looked down in disbelief.

From the distance—

Zunzun stood proudly, fist raised.

"For me! For us! Megumin—use your Explosion Magic!"

"Go for it, Sis!!" Komekko yelled from his shoulders.

"Hahaha...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA—!"

Megumin cracked.

Laughter turned to hysteria as she uncorked the bottle and chugged it.

Power surged.

The surrounding trees tilted. The air distorted. Electricity crackled in the air.

"Amazing! She's discharging electricity! Crackle crackle!"

"Komekko," Zunzun whispered, "watch closely. This is your sister's most glorious moment yet."

Magic continued building.

Static danced around her. The world itself rippled. Her body couldn't contain all the power. A massive portion leaked out, causing physical interference.

Then—

A colossal magic circle bloomed in the sky, wide enough to cover the entire enemy horde.

Chanting echoed.

Zunzun whispered along:

"This is the flame of origin... and the flame of the end.

It is forbidden magic spanning past, present, and future.

Flame, I am the destroyer.

Cold-blooded. Ruthless.

With my flesh and my blood,

I break the commandments of the ancient gods!

—Explosion!!"

Light lanced downward.

A beat later—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A nuclear sunrise lit up the world.

The heavens shook.

The monsters screamed—then vanished.

And in the night sky, an explosion bloomed like the most magnificent firework of all time.

-End Chapter-

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