"Kazuma, do you think you're an adventurer?"
"I think I am."
"Hiss—"
Zunzun gasped and retreated tactically.
He had never seen such a shameless person!
He'd outmaneuvered Mitsurugi Kyouya with a trick, scared off the girls who came to protest his injustice, and even sold his magic sword...
In just one month as an adventurer, his reputation as a scumbag and a swindler had spread throughout Axel.
He was now known as one of the "Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Child" of the Novice Village, along with another notorious delinquent, Dust. Where did his confidence come from?
Sato Kazuma, irritated by Zunzun's look, snapped, "Hey, just say what you want to say."
"Nothing, I just think you're amazing, Kazuma."
"Really?"
"Yeah—when it comes to being a scumbag."
Zunzun's venomous words pierced Kazuma like a sword to the heart.
This guy…!
Sato Kazuma clenched his fists. If he weren't clearly outmatched, he would've launched a feminist flying kick. And Zunzun, being a Vacuumist, had stealing skills that would probably make even that look impressive.
Vacuumist… Vacuumist?
He ground his teeth in frustration.
Just then—
[Emergency Announcement! Emergency Announcement! All adventurers, arm yourselves and gather at the town's main gate in combat readiness!]
The familiar emergency announcement echoed through the town.
"What's going on?"
"I don't know, but…"
Zunzun twitched his lips.
Megumin and Yunyun rushed over from the corner of the guild, regrouping with the two before heading for the city gate.
When they arrived, a large crowd of adventurers had already gathered at the gate. On the plains beyond stood a monster radiating terrifying pressure—so intense it made all present shudder.
It was a knight clad in jet-black armor, holding his head to the left side of his body, astride a headless black horse.
"Headless Knight…"
Someone in the crowd murmured.
The Dullahan—a leader of the Demon King's army—had taken over a nearby castle. This was information Zunzun had brought back, along with the reason for his visit: to investigate the true form of the Divine Light.
But what was he doing here now? Was he here to ask if the Divine Light had been found?
The Dullahan raised his head and spoke solemnly:
"As you know, I am a Dullahan, a leader of the Demon King's army. I've recently moved into a nearby castle. I have no interest in the weak, and I have no intention of harming you—but…"
As tension mounted, his head began to tremble slightly.
"Every time! Every day! Who is the psychotic lunatic who keeps coming to my castle and blasting it with Explosion magic?!"
His voice was that of a man who had endured too much—and finally snapped.
"Explosion magic?"
"Speaking of Explosion…"
"Only one person would do that…"
All eyes turned to Megumin standing among the crowd—even Zunzun.
Megumin lowered her head, trembling.
Could it really be her?
Zunzun sighed, exasperated.
"Megumin, the Dullahan even treated us to tea once. How could you do this?"
"Well, he just kept lazing around in the castle, and then he threatened you! I-I got so mad, I just…"
Her voice trailed off.
If she hadn't known the Dullahan was living there, casting Explosion magic might have been excusable. But doing so knowingly? That was just spiteful.
Zunzun hadn't expected this from her.
Still… why did she look so touched when someone stood up to protect her, even though she was clearly at fault?
"…Wait a second."
As if realizing something, Zunzun turned to his childhood friend. "Yunyun, you were always with Megumin when she used Explosion magic, right? You knew that was the Dullahan's castle, yet you still let her?"
"B-Because! Megumin said… if I didn't come, she wouldn't be my friend anymore!" Yunyun said with a tearful expression.
Unbelievable.
Yunyun's desperation for friendship knew no bounds. Zunzun had hoped that with him and Megumin around, she'd grow. But somehow, things had gotten worse.
"What are you afraid of?!"
A voice shouted from the crowd. "We have Arch Wizard Zunzun! He's defeated high-level demons before. The Demon King's army is nothing!"
"Yeah! Zunzun's got this!"
"Zunzun, savior of Axel!"
Who was it?
Who the hell was trying to frame him?
Zunzun scanned the crowd with a cold expression. He spotted a small-time thug with dirty blond hair slipping away…
That guy… he was getting a lesson later.
"Zunzun! Zunzun! Zunzun!"
The adventurers chanted like a cult, parting to reveal their so-called hero.
Zunzun, utterly calm, raised his head high and declared:
"White horse? Hmph, I'll make sure he never returns!"
"…White horse?"
Everyone glanced at the Dullahan's mount—very much a headless black horse—then looked back at Zunzun, who was confidently showing off.
"…Same goes for the black horse."
"OOOH———!"
The adventurers cheered.
The mood ignited.
With all eyes on him, Zunzun stepped forward, stopping about ten meters from the Dullahan.
The Dullahan blinked in surprise at the sight of him.
"You? What's your problem? Didn't I tell you not to bother me? Did you not listen? And you told others about me, didn't you?!"
He unleashed a torrent of complaints.
Zunzun understood his frustration. Getting blasted with Explosion magic daily, a castle constantly destroyed… even the gentlest man would lose his cool.
"I'm sorry. It's all my companions' fault."
"…Oh…"
Hearing Zunzun apologize with a bow, the Dullahan seemed to deflate.
"Forget it. I won't bother with you anymore. Just stop harassing me…"
"I can't do that!"
"Megumin!?"
She appeared beside Zunzun, shouting defiantly, "Everyone must take responsibility for their actions! I'm the one who cast Explosion magic!"
"Huh? You again? I even gave you tea and let you use the restroom! Why keep bothering me?"
"That last part wasn't necessary!"
She was furious at his mockery.
"The reason is simple," Megumin said, raising her head. "You pissed me off!"
…That's something you say after winning!
Megumin had always been like this. Full of bluster, terrible timing, and endlessly dramatic.
"What is this girl even talking about?"
Sato Kazuma, spectating from afar, was dumbfounded.
The Dullahan rested his head in his right hand, then shrugged dramatically.
He addressed Megumin:
"You're not going to give up Explosion magic, are you? I may walk the path of magic now, but I was once a knight. I have no desire to slaughter the weak. However… if you continue disturbing me, I'll take matters into my own hands."
His aura turned deadly.
Megumin instinctively stepped back. Zunzun moved to shield her.
Someone else stepped forward. Megumin, grinning confidently, pointed her wand at the Dullahan.
"We're the ones being disturbed! You're ruining the forest's ecology just by squatting in that castle. You even threatened us, saying you're searching for the true form of the Divine Light!"
Sato Kazuma gasped. Why did it feel like this Divine Light thing involved him?
"…What's wrong, Kazuma?"
"Nothing. Just watch the show."
Seeing Aqua's blank stare, he decided not to add more chaos.
…
Megumin shouted, "Evacuate the castle, or I'll cast Explosion every day!"
She was taunting a general of the Demon King's army. Where did she get the guts?
"I see… I was too polite."
The Dullahan realized his civility had made them complacent.
"I am a general of the Demon King's army, and I've never been humiliated like this. Very well. Crimson Demon girl, I'll give you a lesson."
He pointed at Megumin and declared:
"Your death is proclaimed! You'll die within a week!"
A dark curse beam hit Zunzun—who had stepped in front of her.
Huh? Me?
Zunzun was stunned.
He hadn't even done anything!
"Zun—Zunzun!?"
"Are you okay, Zunzun?!"
Megumin and Yunyun screamed as Zunzun knelt, glowing faintly with black light. But nothing… seemed to happen.
"Hmph, I did it on purpose!"
The Dullahan grinned darkly. "I saw it—you two are close, right? Listen, Crimson Demon girl. Your most trusted companion will suffer, cursed by death in seven days. All because of your actions!"
"Ah… Ahhh————!"
Megumin paled.
Zunzun rose to his feet. Facing the Dullahan, he declared:
"Even if I carry the curse and hold Axel aloft with one hand, I, Zunzun, will remain invincible in this world!"
"…Huh?"
Even the Dullahan looked confused.
-End Chapter-
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