When Zunzun returned to the table with a full plate of curry beef, he found Sister Soketto chatting with Megumin.
"So, it turns out you're Uncle Hyoizaburoo's child," Sister Soketto said with a knowing look.
She seemed to understand Megumin's background well. Or rather, everyone knew Hyoizaburoo — his exploits were legendary throughout the Crimson Demon Clan, inspiring all to follow his example… though often in the opposite way.
Despite being a rural village, the Crimson Demon Clan wasn't poor. Every member was a powerful magician and a senior adventurer. Plus, the Demon King's army had left many fallen comrades, whose remains could be exchanged for money at the Adventurer's Guild.
Besides adventuring, the Crimson Demon village had various crafts and businesses: blacksmiths forging equipment, tailors making clothes for students and nobles, shoemakers, cake shops, and fortune-telling houses like Zunzun's.
Though still young as a clan, the Crimson Demons' goods were fine and well-praised by adventurers and nobles alike.
Hyoizaburoo's family made their living crafting magic props. Their workmanship was excellent, and the materials were top-notch — but the props were so eccentric that over time, no one bought them. Slowly, the family became poor.
At the clan gathering, the leader once teased Hyoizaburoo with remarks like, "How can a prop master talk about food?" or "It's just that no one understands." The whole gathering erupted with laughter.
Megumin's survival, tenacious as she was in such a family, was already admirable.
"Here, eat slowly. There's more."
"Thank you."
Zunzun handed over another plate full of curry beef. Megumin gratefully gobbled it down again. Seeing the little girl like this, Sister Soketto felt a surge of maternal warmth.
By the way, Sister Soketto suddenly asked, "Zunzun, I forgot to ask earlier — what exactly is your relationship?"
"...Eh?"
Zunzun froze.
Thinking it over, he realized he hadn't explained.
What was their relationship?
Strictly speaking, Zunzun and Megumin were employer and helper. But now that Zunzun didn't want to reveal he was a farmer, he found it difficult to explain.
"I know! We're friends!"
"Friends…?"
"I'm so touched, Zunzun! You've always been alone, never played with other kids. I thought you'd never make friends, but now you have one…"
Sister Soketto looked deeply relieved.
No, no, no, misunderstanding!
Zunzun didn't want to make friends — there were just too few Crimson Demons his age to meet. Okay, that was an excuse.
But it was painful for him, with his adult soul, to befriend kids — especially one with Megumin's strong chuunibyou aura.
"No, we're not friends!"
Zunzun slammed the table and stood up abruptly.
His sudden outburst seemed to scare them. Megumin even stopped mid-bite, food frozen in the air.
Sister Soketto said with a touch of disappointment, "Did I misunderstand? You're not friends?"
"No... that... I mean, we're more than friends. Yes! We're partners! Intimate partners!"
Trying not to upset Sister Soketto, Zunzun grew more and more excited, his voice rising higher.
"Really? That's great!"
Sister Soketto clapped happily.
"Then… Megumin, stay here tonight! It's the first time friends stay over, okay? And let's take a bath together tonight!"
"Wait, wait, Sister Soketto, if Megumin doesn't go home, her parents will worry!"
"It's okay. My parents haven't been home for nearly three months."
Megumin spoke calmly, but there was a tinge of sadness.
"That's perfect!"
Sister Soketto smiled brightly. "Megumin, stay here tonight. I'll go prepare the bathwater now!"
"Wait... Sister Soketto! Sister Soketto!"
Ignoring Zunzun's protests, Sister Soketto hurried off to get the bath ready, leaving him burying his face in his hands in despair. He knew this would happen.
Megumin looked at Zunzun.
"So... what is our relationship now?"
"Shh, don't ask, just keep eating."
"Oh."
The little girl didn't dwell on it and focused instead on the curry beef on her plate.
After dinner came bath time.
In the cramped bathroom, Zunzun soaked himself in the tiny bathtub, a little apart from Sister Soketto and Megumin.
The tub was barely big enough for two people, yet the three squeezed in, with a bit of space between Zunzun and the two girls.
The scene looked like sardines packed into a bus—crowded and immobile. But somehow, more passengers could still squeeze in. And when a scuffle broke out, a surprisingly large space could open up.
"Zunzun, come a little closer."
"No, I'm fine here."
Zunzun knelt in the water, eyes closed, head held high, hands resting on his knees. With steam rising, he looked like an immortal about to ascend.
Don't get the wrong idea — he was not interested in Sister Soketto or Megumin. He did this to avoid embarrassing himself. In fact, he feared Megumin might be interested in him.
"We're all girls, why are you so shy?"
Sister Soketto pulled him closer, holding the two beautiful "little lolis" on each side. If it weren't for her broad chest that made people dizzy, many would shout, "Let me join!" Wait, maybe they would shout that even more now.
Megumin looked dizzy too, staring blankly.
"That… how do I become like you, big sister?"
It was the second time she asked.
Unfortunately, last time she asked, Sister Soketto hadn't told her how to get broad pectoral muscles, so this time Megumin was eager for a clear answer.
Sister Soketto looked a bit embarrassed.
"Well..."
"Eat well and get good nutrition! How else can your body grow?"
Zunzun answered quickly.
"That's right, eat well!"
Sister Soketto nodded eagerly and secretly gave Zunzun a thumbs-up.
The little girl nodded thoughtfully.
"Yeah~~"
Then Sister Soketto stretched and said, "Sorry, the teacher asked us to do chores today. I'm a bit tired, so I'll go out first."
She left the bathroom quickly.
Although she said that, Zunzun felt she was really running away from Megumin's potentially difficult questions.
Zunzun and Megumin were left in the tub.
One on the left, one on the right. Plenty of space lay between them, a little distant.
The hot water was almost unbearable, but Zunzun couldn't get out first, so he stayed with Megumin.
After a while, Megumin broke the silence.
"Well... it's nice to have a sister."
"Why do you say that all of a sudden?"
"Because my parents are often away. I often imagine having a sister to take care of me. But unfortunately, I'm an only child. And even if my parents had another child, I'd only be a sister."
"So why are you telling me this?"
"I just want to say — don't be nervous. Though I wish for a sister, I won't steal someone else's. So don't hate me, okay?"
"...Huh?"
Zunzun was stunned. Did Megumin think he hated her because she was jealous?
No! He didn't hate Megumin — he just didn't want to reveal he was a boy dressed as a girl, and be seen as some kind of pervert.
The unintended misunderstanding between them made him slap his forehead, recalling what he did after coming back from trapping his sister.
"I hope you don't hate me. After all, Zunzun's cooking is delicious."
"No, I..."
"That's it. I'm leaving."
Without wiping off the water, Megumin stood and quickly left the bathroom.
"…I don't hate you."
Zunzun lay back in the tub, staring at the Crimson Demon's exclusive stripe mark engraved on Megumin's small buttocks.
-End Chapter-
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