[ Regarding the Headless UndeadKnight's warning, Megumin refused without hesitation, her face serious: "No way. A Crimson Demon will die if they don't use Explosion Magic once a day!"
The Headless UndeadKnight was nearly going mad. He had never heard of anything so ridiculous: "Don't just casually lie! Are you absolutely determined to use Explosion Magic?"
Seeing Megumin nod, the Headless UndeadKnight emitted a dangerous aura: "Although I have fallen deep into the demonic path, I was originally a knight. I have no interest in slaying the weak... BUT...!!"
The head tucked under his left arm revealed a scarlet gaze, looking toward Megumin.
Megumin, who knew deep down that teammates were meant to be sold out, displayed an arrogant smile: "Hmph... this is the only time you'll have the confidence. Sensei, I'm counting on you!"
Megumin pointed at Aqua, unhesitatingly dumping the entire situation onto the latter.
"Guess I have no choice."
Aqua, who was called Sensei, looked quite pleased and rushed confidently toward the Headless UndeadKnight: "I don't care what Demon King Army General you are, choosing to pick a fight when I'm present means your luck is terrible!" ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Seriously... is she insane? The guy wasn't even planning to pursue this and was about to leave, yet you pull this stunt. 'If you don't kill me, you won't be allowed to leave,' is that it?!"
Everyone was dumbfounded. Although they knew Kazuma's party had no normal members, they never expected their insanity to be this extreme.
Why provoke the guy at a time like this?!
Moreover, only the slightly dim-witted Aqua would fall for this kind of excessive flattery!
.....
〜KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World〜
The villagers of the Crimson Demon village were all very confused at this moment.
"Eh, eh... do we really have a disease where we die if we don't use Explosion Magic once a day?!"
Fortunately, they weren't normal people either. With their unique thought processes and advanced stages of chuunibyou, the villagers universally declared that what Megumin had just said was completely correct!
Meanwhile, in the Adventurer's Guild, facing the red-glowing stares cast by the surrounding adventurers, except for Darkness, who looked utterly blissful—
Megumin and Kazuma sat on their chairs, not daring to lift their heads, constantly breaking out in cold sweat, looking guilty as sin.
"Hey, kid... if I remember correctly, you're the party leader, right?"
A burly man with a gloomy face patted Kazuma's shoulder...
Kazuma shivered, then stammered.
"Y-y-yes... I think so....?!"
"Then you better keep an eye on this little girl who has some lost screw in her head. Otherwise..."
Saying this, the burly man clenched his fist, letting out a sharp cracking sound.
"I'll let you know what an explosive fist feels like!"
.....
[ Seeing Aqua appear, the Headless Undead Knight was somewhat surprised, but still didn't take her seriously: "Oh?! Is this a High Priest?"
"No matter what, I am one of the Demon King Army's Generals. I haven't fallen so low that I would be purified by a High Priest residing in a low-level town like this!"
"For now, let the Crimson Demon girl suffer!"
The Headless Undead Knight acted first while Aqua was preparing her chant. He extended a finger, filled with the aura of death and curses, aimed at Megumin: "Declare your death! You shall die one week from now!"
"Ah...!!" At the exact moment the Headless Undead Knight cast the curse, Darkness shielded them, her body emitting black light.
"For you adventurers who possess such a strong sense of camaraderie, this method is far more effective!"
"Crimson Demon girl, that knight will die in one week, and it is all your fault. For the next week, take a good look at your comrade's suffering, and regret your actions!"
"Hehehe, wouldn't it have been easier just to do exactly as I said?"
The Headless Undead Knight's smug words made Megumin's face turn impossibly pale. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Death Sentence—this HeadlessUndead Knight seems pretty strong. A curse that can declare someone's immediate death is no simple thing."
"Honestly, I really think the knight is right. They truly brought this upon themselves!"
Even though the opponent was the villain, for some reason, everyone felt that the HeadlessUndead Knight's actions were perfectly justified, receiving their unanimous agreement. This was incredibly awkward...
.....
〜Type-Moon World, Carnival Phantasm Worldline〜
This strange feeling made Illya pause:
"Mr. HeadlessUndead Knight seems to have done nothing wrong. After all, they were the ones who provoked him first, and they kept relentlessly pestering him..."
That's exactly right. The guy wasn't planning on pursuing it, only giving a verbal warning... but Megumin insisted on causing trouble, even claiming she had a disease where she'd die if she didn't cast Explosion Magic once a day.
What else could such an obvious lie be but looking for a fight? And even if what Megumin said was true, couldn't she cast Explosion Magic somewhere else? Why insist on slamming it into his castle?
Tohsaka Rin also agreed with Illya's assessment:
"The HeadlessUndead Knight only asked them not to cast Explosion Magic near his castle. That doesn't seem like an unreasonable request..."
Ultimately, all of this was Megumin's own doing, setting up her teammates.
.....
[ Darkness, knowing she was cursed, stood up, trembling as if suppressing something: "So you cast a Death Curse on me?! If I want the curse lifted, I have to obey you?!"
The Headless Undead Knight, who had been about to leave, turned around, looking confused: "Eh?!"
"A mere curse... I won't submit... Although I won't submit..." Darkness suddenly became excited and turned her head toward Kazuma: "W-what should I do... that lewd look beneath the Headless Undead Knight's helmet!"
The Headless Undead Knight, who had suddenly been called a pervert, continuously broke out in cold sweat: "Eh..."
"That's the look of a pervert who plans to take me back to his castle, demanding I obey him to lift the curse, forcing me into insane perverted play!"
Hearing Darkness's description, the surrounding female adventurers hugged themselves fearfully.
Darkness's face was flushed red, and she continued, panting heavily: "Even if you can do whatever you want with my body, don't think you can steal my heart! A female knight imprisoned in a castle, subjected to unreasonable demands by the Demon King's subordinate..."
"What should I do, Kazuma!" Darkness grew more excited as she spoke, then eagerly headed toward the Headless Undead Knight: "Although I don't want to leave, I have no choice. I will resist until the very end! Please do not interfere with me."
"Eeeh...!!" This sight terrified the Headless Undead Knight, causing his voice to crack: "A-anyway, you are forbidden from casting Explosion Magic at my castle! And if you want to lift the Death Curse, Crimson Demon girl, just come to my castle!"
"If you can make it all the way to my castle, I will lift that curse, but... can you really fight your way to me? Hahaha..."
The Headless Undead Knight left the area laughing like that. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Hahahaha, the HeadlessUndead Knight was completely terrified! They're both knights, but I never expected Darkness to be so depraved. Even I, a pervert, think she's a pervert."
"That's absolutely hilarious! Darkness's monologue forced the HeadlessUndead Knight into becoming an unforgivable, massive pervert. She completely bewildered him!"
Everyone remarked that their eyes had truly been opened. They never expected Darkness, this seemingly harmless beauty, to be so knowledgeable!
'Although I don't want to leave...' Darkness's words and her actions were completely contradictory!
Her lips were practically twitching upwards. If Kazuma hadn't held Darkness back, she would have eagerly rushed over there already!
.....
〜That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime World〜
Seeing this scene, Rimuru stood still, looking utterly bewildered:
"...The HeadlessUndead Knight... is practically overflowing with resentment!"
He hadn't fought anyone, just stayed home, getting hit by Explosion Magic every day. He wanted to just endure it, but when he gave a warning, the other party took an inch for every mile.
Now it was even worse. Thanks to Darkness's depraved speech, the HeadlessUndead Knight now had to bear fabricated charges, and the title of pervert would likely stick forever...
.....
[ Seeing the Headless Undead Knight leave, Megumin, whose face was ashen and body trembling, tightly gripped the staff in her hand and walked silently toward the edge of town.
Kazuma grabbed Megumin and her cloak, sighing. After all, he shared some responsibility for this: "Of course I'm going too. If you go alone, you'll use your magic on some small fry, and then it'll be over, right?"
Perhaps because she heard Kazuma's suggestion, Megumin's expression gradually brightened.
Kazuma and Megumin turned to look at Darkness: "We will definitely find a way to lift your curse, so... you can rest assured..."
Just as the three were still comforting each other, Aqua's magic chant interrupted their conversation!
"SACRED BREAK SPELL—!!"
A rainbow-colored light emitted from the staff, reaching Darkness, and her expression became saintly.
A skull head phantom was pulled out of Darkness' body, crying, by two small angels.
Aqua looked proud: "With me here, lifting the Headless UndeadKnight's curse is as easy as pie!"
Megumin and Kazuma, who had just made a big decision, were stunned. ]
[ .....]
〜Projection of All Worlds〜
"Hahaha, Aqua, who doesn't have the ability to blow things up, said that you three were whispering about something..."
"Although Aqua is a fool, she's still a goddess, her skills are overpowered!"
Everyone watched this scene, their lips twitching... this was not following the routine!
Normally, the remaining team members would try to lift Darkness' curse and then start to challenge the castle, fighting the HeadlessUndead Knight.
Then, they would level up, shouting about friendship and bonds, and finally win in the end.
But now, they hadn't even taken a few steps, and the curse was already lifted... it was too easy!
.....