[SUBJUGATE THE GIANT TOADS!]
Everyone crowded around to read the notice and voiced their doubts.
Shichen handed the scroll to Satou Kazuma—who was still hanging back—and looked to Luna for an explanation.
"Yes," Luna nodded, then spoke in her professional, receptionist tone. "It's breeding season for the Giant Toads. Each one is bigger than a cow. Once the season starts they gorge themselves to stock up for egg-laying, so they appear near human settlements where food is plentiful and can swallow a farmer's goat whole in one bite."
"Giant Toads…" Shichen felt the corner of his mouth twitch.
Of all the creatures in this world, those things had burned themselves into his mind—even though he'd never actually seen one, the very thought made his skin crawl.
"They're just toads—how bad could it be?" Kazuma asked after reading the quest.
"Do not underestimate them," Luna said, expression grave. "They swallow goats whole; a human is no problem. Every year, when their breeding season hits, children and farmhands go missing near the villages."
"That scary?" Kazuma paled.
"Hmph! It's only some oversized toads. I could wipe them out in minutes," Megumin scoffed.
"I said don't take them lightly," Luna insisted. "They look like huge toads, but they're far more dangerous than the little monsters you find near town. That said, their meat isn't bad—tough but mild and refreshing, actually a popular dish."
"Wait—what was that last part?" Kazuma blurted.
"Never eaten toad?" Shichen grinned at him.
"Never… I've never even seen it on a menu."
"Shame. People say toad tastes like chicken."
"You've tried it, Big Bro?"
"Not really—just heard stories."
"Well, since we're here, and Giant Toad meat is considered normal fare, we might as well give it a shot."
"Can you really eat those things…?"
"Relax," Luna assured him. "Our guild cooks turn it into something delicious."
"Either way, let's just take the quest," Shichen said. "It shouldn't be hard—Yunyun alone could finish it."
"M-me? Really?" Yunyun tensed.
"Trust me." Shichen moved the hand that had been on Megumin's head to pat Yunyun's instead.
"Okay…"
"Shichen-san is right," Luna added with a smile. "Their thick fat blocks blunt hits, but they hate metal; with proper gear they won't try to eat you. For most adventurers they're manageable, and as a mage you'll have an even easier time, Miss Yunyun."
"I… I'll do my best," Yunyun murmured.
"We won't dump all the work on you," Shichen assured her, rubbing her hair.
"Mm-hm."
"No time like the present—let's accept it."
"Very well. Good luck on your hunt," Luna said.
"Thanks."
…
Quest accepted, Shichen led everyone straight out of town toward the Giant Toad grounds—a broad plain just beyond the gate. They'd barely left the walls before the toads came into view.
True to their name, they were gigantic toads—no extra features, just massive bodies with skins in bright red, yellow, blue and green, like the colors of the Calabash Brothers.
"So that's a Giant Toad? They don't look threatening at all," Kazuma said cockily, watching them hop about in a daze.
"Yeah, one Explosion would clear the lot," Megumin agreed.
"Idiot," Shichen flicked her forehead. "If you cast Explosion here you'll hit the town too."
"But I'll feel awful if I don't use it!"
"Endure it."
"Shichen, how could you? Forcing me to hold back—are you a devil? What kind of weird play is this?"
"Pipe down." Bonk. Another knock on the head.
"Ow!" Megumin squatted, clutching her skull.
"Big Bro," Kazuma asked, face twitching, "is she…?"
"Right—haven't told you. She only knows Explosion. Calling her an Explosion fanatic isn't wrong. She barely has any other spells—just a few to support Explosion. But relax: Explosion's the strongest human spell; almost nobody can learn it."
"Still… what's the point if she can't cast anything else?" Kazuma immediately saw the flaw.
"Remember," Shichen patted his shoulder, "we're a team."
"Huh?"
"Yunyun already has intermediate magic and will learn advanced spells soon. Megumin is our ace-in-the-hole."
"Oh, I get it! I almost thought you kept her around just for, uh, personal taste…"
The glare Shichen gave him made Kazuma cough. "N-nothing, forget I spoke."
"I was going to buy you a full set of gear with the reward," Shichen said coolly. "Maybe I won't bother."
"I'm sorry! Big Bro, I was wrong!" Kazuma dropped to his knees and hugged Shichen's leg.
"Get off— I don't like men hanging on me."
"Don't abandon me, Big Bro!"
"I'm joking, sheesh."
"Sniff—Big Bro, you're the best!"
"Enough drama. Time to divvy up roles."
Ignoring the still-slouching Aqua, Shichen turned to Yunyun. "You and I will handle the front line. Megumin—you know why you're on reserve. Kazuma's got no gear yet, so let's push a little harder between the two of us."
"It's fine—we're a party," Yunyun answered.
"Good. Aqua, throw a couple buffs on Yunyun."
"Uh-huh, sure."
"Don't look so bored. The more money we earn, the more sparkling wine, gourmet food and soft beds you'll get."
"Oh! Right!"
"I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me!" Motivated at last, Aqua struck a pose.
"Okay, everyone stay here. Yunyun, come with me." Shichen held out his hand.
"Eh? O-okay." Yunyun placed her small hand in his.
He gripped it, and the two vanished—reappearing on the far side of the toad herd.
"Whoa! Was that teleportation?" Kazuma yelled.
"No," Megumin corrected him, "it's Spatial Transfer."
"Whatever it's called—I'm learning it!"
"Good luck with that."
Boom!
Yunyun was already casting.
"Fireball!"
Pow! One Giant Toad toppled instantly, and the rest started hopping away in panic.
"Awesome—keep it up!" Kazuma shouted.
"Not bad! Just like my little protégé!" Megumin crowed.
"Protégé my foot! Lightsaber!"
Another toad went down, cleanly bisected.
Yunyun's intermediate spells packed well above average punch—she'd have learned advanced magic soon enough if today hadn't been so urgent.
Shichen joined in, flinging mid-tier spells like they cost nothing.
"Fireball! Lightsaber! Fireball!"
One toad after another collapsed.
"You're amazing, Shichen!" Yunyun exclaimed.
"Heh, you'll be just as good soon. Let's mop them up."
"Right!"
Under their combined barrage, the herd was quickly thinned to a handful, toad corpses littering the plain.
"These things are way too easy—I want to fight one too!"
Just then Aqua's brain short-circuited; she dashed at the nearest toad. "Watch me shine! Then Shichen will buy me looots of sparkling wine! Take this—God Blow!"
"Aqua, wai—"
Too late. Her punch landed with a dull plop on the toad's gut—it didn't even flinch.
Then it lowered its head and swallowed the stunned goddess whole.
"Aqua!"
"Save her!"
"Relax. Lightsaber."
Shichen blinked to the toad's side; a single light blade skewered it.
The toad collapsed, and the slimy, mucus-covered Aqua slid out of its mouth.
~~~
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