Legend of the Crimson Demon

While bathing in the hot spring, Cecily kept teasing Zunzun, and the oversized agar slime kept rubbing against his face.

Maybe the over-the-top antics annoyed Megumin, because she suddenly unleashed explosion magic, blowing a huge hole in the hot spring pool on the mountain behind the town.

"Big sister! I'll help you expand the hot spring a bit—no, wait, thanks!"

"Oh… oh…" Cecily froze, swallowing hard. "Megumin, sometimes you're really scary."

Indeed.

Those glowing red eyes were definitely intimidating.

That night, the three stayed at the Axis headquarters. Megumin was lying in the next room, Yunyun in the one across the hall. Cecily tried to sneak into Zunzun's room, but he caught her and shoved her into a corner.

The next morning, they had to catch the earliest carriage to Axel.

There was a reason for the rush.

Think about it carefully.

They'd only been in Arcanletia three days since leaving the Crimson Devil Village. Arnes—the upper-level devil who had her eyes on Chomosuke, Megumin's cat—was probably still wandering the village.

It would take Arnes several days to arrive here, but by then, they'd be gone and already headed for Axel.

Disasters always seemed one step behind them.

As for Arnes chasing them to Axel… well, sure, the upper-level devil was strong. But what could she do against the stupid goddess Aqua? Who'd suffer then?

Zesta and the others saw them off at the Arcanletia caravan station. The Axis Cult kindly covered the carriage fare for the three.

Zunzun and Cecily kept tussling—well, Zunzun was trying to pry Cecily off him. That girl actually wanted to go with him.

Zesta thanked Megumin for blowing up the hole in the mountain last night. Because of it, the Axis Cult could arrange a mixed bath for its members, although his secretary Cecily had declared she'd never allow such a thing.

Zesta scratched his head helplessly.

"Forget it. Anyway, that open-air bath is the Axis Church's secret hot spring. If you ever come back, please stop by. And by the way, the previous promise applies to Miss Megumin, too."

"Okay! If I make friends and travel, this will be the first stop," Megumin smiled.

"I look forward to that. When that day comes, I'll show Miss Megumin how powerful we can be when serious. I'll fill every pocket of yours with Axis Church membership applications."

That declaration was a headache.

Then Cecily reluctantly handed Megumin a heavy bag—apparently a farewell gift.

Megumin looked apologetic. "I didn't do anything big, so I can't accept such a thing…"

"It's fine. This will definitely come in handy. Just accept it. Why are you being so polite to adults when you're a child?" Cecily forced the bag into Megumin's arms.

Megumin eagerly opened the bag—and saw it was stuffed full of Axis Church application forms. She angrily threw the whole stack at Cecily.

"Ow! Megumin, that hurts!" Cecily rubbed her reddened nose.

Then Cecily came over to Zunzun, looking like she wanted to give him a farewell gift, too.

"I'll warn you—if it's trash, forget it."

"How could you treat such precious application forms as trash? These are my big sister's treasures!"

Cecily hugged Zunzun, clearly up to something again. Megumin and Yunyun screamed, but she soon let go.

At the same time, a necklace appeared before Zunzun's chest.

"This is…"

"A gift. Keep it safe."

The light blue crystal necklace was simple but held immense magic power.

Crimson Demons were naturally attuned to magic, so Zunzun immediately sensed its strength. Yet he had never seen a magic item with so much power—even in the Crimson Demon Village, known for magic tools.

"No, it's too valuable."

"Don't overthink it. The necklace only contains magic that helps me find you. So don't lose it."

Suddenly, Zunzun felt conflicted—he didn't want this gift anymore.

Cecily suddenly grinned, "Why, do you feel guilty?"

"How is that possible?"

"Again—by the way… Zunzun, have you kissed them?"

"…What?"

Before he could react, a fragrant breeze hit his face—Cecily suddenly lunged and kissed him. Though he turned his head just in time, his mouth was still caught.

"Ah!" Megumin and Yunyun screamed.

Cecily beamed proudly, "Your first kiss wasn't with them, but with me, Cecily!"

"You're really…!"

"Too much, Miss Cecily!"

Megumin and Yunyun punched and kicked Cecily, while Zunzun searched for muddy water to hide in—unfortunately, Arcanletia was known as the City of Water, with no dirty puddles to be found.

After a while of bickering—

"Passengers, are you ready? The carriage to Axel is about to depart!" the station master called.

Time to leave.

Just then, Zesta grabbed Zunzun's hand and smiled. "Mr. Zunzun, you and Miss Megumin helped us a lot. Thank you. I've memorized the prophecy from the Crimson Devil Village's fortune teller, and we will stay vigilant against the Demon King's invasion."

"No, I didn't do much—except get you arrested," Zunzun waved his hand dismissively.

Though Zesta could do many things, he was reliable when serious. Maybe Zunzun had unfairly judged him.

"The carriage to Axel is leaving! Hurry!"

The station master shouted again.

"Mr. Zesta, we're leaving… Mr. Zesta!?"

Zunzun pulled his hand away—but it wouldn't budge. Finally, blushing, he yanked it free.

Let's be honest—Zesta was a real pervert.

Zunzun jumped into the carriage as if escaping for his life.

As the carriage rolled away, the three waved goodbye until Arcanletia disappeared behind them.

Zesta stared after them, then suddenly covered his cheeks with both hands and sighed deeply. A satisfied smile spread across his face—one so perverted even Cecily thought it was creepy.

"Master Zesta…"

"Cecily, do you think the goddess could be a boy?"

"…Are you crazy? She's the goddess. How could she be a boy?"

If only Cecily and the others knew the latest version—they might think twice.

"But…"

Zesta sniffed his palm again, as if confirming something.

Cecily blinked, stunned.

"Master Zesta, you mean… no wonder you've been so excited lately."

"That's just because you ate too much agar slime."

Zesta straightened his clothes. "Cecily, I want to confirm something. You come with me."

"Okay, Master Zesta."

The two walked toward the Axis Church headquarters.

-End Chapter-

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