In the afternoon, Shichen took Megumin outside the city for a round of Explosion Magic.
When they came back out, Megumin's cheeks were still flushed—and not from the cold.
It was only natural. She could still feel something wrapped around her heart, hot and full.
She'd actually believed Shichen's nonsense about "only over the clothes," but bit by bit, his hand had slipped in anyway.
That was also how he found out she was already wearing the basic gear he'd made for her.
Shy and restless, there was no way her face could have gone back to normal.
She only hoped that what Shichen said—that he could help her grow over time—was true. Otherwise, she'd be embarrassed to have let him touch her so much for nothing.
The spot he'd brought her to was an outcrop outside the city, right on the edge of a high cliff. From here, you could see the castle where the Headless Knight had stayed.
There was no better place.
"Megumin, you and Yunyun always come here, right?" Shichen asked.
"Eh? Ah—mm, yes, here…"
"What's wrong? You look distracted." He smiled at her.
"N-no, nothing…" She denied it with a blush. Like she could ever admit she was still thinking about what had just happened.
"Really?"
Shichen didn't believe her. Still holding her hand with his left, he lifted his right to his nose and sniffed.
"…Why do I smell milk?"
"Y-y-you… wait—ahhh!" Megumin went beet red, let go of his hand, and started smacking him in embarrassed outrage.
She didn't have much strength behind it.
"Alright, alright, I'm just teasing."
He caught her wrist to stop her, then picked her up, hands supporting her rear. "Come on, let's fire off an Explosion."
"Ugh… do you have to say it like that…" She was still hung up on his earlier words—they were just too embarrassing.
"Just joking."
"Even as a joke, you can't say that…" It was right after a bit of intimacy; she really couldn't handle such blunt comments.
"But I'm only telling the truth."
"I'm not saying stuff like this in front of other people—just when it's the two of us."
"…Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"W-well… alright then."
"Come on, let's fire it off. When we get back, I'll keep massaging you. Won't be long before you grow."
That made her think back to his skilled hands from earlier, and heat rose in her again. "I-is it really going to work?"
"Of course. And even if it doesn't, it doesn't matter."
"Why?"
"You're worried being small makes you less attractive, right? Do you think I'd dislike you?"
"Hmph! I want to get bigger, not because of you!"
"Is that so?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, alright, I'll do my best."
Truthfully, she'd probably inherited her small frame from her mother, but she was still young—and years of poor nutrition hadn't helped. If he kept helping and made sure she ate well, she could probably grow a bit more.
"…Then does that mean you'll have to massage me every day?" she asked.
"Of course."
"You're sure you're not just making an excuse to touch me?"
"Please, if I wanted to touch you, would I need to go in circles looking for excuses?" he replied, dead serious.
"…I guess not. Oh—another question."
"What?"
"Have you ever touched Yunyun's… you know…?"
"No." He shook his head. He didn't even understand her euphemism.
"Really? I don't believe you. Something must've happened between you two, and Yunyun's so attractive—and so clueless—how could you resist?" She narrowed her eyes, trying to see if he was lying.
Shichen met her gaze without flinching. "Why do you care whether I did or not?"
"I… I just don't want you to."
"Why? Jealous? Possessive?"
"No! I just… don't want her to get any bigger."
"…That's it?" He stared at her, speechless.
"What? Is that not allowed?" she snapped. "She's already so big—what's the point of growing more? It's just a burden! I'm thinking of her, that's all."
"It does have a point. Not to mention, for future kids, it's important."
"K-kids?! That's way too soon!"
"I'm not talking about you… and it's not like it would be anytime soon."
"Oh… I see…"
"Heh~ and why do you look disappointed?" he teased.
"I do not!"
"Kids are still too soon for you. Let's wait until you grow up a bit more."
"I-I'm not thinking about having kids!"
"Alright, alright, I believe you. Now come on—why are you stalling today?"
"Do you not want to spend more time with me?"
"I just want to get back and help you grow."
"Oh… then… can we keep doing that?"
"'That'… you mean kissing?" She lowered her head, voice small, cheeks burning.
"Oh? You like that?" He raised a brow in surprise.
"I-it's… alright…"
"Really? Then let's skip it."
"Wait! I do like it, okay?!"
It was only natural she'd gotten hooked—her first kiss had been a soul-stirring experience.
"That's better. Can't you just be honest?"
"Mm…"
"Alright, I'll grant your wish when we get back." He bent down to give her a quick kiss. "A little preview."
He wanted more too—her lips were tiny and cherry-like, sweet enough to be addictive.
Megumin's eyes glowed red, suddenly feeling full of power. She could do two Explosions.
"This is the Origin Magic… the ultimate magic… Explosion!"
A torrent of mana gathered over the distant castle, brilliant colors lighting up the sky. The magic layers built upon each other until—
BOOM!
It was like a nuclear blast. Shichen thought to himself, art really is an explosion.
It was beautiful. Magnificent.
That castle was tough, though—surviving Megumin's daily explosions without collapsing entirely.
He decided he'd reinforce it someday. Couldn't have her favorite target destroyed.
"Mm…" Megumin let out a soft sigh of satisfaction and went limp in his arms.
All that talk of "two in a row" had been an illusion—one shot was her limit.
Shichen just smiled and carried her back.
In Yunyun's room, he helped her take off her coat and let her rest.
In this state, a massage would be pointless—she'd barely react. And there was no rush.
He had plenty of time.
Leaving Megumin's room, he went to Darkness's.
Right now, everyone else was in his own room, reading manga with Frieren.
Darkness was there because he'd told her to wait in her room.
When he opened the door, she was sitting on the bed, wearing only a sleeveless black tank top that hugged her curves and full chest.
"Shichen, why did you tell me to stay here? What's going on?" Her voice was full of anticipation.
"Did you forget what I said before I left?" He stepped up to her and lifted her chin with a finger.
"What you said before… could it be?!"
"I'm a man of my word." His hand traced down from her neck to the gap below.
"Mm!" Darkness let out an excited, muffled moan.
"Now?"
"Don't worry—no one's going to interrupt us." He grabbed one of her generous curves and worked his fingers.
"Mmm~"
"But didn't you… uh… already 'release' once this morning? Are you sure you're fine?" she asked breathlessly.
"Oh? Underestimating me? Sounds like you need to be taught a lesson."
"Bring it on!" she said eagerly.
He didn't hold back, pulling her down onto the bed with him and silencing her with a kiss. She hooked her arms around him in response.
He'd told her that when he came back, he'd "eat her up." And after getting worked up with Megumin earlier, he was ready to follow through.
Soon, the sound of things falling to the floor filled the room.
Then, for a moment, there was silence.
A few seconds later, conversation picked up again.
"Lalatina, are you ready?"
"Mm~ Don't… don't be gentle with me!"
"You said it."
"Mm!"
It was his first time in this kind of situation—but it was Darkness, the ultimate masochist—so he decided to grant her wish.
Before long, the room was filled with her sweet, melodious cries.