The day after the Headless Horseman's attack, a rhythmic scream echoed through the guild.
It was Zunzun beating Dust, in retaliation for what he had done yesterday... No, they were just having a friendly exchange, improving each other's skills.
As the two were bonding, Aqua and Sato Kazuma arrived at the guild.
"We're here!"
"Zunzun, did you call us here for something?... So, what are you doing?"
Sato Kazuma watched Zunzun's foot on Dust's face, grinding it back and forth. He couldn't figure out if this was bullying or a reward.
But if it were Darkness, who was eager to try, it would definitely be a reward.
"Wait a minute,"
Zunzun said after seeing the two of them, then lowered his head to look at the scumbag punk at his feet and said, "Oh, damn Dust, listen to me! If you dare to do anything sneaky again, I will definitely kick your hips hard with my size 36 boots! Do you hear me? If you do, then get out of here!"
Dust nodded hurriedly and quickly slipped away.
Zunzun, having vented his anger, looked relieved, and Sato Kazuma finally realized that this was not a reward.
Of course, he also understood that this was purely Dust's own fault. Who was it that pushed Zunzun out as a shield when the Dullahan attacked?
The Dullahan had not been defeated.
He must have escaped.
In the world of "Konosuba," monsters defeated are displayed on the adventurer card. However, whether it was Zunzun, Megumin, Yunyun, or anyone else, there was no monster named the Dullahan on their cards.
This meant that he was not dead.
As expected of a Demon King's general, his skin and flesh were incredibly tough. Not only had he been weakened by purification and water magic, but he'd also taken two terrifying bursts of explosion magic, and yet he still wasn't dead...
Sato Kazuma was already beginning to give up on his unrealistic hope of defeating the Demon King.
"So, what do you want from us?"
"Ah, a commission for you."
"Us?"
Sato Kazuma and Aqua exchanged bewildered glances. Soon, Aqua raised her head and said triumphantly, "Hehehe, it seems you understand the power of me—Aqua, the Water Goddess! Since it's a specific commission, it must be something only I can do!"
"That's right, it's something only you can do. This commission belongs to you!"
"Hahaha! See, Kazuma, someone still understands my power! Okay, just tell me what the task is!"
"Fill the potholes in the plains."
"Ugh—!"
As soon as Zunzun finished speaking, the idiotic goddess nearly burst into tears, while Sato Kazuma burst out laughing.
The law of conservation of smiles: the smile didn't disappear, but instead shifted to someone else's face.
Sato Kazuma even teased, "Aqua, that's great! This is a commission specifically for you, you must do it well."
"Wa... That guy..." Sato Kazuma sighed helplessly, clutching his forehead.
Perhaps in his opinion, a goddess filling potholes was a real loss of points. No, considering Aqua wasted precious skill points on civil engineering, she was already disqualified as a goddess.
"Kazuma, you too."
"What?"
"If you help fill the potholes, I'll give you 200,000 Eris too."
Who do you think I am? I'm an adventurer, how could I possibly go back to that kind of work!?
Although Sato Kazuma wanted to yell at him, the offer from Zunzun was too much.
"Let me stretch a little too,"
He swung his arms, like a hero about to fight the Dullahan.
Just as Sato Kazuma was about to leave and catch up with Aqua, Zunzun suddenly said, "Kazuma, you have to thank me for saving you."
"Saved? Oh, oh! You mean when I was being chased by the Dullahan's minions? Thank you, Zunzun," Sato Kazuma thanked him decisively.
"That's not it... Never mind, it's nothing."
That wasn't what he was talking about.
According to the original scenario, Sato Kazuma and his team defeated the Dullahan, but due to the massive flood summoned by the stupid goddess, the city walls collapsed, leaving them owing 40 million Eris instead of 300 million Eris for the wall damage.
Now that the Dullahan hasn't been defeated, Sato Kazuma and his team haven't owed them any money either. Zunzun indirectly saved their lives.
Although they didn't defeat the Dullahan, the guild awarded Zunzun 500,000 Eris as a reward for defeating the Demon King's army commander.
Yesterday's battle was brutal.
A large crater in the plains is blocking access to the town.
Logically, it wasn't Zunzun's responsibility to repair the plains, but the damage was so severe. Feeling guilty, Zunzun gave 400,000 Eris to Aqua and Sato Kazuma, asking them to help fill the gap.
With their extensive civil engineering experience, they figured it wouldn't be a problem.
As for the Dullahan's current location...
Ding-ling—
The door opened.
"Welcome... Ah, it's Zunzun!"
Wiz saw the newcomer, a gentle, bright smile on her slightly pale face.
"Hello, Wiz,"
Zunzun greeted her, looking around the shop. "Where is that?"
"Here,"
Wiz pulled a fish tank from under the counter.
It wasn't large, only 50 centimeters wide, with a spherical bottom. Strangely, inside wasn't a fish or aquatic plants, but a knight's helmet.
Zunzun fished the helmet out of the tank.
"Hello, Mr. Dullahan."
"W-what... is it you..."
The voice said weakly.
A closer look revealed that it wasn't just a helmet, but a head.
Yes, it was the Dullahan's head.
Zunzun had only blasted the Dullahan's body, not his head... To be precise, just before the explosion, the Dullahan flung his head with all his might.
He'd thought he could slip away quietly, but without legs, he was still discovered and captured by Zunzun.
Knowing that the undead were naturally vulnerable to water, Zunzun submerged the Dullahan's head in water, weakening its powers and preventing any escape.
Shortly after emerging from the water, the Dullahan regained his spirits.
He shouted, "You, you! You can kill me or chop me up as you please. Are you insulting me by doing this? This goes against the spirit of chivalry! Give me a quick death!"
"I don't want to. And as I said, I'm not a knight, but an Arch Wizard,"
Zunzun rolled his eyes.
The Dullahan was now a monster even weaker than the giant toad, easily defeated even by novice adventurers. But Zunzun hadn't brought him back to humiliate him, but rather—
"As I said before, what do you think, Mr. Dullahan? I aspire to become the Demon King, the supreme, benevolent, and powerful Demon King. Mr. Dullahan might as well serve me."
"I don't want to," the Dullahan flatly refused.
Zunzun was quite fond of him, so he had been trying to persuade him since bringing him back, but to little avail.
"I only serve the Demon King. I won't consider anything else!"
"Really? What a pity!"
Zunzun's eyes gleamed dangerously as he threatened, "Then I'll have to ask Mr. Dullahan to continue bathing in the fish tank."
"You, you... despicable creature! I really misjudged you! A born-evil Crimson Demon brat...!"
The head in his hand trembled.
Zunzun handed him to Wiz, saying, "Wiz, please take care of him. Remember to change his water every day."
"Okay, I got it,"
Wiz said with a smile.
The Dullahan said fearfully, "Wait, wait! Wiz, let's have a chat. Aren't you also a Demon King Army officer? Okay, let's talk!"
"Mr. Beldia loves baths, right?"
"...Huh?"
"After all, I always see you in the bathroom when I go, so you must love it. Don't worry, I'll change the water to the perfect temperature every day, hehe—"
"Wait...! I don't like baths. That's revenge, just revenge! I, I... Gurgle!"
Wiz pressed his head into the fish tank.
Seeing her sinister smile, Zunzun couldn't help but shudder. Despite her gentle appearance, she was unstoppable when she got angry.
And the Dullahan wasn't lying.
He wasn't a LSP; he was truly seeking revenge.
It all started over a decade ago, when the Dullahan, a Demon King Army officer, encountered Wiz's group and cursed them to death within a week.
In order to remove the curse from her companions, Wiz, with the help of Vanir, turned into a lich, then tore through the barrier of the Demon King's Castle with her bare hands, beating several Demon King Army officers, including the Dullahan, into the ground.
Later, Wiz signed a contract to become a cadre of the Demon King's army, and the Dullahan, who was beaten to the point of almost dying, was so angry that he kept harassing Wiz as revenge.
However, the Dullahan has also relented.
He said that he was only loyal to the Demon King, but what he really meant was—it doesn't matter who the Demon King is, he will be loyal to whoever is the Demon King.
But it is impossible to let the Dullahan go. That would be purely a nuisance to himself. So Zunzun decided to keep him and wait until he became the Demon King.
As for the lich girl Wiz...
Zunzun does not intend to recruit her. It should be said that neutral characters cannot be recruited. This is common sense in the game... Just kidding, he just can't bear to disturb Wiz's peaceful life.
-End Chapter-
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