As I approached, I heard a lot of steps, like, A lot A lot. Before me were my friends who were laying on the ground, somehow not charred by the explosion that seemed to happen so close to them.
They were headed towards my friends, but amidst all of it, four people, three dudes and one lady, teleported, stopping the army from going any further.
"May your flesh be consumed by the black flames conjured from the abyss of my heart!" One of the figures say.
"Sleep for eternity in the frozen embrace of my ice!" The other dude said.
"I... shall kill... you all"
"Stand, and perish!" The lady said
So dramatic, let's see if they deliver.
"Light of saber!" x 4
Yep...
The goblin army quickly got demolished as the four strangers did their thing.
They struck a pose, before turning towards us. "We heard the explosion and came as fast as we could... Wait, what are you two doing here?" The dude with the cape asked, looking at Megumin and Yunyun.
"We were told our village was in danger."
They gave one another confused looks.
"Who are these people? Are they your adventuring companions, Megumin?"
She took a second before nodding.
The dude also nodded.
"My name is Bukkororii! Son of the crimson demon's greatest cobbler. I'm an archwizard and wielder of advanced magic!" He introduced himself, striking a pose.
Kazuma went on and introduced himself the way the crimson demons introduce themselves, all while posing.
This impressed the four.
"You are the first outsider who has introduced themselves properly. Hey Megumin - your friends are alright. Our village is quite far away, let us take you." Bukkororii lifted his hand. "Teleport!"
And so we were teleported to the village. Quite nice for them to teleport us, otherwise it's a few hours walking.
The whole atmosphere was nice, but I had an issue, one that goes deeper. I don't feel like I want to be here... Why did I even agree?
I still followed, but my mind wasn't there, It was further away, on a misty cliff, the sound of waves crashing in the invisible rocks beneath. I felt stuck, my mind numb. It will go away... And the blue sky that comes after would be beautiful...
This feels like one of those liminal phases, something great is coming once i'm out of this, I can feel it.
As we got to Yunyun's house, I decided to sit out, materializing Acat and taking a seat.
How did I get myself out of it the first time... I had forgotten - all those valuable lessons, bestowed to me from life. What did i do? What did i do? What did i do...
Truly magnificent - this search, this purpose.
I refuse to fall into sadness, when there are so much lovely things to experience - I shall make the most of my stay here.
I get out of my creation, locking the door's mechanism, before walking away, my friends will find me later, or I could ask around and find out where they have headed, but now - now was the time to live. A magnificent life.
In that moment an alarm, similar to the one in Axel, played these words: "Attention, please assemble at the front gate. One thousand of the Devil king's troops are on the way."
"One thousand... If the crimson demons are as fierce when it comes to magic, then it would be quite the show..." I followed the closest one I could see, and all the way to the frontline.
There were indeed many enemies. But all attempts of attacking the village were futile. I climbed onto a rock, where three other stood, converted the vibrations in the air to keep my hearing intact and formed another artificial life.
I set it free. "Fly, into the middle of their formation, and explode with the power of five explosions. When done, you shall return to me, as I am your rightful creator."
The crimson demons who heard this commands, stopped and looked at me, waiting.
My extension flew slowly, all the assault on the army stopped, they thought we had run out of power, but when they spot the artificial life they stopped. In that moment, it touched the ground, a giant pillar of smoke and dust appeared, and before they knew it - Boom!
Bodies flew, if not, they were evaporated, cooked even. It wasn't a pretty sight, but the glory of this explosion was enough to get the blood pumping of all who laid eyes on it.
The army was demolished, little managed to escape, but in all - I was deemed as someone... 'cool'.
I could see, on the cliffs, my friends watching, everyone was impressed.
"Woah, you have to teach me that."
"I can't, it's my uniqueness in this world. Meaning is might, and might is personal." I said dramatically.
After this I got off and walked away, all unbothered. But within, I was greatly satisfied. Have I gone mad? Maybe a little bit. I looked at my adventurer's card and saw that I went up a level. Don't mind that - there was also an absurdity... my luck stat... it was glitching out. The same effect as when I tried to teach Kazuma Growth.
Perhaps It's my dear's favor... I don't mind it.
I place my document back in my pocket. I met with my friends. "Svetislav! I'm proud of you!" Megumin said enthusiastically. "Did you feel it? The euphoria of destruction."
"I might have felt a glimpse." I replied. "But for now, I'd rather not always use it, even though I am more than capable."
And so we began walking towards Megumin's home.
---
There wasn't much talk going on. The only sound that was being made was out breathing and our footsteps. All until Aqua pointed to a curious little building. "I didn't knew you had a staple."
Megumin, in reply, murmured: "We don't... That's our house."
Greatness comes from struggles... Right?
As we walked to the front porch, Kazuma knocked on the door; he was also carrying Megumin.
Moments later a tiny silhouette appeared through the very slightly see-through material. The door slid open, revealing a little girl, same characteristics as any other crimson demon.
"Hi Komekko. Did you miss me while I was gone?" Megumin asked, her tone, gentle and tired.
The little girl take a deep breath, turned around and yelled, "hey dad, Megumin is back, and she snagged herself a MAN!" before running off.
This was very amusing, why does people usually mistake that Kazuma is in a relationship... Like the old lady, who thought Darkness and him were weds...
We walked in once an adult, who was, presumably, her mom, came to greet us. So now we settled in the living room, quite a big room... With little to no furniture, that is.
I watched as they sat awkwardly... Those who were in this conversation were Kazuma, and Megumin's parents. Meanwhile Aqua was entertaining the kid, by moving a cup around... I suppose the goddess of water - yeah, water - is capable of water bending.
"Boy. What is the nature of your relationship with out daughter?" The dad asked, a serious and unshakable expression on his face.
After a moment, Kazuma replied: "As I told you before - we are just fri-"
The dad grabbed the table, trying to lift it and probably throw it, but the mom stopped him.
After he has calmed down they continued. "Forgive me, I lost my head. But you keep insisting that you are just her friend when that is clearly not the case."
"I brought some treats." Kazuma said, not knowing how else to reply. He grabbed a box from a tied cloth.
Both, Megumin's dad and mom, placed a hand on the box. This grew into a small argument. Komekko also seemed happy, because they will be eating solid food instead of some runny mess.
"Oh, you people, how could you pull such sympathy from me?" I murmured, before pulling a pot out of my astral storage... It's one of my old pots. I placed it on the table. "Sorry to interrupt your... Something. This will be the key to not having to eat runny food. I have no use of it, but you can. Simply place a seed in the soil, and then place your finger on the circle, that has a plus on it. The crop inside will grow within minutes."
Her parents looked at me. "You are a craftsman, then? You make such... convenience?" Her father asked, measuring me with his eyes, before nodding in approval.
"Uh-yes! I mean-Svetislav made it. He's... very capable." Kazuma commented.
"Don't bring me in the conversation. I'm not involved in this." I said, stepping back and sitting back down.
And so the attention was brought back to Kazuma. "As we were saying... You should pay off your debt before you two get married."
"We are just friends!" Kazuma exclaimed.
"Not according to the letters she sent." She replied.
"What has she been telling?!" Kazuma asked.
The two parents looked at one another, before she continued the talk. "Well... for starters she told us that you liked to leave her covered in goo. And when she has used up all her magic, you like to carry her so her breasts press up against you. She also told us that you two take baths together - regularly. And also that you have taught Chomusuke to steal her panties, and that you give her a treat every time she brings you a pair."
Kazuma pushed the table to the side, and slammed his forehead into the ground, apologizing profusely.
"Despite all that, she tells us that you are her best friend. And even though you are a broke pervert with a potty mouth and no brains, she stays by you, because you'd be dead otherwise... If she is willing to stand by you, there must be something special about you." The father explained, his voice softer than before.
Truly beautifully said... Uniqueness... Seen through the reflection of another.
Within, I hoped that those two end up together and live happily ever after.
"Since you and her are in the same party, we will help with your debt as much as we can." The mom said.
"No, it's alright. I'm actually running into some money really soon." Kazuma replied.
"Really? How much exactly?" The father asked.
"About three hundred million eris."
Instantly her parents were in shock.
From that sentence on they treated Kazuma a lot better... Too forced.
While Kazuma went to take a bath, as her parents suggested, I showed Megumin's mom how to use the pot. She quickly understood it and asked how I managed to make it. I told her that it's a complex process that only I can do, and It's unteachable.
She just nodded.
After this I cooked potatoes, Komekko hung around me. "Come." I said, as I confirmed that the potatoes were ready, by pocking them with a fork. I pulled them out of the water, which I quickly cooked by converting it's heat, and placed them onto any ceramic wares that her parents brought to me.
In the end they ate a fine meal. Yes, a bit bland, but they were happy with it anyways.
After this I decided to wrap it up, so I told everyone goodnight and walked out of house.
The chill night air stung, my breath visible with each exhale. It was beautiful, nonetheless.
I called upon Acat. She didn't ride in, but instead she appeared out of thin air. Simple as that.
I got in, took my shoes off and placed them in the little storage compartment I build behind the backseat.
This night I explained to Eris why it's best she doesn't come down tonight, since I didn't have any blinds, not did I want to isolate us in this little space. I do admit, her warmth, might feel fleeting, but her presence is constant, even when she is not here.
---
The next morning I woke up late, my friends were eating.
"Morning guys!" I exclaimed, though It was more enthusiastic than I truly am feeling.
The morning from here were pretty normal, except Kazuma was getting actively called names, because something has happened between him and Megumin.
I joined Megumin, Kazuma and Aqua, as their driver.
This place quite a few things to see like a... temple with a cat girl wooden figure...
Or an excalibur rip off. Or a... Wait, this is actually interesting, the mysterious facility.
Megumin didn't explain much about it, after all, it was mysterious for a reason.
She also showed us an old tailor shop, which had no good clothes, at least in my style. Megumin did buy more capes, while reconnecting with an old friend - the man who sold the clothes.
Then we drove to her old school, Kazuma didn't like it here.
Yunyun was there also, both Megumin and her were in their school uniforms. Never understood uniforms for school, why would I want to look like everyone else?
In that moment we met with three old friends of hers.
One of them was Arue, the one who wrote that story when Yunyun came with the weird request.
Honestly i think it's natural for the crimson demons to be great writers - mostly for drama, that is.
Finally as we were riding home, Kazuma asked about Yunyun, and Megumin shared a story about when they were younger and when Komekko was in danger, because of some demons, she, herself, hesitated, but Yunyun didn't she spent all her points, leaning advanced magic and saving Komekko...
Truly a beautiful sacrifice.
"So that's how we come to the present and have you in your current state?" I asked.
Megumin nodded, "yes."
In that moment we heard a loud boom coming further down the path we were driving on. I quickly went into a faster gear and sped off.
When we reached the area of the explosion we saw Darkness holding off a bunch of goblins as well as... A big ass, in every aspect, latina looking woman with black hair with a stroke of red, a red dress that fits her like a glove... She was tall, like really tall, so much so I feel small compared to her.
"Now I understand your actions..." She said, looking at Darkness. "You were just buying time. Your clumsy act was just a play."
"Y-yes."
I get out of the car, as well as my friends.
"What's up, do we have a problem." I asked, walking confidently.
"Yes, I was so devastated that there were no male orcs left, so I sought out the Devil king's general, but it turns out she's a woman too!" Darkness turned to me.
My eyes just narrowed. "Well, guess we have to kill it. Like every other it's a play. I did the same against Hans and Vanir, so let's just get to it."
"You killed, Hans and Vanir... We lost contact with both of them so it must be true..." The woman said.
I spot a way of speaking, the goblins mentioned Vanir's name with respect, like sir Vanir and other names, but she didn't. The goblins also talked to her by saying "Lady Sylvia." This means she's a general.
I materialized my revolver and shot directly at her, It hit her straight in the shoulder. "You!"
"Retreat!" She immediately turned on her hills and ran with all the goblins. I didn't bother shooting, lowering my gun.
"Anyways, wanna chase them down with Acat or?"
"Nah, we will deal with them later." Kazuma said with a smug voice.
I shrugged and got into the car, my friends too, and so we returned to Megumin's home.
I was the first to take a nap; driving is exhausting.