Legend of the Crimson Demon

"Pay compensation!"

"No."

Cecily was like a stubborn mule who didn't fear boiling water. She flat-out refused to pay back the money, claiming she'd never repay it in this life. Instead, she offered to make it up by being Zunzun's lover—and expected him to write off the debt.

As if that could ever fly!

Somebody—please—wake her up!

In the end, it was Zesta who stepped in, promising to take responsibility. Though he couldn't conjure up the money, he offered other forms of compensation.

For example, the Axis Church could reimburse him for future hot spring fees, or only Axis priests would be allowed to bathe at the source of the hot springs… and so on.

Zunzun didn't care much about any of that—until Cecily mentioned that bathing at the spring source was great for the skin and had beauty benefits. Megumin and Yunyun immediately perked up.

Of course—they're girls. Beauty is everything, just like Soketto.

Wait, Soketto?

When Zunzun asked if his family or companions could enjoy the same privilege, Zesta said no problem. More than 300 Crimson Demon Clan members already had preferential access.

Zunzun suddenly forgave Cecily. Who says villagers aren't family?

Then Cecily declared her apology would be to let them all bathe together—groups of four. Naturally, that meant her, Zunzun, Yunyun, and Megumin.

Zesta pointed at herself. "What about me?"

Yunyun waved her hand nervously. "Uh… mixed bathing… not good?"

"Oh, why are you so shy?"

Cecily hugged Yunyun tightly and rubbed her playfully, then looked at Megumin. "It's just a bath together, no big deal, right?"

"Well… I already bathed with Zunzun a long time ago."

"Oh, so bold!" Cecily's eyes gleamed.

"Megumin!?" Yunyun said anxiously, "That was when we were kids! And…"

"So what?"

Megumin shot back, staring down Yunyun.

She'd heard last night that Yunyun and Zunzun stayed in the same room at the hot spring hotel, which gave her a weird feeling of crisis.

"Or are you scared, Yunyun?"

"I-I…"

After struggling, Yunyun blushed fiercely and stammered, "W-we're already that kind of relationship!"

"Huh? What kind of relationship?"

"We're just bathing together! That's a hurdle to overcome! Okay, I'll try my best!"

"So what is your relationship? Explain it!"

After Megumin teased her, Yunyun suddenly looked flustered.

Zunzun pointed at himself, just like Zesta used to, silently asking, "What about me?"

Obviously, in this battle of words fanned by Cecily, Zunzun had no chance to get a word in.

…

Behind Arcanletia, the hot spring source was guarded territory—normally off-limits to outsiders. But Cecily, as a beautiful Axis priestess, easily led them inside.

The four of them soaked in a small circular pool—about two meters wide—carved out by explosion magic.

To be honest, it was a bit crowded.

"Well… bliss!"

Megumin lay on the edge, her face radiating pure contentment. The hot spring source was everything she'd hoped for.

Yunyun blushed and curled into a corner, still shy. Though excited before, she was immediately embarrassed after calming down.

As for Cecily and Zunzun…

She was smearing her super-sized agar slime on her chest against Zunzun's face.

"Come on, don't be sad! Big sister knows she was wrong. This is my apology! Come on, sister will feed you!"

This guy always wanted to pull a cart with a small horse!

"Let go! Stay away from me!"

Zunzun pushed her fair, tender shoulders. Even with the cherry-flavored agar slime wobbling before his eyes, he had zero interest.

People don't get ideas about idiots, just like they don't get ideas about monkeys…

Come on, someone get me that person who said "good-looking, it's not impossible!"

Megumin, lounging beside the spring, said lazily, "You two, stop making noise and observe hot spring etiquette."

"Uh…"

Both looked at her simultaneously.

Her gaze was piercing, so Megumin looked away and said, "Say whatever you want."

"That… Megumin, you obviously have a groove on your back, but your chest is totally flat."

Cecily said this without thinking.

Megumin's eyes flashed, and she muttered the explosion magic chant: "Looking for trouble? Fine! I accept! The Crimson Demons respond to any trouble!"

"Wait, wait! Big sister was wrong! Don't be impulsive!"

"Megumin, don't mess around!"

"Stop it!"

All three grabbed her to stop the fuss.

After the commotion, Cecily leaned over Yunyun and Megumin with her broad chest, clearly enjoying herself.

Is she secretly a middle-aged uncle?

Cecily said, "Zunzun, let me join you too. Big sister can be a lover! Then lovely Megumin and Yunyun will be mine!"

"I don't want that."

She had calculated well, but Zunzun flatly refused.

Cecily laughed. "As expected, rejected. By the way, I want to go on adventures too, but where are my companions… ahem?"

She sighed, clearly frustrated.

This guy is hopeless.

Suddenly, Megumin said, "Let Zunzun tell your fortune."

"Fortune?"

"Yes! Zunzun's fortune telling is powerful—almost like his sister's. Oh, I forgot to mention, Zunzun's sister is the Crimson Demon Clan's best fortune teller."

"Huh?"

Cecily looked at Zunzun surprised.

When Zesta was released, they knew it was thanks to a letter sent by Zunzun's sister—the god-level fortune teller of the Crimson Demon Village—that it was taken seriously.

"Zunzun…"

"I'll help you tell your fortune."

"Thank you!"

Cecily hugged him.

Truth be told, Zunzun didn't really know fortune telling—his sister had all the talent. But to stop the awkwardness, he stared at the night sky and faked it.

What should I say? Would this be too cruel?

No, no, no! I'd rather die than see a friend suffer!

"You will become companions with a hero someday. He's powerful and handsome. His name… yes, Kyouya, the magic sword hero."

After saying this, Cecily's face looked strange.

"What's wrong? Dissatisfied? He's a righteous hero and a handsome man you like. If you miss him, you'll regret it forever."

"No, no… I met him but scared him away. I think I missed my chance."

"…Hey!"

Looks like even Mitsurugi couldn't stand her, despite admiring the silly goddess Aqua so much.

Cecily suddenly stood up and shouted, "You're going to Axel next, right? Big sister has decided to work hard and try to transfer there too!"

"Aren't you still pestering me!"

Zunzun collapsed, groaning.

-End Chapter-

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