"Stop staring at that money like that, you already got an advance on your pay."
We decided to leave the adventurers' guild after receiving the quest money.
But I was quickly faced with a small problem.
"B-but you earned more than 85 million thanks to me and Aqua, so we can have a bonus, right?"
"Scumzuma's not wrong, if I hadn't healed you... you'd be *slash*"
Aqua ran her finger across her throat.
Unfortunately, both of them weren't wrong. If it wasn't for Aqua and Kazuma, then I would indeed be with Eris right now.
Should I thank them?
Yes and no.
I missed the opportunity to potentially blackmail a goddess for another Isekai.
So I potentially lost an opportunity in my misfortune.
However, it's true that it had risks of failure and Megumin would have been left alone in Axel.
That's why.
"Ok, you've earned a bonus."
"Thanks Renji-san, you're the best."
"Thanks to you, I'll finally be able to buy that bottle and..."
That's why Aqua's money needs to be managed by me or Kazuma.
This idiot is going to spend her bonus on stupid stuff, but I can't really stop her.
She deserves this money.
"*Ouch* sorry, are you okay?"
While I was lost in my thoughts, Kazuma's abnormal luck activated.
The person supposed to appear at the guild in the afternoon bumped into the Japanese guy, who was walking carelessly because of the good news about a bonus.
Is it a coincidence that I have a lucky event after thanking Kazuma?
I'm leaning a bit toward that option, but I have another hypothesis.
It's also possible that YunYun was not far from the adventurers' guild and followed Megumin after she left.
As for my inability to detect her?
I was distracted because of my calm environment and my discussion with Kazuma.
Especially since this Archwizard has the equivalent of the Enemy Detection skill, so I wouldn't be surprised by magic equivalent to Lurk.
This situation reminds me of the necessity of thief class skills.
All these assumptions don't exclude a combination of them.
"I-it's fine, I'm not hurt."
YunYun pushed away Kazuma's outstretched hand after getting up hastily.
Yet, her already distraught expression worsened after making eye contact with Megumin at my side.
"Hey, YunYun."
"...MEGUMIN!!"
She immediately took her distance, before pointing her finger toward her and me intermittently.
"What are... you doing here! And who's this person?! I've never seen him in the village before"
As expected from YunYun, she immediately inquired about her only friend's situation.
Unfortunately, the latter just let out a tired sigh at her compatriot's behavior.
"Who am I? Hmm, haha! I am the one who never ceases to traverse the abysses of magic and knowledge! My quest is as vast as my ambitions. My name is Renji Takamura!"
Please, kill me...
I hated this Chūnibyō culture, but for some unknown reason... it comes naturally to me.
I'd even say I've improved compared to the first time with Megumin.
"Oh... *cough* I'm Y...YunYun, Archwizard and future sovereign of the Crimson Demon clan."
(Image)
Unlike me, YunYun's Chūnibyō introduction was clumsy and hesitant.
She has a cruel lack of confidence in her tone.
No wonder she has no Crimson Demon friends.
"Pfff haha, you guys are ridiculous."
"Did you see that? 'I am the one who never ceases to traverse the abysses of magic and knowledge!' He was so into his role, haha."
Kazuma and Aqua immediately started mocking both of us after our introductions.
Personally, I was able to take these embarrassing moments of my third life, but...
"I-it's not... s-stop..."
However, that wasn't the case for YunYun.
The poor girl doesn't possess a dao heart as strong as mine.
After all, I've cultivated my "shameless" dao twice in the cycle of reincarnation.
That's why I was able to suggest going somewhere to eat to discuss better among ourselves, without an ounce of visible shame on my face.
The street isn't really suitable for group discussions, and I prefer to avoid having trouble with Axel's law enforcement for now.
...
"It's really a funny coincidence, isn't it Megumin? We met our potential future party member right on the street."
While Aqua gets drunk in broad daylight, and Kazuma devours Cabbages to get more experience points... my damn money.
I was able to advance enormously in our discussion between Crimson Demon clan members.
"Indeed, I was 'surprised' that there was a member of our clan in Axel besides Renji, and she happens to want to join our party, but..."
It seems Megumin expected a possible encounter with YunYun in one way or another.
Even her reaction at the moment of her greeting shows she's not surprised to see her in Axel.
Yet, she's feigning ignorance now.
Even if her act is sloppy.
Maybe she doesn't want to hurt YunYun's feelings?
"But well, you're here and you seem to meet the criteria we're looking for." She shrugged, dismissing it as an ordinary event in her daily life.
She really has a long history with this stalker.
"Yes, it's really a coincidence hehe."
YunYun scratched the back of her head in a nervous tone, while supporting Megumin's words.
However, she surely noticed that no one believes this coincidence story.
"So Renji... can I join your party?"
An Archwizard gave me a pleading look to join my team, so why the hell would I reject her?
I'm not Kazuma.
"Of course, you're a friend of Megumin's and you meet all the selection criteria as she already mentioned."
A clear act of recommendation from Megumin, but I don't reject this kind of method.
This world functions through the law of the strongest and personal relationships are part of that.
"Great, I'll do my best!"
Looking at YunYun get up from the table clenching her small fists with eyes filled with determination, I unconsciously sketched a smile.
I have almost the best possible party within the town of Axel.
I'm only missing Darkness and Wiz.
...
We grabbed something to eat after our exchanges and left the restaurant.
Spoiler: I lost 1 million Eris inside.
How?
Kazuma and Aqua took the words too much to heart: "I'll pay, so relax."
One stuffed himself with a large quantity of Cabbage and was able to level up twice, while the other got drunk in broad daylight.
I ended up arriving at Wiz's place with Megumin and YunYun, because Kazuma had to take Aqua back to the manor.